When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was Vivian's disheveled green hair and her face covered in dried blood. The fresh crimson blood added a dreamlike quality to her sleeping face. At that moment, her face overlapped with the face of the young Vivian I had seen just a while ago, and I couldn't help but feel bewildered.
Startled, I tried to get up, but I felt Vivian's right hand holding onto mine tightly. Even when I tried to pull my hand away, it wouldn't let go, gripping it firmly.
"Umm."
As I shook my arm, Vivian, who was awakened from her slumber, opened her eyes.
"Hmm?"
Looking at me with dazed eyes, Vivian noticed our entwined hands and let go.
"Where... are we?"
Seemingly still disoriented, Vivian had a vacant expression on her face.
"We're in Sumrim Village. Do you remember?"
"Sumrim Village?"
Perhaps due to the lingering effects of the curse, it seemed that her mind hadn't fully regained clarity yet.
At that moment, I sensed movement behind us.
"Hey, a magician. Vivian."
Turning around, I saw Ivy approaching us with a composed demeanor.
"Are you both unharmed?"
"Yes, fortunately. Although there were some close calls. What about the dark mage?"
"That...?"
What should I say?
As I pondered, I unintentionally looked down at Vivian, who still wore a dazed expression.
"Uh?"
Not expecting me to look at her, Vivian furrowed her brow and after a moment of thought, she closely examined my face.
"Vivian?"
"The voice..."
"Yes?"
"The voice is the same..."
"I don't understand what you mean. Let's go now."
Vivian, still wearing a puzzled expression, reluctantly followed my urging.
We had just started walking when Vivian occasionally turned her head to look at me, as if something was amiss. But that was all she could do. There was nothing she could deduce from those glances.
"Alright. For now, I'll take care of Vivian while you go see Viscount Borolic," I told Ivy as we made our way back.
"Of course. Since the dark mage was caught as the butler, we must keep him detained. The issue with the dark mage is not just an Academy matter; it concerns the Empire as a whole."
With that, we arrived at Borolic Castle, where a grim presence emanated from the soldiers and knights guarding the castle gates.
"What the hell are these bastards playing at?"
Already on edge due to the two students being killed or gone missing, Ivy, who was sharp-witted, marched forward and shouted.
"Hey, you bastards. Can't you move aside?"
"Who goes there? Identify yourselves!"
"I am Ivy Clare, an assistant professor of the Rodren Academy of Swordsmanship! By standing in the way of protecting Viscount Borolic, you are declaring your opposition to the Empire, and we will wipe you out."
"What? What the hell are you talking about all of a sudden?"
"Recognize this face? This guy was the dark mage who massacred the residents of Sumrim Village. And not only that, he even harmed two Academy students. Are you still going to protect Viscount Borolic?"
"We... We know nothing about that! We were simply ordered to guard the castle gates as a precaution against an enemy attack..."
"Now that you know, what are you going to do?"
"We... We'll step aside."
"Step aside? Of course, that's a given. But you should hurry and capture Viscount Borolic!"
"Yes, yes!"
As the incident involving the dark mage was not just an Academy matter but a problem that extended to the Empire, the soldiers and knights became pensive and rushed to the castle, leaving their posts.
"Well done."
"What are you talking about? We need to go quickly too."
Holding the corpse again, Ivy started running. She was unexpectedly proactive, but considering the information I had about her, it made sense. In the game, she harbored deep animosity towards the dark mage, and I had witnessed her capabilities firsthand during the episodes related to the dark mage.
"But now, I am the dark mage."
In order to prolong my life, I had to be cautious. Following Ivy's lead, I finally arrived at the inner courtyard.
The soldiers had probably informed Viscount Borolic in advance, as the gates to the inner courtyard were wide open, and there was no one to stop us.
"Well, well. It's really him. The Butler Iban."
"It's strange. They suddenly kicked out the original butler, Thomas, and brought in a new person," Vivian said, observing Adrian carrying the corpse of the dark sorcerer while the servants in the castle murmured in astonishment.
I listened to their conversation with one ear and spoke to Adrian, "Why did Lord Bolrik make a deal with the dark sorcerer?"
"How should I know? Regardless of the reason, Bolrik's end has come now."
Well, that's true.
No matter what the reason was, once the truth was revealed, Bolrik's downfall was inevitable.
As we climbed towards Lord Bolrik's study, we were suddenly halted by a knight who appeared out of nowhere.
"I've found the Lord. He is in Lord Edel's chamber."
Guided by him, we headed to where Lord Bolrik was said to be.
Before us, soldiers and knights had already surrounded the area, wielding swords and spears.
"Good job. Oh, someone contact the Imperial Investigative Corps among these people."
