"My arms…won't move the way I want them to."
I looked again at my arms.
They were close to being just skin and bones.
"I can't even hold a magician's staff at this rate…"
While thinking as such, I smiled in self-deprecation.
"Do I even need a staff anymore? I have no magic."
I had been training as a magician for many years.
In order to protect Irina.
I desperately studied under Valery's guidance, memorized complex chants, studied how to control my mind, and though I wouldn't say that I was an elite, I was quite competent.
I thought that I had the power to protect Irina.
It was the only fruits of labor that I had in my life.
However, I've lost that.
Perhaps I won't ever be able to get it back.
However, I've already lost any reason to be a magician.
Protecting Irina.
I no longer need to carry out that goal.
As I thought about it, her figure and Yuno's came to mind.
The figures of them looking down at me as I collapsed under the sharp pain.
Then, as if flaunting it, passionately exchanging a kiss.
The lips that only I was allowed to touch were taken away so easily by Yuno.
The face of complete indulgence in pleasure that Irina made as they kissed, the face that looked completely like that of a "woman's."
The backstabbing of my lover and close friend made me want to vomit.
Damn it.
[How nice. Your thick, deep hatred is once again increasing your strength.]
The voice once again spoke from inside me.
The voice of the "darkness" residing within me.
[The damage of EX Skill 'Fixed Damage' has increased from 2 to 3.]
It only went up by one?
"…Whatever."
If it's hatred I need, then I'll seethe with as much hatred as I can.
I'll slowly build my way up.
I finally obtained the power to destroy everything.
"Someday, surely…"
I began to walk while tottering.
Compared to my arms, which were skin and bones, my legs were a little better.
I could slowly walk, and there was a bit of pain, but there was otherwise no problem.
However, it was impossible to run quickly.
Perhaps I won't be able to do any strenuous physical activity for the rest of my life.
Step by step, I walked with a frail stride.
Right now, I don't have the power to get revenge on them.
However, I will make progress.
I place my trust in the pain and despair they gave me.
Right now, I have to cultivate the "darkness" within me.
I followed a mountain trail with my weakened legs.
I wanted to head towards a town first.
I was strangely hungry.
Now that I think about it, I hadn't eaten anything for more than a day.
"What?"
I stood still, sensing a threatening presence.
"Sorry, you need to pay a toll to pass beyond here."
Ten men emerged from the bushes.
They looked like bandits.
"Leave all your possessions and go, hehehe."
While one of them said the words that confirmed my suspicions, the men drew their swords.
All of them had foolish smiles.
Each of them seemed to be looking down on me, carrying eyes of contempt.
Since I had become thin to the point of being like a dead tree, it seems that they perceived my weak self as prey.
If it had been my previous self, I could've dealt with all of them using a few magic attacks.
There's a big difference between them and the Sword Wolves from just before, but I would've beaten them without any problems.
However, I've lost my magic now.
My physical ability has declined considerably as well, so now I'm just a powerless civilian.
"I don't think this guy has anything decent."
"No, wait."
A boss-looking guy at the back cast a sharp glance at me.
"You've got something valuable, don't you?"
When I was kicked out by the hero party, I had no money with me, but I had some equipment remaining.
Anyone who looked would recognize them to be expensive magic products.
Since I lost my magic, they're already useless for me, though.
However, if there were a place where I could sell them, I would gain a considerable amount of cash.
"Let's take it from him and head to a town later. We won't have any trouble getting booze and women for some time!"
"That sounds nice!"
The bandits raised a cry of joy.
──Don't make me laugh.
A fierce anger boiled within my chest.
My purpose is revenge.
I will not forgive Yuno and Irina, the ones who betrayed me.
I will not forgive the companions who betrayed me.
I will survive until I can pass judgement upon them.
I will fight.
"Say, guys like you──Guh?!"
"Heh, we'll torture you until you're on death's door!"
One of the guys struck me, blowing me away.
It felt like all of the bones my body had cracked.
Perhaps I received a fracture somewhere.
Not only had my body become thin, but perhaps my bones and organs have weakened as well.
"Hey hey, are you already dizzy from one punch?"
"This guy's too weak! Hahahaha!"
I heard their sneers.
I'm pathetically weak right now.
I would probably lose to even a child in a close-combat fight.
"What the…?! I felt something strange just now."
"What, my body's frozen…"
"Is this guy using magic?!"
The bandits glared at me.
With my skill, I'm dealing 3 units of 'fixed damage' every three seconds.
So, little by little, they'll accumulate damage.
They won't be brought to death with just one blow.
Time is key here.
Anyhow, I have to gain time and wait until the damage accumulates to a fatal amount.
"No, it's something else."
I spoke to myself.
Buying time?
Should I run around until then?
That won't work.
"That's not the kind of power I've gained."
"What are you mumbling?!"
The bandits once again rushed towards me.
"What I've obtained is a much more devastating power──"
Yuno's and Irina's figures floating in my mind.
I visioned them embracing each other while naked.
Irina, the one who had supposedly vowed an eternal love to me, betrayed me and surrendered her chastity to Yuno.
Yuno, the one who supposedly vowed to be my dear friend, snatched away Irina.
Valery's figure floated in my mind.
I had always respected him as a teacher of magic.
However, he used and threw me away like I was a tool.
A sacrifice for magic.
Riotte, Farrah, and Margo were the same.
──I thought they were my companions.
──I thought they were my friends.
"Don't…fool around with me…!"
The flames of anger morphed into a hell fire and burned within my chest.
[A fine quality anger and hatred. Your hatred values are rising rapidly.]
It was the voice of the "darkness."
[Damage of EX Skill 'Fixed Damage' has increased from 3 to 4.]
[Damage value has further risen from 4 to 5. Damage value has further──]
"I'll raise it as much as I need to."
I glared at the bandits.
"I'll get as angry as I need to."
"Gah…hah…"
At last, one of the people in front of me coughed up blood and fell over.
"Huh…?!"
"H, hey…gah?!"
Then another, and another.
Each person with the next-lowest amount of HP accumulated a fatal amount of damage and died.
"W, what…what are you…?!"
The boss-looking guy, who was the only one remaining in the end, stepped back.
"You're the sacrifices. The sacrifices to heighten the flames of my 'darkness.'"
I raised the corner of my mouth and smiled.
How pleasant.
"You have my gratitude. As a reward──"
The anger and hatred had become fuel for my power.
Now I've been given this opportunity.
"Die."
"Gah, guh, gya…ah…"
Blood seeped out from the boss' entire body, ending his life.
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