A Reason for Their Confidence
However, there was a reason these black mages spoke with such confidence.
—We shall control a real dragon!
“...!”
A real dragon, not a Bone Dragon?
A Bone Dragon was certainly a creature that had lost most of the power possessed by a real dragon. They couldn't use the Word of Power, they couldn't cast various spells, and their physical strength and defense were incredibly weakened...
Wasn't it basically just raising a dragon with nothing but bones left? The surprising part was that they were still powerful, but they still couldn't compare to a real dragon.
Is it even possible to control a dragon?
Carbanog agrees. It says that unless you're someone like Akisus, it's hard to scam a dragon...
—...
“...!”
Tae-hyun was astonished to hear that. There was already a precedent. Akisus, who had approached the Gold Dragon race and scammed them!
I guess it really is possible to control a dragon!
—Master...
Yong-yong spoke in a sorrowful voice.
—It wasn't a scam. We made a contract based on mutual agreement...
Sure. If you say so, then it must be.
Tae-hyun comforted Yong-yong. Of course, it could be viewed that way. Although one side had benefited rather unilaterally... well, they did make a contract based on mutual agreement!
Carbanog speaks negatively. It says that Akisus was still a relatively good god and had won the favor of the dragons.
Did you really have to include 'relatively'?
Carbanog was right. Akisus was, first and foremost, a good god, and he had a history of fighting against numerous evil gods. Of course, he had also fought against other good gods, but that was none of the dragons' business. In any case, to the dragons, Akisus was a relatively trustworthy deity.
In comparison, the Hungry Chaos wasn't just a bad credit risk; its credit was completely bankrupt! No dragon would ever converse or negotiate with the Hungry Chaos. Unless they were incredibly desperate.
“H-How do you plan to control it?” Tae-hyun asked in a deeply moved voice. If such a method really existed...
Carbanog says you must destroy it immediately...
I should pocket it!
...is what it was trying to say...
Huh? No. Can't I just keep it?
Carbanog gives up and tells you to do whatever you want.
Let's get my hands on it first! Since Tae-hyun was an avatar of Akisus, who sought to collect every sinister method in the world, Carbanog wasn't even particularly surprised.
At Tae-hyun's words, the black mages nodded with pleased expressions and spoke.
—That is...
“That is?”
—...Something we have to think about from now on.
“.......”
Tae-hyun and Carbanog's expressions turned dead serious. What, are these guys just like Cain...?
Is the Hungry Chaos actually more of a pushover than I thought?
Looking at what his subordinates were doing now, they didn't seem particularly more impressive than Cain. Of course, their authority, level, and power were formidable, but wasn't the brain the most important part?
Sensing the contempt in Tae-hyun's eyes, the black mages quickly made excuses.
—Of course, it's not that we have absolutely no thoughts!
—Naturally, we have a plan to some extent! But the details are what we have to think about from now on, that's what we're saying!
“Ah. I see.”
Tae-hyun raised his evaluation of them slightly. At least they have a plan!
The black mages looked around and said,
—You must not speak of what we are about to tell you to anyone. Among those who serve under the Hungry Chaos, only we black mages know of this.
“...You all are truly highly capable talents!”
—Haha. We are a bit like that.
Shh.
Failing to understand Tae-hyun's true meaning, the black mages began to share their plan.
—Surprisingly, they say there is a Dragon Lich in the Asbian Empire.
“...!”
Tae-hyun felt goosebumps rise. There was only one dragon they could be talking about. The Dragon Lich, Alexeos!
—A normal dragon is difficult to dominate, no matter how powerful we are as black mages. But a Lich is a different story.
—If it is a dragon whose body is bound by black magic, we can easily interfere with it!
Unlike a perfectly living dragon, a Dragon Lich, whose very soul was bound by black magic, was susceptible to interference.
“But it's still a dragon, isn't it? Since it became a Lich while retaining its reason, wouldn't it have become even stronger...?”
—Ah, why must you be so negative? Why is a young fellow like you acting like this?
—You haven't lived as long as we have, so you should correct that bad attitude of yours.
“.......”
The Black Mages' affinity has decreased slightly!
Tae-hyun was dumbfounded. These old geezers from the Ancient Empire are really something else...
—Of course, a Dragon Lich is no easy opponent. But it is a much more manageable target...
—Above all, Lord Nekanet-sal has already placed a powerful curse on its phylactery. There is nothing it can do. It will slowly wither away and die.
—It, too, will eventually bow its knees to us.
What? This is actually better than I thought.
Tae-hyun was surprised. It was a much better plan than he had anticipated. They weren't like Cain. Alexeos was currently in a phantom state, not his full Dragon Lich form. This was because his connection to the phylactery holding his soul had weakened! As it turned out, it was due to their curse. Placing a curse on a dragon's phylactery was truly an incredible magical feat.
He must be at least in the mid-to-late stages of the Highest grade... Who is Nekanet-sal?
Carbanog says that for some reason, it seems related to Nevuchadnezzar.
I thought so too.
“By the way, who is Lord Nekanet-sal?”
—He is the one who leads us black mages.
—He is highly favored by the Hungry Chaos...
—And since the days of the Ancient Empire...
You have obtained information about Nekanet-sal, the Slave of the Hungry Chaos!
Nekanet-sal, who was a powerful black mage since the days of the Ancient Empire, offered his soul to the Hungry Chaos for even greater magical power.
...
...
