Chapter 57 – Black Mage Pursuit Squad #1
The saint knight asked as they walked along the path. It was a deeply instinctive and primal question, one meant to resolve his lingering curiosities from the journey so far.
"Where did you learn divine magic?"
"Taught myself."
"Is that... something you can really learn on your own?"
"Seems like it."
And with that, he regretted asking. How on earth do you self-study divine magic? Anyone could learn it in theory, but not just anyone could.
"If you'd rather not say, that's fine too."
"I'm telling you right now. Perfectly honestly."
"......"
Best to drop it. The saint knight shut his mouth.
This time, a question came from the other side.
"That distinctive way you move—it reminds me of the northern style."
"Oh, I just watched and copied."
"......The more secrets, the better, eh?"
He'd answered honestly again, but Beatrix didn't seem to buy it. Lawrence scratched his head, while Loria shook hers in disbelief.
Finally, Loria spoke up. Her question was at least productive and constructive.
"So? What's the plan?"
"Hm...... Still thinking."
"What? You don't have one?"
"I do, but too many. That's the problem."
One hundred and one ways to kill a black mage floated in Lawrence's mind. Tales from his past life's Ades, rumors from here and there, reports and texts... In the wars to come, such knowledge would be taught like doctrine to anyone who cared to read it. And black mages of this era weren't even that strong.
"Saint knight sir, got any ideas?"
Before deciding, it might be good to hear others out. With that thought, Lawrence turned to the nameless saint knight.
"Track and annihilate. That's the way of the Holy Kingdom and the Order."
"Right, but how......?"
"We'll figure that out as we go."
"......"
Enough of that. On second thought, it wasn't so strange. They'd been dragged into this on a whim by Lawrence's sudden actions, after all. No real plan was only natural.
Lawrence drew on memories from before his regression and spoke to Ades. Time for the real operation to begin.
"Ades, you got a map?"
"Of course. Right here."
"Hm......"
"You can read maps too?"
Isn't that obvious? Lawrence shot Loria a strange look for the sudden question, then refocused on the plan.
Freya had blocked them, he'd heard. Now to gauge how far they'd escaped, if they were wounded, if they'd brought undead...
His mind whirred at full speed, untangling variables into an optimal conclusion. Lawrence pointed to a spot on the map and spoke again.
"We wait here. Ades, sis—you two put on a little show."
"M-Me?"
"Obviously. Oh, and smear some blood on yourselves."
"......"
'He drops dangerous lines so casually... Guess he does have a plan.'
Loria had already reached that conclusion. Trust had built up, knowingly or not.
Lawrence explained positions, then moved out for the operation.
"One shot, end it. No mercy, no honor. Got it, everyone?"
"Understood."
Some people were like that now and then. Fools who insisted on fair fights for chivalry and honor. But in war, that was pure luxury.
Lawrence's sharp crimson glare shut down any nonsense from the start. He was just a young master, yet his presence was overwhelming—an emperor's aura that silenced all.
Everyone felt it; the mood sank heavily.
"Alright. Move out."
To smash Media's and Deferter's schemes, they advanced.
"Damn it—."
"Lord Amon! Why do you send us such trials?!"
"Shut up and keep moving."
Deep in the lush forest. Black mages who had pierced the flame barrier and dodged the rain of fire.
Through the sacrifice of high-ranking black mages and countless undead, they'd barely reformed their pursuit squad. And realized.
"Now I get why we need swarm tactics."
"Ugh...... Even this many isn't enough? Budget cuts? Short on manpower?"
"We're short on mana. For necromancy schools, mana is the swarm."
"But...... where the hell did those bastards go? Hey, over there—!"
A job they'd taken expecting fat rewards. A mission laid out by someone high up. Ambush, annihilation, assassination—everything black mages excelled at. They'd accepted on the spot. Plus, they'd gotten a [pricey item] upfront.
Then they spotted something: a woman limping along.
"There she is!"
"Grab her quick!"
"Damn, everything's going wrong—! No time, hurry!"
The black mages moved swiftly.
That was when Lawrence's plan kicked off.
The girl they'd spotted from afar vanished into the mist.
"Grab her qui—huh?"
"What? Sudden fog......"
"Target's gone!"
Ssssh—.
They halted abruptly mid-stride. The battle had raged amid clear skies and birdsong in this peaceful forest.
But now, thick fog blanketed everything.
"Fog here? Weather was clear today... Gah?!"
