Episode 164

After hearing the detailed plan, Marquis Schuppen opposed it.

Because it was too dangerous.

Who said so?

Chris.

“I absolutely can’t go along with this. If it goes wrong, you’re dead for sure!”

“It is a bit risky, yes.”

“A bit? How can you even say that?!”

“But is there any way to win without sacrifices? We don’t even know how many of the five captains might die.”

“……”

Schuppen fell silent for a moment, then said something unexpected.

“Even if all five captains die, none of them are worth as much as you.”

He meant it.

For the future of the Dark Maga, Christian must never die.

That was the marquis’s true feeling.

But—

“What’s with this overprotectiveness? Do you think I’m some noble heir of the alliance?”

“!!”

“More than anything, I’m the one who will become the master of the Dark Maga. Should I just hide behind others?”

If there was no chance of success, Chris wouldn’t have stepped up like this.

It was dangerous, but definitely worth trying.

In the end, Marquis Schuppen had no choice but to nod.

“…But on one condition. If things look bad, you must retreat immediately.”

“Understood. Don’t worry.”

After that, they prepared to face the monster from the Mysterious Maga.

First, they tightened security.

So that any suspicious person entering would be detected immediately.

And they made various other preparations.

“…Is it really possible to perform such a ritual?”

“Yes, because I’m a genius.”

“…That’s unbelievable.”

They set a trap with the five captains.

“Wait, you really want me to do that?”

“It’s not that hard, you can do it, right?”

“Well, it’s not hard, but I might die!!”

“I think it’ll be fun.”

Chris gave certain missions to Alos and Jupien.

“Don’t I have anything to do?”

Melin asked.

“Of course you do. Just wait. The supplies will arrive soon.”

Just as he said, a figure came to see Chris.

“Long time no see.”

“…Y-yeah, long time.”

A beautiful woman with a calm expression appeared before Christian, her face twisted in a scowl.

It was Ruina.

“Not very happy to see me, huh?”

“Oh, no! I’m so glad I’m just overwhelmed with emotion, that’s why my face looks like this, haha!”

‘You wicked devil! How could I be happy? I was glad not to see you recently.’ Although they had made a big profit at the Gold Cross, the hardships caused by Chris still left a bad taste.

And this meeting was because Chris had asked her to get something.

‘Do you think I’m a walking treasure chest?! You say it, and I just pull it out!’

“Did you get the item?”

“Hoho, of course. But… it was really hard to get.”

“Oh?”

“Yes, I had to bribe the highest officials of the Holy Empire with an enormous amount just to smuggle it out…”

“So, what now?”

Chris tried to change the subject, but Ruina snapped.

“I’m telling you, I want the money! Two million rupees including shipping! No less!”

The item she brought wasn’t an artifact.

But it was strictly controlled by the Holy Empire, and the bribe alone cost over a million rupees.

“Hmm? Disappointing.”

“Disappointing? Merchants being money-hungry is natural…!”

“To be satisfied with such a paltry sum? I was planning to offer you a much bigger reward.”

Ruina flinched.

“…A bigger reward?”

“Ah, there’s another big job coming up.”

Ruina swallowed hard.

She saw Chris’s sly smile.

She had a bad feeling.

She shouldn’t listen to this.

It was surely the whisper of a terrible devil.

But—

“…W-what kind of job?”

A money-grubber like her couldn’t ignore a chance to earn.

‘Just listen. Just listen.’

Chris whispered low to Ruina.

Playfully.

Like a devil tempting her.

“Why don’t we team up soon to raid the Toxic Maga?”

“!!”

Ruina’s face went pale.

“W-what?”

“Well, it looks like something’s about to happen with the Toxic Maga.”

It seemed quiet now.

But soon, a major incident would erupt between the two families.

A conflict between the Toxic Maga and the Dark Maga.

The so-called Poison-Dark Conflict.

‘It’s not supposed to get that bad, but thanks to the scheming of the Blue Stream Demon King, it escalates into a huge dispute. They barely avoid all-out war, but both families suffer heavy losses.’

Chris planned to use this conflict to his advantage.

‘My goal isn’t just to become head of the Dark Maga. It’s time to start laying the groundwork to bring the Southern Magic Kingdom under my control.’

Anyone hearing this would be stunned.

But he was serious.

‘To do that, I need to set a trap.’

He needed outside help, and Ruina was perfect.

“B-but… the Toxic Maga? Our guild hasn’t even expanded there yet.”

The Toxic Maga was different from the Dark Maga.

True to their name, they dealt with poisons, and their family atmosphere was gloomy and extremely secretive.

“Exactly why this is a great opportunity. We’ll pioneer the Toxic Maga this time.”

“……”

“Imagine the profits if we control the distribution of their poisons.”

Ruina unconsciously swallowed.

Just imagining it gave her a dizzying thrill.

“B-but… you’re not trying to make me do something weird again, are you?”

“Don’t worry. Nothing like last time.”

“…Really?”

“Ha, have I always been fooled? I swear on the honor of the Demons.”

Ruina felt uneasy but nodded.

The reward was too sweet to refuse.

‘Gotcha.’

Chris silently cheered.

By the way, although he swore on the honor of the Demons, Chris believed that the true virtues of demons were lying and betrayal.

