Chapter 138: Dark Mage


    "Sigh, that fucking bastard."


    Spitting out a vulgar curse, Findenai gritted her teeth and regulated her breathing.


    She discarded her axe and drew another one from her waist since her first axe blade had been cleaved off perfectly.


    She felt like she should have at least carried a cigarette with her.


    Although she did have a case of cigarettes in her pocket, they weren’t something she would like to put in her mouth in this situation.


    After all, they were a luxury item meant to be appreciated thoroughly, their taste and aroma savored perfectly.


    Eventually, Findenai gritted her teeth again and took a deep breath after holding back her impulses.


    Her opponent’s attacks were fierce, making the fight more challenging than expected.


    And having the Great Warrior among them made a stark difference, compared to when he was absent.


    However, Findenai realized that it wasn''t just because of the Great Warrior''s skill.


    Growl!


    A demonic beast resembling a black panther charged from the inside of the forest. Its long fangs poised to shatter her head completely.


    However, Findenai, who had already sensed the danger in advance, swung down the axe she had raised high.


    Crash!


    The demonic monster''s skull was smashed, blood spurting all over the ground.


    The Great Warrior’s strength was undoubtedly formidable.


    However, ever since he was defeated by Deus, the amount of power he could unleash was no longer to the point where he alone could control the entire battlefield.


    Their roles were now reversed.


    Instead of Horua lending his strength to the Great Warrior, the Great Warrior was now lending his body to Horua.


    Under the command of Horua, the master of the Marias Great Forest, the demonic monsters fought alongside the Marias tribe and protected them.


    Moreover, his flames also possessed a mysterious power that ensured that the forest didn''t burn down due to carelessness.


    Nobody on this battlefield had experienced anything like this before. Moreover, Findenai was the only one who had fought against a guardian deity before.


    It was on the day she first met Deus Verdi, while they were trying to cross the Norseweden mountain range.


    Actually, it would be difficult to even call it a fight. It was more like a single blow from the Mountain Lord had knocked down Findenai, who had dared to strike Deus, who could control souls.


    It was an enormous power that one could never dream to overcome— A majestic figure exuding greatness.


    At the very least, Findenai knew that the Mountain Lord and Horua were of the same kind. But that didn''t mean they were equally overwhelming.


    It’s more like a deity incarnate in a human body.


    Findenai glanced over her shoulder towards the center of this battlefield, towards the open field that lay beyond the trees.


    The Great Warrior was dominating the battlefield with his flaming spear.


    And the only one who was engaged in a head-on confrontation with him was the Knight Commander, Gloria.


    No matter how skilled Findenai was, interfering in their battle recklessly would be dangerous even for her.


    Even taking her skills into consideration, compared to the both of them, her equipment was somewhat lacking.


    Gloria, clad in a crimson armor that covered her entire body while wielding a greatsword that was worthy of being called a treasured weapon, faced off against the Great Warrior Valkzar, who was practically naked, but had received protection through the guardian deity’s power that was far superior when compared to any armor.


    "Huff."


    However, even so...


    If Findenai wished to simply remain standing here, she wouldn''t have fought for freedom while being oppressed by the Clark Republic.


    Findenai had never knelt down to anyone in her life. Perhaps it was something one would only witness after death.


    "Ghost Lady, are you there?"


    At Findenai''s call, a wind mixed with mana blew in.


    While Deus was in the mountainside village, the Dark Spiritualist stayed by Findenai''s side to assist her whenever she was in danger.


    "I''m going to jump in there now. Can you support me?"


    Although she was unable to see the Dark Spiritualist, their desires were aligned.


    Findenai then checked the protective barrier that was now enveloping her. Being a Dark Mage, the Dark Spiritualist had a low proficiency when it came to casting protective magic on others, but it was better than nothing.


    Seeing this, Findenai took a deep breath, gripped her axe tight, and retrieved a club hidden near her waist with her other hand.


    Swish!


    "Master Bastard!"


    The club extended into a long axe. She took deep breaths and while gripping an axe with each hand, she stepped forward.


    "You should only come out a bit later."


    She couldn’t waste any more time.


    Even if she couldn''t bring the war to an end, at the very least, Deus Verdi should show up only after she managed to rescue Illuania.


    It was so that he, who always remained calm and composed, wouldn''t become like the other Dark Mages. That was their earnest wish.


    "I''ll end this quickly."


