Chapter 197

The eastern side of Diotes Island was a place where even the islanders never sailed their boats, due to the strong currents and high waves.

If one were careless, their boat could be swept away by the rough currents and become a water ghost.

Therefore, the eastern beach was always deserted and quiet.

It was a place where the islanders had no reason to visit.

On that eastern beach.

Several ships were approaching, braving the rough currents.

They were tossed precariously by the waves, but they held firm, suggesting they were sturdily built.

Finally, the ships safely anchored at the eastern beach.

Figures clad in black robes swiftly disembarked.

There seemed to be at least two hundred of them.

As soon as they all landed, the ships turned back towards the sea.

The expressions of the black-robed figures changed.

“Wait! Weren’t you supposed to wait here?”

“How are we supposed to leave if you go like this?”

“Stop! Stop the ship!”

The man who seemed to be the captain shouted from the ship in a booming voice.

“Our job is only to bring you here! We don’t know anything about leaving!”

“What the…?”

“Damn it! Are you kidding me?! Let’s stop the ship, Master!”

“No, it’s too late.”

The middle-aged man, addressed as “Master,” shook his head.

As he said, the ship was already quite far from the shore.

“And there’s no need to cause unnecessary trouble with the collaborator that the Teacher arranged.”

“…”

The robed figures fell silent at the middle-aged man’s words.

This alone made it clear that he held the highest position among them.

The middle-aged man’s name was Glick.

He was one of only two individuals who held the title of Master among the dark mages who were barely surviving in the shadows.

Originally, the title of Master was given to a mage who had completely mastered at least the advanced magic of their field.

But Glick’s advanced magic was incomplete.

Because all the high-level magic, and even the advanced magic, had been sealed in the secret archive by the Saint and the religious order.

The only magic left was what had been painstakingly passed down through memory.

That was the grim reality of dark magic.

Even an incomplete mage was called a Master.

But.

‘We will end this miserable history here. With our own hands.’

Glick’s eyes blazed with determination.

“Master, then how will we escape after successfully completing the mission…?”

One of the dark mages asked.

Glick replied bluntly,

“There will be plenty of ships.”

“Excuse me?”

“We’ll take a ship. They’ll be ownerless anyway.”

“Ah.”

Only then did the dark mages realize that they didn’t need to return the way they came.

After all, they were planning to kill all the humans on the island and erase any trace of their presence.

“Understood, Master.”

The dark mages nodded.

It was then.

They saw dark clouds gathering in the sky.

“Even the weather is on our side.”

Glick muttered.

If those dark clouds had arrived a little earlier, they might not have been able to reach the island.

And.

Those rain-laden clouds would be a great help in their covert operation.

“Everyone, stay focused and think about your tasks.”

“Yes, Master.”

“Then let’s move.”

“Yes, Master.”

Glick and the dark mages moved.

In different directions.

North and south.

The group, split exactly in half, quickly disappeared.

And.

“I don’t see many promising ones. I wonder if they’ll be of any help.”

A figure suddenly appeared from somewhere.

From the shadows.

The figure’s face was none other than Gulshan, the Shadow.

“That number should be enough. Especially since they’re full of determination.”

A figure with a deep hood walked out from behind a tree.

Natasha, the dark elf.

It was her.

“Oh, you believe that strong determination leads to success? I didn’t know you were that type, Dark.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. It means they can exert power beyond their capabilities.”

Natasha said coldly.

She didn’t like working with someone whose personality clashed with hers, but it wasn’t bad from a business perspective.

Because this was the perfect environment for him to run wild.

Shadows feed on darkness.

And so did this ‘Shadow’.

“Hmph, I can’t even speak.”

Gulshan clicked his tongue and continued,

“By the way, where’s that Professor? He’s not even here to greet us.”

“…Are you serious?”

“Of course.”

“…”

Natasha shook her head, looking at him with pity.

“He’ll take care of things on his own, so don’t worry about it.”

“Cleaning up is a job? He’s got it easy.”

“Then what about the Witch, who’s not doing anything at all?”

“Ah, the Witch is fine.”

“Your standards are so arbitrary.”

“Hehe, well, the Witch is cute. And she’s easy to talk to.”

“…”

She could agree that she was cute.

But easy to talk to…?

What nonsense was he talking about?

“…Enough with the chatter, let’s just go.”

“Hmm? There’s no need to rush. Let’s take it slow, slow.”

Gulshan sprawled out as if he owned the place.

Crack.

“Hey, you…”

“Let’s go, let’s go!”

Gulshan jumped to his feet as if nothing had happened.

Because he knew how troublesome it would be if Natasha got really angry.

And so, the two of them also disappeared into the island.

“Pitter-patter!”

As if on cue, heavy raindrops began to fall.

* * *

Two hours until midnight.

It was already raining.

Heavy rain.

It was time to move.

I spoke to Allen, who was sharing a room with me.

“Allen.”

“Yeah? What is it, Team Leader?”

I had already told him everything.

That there might be enemies targeting me.

That I had asked Elaine to secretly set up alarm magic everywhere.

Perhaps because of that, Allen had a tense expression on his face.

He had his spear placed right next to him.

“I’m going to sneak out and hide.”

“H-Hide? In this rain? Is there really a need for that?”