‘Well, I won’t make her do what I did last time, so technically I’m not lying.’

Anyway, the matter with the Toxic Maga would be dealt with after stopping the Mysterious Maga’s monster.

After sending Ruina off, Chris moved on.

There was still work to do.

The final countermeasure for this mission.

It was time to prepare the secret weapon to pierce the Mysterious Maga’s monster.

*    *    *

Chris headed to the Prison of Evil Refinement.

A prison holding the captives of the Four Kings’ Castle.

‘What a gloomy place.’

Seeing the prison’s layout, Chris shook his head.

Of course, it wasn’t a good environment—it was a place to lock up enemies.

‘I have to gain the power here to neutralize the Mysterious Maga’s monster.’

As he stepped forward, an unexpected voice echoed.

[You’re thinking recklessly.]

“!!”

Chris flinched.

A chilling voice filled with sinister instruments.

It was Mephina, the demon of Gehenna!

‘What does she want?’

[I came to warn you.]

The eerie voice continued.

[I know what you’re scheming.]

“……”

Chris said nothing.

[I know you’re no ordinary mortal. But arrogance has its limits. You will die. Or worse, you might end up in a terrible state where you neither live nor die.]

Chris snorted.

‘Shut up.’

[…What?]

‘What’s with this filthy demon pretending to worry? In the end, she’s just saying she’ll help me if I give her my soul.’

[…….]

‘Disgusting. Get lost. Even if I die, I won’t make deals with filthy demons.’

A moment of silence passed.

Chris felt Mephina’s anger from beyond Gehenna.

A chilling aura pressed down on his soul across the dimensional boundary.

But—

‘What can she do by getting mad? She can’t do anything anyway.’

Chris wore a nonchalant expression.

Then Mephina spoke in a different tone than before.

[Fine. This time, you will face utter despair.]

“……”

[A mortal daring to challenge a demon.]

Her voice was certain he would fail.

And there was reason for that.

To stop the Mysterious Maga’s monster, Chris would have to face a demon directly through some means, just as Mephina said.

‘I didn’t tell Marquis Schuppen this. If he knew, he’d have stopped me no matter what.’

[In your terrible despair, you will eventually beg for my salvation. I look forward to the day you cry out to me with joy.]

With that final warning, Mephina vanished.

It was a chilling threat, but Chris shook his head.

‘I have no intention of failing.’

Of course, it was extremely difficult.

Because he had to face a demon.

Not just difficult—normally, it would be impossible.

But Chris was determined.

He had a plan.

He stepped into the prison.

“Prince Christian! We’re honored to see you!”

The guard bowed.

“Yes, you’ve heard why I’m here, right? Take me to him.”

“Yes, yes, right away.”

As they walked down into the dark underground, the guard cautiously asked,

“Um… why do you want to see him? He’s a rejected prisoner of the Four Kings’ Castle, not someone the prince would usually care about.”

The person Chris wanted to meet wasn’t remarkable.

A five-star black mage from the Cursed Maga.

Usually, prisoners were exchanged one for one, but this one had been rejected by the castle.

Maybe he picked the wrong side and was abandoned.

‘Not impressive, but he has exactly what I need.’

“Oh, nothing special. I just want to learn something from him.”

“What? Even if he’s rejected by the family, would they teach him secret techniques?”

Magic noble houses were divided into two types:

The Martial Magic faction and the Black Magic faction.

“Dark Mages, if you categorize them, fall under the Matu lineage.”

The noble families specializing in dark magic possess a far more advanced system of spells.

Even when casting the same type of spell, their power is completely different from that of ordinary dark mages outside.

Take curses, for example. Even if it’s the same ‘Misfortune’ spell at the same level, a curse cast by a dark mage from the Curse Maga lineage is far more sinister and potent.

That’s because their spells have been refined and improved over generations.

In other words, the dark magic practiced by these noble families, though technically the same kind of spell as common dark magic, is essentially a completely different form.

“The publicly available spells are like watered-down versions. The family’s own spells are the advanced editions.”

Of course, this information is strictly confidential.

“Well, they probably won’t just spill the secrets easily. I’ll handle it myself, so you don’t need to worry about it.”

“Y-Yes, yes.”

When they reached the deep underground, reeking of rot and decay, a gaunt man chained up came into view.

He was a dark mage from the Curse Maga lineage.

“…What’s this about?”

“I am Christian, the heir of the Dark Maga. I’ve come to make a deal with you.”

“A deal? I’m a forsaken man—I have nothing to offer. You don’t expect me to hand over the family’s spells, do you?”

Christian nodded.

“Yes.”

The dark mage sneered.

“You’re an heir and still don’t know? Our Curse Maga sorcerers are bound by a family curse. If we reveal any secrets, we die in excruciating pain the moment we speak.”

This was a common measure taken by noble families specializing in dark magic to prevent leaks.

“I’m not interested in the specifics of your rituals.”

“Then what?”

“Show me the five-star True-Strength curse you’ve mastered, right here, in front of me.”

This refers to dark magic of the same rank as a powerful force.

A level where one manifests their will through spells.

“That’s a strange request. You don’t actually think you can steal my spell just by watching it once, do you?”

For reference, this dark mage had been imprisoned for over five years.

He had no idea who Christian was.