<THE DEMON LORD OF THE SWORDSMANSHIP FAMILY - Episode 31>
Back in the days of the Empire, when I had just turned an adult.
I first dipped my fingers into the art of Dark Sorcery back then, and this is what my mentor told me at the time.
“What is Dark Sorcery? Simply put, it’s a magic that draws power from the deeper world, the ‘Void World,’ within which we live.”
“Dark Sorcery is often said to be evil. Many describe it as unpleasant and dark, all due to the negative energy emanating from the Void World. This energy, infused with the essence of d*ath, naturally repels beings filled with vitality.”
“Then, is Dark Sorcery truly evil? We must contemplate this.”
There’s something people don’t know.
Surprisingly, a great amount of magics are derived from dark sorcery and are already being widely utilized.
“Haste” is a classic example.
Perceived merely as a spell that increases speed and movement, what this magic truly does is bring out the pinnacle of bodily agility.
But at what cost?
If Haste is indeed a form of dark sorcery, what is the essential cost or sacrifice associated with it?
It’s the physical body.
The body itself.
While it brings out the body’s peak potential, it simultaneously drains the life force in return.
The reason one feels extreme fatigue after the effects of Haste wear off is precisely because the life force has been consumed.
Supportive magic like this, specifically buffs that act upon the body, more than half originates from dark sorcery.
“…Back to the question. If dark sorcery is already commonly used and even useful, why is it so despised and labeled as evil?”
“It’s simple. Image. People have this perception that bad guys use dark sorcery.”
Dark sorcery is not inherently evil. Therefore, not all dark sorcerers are evil.
But.
Evil ones often resort to dark sorcery!
Almost inevitably.
Why?
Because it’s the optimal magic for those who are wicked.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re skilled or not or if you haven’t studied enough. If you’re lacking, you just need more sacrifices. And if you’re skilled, you’ll become even stronger.”
“In dark sorcery, sacrifices surpass all other elements and provide an absolute plus.”
This is why dark sorcery can assure unimaginable results with basic talent, assuming the proper sacrifices are guaranteed.
Here’s another point.
The greatest advantage of dark sorcery.
It has no limits.
“The higher the quantity of sacrifices, the greater the power increases. Ultimately, it can even lead to the ‘Truth’ all sorcerers yearn for.”
“Of course, it’s just a theory, but surprisingly, many people obsess over this theory.”
For those who would sacrifice others’ suffering to fulfill their desires—true villains—what other magic could be more tempting than dark sorcery?
Without even needing innate talent or self-sacrificing effort, how could anyone pass on the opportunity to easily reach the summit through simply using sacrifices, even if it remains just a theory?
This is why dark sorcery is considered the embodiment of ultimate evil.
From up in the tree, I could hear faint noises coming from a distance.
“They’ve come…”
“Shh…”
“…”
We listened intently to the approaching figures, masked and concealed by magical means.
“Found them. Communication devices. Tsk, what a bunch of punk kids. Are they actually hiding? I’m going to get so mad. How much did they take of the down payment?”
“They must’ve taken it all.”
“What?! All of it? Why all of it?!”
“Don’t you remember, senior? You said to just hand it over quickly because you were busy.”
“I did? Huh…”
The two masked figures.
Even a three-year-old would know: “Those uncles are very suspicious.” They radiated a deeply unsettling aura.
“Kehehe. Man, all I can do is laugh. These guys are completely insane. They really think they can get away with this? Hilarious. Give me a cigarette.”
“Senior, you remember what I said earlier? Punks like these need to have a leg broken to understand anything.”
“Hoo~ does anyone not know that? I’d rip out a rib and talk to them, if I had my way. But you know what the higher-ups said, right? You know about those troublemakers.”
“Troublemakers?”
“Didn’t you know? Some troublemaker annoyed the inspector’s kid. Because of that, checks have been tightened.”
“Ah… So that’s why the captain was acting strangely earlier. Then, senior, hiring those punk kids…”
“Exactly. In case of trouble, we need a scapegoat.”
“Hahaha! You’re making sense! There’re dozens of guys we’ve handled here. We’re not going to pass the blame to some measly punks, are we? You really think we’d believe that?”
“Hmph, Junior. When has truth ever mattered in this line of work… Wait, incoming transmission. Be quiet. Let me see this. If you have nothing else to do, go do a perimeter search. Just in case, they may be hiding somewhere.”
“Rather be, honestly. I’d love for them to get caught. Want a taste of their own medicine. Hehe.”
The two masked figures split.
After they disappeared from our line of sight, Mary finally exhaled deeply.
“Huh…”
“Did you hold your breath all this time?”
“I’m aware there’s a magical array drawn, but that doesn’t stop the tension, does it?”
