episode_0056

“”…………””

A terrible silence follows. Kale and Pria are drenched in anger. And Ariel makes a disgusted expression as if she is seeing a bug.

why? Why are they in Snowpil Village?

I’m sure… Ariel said she would go to the Imperial Palace and then to the Academy…

However, the scene you see before your eyes is reality, not fiction. Kale and Fria, who always showed a bright appearance, glared at me with frowns, and Ariel looked extremely displeased.

‘…What should I do?’

I wanted to tell them right now that it was dangerous, but I didn’t have time. Because I need to head to the warlock meeting as quickly as possible.

for a moment. Right now, I haven’t shown up in Venice. To avoid being suspected by warlocks, he wore a warlock’s robe and mask.

And not only Kale and Fria, but even Ariel doesn’t know that I use black magic. That means they don’t know who I am behind the mask. That’s probably why he has such a contemptuous expression on his face.

“……..”

After thinking for a moment, I decided on my future actions. As of now, since his identity has not been revealed, let’s run away first and head to the warlock meeting. Because that is the top priority above all else.

In the case of Carl Bent, since he was a priest, there was a high possibility that he would be killed immediately if he was even slightly late.

“Mana Missile-!”

“Vine of Binding!”

However, they wouldn’t leave me alone. The vines growing through the floor try to bind me, and the flying magic bullets rush towards my vital points.

‘Stealth.’

“…….!”

“What…!”

I immediately use stealth to hide myself and quickly start running away. There were a lot of things I wanted to say to them, and a lot of things I had to say, but there was nothing I could do about it now.

As soon as he disappears, the surprised voices of Cale and Pria can be heard from behind. However, it was Ariel who remained silent and looked at my direction.

“There you are.”

[caution! Your identity may be discovered!]

[caution! Your identity may be discovered!]

[caution! Your identity may be discovered!]

.

.

.

.

[I was caught through. Stealth is lifted!]

Kwajangchang-!

At the same time that Ariel, who had remained silent, spoke briefly, my hiding was lifted.

Except for the old man seen at the warlock gathering, no one had noticed the stealth. However, Ariel immediately pierced through my hiding and made me come loose.

‘Damn it… Ariel is not an ordinary person.’

Ariel, like Seris, is a person who will become a legend who will brighten the empire in the future. It was my mistake to rely on common sense and think that hiding would work.

“Do you think some black magic hides its appearance in that way? Disgusting guys.”

“Be prepared. Because the crime of endangering the villagers is not a light one!”

“………….”

When my appearance is revealed by Ariel, Kale and Fria explode with even more intense anger than before and generate magical power.

Ariel looks at me quietly with an expression that seems somewhat uncomfortable.

“……..”

It looks like they have no intention of letting me go easily. It’s probably natural. It wouldn’t be normal to let a surviving warlock live even though he was found right in front of his eyes. If you’re an ordinary warlock.

…But you know. I’m not that kind of warlock. I saved this village, and I will save many villages in the future.

Please don’t look at me like that.

Without realizing it, my hand was stretched out and I was walking towards them. Maybe I wanted to prove my innocence. I’m not sure if there was another reason.

However, when the ground shook due to Kayle and Fria’s magic and I looked at the flame sphere rushing towards me, I realized that it was already too late to explain.

Their hostility and magic filled with magic stood out because they were determined to kill me without fail.

‘…stealth.’

I quickly hide myself and look for a way to escape again. However, once again, Ariel breaks the secret and reveals herself.

“Why are you running away?! Are you saying your life is a waste after causing harm to people!!”

“Or is there a reason why I can’t attack you, you dirty bug!”

The insults hurled at me by people I know feel like daggers stabbing into my heart.

What hurts more than physical damage is mental damage. I froze in place as the pain piled up deep inside my heart.

Gooo…

At that time, mana resonates around Ariel and a storm arises. Mana is so sophisticated and clear that I can’t even imagine.