"What the—cough!"
"P-Poison! Poison fog!"
Poison Cloud
Sprays poison. The poison fog spreads with the wind.
'Gotcha, you bastards.'
He'd wondered where to use this, but here it was perfect. Black mages inhaling the fog-like poison scrambled to respond—drawing mana to detoxify, holding breath. Some vomited blood and collapsed; others went rigid from full-body paralysis, sprawling on the ground.
"Fireball."
Fwoosh—.
The signal flare spell ignited. Lawrence hurled the instant fireball.
KABOOOM—!
A 3rd Circle spell. Boosted by mana burst from Lawrence, it scorched the forest.
Simultaneously, the hidden saint knight and Beatrix burst out.
"Die, you filthy scum—!"
"Son of a bitch!"
Ambushes aren't your specialty alone. Lawrence landed lightly and swung the holy meat hard at a black mage.
Sizzle—!
It was an artifact infused with waves of healing.
"Gaaarghhh!"
"Ew, gross."
"Wh-What......"
The priestess, watching from afar as the head melted on impact, covered her mouth. Her eyes sparkled.
"Such clean, stylish purification!"
Exactly! They had to recruit him to the Order! He had the talent!
Oblivious to the priestess eyeing him, Lawrence kept dealing with remaining black mages and crawling undead.
His hands slammed the ground. Target: skeleton soldiers just emerging from the earth.
Human, animal, monster... Various shapes rising.
Iron Spear
Multiple Manifestations
Krzzzzzt—!
Iron spears erupted from the soil, skewering, slicing, and shattering skeletons—like a flowerbed of steel.
No time for black mages to react as Lawrence charged.
Haste
The artifact amplified his speed further. Lawrence swung the meat chunk with all his might.
Nothing beat divine power for smashing black mages and undead.
'I'm a mage. I'm a creator.'
He reminded himself amid the wild swings, keeping focus.
The black mage purge ended easier than expected. Skill, strategy, and Lawrence's overwhelming chant speed yielded brilliant results. No enemies survived.
"Aw, thought we'd capture at least one, but they're tight-lipped as expected."
"No gains?"
"Nah. But...... since when you talking casual?"
"Since earlier. Why? You're...... my subordinate now, right?"
"......"
Ades sighed deeply and shook his head. Yeah, he's always been a nutjob. He decided to let it slide.
Anyway, the black mages were safely exterminated. No more pursuers in sight.
Lawrence's eyes gleamed as he inspected the corpses.
'Materials, materials.'
Artifact fodder scattered everywhere.
"Heh heh heh—."
Lawrence grinned wickedly. A fun idea flashed through his mind.
From time immemorial, nothing infuriated enemies more than ally incompetence. Stories of self-destruction amid infighting.
They'd dared target his sister. Time they suffered too.
They'd die by the same black magic.
'Because I'll make it so.'
And bonus: extract info while at it. Ades had more work now.
The saint knight and priestess were newly stunned. Iron mages.
Commonly rated a tier below elemental mages.
They'd heard the rumors.
'But this is way beyond.'
Especially Montemer's youngest, Lawrence. Bloodline of a famed house? Or pure talent?
They got why they called themselves battle mages.
'Mages who excel in close combat.'
Terrifying. If mass-produced as family or national weapons...
The balance of power would shatter, new paradigms emerge.
The saint knight sensed it instinctively.
"Should we report to Order HQ?"
"Mm, I think so too."
"Poison Cloud is blatantly close to black magic...... But it's odd."
"Agreed."
Even more shocking: using it casually. Divine and black magic were incompatible by nature.
Yet Lawrence wielded both freely.
Not just an iron mage. Far from it.
The saint knight and priestess were convinced: Lawrence Montemer was exceptional talent who could upend the Order.
"Alright, let's head back. Gotta breach the stronghold."
"Understood."
"Yes. Any discomfort, young master?"
"I'm fine. Perfectly healthy."
Lawrence smiled brightly and stepped forward. Ades, Loria, and Beatrix watched his back with odd gazes.
Then Ades spotted 'something'.
"Hold up! Lawrence."
"Hm? What?"
"Check this."
Ades held a platinum gem from the ground. Diamond-like, but with a stranger sheen.
He grinned like he'd struck gold.
"Looks like solid evidence."
"This is......"
"Heard about it, but no hard proof till now. This should suffice."
Lawrence recognized it too and frowned.
Yeah. Solid evidence indeed.