Matis Dean Carl.
He was also a mage of the Mage Tower.
A mage who longed for truth and explored the unknown.
In a way, Matis had a stronger desire than any other mages of the Mage Tower.
After all, Matis was walking the path of the 'black mage'.
'Like deep darkness. The end is unknown.'
Black magic.
Before Matis established the black magic school.
"Oh my God. If you can call it magic, then my dog's pooping must be magic too. It's poop-making magic!"
Black magic didn't receive good treatment.
It was called folk sorcery in some places.
Anywhere else, it was called indescribable curses.
And in some countries, it was even called ominous magic.
It stimulated Matis' desire.
'Is it all true?'
Matis got immersed in black magic.
As a result, Matis established black magic principle, became a senior mage at the Mage Tower, and he was once a strong candidate for the chief.
As a result, the chief's seat was taken by Marcelo…
'He has enough qualifications.'
Contrary to the expectations of other senior mages.
Matis didn't think too much of it.
No, to be exact, he couldn't afford to devote his thoughts to such private matters.
'I've come all the way here. Is my ability lacking?'
Suddenly, he bumped into a wall.
No matter how much he thought about it, there was no progress in his research.
To add insult to injury.
Worldview interference began.
The self-reproach could only get worse.
'Something black magic could help with…'
Just what is he doing…!
Then came the news.
"Matis-ssi, have you heard? No, well."
Chief Mage Marcelo.
He had chosen an adventurer as his collaborator.
'It's Marcelo's choice.'
Maybe because he had bumped into a wall, he could come up with it.
Matis was purely curious about that choice.
Unlike other mages.
He was a wizard who walked his path silently.
In a way, they shared a lot of similarities.
Since Marcelo made that decision, it was natural to question it.
'What kind of adventurer is he?'
Finding the answer to that question.
It didn't take him too long.
An adventurer.
The first impression alone was unusual.
Tap tap–
Confident footsteps echoed in the Crystal Hall.
And without hesitation, he declared.
– I am not free enough to suit your mischief.
Not only that, [Sage's Recreation].
He even solved that thorny conundrum right away.
That alone was enough to make them acknowledge his ability.
Marcelo's choice made sense.
Therefore, the current situation happened out of pure greed.
It was due to his desire to explore.
'I can't believe such an adventurer existed.'
Curiosity about an unknown being that he had never seen before.
What he was most curious about was his sensitivity to black magic.
That's why Matis made an appointment with Hoyeol.
That's why he wore rings on each of his ten fingers.
'Because you can find out a lot with just one respond.'
Why was black magic treated as witchcraft?
It was simple.
Unlike other magic, black magic definitely had a different side.
The biggest difference was that it was deeply involved in the inner part of the manifester.
'To be more specific, it can be said that it is influenced by the past.'
If ordinary magic was manifested based on mana.
Black magic only responded to the 'right mana'.
What is the right mana?
It flowed from the life and background of the manifester.
Of course, regarding the story of the adventurer Hoyeol.
He didn't know anything about it, nor he wanted to.
This action was just out of curiosity.
So he didn't even have expectations.
That's why he wore a ring on each of his fingers.
'This way, I'll be able to detect even the smallest sensitivity.'
However.
…An incredible thing happened.
The rings on his ten fingers turned all black.
'I've never seen a color like this!'
It was so black that you couldn't even see the end of it!
Like the essence of black magic.
Matis unconsciously muttered.
"This sensitivity is…?"
It was not at a level that could be explained.
With this sensitivity, even the wall that blocked him seemed to collapse at once.
Before Matis had time to calm his startled heart, he heard an inquiring voice.
"Answer wisely."
Yeah, he didn't mean to hide it.
Matis plainly explained to him.
Then he thought.
'What kind of past does this man have…'
That he has such excellent sensitivity to black magic?
.
.
.
Clink–
I tipped my teacup over to Matis, who explained about black magic and the current situation.
'Really.'
…At this rate, I am going to die out of embarrassment.
Whaaat?!
