Chapter 255 : Have You Grown?

"Honestly, for us black mages, this is a crisis. It's not like we've ever had it good, but these days, it's a dark age."

"..."

"Suddenly, those Dark Heaven Society guys appeared and started harassing people, you know? We're getting questioned from all over."

"..."

"People didn't look at us favorably to begin with, but because of those Dark Heaven Society guys, the atmosphere has hit rock bottom. The number of colleagues who are taking off their black robes, saying they can't take it anymore, is also on the rise."

"..."

"To be honest, our research funds have been cut, and we really don't have much left! Hahaha! It's a common occurrence to be hit by stones or eggs when I go down to the village."

I was out beyond the barrier from early in the morning, listening to Adrian's story.

What kind of wealth and glory was I trying to achieve, waking up so early?

Since the mission was over, I could have slept in, but this habit of mine was stuck to my body like a scar, making me wake up on my own from dawn.

And so, I woke up early and looked out the window, where the dawn had not yet broken...

I entrusted my body to my body, which was sluggishly trying to move somewhere regardless of my will, and at some point, I found myself out beyond this barrier.

I stared blankly at Adrian, who was laughing, "Hahahaha!"

Here was a fool who laughed even while being hit by eggs and stones.

"Is that something to laugh about?"

"Ah, of course, it's not something to laugh about. That's why I came here as a representative, isn't it? The important mission of getting research funds by showing my skills is on my shoulders. And it would be nice to improve the perception of black magic while I'm at it. Ah, of course, if the northern wall falls before that, it's all for nothing! Hahahat!"

I looked at the mad black mage, who was throwing his head back and bursting into a mad laugh as if something were so funny.

"Sir Adrian."

"Yes, Sir Ashuban."

"Don't misunderstand me."

"I'll try."

"I don't know much about black magic. Is there a difference between black mages like you and those Dark Heaven Society guys?"

"Of course."

"Could you explain it to me?"

"Of course."

Adrian organized his thoughts for a moment and then opened his mouth.

"First, I think I should tell you this. Do you know about black mana, that is, contaminated mana?"

"I've heard of it. Isn't it what causes magical beasts to appear?"

"That's right. Our Maia Kingdom is a place that is particularly rich in contaminated mana compared to other places. That's why the land is barren and many magical beasts appear."

"Hmm."

"We are ascetics who walk the path of black mana."

"And the Dark Heaven Society guys?"

"They also handle black mana, but it's a bit difficult to explain with words. It's like they worship black mana. They are people with a strong religious color."

"I heard they are waiting for the revival of the Demon God."

Adrian looked at me with wide eyes.

"Did they say that themselves?"

"I caught a black mage who seemed to be an executive and tormented him, and he confessed."

"Aha, then it seems it wasn't just a metaphor."

"A metaphor?"

"Yes. Isn't there a slogan they always shout? 'The blue sky is already dead, so the dark heaven will come!'"

"That's right."

"The blue sky refers to the current world that is being watched over by various gods such as Ketel and Hope. And the dark heaven... you could say it means the dictatorship of the Demon God that will dye that blue sky all black with one color."

Adrian stroked his chin and thought for a moment, then continued his explanation.

"We are a school of thought that started from the question of how we can use black mana more efficiently. Ordinary mages find and use uncontaminated mana or purify contaminated mana to use it. But what if we could use black mana as it is? Wouldn't that be more efficient?"

"Hmm."

"And so, when we looked for a place where we could use black mana as it is... we found the dead magical beasts and their magic stones. In other words... you could define it as the school of magical beasts. And necromancers, or corpse mages. Because we raise the dead using black mana."

"And the Dark Heaven Society guys?"

"They seem to regard the master of black mana as a being called the Demon God... and there is indeed a mention of the death of the Demon God in ancient texts. I think they are a derivative of that."

"Hmm."

"From what I've heard, it seems they are researching the transformation of humans into magical beasts using the blood of magical beasts... Ugh. Just hearing about it is horrifying."

"..."

Then are magical beast balls not horrifying?

I stared blankly at Adrian, who had been fondling the magical beast's balls.

"Besides that, I've also heard that they are researching the control and enhancement of magical beasts. I don't know the details, but I want to state clearly that we and they are completely different."

"Is that so?"

"Haha! No matter what, we don't drink the blood of magical beasts."

I let out a deep sigh and looked around.

At some point, Adrian's shoulder friends had increased.

Their majesty was... amazing in a different sense.

The ones I had seen before looked shabby in comparison.

There were many guys who were as big as large magical beasts, and their grotesqueness was even more enhanced, to the point where the ones I had seen before were nothing.

Perhaps thanks to the duke's generous support, the scale had changed.

There were also soldiers helping Adrian.

They were walking around, sorting the corpses of the magical beasts, climbing ladders to inspect the magical beasts, and assembling the corpses of the magical beasts, looking at a blueprint that was presumed to be written by Adrian.

And over there, there was another group that was moving around in a crowd.

In the center of it was Linda, with her bright green hair braided in two.

Unlike usual, Linda was engrossed in her poison research with a frighteningly serious face.

Schmidt seemed to be her dedicated assistant, assisting her.

He had a cloth wrapped around his face, covering his nose and mouth, and a golden energy was shimmering in his hands, as if to block the penetrating poison.

Schmidt's appearance... looked like a high priest from the Hope Order who believed in the Sun God.

