The Hero’s Mentor is a Demon (King) Witch

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Divine Power is a hard counter for an Undead like me.

Just being hit by Holy Lightning would cause all the mana that makes up my body to fly away, turning me into a handful of ash that would flutter up to the sky.

‘This is dangerous.’

I must be extra cautious when facing Divine Power.

So, it might be a bit uncomfortable, but I need to inform Lucius beforehand.

“Lucius, have I mentioned that I’m currently in a state no different from an Undead?”

“Yes?”

Lucius looked surprised.

It seems I either rushed through the explanation or didn’t mention it at all.

“…Do you know about Lich?”

“A Lich is… that skeleton magician without any flesh, right?”

“Exactly. That’s the state I’m in right now. I became Undead after being cursed in the battle against the Demon King.”

“Undead…”

Lucius scanned me up and down.

Aside from looking pale, I probably just seemed like an ordinary person, but really, I’m only looking lively because of the mana absorbed through the magic stone.

The veins beneath my white skin would be more accurately described as mana channels rather than blood vessels.

The more mana my body is filled with, the more vitality I exhibit, and when my mana runs out, I will become as pale as a corpse.

“What happened to you?”

“I had my heart ripped out by the Demon King.”

“Yes…?”

“That’s how it ended up.”

If I explain further, I might just contradict myself.

Besides, from the perspective of the Sorceress of Crimson Lotus, it’s not exactly a pleasant story, so if I express enough annoyance, Lucius is unlikely to probe too deeply.

So—

“The Demon King literally dug into my chest?”

“…Well, that’s one way to put it.”

“Then what about your heart now…?”

“I’m using an artificial heart. That’s why I need mana. Instead of blood, my body runs on mana.”

“So if all the mana runs out…?”

“I die.”

This physical body cannot be used anymore.

Well, if there happen to be a necrophile or a necromancer among the dead, they could resurrect me as a zombie or skeleton, but I wouldn’t be able to consciously control it.

“That’s why I have to be careful when facing those with Divine Power. The mana I have, well, it carries a negative property.”

“You mean the tainted mana that flows from the Demon World?”

“Something like that.”

After all, my essence is that of a Demon King.

There’s no need to elaborate on which of the light or dark attribute mana the Demon King can absorb and manipulate better from the mana left on the surface.

Moreover, all the magic stones I’ve absorbed are extracted from the Demon Race.

Since the magic stones were in the hearts of Demons, it’s only natural that they gather mana that possesses negative properties and dark attributes—what’s known as demonic energy.

“Divine Power purifies and annihilates the magic I possess. You understand what that means, right?”

“Master, if a Priest were to heal using Divine Power…?”

“It would essentially deal damage equivalent to the amount of healing done. Hehe…”

“……It’s because of the Demon King.”

Lucius began to burn with fighting spirit.

“The Demon King who dug into your chest and stole your heart, I will definitely defeat him. Also, I will protect you from any touches of Divine Power.”

“Right. So, if people come from over there, when I explain….”

Swoosh.

“Make sure to keep our stories straight. Got it?”

“Yes, yes?”

I pointed a twig at the goblin lying on the floor.

“Rise.”

The number one incantation preferred and respected by dark magicians.

Reciting the spell, I infused mana into the goblin’s body.

Hooow.

The goblin’s body slowly began to straighten up.

Red flames leaked from its eyes, and instead of clothes, the critical areas began to ignite with red flames.

“What is this…?”

“I am a dark magician, understand?”

“…Indeed.”

Lucius clapped his hands and pointed at us.

“You’re suggesting we disguise ourselves as a pair of adventurers: the wandering swordsman and the dark magician master?”

“Exactly.”

Lucius is indeed clever.

It’s just that he’s a bit too kind-hearted; being smart is definitely a good thing.

But why is he such a softie?

That’s because he tends to trust people, even when they think badly of him.

And this saintly figure stands up for me?

No one would suspect that the Witch is using the Swordsman.

“…They’re coming.”

Step, step.

A considerable number of people began approaching.

I pointed the twig at them.

“Who are you?”

“…Dark magician?”

“Are you from the Order?”

“…Master?”

Lucius whispered in a hoarse voice from behind.

“…Respectful, aren’t they?”

“It’s the first time we’ve met; naturally, respect is warranted. Especially when dealing with members of the Order.”

“…….”

“What are you staring at? You look younger than me. You don’t appear to be of high status either.”

