Chapter 4: Chapter 4
* * *
That night.
After a tiring day, Dale returned to his room.
Lord Helmut, the leader of the knights, had officially formed a raiding party and headed to the Demon Lord's Territory, and by now, Dale's parents would also be working hard to make their son's wish come true.
"A married couple's gold thread should usually be good," Dale thought, smiling bitterly.
Sepia Hyeonyo, who had become his tutor, had not been seen since.
Dale quietly sat cross-legged on his wool-stuffed bed. He slowly extended his hand, focusing on the flow of mana through his heart.
The magical energy flowing through his palm began to glow with an eerie chill.
"It starts with controlling my body."
Dale wasn't trying to be humble and hide his talent. Rather, that is why mistakes like today were all the more painful. After thinking about that, he started to worry about Sepia, who was not showing up.
──What?
Dale had experienced Sepia's shocked gaze at him before.
"I don't want to be considered a monster."
At that moment, the image of Durandal, the Holy Prosecutor, stabbing a blade into his back flashed through his mind
"In the next life, I will become a demon king without blood or tears."[1]
Mixed winds.
Whoa!
As soon as he lost consciousness, a storm of magical power swirled around him again.
"… … !"
The surrounding temperature began to drop rapidly. A thin layer of frost settled throughout Dale's room, centered around where he sat.
The Temperature rapidly plummeted below zero.
He hurriedly focused his consciousness and gathered his scattered composure. Then, the swirling frost transformed into magic particles again and disappeared.
"This is truly natural talent."
The significance of this natural talent became apparent as he regained his composure. It was not a reflection on his past self but a recognition of the extraordinary abilities of his current vassal, who carried the lineage of the Black Duke.
To the extent that there was no need to even involve the thoughts of his past life, it was truly the vessel of the Demon King that was bestowed upon him by nature itself.
* * *
Even in the depths of the night, Dale found himself unable to drift off to sleep.
Restlessness consumed him, prompting him to leave his chambers and make his way to the courtyard of the Duke's Castle, the same place he had visited with Sepia earlier that morning. As he traversed the white marble portico, contemplating his next steps, he was met with a surprising sight: an unexpected face awaited him there.
It was Sepia, Dale's tutor and 6th Circle Master elf wizard.
"Ms. Sepia?"
"What are you doing at this late hour?"
Sepia also perked up her ears as if she was surprised. Maybe she went out for a night walk like Dale.
"That's because I couldn't sleep."
"There must be a lot of things on your mind right now."
This is truly an answer unbecoming of a child. Nevertheless, with her eyes, as blue as a crystal, sepia smiled kindly.
"Congratulations on turning 8 years old."
"Thank you, teacher."
A slightly belated birthday wish. Dale scratched his head and smiled sheepishly.
"So, I have a birthday present for you."
"A gift?"
"Didn't we make a promise?"
Sepia continued speaking to Dale, who tilted his head at the unexpected words.
"Let's take a closer look at the magic you want to learn from me."
What was initially thought to take several weeks was completed in one day. What Dale showed in the process was even more surprising.
This child's talent is dangerous. In the future, if his magic was wielded with malice, it was not difficult to guess the consequences.
Therefore, being Dale's tutor carried more weight than Sepia could have imagined.
"Follow me, let's think about the path you should take."
"Teacher…"
Today, through her conversation with the Black Duke, Sepia made up her mind. Just as Dale's father, the Black Duke, had made his decision.
"I hope that Elder Sepia's wisdom will guide Dale properly."
The worn-out book in Sepia's hand was proof of the decision the two of them made.
An 8-year-old birthday present prepared for Dale's future.
It was the 『Basic Necromancy』 magic book.
* * *
A few days later.
Jackson City, centered around the duchy castle, served as the unequivocal capital of the Duchy of Jackson, standing as one of the most vast cities within the empire.
The stone road, adorned with diamond-shaped crushed stones, bustled with a multitude of individuals. Amidst the crowd, Dale moved along the street.
Absence were the grand and clamorous ceremonies that typically signaled the departure from the city.
It was challenging to fathom that Dale, a scion of the Duke's lineage, would roam the city in such a vulnerable manner.
Of course, there must still be two or three knights guarding Dale while hiding their identities. But that's just it.
That's because Dale's trustworthy tutor, Sepia, was there.
This shows just how high the Duke and Duchess' trust in Sepia is.
"You seem to be in a very good mood."
"Yes!"
At Dale's childlike smile, Sepia also did not hide her smile as if she was happy.
The two, hiding their identities with robes, borrowed a horse from the stable and headed to the plain outside the city's north gate.
The north of Jackson City is connected to the 'White Mountains' that lead to the Demon King's Territory, making it a place with no business for ordinary people, except for the occasional case where mercenaries who received a request from the guild went to subdue monsters.
In other words, it also means 'hunting ground for monsters.'
"From now on, I will teach you magic here."
Sepia got off the horse, leaving behind the Duke family's knights who were protecting the two from afar. Dale also followed her.
"In this place?"
Sepia nodded her head, then quietly looked around. A flat land covered in snow. Before long, Sepia's pointed ears perked up and moved.
"Can you use the ice bolt and shoot that thing?"
In the distance, a rabbit was looking cautiously this way.
"The rabbit…"
"You must have had experience hunting with your father."
Dale also had a lot of hunting experience with his father at a young age.
This world is a world of complete self-respect. From the time children reach adulthood, they learn how to hunt animals, wield a sword, shoot a bow, and kill people.
However, it is true that hearing such words from an elf made him feel somewhat complicated.
"Alright."
