The Game of the Greatest Black Mage

[Translator - Prøks]

[Proofreader - Prøks]

Chapter 83

5.

An absolute palace, impervious to any intrusion, untouched by any external hand throughout history.

The Over Palace.

The somber, massive fortress remained still within its gloomy, black veil.

Within this place, where only a quiet, lonesome air lingered, an old man knelt before the throne, sensing the loosening of the world's suppression that enveloped the Over Palace.

The old man, constrained by the world's limitations due to his overwhelming strength, finally realized that the moment had arrived.

"Ah, finally."

Yet, he did not relax.

The world's will was ever capricious.

It could change again at a moment's notice.

He already knew the reason.

It was likely due to the movement of the foolish hero's descendant.

All information flowed through the old man's grasp.

Perhaps it was because he was too powerful?

Too thorough?

He had to live under the world's surveillance.

The world's will, as meticulous as he was, did not allow even the smallest gap.

He had barely managed to pass a clumsy piece of magic to his successor, evading the world's eyes.

But now.

The world's will, which had been binding them, had loosened.

For the first time, he felt gratitude toward the foolish hero's descendant.

Where else could such an opportunity arise?

Thus, the old man, or rather, the Black Star, commanded.

"Three Calamities, attend."

He did not specify whom to attend.

Nor where to go.

Only the command to attend.

Behind the Black Star's back, the shadows of a raven, a doll, and a fragmented corpse flickered.

They wavered like flickering candlelight, then vanished quickly.

Watching them disappear, the Black Star raised his head with a hint of regret.

The empty throne, left alone, caught his eye.

The Black Star recalled the glorious days of the distant past and looked at the throne with a sense of loneliness.

He could feel the presence of one who was once a comrade.

But now, they had walked different paths.

Sensing the presence of his old friend, who had diverged from his path, the Black Star moved his lips with a forlorn expression.

"Nocturnium, did it truly have to be so?"

His voice, tinged with a hint of blame yet also a sense of self-reproach for failing to care for him, echoed through the empty audience chamber with a feeling of futility, and no one answered.

What would have happened if his former master and teacher, a woman from a long time ago, were here?

What would she have said?

Would she have scolded him?

Or would she have praised his efforts despite everything?

He could not know.

Too much time had passed.

At the same time, he missed her.

Even if he were to be scolded.

Even if he were to be criticized for failing to care for his comrades.

He wished to see her once more.

His master, whom he could never see again.

Thus, he could understand his friend, now distant.

The Black Star, he too, felt longing.

Merely,

"I will remain here, assisting the successor."

He would only carry on her legacy, his master, his teacher, his mother.

He would blindly follow her will.

That was all.

The tear stains, now shriveled, leaving no trace,

Were etched into his soul, remaining forever in his memory.

Cherishing the longing ingrained in his soul.

He would assist his new master.

This time, he would become the teacher, guiding him.

He would serve the new king, the new monarch, the new master.

All that he, a foolish disciple and a slave, could do

Was to remember the warm hand that had reached out to him in the distant past and repay that kindness.

That was all.

6.

The Chasm of Despair had become quite pleasant.

After sweeping through the surroundings once.

It had become considerably easier to move.

Could this still be called despair?

He did not think for a moment that he had gone too far.

Following the paper bird to this rather comfortable place, Seonghyun was able to approach the cliff on one side of the chasm.

"Is this the entrance, I guess?"

-Yep, it seems so

When Seonghyun said that,

Fiora agreed.

And the paper bird was nodding its head vigorously, as if in agreement.

Its politeness was pleasing to see.

Anyway, since they had arrived,

There was no need to worry about how to open the door.

As the paper bird approached,

[The door opens upon fulfilling the conditions.]

As always, a message appeared, and

Kugugugu——!

What was clearly a cliff split open like doors to the left and right, allowing entry inside.

The paper bird, or rather, the note, was the key.

Once the door opened,

The paper bird, having fulfilled its role, turned back into a note and fluttered to the ground.

Seonghyun carefully retrieved the note, placed it back into his inventory, and entered the cliff's interior.

As Seonghyun entered,

The door quickly closed, leaving only deep darkness.

For Seonghyun, the Overlord, the pinnacle of black magic, it was not particularly bothersome, but...

Looking around,

There weren't any torches to speak of.

But it wasn't as if he couldn't see in the dark.

He paid it no mind and walked down the long corridor.

'Quite spacious.'

A huge passage where even if he were to summon Barpur, he could walk comfortably.

As he walked along that passage.

He sensed a strange presence.

A sign of someone?

Seonghyun reacted instantly and looked towards it.

Fiora had already noticed and was looking there as well.

In the dark shadows, a demon revealed an almost imperceptible black gleam, watching Seonghyun and Fiora.

It was too large to be called a lesser demon.

Furthermore, it seemed stronger than lesser demons.

Based on his various memories and experiences, it was a low-ranking demon, beyond the lesser demon stage.

In terms of levels, it was a level 80 boss monster.

A being strong enough to appear as a level 80 boss in a 6-player dungeon.

After searching through his memories, he knew what kind of demon it was.

