episode_0101

“……No matter what, this is going too far.”

The spell technique Asel used was black magic, yet it was somehow awkwardly straddling a line.

Its origin lay in black magic, but it was a simple, crude magic against the natural order that relied solely on the spellcaster’s own talent and ability, instead of harboring a mental image.

Normally, the moment the spell technique is manifested, the spellcaster’s hair should turn completely white. However, Asel’s talent allowed him to use power beyond the scope permitted to him.

Knowledge of black magic gained through a black magic grimoire. Added to that, Asel’s own new black magic system obtained by dissecting and researching the spell techniques of a black magic user he met directly.

It was an act so preposterous that other black magic users would recoil in shock upon seeing it, but it was not impossible for Asel. The power of the spell technique was also so strong that it could completely crush a decent building.

Twisting the subtle principles of black magic that originate from the mental image, it was a new spell technique that replaced all power solely with the technique itself. Through several instances of continuous research, Asel was able to clearly realize just how powerful this magic was.

If he put his mind to it, tearing Gorsel apart on the spot wouldn’t be difficult.

But instead of killing Gorsel, Asel merely pierced his entire body with sharp darkness and grabbed his neck.

Because he still had use for him.

‘I can’t kill him until I find out the demon worshipers’ whereabouts.’

In other words, it meant that from the moment he found out their whereabouts, he could dispose of Gorsel. Asel looked forward to that day as he opened his mouth.

[Going too far?]

His voice was heavily tinged with contempt and irritation.

[It seems druids have a tradition of shamelessly showing up even after breaking a promised time. What a remarkable tradition.]

“……I already apologized. Rather, I don’t understand why you’re reacting so excessively.”

Gorsel winced, bleeding from his entire body.

“Are you perhaps a demonkin? Seeing how sensitive you are about promises, it seems likely you might be one.”

[…….]

Asel thought quietly instead of answering.

He knew the characteristics of demonkin very well.

Byproducts created by demons, but traitors who betrayed them and sided with humanity. They specialized in various curses and dark arts, and because they were traitors themselves, they were beings more sensitive to promises and contracts than anyone else.

Therefore, Gorsel’s misunderstanding that Asel, who kept bringing up promises, was a demonkin could be considered quite rational.

And Asel intended to use this immediately.

[……Let’s get to the main point.]

Not refuting Gorsel’s words and changing the subject. Through this, he could plant the implication in Gorsel that the black magic user’s true identity was a demonkin.

Then, Gorsel wouldn’t even think that Asel and the black magic user were the same person. Even if suspicion arose, it would be difficult to confirm.

This was an essential task for maintaining a dual identity. For Asel, who had been contemplating how to falsify his identity, this was an opportunity he couldn’t afford to miss.

Picking it up when the stage was laid out like this was also a skill.

A demon worshiper and a demonkin black magic user.

Asel drew a clear concept for his new identity and opened his mouth.

[I read the plan regarding the Academy terror attack.]

He completely withdrew the darkness that was piercing Gorsel. At that, Gorsel let out a groan and shoved a handful of dirt into his mouth.

Druids, the race of nature and the earth, could repair their bodies by eating soil like that.

Furthermore, the intensity of pain they felt was less than others. The reason he wasn’t angry despite being hacked all over by Asel was partly because he realized Asel’s magical ability was remarkable, but also because it didn’t hurt that much.

Gorsel, who was looking down at his body which had become perfectly fine in no time, snatched Asel’s share of beer and opened his mouth.

“How is it?”

[It’s terrible.]

“……What?”

[Is that what you call a plan? I’ll massacre a large number of citizens in the middle of the Academy grounds, and kidnap students the moment the professors who come to subdue me leave the sparring arena? Even a toddler could come up with something better than this.]

Gorsel’s face crumpled at the harsh criticism.

“This is the best option. Terror attacks that can be carried out within the Academy are limited.”

[That’s none of my business.]

“…….”

[Didn’t you guys say planning was your part to begin with? I came to cooperate, not to rack my brains. And this plan. Am I not in too dangerous a position?]

“……Tch.”

[Massacre is fine. But you want me to survive and escape while facing the swarming professors? Do you know how high the level of Academy professors is? If the Headmaster appears, I’ll die on the spot. I don’t want to sacrifice myself for you guys.]

“We have a collaborator we planted on the professor’s side.”

[Oh?]

The worrying story had come up. He had a vague suspicion, but he didn’t expect them to actually plant an informant among the Academy professors. The demon worshipers’ abilities were quite remarkable.

[Who is it?]

“Do I have to tell you that too?”

[It’s a matter of trust.]

Asel crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair.

[How can I trust your words?]

“It doesn’t matter if you don’t.”

[Then it shouldn’t matter if I don’t participate in the plan either.]

“……Why are you being so uncooperative? Isn’t it that you had no intention of cooperating with us from the start?”

Gorsel furrowed his brow, openly displaying displeasure and murderous intent. Asel chuckled slightly at the killing intent pricking his skin and placed both hands on the table.

[Let me ask you in return. Did you have any intention of cooperating?]

“……What?”

[Jump into the jaws of death yourself, openly. I do the easy work, you do the hard work. I’m not in danger of dying, but you might die.]

“…….”

[It’s even funnier that you actually thought I’d seriously participate in a plan like this. Are you still young and your brain hasn’t fully developed? Or were you born with a hole in your brain?]

“……Hmph.”

Instead of refuting, Gorsel summoned a small wooden spear between his fingers and muttered softly.

“Watch your mouth. Before I kill you.”

[How absurd.]

Asel let out a scoff.

[Is it because you were born an orphan on the dirt floor? Your intelligence seems to still be at the infant level.]

