“Gahhh!” Basilrud, with a broken leg, slumped to the ground. Yulien, who had been about to behead the Black Mage, froze for a moment. Drip drip. A red line formed around Basilrud’s neck as blood flowed out. Thanks to Yulien stopping his sword just before the cut, Basilrud’s head was still attached. “Huff, huff!” Terrified, Basilrud gasped for breath. For some reason, his opponent had spared him. Ghislaine raised her staff above Basilrud’s head and said, “Looks like we’ve got a clear winner.” “P-please spare me! I’m a 6th Circle Black Mage! Keeping me around will definitely benefit you!” “But you’re way too weak for a 6th Circle, aren’t you?” Ghislaine’s observation was unapologetically honest. When Vanessa was a 6th Circle mage, she had played a decisive role in battles. Even considering that Knights had protected her, her combat instincts were on another level. Vanessa never flinched in the face of attacks and always figured out the most efficient countermeasures. Compared to her, Basilrud’s magical prowess was painfully pitiful. But Basilrud retorted with an indignant expression, “Th-that’s because your combat style is just so bizarre…” He unleashed a frenzy of magic from afar without focus, and up close, he wildly swung his staff. Where else would you find a mage fighting like this? For Basilrud, who had never exercised a day in his life, it was an incomprehensible realm. Ghislaine chuckled, then continued, “First, let’s get rid of all the undead.” “Ah, got it.” There weren’t even half of them left anyway, thanks to Deneb, Kyle, and the Knights of Nordheel who fought so well. Without the Black Mage’s support, the already weak undead had limitations in battle against the Knights. As Basilrud commanded with his mind, all the undead collapsed. They wouldn’t move until Basilrud infused them with dark mana again. Once the undead fell, Deneb and Kyle finally slumped to the floor. Having fought while being besieged by hundreds of undead and allies, they were utterly exhausted. The soldiers who had been continuously funneling the undead into the center realized the situation. “Yay!” “The Black Mage is captured!” “We’ve won!” Everyone lowered their weapons and cheered. It was a miraculous victory with no casualties. Especially Andrew, his joy was beyond words. After two failed hunts, to win so easily felt surreal! From this event, they truly understood how strong the Yulien Mercenary Group was. Hearing the soldiers’ cheers,…

“Everywhere you look, it’s a Mage.” It was the special training instructed by Ghislaine. After hearing about undead traps from Zico, Ghislaine thought it was a fantastic opportunity. Such a passionate chance to fight doesn’t come around often. Thanks to Ghislaine, who pushed through everyone’s objections, Deneb and Kyle found themselves facing hundreds of undead. Grrr! The undead, gradually being pushed back by the soldiers, naturally attacked the two as they got closer. Surrounded by both undead and allies, Deneb and Kyle had no choice but to fight for their lives. Gah! Gah! Gah! The undead were falling quickly. This meant Deneb and Kyle’s skills had improved beyond comparison. The knights of Nordhill watched the situation unfold before slicing down the undead that approached the soldiers. This much help was allowed by Ghislaine. While the undead were collapsing everywhere, Ghislaine and Yulien had managed to cut through the undead blocking their way and were now close to Basilrud. Seeing the two approaching, Basilrud panicked. “What, what is this!” There were over a hundred undead right in front of him. Yet they were quickly cut through. The two didn’t even take the time to properly slay the undead, just shoving them aside and charging through. And one of them was a mage, can you believe it! “You cheeky brats!” A massive wall made entirely of bones rose up in front of Basilrud. A wall even the average knight would struggle to break. At the same time, his hands began to be shrouded in dark energy. “I’ll make you regret daring to come at me!” In that moment, Ghislaine, who was in front of Yulien, gripped his staff with both hands and swung it as if it were a bat. BOOM! A large hole burst through the bone wall, debris flying everywhere. Basilrud’s eyes widened as he prepared to cast a spell. “Y-You’re not a mage, are you?” His incredulous question spilled out before he could stop it. He just couldn’t believe it even after seeing it. “Everywhere you look, it’s a Mage,” Ghislaine replied curtly, forcefully slamming the staff down. BOOM! Basilrud extended his shield and staggered back, his hands thrust forward as dark magic burst forth. “Die!” Even in his panic, the quick counterattack was certainly befitting a 6th Circle Mage. A powerful surge of energy poured from his darkened hands. WHOOSH! As Ghislaine rushed towards him, he spun his…

