I created my own system

Alger never saw his brother again, not even when he was killed, for his student never even left his corpse behind.

"What happened?" he could only say while holding the emblem in his hand.

"I was trying to find traces of the remnant forces of the Revolutionary church, while searching in the underworld society I found out a certain unknown organization has been sweeping the continent in finding any sort of artifact"

"And with just that fact you figured it could be them?" Alger questioned while his eyes remained on the emblem.

"Yes, the fact that not even a single trace could be used to track them out when I could easily trace the most notorious people of the underworld is already a point I should take into account. I have been searching for them, it was only the people of the Revolutionary church that could erase traces like this. I became familiar with their ways of hiding"

"There was not even a single concrete testimony I got when I started asking around, and even when I used an element memory search spell I wasn't able to see anything. Grandpa you once made me do a job for an investigation before and you know how well my performance is. Every time the emperor does a search order you would always include me.

So you know my competence especially reading the patterns of how people work behind the scenes. I already studied and with the file given to me I could at least draw a simple conclusion that it was them"

Apollo's long explanation was something Alger had anticipated to hear however there was actually something he wanted to ask.

"When did you know it was my brother?"

"When I studied his mana, it was strangely similar to yours, so I know he was your elder brother Alphonse"

Apollo doesn't know how to answer now since he killed his grandpa's brother without any remorse. This made him guilty, he felt shame for the fact he doesn't feel anything while killing someone.

"Why didn't you call me?" the head of the tower spoke again his voice becoming solemn due to the pain he was feeling.

"I wasn't able to call you because I wasn't sure if he was the same brother whom you often told me about" Now Apollo's voice seemed to quiver as if a child caught doing something bad.

"You told me he was a warm person, someone wise and resolute yet the man I met was like a venomous snake that would bite at any moment. He was different, not only in nature but also in appearance, grandpa he looks young despite being older than you. And the way he speaks reeks of magic speech manipulation. He wasn't warm nor kind as you told me.

I don't want you to meet him and realize that he is no longer the person you used to know. It's better for a stranger to eliminate him than his own brother" Apollo continues to explain though his eyes can't meet Alger's.

"Have you tried speaking to him about me?" the old man asked seemingly losing his light.

"I actually tried penetrating his mind while fighting however there was a wall, somehow I think it was a work of an artifact but he did respond when I called his name"

Alger looked worried however he soon dismissed all his conflicting thoughts and changed to a different question.

"So did you get the information you wanted to get?"Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"Yes, I did and I also still have him"

Alger looked at the worried child knowing that whatever he had become was also due to him. His way of raising the boy made him cold-blooded to the point that killing someone became easy.

"You are not to blame my child, so raise your head," he said while taking his small hand.

"There now I can see you" Then he looked at Apollo's hand and said, "Can you give him to me?"

He asked, as his voice became mellow and calm. With his soothing voice, Apollo waves his hand and a soul protected by a very powerful spell emerges.

Alger felt pain when he realized that his brother's soul was corrupted.

"You tried to cleanse him," he said while holding the soul.

"I tried but his exposure to an unknown power made his soul like this, I worry he might have a hard time passing through the cycle because of this"

"Indeed, I'll take care of him, for now, you must return to Aster, you can't rely on a clone to take all your school work"

"Yes grandpa" he replied while giving the old mage a big warm hug.

"I am sorry" he whispers before breaking away and running to an alley.

Alger who was left standing on the road could only smile as he saw the little boy he raised transform into a man's appearance.

"Nothing to be sorry for, after all, it was me who was supposed to end him"

The previous emperor gave command after knowing his brother's betrayal, it was to execute him upon encounter. For many years Alger tried to evade any news or even evidence about his brother's whereabouts. He was afraid that if he ever found where he was, he might have to take action in accordance with the emperor's order.

Apollo knew this fact since the old mage would open up and tell all his worries. So when the boy recognizes Alphonse not only does he realize he has found a dot that would connect him to the church but also the thorn he must remove for his grandfather. However that all fired back when he realized he moved without informing Alger.

As the sun began to set the old mage continued gazing at the emblem on his hand.

"To think your most powerful spell isn't about attacking but protecting a tiny object" he mumbles as he remembers how he made this badge as a gift for Alphonse who was just accepted as a tower mage.

Suddenly memories flood in and while the clouds slowly turn dark, the old mage can only remember their moments together.

They were close despite Alger being an illegitimate child. He was treated equally by him like he wasn't a child from a maid.

He was warm to him and cherished the gift that Alger gave and even when he betrayed his little brother's trust he couldn't throw away the gift he received from him. Even when the three-hundred-year period of time of being brainwashed didn't stop him from cherishing the last gift he had received.

However, his greed was so deep that the seed of corruption had devoured the last remaining love in his heart.

That day Apollo teleported back to the academy and immediately changed his appearance.

"It's good that Grandpa only thinks that my clone spell is just an ordinary spell and does not work like a hive mind"

The boy said to himself as his multiple bodies became one.

"I am still searching for more traces but for now I am sure they would lay low after discovering Alphonse's death"

[Creator, I already deployed several insect spies as well, by now, they should be observing the situation in Murdo]

"Thanks though I doubt we can see anyone from the church hovering around the dungeon since the imperial family had their hand on the key"

[It was already a good harvest although we didn't get any stat points but our inventory is full of treasures and artifacts]

"It's true that those essences are valuable, it's just we can't risk taking that residual mana from the dungeons since they are known for being contaminated and mixed"

[So should we start studying artifacts?]

"Yes though I check them one by one"

Apollo then opened his inventory and ten objects appeared before him.

"They look a bit weird"

[But it was you who chose these artifacts]

"Yeah you are right," the boy said while feeling that he might have chosen wrongly.

"I should have asked you to appraise them first before taking them"

[I told you so but you are insisting on using your gut feeling to identify strong artifacts]

While Jeremiah scolded Apollo for being childish the young mage decided to test the artifacts first using the system's scanner.

"Wow"

He began to exclaim as he saw a ring that fascinated him.

[That is a very unique ring]

"Yeah," he could only say as he saw the artifact's description.

[Item name: Ring of the Demon King

Origin: A ring that was created from the corpses of hundreds of demons that dyed the land of Murdo. Its powers manifested due to the turbulence of mana and the dungeon's creation

Usage: Can be used to summon demons by corrupting the mana of several magical beasts. The number of affected beasts depends on the wielder's power. Control over the summon demons and natural-made demons. The number of demons controlled depends on the wielder's state of mind

Warning this item may consume its wielder! Be wary!]

"Interesting" Apollo commented before taking another artifact. It was a sword which somehow felt weird since it was only a hilt.

"How am I supposed to use this?" Apollo said feeling confused.