    Through an unexpected partnership, Findenai and the Dark Spiritualist charged towards the Great Warrior.


    ***


    "You Fools! Flee now!"


    The Great Warrior Valkzar had now become someone who could no longer be labeled as a mere human.


    Deities couldn''t harm humans as they wished. For those who protected nature, humans were a part of that nature.


    However, Horua had abandoned his position as a guardian deity.


    After throwing away his responsibility, he lost his power. However, he still remained formidable against humans as his power was originally immense.


    Deus nodded lightly after getting a rough understanding of the situation, and then posed another question.


    "But where is Findenai?"


    "......"


    "......"


    A momentary silence filled the tent.


    Witnessing that, Deus immediately furrowed his brows and somewhat issued a command.


    "Take me to her. Now."


    * * *


    "Damn, you came back so fucking early."


    Findenai greeted me with a hoarse voice as she looked up at me. The tips of her white hair seemed charred, and her entire body was wrapped in bandages.


    She seemed to have been inflicted with burns, but it seemed that the wounds wouldn''t leave any scars on her thanks to Lucia’s Holy Power.


    However, it looked like she had now exhausted all her energy, as she didn’t even have the energy to rise.


    [It''s... over now.]


    The appearance of the Dark Spiritualist, who was sitting quietly beside her, was also concerning. Since Horua could even attack the soul, her body looked feeble and blurred, which seemed precarious.


    "Master Bastard, I haven''t lost yet. If I go back into the battlefield now, I''ll certainly win."


    [That''s right. So, you can just sit still and remain here.]


    I stared at the two of them without saying a word before finally speaking up.


    "Why did you two fight until you reached such dire conditions?"


    "..."


    [...]


    The two remained silent, refusing to speak. In the face of such explicit silence, I asked them once again.


    "Speak up."


    Despite that, silence still lingered.


    When I glanced at the Saintess who had followed me, she also lowered her head and remained silent.


    It felt like a lump had formed inside my chest. The more I saw Findenai and the Dark Spiritualist so enervated, almost like they would collapse at any time, the more I felt like something inside my chest was going on a rampage, threatening to burst out.


    Such emotions were new to me.


    Unsure of how to relieve them, I slowly conjured my mana.


    "Should I retrieve one of the deceased and interrogate them?"


    The chilly mana gradually dominated the inside of the medical tent. If they truly wished to remain silent, I would simply step outside the tent and seize a soul for interrogation.


    However, at that moment, a woman with half her body burnt, entering through the edge of the tent, appeared before my eyes.


    Her energy seemed to have been drained away, and she looked like she would fade away at any moment. She slowly approached me, not with her usual confident stride, but by crawling towards me.


    "Illuania?"


    Why was her guardian spirit here?


    And at the same time, the three other women flinched.


    I felt like my head started to heat up.


    For the first time, the emotions that I had considered faint before, were now starting to sway me.


    "I will no longer repeat my question. So, speak up."


    "I-I understand! Please conceal your mana first! See, the other patients are scared of you!"


    After seeing that my condition was unusual, Saintess Lucia immediately spoke up.


    Though she explained it with utmost caution, almost as if she was tapping on a stone bridge1, ultimately, I could only arrive at one conclusion.


    Hoping that I wouldn’t enter the battlefield, the Great Warrior had kidnapped Illuania.


    "Master Bastard, just stay still for now. I''ll take care of this...!"


    Findenai hurriedly rose from her sick bed to grab my hand, but I brushed it off.


    "Wait! Please wait! If you intervene, it will put that person in danger!"


    It was the Saintess who blocked my way, but I grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed her aside.


    [Deus, uphold your principles. Don''t become like Dante, the other Dark Mages... or me.]


    Although the Dark Spiritualist spoke tearfully, I ignored her as well and stepped outside.


    Shwaaaa.


    Amidst the heavy downpour, I looked up and spoke.


    “Pass this message to Gloria.”


    My voice was so calm that it even surprised me.


    "Until I come out, do not bring the army near the forest."


    Then, without hesitation, I strode towards the Marias Great Forest in the distance.


    My pace gradually became faster.


    With tightly clenched fists, I felt the fluctuations in my emotions start to fade as they touched the principles I held as the Soul Whisperer, not as a Dark Mage.


    However, I held no regrets.


    "That forest now belongs to the dead."


    With that, I headed into the depths of the forest all by /genesisforsaken