episode_0100

Two days had passed since the Black Mage was killed.

With the joint practice session just one day away, the inside of the academy held even more fervent heat than usual.

Non-Combat students always crawled around listlessly and awkwardly, but Combat students all had completely excited expressions. From tomorrow, they could legally beat up their seniors and juniors. How could they not be excited?

“Down with the first years! Down with the freshmen!”

“Waaaaaak!”

“Let’s show the dignity of seniors! Let’s show them how great an achievement it is to be born one year earlier!”

“Second years! Second years!”

“Let’s get revenge on the disciple of GaeByeok who shattered our haven!”

“Ah, about that…”

“What.”

On one side of the academy, the spirited voices of the second years resounded.

“Let’s take down the second years who are messing around just because they were born a year earlier!”

“Kkiiiiiiiiiek!!”

“We’re the year with the ‘humans who met a Great Mage and survived’, you know. If you mess around, you’ll all die.”

“We are the Golden Generation! Grace and Asel will do it all! Right, Asel?”

“Get lost.”

“What.”

On the other side, the shouts of the first years continued from morning till evening.

Asel, who happened to be passing by, forced himself to ignore their embarrassing behavior and opened a book. He even put on glasses, clearly intending to focus. Of course, they were non-prescription glasses.

‘The atmosphere seems too overheated.’

Excited about the joint practice session? That much was fine. Since it was an event that affected grades, it was understandable to rush into it risking their lives.

Above all, since family might visit, they had no choice but to work hard to show them a good appearance.

However, the gap between the first and second years, with a few exceptions, was almost as wide as the sky and the earth.

To begin with, few people expected much from the match between the first and second years. Both sides were considered lower years in the academy, and everyone’s attention was focused on the match between the third years, who were preparing to graduate, and the fourth years, who were graduating.

Third-year students from the academy were strong enough to be immediately put into real combat without problems.

First years could certainly hold their own, but third years could be expected to show remarkable activity. This meant the skill difference was extreme.

A match where they would unfiltered display the results of the education they received for 3, 4 years naturally had to attract everyone’s attention. This was historically natural. Surprisingly, no one expected the match between the first and second years.

But this year, the situation was a little different.

“Who are we? The year with the disciple of GaeByeok, a Weiham Mage, belonging to the Witch Society, and a Mage who returned alive from Virsia.”

“Hey, hey, where did you sell off the Princess of the Duchy of Valdemar, the Princess of Baidel, and the Lady of Hargelin!”

“Ah, damn it. Won’t you fix your way of speaking? Do you really want to die? And where did Celine go?”

The freshmen’s origins were extraordinary. The Great Mage’s direct favorite disciple, the youngest Aura Expert, and so on. The first year of the academy was a place filled with individuals who might have already earned nicknames if they had gone to the battlefield.

At that point, one couldn’t help but think this:

“Huh? Aren’t we just as good as the second years?”

In reality, it was a fully possible story. Of course, this only applied to those who currently held the top two positions (Valedictorian and Salutatorian).

Although few people had actually seen their skills, the rumors of their greatness made people think they could fully win against the second years who lacked real combat experience.

So they considered that even if they themselves lost, if those people won, it would be the same as the entire first year winning. This was because the moment even one first year won against a second year, bonus points were given to the entire year.

“Asel, is he a god!”

“Grace, is she a goddess!”

“H-Honestly, I think Ellen is prettier.”

“What? This bastard…”

Thanks to this, the expectations for the first-year valedictorian and salutatorian within the academy were incredibly high, piercing the sky. An ordinary person would have drowned long ago.

Unfortunately, the current valedictorian and salutatorian were all individuals who surpassed the category of ordinary people. There was no need to mention Grace, the regressor, and Elena and Ellen also spent their daily lives with a lukewarm expression towards the expectations people sent their way.

Asel was also the same. He transcribed a romance novel borrowed from the library onto Aleph and let out a deep sigh.

“This is the third volume.”

[Mhm mhm. Good. It was a very interesting story. I never thought the heroine would kill the protagonist at the end. Even though he was cheating, I really didn’t think she’d actually murder him. Fascinating.]

“…I feel this every time I transcribe. These novels. Is the genre really romance? Every time, someone dies at the end, betrays someone, or commits adultery.”

Aleph said that not all romance novels were the same kind of romance, and strongly demanded that Asel only transcribe novels with specific titles, carefully selected. Asel accepted with a reluctant expression, and then read and transcribed the novels lying around in the library…

“This isn’t romance.”

The content of the novels was all bizarre. To the point where it would be more fitting to call them horror or terror genres instead of ‘romance’.

But Aleph seemed to think differently, and spoke with a confident voice, as if he were a seer.

[These are novels that were popular during the time Cromwell lived. At that time, Cromwell wouldn’t listen to me so I couldn’t read them. Fortunately, there was a reward for enduring without reading them. They are beyond expectation. Classics are indeed more delicious.]

