Chapter 110
#110. Waves of Past Glory (2)
Even in battle, our fading presence was evident.
“Is it about the Magic Realm? Why? Do you need some kind of monster byproduct?”
“No, not that. I just thought we might be helpful.”
“Of course, if the Dark Wizards join us, it would help. The problem is…”
“Problem?”
“We don’t have enough money to hire you guys. We’re only going as far as the entrance of the Magic Realm.”
“Doesn’t matter.”
“Ah, no… It matters to us.”
“What’s the issue?”
“Hiring one Dark Wizard could pay for ten Northern Warriors.”
“You fight pretty cheap though.”
“Even cheap is still burdensome.”
“…”
No matter how specialized we were in combat, we weren’t on par with the naturally born human weapons—the Northern Warriors.
They weren’t as expensive or as scarce as us Dark Wizards. Most importantly, they moved fast.
Before we could cast memorized spells, the axes thrown by warriors already slammed into the enemy’s forehead.
“Why don’t you research barriers or seals around the Magic Realm instead?”
To us aimlessly wandering around, the Northerners back then made such a suggestion.
“That’s impossible.”
“If you could build the Main Wall so quickly in the Far North, why can’t you do it for the Magic Realm and the Great Forest?”
“It’s because remnants of the Golden Age’s barrier still exist in the Magic Realm. If we install any large structure or seal, no one knows what might happen.”
But even we couldn’t abandon what the witches had given up on.
“Is that so? Well, if a monster wave occurs in the Magic Realm, it’d be a big deal.”
“Rune Renslett stationed us in Haven for that reason.”
“Anyway, our mercenary group is heading to the Magic Realm. The imperial adventurers are making competition fierce these days.”
“Wish you luck.”
“You too, Dark Wizard.”
The North was still a land full of barbarism and harsh cold.
But after the Main Wall was built in the Far North and the mutant monsters were driven into the Magic Realm, the North quickly began to stabilize.
Meaning, our power wasn’t desperately needed like before.
“Hey, Dark Wizard gentlemen! We’re back!”
“Surprisingly quick.”
Soon after, the Northern adventurers and warriors who had gone to the Magic Realm returned to Haven with somewhat special news.
“There’s something urgent we need to report.”
“What is it?”
“It seems the imperial adventurers found something incredible deep within the Magic Realm.”
“Did they discover a Golden Age ruin?”
“Yeah! And not an ordinary ruin—it looks like a dungeon. A dungeon created by a Golden Age Magician.”
“!!”
“By the way, did you know those guys are still inside the Magic Realm? They seem to be moving slowly due to some injured members.”
“So…?”
“It means the Empire doesn’t know yet. By the way, we’re the only ones who know this fact.”
“Is that right?”
We did our best to prove our worth.
Poof!
We tried to demonstrate our worth in our own way.
“Kuaaah… What is this…?”
“I don’t feel much. Pity.”
“Dark Wizards…!”
“Guh!”
“Kraaaah!”
Our current mission, managing the Magic Realm alongside Demon Den, we executed thoroughly.
“Now, the only people who know about that dungeon are the Imperials stuck inside the Magic Realm, right?”
“Yes. I’ve already dispatched my apprentices to guard the entrance of the Magic Realm.”
“All personnel will head to the Magic Realm. Prepare the highest-ranking Dark Elementals.”
“Should we request assistance from Renslett Castle?”
“No.”
“…? What do you mean?”
“We need insurance too.”
“Of course.”
Any side income gained during this process became solely ours.
Time flowed precariously, like tightrope walking, and continued to pass.
“It’s been a while, Rune Renslett.”
“Aiisak, how have you been lately?”
“The peace is too much; there’s nothing to do.”
“Truly good news. To hear such words in this wretched land.”
“Of course, there are still harsh winters and beasts between villages occasionally…”
“That much we can handle with our warriors alone. Ah, aren’t they knights now?”
“Knights of the North. Should we change our weapons and armor to resemble the Empire’s knights?”
“Hahaha! If you wear armor made solely of iron here, you’ll freeze to death. Wear fur underneath if you must. But we should get used to swords gradually.”
“Will we use Imperial Steel?”
“Why? We have Northern Cold Iron.”
