Chapter 85: Prince Maker (10)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 85: Prince Maker (10)
For Dark Mages, there exists a true object of terror.
His name was Maxcep.
And who was he? He was the very teammate of mine who had snuck off to try and summon a Dark Mage.
“How is it that not a single one is summoned normally…?”
The first Dark Mage had emerged slowly from the ground up.
The next one started with his hands. Another popped out head-first.
For the sake of my goals, I had intended to capture them alive if possible.
But the moment I locked eyes with a Dark Mage whose head was the only thing sticking out of the ground, I ended up slicing him down reflexively.
It was truly a gruesome sight.
To commit such an act without batting an eye… Maxcep, you terrifying bastard.
“……”
Maxcep looked up at me with an expression that seemed to have much to say.
However, the moment our eyes met, he immediately dropped his head.
Watching him go right back to drawing the magic circle gave me goosebumps. To think he could keep churning those things out—he really was a frightening fellow.
Still, I finally understood why the Magic Tower charged so much for their magic circles during summer break.
Apparently, if you weren't careful, this happened. No matter how expensive, it was better to use the official product.
Watching Maxcep—who had taught me the importance of using genuine goods—finish a new magic circle, a question suddenly occurred to me.
“By the way, just how many are you calling?”
The number of summoned Dark Mages was already at five.
One had already departed this world, but still… it wasn't like Dark Mages were things you could just find anywhere. Well, actually, they kind of were.
Even so, summoning them continuously like this was a bit strange.
“I-I’m not entirely sure myself. For now, at least ten…”
Maxcep, the Terror of Dark Mages, answered hesitantly, a far cry from his fearsome reputation.
Then again, considering he was a total loner, maybe this was his true self?
“Ten?”
Given the frequency of Dark Mage sightings lately, it was a plausible number to gather.
However, it was a bit much for a simple gathering of Dark Mages.
And didn't he say at least ten?
“……”
I could roughly see the big picture now.
What kind of people were Dark Mages by nature?
They were the kind of diligent, hardworking bastards who gave up everything to choose the path of dark magic just to get stronger a little bit faster.
Was that all?
The moment they learned dark magic, they lost their human rights in every nation. They were the kind of lunatics who did it anyway, knowing that a death sentence was the minimum guarantee if they were caught.
They were cold-blooded enough to choose the path of a Dark Mage despite such disadvantages.
In other words, if things went south, they were the type to use their fellow Dark Mages as sacrifices without a second thought.
Because they all knew this about each other, they usually preferred to work alone.
For such people to be flocking together meant this wasn't "cooperation" so much as a "temporary alliance" for a common goal.
And for over a dozen of them to form a temporary alliance… it meant there was a reward worth that much effort.
Thinking of anything in Rias worth that much, only that demon with a name like Mellon came to mind.
“This is a good opportunity.”
I repeatedly tapped the communication device in my pocket—the one Uncle Aeryun had given me.
There couldn't be a more perfect stage for our dear Prince Esid!
#1 The RoFan Male Lead Alliance (Down with Adam!)
Group projects.
To those who had reincarnated, the very name was enough to trigger PTSD.
Surprisingly, however, by the time students reached their second or third year at the Academy, most practical exams were naturally conducted this way.
Swords and Magic.
Sometimes they bickered like they were in the WWE.
Sometimes they fought with the intensity of a real UFC match as if they were out for blood.
But these were fields where strengths and weaknesses were clearly defined.
Because they created powerful synergies when combined, it was fundamental to complement each other's shortcomings in classes like dungeon exploration or monster subjugation, where one could lose their life in the worst-case scenario.
Of course, it was rare even for upperclassmen to form teams ranging from five to over ten people, as was the case for this lesson in the Rias Territory.
Therefore, the professors had prepared a safety net.
—While this is a team competition, individual evaluations will be conducted for each team member.
For the students, this was a real headache.
Their top priority had to be the team's ranking.
At the same time, they had been told that their individual rank within that team would also be evaluated.
To make matters worse, the scoring system was quite complex.
The top-ranked student of the 1st place team would undoubtedly be 1st overall.
However, the 10th-ranked student of the 1st place team might, depending on their score, end up ranked lower than the 1st-place student of the 3rd or 4th place teams.
It was better to be the head of a snake than the tail of a dragon—unless that dragon's body was truly exceptional.
And that was exactly what the professors intended.
If too many top-tier students joined a single team, the point of letting them form teams freely would be lost.
But the professors were essentially saying: if you still want to try it, go right ahead.
Most students formed their teams while warily eyeing one another. They looked for people who could help the team while allowing them to maintain their own individual rank.
Some quickly recruited top-tier students to complete a "dragon's body" configuration.
Others, prioritizing individual grades over the team, worked hard to form groups centered around students with relatively lower skills.
However, hilariously, the very first team to be completed was none other than the one composed entirely of the highest-ranking students.
Swordsmanship Department Head, Ellen Leon.
Swordsmanship Department Third Rank, Asran.
Magic Department Head, Arwen Dale.
Magic Department Third Rank, Gerard Rias.
