The Game of the Greatest Black Mage

[Translator - Prøks]

[Proofreader - Prøks]

Chapter 85

"......!!?"

"......?!?"

"......??!"

"Se-Seonghyun-nim, do you... know this being?"

Flan, Adeline, and Lyaden were so overwhelmed by the pressure that they couldn't even speak.

Only Hindel could barely utter a word to this being.

Yet, Seonghyun was talking so casually and even knew their identity?!

The entire hero's party was astonished.

They knew he was amazing, but they didn't expect this.

To the hero's party, he seemed like a monster from another dimension, but to Seonghyun...

'......It's just Fiora......'

It was simply a meeting with Fiora.

Fiora did emit pressure, but that was just pressure from her overwhelming dark mana.

It wasn't a threatening pressure based on Fiora's level, so it felt like air to Seonghyun.

It even felt refreshing.

And it was.

[Exposed to high purity dark mana.]

[Dark mana friendly to the 『Overlord』.]

[All stats temporarily increased by +5%.]

'So there's an effect like this too.'

He'd learned a new ability; it was a good opportunity.

However, Fiora fidgeted, twisting her body with a "what should I do?" expression.

He wanted to recall Fiora's memories to see what she was doing at this time in the past, but...

Perhaps because she was a high-level spirit?

It was difficult for Seonghyun to freely recall her memories.

He judged that it might be possible later.

It was impossible now.

-Heehee. I-I'm a subordinate of Lord Helena... m-my name is a secret!

Fiora's timid words almost made him laugh.

He calmly suppressed his laughter.

Seonghyun listened quietly.

In any case, Fiora coming all this way meant she had something to say.

As Seonghyun and the hero's party waited silently, Fiora finally seemed to calm down from her initial panic.

She swallowed and continued,

-Um, anyway, Lord Helena wants to live quietly... so, please don't come!

Her position was firm.

He could even sense a slight hostility from the timid Fiora.

That small amount of hostility made everyone tremble.

Except for Seonghyun, of course.

It showed how strong Fiora's determination was.

But that didn't mean they could back down.

"......I'm sorry, messenger-nim... However, we have come to talk to Helena-nim, not to fight."

-N-no need...! Always following Lord Helena wherever she goes, these humans! D-do you know how annoyed Lord Helena is...?

"......I, I apologize for that... but we are..."

-Tha-that's enough! I-I don't want to hear anymore! I'm, I'm going, so don't come!

With that yell, Fiora transformed into a phoenix and flew away.

The hero's party finally seemed to catch their breath, their shoulders heaving as they gasped for air.

Freed from the immense pressure, they were impressed.

Hindel had bravely tried to converse despite the overwhelming force.

And Seonghyun?

He had remained completely unfazed the entire time.

Even now, free from the pressure, their hands and feet were trembling.

They wondered what kind of people these two were.

They were all marveling, but Hindel sighed deeply, looking troubled.

"Haa, the conversation didn't go well."

"Hmm."

While agreeing with Hindel, Seonghyun understood Helena's feelings a little.

She was living peacefully, yet they kept coming and bothering her.

It was like people going around apartments trying to persuade you to join a religion, wasn't it?

No, since it was just one person following her, it was closer to stalking?

Either way, it must be tiring.

But he also understood Hindel's feelings, so...

'I don't know what to do.'

The sub-quest clearly said to visit, not attack.

There didn't seem to be a need to be hostile.

It was still early, so it was hard to figure out what to do.

As he was thinking about this and that, Hindel asked Seonghyun.

"By the way, Seonghyun-nim, you seemed to know that being's name... do you know her well?"

"Ah..."

He had recognized Fiora too easily, and this happened.

But he already had an excuse.

"Not that I know her well, but I have some information about Helena."

"Hoo!? You are truly amazing. Th-that being just now?"

"I know her as an Elder Shapeshifter, Fiora, but I don't know her weaknesses or techniques."

It was a quest that allowed him to experience the past, so he wasn't worried about the butterfly effect, but...

He didn't reveal any information about her weaknesses or tips on how to fight her.

Just her race and name.

At Seonghyun's words, they all exclaimed in admiration.

However, Seonghyun was a bit overwhelmed by their reaction, so he glossed over it.

"Anyway, she's a cute child, isn't she? Her loyalty to her master is also admirable."

"Indeed."

"......Huh?"

"Oh my..."

"Heh."

What's going on?

When Seonghyun looked at them, puzzled, they were still looking at him with amazement.

Then, Flan stepped forward and spoke first.

"You're truly amazing. Usually, people would react like, 'Aaaagh! This is an unfair power!? I can't defeat this! Damn! The Demon King's subordinate is this strong!?' But you... genuinely called her cute... you're truly incredible."

"I concur. It's proof of Seonghyun-nim's skill. The Hero's suggestion to seek out Seonghyun-nim and make an offer was indeed wise."

"......Powerful."

"Even I couldn't let my guard down for a moment against that being... yet Seonghyun-nim sees her as just a cute child..."

As they continued to praise him, Seonghyun felt his face flush.

Seriously, they were acting like he'd worked some kind of magic spell just because he called Fiora cute.

She had the appearance of a cute girl, didn't she?

Wasn't it natural to think she was cute?

Sure, she was much larger and more powerful than the newborn Fiora, but...

Fiora was still Fiora.

