The Necromancer Who Was Despised

So I used Nos. 1 and 2 to quickly navigate the traps and make my way through the dungeon.

“… Was a dungeon originally supposed to be this easy?”

“Of course not. Look at our dungeon. It’s not exactly a walk in the park, is it?”

“… That’s true. The entrance has defensive traps set up by Mutrue on the Death Grounds, and then there’s you, Master, and Baldur… .”

“The master is right. Complacency is the enemy. This is only easier because the owner of the dungeon is dead.”

“There are plenty of scary dungeons even if the owner is dead. Just think of this as an exception.”

Kayla and I gave Athina a little explanation so that she wouldn’t get the wrong idea.

‘Well, most of the dungeons of black magicians that I found last time weren’t anything special.’

Of course, I had no intention of going around looking for them one by one.

Maybe if I needed them later, but there were better opportunities out there, so it would be stupid to go looking for them now.

‘They’re all filled with stuff that will still be there in a few years anyway.’

Of course, in a few years, they wouldn’t be worth finding anymore.

Some lucky guy will probably find them and take them.

In the meantime, Nos. 1 and 2 continued to clear the way, and before long, we were able to reach the heart of the dungeon.

Register as a mercenary

In the heart of the dungeon, we found a headless skeleton.

“… Is this the black magician?”

The robe wrapped around the skeleton was half-rotted, and the old research journal was covered in a thick layer of dust.

The experimental tools were all old or broken, so they didn’t seem to be of any use.

“But first, you said you needed something.”

After first securing the tattered research journal, I immediately searched the corpse.

A brooch that had fallen from the rotting robe was wedged between the devil’s ribs.

‘If only his head was intact, I could make him my mage. What a pity.’

The reason this guy died was because he tried to cancel his contract with the demon tribe.

The journal contained all the methods this guy had tried to cancel his contract with the demon tribe, which was why the Order of Heaven had bought it for a high price.

Of course, after he became the Demon King’s slave, he regretted selling it.

‘If I had inherited this research, I might have found a way to cancel my contract with the Demon King.’

Of course, it was impossible to erase the seal of the contract carved into one’s soul, but at that time, I had no choice but to risk my life for even a small possibility.

After all, it was a situation where there was no answer.

And this brooch that I got my hands on…

‘It’s an artifact.’

To be exact, it’s an artifact that this guy made.

Despite his appearance, he was a black magician who was estimated to be a 6th class in his lifetime.

That was why, even though he was long dead, the dungeon was still maintained, and the magic traps were still activated.

The effect is… to make the surrounding mana turbid, making it easier to be corrupted by magic.

‘It’s the kind of artifact that black magicians who always suffer from a lack of mana desire.’

Most black magicians always worry about this problem, so there were quite a few artifacts similar to this one.

Even so, the reason I came all the way here was because the creator’s skills were excellent and its effects were outstanding.

By the way, I sold this for a high price to a shady merchant.

After all, it’s an item that’s always in demand among black magicians.

Of course, it’s an artifact that I don’t really need.

Even so, there was another reason why I needed this.

‘If I act properly, I can’t help but meet my kind.’

Rithild had also realized that I use pure magic.

If there was a high-level sensory black magician or a high-ranking demon who could share the black magician’s gaze, they might realize my worth.

That’s why I had to disguise myself.

‘If I wear this… I can pretend to use magic power even when I use black magic.’

The corrupted mana would reduce the purity of the mana used in my magic.

The power of the magic might be slightly reduced, but my staff could compensate for that and more.

Of course, the concentration of magic power would still be high.

That’s why they would think I had a contract with a high-ranking demon, but I could accept that much.

‘I just have to make sure they don’t think I’m at the Demon King level.’

Black magicians who have a contract with the Demon King… could never act openly.

Most Demon Kings were always after the middle world, so their goal was always the current world.

That’s why black magicians who had contracts with Demon Kings were always targets of eradication, and even black magicians who had contracts with high-ranking demons were often targets of vigilance.

I searched the dungeon with my party and collected a few more silver coins.

For his level, he didn’t have much money, so he probably spent all his money making all sorts of preparations at the last minute to cancel his contract with the demon tribe.

‘But it ended in failure.’

After we thoroughly looted the dungeon, we took a day off and headed straight for the surface.

We repeated the actions we had taken to find the play, and soon we were able to return to the Kingdom of Supetran.

“… It really took a month.”

Exactly 32 days after our departure, we were able to reach the Dorierem territory of the Kingdom of Supetran.

It took a little over a month.

“I thought you’d be active in the Ritena County right away… .”

“That’s a place that even the mercenary guild avoids. There is a guild there, but it is almost completely useless.”

It’s such a desolate place.

There are no special products.

There are monsters, but they were mostly subjugated by mercenaries from Dorierem.

That’s why we came to this territory next door.

‘Because the mercenary guild is quite large, there are many requests for expeditions.’

It is the most suitable place to take advantage of the many opportunities that I know of.

It is also the place where I was active in the past.

I came here after hearing rumors that there was a lot of work here.

It was also the place where I fell into hell when I was trying to escape from slavery and enjoy a short period of freedom.

