Chapter 42 - Make Your Choice
Finally, I understood the gist of things. Experience gained from a dungeon boss monster was distributed according to contribution. Wipera still lacked attack power and level to single-handed defeat a boss monster, but it was another story if his attack power was doubled. “…You would kill your team mber just to gain experience all to yourself, to grow stronger alone?”
“Hmph, such narrow thinking,” he replied. “Take a long-term view: wouldn’t peace co to the world if I used all you useless cretins to grow stronger and eventually defeat the Demon Lord? A sacrifice for the greater good is inevitable.”
What bull droppings. How many promising sprouts must Wipera have trampled on? I was struck by an appalling illusion of a mountain of dead geniuses, piled one after another by a diocre man in his desire to beco a genius… And knowing that his life would end as a diocre man without even gaining any proper renown, even after all his filthy deeds, made it all the worse. Why were the other team mbers cooperating with him? Blackmail? Or was it…
I looked around at the others in a daze, but instead of avoiding my eyes, they faced without the slightest hint of sha, their faces colored by greed. Their share of the reward… That was what they would get. Wipera got to have experience, while the team mbers got to have money. This had to be their strange form of mutual dependence.
As my mind worked furiously to understand the situation, Wipera grabbed my chin and forced to look up. He held a knife to my throat as he whispered, “I don’t hate you—in fact, I pity you. As a fellow support mage, I know what garbage our abilities are.” The keen edge of the knife was chilling. He didn’t seem intent on killing right away, however; he soon withdrew the knife. “When I was despairing at the difference in talent between and those of the 1st Corps, I awakened to magic by chance. I was happy at the thought of becoming a magic spearman, but not for long because I realized my elent belonged to that of a blasted supporter! The anguish I felt then…!”
What, was he owed good magic or sothing? He couldn’t even be grateful for what he had! I had more than one thing to say, but I quietly held back. I had to let him go berserk and expose him completely.
“Yes… But I soon realized that it was all part of God’s will… That’s right. Saint Marianne granted this magic because she wanted to beco a more powerful spearman.” He prattled on and so far, it seed conceivable. Anyone would self-rationalize this much. The problem, however, was that it didn’t end here. “The diocre wouldn’t know the will of God…” he muttered. “I’m only doing as I’m ant to by gaining more power, regardless of the ans and thods—because I. Am. A chosen one!”
Seeing him go beyond self-rationalization and into the zone of utter insanity, talking of God and being chosen, I felt it was ti to deal with this lowlife and shut him up… But Wipera continued to blather, lost in the heat of the mont. “This ability of mine may be useless, but it can help beco a greater spearman. But you? You’re nothing but a support mage. Look at how pathetic you are! What can you do with this thin arm of yours?”
Then, suddenly, Wipera twisted my arm. “Ack!” I scread. My body was indeed worthless, but I didn’t want to hear that from the scum that doped up on the lives of others. Swine like him were the reason behind the reputation of support mages falling into the mud!
He was a snake in the grass and had to be eliminated on the spot. The worst thing that could happen was his dog dropping ideas spreading and drawing the like-minded into one place. Unaware of my thoughts, Wipera clicked his tongue with pity, continuing, “I’m sure you must’ve been desperate as well, not sparing the ans nor the thods. Isn’t that how you beca vice-captain with that body? I too was only being desperate.”
“Don’t use for your sophistry,” I snarled. “Unlike you, I’m a talent personally scouted by the captain.”
I was done with being polite. I knew Wipera inside out by this point, so there was no need to listen to him any further. But just as I was about to give Mayer a signal to end this farce, Wipera suddenly stepped back despite seeming ready to stab at any ti. “Still putting on a strong front…” He smirked. “Well, that isn’t a bad attitude. The dog that barks doesn’t bite, isn’t that the saying?”
No, I really was scouted… I had spoken the truth yet Wipera didn’t seem to believe at all.
“Considering how we’re fellow support mages… Alright. I’ll give you a choice.” And no sooner than he said this, another team mber dragged over Mayer.
“…May—ah, Sevi?” I called out cautiously. Why was he bringing over the tiger that was keeping quiet? I admit that I had been about to call for him, but… Were they doing a favor, or looking for trouble?
“Now, you choose,” Wipera said. “Either you sacrifice the boy and beco one of us, or you beco the sacrifice.”
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