“Everywhere you look, it’s a bunch of mages.” The trees stood majestically towards the sky, while enormous moss-covered rocks were scattered haphazardly around. Amidst them, there were traces of people constantly passing through, forming a narrow path. In the distance, someone appeared to be standing at the end of that path. The 6th Circle Black Mage, Basilrud. His face was lined with wrinkles and his hair was white. Just as Dark had seen, his attire could only be described as rags. If someone unfamiliar with him laid eyes on him, they might mistake him for a beggar lost in the mountains. But upon seeing his gaze, they would quickly change their mind. That glimpse of madness in his eyes told anyone that Basilrud was not an ordinary person. “Heh heh… Looks like my apprentice is already dead…” Basilrud had taken Zico as his servant and apprentice through a pact of Black Magic. Connected to Zico mentally, he could feel each other’s presence even at a distance, but recently that connection had been severed. “Seems like that fool made a mistake… getting caught like that…” Basilrud didn’t think much of it. No matter how ridiculous it seemed, it was a territory with knights. After attempting Mind Control twice already, it wasn’t surprising if he got discovered. From the moment the connection broke, he had been surveying the area beneath the mountain with his magical sight every day. And he realized that an army was coming back. “Since it has come to this… I’ll have to find another way.” Of course, the ones coming would end up dying pitifully. They would become sacrifices for his own benefit. “So… I’m right here. Come on!” Basilrud waited with a sinister smile for the soldiers of Nordhill. Before long, Ghislaine and the Nordhill troops discovered Basilrud, who was waiting for them. “Is that him? He really seems confident.” Ghislaine chuckled as he looked at Basilrud. Standing there so boldly with hundreds of soldiers around him was quite the gall for a mage. Though Basilrud was likely prepared in his own way. “It’s a Black Mage.” “I’ve never seen his face before.” “What’s he doing out here?” The ones who had participated in the last purge gripped their weapons, tense. Last time, they hadn’t had the chance to fight properly before retreating. This was their first encounter with a Black Mage. When Ghislaine raised his hand,…

“Magic isn’t about the circle, it’s about real combat!” Fighting a Black Mage comes with its own set of problems. And the biggest issue isn’t even the clash in an open field. Nope, it’s having to hunt down the guy hiding in the mountains and dodging through rough terrain. So even if you win, you end up taking a serious beating. In the already struggling Barony, creative solutions were in order. “It’s not that I don’t trust the mage, but… their circle is way too high. How about we find a way to block their magic?” Initially, Andrew planned to have Ghislaine suppress the Black Mage’s spells. He thought that since they were both 5th Circle, it just might be doable. But no matter how great Ghislaine was, she wasn’t going to stand a chance against a 6th Circle mage. The circles are absolute, after all. Shaking her head at Andrew’s worries, Ghislaine said, “You really don’t need to worry. We have a friend named Alfoy in our territory who has defeated higher circle mages before.” “Wait, really? Is that even possible?” “Absolutely, it’s definitely possible.” Alfoy once fought against the Tower of the Scarlet and came out on top against a mage with a higher circle. Sure, winning in a fair magical duel might be debatable, but a win is a win. Recalling that moment, Ghislaine smiled. “He said something funny back then.” “What did he say?” With a proud grin and a raised fist, Ghislaine replied, “Magic isn’t about the circle; it’s about real combat, X-man!” Andrew looked impressed, then pulled back slightly, asking, “Was that… directed at me?” “Nope, that was said to the opponent he fought.” “Ah, my bad! I misunderstood! Ha ha ha, I thought you were talking to me…” “Ha ha ha…” The two shared an awkward laugh. Still, with Ghislaine speaking so confidently, Andrew couldn’t hold back any further. After all, it would be offensive to a prideful mage like her. After a brief awkward silence, Ghislaine cleared her throat and changed the subject. “Anyway, proceed with the hunt as planned. The Yulien Mercenary Group will take the lead, so if it gets dangerous, feel free to retreat.” “Not a chance! We’ll fight together and catch them no matter what! I’m counting on the Yulien Mercenary Group!” Andrew shouted boldly. True to his simple nature, he was energetic and full of passion. He…

