Ch.309309. A New Hero

Dante’s Black Mage.

Collected personally by Luanes Luden Griffin, they were different from ordinary Black Mages—they understood value and negotiation.

Although they handled matters in bizarre ways due to their different perspective on value, they were at least people one could reason with.

That’s probably why they followed Luanes, who aimed to save the world by annihilating all souls.

Saving the world to survive.

It meant they were somewhat reasonable beings.

‘Though their actions suggest otherwise.’

Especially in the case of the Summoner Baktus Nikolai, it was glaringly obvious that his thought process was completely different from normal people.

[But where are the Black Mages?]

“I heard one was captured.”

[Oh, really? I’d love to see what kind of fool that is.]

The Dark Spiritmaster approached, chattering beside me. She seemed to be putting on more of a show, perhaps noticing Stella who kept tapping my back.

[But they only caught one person in that situation? Who is it? Is it the Blood Mage that Findenai faced?]

Dante’s deputy commander.

Like Findenai, he was a master of prolonged battles, Pelestan, who used blood for his magic.

Even in the game, he was the most difficult Black Mage to face after Luanes, and a man with a strong friendship with Luanes.

When creating the Land of Rest, I saw him attack me while helping Luanes, only to be stopped by Findenai.

“No, I heard the Blood Mage Pelestan escaped.”

[Huh? He escaped?]

“That man is blood itself. An ordinary prison couldn’t hold him.”

[So Griffin’s weakness in Black Magic knowledge shows again?]

“I can’t deny that.”

It wasn’t wrong.

If they had properly dealt with the Blood Mage, they wouldn’t have let Pelestan escape after Findenai caught him.

But I didn’t think he could do much more than that.

Dante’s story was already over.

He probably went back to his hometown feeling disillusioned, or eventually overcame his longing for Luanes and moved on with his life.

[Then who was captured?]

“Summoner Baktus, Blood Mage Pelestan, the former Necromancer Yun. None of them were captured.”

[Hmm?]

“They were all undeniably threatening Black Mages. But in fact, the most dangerous one is someone else.”

[Really? I didn’t notice anyone particularly outstanding besides those three.]

“That’s inevitable.”

Because if he had succeeded in using his magic, Greyford wouldn’t exist in its current form.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

I finally sighed after Stella’s continuous punching on my back interrupted me every time I tried to speak.

“Stop that now.”

[I, I just found it a bit fun…]

“I could tell.”

That’s why I just left her alone. It felt more like a massage than actual hitting.

[I’m sorry.]

Blushing with embarrassment, Stella took small steps to stand beside me.

After Stella came to her senses, we headed to the magic tower located on one side of Greyford.

[Wait, you didn’t tell me who it is!]

The Dark Spiritmaster suddenly shouted, but I didn’t bother to answer since she wouldn’t know anyway.

* * *

Magic Tower.

The name might evoke images of a sharp, towering structure, but the actual magic tower in Greyford was only slightly larger than surrounding buildings, not significantly different.

Rather than a place where Mages experimented with magic, indulged in new spells, and worked on their life’s masterpieces…

It looked more like a place where Mages came to work daily, worn out by fatigue. Of course, they were probably working hard inside.

[They’re imprisoned in the magic tower?]

“Yes, I heard they were subdued by the Grand Mage.”

As we entered the magic tower, Mages immediately greeted me. They seemed prepared since I had told Rockpellican in advance that I would visit today.

“Greetings, Spiritmaster!”

A crisp salutation.

Rockpellican’s disciples were now respectful, completely different from when they monitored me to resolve Elenoa’s nightmare.

“The Grand Mage was summoned by His Majesty today, so I, Serizard, the Vice Tower Master, will guide you instead.”

A woman wearing glasses that clearly marked her as a Mage. I responded indifferently to her textbook-like courtesy.

“You must be much busier than I am. Don’t worry about it.”

The atmosphere lightened somewhat as I praised their master, the Grand Mage, and Serizard led me underground.

“Since we’re dealing with a Black Mage, he’s being kept underground.”

[Isn’t that discrimination? Thinking all Black Mages like dark places.]

The Dark Spiritmaster crossed her arms and sulked. Stella beside her asked with a puzzled expression.

[Where was your lab, senior?]

[…A cave.]

Hearing that answer, Stella seemed to regret asking and immediately fell silent. The Dark Spiritmaster bristled at this consideration, but I ignored her.

Because the Vice Tower Master’s chatter was already hard enough to listen to.

“His magic has elevated Griffin Kingdom’s medicine by several levels. Who would have thought it would be used in such a way?”

“…”

“I thought Black Mages were simply evil people who disregarded human life. Like Heralazard. Of course, you’re the exception, Spiritmaster!”

“…”

“He called himself a Disease Mage, but I asked if Plague Mage wouldn’t sound better? The next day, he started calling himself a Plague Mage.”

[Wow, this person really talks a lot.]

[That’s typical of Mages.]

When the Dark Spiritmaster clicked her tongue and muttered, Stella beside her blurted out.

As a Saintess, she must have encountered many Mages, so it was likely from experience.

