episode_0036

“…Now rest assured. As for the warlocks… we took care of them all.”

“Thank you…! Thank you for saving me…!”

Ariel looked at Venice, who was giving consolation to the citizens who had been kidnapped by a warlock and had barely been released.

Citizens repeatedly bowed their heads to him, shedding tears. Venice gave them a warm hand and patted them.

‘that’s interesting.’

Amazing. And some interest. This was the feeling that arose when Ariel looked at Venice.

How long has it been since you discovered something this interesting?

When I was young. After passing the time when I couldn’t think properly, I was able to think about myself.

The girl who loved and was interested in everything in the world has disappeared. Only emotionlessness and emptiness remained.

I don’t know why it happened like that. At some point… I lost interest in whatever it was, and the feeling itself seemed to have disappeared.

The colorful world turned colorless, and I even forgot what I wanted to do.

Magic. In a colorless world, it was a small light that shined. I seem to have a greater talent for magic than others, so I often succeed in coming up with what I want.

The forgotten feeling of ‘interest’ began to vaguely emerge.

When I was young. When I, who had no interest in anything else, became interested in magic, my father appointed me a magic instructor.

-oh my god…! With this amount of mana…! You can become an excellent wizard!

The day I first met my magic instructor. I remember the instructor who made a fuss as soon as he encountered me. The sight of him snorting with excitement, as if he had discovered a rare gem.

….Did you really think that was the amount of my magic power?

Even though no one taught me or told me anything, I naturally learned how to condense magical power. As if time passes, the sun rises and the moon rises.

And that self-proclaimed excellent magic instructor couldn’t even figure out my true mana amount.

-This…this doesn’t make sense…?

The day we had our second meeting. Even though I had released only a portion of my magic power, the magic instructor was in a cold sweat. It was so funny that I couldn’t even breathe properly.

-Whoa… Would you like to try this magic…?

It’s so scary!

-This is a bit difficult…!

Kwajangchang.

-….this…!

Crispy.

Still, it wasn’t like I didn’t get anything from the magic instructor. The magic he once showed me soon became part of my knowledge.

-….sorry. I just can’t handle it…

The day of our third meeting. The magic instructor actually left. The gaze that was looking at me until the end was like…

The eyes were full of fear, as if looking at a monster.

After that, my father tried to find a new magic instructor several times, but was all rejected. It seems that the instructor I first met was a better wizard than I thought.

Perhaps my rumor will spread and other people will also hesitate.

‘It doesn’t matter.’

What if there is no instructor? I just need to find out on my own. In fact, it was much more helpful to explore magic on my own.

…It helped. It was just that the few people who were by my side left.

I think I really enjoyed my time with the magic instructor. I think they were a comfort to me as I had no friends since I was young.

…When I see the gnawing feeling that is eating away at my heart, it doesn’t seem to go away.

after that. As time passed and each year passed, my magic power became more and more vast. Unless they put a lot of effort into condensing it, ordinary people couldn’t even breathe comfortably due to the intimidation created by Mana.

“…Cutting.”

Liquid-!

Kwaang-! Quarrr…

A huge stone block in the middle of the mountain behind the house. The rock, which seemed like it couldn’t be lifted even if dozens of adult men clung to it, split in half with a single wave of my hand.

A mock battle with an outstanding wizard. Even in a magical battle with a self-proclaimed archmage, I was always the one looking down.

Even the people I had to look up to as a child ended up wandering beneath my feet.

“…………”

I looked at my hands without thinking. Cold… pale hands that feel cold.

….Monster’s hand.

And the emptiness and loneliness felt throughout my body. It got stronger and stronger as time passed.

It’s unbearably sore… and so cold. A feeling I can’t get used to even though I’ve felt it my whole life.

There was no longer a wizard better than me in the northern territory.

“Not fun…”

The day I became a true monster, my last remaining interest faded away.

As the last remaining color disappeared, I became an impurity dropped from the enchanted world.

with a splash-! Grumble..

The feeling of falling into the sea, into an endless abyss. A space where no one understands no matter how hard you struggle.

Infinite darkness where I don’t even know if I’m floating or sinking.

My emotions sink into the bottomless pit. Without knowing the end, it’s just like it’s slowly disappearing…

like that. Meaningless time passed by in vain. Without even noticing the passing of time, I just lived because I couldn’t die.

“…Damn those warlocks. Another victim has emerged.”

One day. While passing through the corridors of the fortress, I overheard Brother Kyle’s angry voice.

Warlock. It started appearing at some point, kidnapping and torturing good people.

They are like bugs that even kill people.

I heard that a warlock was discovered in our Frost territory as well? But it looks like they haven’t been caught yet.

‘Warlock…l.’

That night. The time when the brightly shining light of the castle faded and everyone fell asleep.

As if I were possessed, I wore a plain black robe that I had left in the closet and never took out, and a crow mask that I used to play with masks as a child.

“….funny.”

My appearance reflected in the full-length mirror was beyond ridiculous. However, this was enough.

I quietly opened the window and threw myself outside. And then I ran towards the Frost territory. The destination was where the warlock was.

The overflowing magical power made even a human body run faster than a carriage, and I reached the Frost territory in an instant.

“………….”

Holding my robe blowing in the strong wind, I sat down on the roof of a house and looked down at the Frost estate.

It was late at night, so everyone was asleep. Except for the occasional guard wandering around, there was no human figure to be seen.

“……..?”

