I Became a Genius Black Mage at the Holy Academy

In the dead of night, Roan got out of bed and began preparing to head out. 

He had only slept for about two hours, yet his condition was at its peak with no trace of fatigue.

‘Now I understand why dark mages find it bothersome to move around only at night…’

Roan was convinced that this nocturnal lifestyle was another one of the dark mages’ talents. 

When he was playing the game, he thought it was simply to avoid the eyes of the Holy Empire, but it turned out it was because they simply felt better at night. 

Fortunately, the False Divinity seemed to be somewhat effective since he didn’t feel as dreadful during the day as he used to.

Creak!

Roan carefully opened the door and stepped out. 

The light in Beanin’s room was still on.

‘He must be communicating with the dark mages as usual.’

By now, they were likely busy exchanging pleasantries. As for Hector and Demona, they were surely fast asleep.

‘Of course, who would be awake at 3 AM?’

Now that he knew the power of the Blood Shard, the only thing left was to enter the dungeon where the choir was located. 

Just like the night before, Roan quickly exited the dormitory and began climbing the mountain.

However, he had to be more cautious this time.

— “Over here, there’s a holy stone here too!”

— “Where? Where?”

There were scholars wandering the mountain, searching for holy stones.

‘… Are those guys dark mages too?’

They seemed more energetic at night than during the day, and they were ignoring Harden’s warning and causing a commotion. 

However, since they were distracted, Roan was fortunately able to reach the entrance of the dungeon without much trouble.

The entrance was in a ravine between cliffs, not far from where the holy stone was discovered. 

After pushing aside some bushes, a cave large enough for a single person to enter was revealed. A cold wind blew out from within.

‘I can do this.’

There would likely be monsters inside the dungeon, but Roan felt relieved. 

Just the thought of not having those two constantly causing chaos around him…

“Roan!”

“What are you doing here!”

“????”

This was supposed to be a straightforward mission, but now Roan’s heart began to feel heavy again.

* * *

“… What are you two doing here instead of sleeping?” 

Roan was filled with disbelief.

The dormitory had seemed so quiet as if no one was there.

“Hector said he was going to find some eggs for the holy battle, so I thought it would be fun to tag along. But then I saw you climbing up the mountain.”

Demona explained.

Roan felt a headache coming on. 

The dormitory wasn’t quiet because no one was around; it was because they weren’t there.

Hector laughed and playfully nudged Demona. 

“You know what this heretic said? He thought you might be a dark mage because you were sneaking around at night without telling him, hahaha!”

“…”

Roan glared at Demona.

‘His instincts are sharper than I thought.’

“This fanatic! And you said Roan was probably out here gathering eggs for the holy battle too!”

What a lovely scene—friends tattling on each other. 

Roan briefly considered pushing both of them into the dungeon, but knowing those two, they would somehow manage to survive no matter what dungeon it was.

“Anyway, you’re pretty good at climbing, Roan. I didn’t think I’d have to use the tracking skills I learned from my family.”

“Wait, what?”

Roan couldn’t believe his ears. 

Did they really track him as if they were hunting down a dark mage?

‘I’ll have to be more careful about covering my tracks in the future.’

Roan acknowledged that he had been too complacent.

He hadn’t even realized that he had been keeping a tiger cub by his side! 

Even though it was a holy academy, Akerandir was a place where Inquisitors were not uncommon. 

Roan shuddered slightly.

“Wow, Roan. There’s a cave here!” 

At that moment, Demona started making a fuss when he saw the dungeon entrance that Roan had uncovered by clearing the bushes.

“To find something like this at night… Maybe I have a talent for exploring? What do you think, Roan?”

“Oh, sure. You’ve got a good eye.”

Roan immediately nodded in agreement. 

It seemed better to let Demona think he had found the entrance by chance rather than admitting that Roan had discovered it.

“… Wasn’t it you who found it first, Roan?”

While Demona was giggling with excitement, Hector raised an eyebrow. 

It seemed pretty obvious that someone had already cleared the bushes.

However, Roan quickly changed the subject.

“More importantly, this looks like a dungeon. Are you guys sure you want to go in? There might be monsters inside.”

Roan subtly tried to scare them into leaving. 

Unlike Roan, who already knew the layout, entering a dungeon without any prior knowledge could be a death sentence. 

He figured that if he put it that way, they’d get scared and leave, allowing him to explore later on at his own pace…

“Don’t worry. A skilled Inquisitor is always prepared for battle.”

Clank!

At that moment, Hector confidently unfastened the battle axe he had strapped to his back. 

He had even brought along simple healing potions, rope, and a glowing stone to light their way.

“… Weren’t you supposed to be out here gathering eggs?”

‘Did these guys somehow know I was heading to a dungeon and decide to follow me?’

Their preparation was so perfect that Roan couldn’t help but suspect it.

“I don’t care as long as Roan is here!”

… It seemed Demona had no intention of turning back either.

“Alright. Let’s go in.”

Gritting his teeth, Roan led the way into the cave.

