I was Reincarnated as an Incompetent Leader with Zero Popularity who met his downfall early on. Instead of banishing the hidden cheat Protagonist, I decided to embrace him, and somehow, I ended up being treated like a Hero instead. - Chapter 22

“What… what is this?! Something’s happening in my head!”

Chrono’s confused voice echoed from the center of the light. She must have been startled by the sudden acquisition of the Magic Seal skill.

I could understand what she was experiencing. I’d felt the same when I acquired two high-level skills: Slime Slayer and Hero’s Shield. The moment the contract was complete, all the details of the skill and how to use it instantly surfaced in my mind.

In my case, I tried swinging my sword according to the instructions, but the skills didn’t activate because I didn’t meet the conditions. For Slime Slayer, you needed to attack slimes with a sword over a hundred times. For Hero’s Shield, you needed to be a warrior of Gold rank or higher.

The activation conditions for Chrono’s newly bestowed Magic Seal skill were strict. It required magical power equivalent to Silver rank, support magic proficiency equivalent to Silver rank, acquisition of the Magic Weakening skill, and possession of the Magic Swordsman trait. Additionally, the Magic Weakening skill needed to have been successfully used 500 times.

“Don’t worry. She’s capable of fulfilling them,” a soft, feminine voice whispered, brushing against my ears. It wasn’t Chrono or Mian. Though her presence faded as quickly as it appeared, her words erased my doubts, replacing them with exhilaration and the thrill of victory.

“Mr. Alva, so I just do it the same way I’ve always prayed to weaken monsters, right?!”

“Yeah. The target is Mian, not a monster. It’s not a killing technique, but pray as if you were sealing a demon lord!”

“Got it! I’ll do my best to stop her!”

“You’ve got to be kidding me!!”

Chrono’s voice, now full of determination, and my encouragement seemed to only fuel Mian’s fury. The blazing phoenix screeched as it flew from her hands, aiming to attack us.

And then…

“I call upon the divine art of Saint Witch Idea: Close the Gate of the Cursed Spring… Magic Seal!”

Chrono’s clear, commanding voice rang out as she finished the incantation. The air in the room grew thin, as if an invisible hand was squeezing my throat. It lasted less than a second, but the sensation left me looking around in confusion, more aware of the strangeness than the discomfort.

The oppressive heat of the fiery bird was gone. In fact, the phoenix itself—created entirely from magical energy—had disappeared. Not even a single feather remained.

And Mian, its caster, was crouched on the floor, her face pale, trembling like a swan with a broken neck.

“W-what is this? I feel so sick… so cold… freezing…”

The sorceress who had burned with rage moments ago now shivered as if she’d been plunged into a frozen lake.

Though the room no longer radiated heat, it wasn’t cold either. And yet, Mian looked on the verge of freezing to death. Unsure of what else to do, I took off my jacket and draped it over her shoulders.

“It won’t help… you stupid mutt,” Mian muttered weakly, but she didn’t brush the jacket off.

“My body… it feels like a clay doll. Just flesh, heavy and lifeless. All my magic… gone. Taken by someone like Chrono…” Despite having looked down on her so much, Mian’s voice was filled with despair, her eyes welling with tears. Her pride remained intact, making her anguish all the more pitiful.

Chrono, looking panicked, tried to explain.

“I didn’t take it! It’s just a seal! And besides—”

“Shut it, Chrono. You’ve done enough.”

Before she could explain that the seal would eventually wear off, I covered her mouth with my hand. Now was not the time to give Mian any hope. At long last, it seemed I might actually be able to have a rational conversation with this blonde sorceress.