“About your taste…”

[Please respect it. Doesn’t master also have peculiar tastes? Explosive chests! Pelvis! Don’t you like such things?]

“Damn it. Whose master is this living where? I want to see their face.”

[Wasn’t it? I naturally assumed so since you hung out with Grace or Elena every time.]

“No. To begin with, I don’t have a preferred body type.”

[Hmm. That being said, during the blood-sucking act yesterday, a tendency for blood flow to concentrate in the lower body was observed, however.]

Aleph chuckled and continued speaking.

[Well, let’s just say master’s words are right.]

“Why is this bastard so insolent lately—”

The moment Asel contorted his face and blurted out.

“Uwak!”

Thump!

Someone who sprang out from the alleyway and Asel collided directly.

Asel didn’t budge at all. This was because the shield moved and pushed the attacker’s body away before he could even react. Thanks to this, only the person who sprang out from the alleyway was sent flying backwards and rolled on the floor.

“Ow ow…”

He was wearing an academy cadet uniform. His build was small, and his hair and eyes were a rare, rare green. Even just having him in front of them, the fragrant scent of grass brushed past their noses.

These were all characteristics of a Druid. Asel, who hadn’t expected to meet a Druid in such a place, extended a hand towards the fallen man with a sorry expression.

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going.”

Not knowing the other’s year, Asel responded with polite language for now. Then the Druid also smiled awkwardly and took Asel’s hand to stand up.

“Ah, no! I also acted too hastily… I’m sorry!”

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“Yes!”

The Druid replied with a cheerful attitude. Asel was about to smile back, but suddenly felt a sense of incongruity and narrowed his eyes.

“…That’s certainly fortunate.”

“Ehehe… I haven’t had any strengths since long ago except for being sturdy. More importantly, how did you push me away? Was it magic? Or psychic powers?”

“It was magic. I am Asel, belonging to the Magic Faculty.”

“Ah, Asel!”

The Druid clapped his hands together as if he knew Asel’s name.

Asel no longer looked at the Druid with any expression.

Because he had remembered.

“The famous disciple of GaeByeok-nim! The pride of the freshmen!”

The plan the Black Mage had. Gorcel’s race written there.

“I’m also a first-year student just like Asel-nim! I haven’t been back long because of the gr-group project… Ugh, I’m sorry. My body trembles just thinking about the group project.”

The only son of the forest and nature in the academy.

“Ah, I apologize for the late introduction. I’m Gorcel. My race is Druid, and I belong to the Magic Faculty.”

Druid, Gorcel.

“Nice to meet you!”

The puppet of a devil worshipper appeared before Asel.

***

“Wow, this is delicious! It’s a taste I can’t easily get in my hometown!”

Gorcel made a fuss while eating the ice cream sold at the cafe. Asel roughly forced a smile, sipped his cold coffee, and thought deeply.

‘It’s clear that the timing of Gorcel’s return is recent is to participate in the terror attack that will happen during the joint practice session.’

The pieces of the puzzle fit together too well to think it’s a coincidence.

There was no need to doubt from the start. The Black Mage had openly mentioned Gorcel’s name, and his name was clearly written in the directives and plans.

He excluded the possibility that the Black Mage was bluffing. There was no reason to do so in that situation, and no reason to include a diversion in a plan that wouldn’t be shown to others.

Thus, the proposition that Gorcel was a devil worshipper didn’t change.

He pretended to be an innocent boy in front of him, but was his true intention really the same as his outward appearance?

“I’m glad it suits your taste.”

Asel opened his mouth with a slight smile, trying his best not to reveal the doubts he held inside.

Gorcel also smiled brightly and scooped up the ice cream.

“It’s so delicious! To the point where I wonder if something like this should even exist!”

“Haha.”

“Um, but no matter what, shouldn’t I pay for what I ate? If Asel-nim pays for everything, that’s a bit…”

“It’s fine. Let’s consider it payment for falling down.”

“Ugh… but…”

Gorcel mumbled with his spoon and swung his legs between the chairs. At his cute appearance, the heads of the women in the cafe slowly turned towards Asel and Gorcel.

“Oh my, a cute gentleman and a handsome gentleman are together. Don’t they look just like a picture?”

“Exactly. Should we ask if we can join them?”

The women’s murmurs entered Asel’s ears clearly. But even though he heard the compliment about being handsome, he inwardly gnashed his teeth.

‘Why is he acting like that in front of another guy since a while ago? Is he gay?’

As a fellow man before being a devil worshipper, Asel’s liking for Gorcel began to crawl on the floor. Asel’s insides twisted so much that he would immediately launch lightning mercilessly the moment their bodies touched.

“Hmm… then Asel-nim.”

Fortunately, Gorcel’s misbehavior stopped just before Asel went mad. He put his spoon on the table and continued speaking with an awkward expression.

“Is there anything you like that you could tell me? No matter what, as a Druid, it doesn’t feel right just receiving and moving on.”

“There’s no need for you to do that.”

“But…”

Asel conversed with Gorcel as if nothing was wrong, while also discussing with Aleph.