‘Come to think of it, that’s when that guy was at the peak of his activities.’

I’ve experienced so many bitter things in the latter half of my life that I’ve forgotten about it a little, but that guy was one of the top people who twisted my life.

‘If I run into him… I’ll have to take care of him.’

It’s still possible if he’s not yet big.

This time, my life won’t fall into hell because of that guy.

In other words, the grudge from last time is gone, but… .

‘I should take any revenge that I can.’

It will be enough to calm me down.

And considering that guy’s personality, he was bound to clash with me.

There was no need to rush.

“Halt!”

The guards of the castle who had spotted us stopped us.

Although it is a barony, it is a place that borders a monster forest, and the distribution of monsters in the area is quite strong, so it is much better defended than an ordinary barony.

‘There are five regular knights under the lord, and they also have a small standing army.’

Some of the knights were even former mercenaries who had distinguished themselves, so this was a territory where mercenaries were active.

It’s not a place that can be ignored as a frontier barony.

Even in the capital, there were quite a few people who knew about the Dorierem Barony.

“You’re new faces. “Are you mercenaries?”

“I came here to be a mercenary. I heard that there’s a lot of work here.”

“Then that means you’re not a mercenary yet. “Show me your identification.”

My party and I immediately presented the identification we had prepared, and after checking it briefly, he asked Balduur.

“Why aren’t you showing your identification?”

“He’s my slave.”

“Slave?”

Balduur showed him the slave’s mark, and the guard looked a little surprised.

“Magical Imprint?”

“Yes. He knows how to use mana. He’s good with ‘Whip’.”

“…I see.”

The guard’s expression changed at the mention of being able to use mana.

He seemed to realize that we were not ordinary people.

“Now that I look at it, your equipment is pretty good. I thought you were a vagrant because your robe was so worn out…”

“I’ll do my part.”

“Hmm… You have a staff. Are you a wizard?”

“I’m a warlock.”

The guard’s face hardened.

I could see the strength in his spear-wielding hand increase.

“…Warlock?”

“Yes. Necromancer. 4th class.”

“4th class… You’ve surpassed the standard.”

The guard’s face was filled with undisguised disgust.

Artena frowned at the expression, but I raised my hand as if to tell her not to come forward.

“Hmph. Don’t cause a commotion inside. There is a standing army in Doriem, and five knights guard it. If you run around recklessly, you won’t be able to save your life. Keep that respectful attitude you have now. “

“Of course. I have no intention of causing trouble.”

“I’ll assign you a guide. He’ll guide you to the mercenary guild.”

“Thustas!”

At the guard’s cry, a slightly awkward-looking man appeared.

“Guide them to the mercenary guild.”

“Me, me?”

“Do as you’re told!”

“Yes, yes!”

He didn’t look like a soldier, but rather like a servant who did various chores.

“Follow me, please.”

“Okay.”

‘This is a new feeling.’

I haven’t been outside since I became a warlock.

I had to stay in my master’s dungeon all the time.

So this was the first time I had been treated like this because I was a warlock.

I was prepared for it, and even if I wasn’t a warlock, I was used to being treated like this, so I didn’t feel much emotional turmoil.

‘I’ve seen other warlocks being treated like this a lot.’

Again, it was something I was well prepared for.

Hearing that I was a warlock, the man named Thustas gave me a fearful look and quickened his pace.

As we passed through the gate, Artena whispered softly.

“…It’s true that warlocks are shunned. But surprisingly, even though they hate it so much, they let you in easily.”

“Because we said we’d be mercenaries.”

“Why is that?”

“Mercenaries are conscripted during emergencies.”

Of course, during an invasion, they must be formally hired.

Being mobilized only happens when the castle is under attack to such an extent that it’s in danger.

Of course, usually, it’s better to just send out a request. If conscription happened too often, there wouldn’t be any mercenaries left to operate in Dorierem.

‘Regardless of what happened in the past, once you become a mercenary, it means you’re helping the territory.’

That’s why identity verification is almost a formality.

‘In any case, even if four people like us were to rampage, we’d still be easily suppressed since there are so many combatants inside.’

Numerous mercenaries and over thirty standing troops. On top of that, there are five regular knights. If we include the squires… Even if the four of us were to rampage, it would be easy to suppress us.

“That’s why they attached an escort. That way, you could falsely claim to be a mercenary.”

“Yes. If you run away from here or attack the escort, you’ll immediately become wanted criminals.”

“…So that’s why the escort was afraid?”

Even if he became wanted later, it would be after he was dead or injured.

Especially since I’m a dark mage and there’s no telling when I might go berserk.

“He’s an extremist. He both hates and fears…”

“It’s common. Just get used to it.”

“It makes me feel bad that you’re being ignored…”

“In any case, once you prove your abilities, there won’t be anyone saying things like that to your face.”

“…You mean they’ll say them behind your back?”

“Of course. Even if they grovel in front of you after seeing your strength, most of them will end up spitting and cursing at you like the guard just now.”

Kayla already knew the reality of being a dark mage, so she wasn’t particularly moved, and Valdur wasn’t as close to me as Athina or Kayla yet, so he seemed less affected.