“Ugh! This brat!” Zico raised both hands high. Well, he was also a 4th Circle Black Mage. If it were another territory, he would surely qualify as an exclusive mage. He had no intention of just sitting here and taking it. Whoosh! Suddenly, a blast of black energy shot from Zico’s hands, striking Ghislaine’s face. The black energy flared up, spreading wildly around. People gasped at the sight. “The mage is in trouble!” “Help him!” “Surround the area!” People shouted in chaos. The three companions rushed in, drawing their swords. “Hah! You cocky little punk! How’s it tasting? A mage trying to brawl like this?” Zico laughed boisterously, thinking Ghislaine had suffered a fatal wound. But suddenly, his body wouldn’t move. The opponent’s grip was still tightly holding his neck. As the black smoke dissipated, Ghislaine’s face reappeared—unscathed. Zico’s eyes widened in disbelief at the unexpected turn of events. “H-how?” To take a direct hit from magic and still be fine! He’d never heard of such a sturdy mage! With a deadpan expression, Ghislaine raised his fist. “Because of you, I’ve become a criminal in history.” “Wha—?” Zico clearly didn’t understand what that meant. How could he throw around words like “history” so grandly? Regardless of Zico’s confusion, Ghislaine brought his fist crashing down on his face. Bang! “Gah!” In an instant, Zico’s face was smashed in. Thankfully, Ghislaine had moderated his strength, so he didn’t die immediately. After one punch, Ghislaine’s rage didn’t subside. He continued to strike Zico, just enough to keep him alive. Bang! Bang! Bang! “Gah! Cough! Wait a minute!” As a chimera, Zico didn’t feel pain like a normal person. Being a living creature, he had sensations and nerves. Only parts that were augmented or sustained by magic tended not to feel pain. But getting hit by Ghislaine’s magically-imbued fists was extremely painful for Zico. Thud! Thud! Bang! “Ugh!” People who had been rushing over suddenly stopped. It was too shocking to see Ghislaine effortlessly pounding Zico. It was quite a refreshing scene. “D-do mages fight with their fists now?” “He definitely conjured fireballs just a moment ago…” “Looks like he’s a mage who can fight too.” While Ghislaine had gained the ability to use magic, he still felt more comfortable fighting with his body. Plus, it was more reliable. Magic was merely a means to diversify fighting methods and enhance convenience. Having turned Zico’s…

“Is there really a Black Mage?” The massive training ground was packed with soldiers and servants. The reason even the servants gathered was that the culprit could be among them. After all, the castle’s servants were in positions where they could easily interact with many people. Quickly, several ducks and a few hastily made wooden scales were prepared. As long as they could tell if the weights were similar, accuracy wasn’t necessary. When Ghislaine hurriedly appeared, the crowd began to murmur. “It’s the method that the mage proposed!” “Really? You’re saying we can catch a Black Mage like that?” “Wow, that’s amazing. The world of magic is truly fascinating!” ‘No way!’ Ghislaine shouted deep inside. It was really just something that Maurice jokingly mentioned that she took out for a laugh. If they continued this seriously, she’d end up being considered a complete charlatan. “Wait, hold on!” She tried to speak up, but it was too late. Young and hot-blooded, Andrew acted quickly. “Get on already! Since it’s what the mage said, there shouldn’t be a big problem!” One by one, the soldiers stepped onto the scales. Naturally, their weights wouldn’t match a duck. Plus, each duck weighed differently. Quack, quack, quack. The sound of ducks could be heard all around. Still, the soldiers and servants orderly stood on the scales. Though it was a ridiculous order, no one seemed to complain. After all, it was the mage’s method, and everyone was curious whether it was real or not. Yulien, Deneb, and Kyle looked at Ghislaine with expectant eyes. Ghislaine felt incredibly pressured by that gaze. Dark shook his head and clicked his tongue. “This is embarrassing, just embarrassing. Now they’ll think I’m as ignorant as Maurice.” Maurice, the former commander of Ruthania Kingdom’s army, received a lot of scorn from nobles for being superstitious. Now it was Ghislaine’s turn to face similar scorn. “Ugh…” Even the great Ghislaine had no way to intervene when everyone was acting like fools. If she forcibly stopped them now, it would only raise more suspicion. Eventually, all the soldiers and servants got onto the scales. Yet still, not a single person matched the weight of a duck. This was only natural. Quack, quack, quack. The training ground was filled with the sounds of quacking. Everyone was staring at Ghislaine. When no culprit appeared, an awkward silence filled the space. Ghislaine took a deep…