‘I’ll be meeting Gorcel at the rendezvous point at midnight tonight. How can I thwart the terror attack at the academy?’

[If you think about why they take sacrifices, it’s simple. The most basic things needed for a demon’s descent are hundreds of living humans, heads, and souls. Here, they fully descend by sprinkling the corpse or blood of a powerful being.]

‘Hmm.’

[Gorcel will probably carry out the kidnapping for the last stage among these. As you saw on the list, considering they said they only need to take one of the sacrifice candidates, they are likely trying to carry out the final procedure of the descent through one relatively young and great person.]

“So, Asel-nim…”

[And master is also one of those candidates.]

‘I understand.’

Asel nodded and tapped the part where Aleph was with his fingertip.

‘I have a rough idea of what to do. Thanks.’

[Don’t mention it.]

He chuckled at the playful Aleph, finished his coffee, and abruptly stood up from his seat.

Then Gorcel, who had been chattering, looked up at Asel and showed an awkward expression.

“Ah, I’m sorry, I talked too much by myself.”

“Not at all. There were quite a few interesting stories. The story about Green Ground, the organization created by Druids, carrying out large-scale hunter processing work was great enough to pique my interest.”

“Oh, really? Then could we talk a little more?”

“That might be a little difficult.”

Asel glanced roughly at the clock hanging in the cafe and gave a wry smile.

“I have a next appointment. It seems we’ll have to promise for next time. I would be grateful if you could consider today as me repaying you for the collision.”

“…I see. Alright.”

Gorcel stood up from his seat, openly showing signs of depression. Asel didn’t give him a glance, paid for the drinks, and left the cafe.

“See you next time.”

“Yes, see you at the academy.”

The two exchanged greetings towards each other, then moved their steps towards their respective destinations.

“…”

Asel glared at the back of his green head, then stretched out his hand towards the dark alleyway where no sunlight entered.

…Thump.

In his hand when he took it out again, he held a black mask.

***

Wednesday, midnight, when the joint practice session would take place.

“…”

The man wearing a mask sat in a bar located in a remote area of the academy grounds, in a slum, and quietly killed time.

There were quite a few other people in the bar. But no one even glanced at the man.

‘Damn it, look at the atmosphere. Is he a serial killer?’

‘I haven’t seen a normal person among those who cover their faces. If I mess with him and it goes bad, I’m the only one losing.’

This was because the oppressive aura emanating from the man’s entire body was tremendous. He was just sitting in a chair, having ordered a beer, and doing nothing. But just looking at him felt like all the vitality was draining from their bodies.

Saaaaa…

It was because of the dense Black Mage’s magic power that dominated the space. The magic power, like a well-trained dog, bit away at the life force of those who cast their eyes upon its master, and immediately brought down the mace of retribution.

It was not the man’s intended result.

But, it was a familiar act for Black Mages.

“…Hmm.”

He adjusted the position of the mask covering his face and tapped his leg while sitting in the chair, as if waiting for someone endlessly. The bar owner dared not tell the person openly advertising ‘I am a Black Mage’ to get lost because they were ruining the mood for drinking.

After 10 minutes passed like that, someone wearing a robe entered the bar. He quickly scanned the surroundings for a moment, then plumped down in the seat opposite where the Black Mage was sitting.

“Sorry I’m late.”

Beneath the robe, where green hair slightly peeked out.

The Druid spoke, emitting the scent of grass.

“There was a situation.”

[…Situation?]

The Black Mage let out a hollow laugh at the Druid’s excuse.

His voice was very strange. An alien voice, as if an adult man and woman were speaking simultaneously, quietly swam through the inside of the bar.

At that voice full of annoyance and dissatisfaction, the movements of the customers who had been quietly observing the situation suddenly stopped, then soon began to tremble violently like aspen trees.

There is power contained in the voice a mage speaks with. Depending on what intent, imagery, or emotion is put into the voice, it can sound very peaceful or terrible to others.

The Black Mage’s voice was clearly the latter.

[Late for our appointment, and that’s the only excuse you have?]

“…If I was unpleasant, I apologize.”

Gorcel uttered in a low voice. The Black Mage chuckled and tapped the finger he had placed on the table.

[Only apologize when I tell you to.]

“…What?”

The moment Gorcel questioned.

Saaaaaa…!

The darkness that had settled throughout the bar writhed as if it were a living creature. Gorcel was about to react immediately to that horrifying sight, but the Black Mage was faster.

[First Commandment]

[My word is law.]

The magic instantly completed was immediately manifested. The writhing darkness was ejected at subsonic speed and pierced Gorcel’s entire body like an ice pick.

“…”

The moment Gorcel contorted his face and was about to retaliate against the sudden attack.

Thud.

The Black Mage softly gripped Gorcel’s neck with a hand made of shadow and whispered.

[Now, apologize.]

That voice was overtly filled with ridicule and contempt.

[If I don’t like it, I will break your neck bones one by one.]