In A Fantasy World I Can Absorbs Abilities

As he spoke of Astrid, a smile returned to Charles's face. "Until now, her efforts have been confined to developing as a princess. But lately, she's begun broadening her horizons. It feels like polishing a raw gemstone—immensely satisfying."

The duke hesitated before cautiously asking, "…Does Her Majesty the Queen know how distant she seems as a mother to Astrid?"

Charles's hand trembled as he set down his teacup. His face darkened, and he couldn't lift his head. "Yes… I know. I'm a terrible father. But… I'm only human. I can't bring myself to confront her."

The duke inwardly clicked his tongue in disapproval but knew it wasn't his place to press further. Every family had its challenges, after all. Fortunately, Astrid was different from Randolph—resilient and wise.

"Very well," the duke said. "As long as you're aware. Just ensure Her Majesty doesn't cross the line. Astrid is like a daughter to me as well."

Charles nodded quietly. He was already planning to name Count Michael as a duke and announce his engagement to Astrid. After their marriage, sending Astrid to live with Michael for a time might even help mend the strained relationship between mother and daughter.

In the hall where the emperor's true method of life extension had been revealed, the assembled warriors sat in a tense silence, each grappling with their own mix of shock, doubt, and an instinctive sense of unease. Among them, an elderly knight with white hair broke the quiet with a heavy sigh.

"I never imagined life extension could mean something so horrifying," he admitted, his voice tinged with despair.

A female mage named Rebecca snorted, responding with biting sarcasm. "Hah, what were you expecting? A 'normal' method for extending life? If it aligns with your conscience, you try it; if it doesn't, you don't. It's as simple as that."

The old knight bristled at her dismissive tone. "So, Rebecca, are you saying you'd actually carry out such a monstrous ritual?"

Rebecca shook her head and sighed. "Of course not. That level of depravity is reserved for the truly wicked. I was merely referring to less extreme methods. So, what? Are you all saying you'd give up on extending your lives?"

Her words ignited murmurs among the gathered warriors, emboldening Rebecca to raise her voice. "Not me! I refuse to give up. I want to live as long as possible. Sure, I wouldn't resort to such abominable practices, but not all methods are that extreme. I'll do whatever it takes to keep living—I still have mountains of work to do!"

Rebecca's fiery determination stirred the crowd. Though the first method had been appallingly brutal, none among them truly wished to abandon their pursuit of life extension. These warriors, who had once dominated their respective eras, had gathered here because their waning vitality weighed heavily on them. Their obsession with life was, in many ways, the source of their strength.

Sensing the shift in the room, Michael signaled to Miaomiao. She stepped forward, holding the space ring aloft, and addressed the assembly.

"[Let us continue the appraisal. But first, as a guardian of knowledge, I propose we destroy this horrifying scroll. Does anyone object?]"

The room remained silent. The secrets held within the scroll were far too dangerous. If such knowledge were to spread, it was impossible to predict what kind of atrocities might arise. Seeing no dissent, Miaomiao lifted the scroll and blew a small breath of fire onto its edge.

Whoosh!

Flames quickly engulfed the scroll, causing it to writhe as if alive. From its surface, countless faces emerged, screaming in agony. The ghastly cries made even these hardened warriors wince in discomfort. Were it not for their mental fortitude, someone's very soul might have been tainted by the scroll's malevolent energy.

The faces on the scroll twisted with pain, their expressions a testament to suffering. However, as the flames consumed the scroll, the faces gradually began to relax. The agonized screams subsided, replaced by an eerie calm. Some faces nodded as if shaking off bitterness, while others closed their eyes and smiled peacefully.

When the scroll was entirely consumed by the flames, the faces vanished in a soft glow.

Crown Prince Oswald, watching intently, recognized the faces of his brothers among the spectral images. Seeing their tortured expressions fade into serenity brought him a measure of solace.

"It seems my brothers are finally free," he murmured.

Chancellor Mufasa nodded, his face lined with emotion. "So it would appear. May they all find peace…"

Oswald sighed deeply and shook his head. "I don't know how we'll atone for this. Now that these people know the truth, the empire's infamy will only grow."

Mufasa cast a sidelong glance at the prince, his expression incredulous. It was Oswald who had initiated this sequence of events, and yet he seemed unfazed by the consequences. Oddly enough, his nonchalance was reassuring; such a level of composure would serve him well in the trials of governance.

Sensing Mufasa's gaze, Oswald quipped with a smirk, "Chancellor, you're not thinking of retiring on me, are you? I'll need you at my side to navigate this mess."

"Calling yourself 'sovereign' already, are you? You've much to learn before you're ready for that title," Mufasa retorted dryly, though a faint smile played on his lips.

Oswald laughed—a rare, genuine sound—and nodded. Meanwhile, Miaomiao had finished incinerating the scroll and was pulling the next item from the space ring.

"[Hmm, this one explains a method for absorbing the power of water spirits to convert into mana and slow aging. Seems practical enough.]"

She held up another item, a grin forming on her face. "[Oh, and this is amusing. Crushing mandrake leaves to make a face mask and chewing its roots is said to have rejuvenating effects.]"

But her tone grew somber as she picked up another text. "[This one… well, it clashes with my morals, but I'll explain it anyway. It details a ritual involving the collection of life essence from a hundred children under the age of fifteen. Humans, unlike us beasts, don't regenerate life essence. Taking it won't kill them outright, but it will leave them frail and sickly for life. Is that really so different from killing them?]"