I Became the Dark Wizard Who Rules Over the Heroines

13 – Joint Class-2

“Monster spotted ahead. Hold on a moment.”

“Wait a second!”

The one we were aiming for wasn’t there, but on the mountain here and there, monsters were seen wandering around one by one.

The princess’s sword drew a beautiful line. The dog-shaped monster breathing fire just vanished instantly without doing anything.

“There!”

Claire’s dark arrow struck the monster, but it was futile. Even if the monster was alive, an arrow of darkness of that level of power could hardly scratch it.

“No need to clean up. Good job.”

“Uh, uh…”

Claire took a deep breath and seemed to take refuge behind my back in embarrassment.

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t much of a help this time…”

“If that dark arrow had hit on time, it could have been dangerous.”

Even in the face of a familiar enemy, party members who’ve been in sync for a long time are not free from friendly fire.

Especially for a dark magician who cannot handle her own magic, there’s nothing more to say.

“But…”

The princess, wiping the blood off her sword, gave a merciful smile.

“I think we’re nearing our physical limits. It would be better to rest now.”

“Tha-that’s okay!”

Claire shook as if she were scared.

She was not unaware. At this party, the person who felt the most desperate physical limits was Claire.

“No, trust me. The mountain, it cools down and gets dark surprisingly quickly. It’s much better to start camping preparations early than to start late.”

Though it was not behavior fitting her status, the princess was the person among us with the most practical experience.

In order to finish this joint class without incident, it was better to respect her judgment.

“Then uh.. so… I-“

“Can you gather some firewood for a moment? It’s safe around here.”

“Oh, got it!”

She seemed tired too, but she couldn’t defy the princess’s command.

Claire disappeared into the forest. The princess, slightly relaxed, gave a light smile.

“She’s such an inconvenient child. I see her trying her best, but her talents are not catching up and tripping her up.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, even now. If we hadn’t set her tasks, what she can do… she’d definitely be fumbling about and trembling with fear.”

Thinking about it, it seemed quite likely.

“Black magic doesn’t seem to suit her… it’s a pity. She’s a righteous child.”

“I agree. I suggested a few times… to learn other things, but her will seems firm.”

“Oh, really? Well, then… can’t be helped.”

The princess let out a disappointed sigh.

“So while she’s moving, let’s do what we have to do. Genia, where should we set up the tent?”

“Do as you please. Anyways, here, the flow of magic is the same no matter where you lay the boundary. I’m going to rest a bit, start with the tent. Lay the tent first…”

Genia lay on the flat rock, flapping her hand, looking too lazy.

“Oh well… are you ready?”

The princess unloaded her baggage and took out the tent. Soon, work began.

I didn’t have much to do. There was a considerable difference between the princess’s and my stamina.

She did most of the work, and I just handed her what she needed at the moment following her instructions.

Yet, even so, the princess didn’t hide her joy and was smiling.

“She – Claire, doesn’t suit black magic.”

“Yes, that’s what I said.”

“But from what I see… the same goes for you. Even if you sweat and strive honestly, you could succeed.”

Genia, who was lying down, chimed in.

“Right! Your magic control seemed fine. Anyway, our group of sorcerers has been struggling due to lack of talents!”

“Compared to Genia, I’m not at that remarkable a level.”

“That’s true but!”

Approaching Genia, the princess hugged her from behind and pinched her cheeks.

“Is the boundary preparation far along? I’m almost done here.”

“Ah, it hurts! I am, I am about to start. Wait a bit!”

After a minor punishment to Genia, the princess looked back at me.

“I’m serious. People like Claire or you… it’s actually hard to find.”

Staring at the darkening sky, the princess spoke musingly.

“When you reach a certain level… you have no choice but to look for a trustworthy person rather than a competent person.”

“Is that so…”

From the perspective of a player, his words were not unfathomable.

“Incompetent individuals require three persons for tasks meant for one, while an evil one is akin to poison. Beyond doing nothing, they spread harm throughout the organization.”

Convictions soaked each and every one of her phrases, each and every one of her actions.

“There are goals you cannot reach without the aid of black magic.”

“How ambitious are those goals?”

Her gazed deepened.

“You must know, a man your age needs significant accomplishments to have a solo discussion with me.”

She was questioning me. Was my black magic valuable enough?

“I can’t promise much. I am a future empress, and there is authority in my every sentence.”

Her moderation was palpable. She was aware of the weight her words carried to others.

“However, the things you can gain from using dark magic, honor, authority, wealth… most can be obtained without relying on the power of darkness.”

“That’s not true.”

But I refused firmly.

It is what it is. It’s the most effective.

To use the power of light is to confront the forthcoming tragedy and conspiracy honestly.

The survival of this world must be left to the whims of fate. Regardless of if we succeed, something must be surrendered for survival.

“I see.”

The princess sighed wistfully. Claire, from far away, getting a pile of firewood was approaching.

“Thanks for accompanying me on a pointless conversation. Take a rest.”

The sun went down. It was night.

/////

“Tell me why you are here, dark wizard.”

The knight glared at the woman before him as if to kill.

“I have an important matter to discuss. I believe it would be valuable for you.”

Ernst Katarin, the worst black magician, stood before the knight.

He was someone she shouldn’t meet, whether as a knight loyal to the empire, a servant to the princess, or as a student in the academy with sensible and general thinking.

But Katarin stood in front of her.

“What a waste of time… your tasks must have been easy.”

“I was lucky. Thanks to no one choosing me, I didn’t have to climb the mountain disgracefully.”

Katarin smiled softly. Unless someone brings a wyrmling, there would be no threats to her.

She shouldn’t listen. Giving heed to the cunning tongue of a dark wizard is something that can’t be excused by any reason.

“Do you think the princess is in danger?”

The knight’s eyes rolled back.

“Even if slightly harmed, I will kill you.”

“That’s my hope. If not, there’s no reason for me to tell you this information.”

“Who else but you? Who in the academy threatens the princess?”

“Well… sadly, I can’t tell you that.”

“How on earth did you know that!”

“Because I belong to the Ernst family. We have many ears.”

“Then you should have told the teacher first!”

“There’s no evidence. I can’t explain how I came to know this.”

Unable to bear it any longer, the knight roared out in fury.

“Damn black mage!”

He doesn’t provide accurate information, he beats around the bush, evading responsibility.

The knight regretted his conversation with Katarina.

“So, what am I supposed to do about this?”

“There is nothing you need to do. There’s also nothing that can be done.”

“What?”

“She’s a princess, isn’t she? No assassin, no plot, should be able to harm her.”

Seething, the knight bit his lip.

“The reason I’m telling you this is because I understand that very well. And if the princess were in danger at the academy, it wouldn’t be beneficial for me either.”

It’s a negotiation. They’re just sharing information in a mutually advantageous manner.

He had an additional reason to trust Katarina, but the knight couldn’t hide his discomfort with the situation itself.

“But the fact that a black mage has infiltrated the princess’s party is… suspicious.”

“You’re going to interject now?”

“No, that’s not it. I have no such intention. There is no evidence that Wade and Claire are part of a more dangerous organization or that they will act against the princess.”

“Again, with your word games…”

“But the princess is noble. Not only by lineage, but by character as well.”

“And?”

“Maybe in a crisis, she may value their safety more than necessary?”

The princess is kind. She cherishes all her subjects as if they were her own, pouring out love and grace like the sun.

Someone might be planning to take advantage of that.

“…Yeah.”

The knight didn’t affirm or deny it.

With a faint smile, Katarina disappeared in a puff of black smoke. The knight watched where she had been, biting his lip.