The moment he spoke.

Shhhwick!!

Gorsel grabbed the spear he was holding in a reverse grip and thrust it towards Asel’s temple.

“……!”

—It was stopped halfway. A shadow hand that rose from behind Asel grabbed Gorsel’s wrist and forcibly stopped him.

Crack!!

“Gahhh!”

As the shadow’s output increased, Gorsel’s wrist was immediately compressed. Broken bones pierced through the skin, and tattered muscles and veins were directly exposed.

Even the pain-tolerant druid couldn’t bear it and screamed; the intense pain heated Gorsel’s brain.

[You haven’t grasped your place yet.]

Beyond the solid black mask with no facial features drawn on it.

Asel looked straight at Gorsel and moved his lips.

[Do you think I’m beneath you just because I’m humoring you?]

Gurgle……!

The shadow below his feet surged violently.

Immediately after, dozens of shadow hands rose from the darkness. The hands wrapped around one of Gorsel’s arms and tore it off.

Rip!

Blood spurted out along with the torn-off arm. The druid’s characteristic greenish blood flew into the air, and Asel grabbed the screaming Gorsel’s mouth with his hand and threw him directly towards the wall.

“Cough!”

CRASH!

With a huge roar, Gorsel’s body broke through the wall and went through.

The dark slum.

Gorsel, with one arm gone, lay face down on the ground, gasping roughly and sweating profusely.

Stomp, stomp.

Asel, with the moonlight behind him, walked towards Gorsel with calm steps.

The darkness teeming all around responded to Asel’s will, blocking Gorsel’s retreat, changing shape to a point like a single spearhead, and piercing Gorsel’s instep.

“Urgh……!”

The spurting blood splashed on Gorsel’s face. With his foot pinned, it was impossible for him to even get up. He gnashed his teeth, looking at Asel approaching with a contorted face.

“Black magic user……!”

[Your vitality is like a cockroach.]

Asel scoffed and stopped right in front of Gorsel. Then, he casually threw the arm he had torn off to the side and stepped on his head with his foot.

[Your appearance isn’t much different either.]

“Don’t think you’ll get away with this easily! I will definitely make you pay the price for this!”

[How many people do you think have said those words to me so far?]

“……!”

[If you guess right, I’ll let it slide.]

Crunch.

Asel muttered, putting force on the foot that was stepping on Gorsel.

[Answer me.]

“……Urgh!”

[Is this what they call pride, despite everything?]

A strange voice, as if genders were layered, burrowed into Gorsel’s ears. It was a clearly mocking tone.

[Despite looking like a bug on the outside, you still have pride left to cling to. How laughable.]

“……Hmph.”

[Anyway, if I leave you like this, you’ll eat some dirt or something and come back to life on your own. I never intended to kill you from the start.]

Asel removed the foot that was stepping on Gorsel’s head, bent down, and firmly grabbed his hair.

[The plan is completely revised. I’ll handle it myself, so just stay put and do nothing. That’ll be more helpful.]

“……Aren’t you being too arrogant?”

[Arrogance is a word that suits you better, staring me straight in the eye.]

Gorsel didn’t answer.

[Shut up and just follow my orders. You won’t lose anything anyway.]

“Aren’t you afraid of the future? What will you do if we refuse to cooperate when it’s our turn to help you, using such a brutal method?”

[That’s none of my business.]

Asel had no intention of returning to the demon worshiper group that the original black magic user belonged to anyway. After finding and destroying the demon worshipers’ hideout, including Gorsel, he planned to collect information as a wandering demon worshiper.

Whatever happened to the demon worshipers later, it was not Asel’s concern.

[However, one piece of advice.]

Thud!

Asel slammed Gorsel’s face into the ground and muttered.

[If you interfere with me, I’ll kill you on the spot. Stay put.]

He didn’t wait for an answer. Asel immediately got up and walked past Gorsel.

A moment later, the darkness that had filled the alley disappeared as if it were a lie. The spear that had pierced Gorsel’s foot also vanished.

“…….”

But instead of getting up, Gorsel gasped roughly and clawed at the ground with his hands. Green blood flowed profusely from his torn skin.

“……I’ll kill you.”

He muttered, his bloodshot eyes wide open.

“I’ll definitely kill you.”

It was at that moment, as he spoke.

Slash!

A remnant of the lingering spell technique severed one of Gorsel’s legs. Gorsel screamed in terrible pain, rubbed the severed end against the ground to stop the bleeding, and frantically shoved dirt into his mouth with his hands.

Asel was sitting on the rooftop of a nearby building where Gorsel had fallen, looking down at him.

[Isn’t that a bit excessive?]

Aleph suddenly spoke to him. Asel adjusted his mask and replied.

“I did it excessively on purpose. I needed to make a clear impression of what kind of person the black magic user is.”

[This will increase your notoriety even among the other demon worshipers.]

“Doesn’t matter.”

Asel sighed softly towards the empty air.

“It’s actually better if they come looking for me, thinking I’m arrogant. They’re all people I have to kill anyway.”

[…….]

“Let’s not lose our identity. I’m not a demon worshiper, but a parasite extracting information from them. A parasite that kills its host along the way.”

[Are you a beneficial insect?]

Aleph joked.

Asel chuckled slightly and got up.

“To them, I’m a pest.”

His body was enveloped in darkness and disappeared.

***

Wednesday, 6:00 AM. 3 hours before the joint sparring begins.

“Thank you, Leader!”

“Not at all. It will be a reunion after a long time, so have a good trip.”

“Yes!”

Evelyn, who had moved through the rift, arrived at the Academy grounds.