Chapter 86

“Still…… if we go just a little further, we will see Akerandir.”

Deadlock, completely out of breath, said.

“Pant, boss, pant. Do we really have to go this far because of that crazy bastard?”

Another black mage, Gelback, panted heavily and voiced his dissatisfaction.

“Tsk, tell me about it. But still, since we have that bastard Pierbo’s imprint, we have to go.”

Deadlock also didn’t seem to like the current situation at all.

Deadlock, Gelback, and the other four black mages were originally a gang of punks wandering the back alleys.

One day, they picked a fight with Pierbo, but they were no match for him.

— Hahaha, you stupid bastards. It’s great timing since I was just in need of subordinates.

They were forcibly awakened to black magic, and at the same time, an imprint spell was carved into them.

Of course, because Pierbo’s level of black magic wasn’t that high, it wasn’t a proper imprint.

— Now, you bastards must share life and death with me. If you act displeased to me, or if I die, you all are as good as dead, so do as you see fit.

Because Pierbo threatened them like this, the ignorant punks were completely taken in.

The fact that it was incredibly painful during the awakening due to the low-quality awakening magic circle added to its credibility.

Had the punks learned black magic properly, they would have known the inner workings, but since even moving mana was quite effective in the back alleys, they lived somewhat contentedly.

However, when Pierbo was kidnapped in broad daylight, the situation completely changed.

“But didn’t they say there is also a grand Holy Spirit in Akerandir? Isn’t it all the same whether we get caught by that guy and die, or die from the imprint?”

— And what about the Demon Inquisitor Kaina?

— I heard there’s also a monster from the archipelago!

As the gang grew frightened and raised their voices, Deadlock barked.

“You guys chatter way too damn much! If you don’t want to, go back! But, if I rescue Pierbo, I will tell him to kill you bastards without fail!”

“……Boss, why do you put it like that.”

At that, though the punks scowled, they meekly began to follow behind Deadlock.

‘Stupid bastards, seriously!’

Even though he silenced the black mages, Deadlock was struggling just the same.

Looking around, he found a suitable place to rest and said to the gang.

“Look over there! That mountain peak is probably a basin. It won’t be easily seen by others, so let’s rest there for a bit before moving on. Since we’ll have to wait until night to infiltrate anyway.”

“Sounds good, boss!”

— That’s our boss!

— I’m gonna lie down for a bit!

The black mages chuckled and chimed in agreement with Deadlock’s proposal.

In this way, the black mages coincidentally headed toward the Ephyrim Basin.

***

Meanwhile, Roan, Rafia, and Hector, who had climbed to the top of the cliffs surrounding the basin, did not head down immediately but waited for a moment to observe below.

“……Who are those people?”

A group of six suspicious people were gathered in the middle of the basin, taking a break.

No matter how they looked at them, they weren’t people from the school, and judging by their messy attire, they seemed to have traveled an incredibly long way.

Furthermore, with their exposed skin here and there, and even fierce tattoos carved on their faces, they looked like real thugs, unlike the students of Dragon Street.

Naturally, they were Pierbo’s subordinates, the six punks.

Hector said in bewilderment.

“Are they hikers?”

Roan and Rafia turned to look at him with contemptuous eyes, without knowing who was first.

“No way.”

“How could that be?”

“……Probably not.”

Hector awkwardly avoided their gazes.

This time, Rafia carefully voiced her opinion.

“Aren’t they stranded? They look devastated……”

“That might be possible.”

Hector nodded and agreed.

In such rough mountain areas, getting lost and stranded by climbing the wrong path would be a common occurrence.

Of course, Roan found it absurd.

‘Whether hikers or stranded…….’

To Roan, the two opinions did not feel very different.

Furthermore, there was no way people looking like that would get stranded near here for no reason.

Noticing Roan’s lukewarm response, Rafia asked.

“Then who do you think they are?”

Roan answered calmly.

“They must be black mages.”

““Black mages?!””

At that, the two looked ready to jump in shock.

Kind-hearted Rafia spoke urgently.

“Roan, if you recklessly suspect people of being black mages—”

“Be quiet and watch a bit more.”

“U-Uh?”

Seeing Roan’s serious expression, the two also observed their actions along with him.

In the basin, the punks who had been sitting randomly gathered together and began to prepare to start a fire.

As a man reached out toward the loosely piled firewood, a black flame flared up.

Whoosh─

““!!!””

That was the simplest and most direct evidence that the opponents were black mages.

Since those who conjured black fire were nine times out of ten black mages.

Although it was a development he already knew, seeing it in person made Roan even more dumbfounded.

‘They truly are uneducated punks…….’

What on earth were they thinking, entering Akerandir and confidently starting a fire using black magic?

They should have at least made the effort to carry camping gear.

In any case, Roan turned to the two and asked.

“Will you believe my words now?”

“Y-Yes……”

“Indeed……”

Only then did Rafia and Hector meekly nod their heads.

Then they fell into silent thought, each wearing a serious expression.

Of course, Roan was just as serious.

‘I hurried quite a bit, but I’m still a step too late.’

At the earliest, Pierbo would have been arrested and brought here yesterday.

Yet for the event to proceed the very next day was an exceptionally fast pace.

In terms of probability, it was about 10%.

Regardless, their arrival at such an early hour was definitely a significant setback.

‘First, I need to think of a way to expel them as quickly and quietly as possible.’