* * *

The dungeon in the shape of the ‘Cave on the Mountain Behind Panroa Dormitory,’ where the choir slumbered, wasn’t particularly difficult, and the patterns of the monsters were predictable. 

If it had been even slightly more dangerous, Roan wouldn’t have decided to tackle it.

“Be careful. Demonic Rabbits will appear here.”

“Demonic Rabbits?”

“Yes. If we go around this corner, there should be three of them…”

Squeak!

As soon as Roan spoke, exactly three Demonic Rabbits appeared.

Though they were called rabbits, Demonic Rabbits were actually spiritual beasts. 

Their appearance was nothing like a typical cute rabbit. They had long ears and white fur, and their eyes seemed to burn red. They shared those similarities to a rabbit, but that was where it ended.

With muscular hind legs that were packed with power, they walked on two legs. Their sharp teeth dripped with saliva, making it clear that they preferred fresh meat over carrots.

“Ugh. What kind of rabbit is that? It’s disgusting!” 

Demona shuddered at the sight of the ferocious Demonic Rabbits.

On the other hand, Hector licked his lips for some reason and stepped forward.

“Perfect for the holy war!”

“Perfect? Demonic Rabbits can’t be tamed.”

“Huh? No, they’re one of the most prized species in the small-class category.”

Roan shook his head, correcting Hector’s misconception.

“That’s a species that needs to be captured and raised from a young age or born in captivity. Even when raised like that, they can cause problems in holy battles, but you’re saying you want to use a wild one?”

Just as Hector said, demonic rabbits were often used in small-scale holy battles. 

However, if one used a wild one, it was almost certain that it would bite and kill anything it saw. It wouldn’t distinguish between friend and foe. 

One shouldn’t even consider using anything with ‘demonic’ in its name.

“… I see. You said you weren’t interested in holy battles, but you were more serious about it than anyone else!”

Hector looked at Roan with bright eyes. 

Roan did his best to ignore his sparkling gaze.

Growl!!

At that moment, the demonic rabbits noticed Roan’s group and started charging at them. They hopped energetically, utilizing the rabbit’s physical characteristics, and their speed was quite fast.

‘Should I just sweep them away with Blood Shard?’

Roan considered while gripping the water bottle filled with blood. Hector and Demona were there, but their current fighting power was likely on par with the demonic rabbits.

“Hyah!”

However, Hector charged forward while swinging his axe.

It exceeded Roan’s expectations.

Swoosh!

‘He’s even using enhancement?’

He had infused his limbs with a simple enhancement technique learned from cliff training. 

The difference between climbing a cliff and using it in actual combat should have been significant.

Could the training regimen of Akerandir, which emphasized daily hardships, actually be effective?

Crash!

The first attack missed as the demonic rabbit swiftly dodged, but the sideways swing that followed hit its mark. 

The demonic rabbit let out a strange scream as it was slammed into the wall.

‘It seems I don’t need to worry about Hector…’

Roan also opened the lid of the water bottle to deal with the remaining two. 

With eyes watching, he had no intention of performing flashy magic like last time.

Just a few shards per rabbit with the power just enough to capture the rabbits.

To do that, he had to add a few more strokes to the magic circle to control the power.

Buzzing!

The False Divinity vibrated vigorously as it translated the dark magic. 

Half a dozen blood fragments, imbued with a golden holy light, sliced through the air like a flash of lightning.

Screech!!

The two demonic rabbits died without even putting up a proper resistance as their vital points were pierced.

The situation was resolved in an instant.

“Wow! You both fight really well! Amazing!”

Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!

Demona clapped enthusiastically. 

Roan and Hector looked at him in disbelief.

“Heretic, why don’t you help out a bit?”

“Huh? I don’t have anything I can do.”

Both of them were left speechless.

But Hector soon nodded in agreement.

“But Roan… Hmm. Yeah. Because it’s Roan.”

“Right? I’m Demona.”

“I understand.”

Roan was the only one who found this absurd.

‘What exactly did you understand?’

However, it wasn’t the right time to pry into such matters inside a dungeon.

“… Let’s keep going.”

Roan continued deeper into the cave, leaving the other two behind. 

Hector was the one carrying the glowstone, but Roan could see the structure clearly even without any light.

“There seems to be a trap next to this rock. Be careful.”

“Huh. Really?”

Bang!

“Ahhh!”

“… Didn’t Roan just warn you about the trap?”

Not only were there crude traps set up all over the place, but…

“There’s a demonic rabbit hiding behind that stone pillar. Get ready, Hector.”

Roan also accurately warned them about the places where the demonic rabbits were lying in ambush.

Since this was a dungeon Roan had cleared countless times after starting Akerandir, he knew it like the back of his hand. 

Although Roan spoke as if he was guessing, anyone following him would find it strange by now.

“Roan, wait a minute. Have you been to this dungeon before?”

“Why do you ask?”

Of course, Roan had been here more than a hundred times, but he pretended not to know.

“You know the inside of the cave too well. Right, Heretic?”