Past-based manaaa?!
There's no magic like that!
In order to learn magic by copying others.
I searched quite a bit on Nettube.
Naturally, I'd seen mages of all classes.
However, no matter how much I looked back on my memory, I had never seen a player who claimed to be a black mage.
'It might be different it's a necromancer.'
So I was suspicious.
Black magic.
Does such strange magic really exist?
But there was no need for doubt in this situation.
Senior mage of black magic, Matis Dean Carl.
His existence itself was the biggest proof that black magic existed.
So what he said wasn't nonsense, it was all true…!
"The more the ring's jewel turns black, the better the sensitivity to black magic is. I wore ten rings to sense even the slightest sensitivity. I didn't expect all the jewels to change like this…!"
I have excellent sensitivity to black magic?!
Unfortunately, it wasn't a compliment to me.
I realized it clearly thanks to his kind explanation.
'…I am definitely going to die from embarrassment.'
According to him.
The source of black magic was the 'right mana'.
What is the right mana?
It flowed from the manifester's past.
So the reason why I'm so sensitive to black magic is…
'It's all because of my dark history!'
I thought rationally.
'Yes, the setup is depressing.'
『He was the heir to a great family, but that family was ruined by the demons.
The only survivor of the family, Grandfel Claudie Arpheus Romeo, hereinafter referred to as Grandfel, walked the path of a demon hunter to take revenge on the demons.』
In other words, the setting of that past had given me an exceptional sensitivity to black magic.
'All right, let's put my embarrassment aside for a while…'
Let's think about it coldly.
First of all, it was good news for me.
There was nothing to regret about Grandfel's talent.
It was great enough that I could risk dabbling in black magic.
Anyway, having a lot of things I could use was a good thing.
Especially on my part.
'Because it seems to be more free from magic than other magic.'
It could be said that it only responded to the 'right mana'.
Mana and right mana were completely different concepts.
In that case…?
A possibility crossed my mind.
'Is it possible to use black magic even in a state of mana exhaustion?'
…If that's possible.
Enduring this shame and entering black magic would be worth it.
No, I had no choice but to do so.
I rolled my brain.
Just like how I was able to quickly emit aura thanks to having Harkon as a good teacher.
I also needed a good teacher to learn black magic quickly.
In that sense, there were no teachers as perfect as Matis.
After thinking about it, I opened my mouth.
"It's very unpleasant. Senior Mage Matis."
Both for me and for Grandfel.
It was, of course, unpleasant.
Even if he didn't know the specific story.
Matis had a glimpse of my past.
It was an unforgettable and terrible past for Grandfel.
It was a dark history I wanted to hide.
"I have nothing to say about my action. It was my fault."
Saying so, Matis added.
"I will definitely take responsibility for this disrespect. I will admit all my faults even if I have to formally raise doubts with my superiors and the Council of Elders. Please, forgive my deceit."
It was an attitude that could be called the standard apology.
It didn't deviate from formality and manners.
Enough to slightly soften Grandfel's feisty personality.
"I accept that apology."
Of course, I had no intention of just letting it go with just words alone.
It didn't benefit me.
I added.
"Black magic. I am a little interested in it."
"…Really?"
It wasn't like I would commit to it.
I was just a little interested.
Matis was greatly pleased.
He continued on with a slightly brighter look.
"To make up for today's mistake. I'll give you all my help regarding black magic!"
What did he say?
He would give me all his help.
I memorized those words and got up from my seat.
At that moment.
"!"
The quest window flashed.
– Demonstrate your ability. (In progress)
Convince the majority of senior mages. (9/20)
It went from eight to nine.
The one person who got convinced must be Matis.
That guess seemed to be correct.
Matis bowed to me.
"No, from now on I will pay attention to the honorific as well. Carrying out joint research with the Chief Mage is no different from being in the same position as the chief."
…Even adding an honorific all of a sudden?
Such a sudden change naturally felt burdensome.
But I answered without changing my expression.
"We'll talk about the things we couldn't say next time. Matis."
