Hadn't he secretly placed tracking magic on their bodies for that very reason? As long as the two of them were within a hundred
kilometer radius, Deimon was someone who could find them at any time. But he thought that for now
there was no need to go out of his way to do so.
'I'll have to put them through some hardship. How dare they steal the food I was going to eat and run away?'
Having organized his thoughts, Deimon spoke to Kasim, who had been grumbling incessantly, with a smiling face.
"Still, you must feel relieved. After all, you solved those headaches with a single bag of rations."
"……."
"They fled of their own accord in the dead of night, so it's as good as the contract being terminated, and there shouldn't be any need to
protect them any longer, should there?"
At Deimon's words, Kasim smiled bitterly and shook his head.
"I don't think the situation will be resolved so easily. Those bastards disappeared without even signing the consent form acknowledging they had
completed their mission……. This carries sufficient potential to cause problems later. If they show up later and instead demand damages claiming that we
ran away, the responsibility for the breach of contract will ultimately fall on our side."
"Hoo. Was there such a clause?"
"Yes. The laws regarding mercenary employment are designed to thoroughly protect the client, and since the employer is a princess of a certain kingdom, should a trial occur, our chances of winning are practically
nonexistent. And judging by their conduct, they are more than capable of such underhanded acts."
Kasim's face was twisted in devastation. Having ended up in this state with the first commission he had taken since going independent, he could no longer
muster the courage to accept another commission. If by any chance Juliana's side were to claim damages, Kasim's financial situation made it absolutely impossible to pay the compensation. Therefore,
all he could do now was lament that he had not stood watch himself.
"In that case. If we find them and get them to sign the consent form, is it a settled matter?"
"Y-yes, but……."
At the following words, Kasim looked at Deimon harboring a shred of hope. It was a hope born from the thought that his counterpart was a black magician of tremendous skill and that perhaps there might be
a way to resolve this. However, no clear answer came from Deimon's response.
"Well, they say the world is wide, but we should be able to meet them someday. When that time comes, I shall certainly testify
in your favor."
Kasim, all strength leaving his body, had no choice but to reply weakly.
"Thank you for saying so, but in the vast majority of cases, the court does not recognize the statements of fellow mercenary unit members as
testimony."
Of course, Kasim did not dare voice that no judge would trust the testimony of a wicked black magician either. In any case, Deimon was the last savior remaining to them. Of course,
he was a savior completely incapable of reading the situation, but still.
"That aside, how about we have a meal since I'm hungry?"
At Deimon's words, Kasim's face twisted severely. To talk about eating at a time like this
……. But he could never speak ill to Deimon.
"Well……. The rations, those damned bastards took them all………."
"I have a little. It should be enough for one meal. Think about what comes later, later, and for now, let us fill our stomachs."
Having finished speaking, Deimon opened Incresia. A dimensional rift, wavering like surging dark energy,
revealed itself before the mercenaries. Though they had seen it once before, it was endlessly fascinating, and therefore the mercenaries' gazes were all uniformly focused on Incresia.
"Wow! What in the world is it? I heard it's a place where they store Dullahans……."
"To think they can create something like this—magicians really are on another level after all."
Listening to the mercenaries' murmuring, Deimon called out for Winslet. The moment the order fell,
Winslet revealed itself.
"Kraaaah."
As if happy to see its master after several days, Winslet lifted its head and let out a cry.
"So, have you been well?"
Deimon was glad to see it as well. But unfortunately, the mercenaries' reactions could only be drastically different from Deimon's. The memory of being ruthlessly beaten by that hard
head was still vivid.
On the faces of Kasim and the other mercenaries, expressions resembling disgust rose. After receiving a package, Deimon ordered Winslet to go back into Incresia.
"Go in and wait until there is a separate order."
Without a word, Winslet disappeared into Incresia. It was a Dullahan that listened to every single word with thorough perfection. After closing Incresia, Deimon handed the package to Kasim.
"It's pork. Prepare a meal with this. Once you've filled your stomach, wouldn't a proper method come to mind?"
"Understood."
Kasim instructed his subordinate mercenaries to prepare the meal in a powerless tone. Honestly, this was no time to be eating, but there was no other viable way.
After the meal, Deimon gathered the mercenaries. All of the mercenaries, including Kasim, sat gathered before
Deimon. Scanning their expectant gazes, Deimon slowly began to
speak.
"As you know, I have researched Paladins and Sword Masters for a long time.