Allen’s eyes widened.

“There’s something I need to check.”

“Ch-Check what…?”

Seeing my serious expression, Allen just scratched his head and didn’t say anything more.

I grabbed the bag I had packed earlier and got out of bed.

“If anyone asks for me, tell them I went to the bathroom.”

“Uh… O-Okay.”

“There shouldn’t be anyone looking for me since roll call is over.”

I patted Allen’s shoulder.

“You’ve grown. You’ve become stronger.”

“Huh? I appreciate the compliment, but why are you suddenly saying that…?”

“I trust you.”

I smiled and went outside.

* * *

Rip.

As soon as I stepped outside, I tore the scroll I had prepared.

The magic “Owl’s Eye.”

It was an intermediate-level magic that allowed one to see clearly at night, as if it were daytime.

The dark mages would be using it as a matter of course, so I couldn’t fall behind.

My vision, which had been pitch black, brightened.

I immediately left the lodgings.

Elaine’s alarm magic only activated for those moving from outside to inside.

It required a fairly complex formula, but it was a simple task for a genius mage like Elaine.

That’s how I was able to leave the lodgings quietly.

And.

The North Temple.

I headed there without delay.

I had to arrive before them.

To lie in wait.

I had already chosen a hiding spot during the day.

Tap, tap.

I ran with all my might.

* * *

‘As expected, I’m not late.’

My calculations were perfect.

It was possible because I knew the dark mages’ movements.

It was also because the lodgings were closer to the temple than the eastern beach.

I immediately hid in a secluded spot with thick bushes.

It would be extremely difficult for anyone to notice someone hiding in this heavy rain.

It would be impossible unless they were monsters like the Red Rain executives.

But I had prepared a scroll.

An Invisibility scroll.

It was a useful item for doing more than just hiding.

Very useful.

And so, I waited.

Patiently.

“…”

How much time had passed?

Finally, the uninvited guests appeared.

Exactly twenty of them.

I didn’t need to count to know.

Eighty out of the hundred would be heading to massacre the people in the north, and the remaining twenty would be heading to the North Temple.

It would be the same in the south.

Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap!

About ten of them ran up the steps of the temple.

The rest stayed below, guarding the surroundings and preparing for any unexpected situations.

A divided group.

It was the perfect situation for me to act.

Rip.

I carefully tore the Invisibility scroll.

The sound was completely drowned out by the intensified rain.

My footsteps were the same.

Especially since I was moving as quietly as possible.

I approached one of the dark mages who was watching the path, holding my breath.

My right hand gripped a sharp dagger.

This was better for a silent takedown.

I measured the distance with my eyes.

At the same time, I checked the movements of the other dark mages.

None of them were paying attention to me.

‘Now.’

Thump!

I covered the target’s mouth with my left hand.

My right hand, holding the dagger, was already moving.

Thud!

The dagger plunged into his heart.

Instant death.

I slowly lowered the body to the ground, making sure there was no sound.

And.

Rip.

I tore the Invisibility scroll on the corpse.

The body vanished instantly.

Perfect.

And it was a method only I could use.

Using expensive scrolls like this was something the protagonist could only dream of.

I moved towards my next prey.

One of them glanced in my direction, but didn’t notice anything strange.

They didn’t all know each other’s exact positions.

And even though they were on guard, they were only watching the path.

It was natural for them to think that no one would approach from any other direction.

I was exploiting that blind spot.

I calmly approached my next target.

Pitter-patter!

The sound of the rain masked my presence and sounds.

Thump!

Covering the mouth.

Thud!

One stab.

Rip.

Tearing the scroll to hide the body.

They still hadn’t sensed anything strange.

I picked up the pace.

To the next target.

Thump! Thud! Rip.

Thump! Thud! Rip.

Thump! Thud! Rip.

When I had created exactly five corpses.

Finally, one of them noticed something was wrong.

He looked back and seemed to realize that their numbers had dwindled, leaving a conspicuous gap.

“Huh? Wait. What’s this?”

“What’s wrong?”

“Where did everyone go?”

“Where would they go…? Hmm?”

Confusion filled the faces of the dark mages.

“…Did they go up?”

“Damn it, there’s no way that many of them would go up without saying anything. This isn’t it. Something…”

One of the dark mages said that and gestured with his hand.

A signal to be on guard, as if there was an enemy.

The dark mages’ expressions turned serious.

I knew I couldn’t continue with surprise attacks like before.

I immediately put away the dagger and drew my Turtle Sword.

And.

Thud!

I kicked off the ground and charged at them.

“Damn it, he’s over there!”

“Invisibility? Damn it, detection magic!”

The dark mages backed away and prepared their magic.

But faster than that.

Thud!

My sword pierced the heart of one of them.

Thump.

The body collapsed.

At that very moment.

The detection magic activated.

My Invisibility magic dissipated.

“Damn it, who are you?!”

“Who sent you?!”

The dark mages shouted with fierce expressions.

I didn’t answer.

Because even the time it took to speak was precious.

I had to clear this place as quickly as possible so I could go back to the lodgings and help my classmates.

Thud!

I kicked off the ground again and charged.

“Damn it, just kill him!”

“Yes, we have to kill him anyway!”

Magic from the dark mages, filled with killing intent, flew towards me.