However, there was no reason to hesitate.
──Taang!
He rotated the mana along the circle of his heart and placed the processed magical energy at his fingertips. A sharp-blue, awl-shaped ice crystal struck down with the speed and destructive power of a bullet.
The rabbit trembled on the spot and soon stopped moving. It was instant death.
"Even if it's the same magic, do you know why the form can have infinite personalities depending on the magician?"
Seeing that, Sepia opened her mouth in a slightly dark voice. Dale shook his head.
"That's because the essence of magic is a 'mirror of the mind.'"
"…"
"That's why wizards inevitably have no choice but to reveal their 'mindscape' through magic."
Magic is the materialization of images projected into this world using mana particles as a medium. To put it simply, it can be said to be the power to turn imagination into reality.
Therefore, what people call 'something or other magic,' strictly speaking, does not exist in reality.
Names such as Ice Bolt and Fire Wall are merely conscious promises to share a 'firm image.'
That's why wizards constantly refine their minds in order to control those images as they wish.
To get closer to the spirit that one's magic pursues.
For example, the blue magic tower values 'order through harmony,' while the red magic tower values 'order through power.' Such thoughts are projected into forms or phenomena such as water or fire and become the foundation of the magic system built by each magic tower.
"It might be a bit difficult for you, as you are still young."
After saying that, Sepia smiled bitterly. But Dale couldn't laugh because he understood the meaning of what she said.
Now, Sepia was peeping at Dale's 'true self' through the mirror of her mind.
The spirit pursued by Dale's magic.
"──Your magic has the ability to take life."
Sepia continued her words.
"When I first saw your magic, I was honestly afraid."
As expected, Sepia had already sensed the type of talent Dale possessed. This was not surprising. However, what Sepia said next went beyond Dale's expectations.
"That's why I feel so fortunate to be able to teach you."
"Teacher…?"
Sepia's crystal-blue eyes held a benevolent smile.
"I think it was fate that I ended up with you."
After speaking, Sepia took out her 『Basic Necromancy』 spellbook that she had kept inside her cape cloak.
"…!"
Unlike the 'Grimoire,' which requires an attribution imprint, anyone can read the 'Magic Book' itself to learn and study magic contents. Nevertheless, the act of giving Dale a magic book containing the secrets of necromancy had a meaning that was not trivial.
"Then let's start class together."
"Yes, teacher!"
At Sepia's words, Dale nodded his head vigorously.
* * *
A few weeks later.
A chilled rabbit stood up, trembling. Like a puppet tied to a string and dancing.
A rabbit that moved as a zombie.
"Fast."
Sepia felt pure wonder as she watched Dale grow.
In just a few weeks, he could reach the point of reviving and moving a corpse.
Raising a corpse is the basic of the basics for a necromancer. Therefore, using this level of magic for a 6th circle mage like Sepia would not be a problem. However, in order to learn these very basics, fledgling students of the Black Magic Tower need training ranging from a few months to several years.
It is on a different level from the ice bolt that condenses the cold air in the atmosphere.
Additionally, that wasn't the only accomplishment Dale had.
"Then next time."
"I understand, teacher."
Dale stretched out his hand as if he understood. Blue magic began to swirl from his fingertips again.
He tied a thread of magic to the dead rabbit and manipulated it like a puppet, while a cold breeze blew around it.
The swirling frost surrounds the rabbit and builds up an ice wall. At first glance, it seemed like they were just trapping the rabbit in ice, but
The reality was different.
Dale moved the magic thread again and controlled the zombie rabbit like a skilled puppeteer.
There are no restrictions on the rabbit's movement. Rather, when Sepia fires an ice bolt as a test, the wall of ice acts as armor to block Sepia's attacks.
An armor of ice that surrounds and protects a dead rabbit. It is a circle 1 water attribute magic, Frozen Armor.
"I finally blocked your ice bolt!"
"Yeah, that's great."
Dale shouted excitedly. Sepia nodded her head with a smile.
Although it was an ice bolt fired with reduced power, it was only a few days ago that Dale acquired the 'Frozen Armor'.
Nevertheless, the frozen armor that protected the just-dead rabbit had a defensive ability comparable to that of steel armor.
'The growth is unbelievable.'
Black magic and water magic. From that day on, Dale was learning two types of magic from Sepia at the same time.
'Please teach me water attribute magic.'
It was Dale's will to learn Water attribute magic, not just the Dark attribute.
Sepia was also hesitant at first.
A dual mage who uses magic of both attributes at the same time.
For example, it is not that big of a deal for Sepia, who is an elder of the Magic Tower, to use necromantic or fire magic.
However, a beginner who has just started learning magic wants to learn water and dark magic at the same time?
At first he thought he was being greedy.
However, when Sepia said that it is never too late to take the time to learn, Dale finally began to be stubborn like a child his age.
'The teacher said that we should find a way forward together.'
Or, it would be better to say that he fell for persuasion that was uncharacteristic of a child.
There is nothing to lose by learning basic level magic anyway. With that in mind at first, he began to use basic water magic along with black magic.
The result is this.
A dead, hardened rabbit, wrapped in cumbersome armor of ice.
For beginners, even moving a few steps can be daunting.
However, the zombies, armed with ice armor, were running around lightly as if they were not wearing any clothes.
He combines the dual properties of water and darkness incredibly smoothly.
A sponge that absorbs everything he learns. Even if you learn just one magic at this speed, you will be worthy of being called a rare genius.
Sepia inadvertently thought of the army of the dead that the Black Duke had commanded.
As she imagined the army advancing in frozen armor, a shiver ran down her spine.
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