I Became the Dark Wizard Who Rules Over the Heroines

14 – Joint Class-3

“Why didn’t you wake me up?”

I woke up, struggled to get up in the tent, and approached Claire.

“I’m, I’m sorry!”

“Well, it wouldn’t be bad for me to sleep a bit more.”

Once they had climbed up the mountain, they had to keep watch.

Genia grumbled about doing something like that, but Urisia was stubborn. It seemed like she had a belief that they needed to confirm safety with their own eyes.

“Aren’t you tired too?”

Honestly, I thought she would be asleep.

She would be tired. There must be wounds all over her body.

“That’s… it seems I can’t.”

Under the small campfire, I could feel the thick traces of magic.

“You’ve been practicing.”

“Well, sometimes it goes well and sometimes it doesn’t… I don’t know why that is.”

Claire shook her head back and forth.

“So, I had told you to stop, hadn’t I?”

“Ah, I know! I get it! I know it too… But still, aren’t we attending the same party as the Princess? At least for now, if I don’t do my part…”

Looking into her eyes, she seemed to not have a shred of desire to sleep.

I could not help it.

“You know, what do you think is the basis of black magic?”

“Obtaining power you couldn’t normally get from contracts?”

“In principle, that’s correct.”

But in actuality, it varies the methods of becoming stronger.

One strengthens physical abilities through traditional training, continually surpassing their limits to increase their magic threshold, and learns how to battle through experience.

However, those who wield the powers of darkness can become stronger in countless ways.

They sacrifice their reason, their blood, their lives, and bring pleasure to demons.

“Do you want to know why you can’t use black magic properly?”

“Uh, yes! No, why are you telling me this now?”

I thought it was pointless. I believed what I was about to say was too hard on her.

I drew a small shadow arrow and shot it at the ground.

“Look, look! It’s incredibly unique. I feel I’ve been trying my best, but at some point, I feel like my magical power is stagnating…”

“The reason you can’t use black magic is…”

I wished she would give up sooner.

“Claire, it’s because you don’t want to.”

“What?”

Claire looked at me, her eyes wide open in confusion.

“That’s not true! I can absolutely sacrifice anything-“

“It’s not enough.”

We need a more desperate resolve and vile intentions.

I extended my left arm towards her.

“If a demon wants, can you shoot a shadow arrow to my arm?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Demon’s are capricious. It’s not uncommon for dark mages to suffer from their unusual requests.”

“But how could I… do such a thing to you.”

Claire bit her lip and shook her head repeatedly.

“You know how weak your shadow arrows are? It will sting a bit. Even if it’s rotten, it’s a shadow arrow, blood will flow… but that’s it.”

At the point where she was still mulling, she was not going to be a stellar dark mage.

“You say you can sacrifice everything, but in reality you’re incapable of giving up anything. Even your friend’s arm.”

“You’re being too harsh. That’s…”

“It can’t be helped. It’s about gaining power. You can’t get it for free… And the demon you made a pact with probably knows that too. It might not bother to tell you but it can sense that there are things you’ll never do.”

Hence, it doesn’t lend her power.

She’s boring, worthless and even can’t control herself.

“Do all the other dark mages live like this?”

“That depends.”

Some magicians are born with the innate ability to attract a demon’s affection.

Some have a will and malice many times greater than others, and even amid the ceaseless temptations of the devil, they never forget why they became a dark warlock.

Or, some individuals’ temperament matched well with the devil. Or, their circumstances were suitable for making sacrifices.

There are some special people. Sadly, you are not one of them.

Then why, of all people, me…

It’s not something to be ashamed of. It’s something to be proud of.

It is an advantage not insignificant to resist the temptation of power, knowing that it can harm a friend.

Although Claire’s mental strength could not be said to be outstanding in an objective light, she would not stab her colleagues in the back even if she was substantially brainwashed.

It’s a good thing.

It had its advantages, not disadvantages, for both ordinary people and people who wielded the power of light.

Dark warlocks are the odd ones.

