Chapter 58 (1/2)
──[Mountain of Darkness Training]──
The purpose of this training is to develop your practical skills as a wizard.
The Mountain of Darkness’s mana concentration today isn’t that strong. Hence, there’s very little chance for powerful demons to appear. Still, for safety reasons, entry is restricted from an altitude of 500m or higher.
The debutantes must earn a total of 10 ‘Mountain of Darkness Training Points.’ There are only six of these opportunities per semester, so please work hard.
1. Magic ingredients analysis
– Three or more pharmaceutical/magic material analysis reports (1 point per 3)
2. Magical phenomena observation
– Records of experiencing space-time or ideas/abstract phenomena (2 points each)
3. Beast confrontation
– The corpse of a beast or a document to prove its killing (2 points each)
４. Magical realization
– Write and submit a report on the growth you achieved in the Mountain of Darkness (1 point, maximum of 1 report)
※ If you come across an unexpected ‘outsider,’ be sure to report it to your advisor!
─────────
“Mountain of Darkness training…”
The unidentified man grabbed one of the papers he found scattered at the Mountain of Darkness, his beard-covered lips twisting upward.
“Training… It reminds me of the old times.”
The paper in his hand soon caught fire, spreading to the corpses around him. Prior to their deaths, they used to be the agents sent by the Imperial Intelligence Agency to chase him down.
The paper and the corpses strewn around him were reduced to ashes, leaving no trace behind.
“I’m sorry, but there was nothing I could do. I have to live.”
The man started to walk away, leaving behind the “barrier of chaos” he created, which was still up and running perfectly.
“…?”
However, he soon noticed a distinct mana presence so pure it seemed to captivate his mind.
“Hmm…”
He blinked out of curiosity, looking in its direction. The spirit of the wind delivered its fragrant scent to him.
“… I guess I’m way too old now. I find interest in everything.” Unable to contain himself, the man mumbled lowly as he changed his path.
* * *
Mountain of Darkness was a dangerous area on the outskirts of the Imperial University Tower. It was so remote it was almost like an uninhabited island.
It contained huge amounts of mana, allowing magic forces to appear occasionally and its magical phenomena to become extraordinary and bizarre.
Due to its environmental conditions, however, fish raised in its premises weren’t only delicious but also nutritional and filled with calories.
“Ah… This is life…”
The fish’s taste lingered in her mouth as the feeling of fullness and drowsiness enveloped her.
Epherene looked at Sylvia as she rubbed her smooth tummy.
“What happened to you, though?”
“…!”
Sylvia, who had been dozing off, became alert again.
“Time messed up, but you probably didn’t realize that.”
“Messed up?”
“I’ve been wandering for 20 hours.”
“What? 20 hours? No way. The sun is still up.”
Sylvia then “drew” a three-colored metronome with magic. It ticked every second, signaling the passage of time.
“This is how I determined it. This device moved exactly 72,653 times. Twenty hours, ten minutes, fifty-three seconds.”
“… I believe you. Your clothes serve as proof of that.”
Epherene pondered about it, then nodded. Sylvia wasn’t the type to become so dirty in just three or four hours.
“I didn’t know. Is it a magical phenomenon?”
“You’re an idiot.”
“… I felt it too, alright? First, let’s find a wood steel and inform Deculein.”
Sylvia showed a rather dissatisfied face. Her eyes, which had narrowed down to a line, stared at Epherene. “Arrogant Epherene.”
“Sigh… Now what?”
“Professor Deculein is not your friend.”
At that, Epherene laughed, finding her remarks ridiculous.
“… Right. ‘Sir’ Professor Deculein. ‘Sir’ Head Professor told us to report anything to his wood steel if something happened. One should be nearby. Let’s go.”
She walked along the stream. Sylvia followed her. Not long after, they found a wood steel shuriken hovering in the air.
“Is this Deculein’s cherished…”
“Arrogant Epherene.”
“… ‘Sir’ Professor’s cherished item?”
Up close, she couldn’t help but notice its strange shape.
Was it an icicle with two sharp ends or a straight crystal?
Regardless, she tapped it.
“Hello? Can you hear me?”
She waited for a moment. A reply resonated not long after.
—What?
“Whew.”
Sighing in relief, she then addressed Sylvia.
“You speak.”
“…”
Sylvia shook her head, not wanting to let him know that she was lost.
“What…”
Reluctantly, Epherene spoke on their behalf.
