I Became the Dark Wizard Who Rules Over the Heroines

12 – Combined Class-1

“Teams that have been formed, move quickly!”

“It’s not dangerous. Instructors are stationed everywhere, so if there’s even a hint of danger, activate your signal flare immediately-“

It was crowded. Numerous students were preparing for an upcoming joint class.

“With this level of preparation, bringing in monsters might be challenging in itself…”

The Academy taught various topics to the many students, but above all, the essential education was related to combat.

There were those studying history, culture, governance and politics. However, those subjects were closer to being taught at home by private tutors, rather than at the Academy.

Swordsmanship, magic, healing arts, and dark magic. Subject matters gravitating towards combat were what ambitious individuals needed to learn when they came to the Academy.

But the goal of this Academy was peace and unity.

Everyone knew that their violently honed skills were for mankind, intended to thwart everything from small rebellion forces or thieves to larger conflicts with enemy countries.

But at least on the surface, all their training and power should be neatly wrapped up as to protect innocent civilians from monster threats.

A massive mountain range infested with monsters would have all their threatening claws and fangs removed.

Even so, it doesn’t mean this tasks are safe.

People who have never fought naturally fear even the movement of a creature much smaller like a dog or an insect.

The nobles, about whom this was more, probably didn’t encounter creatures harboring intrinsic hostility toward them. Such first-hand experience would be invaluable for them.

“Do we… have to go even higher?”

Claire whispered into my ear so that others wouldn’t hear.

Considering who we were going up with, It was impossible her whisper wouldn’t be overheard, no matter what she did.

“I must have burdened you with too much,” the princess’s gracious voice echoed in Claire’s ears.

“N-no, not at all!”

Perplexed, the Princess cocked her head and her golden hair glittered in the wind.

Well, she wouldn’t understand.

The royal bloodline and the blessings granted to them award the royals with powers qualitatively different from ordinary humans.

Therefore, those who serve the princess naturally assume that everything they say can be heard by her.

Unlike Claire, who flinches just because the princess heard her.

“It doesn’t matter. You were brought here because of our situation? Well, even if you hadn’t come, others would have.”

“Most of those would have already found their teammates. They could join my team out of personal conscience, but what plight would it be for those left behind?”

“I guess you never know… Who could’ve known that Stella would suddenly fall sick?”

They were meant to have a team of their level.

Ulyssia, the royal descendant and the foremost knight, and Genia, the next generation magician hailed as a genius.

And the remaining spots were meant for Stella, a prospective saint, and Katarin, the best black magician.

But the princess chose me instead of Katarin. And then Stella fell mysteriously ill on the day of the joint class.

A vacancy popped up and they kindly chose the black magician who hadn’t yet found a team.

Clerics are always hard to find, and battle-ready clerics are even rarer.

The instructors didn’t look too happy about it, but they couldn’t easily answer the princess’s question: “Are you asking me to find another cleric at this point?”

Of course, they could find one if they tried, but it was inevitable that a party formed based on the assumption of having a cleric would fall apart.

“But I really like you! You were the only one who said you liked my magic wand!”

The magician with purple hair nudged Claire with her wand.

“Are you serious? But that… it looks so… artistic…”

“Right? It’s avant-garde! Don’t you feel the energy bursting from this piece?”

The magic wand was carved into disturbingly uncomfortable abstract shapes that couldn’t be called beautiful from a conventional perspective.

“Jenia. It’s entirely your freedom how a wizard decorates their belongings, but forcing your appreciation onto others is not exemplary-”

“No, not forcing! Really! I just saw this today for the first time! Right, Claire?”

“Yes…yes.”

“See! Friend, friend! Speak comfortably, Claire!”

“Erm…thank you.”

As a smile bloomed on Claire’s face, the small magician broke into loud laughter, delighted.

The princess, too, wore a warm smile as she watched this scene unfold.

“Just sit tight. After giving you such a difficult task, the tutors will give a suitable reward. If you need a scholarship…”

“Are you serious?”

Surprised, Claire lifted her head.

“Why so surprised? It’s a task to capture a manticore, if there’s no reward of such caliber it wouldn’t be reasonable, would it?”

“A…manticore?”

It was a serious magical beast. One that a common person might never see in their lifetime. Alone, it could ravage a small village or two.

Those who could not control magic were wiped out instantly, and even for those who could form a party to face it, victory couldn’t be guaranteed. It is a terrifying monster.

“You don’t need to worry. It’s just a beast that can’t do anything but crawl on the ground after its wings have fallen off.”

No matter how strong the monster was, this party, no, Elysia and Jenia would not lose.

“But still, releasing a magical beast into the mountain…”

“The teachers must be tracking the location of the beast. They made control devices here and there, blocking it from running amok.”

“Is that so…”

“So, we need to climb higher. Because of our tests, we should not cause any trouble to other students.”

“I see…”

Claire’s mouth seemed to understand why we needed to go up, but her gasping breath didn’t seem to comprehend it.

Even though I had a decent body, it was hard to keep up. It was impossible for Claire to bear it.

It would have been better if I could strengthen my body with magic, but it couldn’t be helped.

In addition to the dark arrows, I’ve learned decent dark magic, but there’s still a lot I haven’t learned.

“Don’t be nervous, just think that you came to rest. It’s not a task that ends in a short time.”

Those who assign the task knew very well that a manticore wasn’t a worthy opponent for them.

“The range we have to search is wide. We need to set bait and prepare to lure it out.”

The teachers may have thought that making the students suffer together would improve their relationships.

If it was like the content of the game, that strategy would miserably fail, and Katerina and Elysia’s relationship would cross an irreparable line.

“Think we came on a trip.”

This was fortunate. The princess was the type who became stronger when there was something to protect.

If Claire was under her protection, at least for a while, I could move freely as well.

Still, I can’t be off guard.

The Saintess candidate, Stella, wouldn’t get sick without a reason.

She is a healer, a cleric. She possesses such a divine power that an average sick could feel cleansed from the plague with one of her smiles.

Even a patient who lost limbs could be healed by such a saint. It was unlikely that she gave up the joint class just because she wasn’t in perfect condition.

Is she starting her move…

It was certain that Katarin cast her spell. If she wanted to kill me, she wasn’t going to miss this chance.

The princess pulling me in yielded more results than expected…

Although it was a measure taken to not be dragged around as per Katarin’s intentions, the princess seemed to be quite pleased with it, more than I anticipated.

But, what could she be thinking of…

If I was alone, or to be precise, if a party consisting of me and some insignificant people were wandering about this mountain, Katarin would have countless means.

She could set up a massive trap, or even mobilize assassins.

Or bribe or threaten a few students or teachers to kill me, or even if she alone left the party and killed me, it wouldn’t matter.

However, if the princess is here, the story changes.

As long as I’m with her, any attempt to assassinate me can be interpreted as an attempt to assassinate the princess.

No, it’s a tricky plan to call in assassins who can fight and win against the princess to begin with. Even for Katarin, there are impossible things.

However, considering Katarin’s nature, she didn’t seem likely to pass up this opportunity.

Death during joint classes is an accident. But, a student dying at normal times is an awful trace of crimes.

The degree of attention from the investigative agency would differ. The chaos in the academy will worsen beyond her control.

Katarin is a competent dark magician, but she isn’t the head of the Erst family. She can’t deplete all the family’s conspiracy power for her honor.

Somehow, she’ll try to knock me down here…

“Are you okay, Wade?”

Engulfed in thoughts, I was awakened by Claire. Once I regained my senses, I started walking up the mountain trail again.

For now. I had no choice but to wait for Katarin to make a move.