After a long time, Rune Renslett appeared without the fur clothes and Northern Cold Iron armor he always wore like a second skin.
He wore a tunic made by layering Eastern silk and Lian fabric brought as a wedding gift from the Imperial Princess.
Still, he carried an axe and dagger at his waist.
“Ah! Did you see the road on your way here?”
“I did.”
“How is it? The road made by witches using elementals?”
“Thanks to it, I could reach Renslett Castle easily and quickly.”
I nodded calmly without showing any emotion.
“Right? I’m thinking of creating a knight patrol and cavalry unit to guard this road soon.”
“We can help.”
“Eh, why borrow the power of Dark Wizards for such tasks? Just stay comfortable in Haven, researching. Occasionally manage the Magic Realm.”
“…”
“Don’t rush, Aiisak. We haven’t caught the White Serpent Jormungandr yet. You guys are our secret weapon for then. So keep honing your skills and wait.”
“…Understood.”
Rune Renslett still trusted and valued us as important forces.
However, every day we lived anxiously and impatiently.
One day,
The Duchess of the Renslett Dukedom summoned me.
“Duchess, I heard you requested me.”
“Yes.”
The first Duchess of the Renslett Dukedom was not Isabel, the witch Rune Renslett loved so much.
She was Princess Beatrice, one of countless Imperial Princesses. If I remember correctly, she was somewhere between the 21st and 25th princess.
Though an Imperial Princess, since her mother was a lowly maid, she was practically sold off to the North.
Still, even so.
For a Dukedom that was merely nominal, and a family led by a Swordmaster Duke, to send almost a bastard princess—this clearly showed how much the Empire despised the North back then and even now.
“I’ve heard that Dark Wizards excel in curses and poisons.”
“That’s correct. Curses, poisons, necromancy, chimeras, etc., are our strengths.”
“Good… Very good.”
Anyway, the first Duchess, despite being practically sold off to the North, was an ambitious woman.
She adapted fiercely to the harsh climate of the North.
“In fact, yesterday I learned I’m pregnant. I haven’t told His Grace the Duke yet.”
“…?! Congratulations, Your Highness!”
“Thank you. I thought Dark Wizards would be gloomy, but seeing you in person, you’re nothing like that?”
The Duchess smiled happily, caressing her lower abdomen as if she had nothing to envy in the world.
“…”
I gazed blankly at the beautiful Duchess for a moment.
Duchess Beatrice was a stunning woman with golden hair and crimson eyes that proved her royal lineage.
Her face and figure were modeled after her mother, a beauty who could stir the Emperor’s lust.
Because of this, I recall Rune Renslett also gave quite a bit of affection to Duchess Beatrice, though not as much as to Isabel.
“Congratulations indeed. I would like to give you a congratulatory gift.”
“Instead of a gift, can I ask you a favor?”
“…? Please speak.”
Was it due to Rune Renslett’s ambiguous love?
“In the belly of that disgusting witch Isabel, there’s also a child of Renslett. One conceived half a year earlier than mine.”
The joyful expression on her face changed instantly.
Hatred and disdain filled the Duchess’s eyes as she thought of Isabel.
It was a more intense emotion than anything we Dark Wizards felt.
“Use any curse or poison… Eliminate that woman’s child.”
“!!”
“The idea of bastards in the proud Renslett Dukedom of the North, especially one born to a witch, is unacceptable. Don’t you agree?”
“It’s impossible! That would be a sin greater than treason. Besides, Isabel is a direct disciple of the Grand Witch. Normal poisons or curses won’t work on her.”
When I first heard this, I firmly rejected it.
“Tch… This is why you’re treated this way. So timid and gloomy.”
“Excuse me?”
“But you claim to be skilled in poisons and curses, yet you’re weaker than the witches? What will you do when you’re completely overshadowed by witches and chased out of the North?”
“!”
“Eliminate that woman’s child. Make her infertile. Killing her outright would be even better.”
She seemed more like a Dark Wizard than we were.
“In return, when my child ascends to the Duke’s throne, all magical affairs of the North will be entrusted to Sir Isaac and Demon Den.”
Perhaps it was due to constant anxiety, jealousy, and competition.
The Duchess’s words sounded very tempting.
