My Uncle is the Strongest Dark Mage

Chapter 58

Cain does not engage in any outdoor activities.

A supreme hikikomori who could live his entire life confined to a room if he so chose.

However, even he was occasionally tempted to go outside.

Not to the veranda that merely mimicked the outdoors, but to the real world beyond the entrance door.

"......."

His face was expressionless, but someone who knew him well would notice it was subtly uncomfortable and dissatisfied.

Sitting on the bed, Cain stared at his smartphone screen and clicked his tongue.

The current battery level displayed on the screen was 60 percent.

Despite having kept the charger plugged in since last night, the number had not changed any further.

It should have reached 100 percent by now.

This was clearly a smartphone device issue.

More precisely, it was a fault in the internal built-in battery component.

"......This is annoying."

Unable to hold it in any longer, Cain finally voiced his frustration.

With a scowl, he irritably tossed the smartphone onto the bed.

No matter how deep Cain's expertise in black magic and other magical aspects was, this was something he couldn't fix.

This was a problem with the component itself, not something that could be solved with spells.

Strictly speaking, it was the domain of a professional technician like a blacksmith rather than a magician.

Sure, he could learn to do it, but it would be far more efficient to just buy a new one rather than go through the trouble of making a new one.

Moreover, even if he made one himself, it would only be a knock-off, not an authentic product.

This wasn't the Hwan Empire; there was no reason to use defective parts that could cause problems.

'Should I buy a new one? Or would it be better to just replace the battery component?'

How much time is left on my contract?

I think I bought it when I settled in the capital.

With about two years having passed, it was just about time for the contract to end.

Maybe this is a good opportunity to buy the latest smartphone model.

It's not like I'm short on money, after all.

"......."

Once decided, I should go quickly before it becomes a hassle.

With that thought, Cain got up from the bed.

As he picked up his smartphone, a sudden thought came to him, and he muttered it aloud.

"Should I get the kid a new smartphone too while I'm at it?"

Unlike his own, the kid's smartphone seemed to have been replaced not long ago, but what did it matter?

The contract penalty could be paid off easily.

As mentioned earlier, he had more than enough money.

In fact, Cain was wealthier than the king of this country or the emperor of the Hwan Empire.

"......."

Once he made up his mind, he acted immediately.

He knew that the longer he postponed, the less he wanted to do it, so he acted decisively.

As soon as Cain opened the door and stepped out, he glanced around the living room.

Arina was nowhere to be seen in the living room.

Was she in her room?

'She usually complains about her room being too stuffy and often studies in the living room.'

It seemed that since Cain wasn't lying on the sofa, she had gone back to her room.

The fundamental reason she studied in the living room was because she didn't want to be away from Cain's side.

Whether it was always like this or if it changed after their parents died, she was someone who felt lonely.

It was a kind of affection deficiency.

Her usual behavior pattern, akin to a good girl syndrome, wasn't for nothing.

With these thoughts, Cain crossed the living room and headed straight to her room.

"Hmm."

Meanwhile, at that moment, Arina was staring intently at the Magic Restraint on her desk, her brows furrowed.

She was deep in thought, arms crossed as if facing a lifelong rival.

'Should I use this? Or not?'

It felt unsettling.

The Magic Restraint that was used on the wrist of the perpetrator during the Magic Boost incident.

The memory of the arm being severed while the restraint was still attached, with blood soaking the device, was vividly etched in her mind.

She had received it back as personal property, and even cleaned it thoroughly with bleach, but...

Using it was still quite uncomfortable.

If she sprayed luminol reagent on it right now, it would probably reveal a scene reminiscent of a crime scene from a detective drama.

Yet, she couldn't not use it.

If she hadn't known about it, that would be one thing.

But having experienced its efficiency firsthand, she couldn't escape its necessity.

She had already become someone who couldn't train her Mana Manipulation without wearing the restraint.

"......."

A fierce battle between physical comfort and mental discomfort raged within her.

A dragon with lightning in its jaws and a tiger cloaked in earth, vying for dominance over land and sky, creating a dazzling confrontation.

It was a battle of titans, a clash of superhumans that could be called a world-altering struggle.

"Hey, kid."

"Eek?!"

Just as the battle was tilting towards the dragon, the side of physical comfort.

The sudden entrance of the Absolute, bursting into her room without warning, instantly nullified the internal struggle.

With a strange sound, Arina jumped up in shock.

She then stubbed her toe on the desk leg, gasped silently, and collapsed to the floor in silent agony.

An indescribable, sharp pain coursed through her toe like an electric shock.

"......?"

Watching this bizarre circus unfold before him, Cain tilted his head slightly, looking down at her.

Why was she so startled?

Was she looking at something inappropriate?

Though he wasn't the type to scold or stop her, he wondered if it might be too early for Arina.

"Do you need more time? Should I go out and come back in five minutes?"

It was a rare display of consideration from Cain, who might show such kindness once a year.

Feeling belated embarrassment, Arina nodded silently.

She needed a moment alone, just as he had suggested.

Click.