I see. So, you wanted me to choose a different profession than a dark warlock.

Gently nodding with a sad gaze, Claire seemed to understand at last.

Alright. So, take a rest. For now, there’s nothing you can do.

Okay…

A drained voice weakly came out. Claire bowed her head deeply, rose from the flat rock she had been sitting on, and moved her feet towards the tent.

Huh?

And then, I felt that something had changed in a moment.

The magic force sweeps out in the whole world. So intense, dark magic force, I doubt I’ve been taken to hell.

With a sound as if the sky is bursting, the thunder rolls. Lightning strikes. Suddenly, the sky that had been dry up to now brings a downpour.

All hands, emergency! Wake up, everyone!

I yelled towards the tent. I could hear rapid, irregular footsteps that could not be distinguished from the rain.

Claire, what?

She was running towards the forest.

/////

Claire understood.

Wade’s explanation was kind. Even she, who didn’t know anything, could understand it clearly, and it was equally cruel.

She was someone who could not use dark magic.

If she goes back… She would have to find another way.

It might be too late. After the basics of either swordsmanship or magic.

She might not receive consideration. She could become an inferior again, barely keeping up with the incomprehensible lessons.

But, she wanted to do it together…

Half of the forced decision was because of Wade.

He’s her first friend. She didn’t want to break up. No matter how difficult the problem, she felt as though she could solve it if such a kind-hearted person was next to her.

But now, she understood. She understood that she couldn’t stand by his side as a dark warlock.

Feeling a great sense of incongruence as she gave up everything and turned back to the tent, she was tormented by a huge wave that she could hardly resist. It was evil. It was magic.

Wha…t!

She wasn’t able to open her mouth. An urge took hold of Claire.

K-kill.

This wasn’t human language. Nor human emotions.

Merely something more devoted to evil than herself, a being closer to a demon, was commanding her.

No, no, no…

But this was not a sweet proposition. Nor a delicious temptation. Not yet a made deal.

The power Claire had used. The darkness arrow she barely used, the promises she had made laying her hand on the altar filled with her blood.

The deal she had made, the promises she had made when she dedicated herself to the devil, the promises the past Claire had made to give everything to find her place.

Was dominating her body.

No, no, no…!

Emotions not her own flowed in Claire’s bloodline.

A huge beast’s instinctive greed, anger was shaking her. Claire’s feelings were being assimilated into that huge will.

I’m crazy. No, absolutely, no…!

The princess is kind and compassionate. I cannot stab her in the back.

While the magician was a little mischievous, but still a good person. I cannot make her smile turn into rage.

And she cannot harm Wade, no matter.

aaahhhhh…

Unwanted power, magic spreads through her body. And it tries to take its toll.

Claire realized she could not hold on for long.

There’s no way. Even if she gave up all her strength now, the magic inside her body, the already signed contracts would not let Claire go.

Somehow, she had to get away.

Running through the pouring storm, Claire ran as if possessed.

She had to escape. She couldn’t get closer. She had to get away.

If she were to lose her sanity for even a moment, she might end up hurting those with her.

No, where are you going! Stop!

Wade is calling her. Anxiety, fear enters Claire’s mind.

I have to die now. There are many cliffs. Just by tripping a little, she could end her life harmlessly.

As Claire kept running, she realized she was unconsciously heading towards the source of those emotions.

aaa…

It was huge. A monstrous entity, bigger than an ordinary house, was staring at her.

Neither the gaze of seeing an enemy, nor a small creature, nor food.

Oh…

Just like looking at one of her body parts, with an expression without joy or sadness-

aaahhhhh!!!

Claire screamed. She wanted to run away. She wanted to blame. She could not understand why she had to be in this situation.

Finally, stopp… huh, we’ve found a big one.

Go, go, go, go, go away!

And that shared emotion made a tiny gap in Claire’s staggering mind.

The darkness arrow from Claire’s hand shot towards Wade.

As if it sucked up all the remaining light in this forest, carrying a darkness deeper than the night’s forest within it.