[I’m a Mage too, you know?]

The Dark Spiritmaster hinted that she was included in the category of Mages. Under pressure to correct herself…

[…That’s typical of Mages.]

Stella stood her ground.

[A-are you talking back to your senior?! Are you implying I talk too much?!]

[Do you know how many hours you kept me yesterday, talking? I memorized everything Deus told you.]

I wondered just how excitedly she must have chattered. I could somewhat understand why Stella was irritated today.

The Dark Spiritmaster had suddenly become a necromancer who corrupted a Saintess that even an arch-demon couldn’t corrupt.

“This way.”

Following the chatty Vice Tower Master, we arrived at a single room underground.

It seemed like it was originally a prison that had been renovated.

The room clearly showed how the treatment of the captured Black Mage from Dante had changed.

A place where iron bars had been removed and reinforced glass installed. Thanks to this, the Black Mage’s face inside was clearly visible.

Disease Mage Becklin.

When other Dante members attacked Greyford riding Goddess Hertia’s clouds…

He was the unfortunate Black Mage who tried to spread plague from the top of the wall but was subdued by Grand Mage Rockpellican before he could even release his mana.

In reality, he was terrible at combat, which is why he was one of the first mobs to be dealt with when fighting Dante in the game.

But his strength couldn’t be measured by simple combat. In terms of potential, he could kill more people stealthily than Heralazard.

“Huh?”

If a plague ever started spreading across the continent, this man should be the first one to look for.

A skinny body, overgrown hair, unkempt beard.

Yet holding a flask in one hand and a portable staff for research in the other, he tilted his head and looked in our direction.

“Serizard, who’s here?”

“You can’t see outside from in there.”

Finding this amusing, Serizard smiled faintly as she looked at Becklin inside.

They clearly seemed quite close.

“How did you persuade him?”

Becklin, a criminal, cooperating with the magic tower. Answering my question, Serizard scratched the back of her head.

“Well, it was practically coercion disguised as negotiation. You’re a necromancer, Spiritmaster, yet you’ve provided various teachings and contributed to Griffin’s development, right?”

[That’s right, that’s right.]

[Yes, yes.]

I didn’t respond to the praise, but the women behind me proudly acknowledged it instead.

“He calls himself a Disease Mage, and I thought he could also help Griffin. Strictly speaking, Black Magic is an unknown territory for us.”

“You were brave.”

I knew better than anyone how much courage it took to advocate for Black Magic in the Griffin Kingdom.

Now, thanks to me, the image had improved a lot, and people’s aversion was gradually decreasing.

“Even if people point fingers behind our backs, if we explore, learn, and move forward, it will eventually help many people living in Griffin.”

And it was successful.

As she mentioned earlier, thanks to Becklin’s help, Greyford’s medical technology had advanced several times over.

“A-actually, he can still do much more. Not just limited to the diseases he knows, but also applying his knowledge more broadly to…”

‘I see, she was talking so much because she was worried I might treat him carelessly.’

I wondered why she was so talkative, but it was to protect Becklin.

It meant that Becklin was now such an important figure that she worried about him even though I was also a Black Mage.

“Don’t worry. I’m only here to ask about the other members of Dante he belonged to.”

“I-I see?”

And then.

‘Hmm.’

Looking at him focusing on his research again, a sudden idea came to mind.

When I opened the door and entered, Becklin jumped up from his chair in surprise and pointed his staff at me.

“S-Spiritmaster! You came looking for me?! Are you going to make me bleed from every orifice until I die?!”

“…”

“Huh?! Tell me! How, how are you going to kill me!”

“…”

“Hey! You bastard!”

“…”

“Uh! Huh?! Uhhh!”

As I silently stared at him without bothering to answer, Becklin eventually slowly put his staff on the desk, glancing at me.

“Please spare me.”

Then he knelt down and bowed his head.

“That’s good.”

I expressed satisfaction seeing his behavior.

“If you hadn’t backed down, I would have immediately left the room, judging you useless.”

I need a barking dog, but one that knows exactly when to bark.

I wasn’t sure if Becklin knew when to bark, but he certainly seemed to know when to be quiet.

Pride would be an issue, but.

“W-what brings you here?”

Not bad.

Although his life was at stake, I quite liked his attitude of continuously researching magic.

“Disease Mage Becklin.”

“I-I’m a Plague Mage.”

“…”

“I’m sorry!”

He immediately banged his forehead on the floor. Looking down at him, I spoke again.

“Plague Mage, Becklin.”

“Yes!”

He leaned forward while kneeling, ready to listen attentively.

I was going to ask about Dante’s whereabouts, but a better idea came to mind.

“It may sound ridiculous, but a situation has arisen where you are needed.”

The Griffin Kingdom needed Black Mages.

Just as poison can sometimes be medicine…

Griffin needed to identify, prevent, and treat poison through the poison of Black Mages.

In that sense, I alone as a necromancer was not enough.

“What? Y-you need me?”

As he looked up at me with a stunned expression, I slowly extended my hand and asked.

“Would you like to become a hero of this land?”