And finally, a top-tier student of the Magic Department and an Imperial Prince, Esid Elleras.
In short, the RoFan Male Lead candidates had all gathered to form a single team.
The professors and students were aghast.
The professors were shocked that the heads and third ranks of each department had united around the Imperial Prince.
The students were horrified by the fact that a walking disaster—one that guaranteed a failed exam if encountered—was roaming the testing grounds.
Just why, why was such a combination even possible?!
Some thought they had formed a team for a deathmatch to eliminate one another.
Others claimed this was all thanks to Prince Esid’s leadership.
However, the truth behind it was actually quite petty.
“Down with Adam!”
“Down with Adam!”
It was merely the desperate struggle of RoFan Male Leads who felt a sense of crisis.
“I did think the atmosphere between those two was unusual lately…”
Of course, there was a reason for this.
“To think such a thing actually happened…”
Ellen gritted his teeth, wearing an expression that screamed, I trusted you as much as I trusted my friend…
“Is that… really true?”
The first love of the "Fire Spammer," Prince Arwen of Dale—who hadn't suspected a thing—muttered with a deep sigh.
“Ha.”
The man who had gathered everyone here…
Esid, a man carrying the blood of the Imperial family and a potential candidate for the throne, did not hide his indignation as he shared what he had heard with his friends and rivals.
“It is information I obtained from Violet in exchange for an artifact.”
“Information from Violet…!”
The person closest to the woman they all loved!
If it was information from the childhood friend who had been with her since the distant past—information even they didn't know—it had to be the truth!
“If that’s the case…”
Gerard, who had been silently keeping his seat, squeezed his eyes shut.
His mask had long since shattered.
“The one-year extension of their relationship… is it really true?”
At his lament, everyone hung their heads.
In terms of status, skill, and talent, they were all individuals fit to be stars that would light up the continent.
Even so, they were still just young men who had barely reached adulthood, struggling with a late-blooming puberty and their first loves.
Naturally, they had formed this team to take down Adam, who was supposed to be on a team with Daisy.
“Huh? Mr. Adam isn't on the same team as me, though?”
“……”
“……”
However, they hadn't anticipated Adam’s blunder.
“…What do we do now?”
“W-well, we have to stick to the plan for now!”
The grand justification of punishing a couple acting all lovey-dovey during an exam had vanished, but their grudge didn't end there.
Thus, they began searching for Adam’s teammates while progressing through the exam as quickly as possible.
And the moment their efforts bore fruit…
“P-Prince?”
“Why are you in a humble place like this…?”
“Because we’re taking an exam?”
“Ah!”
Amidst the flustered, shrinking students, the target himself, Adam Smith, was nowhere to be seen.
“Where is Adam Smith?”
“O-our leader? A student got separated, so he went to find them himself…”
“……”
“……”
Esid’s gaze met those of his teammates.
They had formed this elite team and come all this way for a petty revenge.
Meanwhile, the target of that revenge—though not by his own choice—had become the leader of a team of "leftovers" to help them through the exam.
And they were saying he went to personally find a student who got separated?
‘This…’
‘Don’t we look like total trash right now?’
Of course, there was a reason they had formed this specific team.
Just in case, Adam might have been carrying that famous sword—Daisy’s Holy Sword.
Having been utterly crushed by Adam while he held that sword, Ellen and Asran felt they couldn't win against a Magic Sword-wielding Adam unless they had a lineup like this.
Of course, even that became a mere excuse once it was confirmed that the Magic Sword was no longer in Adam’s hands!
“I-I see.”
Thus, Esid and the other RoFan Male Leads had no choice but to retreat with awkward expressions.
“W-what now?”
“For now, finding Adam Smith is…”
“And once we find him?”
“Should we… give him a compliment?”
“Weren't we here to fight?”
Their habit of digging their own holes instead of confessing to their crushes hadn't gone anywhere.
The RoFan Male Lead Alliance was busy fumbling even when dealing with their romantic rival.
It was then.
“Your Highness, I’ve found him.”
At the appearance of Aeryun, whom they had sent to find Adam, everyone’s eyes turned to Esid.
“……”
I mean, yes, I did order him to find him.
But why at a timing like this?
Aeryun tilted his head at Esid’s gaze, which was filled with complex emotions.
“…Let’s go.”
Leaders, after all, must sometimes move forward even while shouldering all the infamy.
He was the one who created this party.
He was the one who ordered them to find Adam Smith.
Whatever the case, he had to meet Adam Smith first.
With that thought, Esid led the group and followed behind Aeryun.
Of course…
‘What should I do once we meet? Should I use the exam as an excuse to fight? But isn't he alone with the person who got separated? If I make him fight Ellen one-on-one… while we all watch? Is that even fair? No, I didn't plan on being fair in the first place.’
He agonized over what to do the entire way there.
“……?”
But once they arrived, he realized all that agonizing had been completely useless.
And for good reason.
“…Y-you! Are you Esid?!”
“Urgh, Esid, you bastard!”
“To lure us into a trap like this!”
“I’ll curse you to the end!”
Through a magic circle, Dark Mages with parts of their bodies dangling in distorted space were there to greet him.