Though I have burned them all now, I have once acquired and studied various mana cultivation methods as well. Therefore, I have obtained considerable knowledge regarding them."
Though they wondered why on earth a black magician would ramble on about such things, the mercenaries listened silently. Having spent two or three days with him, he was somewhat eccentric but did not seem to have that bad a nature, so
the mercenaries had grown somewhat fond of Deimon.
Deimon looked at each of their faces and continued speaking.
"I have heard that there are various types of mana cultivation methods. From methods relatively easy to acquire
to those with definite effects but extremely difficult to obtain……. I don't know whether you will believe me or not, but I have acquired and studied quite a lot of mana cultivation methods. Does anyone know
why I am rambling on about this to you?"
Of course, there was no way anyone would know. What Deimon was revealing were things the mercenaries knew to some degree, and because it was content stimulating enough to pique their curiosity, their eyes
were gradually sparkling. Deimon smiled faintly.
"You probably don't know. The fact that I have compiled all the mana cultivation methods I have obtained until now to create a single mana cultivation method……."
As soon as Deimon finished speaking, the mercenaries' eyes went wide. They couldn't help but be surprised at the fact that a magician had created a mana cultivation method. And it was truly something to be surprised about. Mana cultivation methods were by no means something just anyone could create under any circumstances. Only an absolute being who had experienced the limits of
swordsmanship could create a mana cultivation method.
Until now, there had been only one person in Arcadia who had created a mana cultivation method. His name was
Great Emperor Keurosen. Only he, the strongest in all of Arcadia and Trubenia combined, possessed the ability to personally create a mana cultivation method.
Countless mana cultivation methods existed on the continent of Arcadia. It was an undeniable fact that numerous derivative works had been born through repeated research using the second method inherited from Great Emperor Keurosen.
However, only an extreme minority among them possessed greater power than the original. With the exception of those from Penslet or the Kingdom of Tezjeros, most cultivation methods had less power than the original or had major flaws discovered, resulting in
halted research.
And that research had been conducted by outstanding knights. Only martial artists who had reached at least the realm of Sword Master could touch mana cultivation methods. Yet for a magician who is completely unversed in swordsmanship to have created a mana cultivation method…….
The mercenaries couldn't help but be half-convinced, half-doubting.
Kasim, his eyes wide, opened his mouth without realizing it.
"B-but I heard that the mana controlled by knights and the mana used by magicians are completely different in nature. Then how……."
"They are not different at all. It is merely that one is condensed to the extreme; fundamentally, their nature is the same. Why? Can you not believe it? But it is the truth. It is just that I have been unable to experiment with it; theoretically, it is a perfect mana cultivation method. Moreover, I can guarantee that this one is more powerful than any mana cultivation method that has existed in Arcadia until now. Who knows, the time needed to reach the realm of controlling mana will be drastically reduced."
Deimon pounded his chest as he guaranteed this, but the mercenaries couldn't help but show doubtful reactions. No matter how ignorant of the world one might be, it was not easy to believe the fact that a magician who studied magic had created a mana cultivation method, the training method of knights.
"If there is anyone who wishes to learn this mana cultivation method, I shall pass it on. As you know, this is not an opportunity easily obtained. Then, let whoever is willing step forward."
However, the mercenaries did not readily show interest. How much more so when its creator was a black magician, the very personification of evil. Of course, Deimon had already more or less anticipated such a reaction.
'These fools. They're trying to kick away fortune that rolled right to their feet.'
The name of the mana cultivation method he mentioned was naturally the Asura Command Heart Method. Of course, he had not created it himself. It was an internal energy heart method created by his nemesis, Sajunhwan, whom he hated more than anyone.
However, its power alone had been definitively proven. In the span of barely ten years, it had raised all the warriors of the Demon King's Army to realms approaching the pinnacle, so there was no longer any need for further consideration.
But since he could not openly reveal the truth tied to it, Deimon decided to wait leisurely until a volunteer came forward. There was no need for him to be the one eagerly trying to pass down a peerless internal energy heart method.
And an applicant appeared shortly.
"I will learn it."
A youthful voice burst forth as if there were no need for second thoughts. There was no need to even look to know that it was Gerald. Deimon nodded.
"Good. One has come forward. No one else?"
"I shall also try to learn it."
Unexpectedly, the second person to step forward was Kasim. Honestly, Deimon's eyes went wide because he had not anticipated that.
"You mean to learn this?"
"That is correct."
Kasim nodded with a determined expression. In truth, this was the only thing he could lean on.