A heavy silence fell between them, separated by the closed door.

After the promised five minutes had passed.

This time, Cain knocked on the door first and spoke in a calm tone.

"Kid. Can I come in now?"

"......Yes, come in."

As Cain entered, Arina, still slightly flushed, looked at him while clearing her throat.

However, her right foot, still twitching slightly, indicated that the pain hadn't completely subsided.

"What's the matter?"

Her tone, trying to change the subject in a hurry, was the same as usual.

But was it just Cain's imagination that it sounded like a reprimand for barging in without warning?

"Are you okay? You still seem to be in pain."

"......."

Should this be considered considerate?

Or inconsiderate?

At times like this, it's better to just pretend not to know.

She pouted her lower lip, annoyed that he ignored her attempt to change the subject.

"Sit over there."

Unaware of Arina's feelings, Cain calmly approached her and forcibly sat her in a chair.

Then, kneeling before her, Cain touched her injured leg here and there.

That sight reminded her of the memory of when she first met Cain.

'Back then, my uncle treated me like this too.'

The memory of that day brought a smile to Arina's face as she looked at Cain.

"There, all done."

As expected, the pain had completely disappeared.

Surprised by this fact, Arina wiggled her toes this way and that.

She hadn't noticed it when they first met, but now she could see a faint trace of magic power remaining.

"Is this also black magic?"

Could there be healing magic among black magic techniques?

In response to her question, Cain stood up nonchalantly and answered.

"There is healing magic in black magic, but it's mostly used for destruction."

It's a medical technique derived from cutting, sewing, and reassembling corpses.

In terms of a hospital, it would be akin to surgical operations.

"This is magic. Simple healing magic at that. If you learn a little, you could use it right away."

Since it was just a minor injury from stubbing her toe on a desk leg.

"If you want to learn, I'll write down the ritual and pattern later. So you won't have to worry about stubbing your toe on a desk leg again."

"I won't bump into it again."

Does he think of her as someone who constantly stubs her toes on desk legs?

Her voice tone rose slightly, as if she found it ridiculous.

As if the earlier incident was forgotten, her brightened demeanor made Cain chuckle as he added.

"Before, when I got hurt, I had to take care of it myself. I'm quite confident in the healing aspects of magic."

And it's not just confidence.

He could get a license and work as a doctor right away without any issues.

He just doesn't have the motivation to work, that's all.

"Now that you've perked up, let's go."

"......Where to?"

Is he suggesting they go to the living room together?

Realizing he hadn't explained, Cain belatedly responded to Arina's question.

Or rather, he hadn't had the chance to explain due to Arina's commotion.

"Outside. My smartphone is broken, so I'm planning to buy a new one. While I'm at it, I'll get you one too."

"......You're going out voluntarily, Uncle?"

Was that the surprising part?

Even so, her shocked expression, as if she had seen a ghost, was quite hurtful.

There was no need to turn pale like that.

"Oh, I'm fine. It's not inconvenient to use."

But she quickly regained her composure and shook her head while looking at her smartphone.

"But wouldn't it be nice to upgrade? Kids these days are always nagging their parents to buy them the latest models."

"Mine is already quite new."

"But there's an even newer model out."

"It's just a plus sign added to it."

Apart from a slightly larger screen, nothing else has changed.

No matter how she thought about it, there was no need to change it right away.

Since Arina didn't use her smartphone much, other than for calls and texts, unlike other kids who were always on social media or playing games.

It was a stark contrast to Cain, who was always glued to his smartphone.

"Well, if that's the case."

There was no need to force her to change it.

But he decided he should replace it with the next new model.

So she wouldn't have an excuse like this again.

"Then I'll go alone?"

"Wait a moment."

Although she had no intention of changing her smartphone, that was one thing, and this was another.

It had been nearly a month since their last outing together, since the Laila Ruby concert.

'Whether to wear the Magic Restraint again isn't the important thing.'

She could resume training after they returned, but opportunities to go out with Cain were rare.

Realizing this, Arina's eyes lit up as she approached Cain.

"Wait 10 minutes, no, 5 minutes. I'll be ready in no time."

"We're just going out to the front of the house, what preparation do you need? Let's just go."

"3 minutes! I'll finish getting ready in 3 minutes!"

Shouting urgently as if conducting a losing negotiation, Arina pushed Cain out of the room.

Pushed out of the room by her, Cain stood dumbfounded, staring at the firmly closed door.

As soon as the door closed, a loud commotion could be heard from outside.

'She might hurt her toe again like that.'

She could have taken her time.

Before he could say that, he was pushed out, so he just scratched the back of his head and adjusted his horn-rimmed glasses that had slid down his nose.

"3 minutes, huh. Should I make some cup noodles?"

He figured, no matter how rushed she was, it wouldn't end in 3 minutes.

It would probably take at least 10 minutes.

That would be enough time for the cup noodles to cook and be eaten.

"......."

Glancing once more at Arina's closed door, Cain headed towards the kitchen.

"Oh, I should have considered the time to boil the water. I need to eat quickly."

......thinking such idle thoughts.