In contrast, a dark green energy that looked incredibly dangerous was shimmering around Linda...

They were truly an impressive pair.

How could they be so in sync when they couldn't even talk to each other?

The soldiers were following the two and helping them, mainly with the task of collecting the blood of the magical beasts.

I didn't know the details, but it seemed that their blood was needed to make the magical beast poison.

It seemed they were planning to mass-produce it.

In any case, they seemed to be concentrating, so I decided not to disturb them.

"The Dark Heaven Society guys. I heard that the ability to enhance magical beasts or to transform people into magical beasts is also a part of the Demon God's power. If you think about it that way, it's highly probable that they are behind this abnormal monster wave."

"Is that really true?"

"So I've heard."

"Hmm... the power of the Demon God... I wonder what kind of mechanism it works by..."

"..."

Rather than being angry at the Dark Heaven Society, which was behind this incident, I chatted with Adrian, who was more curious about the mechanism, and then returned inside the wall.

As I was having a later-than-usual breakfast, the others started to come down one by one and take their seats at the table.

I stared blankly at Shushuruta, who had taken a seat next to me.

"What are you looking at?"

No, to be precise, I was looking at the round, black bird sitting on her head.

"What is this?"

"Can you see it? Ah, come to think of it, you said you could see spirits."

"What is it? Is this a spirit too?"

As I said that and brought my finger closer, the black parrotlet, which had been staring blankly at my finger, rubbed its head against it.

"It's Tutu."

"Tutu?"

"I named it. Isn't the name cute?"

"Not really."

"..."

As I was getting hit on the shoulder by Shushuruta, I looked at Hudmilla, who was yawning on the other side.

"Did this one make a contract?"

Hud nodded.

"She's a full-fledged spirit master now."

"What kind of spirit?"

"A spirit of darkness."

"Aha."

So that's why it was black.

Come to think of it, when we reunited beyond the barrier, it had popped out of Big Sister's shadow.

I didn't know the details, but I felt that the atmosphere had changed slightly.

I looked at Shushuruta.

"Have you grown?"

"I have grown."

"Good job."

"Hmph."

When I placed my hand on her head, this time she slapped it away.

"..."

She had been still yesterday.

What in the world was the standard?

—Can't you see us?

—Hello! Hello!

—Haa... smells good...

—Make a contract with me!

"Hey, just stay still."

I pushed away the spirits that were constantly clinging to me and continued my meal.

A deer-like spirit had taken my bacon, so I had to chase it and catch it.

Hud laughed at the sight.

"They came and told me everything that happened on the escort commission. That you coolly repelled the attack of the Dark Heaven Society?"

"Something like that."

It seemed that around the time the escort commission was completed, they had disappeared at some point and had gone to Hud to tell her everything that had happened.

Hud grinned.

"You're finally acting like a captain."

"What can I say. I am the Half-Sword Ashuban... hey, get lost! Let me eat!"

Whether I was angry or not, the spirits giggled and continued to torment me.

Just then, Miho came down from upstairs, yawning, and the others, startled, scattered in all directions.

—It's a monster!

—Aaaah! Run away!

"..."

I stared blankly at the backs of the guys who had run away in the blink of an eye.

Hud explained with a slight smile.

"They're afraid of Miho."

"So it seems."

To prevent the spirits from invading, I patted my thigh and called Miho.

"A warm lap is served here."

Miho jumped onto my lap, curled up like a cat, and immediately fell asleep.

I resumed my meal with the Miho charm on my lap.

A moment later, the demonic swordsman came down and looked around.

"Where's Big Sister?"

"I don't know. I haven't seen her since yesterday. She must be busy."

"Hmm."

He looked rather dejected and took his seat.

* * *

After that, we spent our time preparing for the wave.

Actually, it was just a nice way of saying we were resting.

We relaxed, eating warm food and drinking cool beer.

The atmosphere was so relaxed, as if we had come to Tundra on a trip.

It wasn't that strange, since mercenaries were usually relaxed when their pockets were full.

Because worrying wouldn't change anything.

And yet, my eyes would often turn to the burning fireplace.

The firewood looked like ice, and the burning flames looked like the Blue Flame.

Every time, I would combine the ice and flame arts in my hands and observe the white and blue things spinning around.

Then, when it was late afternoon.

The duke sent for me.

When I followed the soldier, I was guided to a solemn meeting room.

The knights and vassals of Tundra, who seemed to have been called by me as soon as the meeting was over, greeted me with tired faces.

The duke, who had slowly risen from his seat, looked at me and said.

"Ashuban Sherwood."

"Yes."

"Tundra will formally commission the Sherwood Mercenary Corps. It's up to you whether you accept it or not."

"I'm listening."

The duke looked at me with his brilliant, gray eyes.

"Eliminate the special S-rank individual, 'Snowman'."

I stared at him blankly and then asked.

"And the 'Half-Dragon'?"

Meaning, the half-dragon, the name for the queen of the magical beasts that Dofang and the demonic swordsman had encountered.

"The Red Witch said she would take care of that. She just asked for the magic stone."

"Hmm."

Since Scarlet wasn't a member of the New Sherwood, it seemed he had asked her separately.

"And the reward?"

"Is there something you want?"

"First, please discuss the details with our treasurer, Hudmilla. There is one thing I want."

"What is it?"

I looked at the turquoise sword hanging at the duke's waist.

"That sword. Let me hold it once."

(End of Chapter)