“Cutting.”

The technology that cut into pieces the bodies of countless warlocks in one fell swoop came flooding back to me. I sense that I cannot completely avoid the magic that has already been fired.

I love you so much!

I managed to twist my body and narrowly avoid it, but the magic passed over my face. If it had been even a few centimeters lower, I would have died instantly.

Buss… rattle.

However, a situation more frightening than death ended up happening. The mask, unable to withstand the slash, shatters and falls, revealing my bleeding face.

The chill caused by the cold winter wind and hot blood meeting is cold, but it will be less than their gaze.

“….younger brother?”

“Why are you…”

“Be…. Nice…?”

They tried to cover their faces with their hands, but the look of emptiness on their faces showed that it was already too late.

“….Miss Ariel.”

“Yes…why…why on earth did you use black magic…”

Ariel’s eyes, which had never been shaken before, shake mercilessly. Ariel, who was surprisingly logical and uninterrupted every time, was unable to continue speaking as if she had become mute.

…Holy shit. This is why I tried to run away quickly…

The first priority would be to let people know about my situation. It’s their choice whether to believe it or not.

“….Can you please listen to me?”

“You… How could you…ah… ah..?”

Ariel mumbles like a broken person, but also looks at me blankly. A single tear flows from her cold eyes.

It was Cale and Fria who came to the front, embracing Ariel.

“Did you… approach aiming for Ariel? Little brother… no, warlock.”

“….He was someone I could think of for the first time in a long time as a truly trustworthy person. That’s disgusting, you.”

When the mask was broken and the gaze of utter disgust and contempt poured down upon my exposed self, I felt like my throat was blocked and I could not say anything.

I barely muster the courage to open my mouth.

“I approached it with that intention…”

“No? Of course you would say that. by the way. How do you explain your use of black magic?”

“That’s…”

“That may be a fact that neither we nor even Ariel, who spent a longer time with us, knew.”

“……..”

Wrong. No matter what I say or what explanation I give, it won’t work on them. Their determined expressions were already full of distrust toward me.

No matter how I explain it, it will be nothing more than a plausible excuse to them.

“Venice….”

“Miss Ariel. I…”

“Until now… have you been fooling me? Are you trying to kidnap me like other warlocks?”

“…No. I really have that intention…”

“Then… why are you a warlock?”

“……..”

There was no way to explain it. This body is actually an alter ego, and the excuse that he was able to use black magic as soon as he assimilated with the alter ego can be seen as an idiot just begging for death.

[Until warlock gathering begins: 38 minutes and 29 seconds.]

Choose.

[Option 1: Prove Ariel’s innocence even if it costs time.

Reward: The user’s name is cleared and Ariel’s trust is gained. / Survival of the alter ego.

Cost: Death of Ariel, Kayle, and Fria, destruction of 15 villages, extensive damage throughout the continent.]

[Option 2: Head to the warlock meeting without claiming innocence.

Reward: Survival of Ariel, Kayle, and Fria. Minimized destruction of the village and damage to the entire continent.

Cost: A false name and stigma that cannot be erased from the user.]

At that time, a status window begins to appear before your eyes. Now I have 38 minutes left. Even if I were to run right now, it would be too late, but time still flies.

The status window forces me to choose between two options. My only survival and innocence. And choosing between the lives of those in front of us and the survival of the continent.

‘…under. Are you giving me this as an option?’

“….I’m sorry. Miss Ariel.”

“You… where are you going! Come here-!”

“…You were no different. Disgusting human being.”

Tiring-

[You have chosen option 2 (a noble sacrifice that no one will notice).]

I chose to sacrifice myself for everyone. As I turned and ran, Kayle and Pria’s curses and magic attacks came from behind, and the sound of someone collapsing was heard.

Now… there is no turning back. I just carry out the mission left to me.

The blood that could be felt from the face had already disappeared due to the black magic, but the hot water flowed down the cheek again.