TL/Editor: raei
Status: 5/week mon-fri
Illustrations: none
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'This shit again.'
As his body moved naturally, Ian clicked his tongue.
Really, he was supposed to be a wizard.
Why was he reacting like so special agent in an ambush?
If he'd had knight training it might make sense. But Ian's only proper education was studying language with Eredith.
It was like saying 'Wow, after graduating with a literature degree I got really good at shootouts with terrorists~'
'You piece of shit.'
Ian drove Anor-lsil into the charging monster.
Slash!
Hot blood sprayed up, releasing a nauseating sll of entrails.
"Ow. My arm hurts!"
After swinging the sword just once, Ian imdiately realized his true identity.
Ah- that's right.
I'm a wizard!
"[Spear of Fla!]"
As soon as Ian finished his chant, an enormous fla spear appeared.
"Kira-!"
"I'm ready!"
Ian hurled the fla spear toward the charging monsters.
Boom!
Searing heat spread in all directions as a pillar of fire shot dozens of ters into the night sky.
'That should call people.'
A fire pillar this size would be clearly visible from hundreds of ters away.
When students participating in an event suddenly see a pillar of fire?
People would co running soon.
"[Flas! Devour our enemies!]"
[Excellent! BURN-IT-ALL! You pieces of firewood!]
Kira skillfully summoned the mystery of fire.
Her clean Maronius language pronunciation showed she'd practiced a lot.
'She must have studied hard.'
The flas created by Ian and Kira were truly powerful.
Strong enough that ordinary monsters couldn't even approach!
Since monsters were living creatures, they wouldn't fight to the death.
But Ian felt sothing strangely off about these monsters that had suddenly appeared.
'...Looks like they'll keep attacking.'
Starting with how they'd specifically targeted Ian's group when everywhere else was quiet.
Why hadn't Professor Demonite responded to the monster attack?
Why weren't these monsters running away despite the pillar of fire?
"I-Ian...!"
"Stay calm. They won't be able to charge in easily."
Ian set the fires, and Kira fueled them.
Thanks to them, the dark forest was as bright as day.
Elia trembled as she watched the monsters' shadows.
"W-what are... those things..."
"I'm not sure of the details. But these monsters seem to be controlled by a wizard."
"A-a wizard?"
Rather than crazed beasts risking their lives just to eat three people, they seed more like monsters under a wizard's control - that was more logical. �
Evil wizards enjoyed commanding monsters.
'There are a lot of them.'
At least 30-40 by rough count.
Wolf-sized, running on four legs, covered in horns - Ian had no idea what to call these things.
'Hellish beings?'
They had too many unnecessary appendages to be living creatures.
Most likely they were either artificially modified for combat or demons risen from hell.
"Kira. Don't let the fire die."
"I won't!"
Being magically created fire, it would burn for a while even without fuel.
Kira focused on communicating with the mystery of fire while watching ahead.
"Ian..."
Elia looked like she might burst into tears any mont.
Though not a combat expert, she could tell.
There were far too many enemies.
"J-just hold on a bit. Lord Pals will bring help!"
"That's quite the positive thinking, Your Highness."
Elia choked back a sob.
Ian was certainly an amazing wizard.
An excellent dark wizard who'd just demonstrated impressive fire magic.
But...
Unless he could cast spells like that continuously, there was no way to wipe out so many monsters!
A wizard wasn't a warrior.
They weren't skilled at cutting down charging enemies.
What could just three people do against over 30 monsters charging at once?
Especially with no knight holding the front line!
"Ian...! Do you have magic that can eliminate them all?"
"Not simple destruction magic, at least not right now."
"...? What about non-destruction magic?"
"Plenty of that."
Elia was a student who studied magic as an elective, so her thinking was close to ordinary people.
She assud they had to kill the monsters to win.
But Ian didn't think that way at all.
What was a wizard?
One who communicated with all things, right?
While killing all these monsters would be very difficult.
As a wizard, Ian had no need for that at all.
"[Unknown friends! Hear my voice!]"
Skilled Maronius language began pouring from Ian's mouth.
Soon Elia felt chills run down her spine.
The monsters had stopped what they were doing and all turned to stare at Ian!
'Oh my...!'
Elia finally understood what Ian had just said.
Magic that burns and destroys enemies was inefficient.
A skilled wizard overcos crises by directly persuading enemies.
"[I don't want to fight you!]"
Grrrr...
"[I know you're not attacking to eat us! Are you being threatened by soone?]"
In that mont.
Like a lie, the monsters' killing intent diminished.
Elia covered her mouth in shock...!
Talking with monsters, even creating an atmosphere of persuasion.
This was a true wizard!
'We can survive!'
Three people killing over 30 monsters was impossible.
But persuading 30 monsters?
That was entirely possible!
[Who... are you?]
One monster transmitted its will to Ian.
Though Kira and Elia who lacked knowledge of summoning couldn't understand, Ian comprehended the monster's will perfectly.
[Are you a demon too?]
'Demon?'
"[I'm not a demon. I'm your friend.]"
[I... don't know you. We can't be friends.]
Ian slowly extended his hand toward the monster.
"[Then let's get to know each other from now on. Friend?]"
[...]
The monster hesitated.
But only briefly.
It carefully extended its tongue to lick Ian's hand, slling him.
'...Worked?'
As he'd suspected.
The monsters hadn't attacked Ian of their own will.
'A demon, they said?'