As long as Rafia and Hector were watching, he couldn’t use methods that were too extreme or completely irreversible.

For example, burying those black mages in the ground…….

Furthermore, once they reached the Ephyrim Basin, Harden or Kaina, who would soon notice something suspicious, would come here.

If they caught the attention of those two, it would become even more troublesome.

Fortunately, they also hadn’t arrived too long ago.

Given they had just started the fire, and that all the leaves of the Fruit Tree of Eternity fell off once the fruit was harvested, the tree was still intact.

Roan quietly began to lay the groundwork.

“It seems we’ll have to manage this on our own somehow.”

“On our own?!”

Rafia was astonished, not expecting Roan to suggest fighting those black mages.

Although they had seen a black mage in Professor Kaina’s class, that was strictly a class in a controlled environment.

‘I wanted to train, but I didn’t want to go as far as real combat!’

That was Rafia’s thought.

At any rate, the weight of real combat was completely different from a class.

And Hector was.

Sh-sh-sh-shiver-sh-sh-shiver───

“……Are you okay, Hector?”

“Y-Y-Y-Yes, I am fine, Darc.”

“You don’t look fine at all.”

The moment Roan spoke of fighting, he was trembling uncontrollably.

‘How is he going to become even an inquisitor’s assistant at this rate.’

Roan looked at Hector with a pitiful gaze.

Then, a thought crossed his mind that it was actually a good thing in a way.

‘Even if I get caught by Hector, I won’t have to worry about dying.’

Rafia also looked at Hector with equal pity.

Then she carefully suggested.

“Rather than that…… shouldn’t we go back and call the professors?”

“Y-Y-Yes! Th-That is exactly what I wanted to say!”

Hector also agreed.

“Speak properly first.”

“Okay……”

At Roan’s remark, Hector immediately hung his head in shame.

‘That is indeed the safest method.’

In any case, Rafia’s opinion was reasonable.

Under normal circumstances, Roan would have also agreed to do so.

But right now, he absolutely could not.

Because if they withdrew now, the Fruit Tree of Eternity would be raided by the punks!

Since this was not a method for the sake of Rafia and Hector, Roan’s explanation lengthened.

“Since they have already entered Akerandir, they must have tripped the barrier. The headmaster and the professors must also know the situation. In fact, it’s stranger that it’s this quiet right now.”

“Is that so……?”

“I-I have also heard that there is a barrier on the school.”

As Rafia and Hector accepted it, Roan did not miss the opportunity.

“And if we withdraw to fetch the professors, we don’t know what those guys might do as they move. What if they attack an innocent student?”

Naturally, it was a blatant lie.

Although it was certain that they had tripped the barrier, even if they ran, they wouldn’t get far.

Because the punks were sub-par, the barrier just hadn’t made a fuss, but those who should know would already know.

There was no way they could escape from the grasp of Harden, let alone Kaina, who would charge with eyes flared red.

If they advanced like this, they would likely be captured before they could even lay eyes on the school buildings, let alone students.

However, to Rafia and Hector, who hadn’t properly grasped the situation, it sounded quite plausible.

“You’re right, Roan!”

“I was too soft. Ugh……”

Having gathered their senses, the two were in a posture to raid the black mages at any moment.

Roan decided to adjust the pace here.

‘That way, they will think they were the ones who wanted to fight from the beginning!’

It was a way to deceive them even more seamlessly.

“Right, but stay calm. Haste makes waste. From now on, do as I say—”

Flinch─

However, just as he was about to explain the plan, Roan suddenly felt an instinctive anxiety.

‘By the way, why is it that really no one is coming?’

A point that was even more suspicious, even though he had said it himself.

There was no way it would be this quiet when six black mages had actually entered Akerandir.

Furthermore, hadn’t they boldly used black mana to start a fire?

If so…….

Could someone already be watching all of this?

At that thought, Roan looked around.

And Roan found him.

“……!”

In the sky in the middle of the basin, a faint, whitish figure caught Roan’s eye.

[You’re finally looking this way?]

It was Harden.

Naturally and casually to the point where one couldn’t tell since when he had been floating, he was watching the entire situation.

[They look weak at a glance, so I don’t think there is a need for even this old headmaster to step forward.]

At Harden’s divine message, Roan looked up at him with an absurd expression.

Was he telling the freshmen to capture black mages then?

And those who had flocked in a group of six, not just one or two?

Even if Roan knew their identity, it was not a sensible demand at all.

‘If you saw it, you should think of helping!’

……Though Roan was planning to drive the punks away anyway.

While Roan was dumbfounded, Harden added:

[I trust you weren’t trying to back off quietly just because they are fellow practitioners. You must also prove your faith! Teach them a lesson if you don’t want to be dragged to an inquisition immediately! Hurry!]

A threat possible only for Harden, who knew Roan’s identity!

He was bound to giggle, thinking it would be fun to pit fellow black mages against each other.

Under normal circumstances, Roan would have been quite displeased with Harden’s annoying intentions.

But this time was different.

Prove it?

‘I’ll do exactly as you say.’

When Roan looked like he would naturally obey his words, it was Harden who was startled instead.

[……Why are you so obedient? It’s not like you.]

However, Roan now completely withdrew his attention from Harden’s divine message and merely looked down at the black mages.

……Harden pondered whether he should cancel his words telling Roan to step forward and handle it himself right now.