"Yes!"
With an authoritative tone, Vivian commanded the people as if they were her subordinates.
Finally, as we entered the room, we witnessed a bizarre scene.
While staring blankly at the sight, one of the knights trembled and called out to us, his voice shaking, "Oh, you've arrived."
"What is... that?"
Vivian asked with a chilling voice, and the knight could only shake his head, indicating his ignorance.
Meanwhile, I approached the eerie sight.
"Hey, Adrian, step back."
"It's alright."
I assured Adrian and approached the towering, bloated, crimson mass.
Lord Bolrik sat beside the grotesque flesh, looking at me as I approached.
"Ivan seems to be dead."
"Yes."
He calmly replied to me and caressed the flesh.
Suddenly, sounds emerged from the flesh, sounds that seemed more animalistic than human speech.
"Yes, yes. Edel. I'm sorry, I couldn't protect you until the end."
"Did you join forces with him because of your son?"
"...Yes. Well, I expected this kind of ending, but I wanted to save my suffering son, even if it was just a little longer."
"Did Adrian truly want to continue living in this state?"
"Ha! Did you think I would end up like this? It's my fault for being deceived, but in the end, I was glad that Edel was still alive, even in this form."
He looked at the flesh with remorseful eyes.
"I have no regrets. There was nothing left for me except Edel. I might feel a little sorry for my late wife."
Then he turned his head and spoke to Vivian, "Now that the dark sorcerer is dead, Edel will die in a few days anyway. I could dispose of him immediately, but would you let Edel live until then? I understand that it's improper for someone like me, who committed such atrocious acts, to make such a request. But I just want you to acknowledge that Edel is innocent."
"Shut up. Don't make fun of that filthy mouth of yours."
Vivian drew her sword and spoke.
And she approached us swiftly.
"You, you damn bastard. Where in this world can you find someone without a story? Are you the only one who went through hardships? Try saying those words to the people who died because of you, you bastard."
"Vivian."
I quietly stood in front of Vivian to block her way.
"What the hell do you think you're doing? Are you suddenly feeling sorry for that bastard?"
"The relationship between a dark sorcerer and their disciple is unconditional. The scrutiny is so strict that it's difficult to grow through self-study."
"What the hell are you talking about all of a sudden?"
"I'm saying that even for the sake of obtaining information about the deceased dark sorcerer's master, it would be advantageous to hand him over to the Imperial Investigative Corps rather than killing him right away. We need to interrogate him first to see if any other information can be obtained."
As I spoke, Adrian, who had been breathing heavily, seemed to contemplate for a moment, then bit his lip and sheathed his sword.
"Sigh... you damn bastard."
"It's a rational judgment. Did you really think I would have any sympathy? You think too highly of me."
"Shut up if you're going to be noisy."
Even in modern-day South Korea, I have killed countless people.
I have lived a life where emotions were erased, and I focused solely on completing missions.
Vivian was right that among the people I have killed, there wasn't a single one without a story.
Amidst that, Adrian had become different after becoming Edel.
But that doesn't mean he isn't himself anymore.
Just as Vivian was about to turn away, she suddenly noticed something.
Thud!
"Edel!"
A spear about the length of an arm had pierced the flesh next to Lord Bolrik.
Startled by my sudden action, Adrian glared at me as if asking what I was doing.
"After all, as long as Lord Bolrik is alive, isn't that enough? Besides, that thing seems incapable of speech."
"Have you lost your mind?"
"It's a rational decision."
Adrian looked at me with eyes that seemed to see a lunatic, shaking his head as if I were a madman.
Then he commanded the soldiers to restrain Lord Bolrik and walked out of the room.
Lord Bolrik wept, shedding tears beside the lifeless flesh.
Well, I wonder if these people truly understand.
What kind of heart I had when I killed Edel?
Of course, there was also the intention to leave an impression on Vivian that I despise dark magic as much as she does.
But there was a bigger reason than that.
Think about it.
When the Imperial Investigative Corps arrives, do you think they will only interrogate Lord Bolrik?
"They will probably want to discover the dark magic that was used and conduct all sorts of torture and experiments on Edel."
Having already transformed into such a monstrosity, he must have suffered greatly.
He must have endured immense pain.
And if you consider the deranged magicians who are obsessed with research, he would have been subjected to various experiments.
In that case, it would be better for him to die now than to continue suffering.
Of course, it may be going too far for me to pass judgment on someone's life so arbitrarily.
But I have no regrets.
Because I don't think my judgment was wrong.
"However..."
As she watched Adrian silently with a bittersweet expression, Vivian's eyes, with their green hue, sparkled.