“There seems to be an ongoing magical phenomenon. I think time is messed up.”
—I see.
“Yes.”
—…
Click-
Their line of communication was terminated. Confused, she sent another signal to it.
“Hello? Professor? I said we’re currently under a magical phenomenon!”
—So?
“What?”
—You’re in a training session. Go figure it out yourself. If you’re experiencing a magical phenomenon, then write a report about it.
Their communication was cut off once more, leaving Epherene dumbfounded. Sylvia shrugged, seemingly conveying she was somewhat proud.
“I think it’s because it’s you.”
“… Gosh.”
Epherene’s expression distorted.
“Forget it. If this is working, isn’t the time okay?”
“I think the area around the river is fine.”
“That’s not it.”
An unidentified voice rang out, causing the two to turn in the direction it came from, their guard already up due to their surprise.
Rustling—
Making his way through the bushes, a robed middle-aged man appeared.
“My barrier caused this chaos in time. It seems that you were unlucky enough to get caught in it too. I’m sorry.”
“…”
Fireballs clustered behind Epherene while Sylvia deciphered the barrier at once.
“… You’re savages, huh? Why do you find it necessary to display aggression when all I’m doing is explaining things?”
He showed no hostility toward them. Rather, he just seemed to find them interesting.
“Who are you?”
Epherene asked, still vigilant. The middle-aged man jumped up and approached them swiftly. He was as tall as Deculein, and his body looked well-trained.
He smiled warmly at them.
“Nice to meet you. I am Murkan, and this staff serves as proof of my identity. You’re both wizards, so you can see it, right? The Fragments of the World Tree.”
“…!”
Their eyes widened.
Those who lived in the ‘Gahala Desert’ on the southeastern edge of the continent had rather foreign names. Among them, the most famous and notable wizards were Demakan, Murkan, and Rohakan.
Murkan was known as the son of Demakan’s younger brother.
He was a relative of the Archmage!
* * *
Mountain of Darkness entrance.
The debutantes’ training started at noon, and by three o’clock in the afternoon, they returned and reported their performances to this activity’s supervisors.
“I examined herbs.”
“Okay~”
Excluding Deculein, the person in charge, there were six supervisors in total, all new professors. They held class rosters in their hands and jotted down the debutantes’ training scores.
“Professors!”
At that moment, a young knight rushed towards them from the Tower, accompanied by a group of police officers.
“I bring urgent news!”
“What happened?” Professor Kelodan asked. Due to his thick lenses and old-fashioned voice tone, he was known as the ‘Glasses Holder.’
“An emergency report from the Imperial Intelligence Agency just came in. Rohakan is hiding inside the Mountain of Darkness!”
“What? R-Rohakan—?!”
“Yes! He pretended to be Murkan but was caught by the Intelligence Agency.”
The professors’ eyes widened.
“Their agents and the police have started pursuing him, and they’ve also requested the knights’ cooperation and assistance—”
Before he could finish his words, they already began climbing the mountain.
Tap— tap— tap—
Due to their quick response, they swiftly reached their destination. The number of knights and police officers with them had already doubled.
“Head Professor! Something happened!”
They immediately ran up to Deculein and informed him. Sitting on a chair on the mountainside and reading a book, he raised his head.
“… Rohakan is right here in the Mountain of Darkness!”
His reaction was strange. Even though he had heard the Rohakan’s formidable name, he remained calm. No, more accurately, he looked like he was bothered by the smell of their sweat more than by the presence of a dangerous individual.
“Um, by any chance… Do you not know who Rohakan is?”
“How could I not?”
“Oh, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”
He knew who he was. He even knew his current notoriety.
He was the worst criminal of their time, a wanted criminal who had earned the title “Black Beast,” which had only been given to ten people on the continent thus far.
——[Main Quest: Rohakan’s Story]─—
◆Overview
– The story of Rohakan
◆Goal
– Encounter with Rohakan.
◆Compensation
– One item catalog
– Store Currency +1
—————————
He also occupied a place in the main quest.
Rohakan wasn’t a villain. Rather, he was one of the keys that would lead this main quest to the end, and ‘someone who could never die’ until the final boss.
“We will proceed with the search. Would you like to join us?” The knight Lawaine asked.
Deculein looked at him intently as he closed his book.
“Fine. But I’ll move alone.”
“I wouldn’t recommend doing that. Do you really know who Rohakan is?”
“That’s right. He’s the infamous murderer who killed dozens of imperial wizards—”