Ian tried to ask the monster for more details.
But right then.
Yip! Yiiiip!
Suddenly the monster let out an agonized cry and thrashed on the ground.
Fear spread like a plague among the monsters.
They quickly backed away from Ian while growling.
The atmosphere changed in an instant.
"One truly can't let their guard down for a mont."
Soone erged from the dark forest.
Elia's eyes shook.
"L-Lord Pals?!"
"Yes. Imperial Princess Elia. Enjoying your final stroll, I see."
"But... you... why? How?"
"The reason is simple. I've never served you. Your Highness."
"That's... impossible..."
Ian examined the wizard called Pals.
'Summoner. Demon wizard. And... transmuter?'
A man reeking of black wizard.
"If I hadn't branded them with demon marks, that could have been trouble."
Pals gave Ian a sinister smile.
"Ian Eredith Raven. Your summoning skills far exceed the rumors. No wonder you can control a drake."
"What are you?"
The monsters gathered around Pals.
They bowed their heads and pressed their bellies to the ground as if worshipping him.
From among the beasts, Pals spoke:
"A wizard of the Golden Rule Society. The 'Monster Tar' Pals."
"Ah. Fuck. Really."
Ian trembled with frustration.
Another black wizard, fuck!
"The Regent was very impressed by your activities in Talian. He said for the society's future, you must no longer exist-"
"[Lightning Spear!]"
"!"
Villain special - rambling at crucial monts.
Ian had no intention of chatting with this Pals or whatever. Talking with black wizards just wastes breath!
Ian imdiately called forth a lightning spear from his spell card.
Boom!
"...You're quite hasty, Ian. But... hehe. Hahahahaha!"
Though the lightning spear had clearly pierced Pals.
...Pals walked out of the rising smoke unhard.
High on adrenaline, Pals burst into maniacal laughter.
"The Regent has completely analyzed your magic! Even that strange lightning magic! He told us to prepare for everything! Hahahahaha!"
"Fuck."
Pals had succeeded in deflecting Ian's lightning magic.
When you know what magic your opponent will use, preparing is easy.
"[Minions! Tear him to pieces! I'll burst the hearts of any who try to flee!]"
Grrrr...!
Pals' monsters charged all at once.
"[Flas!]"
Kira desperately raised flas, but.
The monsters found the weakest point in the fire and threw themselves through.
Monsters attacking from all sides.
"Ian!"
Kira gritted her teeth.
With ordinary magic, there was no way out of this situation.
Perhaps like before.
If they hid in the flas with Ian-
'...But what about Elia?'
In that mont, Kira's eyes t Elia's.
Eyes filled with helplessness and fear.
'No.'
Kira couldn't choose the option of abandoning Elia.
That's when it happened.
"Put out the flas, Kira."
"Ian!"
Kira was startled but did as told, withdrawing the fire.
As the flas vanished, Ian summoned the mystery of darkness in their place.
The mystery of darkness embraced Kira and Elia.
Like gently covering their eyes.
"Don't co out, no matter what. Got it?"
"...Okay."
When the flas disappeared, Pals was certain Ian had given up resistance.
He had to have.
His vaunted summoning magic!
And that strange magic that activated without mysteries' help!
All failed, so what could he do now! Ian!
'The Regent will be pleased.'
Mission accomplished and Ian, the society's obstacle, eliminated too.
All that ti undercover near the Princess as a fake identity had paid off.
Now he could serve as the society's right hand beside the Regent-
Pals' delusions stopped there.
'What's that?'
Ian held sothing strange in his hand.
Sothing Pals had never seen before.
'Cards?'
They were none other than Arcana cards.
Pals knew nothing about Arcana cards.
Having spent his life studying only black magic in the Empire.
...But he instinctively realized.
That was a dangerous item.
Perhaps even more than items imbued with demon power!
"[Mystery of the Hanged Man, hear !]"
Ian shouted as he drew an Arcana card.
Would it really answer his call?
Ian checked the card.
Number 12. The Hanged Man.
A card depicting an impure mystery that wailed in sorrow.
The impure mystery answered Ian's call.
[I am...]
As the world's cracks split open, one steeped in deepest sorrow erged from the depths.
Pals couldn't speak.
"What... is... that monster..."
Too twisted to be called a 'mystery', but lacking the blind malice toward humans to be called a 'demon'.
Pals realized as soon as he saw it.
That thing... shouldn't exist in this world.
[I... heard a voice...]
"[I called you. Sorrowful mystery.]"
[Though I answered... I want to return quickly.]
"[I'm sorry. Just cry out once and you can go back.]"
The impure mystery glared around.
The monsters exposed to its depressed and twisted gaze were overwheld by rising sorrow and terror, unable to move.
As requested, the impure mystery vanished with a single scream.
[Kyaaaaaaah!]
Yelp, yelp!
Eeeek!
A spine-chilling scream echoed.
At the impure mystery's scream, the monsters fled without looking back.
"D-don't run! Kill that wizard!"
Pals shouted desperately but.
Out of control.
The monsters just wanted to get away from Ian.
The demon marks activated one by one.
Pop!
Magic that burst the hearts of summoned creatures who disobeyed their summoner's orders.
Corpses with burst hearts lay everywhere.
All 30 monsters died with burst hearts trying to flee from Ian.
"Ah..."
A man wreathed in darkness approached.
Ian pointed Anor-lsil at Pals.
"It's over, black wizard."
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