.
.
.
…Presumably.
It was clear that Matis had a significant influence among senior mages.
As soon as he voted yes.
The quest window flashed several times.
– Demonstrate your ability. (In progress)
Convince the majority of senior mages. (20/20)
And in the end, it was unanimous.
A message appeared.
[You've met the conditions]
All the cumbersome demonstration process was skipped just because Matis voted for it… In the end, Matis even left out his words except for the title.
'…That's just like me.'
After doing such a great thing.
I returned to the lab and calmly picked a magic book.
In fact, I'd done worse things to Marcelo.
So I could relax like this.
Ssh—
Soon, writing appeared on the parchment.
But somehow, the contents were all long.
I stealthily read the first line, and it turned out to be a message of congratulations.
Starting with Marcelo.
Belliere, Maia, Nasrow…
From senior mages who I'd only heard of.
To skilled wizards whose names I'd never even heard of.
For me who officially entered the Mage Tower.
They sent me congratulations.
But inadvertently.
I immediately took my eyes off the parchment.
Because it was only natural.
It wasn't something to be congratulated on.
That's what I really thought.
Honestly, even if I felt happy, it was meaningless.
If you thought about it, it just made my life tiring and difficult.
The moment I lamented about my situation.
[You will be rewarded.]
A message appeared.
[Your relationship with the Mage Tower has increased.]
[Your influence on the Mage Tower has increased.]
[A new function in the Mage Tower has been activated.]
…Wait, this reward is huge.
In a way, the Mage Tower was more influential than any other city or country in Arcana. To think that my relationship and influence with the Mage Tower would increase drastically.
'I didn't have this when I was just a parachute…'
It was only now that I felt like this wonderful laboratory was definitely mine.
By the way, a new function had been activated.
My thoughts naturally moved to the Yusra Kingdom.
'The authority function was really amazing.'
Relationship and influence.
[Authority] function was activated only when both of them were maxed out.
The limits of my authority were simply no different from those of the king, Hakuna.
'I definitely have confirmed it with the Shadow Mercenary Corps.'
The NPCs that flocked to the Yusra Kingdom.
I was able to accept or reject their request with my own authority.
So long as Hakuna was the king, of course.
I rarely wielded that kind of authority.
'…In fact, considering Hakuna's attitude towards me.'
It was embarrassing to say it myself.
Hakuna considered me a benefactor.
If I were to say, it would be possible for me to reverse the decision I had made.
Because this one didn't reach the maximum.
Although it couldn't be compared to that [authority] function.
'But it's gone up a lot.'
I wondered what the newly activated function was.
Suddenly, I recalled Matis' words.
'Same position as the chief mage.'
What kind of status is that?
'What function of the tower can the chief mage use?'
As I was thinking about it.
Knock knock–
Someone knocked on the lab door.
Before I could ask, a voice came straight out.
"This is Bendley Tom, a senior wizard of pure magic. I came here because I'd like to congratulate you and convey a small but sincere message. May I come in for a moment?"
I'd like to convey a small sincerity…
I could tell from those words.
'It's a bribe.'
A status equivalent to that of a senior mage.
It was a position to take bribes from a senior mage.
Bribe.
A normal person would like it.
Isn't it something I should consider?
Above all, he said it was a small sincerity.
Ignoring sincerity was not something a person would do.
'That's probably why a lot of people accept it.'
But unfortunately.
Grandfel was no ordinary man.
Even Greed of Seven Deadly Sins couldn't bring him down.
He was truly the embodiment of pure integrity.
So my answer was firm.
"Senior Mage Bendley."
"Oh, there you are! What a relief!"
"You'd better learn manners before you convey your congratulations and sincerity."
"Yes, then excuse me…. What? Yes? Manners?"
From beyond the door.
I could hear a bewildered voice.
I didn't say anything.
"I don't have meetings that haven't been arranged in advance."
Three visits to the cottage.
"Don't disturb me and go back."
If you want to meet me, visit me at least three more times.