Tournament - Part 7
Katarin Erast.
I stared intently at her as she stood on the arena stage.
Long black hair, a cold gaze, pale skin, and an unsettling smile.
The resolve to do whatever it took to win, and the cold-blooded judgment to exploit anyone for her own gain.
The very embodiment of a dark mage stood right before my eyes.
"Ha..."
In more ways than one, she was the quintessential dark mage.
She was the most famous. The Erast family was so well-known that even ordinary people in other countries would instantly recognize them: "Ah, that dark mage family?"
Their actions set the standard for dark magic. Everyone judged dark mages based on them.
The general perception of a "noble dark mage" in this world was, without exception, entirely shaped by the Erast family.
Constantly plotting. Luring people in with promises of profit, only to ruthlessly discard them the moment they outlived their usefulness.
Anyone who stood in their way met with an "unexplained accident," while those who feared them survived only by their grace.
While ordinary people feared her, they looked at other dark mages through the exact same lens.
As beings who deserved to be despised just a little more, and shunned just a little further.
"What a pity, Wade. It seems we've crossed paths far too early, don't you think?"
"I think the timing is just right, but it seems we disagree."
I had considered trying to play nice, but we had already gone too far for that.
I did feel some sympathy. Having cleared this game through countless routes and with various companions, I knew the circumstances she carried.
However, letting her establish her authority was far too dangerous.
"Oh dear... how unfortunate, Wade. Since the Imperial Princess isn't here to listen, I'll ask you once more. Do you have any interest in serving under me?"
"None whatsoever. Regrettably."
Kazot had made contact with her. Though not many knew of the organization yet, their evil deeds would eventually come to light.
When that time came, I had to mobilize all my evidence and influence to erase their very existence from this academy.
Even if I maintained friendly relations with her now, I would inevitably have to turn against her when the day arrived.
"I heard there was a major incident... I thought someone of your caliber, Wade, would have learned a great deal from it."
"How tragic. Because I am absolutely certain that you, Lady Katarin, won't learn a single thing from it."
Besides, the timing was terrible.
Even if I cooperated with her, I had to be the one holding the reins.
Since Katarin had already made her move against me, cooperating out of goodwill or calculation would only make her think, Wade has submitted to me.
That was unacceptable.
"I see. Come to think of it... there is still so much I don't know about you."
Katarin remained perfectly composed. I wondered how long she could keep up that smile, though.
"You needn't worry about that. You'll learn as much as you want soon enough."
She was about to find out.
Just how strong I was, and the sheer resolve she would need to even stand a chance against me.
"Let's begin."
The battle began. Dark energy erupted from her hands.
Kellin could only watch the war of nerves between the two.
Neither of them had any intention of backing down. Though they wore smiles, the murderous intent beneath them was impossible to hide.
...It's just a tournament. It'll be fine.
No matter how sharp-edged Katarin was, she wasn't reckless enough to kill someone in the middle of a public tournament.
Even if Kazot had requested it, she wouldn't resort to direct murder herself. At the very least, no one would die in this match.
Kellin had served her for a long time. From the moment she, abandoned and lost, had won Katarin's favor, all the way until now.
Am I... still truly serving my lady?
Her loyalty remained unchanged. At least, that was what Kellin believed.
Though she trembled in fear after discovering Wade's true identity, her goal was still to prevent a clash.
Protecting her lady from this monster—whose motives and mechanisms she couldn't begin to comprehend—was her true purpose.
"Hah!"
A mist-like dark energy billowed from the hands of both Katarin and Claire.
Kellin recalled the last words Wade had spoken to her.
"Putting you on the front lines against Katarin is a terrible idea."
"They know you too well. They know how you fight, and exactly how much power you have."
"Of course, you know Katarin well too... but they are dark mages, and you are a Dark Knight."
"Given enough time to prepare, they have far more cards to play."
Even though they both wielded dark energy, a dark mage's strategies were vastly more diverse. Though they might be slower and require preparation, the sheer variety of what they could do was far greater.
Compared to a Dark Knight, who could do little more than enhance their physical abilities and make their sword sharper and sturdier, a dark mage could choose from a vast repertoire of dark spells.
"Besides, fighting Katarin inevitably forces you to charge forward. That puts you at a disadvantage."
In that regard, his instructions were perfectly logical.
"However, there is one person on Katarin's team who doesn't know you well."
Dark energy clashed chaotically. A barrier of dark energy formed, rendering it impossible to see even an inch ahead.
"Olivia. She might have heard reports about you, but even that has its limits."
"There's only so much a non-swordsman can convey through words. And even if she does have information on you, the cards she can play are limited."
Kellin wasn't the only one lacking strategic variety.
Olivia might have been reported to use the power of darkness, but she was still a novice. She hadn't sacrificed nearly as much, nor was she fully accustomed to dark energy.
"So, our first objective is to isolate you and Olivia into a one-on-one situation."
"It doesn't matter if you win or lose that fight. From then on, you just need to act according to your own judgment."
And now, his strategy had been executed flawlessly.
"So you're Kellin... You don't look like much, to be honest."
A female knight, the crown of her head shrouded in black, glared at Kellin.
"Ugh..."
When it came to manipulating dark energy, Olivia was practically a novice.
She was no match for Kellin, who had sacrificed so much that her very existence hung by a thread, and who had wielded dark energy for over a decade.
"I bear no personal grudge, but I must win."
However, that was no reason to underestimate her.
Even with the power of light, Olivia possessed strength that far surpassed most cadets.
Her eyes...
Furthermore, her level of resolve was on a different plane.
Unlike Kellin, who was still wavering, Olivia stood tall, fully prepared to strike down the enemy before her.
"Don't resent me too much."
Olivia's sword lunged toward Kellin.
...Here she comes!
No matter how conflicted her mind was, she couldn't afford to lose focus with an enemy right in front of her. Kellin gripped her sword tightly, bracing for the incoming strike.
But Olivia's next words shattered her stance completely.
"It's not my fault you were abandoned, is it?"
"Lilian, save your arrows! Until I tell you otherwise, assume everything flickering in front of you is just a shadow!"
"Got it!"
"Claire, cast a barrier and deflect the spells! Just pour your mana into it and shrug them off!"
"B-but..."
"You're on a completely different level than them anyway! If you try to react to every single spell, there'll be no end to it!"
"Here comes another wave!"
One knight and three dark mages. It was a purely offensive composition that didn't account for variables or healing.
Still, this was enough for a probing phase.
I didn't need to give them much time. In the end, when it came to pure dark magic technique, Katarin was a step ahead of me.
"Hmm..."
Closing my eyes for a brief moment to focus, I fired a sphere of pitch-black mana toward Katarin.
Its lethality wasn't low, but Katarin should be able to deflect it easily enough.
Since this wasn't power obtained through a contract with some entity, there was no need for a long, tedious incantation. Simply because I willed it, my dark energy shot toward Katarin.
"Now, let's see..."
Katarin was likely flustered by now.
As a fellow dark mage, I was completely unaffected by her attempts to control the battlefield. Confident in her own skill and dark energy, she wouldn't be able to easily accept this reality.
But as that thought crossed my mind, I looked at her face and frowned.
...What is this?
Had Kellin leaked more information than I anticipated? Or had she realized the extent of my abilities as a dark mage just from my actions?
No, that couldn't be it. If she had, she wouldn't have tried to provoke me with such half-hearted words earlier.
She would have treated me with far greater gravity, as an opponent she had to risk everything to defeat.
Just what is she planning...?