It is because that portion was not serialized. It was under construction, so I could not upload it, and uploading it separately
seemed as though it would be strange. So I would be grateful if you read it on Ranian, the Soem Cafe, or Hitel.
Then, I will take my leave…….
****************************************************************************
“It truly is something worth researching.”
That was the first remark that burst out when Damon’s body, which had been writhing incessantly, went limp. The face of
Verkis, who had been staring at Damon, was filled with astonishment. He swore he had never seen a human with such a
strong will. The mental magic that an ordinary human would find difficult to endure for even a single hour,
Damon had withstood for a full week. It was a level of mental strength that made it hard to regard him as human at all.
“A week, is it…… Even a dragon would not be able to endure that long.”
A look of deep regret passed across Verkis’s face. If he had time, he would have liked to experiment and see
just how long that human could endure, but unfortunately, it was now time to enter the sleep cycle.
All the other dragons, without exception, had already entered their five-hundred-year slumber. Thanks to his
outstanding magical ability, he had managed to hold out until now, but even for Verkis, it seemed impossible to
endure any longer. With mere expedients, one could never defy the laws of nature. Verkis shook his head as if there was
no helping it.
“What a pity. That I must sleep for five hundred years…….”
The mental magic inflicted upon Damon for one week. It was magic of such terrifying power that an ordinary human would
find it hard to endure for even a single hour. A spell of terror that drove a person’s emotions to utter ruin,
and thus pushed them into a state of mental panic—this human had withstood it for a full week. Yet Verkis could never
know that all of it was because of a foreign art occupying the human’s mind. The fact that, though it normally suppressed
killing intent, when the mind was driven to ruin the Sevenfold Severance Forbidden Art would protect the practitioner
with all its power was something no one had known until now.
“I almost want to applaud his patience. Do you not think so?”
Where Verkis turned his head, there stood a somewhat familiar figure. A lich who was glaring at Damon with eyes
as though he would devour him. It was none other than Gedenhide. Since Damon had dealt a tremendous blow to his life force,
it was only natural that he would show hostility. After shaking his head for a moment, Gedenhide spat out a voice like
the cawing of a crow.
“But Lord Verkis, he is truly a dangerous being. I believe it would be wiser to dispose of him at once, to eliminate
any future trouble.”
Having experienced the destruction of his main body at the hands of Damon, a mere Third Circle user whom he had not
even considered worth his attention, Gedenhide’s gaze upon Damon could never be favorable. He had already drained
the life force from over a hundred human captives, but his body was still not normal.
For that reason, his attitude toward Damon was entirely understandable. However, Verkis was not the sort by nature
to listen to the words of a guardian under his command.
“Gedenhide. I believe the judgment is entirely mine to make……”
At the voice that had suddenly turned cold, Gedenhide bowed his head with a flustered expression.
“M-my apologies. I was presumptuous……”
On Gedenhide’s face flickered an expression of sincere obedience. And no wonder, for he was already giving his loyalty
in earnest due to Verkis’s brainwashing magic.
“That is how it should be.”
At his reaction, Verkis’s mood eased somewhat. If he gave an order, Gedenhide would launch an attack without hesitation,
even if the target were the Great Demon King Nidelhark. Verkis, who did not doubt that fact in the slightest, spoke decisively.
“I will make him into a lich and take him as my guardian. Thus, I will have him guard my lair for five hundred years.
Though his willpower is admirable, he will not be able to withstand my brainwashing magic.”
“Your words are entirely just. Please do everything according to your will, Lord Verkis.”
Pleased by Gedenhide’s utmost deference, Verkis spoke firmly.
“In a short while, I will perform the brainwashing magic. You begin the process of making this man into a lich.
There is little time left before I enter the sleep cycle, so you must hurry.”
“Understood.”
Watching Gedenhide bend his head at a right angle and fly off, Verkis formed a satisfied smile. If he performed
the brainwashing magic, it was certain that the fellow would show the same attitude as Gedenhide.
After making him guard his lair for five hundred years, the game would begin again. Experiments on the limits of humanity
were always a delightful experience, no matter how often he saw them.
“Within the next ten years, Truvenia will fall into the hands of the orc tribe. Will Arcadia be next?”
The humans of Truvenia had already lost their entire leadership. A few monarchs still lived, but they were not enough
to be of concern. In Verkis’s mind, Truvenia falling into the hands of the orcs was, quite literally, only a matter of time.
Moreover, since they had sworn loyalty for a thousand years, there was no doubt that the orc tribe would also play
a brilliant role in the conquest of Arcadia.
“In five hundred years, the game will begin again. I will not be bored.”
Verkis nodded silently. The casting of the brainwashing magic had already been completed. Once the magic was executed,
the attitude of the human called Damon would change completely. Into a faithful servant who served only him.
Verkis did not doubt that fact in the slightest. First, he examined the condition of the subject’s body. Verkis’s eyebrow twitched.
“This fellow, because he overused Haste and abused his body recklessly, his life force was nearly at rock bottom.
If I did not make him into a lich, he would not have lasted even six months.”
As Verkis was thinking this and that, a dazzling radiance rose from his hand.
Sssssss.
The radiance was sucked into Damon’s head in an instant. Beside him, Gedenhide had already completed every preparation
needed to turn Damon into a lich. Verkis looked once more at Damon’s unconscious face. Even in the meantime, the radiance
continued to be drawn into Damon’s head.
“I hope that, five hundred years from now as well, you will not disappoint me, just as you have not disappointed me until now.”
A certain sense of anticipation lay thick upon Verkis’s face. As though the effect of the magic had run its course,
his consciousness began to grow faint. With the sole thought of entering the sleep cycle as quickly as possible,
Verkis grew impatient. Fortunately, the process of brainwashing was entering its final stage.
“I am sleepy.”
Verkis gathered his strength and rearranged his mana.
In the end, Verkis’s prediction proved correct. In the year 247 of the Rozengart calendar, the continent of Truvenia
was finally brought completely under the control of the orc tribe. This was an event that occurred only five years after
the dragons, including Verkis, had all entered their sleep cycle.
With the fall of Feldrian as the final incident, Truvenia came under orc rule without a single inch remaining. The remaining
monarchs and their soldiers resisted until the very end, but they were no match.
Because the commander-in-chief and all the elites under him had been buried in Northwood, they could no longer even think
of holding out. The humans who survived, without exception, either died or became slaves of the orc tribe.
Some humans, despite the danger, boarded small boats and headed for Arcadia. To survive, that was the only path left.
However, only an extremely small number of humans achieved their goal. Although Kranus’s defensive barrier had lost
its effect, the sea route between the two continents was by no means an easy course.
Most of the boats could not overcome the long voyage of over a hundred days and had no choice but to sink.
And the continent of Truvenia had now become the property of the orcs. It was certain that this would continue unchanged
for five hundred years.
[End of Dark Mage Part 1.]
[Dark Mage Part 2]
Hello.^^ Part 2 begins today. I truly hope it will be enjoyable……
A few days ago, the manuscript for volume 3 was submitted. Therefore, I intend to delete a certain amount of the text online.