'Low-ranking demon Arctura... was it?'

Arctura still didn't realize Seonghyun had discovered him, believing he was perfectly hidden.

And it was understandable.

With black skin and black gleams in its eyes.

At first glance, even Seonghyun, who could see through the darkness, might not have noticed.

Watching the demon, Seonghyun smiled faintly and stroked Fiora's head, who had turned back into a small girl from her slime form.

That was the signal.

-Hee!

Fiora moved, making a dazed sound.

The small girl Fiora, who was running, transformed into a beastkin with two legs like a cheetah's.

Her beastkin form, with impressive leopard patterns, was incredibly fast.

Arctura momentarily lost sight of Fiora, who was tearing through the air and running through the gap.

By the time he came to his senses, Fiora had already appeared behind Arctura.

Chachachachak——!

She extended her long claws, instantly leaving countless slashes.

Arctura felt the pain of his entire body being lacerated and widened his eyes.

"Krarak! W-what happened!?"

[Critical Hit!]×10

Critical hit messages appeared belatedly after Fiora's attack.

Arctura was equally bewildered.

He had been trying to prepare an ambush, only to be ambushed himself.

He couldn't help but be bewildered.

Similarly, a message appeared belatedly.

[Encountered the gatekeeper, low-ranking demon Arctura.]

'Gatekeeper, huh.'

Does it guard the door ahead?

If so, it seemed he couldn't enter until he defeated the creature.

A given, of course.

As soon as Seonghyun grasped the situation,

Fiora's eyes changed.

-F-for the sake of Lord's path, please be defeated.

Her tone was timid and kind, but the meaning behind it was utterly ruthless.

"Kraah!!! You insane thing!!!"

Arctura, too, was enraged to the point of madness.

He moved swiftly, attempting to attack Fiora.

Looking at Fiora's beastkin form, he spread his wings and flew through the air at great speed, resembling the hunting method of a raptor.

Arctura's two arms began to turn black in an instant, hardening to the point of emitting a metallic sheen.

However, the moment Arctura rushed in,

Fiora's form changed again.

From a beastkin in human form, she became a beautiful woman, wielding a sword.

With a precise movement reminiscent of a knight, she used an upward slash toward Arctura's abdomen as he charged.

Kagagaga——!

A sound like cutting metal rang out, and Arctura grimaced.

He had managed to defend, but he had failed to attack.

Seeing Fiora's sudden transformation, he gritted his teeth at her unpredictable behavior.

"Grrr, I'll destroy you!!!"

-Hee.

Despite becoming a beautiful woman, she still made that dazed sound.

Yet, Fiora's eyes shone brightly.

Fiora changed her form once more, facing the charging Arctura.

However, it was the form of a creature unlike any before.

Or was it even a creature?

First of all, it was not human.

Its entire body was dyed black like darkness, undulating, its arms were extended long and sharp like drills, and lacking legs, a tail writhed through the air like a floating spirit.

The ominous-looking Fiora extended her arm toward the charging Arctura.

Arctura inwardly sneered at Fiora's arm, sharp like a spear.

'It will be soft compared to my darkness!'

Believing so, Arctura also extended his hardened hand.

As hand and spear met,

The spear pierced through the darkness-hardened hand like clay, and then burst forth with a rotation.

Kwajik!

Kwaaaaa——!

"Kuaaaaaaa!"

[Critical Hit!]

His left arm burst, and a through-and-through wound extended to his left shoulder, tearing off his arm.

A huge hole appeared in Arctura's arm.

However, as Arctura glared at Fiora with bloodshot eyes, gritting his teeth,

His arm sprouted as if new buds were growing.

Chwaaaak!

His arm regenerated in an instant, but Arctura was drenched in sweat.

It was clear he hadn't fully recovered.

Fiora sensed this and prepared to attack again.

Fiora was about to fly in and attack.

At that moment, Arctura could feel it.

'I-I can't win.'

He wanted to run.

But Arctura was the gatekeeper here.

He couldn't escape.

He had to somehow defeat that monstrous woman.

That was the only way Arctura could survive.

And like the cunning demon he was, he quickly devised a plan.

The caster standing quietly behind him, while he was facing Fiora.

'I can't beat that monster.'

Then he would target that monster's master.

With a cunning victory in mind, Arctura moved swiftly as Fiora charged.

He bent his knees as if to leap, then sprung forward as if shot out, spreading his wings and flying towards Seonghyun at high speed.

Faster than ever!

As Arctura flew towards Seonghyun, who was behind him,

He could feel Fiora faltering, momentarily confused.

He had caught her off guard.

This was the answer.

Arctura sneered as he saw Seonghyun drawing his sword.

'Foolish caster. Heh heh heh.'

He should have used magic or defended himself, but he drew a sword?

A caster who had lost his mind.

As Arctura mocked Seonghyun inwardly,

'Hmm, shall I try it?'

Watching Arctura, who was slightly smaller than a human and slightly larger than a goblin, he recalled a memory.

Facing Arctura, who was charging with his sharpened arms forward, Seonghyun held the Apprentice Hero Hindel's sword and lightly stepped forward, touching the ground.