Meanwhile. I saw someone in a black robe in the distance, carrying a swinging sack as if it contained a living thing, and heading somewhere to avoid the guards’ eyes.

‘….found.’

Jumping from roof to roof, I moved so fast that I could not even hear my footsteps, and before I knew it, I had reached the house where the warlock had entered.

Good profit…

“You…what are you!!”

“Eup…Ugh..!!”

“….Hmm.”

As I opened the door and entered the house, I made eye contact with the warlock who took out a person with tied hands, feet, and mouth from a sack and was heading somewhere.

The man whose hands and feet were tied shed tears and shouted with all his might. Even so, I couldn’t hear clearly because it was blocked by the towel.

“This…profit…die!!”

Hiss!

An unknown black awl appeared in the warlock’s hand, and began rushing towards me.

In the case of magical attacks made of mana, afterimages or traces are bound to remain. However, for some reason, that attack could not even be detected.

Kagak-!

I avoided that attack because I didn’t think it would look good. The awl flew straight out and got stuck in a corner of the wall.

“Hmm. This is black magic…”

“What are you saying..! Porridge…!”

“…Cutting.”

Pushuuk-!

I didn’t want to hear the bug talk anymore, so I kept it quiet.

Black magic is… a bit strange. But I don’t want to end up like that bug.

“Other victims are.”

“Mo…Momo I don’t know…Please save me…”

“….Hmm. I didn’t… think about killing you.”

I left the trembling person behind and looked around the room. This victim was probably the last, and nothing unusual could be found.

“Report to the guard. Then we will take care of it.”

“Yes…yes…thank you…!”

I returned home, leaving behind a person who looked like he was going to pass out at any moment. The fortress was still quiet, as if nothing had happened.

“….Warlock.”

Bugs that eat away at the world and must be killed. Since I’m not going to do anything… I’d like to at least trample on some bugs.

From then on, I played the role of a demure northern princess when the sun rose and killed warlocks when the moon rose.

“Miss Ariel? Could you take a look at this?”

“….Hmm? What…wow!”

“Tsk… Haha… I finally did it…! I had a hard time working under these idiots!!”

Then one night, the butler who came up to me, or rather the butler, did something to me, so I couldn’t move my magic at all.

“Close your eyes for a moment… hehe!”

“This son of a bitch…!”

After that. I couldn’t remember very well. When I came to my senses, I found myself locked in an iron cage and subjected to terrible torture every day.

“Giggles… Let’s see if you’re worthy of becoming the Demon God’s vessel?!”

” 끄 …

Pain that cannot be described in words. A headache that feels like your internal organs are being torn apart, and a headache that feels like hitting your head hard several times.

As I inserted the needle and injected something, I felt pain as if my body was burning from the inside.

Like every day. I was tortured. No matter how much I scream, I beg for help.

father and mother. I cried out my brothers’ names, but no one came to me.

A few days passed. My voice is cracked from constant shouting, and my vision is blurred and I can’t see clearly.

At that time, I probably gave up on life. I didn’t feel any hope, and I didn’t even feel the pain that assaulted my entire body.

My hand, which was hanging on the edge of the cliff, gradually begins to slip. Gradually, more and more slipping.

My body is about to fall into endless darkness.

No matter how painful it is, no matter how hard it is, let your grip on holding on until the end lose strength. I just fall down. I will fall to the bottom of an abyss where no one will find me.

And then… it will slowly be forgotten.

….I want to live.

I thought I had given up on everything. As the last moment of life approaches, it’s funny how much you want to live.

Father too. Mother too. Even my brothers couldn’t find me.

Who will find me now…

Tub-

at that time. Through my blurred vision, I could clearly see the man who was holding my hand as it fell, as if he couldn’t let it go.

Black ponytail that looks roughly tied up. And eyes like red roses.

The total amount of magical power felt was quite ordinary, and it did not look like the body of someone who had been trained.

Phuuk-

However, he is a former deacon. No, I defeated the warlock in one go. I couldn’t see clearly due to blurred vision.

After killing the warlock, he immediately started working hard to save me.

…Can you trust me? Even though we don’t even know each other?

Could I hurt you?

“I don’t think you would do that. Isn’t it?”

A man who smiled at my question as if it was obvious and took me out.

“Venice. It’s Venice.”

Venice. He introduced himself as Venice.

‘….Interesting.’

Why, it must be my first time seeing you.

Why is there so much interest?

A few years after the magic, wisps of color began to shine into my world again. At the same time, I, who had been exiled, returned to the ordinary world.

Interesting. And it’s interesting.

How did he understand the warlock’s illusions? How can he fight so well despite being an ordinary person?

Why did I get attacked by a warlock on my behalf?

I’m curious about everything.

“Little friends. Would you like to make a promise with me?”

“Sniff… What kind of promise..?”

“…what happened today. Not telling anyone. Can you do that?”

“But…then no one recognizes you..?”

“It’s okay. Then… let’s do this.”

-It’s a secret mission given to prospective heroes!

When I placed my index finger on the mask and on the child’s lips, the child nodded vigorously and soon left with the adults.

“….Ha. Not even kids.”

…If it were normal, it wouldn’t have been something that would have been looked upon as childish.

Why is there more interest?

I still don’t know anything about you. What you do and what you think.

So… I get it. Everything about you.

Looking at the small miracle that had come for the first time in years, Ariel’s lifeless purple eyes began to shine brightly.

***

Barr..

‘…Wow. What kind of chill suddenly…’

Is it because the day is cold? I felt an unknown chill.