“Huh? Isn’t it just because it’s Roan?”

Demona was still rubbing the sore spot where he’d been hit by the trap earlier and responded casually.

“No matter how you look at it, it’s strange. You know it in too much detail.”

Roan stared at Hector for a moment without saying anything.

‘His intuition is sharp.’

Then, with a slight sigh, Roan began the excuse he’d prepared.

“Actually… I kept quiet because I didn’t think you’d believe me.”

He started with a tone more gloomy and somber than usual.

“…?”

When someone trustworthy acts differently than usual, it tends to lower the other’s guard. 

Here, Roan needed to come up with a reason that anyone from the Holy Empire would have to believe.

“When I took a nap, my parents appeared in my dream. They said they were waiting for me at the end of this cave…”

A mix of superstition and emotional appeal!

“Ah!”

It worked beautifully.

Hector and Demona let out small exclamations. They clearly did not expect that.

But Roan didn’t stop there.

“They said there would be many dangers along the way, but that I could overcome them. I came here not believing it myself… But it turned out to be just as my parents told me…”

Roan trailed off, turning his back to the two. 

Then, he subtly wiped near his eyes with his forearm.

As if he were wiping away tears!

Meanwhile, Demona quietly sneaked up behind Hector.

“Hiya!”

He shouted as he tried to grab Hector by the nape of his neck, seemingly to get revenge for what had happened during the Trian incident.

“… What are you doing?”

But Hector was too sturdy for Demona to topple over. Hector frowned deeply as he turned to look at Demona.

“Oh… What?”

Demona seemed flustered, but upon seeing the glistening blood-stained axe in Hector’s hand, he quickly changed his stance.

“Y-You should apologize quickly, you heartless bastard!”

“You’re not one to talk!”

“Are you really talking big after what you just did to Roan? Do you think you’re me?”

“T-That’s not it!”

It was truly impressive how Demona turned the situation around.

‘At least he has some self-awareness.’

Roan, who was watching, was simply dumbfounded. 

Hector, who had hurriedly denied it, approached Roan and offered a sincere apology.

“I’m sorry, Roan. I didn’t mean to disrespect your parents or your family’s honor.”

“No. It’s me who should apologize. I brought you to this dangerous place over just a mere dream.”

Hector lowered his head, looking even more remorseful. 

It seemed that Roan had successfully dodged their suspicions. 

Silently, Roan thanked his parents in his mind.

‘Thank you, whoever you are, Roan’s mother and father.’

‘Someday, I’ll make sure to learn your names.’

“Thanks for believing in me. Now, let’s move on.”

Since it was a very simple dungeon, they were almost at the end. 

After dealing with a few more demonic rabbits and passing through some traps, there was a horn placed on a rock where moonlight seeped in through a hole in the ceiling. 

It wasn’t a particularly high-grade artifact, but the way it scattered the moonlight appeared quite sacred.

“Oh…”

Hector and Demona seemed captivated by the sight. They were unable to take their eyes off the horn. 

Then, noticing Roan standing still with them, they asked curiously.

“Why aren’t you grabbing it quickly?”

“Huh? Since we found it together, I thought we should discuss who should take it.”

In truth, even if he didn’t take it, given its effects, it wouldn’t have been a problem if either of them had it. 

However, they both quickly shook their heads.

“What are you talking about! That horn is obviously yours! Isn’t that right, Heretic?”

“Of course, fanatic! Roan, grab it quickly! It’s a gift from your parents!”

The two were perfectly in sync.

‘Are they really not close friends?’

Come to think of it, the fact that they had come out together in the middle of the night to hunt a divine beast was already suspicious. 

Roan squinted at them for a moment, then finally picked up the horn. 

After all, this was the Choir Horn, one of the easiest holy artifacts to obtain in Akerandir.

“They say each holy artifact has a unique effect.”

“Do you know what it is, Roan?”

The two naturally looked at Roan.

“? Of course not.”

“Hmm. As expected.”

Of course, Roan knew the Choir Horn’s effect very well. 

When blown by someone with holy power, it increased all stats of nearby allies by a certain amount. 

Most people used it for that purpose, but occasionally, a dark mage might get hold of it and use it in reverse.

‘In that case, it decreases all stats of nearby enemies.’

The reason Roan had targeted the Choir Horn first was precisely this. It was an ideal artifact for the upcoming event next week.

‘Looks like next week will go smoothly.’

As Roan tied the Choir Horn with a string he’d prepared in advance and slung it over his back, Demona, who had been looking around, pointed to a corner and called the others over.

“What’s that egg over there?”

“An egg! Where is it?”

At the mention of an egg, Hector’s eyes widened, and he ran over.

‘It seems like he’s more dedicated to holy battles than heretic inquisitions.’

At this rate, the future of the Pabilto family… Roan also approached the spot where Demona stood. 

Although the chances were low, sometimes the dungeon did yield a demonic rabbit’s egg.

It seemed likely that this was one of those times. 

However, when Roan saw the egg found by Demona, he was taken aback.

‘Did that really appear?’