“…I accept your commission.”
At that time, I was bewitched and accepted the Duchess’s request.
The anxiety of becoming useless,
The paranoia of possibly being persecuted again and wandering the world,
Jealousy and inferiority towards the witches,
An excessive desire to become the sole magical power of the North—
All these combined to produce a result that was extremely ugly.
“Is this Isabel’s hair?”
“Yes. I acquired it with great difficulty by bribing maidservants.”
“Purple hair isn’t common. Good job.”
Curses are familiar to Dark Wizards.
How familiar? Familiar enough to create combat curses usable even in battle.
Once cursed properly, it’s so vicious that death feels preferable.
“But are you really going to do it?”
“…Yes.”
“But this is a witch we’re talking about. They’re as adept at curses as we are.”
“Is a witch not human?”
Everyone around me, other Dark Wizards, expressed concern, but I was half-crazed at the time.
“Besides, we have that dungeon discovered in the Magic Realm.”
“?! ”
“Using the magic deciphered there wouldn’t be bad, would it?”
“Oooh! That’s an excellent idea.”
“Let’s do it immediately!”
In no time, my madness infected the entire Demon Den.
Dark Wizards, beings devoid of emotions,
But when triggered, they become more emotional than anyone else.
Properly utilizing these emotional waves can transform them into astonishing determination, but when distorted like now, they become hideous obsessions.
“Again, I realize… Those ancient Golden Age magicians who retreated to the Magic Realm…”
“They definitely weren’t sane.”
“Since even we Dark Wizards think this… ”
“The theory that the Magic Realm was a prison barrier of the Golden Age might actually be true.”
“Thanks to this, things have gotten easier.”
“Yeah… Right.”
The curse was prepared smoothly.
The knowledge obtained from the ruins discovered in the Magic Realm was of great help.
Little did we know, it would become the beginning of our downfall.
A month passed like an arrow riding the northern wind.
[Cast the curse!]
[Cast the curse!]
Having secretly prepared, I, along with the Dark Wizards of Demon Den, cast the curse.
Away from Haven, in the center of the Magic Realm, we spread out a magic circle.
In the center of the magic circle was a straw doll pierced with pins, clumps of Isabel’s purple hair inserted into it.
Kiaaaaah!!
The offerings around the doll included pregnant women kidnapped from near Haven.
Keeerrrrr!!
Among the offerings were also monsters and animals, all pregnant like the humans, each pinned into the magic circle just like the doll.
Their fear, despair, screams, and maternal love served as the driving force of this curse.
“Come on, hate us. The more you hate, the stronger the curse will be.”
Since the target was a direct disciple of the Grand Witch, preparation far beyond ordinary curses was necessary.
Paaaaaat-!
Thus, the curse was activated.
The red light from the magic circle, which drained life and emotions, gathered in one place, rose high into the sky, and shot off toward the distant north.
Kehehehehe…
Kikikikiki…
Watching it, we burst into wild laughter.
Yeah, we’ve crossed a river we can’t return from.
“Everyone, avoid external activities as much as possible for now.”
“Yes!”
“We’ll gather information from adventurers. Especially, don’t hesitate to spend money on news coming from Renslett Castle.”
Even though I was crazy back then, I was cautious.
After casting the curse,
We lay low in Haven, waiting quietly.
Listening only to news from Renslett Castle.
Something seemed off.
“What is it…?”
A month, two months passed after the ritual, but there was no news at all.
“Isabel safely delivered a healthy son!”
“??!”
Then, the worst possible news came riding on the southern wind.
“The Duchess requests your presence.”
“The Duchess?!”
With heavy steps and unresolved doubts, I climbed up to the High City.
“What happened?”
“!!”
And there,
I learned how everything went wrong.
“That witch and her child are far too healthy, aren’t they?”
Faced with the Duchess’s accusations, I couldn’t say a word. I couldn’t even apologize.
‘Wh-, Why did the curse hit the Duchess?!’
My trembling gaze darted between the Duchess’s protruding belly and her forehead.
“Say something if you have anything to say. Stop giving me that unpleasant look.”
The mark of the curse, visible only to those who cast it,
Clearly appeared on the lower belly and forehead of Duchess Beatrice.
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