I Became the Dark Wizard Who Rules Over the Heroines

22 – Tournament-1

“Already, four people have sought me out! They politely requested to join our party!”

Claire excitedly ran towards me.

“Lucky us. We can choose good people.”

“That’s right! There’s no need to worry about this team tournament! We will definitely be able to get a scholarship!”

Killing Behemoth was indeed a great achievement, but not much came back to Claire and me.

Because of its instability, Behemoth’s corpse could not be a good magical sample.

Even the condition of the corpse was not good. It was saturated with magical energy, and the form was not complete.

There weren’t many people who could use it. A wise dark mage might be able to use it for research, but the purpose of the research would be wrong.

The academy hoped that Behemoth would be forgotten as soon as possible, and immediately collected it and incinerated it with the help of magicians.

Although we received a small compensation, it was difficult to say that our situation had significantly improved.

“We will definitely become wealthy!”

The team tournament, strictly speaking, was part of the educational curriculum, but in reality, it was like a contest held within the academy.

It was a contest that tested the strength of the students, with a considerable prize, enough for one to think, ‘Even the children from moderately wealthy families are pretty good, huh?’.

“We need to work hard.”

Although I was worried that the contest would be downsized because of the Behemoth incident, it seemed that the academy had decided to proceed with the contest as planned.

The academy needed to show that it was still healthy. From the academy’s point of view, internal tournaments that involved students were safer than external activities involving risks.

“First of all, I think you and I are definitely included in the party… who should we include? A priest?”

“You’re the priest.”

“Ah… Ah! That’s right! I forgot!”

Although a dark priest, a priest was a priest nonetheless.

While I couldn’t provide holy spells or buffs that priests could use, I could more or less manage to heal the physical body or curse to suppress the enemy.

“A knight who can set up the front line … and a wizard, or an archer. I think that’s all we need.”

Fortunately, we had a wide range of choices.

If this was a game scenario, there would be no need to go to such great lengths to find people …

If I chose the route to use the power of light, I could just casually interact with the party members I wanted and increase my favourability rate.

Even in the route using the power of darkness, I could find a fairly good knight or archer. If only I hadn’t sided with Catherine and Chuck.

But it wouldn’t have been a good choice for me to oppose the princess instead of Catherine in that situation, so there’s no point in regretting it.

Still, Claire and I attracted quite a lot of attention. Among the students who were interested in that interest, if we sifted the gems from the rocks, we could find quite decent party members.

“Could you tell me who came?”

“Huh? But… No one famous enough to recognize by name came.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

My memory is a bit hazy now, but if they were really important people, I can remember just by hearing their name.

“So, um…”

Names flowed from Claire’s mouth. Most of them were names of people I hadn’t heard of.

I felt a little sorry, but I didn’t need team members who just believed in the strength of a dark priest and wanted to tag along.

I’m in a position where I can’t increase my favourability with other characters during regular classes. If I don’t take advantage of opportunities like team tournaments, I might not have anyone to use later.

I was lost in thought when I raised my head hurriedly at the name of the person Claire called last.

“Wait. At the end, you definitely said Lilian, right?”

“Uh… Yeah! She said she was an elf, for real, with pointed ears and everything!”

Not bad. They’re decent.

They might not seem too strong right now, but they are trustworthy and show potential for growth. They’re definitely worth seeing at least once…

There was a lot to do. She had to figure out how to meet someone while avoiding a third party’s eyes, and consider how another party might interfere in the upcoming team tournament.

But moving up must be the first priority.

When does their class end?

///

Olivia read the short note in her hand several times.

There was no hidden message. The requirements of her parents were brutally direct.

If she does not achieve results, she should return to her home.

The contents of the note, devoid of much polite language, was laughably simple.

Father…

She understood. Olivia knew his feelings.

The family had already been treated like bats within the empire.

It was a family that received a lot of criticism for not playing a proper role in disputes with the Ernst family, a family frequently in contact with them.

Even when she declared she would walk the path of a knight, everyone…was happy for her.

The reason Olivia chose the way of the knight was to erase those despicable looks directed at her family.

For a while, it worked. Offering up the eldest daughter for the noble purpose of serving the princess, the unsightly glares cast on her family had to fade.

I did bring trouble to the family, so I should be punished…

Regardless of what choices she made or why, Olivia was under suspicion and that suspicion was quickly igniting her family.

But how can…

Once removed from the organization serving the princess, mediocre results wouldn’t persuade her father.

Loyalty would not do. Her loyalty has already proven meaningless.

Once the princess’s trust is lost, no chance of making amends will be given.

So it should be strength.

Unless she gained meaningful results in the upcoming team tournament, Olivia would have to return home.

…

The life wasn’t good. No one acknowledged her, treated her importantly.

Merely regarded as one of the cards to be used for a political marriage without considering her as family.

But that poor treatment wasn’t what frightened her.

…

Although she would be neglected, it meant that she would still be a lady of a secure noble family.

Compared to what she should have been doing and practicing as a knight, a life much too comfortable awaited her.

But her worth as Olivia would disappear.

Being a knight was her last chance. Her last opportunity to show her worth to her family.

The moment she returns to her, to them, she’d become nothing more than a family member. No matter how hard she tries, she won’t become more, unless she succumbs to madness and commits a murder, she can’t become less.

I need more strength…

But Olivia knew her limits well.

Those wielding light power can’t become stronger in a short period of time.

At least several months and even years of gruelling practice are necessary.

“Even a strong team member…”

This too, was nothing more than an unrealistic delusion.

Olivia was strong, but the results her father wanted were not something she could achieve with her strength alone.

Unless she could at least put up a hard fight against Katarin’s party, or the Princess’s party, she wouldn’t be recognized for her accomplishments.

The logical choice she could make was clear.

But, Olivia couldn’t make that choice until the very last moment.

///

“Such polite behavior…”

Katarin slowly cherished the contents of a letter that had burnt away in front of her with a faint smile.

It was contact from Kajot. Rather than being angry about Katarin freely using their assets, they flattered her with sweet words that one could find in the social circuit.

“Join our plan… Well, I might oblige with that.”

Instead, they asked Katarin to move, offering a tasty tribute.

Katarin gently rolled the small, black ball that had appeared on her hand.

“How many did they have to kill for this… No rumors about people disappearing nearby, they might’ve gathered it from far away.”

It is a quality symbol of evil, hardened with the blood of countless people.

A precious object that may allow her to use great magic that she couldn’t use due to a lack of magic, and which could suddenly amplify her magic to intimidate other black magicians.

Even as the heir of the Ernst family, it was a high-quality product that she hadn’t often handled herself.

When they prepared the pre-born Behemoth effortlessly, she felt that surprisingly, Kajot might possess a wealth of resources beyond their means.

“From all… because, they were scared of Lady Katarin, they bestowed such a gift…”

Kellin, while in pain from magic, boosted Katarin’s dignity with flattery.

However, Katarin couldn’t trust her.

“That’s right. It’s a nice gift, so I must return the favor properly.”

She wore a faint smile.

“They asked me to kill someone. To create a conflict, in the team tournament.”

“…”

“Do it. If possible, join Wade’s team.”

Katarin had tired of Kellin. Her patience had run out.

She had spent so much in giving pain to Kellin, hinting her to never forget who she truly should serve, yet-

“Yes! I understand!”

Kellin still had the fear of Wade in her eyes.