Hmm. Seeing how 'Slave' is in his title, he probably isn't that strong.
Carbanog says that is just a prejudice.
“By the way, is he perhaps related to Lord Nevuchadnezzar?”
—You have a sharp eye. Of course he is.
Since they said he was a black mage from the Ancient Empire, Tae-hyun had wondered, and his suspicion was correct. The successor, or perhaps the son, of Nevuchadnezzar!
—Lord Nekanet-sal was Lord Nevuchadnezzar's third cousin twice removed by marriage.
“.......”
Tae-hyun was lost for words. Wait, that's...
Basically... a stranger, isn't it?
“Uh... is... is that all?”
—What do you mean, is that all?! Do you have any idea how close the two of them were!
Wasn't Nevuchadnezzar a madman who wanted to kill everyone except himself?
Nevuchadnezzar was hardly the type of person to have friends.
—Furthermore, he even briefly served as Lord Nevuchadnezzar's lieutenant!
“I see. They must have been truly close indeed.”
—Indeed. Yes.
Though the relationship was laughable, a black mage descending from the Ancient Empire was never to be underestimated. Especially since he was borrowing power from the Hungry Chaos...
“Please let me meet him!”
—What? Absolutely not.
—Give up.
“Why is that?”
—Lord Nekanet-sal is an arrogant and grand figure; he does not meet with trivial existences.
—You are not even a black mage, but a bard, are you not? Give up. It will be for your own good.
What consideration! Of course, it wasn't a particularly helpful kind of consideration.
Tae-hyun spoke firmly.
“Actually, I used to be a black mage.”
—Come on...
—You don't look like one at all.
—Singing suits you. Stop talking nonsense and focus on your songs. You might become an outstanding bard one day.
You have received praise for your singing!
Singing skill...
...
“I mean, I mastered black magic before I became a bard.”
—Is that so? Truly?
Prove Your Worth
To meet the arrogant and great Nekanet-sal, you must prove that you are a black mage worthy of his presence. Show the black magic you possess in front of the Black Mages of the Hungry Chaos gathered here!
🎁 Reward: ?, ???, ???
A quest popped up immediately. Tae-hyun felt relieved. Fortunately, it was black magic! Although all his other magic had vanished, Tae-hyun still possessed Nevuchadnezzar's black magic.
“Very well. I shall show you something!”
Tae-hyun took his position and prepared his magic.
—Ancient Empire's Undead Summoning!
Summoning an undead of the Ancient Empire!
The summoned undead is determined at random.
Successfully summoned a Giant Bomb Rat of the Ancient Empire.
Rumble—
Buried beneath the sand, a giant hamster that looked like a bomb burst forth. Its tail resembled a bomb's fuse, and its body had a sinister, bomb-like appearance!
...What kind of monster is that?
Carbanog tells you that it is a monster from the Ancient Empire era that self-destructs when angered!
I-I see.
The Giant Bomb Rat of the Ancient Empire is rapidly consuming MP!
You possess the Highest-grade Tactical Skill. Grants a bonus to command, a bonus to MP consumption...
Due to the Advanced Black Magic skill, a penalty is applied...
...
Ugh.
Even with bonuses from all sorts of titles and skills, the speed at which his MP drained was extraordinary. The bomb rat was a monster that devoured MP. For a player like Tae-hyun, this kind of undead summoning really didn't suit him.
The power of the Hungry Chaos restores you!
Due to high Luck, the power of mana recovery descends upon you!
MP is fully restored!
“...!”
Tae-hyun was astonished. To think... to think such power existed!
Wow. The Hungry Chaos is really giving away too much.
Beside him, Carbanog thumped the ground repeatedly. Please, snap out of it!
Of course, contrary to Carbanog's worries, just because the other party was giving away so much didn't mean Tae-hyun had any intention of switching to another carrier... no, another god. First of all, it was impossible to change classes to a normal god, and the Hungry Chaos was...
Honestly, even more suspicious than Akisus.
—Amazing! To think you know how to summon an undead of the Ancient Empire!
—I heard that modern black mages are so ill-mannered that they don't learn the old spells, but you are an exceptionally polite young fellow!
—Isn't this the very black magic that Lord Nevuchadnezzar created himself? To think you still practice such black magic. You are an exceptionally remarkable young man!
To the black mages who descended from the Ancient Empire, Tae-hyun, who wielded magic that directly inherited Nevuchadnezzar's lineage, was the very definition of admirable. A young man like this in this day and age!
—Let us go! I shall personally speak to Lord Nekanet-sal.
—I want to feed you more of the Shards of Chaos bestowed by the Hungry Chaos!
“...I am still fine!”
“K-Kim Tae-hyun is being kidnapped!”
Lee Se-yeon's guild members, who were watching from afar, were startled. Tae-hyun had gone over, tried a few things, and then suddenly began to move along with them.
“What? Kidnapped...?”
“Look over there! He's being dragged away!”
“They're holding onto him! They're definitely trying to stop him from escaping!”
The guild members fell into a panic. They hurriedly contacted Lee Se-yeon.
Meanwhile, Lee Da-bi was flustered and tried to stop them.
“No, we haven't even confirmed the situation yet. Everyone, please calm down.”
“How can we calm down! Kim Tae-hyun was dragged away!”
“You have no blood or tears! How cruel!”
“No, that's not it...”
Lee Da-bi was bewildered by the accusation. Is that so?! Am I really that cold-blooded?!
This level of trouble is pretty normal for him, though...