“Is there a Black Mage?” Ghislaine was the first to send a letter to Rio, asking him to buy as many magic books as he could get his hands on. Even if he could only get Lower Circle Magic, it wouldn’t hurt to learn spells that Astion didn’t know. ‘I can just absorb everything,’ he thought. Ghislaine pooled the money he had and gathered a bunch of requests from the Surrounding Territory. He also inquired about any mages committing crimes and on the run. While collecting information, he nagged Astion to ensure he learned every spell the latter knew. Whoosh! Chunks of ice were flying through the air. “Wow, this is really great. I can live comfortably even back home!” Ghislaine was quite satisfied that he could use magic for daily life rather than just for combat. He particularly enjoyed making ice cold water to drink. There were so many inconveniences during his mercenary life. Especially when it came to purifying water, warding off cold or heat, and keeping food fresh. Once he reached a certain level, it was manageable, but that was just enduring; it wasn’t comfortable. But look at now! The annoying issues of daily life were quickly getting solved. “I feel like I wasted my life. I should’ve just become a mage from the start.” If he really had done that, he wouldn’t have grown as much as he had. With Ghislaine’s personality, it would’ve been impossible to consistently study that vast material. Enjoying how easy it was now, he had gobbled up all the spells Astion knew in just a matter of days. “Hey, don’t you know any more?” —No… This is so unfair… Astion was particularly sensitive, capable of taking in other beings. Because of that trait, he quickly recognized the existence of mana and learned magic easier than anyone else. But even he had to study intensely for years to grasp the complexities of magic. ‘Am I a genius? My talent intimidates me…’ It would be a lie to say he hadn’t thought that before. Astion took pride in his innate talent and the effort he had put in. He was always grateful for the luck that came with being able to absorb other beings. However, seeing Ghislaine gobbling up multiple spells each day while having no clue about the rituals or methods made him feel a bit inferior. —I might be… garbage… Magic…

“Should I start getting the hang of magic slowly?” After arriving in the village and dropping his baggage at the inn, Ghislaine looked into the mirror. “Hmm…” His under-eyes were pitch black. He looked utterly exhausted. No wonder Astion looked like that in my dreams. “Possession isn’t exactly a normal situation. Plus, I was using my power recklessly…” This possession wasn’t just a tiredness level; it disrupted the balance between mind and body. For those who received possession, gaining knowledge came with a price. At least the other possessed ones didn’t stick around too long, so the side effects probably weren’t too severe. But Ghislaine had settled in for the long haul. Ghislaine’s consciousness was vast. Only a powerful body that grew alongside that consciousness could withstand it. Astion’s still-growing body couldn’t handle the immense weight of Ghislaine’s consciousness. If Ghislaine hadn’t exerted any power, things wouldn’t have deteriorated this quickly. “It’s not like I went all out or anything. Tsk tsk.” Ghislaine clicked his tongue. Still, the more energy he used, the weaker this already frail body would become. There was only one way to stop that. “I need to raise my body’s realm.” Magic is a technique that deceives the rules of the world. So, if he mastered magic, he could cover up the mental and physical discrepancies for a while. Moreover, if Astion’s realm increased, he’d be able to handle his own power and consciousness a bit better. “I need to train the three people even faster before this body breaks down.” Ghislaine couldn’t help but feel a bit anxious. The demon realm hadn’t gone on full rampage yet. In the worst-case scenario, he’d get kicked out of his body. He needed to set up a foundation for the three before that happened. Having trained the three people, Ghislaine promptly woke up Astion. ‘Hey, hey, wake up.’ — Ugh, give me my body back. The balance is breaking down… My body can’t handle your power… Astion realized the situation unfolding in his body too. He couldn’t be unaware, as he existed in consciousness form. Ghislaine spoke right away. ‘So why didn’t you do push-ups or something? How can your body be this weak? Anyway, there’s a way. Just raise the magic realm of this body. While I’m at it, I’ll learn a bit too.’ — You idiot! I need my body to keep learning magic! ‘I’ll do…