He definitely thought her timid manner of speaking was cute.

He didn't understand this reaction.

Embarrassed, Seonghyun quickly changed the subject.

"Ahem, anyway, we're not stopping here, are we?"

"Ah! Of course not."

"Uhihi! Of course not. We have Hindel and Seonghyun-nim with us."

"I feel reassured with both of you."

"......Me too."

They had only been together for less than an hour, but was this really the right reaction?

Well, good was good, wasn't it?

And so, the group began to move again.

Toward Sermath, where the Dark Fortress was said to be located.

1.

The twilight sky as the sun set.

Something was flying across the gradually darkening sky, weaving a red thread through it.

The creature, flying across the sky like a red thread weaving through the air, headed towards a gloomy fortress with a dark aura.

Passing through the translucent, murky, dark curtain, the red creature arrived at the fortress.

It returned to its original form.

Whoosh——!

In an instant, flames flared up, and the creature transformed into Elder Shapeshifter Fiora, the queen and highest of all doppelgangers.

The ever-timid Fiora had a pouty expression, her lips stuck out, as if she were a little annoyed.

Had something unpleasant happened?

A woman with red hair and obsidian eyes, as dark as night, watched Fiora's expression.

The true owner of this Dark Fortress.

The mother of all demons.

Known in the present world as the Demon King.

Helena.

Helena smiled elegantly as she saw Fiora pouting and asked,

"Fiora, why are you so pouty?"

-A-ah! Lord Helena!?

"Yes, yes, it's me. So why? Why are you pouting?"

-Ah, well...

"It's okay, tell me."

Seeing Fiora so flustered, she tried to soothe her.

Fiora still hesitated, but at her words, she carefully opened her mouth.

-Well, um, I went to the human hero party to deliver Lord Helena's message... and they keep saying that they need to talk to Lord Helena...

"Ah, so that's why you're pouting?"

-Yes, yes...

At Fiora's words, Helena elegantly tapped her luscious red lips.

Was she pondering?

Or was she trying to make a decision?

Fiora didn't know, she just hoped it would be according to Helena's wishes.

"But don't pout so much. They might be annoying, but they're doing their own thing too."

-Huh?! Bu-but...

"Fiora, how would you feel if I told you to stop serving me?"

-H-huh!? I-I've never even thought about that... I-I don't know... but I think I'd be sad.

At Helena's example, Fiora looked like she was about to burst into tears.

Helena gently stroked Fiora's hair and said,

"Right? It's sad to stop someone from doing what they want to do, what they have to do."

-Ah, aha! I understand!

"That's right, our Fiora is so smart."

Helena comforted Fiora.

Well, they were still annoying.

'Should I move somewhere else if they come? But I liked this fortress... what should I do?'

As she was having a minor dilemma, Fiora spoke to Helena.

-Ah, right! I almost forgot... Lord Helena... there was a human who knew my name...

"Someone knew your name, Fiora?"

What was this about?

A human who knew Fiora's name?

As Helena became curious, Fiora told her what had happened.

She told her about Seonghyun, who had asked if she was Fiora as soon as she appeared, and how Seonghyun's aura was a bit similar to Helena's.

As soon as she heard this, Helena carefully pondered each word.

How the will of the world worked.

What her current soul state was.

She read each of her auras spread throughout the world.

There, she found an aura that was different from her own, but of the same kind.

Helena was able to realize.

It took her less than a second to do so.

Having realized a fact, Helena quietly smiled and snapped her fingers.

Then,

"Did you call?"

A human-shaped figure appeared from the floor, as if something had melted and returned.

No, was it really a man?

It seemed like a woman, or an old man, or a child.

A being whose age, gender, existence, and identity were unknown.

As he appeared, Fiora exclaimed with delight.

But Helena narrowed her eyes at the being and asked,

"Is this your doing?"

"......What do you mean......"

-H-huh?!

At the reproach, as if accusing him of betrayal, the being was very flustered.

Not surprised at being caught, but rather worried that his loyalty was being questioned.

Fiora also looked at the being with surprise, as if there was no way.

Looking at the soul's vibrations, he was not lying.

She had seen it with glowing teal eyes, so it was certain.

"Never mind, go back."

"......I do not know what is happening, but I am sorry."

"No, it's not your fault, 'not the present' you."

"......Yes, I understand."

-Huh?

At Helena's command, the being disappeared again, leaving only Fiora looking bewildered.

As Fiora stood there, Helena stroked her hair and thought,

'The world of the past.'

No, to be precise, a world where the past is recreated.

There was only one meaning.

The only being who could do this was that guy from before.

'Noctrinium, what are you thinking?'

She didn't know why it had become like this in the future, but Helena decided to enjoy the present.

"So, Fiora? What does my successor look like? What kind of child is he? What do you think he likes?"

-H-huh!? Your successor?!

"Yes, someone invited my successor here, so I'm thinking of giving him a secret gift. What do you think?"

-I-I think any gift from Lord Helena would be good!

"Hmm, but I should see if he needs anything. Let's see."

Helena waved her hand, and a mirror with a teal glow appeared, showing Seonghyun fighting Hindel.

-Huh! That's him!

"Hmm? He's handsome. I like him. Oh? He also uses a sword? Hmm, then this would be a good gift."

[Translator - Prøks]

[Proofreader - Prøks]