His foot, gliding across the ground as if slipping, drew a graceful circle and rotated his body, naturally moving to the side of Arctura, who was charging towards his front.

The movement was so fluid that even Arctura, who was right in front of him, felt like Seonghyun had teleported.

As Seonghyun moved the sword upward in a sweeping motion,

Arctura was startled and crossed his arms in an X to block the sword.

If he stood still, his torso and chest would be sliced open.

But why was it?

The sword swayed as if dancing, transforming into two, then three strands, deceiving Arctura's eyes like phantoms.

Due to Seonghyun's simultaneous and fluid footwork, he was genuinely confused as to what was real, and a gap opened between Arctura and Seonghyun.

Swish——!

[Critical Hit!]

[The effect of 『One Strike!』 is activated!]

Swooosh—!

"Kyaaaaaaa!"

Black blood gushed out from a long slash that extended from his shoulder to his abdomen.

As if spilling blood once wasn't enough, blood continued to gush out.

It didn't seem like natural healing could stop the bleeding.

There wasn't even a hint of it stopping.

What kind of sorcery was used?

It was incomprehensible.

He flapped his wings and retreated the moment his body was cut, so he avoided the follow-up attack, but Seonghyun was still a threat.

'Amazing.'

The memories and experiences of the knight absorbed from the Crystal Palace were superior to any other ghosts he had absorbed, except for Helena.

The swordsmanship of one who had risen to the commander of the royal knights in the distant past

was now being displayed in the present.

Was he intimidated by the momentum?

Arctura shuddered, trembling as he saw Seonghyun take his stance.

Wasn't he a caster?

How could he use such high-level swordsmanship?

It was incomprehensible.

And from behind the unguarded Arctura,

Thwunk——!

"Kuh-ugh."

An arm like a black shadow spear pierced through Arctura's heart.

As Fiora's arm pierced Arctura's heart,

Seonghyun also rushed toward Arctura and swung his sword.

The sword, swung with the swordsmanship in mind, drew a graceful curve and severed Arctura's neck.

Arctura's severed head fell limply to the floor.

Swish——!

Thump, roll.

[Critical Hit!]

[You have defeated the gatekeeper, low-ranking demon Arctura.]

[You have gained experience.]

'The memory of swordsmanship is incredible.'

He had realized that his swordsmanship was quite excellent by now and also grasped Fiora's versatile fighting style.

It hadn't been a meaningless time.

Still.

'Is it because I don't have a swordsmanship skill? The damage is extremely weak.'

The damage was too weak, so he felt a bit of regret.

If it hadn't been for Fiora's attack, he wouldn't have been able to cut down Arctura so easily.

Until he obtained a swordsmanship skill, he should refrain from using swordsmanship for a while.

As Seonghyun thought so to himself,

-H-hee! You, you were really amazing!

"Hmm? Really?"

-Yes, yes! I-it was different from Lord Baltar's swordsmanship, but it felt like it contained extremely profound mysteries!!

Fiora, who was quite excited, said so.

Seonghyun, feeling a bit embarrassed and shy, smiled and stroked Fiora's head.

And then he silently moved forward.

As Seonghyun, satisfied, went further ahead,

He soon found a massive door.

It resembled the door of the stone chamber that Seonghyun had seen during his second class advancement.

However, unlike then, the eyes of the undead or demons were not glowing, and he could only see an ominous aura swirling around.

-I-I think this is it.

"Hmm."

Seonghyun nodded at Fiora's words.

Could he complete the quest by entering here?

As Seonghyun placed his hand on the door, thinking that,

[Conditions have been met.]

[The door to the past opens.]

[Checking the 『Overlord』 main quest.]

[Entering the time of the past.]

[Fiora returns to the Netherworld.]

[While in the past, the gate to the Netherworld cannot be opened.]

[All levels in the past are adjusted to the current level of user 『Seonghyun』.]

Before he could even question the incomprehensible messages that flashed before his eyes,

Seonghyun's body was absorbed into the door as if being sucked in.

Fiora, who had been there just a moment ago, had disappeared, and Seonghyun felt a brief sense of floating, watching the scenery change around him.

Although it was originally inside a cave within the cliff,

The new scenery was a forest under a bright sky.

Although it was broad daylight, he could hear the sound of firewood crackling in front of him, as if they were sitting by a campfire.

Crack, snap! Crackle.

He could feel the warm heat, indicating that the campfire was some distance away, and quite a few people were gathered around it.

Seonghyun was one of them.

And in the middle of them, a man with a somehow familiar aura.

Yet, it was someone he had never seen before in his life.

He was surrounded by a dazzling, cosmic aura, exuding a mysterious atmosphere.

He had a benevolent and warm expression, as if he could embrace everything, yet also exuded an aura that could overwhelm everything.

That mysterious and powerful man looked at Seonghyun and said,

"Welcome, Seonghyun. I have already heard of your reputation and came to find you, so let me introduce myself first. I am Hindel, who is being called a hero, though I am still inexperienced."

"……???"

Hindel?

Hero Hindel?

Why was he here?

[Translator - Prøks]

[Proofreader - Prøks]