“Is it time to start learning some magic?” “This place is my hometown. Since I’ve worked for the merchant group for a long time, most of the territory residents know me. I also know many of them.” Rio traveled around the territory leading the merchant group. Especially dealing mostly with daily necessities, it was impossible for people not to know Rio. “I know very well how they live. Most of them live in poverty.” Baron Magrell was a greedy lord, imposing excessive taxes and trying to snatch anything he could from others. Of course, the people under such a lord wouldn’t be living well. They were all struggling under the heavy tax burden. “I might not have a lot of goods, but I have considerable experience as a merchant. I’ve seen the problems in the territory firsthand.” Once the floodgates opened, Rio gained more confidence and continued talking. “Baron Magrell has hoarded plenty of gold and food in the warehouse. We need to distribute that first to support the weary territory residents. They need to regain their strength before they can do anything.” “And?” “I plan to lower the tax rates and offer loans at low interest to invigorate the market. That way, consumption will gradually increase.” Rio gestured around the map as he spoke. “I also know what each area needs and what’s lacking. I’m thinking of repairing the damaged facilities in each city and town and building what’s missing.” Rio seemed excited, his eyes sparkling at the thought of developing the territory. “Public order isn’t great either. I’ll enhance it so that the merchant group and territory residents can move freely. I plan to recruit knights and soldiers as well.” “Recruiting knights won’t be easy, will it?” “For now, I’ll invite retired knights and freelance knights. We can’t spare any expense to protect the territory.” This experience made Rio realize he needed power to protect what was his. And to gain such power, money was necessary. But with a gold mine, he was confident he could handle the financial aspect. That’s why Baron Magrell was trying to swallow the House of Rax before it grew bigger. After that, Rio discussed various policies and plans, all aimed at rapidly developing the territory. With a smile, he shared his thoughts with Ghislaine. “Although it will cost a lot at first, if people’s lives stabilize, it will ultimately return as greater…

Chapter 666: Should I Start Getting a Grip on Magic? The root cause of House Rax’s crisis was Baron Magrell’s greed, but what truly plunged them into trouble was the betrayal of the Chief Officer. Because of that incident, Rio’s father collapsed from shock and lost all will to live. Deneb tended to him momentarily with divine power, but due to his old age, he couldn’t fully regain his strength. No matter how gentle Rio was, he couldn’t just overlook such a problem. A house couldn’t be properly led without dealing with a traitor. Moreover, there were still remaining traitors in the merchant group. The only person who knew their identities was the Chief Officer. The Chief Officer, staying at the Lord’s Castle, couldn’t escape and was captured because Ghislaine worked lightning-fast. “P-please spare me! I was forced into this by the Lord’s threats!” The Chief Officer entered, crying his eyes out and pleading before Rio. He never imagined things would turn out this way, especially since he was familiar with House Rax. However, everything went haywire due to suddenly appearing mercenaries. Rio asked with a bitter expression, “Who are the remaining traitors in the merchant group?” “I-I don’t know!” “You didn’t manage the servants. The traitors who left with you were all your people.” “Those are the only ones I know! I really don’t know if there are other betrayers inside!” “Huh….” The Chief Officer desperately tried to conceal the traitors’ identities, not out of loyalty, but because he thought, ‘I need at least one more ally!’ House Rax had consumed this territory. As a traitor, he was practically a dead man already. But the Chief Officer had watched Rio grow up since childhood. To Rio, he was like an uncle. Knowing Rio’s character well, he believed that Rio would spare his life. If that happened, other traitors would have no choice but to take care of him for self-preservation. The Chief Officer had no other options. Even if he survived, it was clear he would end up as a slave or lose everything. ‘There are plenty of people entangled in this anyway! I can’t die alone!’ Some of the retainers actively assisted in this affair. No, they went beyond simply helping and were plotting to carve a piece of the merchant group for themselves. So they were hoping that he would keep his mouth shut for now. They…