“That may be true, but…”

“Why? Do you want to be treated more respectfully?”

I smirked at Lucius.

“I’d give you that respect if you were in a position and status that warranted it. But that’s not the case right now.”

“What are you two whispering about?”

“I apologize, esteemed Priest of the Order.”

I stepped forward and retrieved the mana I had infused into the goblin.

It had diminished somewhat, but it would serve as a good means to show we held no hostilities.

“We are adventurers. We were here checking on the goblin lair.”

“Just the two of you?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm….”

The blonde, long-haired woman who seemed to be the representative of the Order scanned us up and down.

I stared at her just as much as she scrutinized us.

‘She’s extremely beautiful.’

Not just beautiful; her outfit was too lewd to be thought of as a Priest’s garb, leaving me dumbfounded.

‘She’s wearing a nightdress-style priest’s outfit instead of something more modest given her size?’

The attire looked less like a priest’s habit and more like that of a night flower shop model.

Instead of a nun, she resembled a seductress.

I thought she was unique in this, but….

“Saintess!!”

“Saintess?”

I realized this when I saw the knight and other priests rushing in behind her.

“Could it be, the real Saintess?”

“…Let me introduce myself. I am Yan Diere, the Saintess of the Order of the Blue Moon Goddess.”

Saintess Yan placed her hand over her chest and bowed her head.

Had she not raised her hand, I’m sure our eyes would have gone straight to her exposed cleavages.

No, once the introduction ends, she naturally lowers her hand, leading all gazes back to her now half-covered cleavage.

That’s a sly trick to subtly appeal to her cleavage.

‘Lucius likely wouldn’t resist that.’

I felt concerned.

Carefully turning my head towards Lucius…

“…….”

Lucius met my gaze.

He didn’t just shift his head away when he noticed my stare; he was looking only at me, ignoring everyone else.

Trust.

Faith.

…He seemed to look like he would remain quietly behind me, simply trying to set the ambiance, believing he wouldn’t be much help.

“…Sigh.”

In the end, I said to keep our stories straight, but only I was doing the talking.

At least I was relieved that Lucius didn’t seem flustered by their wildly inappropriate priest outfits.

“It’s an honor to meet the Saintess.”

“Did you kill the goblins here?”

“No.”

Not “you,” but “they.”

Lucius was the one who took all the kills.

“…….”

Yan looked closely at me.

“Is that really true?”

“Of course. Why would I lie about it being safe?”

There’s no way I would lie to a Saintess.

Since we didn’t kill them, I felt confident.

“Then what are these? It looks like someone incredibly talented has passed through here….”

“When we arrived, it was already like this. We thought perhaps an incredibly skilled individual had come through, but it seems they were not present.”

“……Perhaps they hid their identity swiftly?”

I flinched.

Lucius clenched his ring tightly.

I subtly nudged him by lightly tapping his foot.

Tap, tap.

Stay still.

Since using telepathy magic would be a waste of mana, I had no choice but to communicate through gestures.

“I understand. Nonetheless, this area is dangerous. Would you like to join us?”

“Would it be a bother for the Order…?”

I sensed a hint of urgency behind the Saintess.

There’s no doubt she came this way while meddling in someone else’s affairs.

“Can you just take us to the entrance? Myself and my apprentice need to head into the village to dispose of the magic stones we acquired here….”

“Understood. Then please follow me.”

Saintess Yan Diere reached out her hand towards us.

For some reason, her gaze and hand direction seemed centered on Lucius, giving me a sense of déjà vu.

Saintess.

Could it be she has noticed the existence of the Holy Sword?

“Excuse me, but what is your name?”

“Lucius.”

With a tone that felt bothersome, Lucius didn’t give even a glance at the Saintess.

He was likely thinking about not providing any opportunities for her to latch onto, while also trying to keep his words vague….

“Phew.”

Good-looking men are always troublesome.

Even in a cave, sparks can fly.

‘The Saintess seems to have taken a liking to Lucius.’

It’s plain to see.

That kind of gaze, I’ve received plenty during my time as a Demon King in the Intermediate Realm among countless Demons.

Such a woman wouldn’t betray a Hero just from walking by a lake with him under the moonlight.

‘Oh?’

If I include the Saintess in the Hero’s party, isn’t defeating the Demon King entirely possible?

‘This is intriguing.’

What if I turn the Saintess into Lucius’s love slave?