“Pfft.”
How adorable.
We descended awkwardly from the tree, finding a spot to sit. The two kids, who had hastily hid themselves earlier, stared directly at me.
“So, explain now. Who were those people? What’s the deal with dark sorcery?”
“How does telekinesis relate to dark sorcery?”
“Hmm… Where should I start?”
Telekinesis and dark sorcery: two words that seem to have no correlation, yet in reality, they are closely interconnected.
Dark sorcery at its core derives its power from the Void World.
In layman’s terms, the ‘World of the Dead’ where souls that have reached the end of their life flow.
The myth that dark sorcery draws power from hell originates from here.
“…Hence, the power from the Void World is an illusion, not much different from a soul. Alone, it cannot interfere with our world. This is why sacrifices are necessary.”
“Does that mean with sacrifices, it could interfere with our world?”
“Correct.”
“Sounds like demon summoning. It’s unsettling.”
“Whoa! You’re sharp, Mary. Right! Demon summoning also falls under the category of dark sorcery, so besides the scope, there’s not much difference.”
“Huh!”
“Then, telekinesis—what’s its connection?”
“Indeed. Telekinesis is one of the best receptacles for the power from the Void World.”
“…!!”
“…!!”
Let me use an analogy with ghosts for simplicity.
Ghosts, who’ve lost physical form after d*ath,
They drift across this world, unable to resolve their regrets from their lives, and eventually fade away into the Void World.
Why can’t they interfere with this world?
Simply put, they lack physical power.
No matter how much grudge they hold, they cannot cause direct harm.
Hence, ghosts are obsessed with telekinesis stones.
They instinctively know: if they have a telekinesis stone, they can possess physical influence and interact with this world.
“Um? Is that really true? You’re not making this up, are you?”
“True. I didn’t go into much detail, but fundamentally, it’s like this.”
“Wouldn’t possessing a human be easier?”
“Ma… Yeah. There are plenty of movies where ghosts possess humans, right?”
“What you saying? Movies are scary for a reason. Kids, as a friend, let me warn you: never say stuff like that in public. It’s embarrassing.”
Even transplanting an organ can result in rejection and d*ath if done improperly. Would a soul, from someone who has died, entering the body of a complete stranger they’ve never met really work?
Both soul and body would wither away.
What about me?
Isn’t it the same for me, inhabiting someone else’s body?
An exception, is it?
Yes, I am an exception to this rule.
Do you remember when I first reincarnated and how I searched for a celestial body? It’s absolutely impossible without divine intervention.
I didn’t expect another miracle like mine to exist here.
“Let me summarize: Are you suggesting that the masked people here, monopolizing telekinesis stones, are dark sorcerers?”
“Probably connected, at the very least.”
“They might just be supplying materials…”
“No, didn’t you hear what they said earlier? Quite a number of people have been involved, indicating long-term work here.”
“Then… We’re screwed?”
“PUH!”
I looked at Mary in shock.
“…Where did you learn that expression?”
“From movies. Why, am I wrong?”
“Roughly speaking, yes. Agreed.”
Both of them looked at me.
Their gaze was asking me what to do next, and I grimly smiled.
“What do you want to do?”
There are two options.
To walk away as if nothing happened, or to dig deeper into this matter.
The former promises safety, while the latter guarantees conflict.
One is risk-free, the other is nothing but risk.
Of course, the average person would opt for the risk-free option, but their gazes were different.
Already brimming with anticipation.
I guess my expression mirrors theirs, doesn’t it.
“My heart is racing.”
“Trash goes in the trash bin, villains go to hell.”
The two young companions, adjusting their weapons and getting up.
“That’s why I like you guys.”
The answer seems already decided, no need for long discussions. I licked my lips and stood up.
The two scouts, returning precisely the way they had gone.
“Something feels off.”
“What is it?”
“I don’t know. Just, I have a bad feeling.”
“You’re overly sensitive today, Senior.”
“Wait till you get to my…”
Just as he was about to finish his sentence, the uneasiness he’d felt from before finally set off an alarm!
“…Stand back!”
The man hastily deployed a shield,
KWAK!
The object which hit the shield was …
…An ax?
“Send a message quickly… Hey! Snap out of it!”
“Yes, yessir!”
The junior wasted no time, sending an urgent transmission back to the main team.
However, the sound coming from the radio was…
– Crackling static
“Signal’s jammed!”
“We were set up. They planned this! d*mn it! Dammitall!”
The man shouted obscenities repeatedly as he ran forward, shield still deployed, determined to break through.
The junior was right behind him, supporting him.
“I’ll clear the path!”
“Move, d*mn it! Stop wasting time with useless tricks and use your buff stones first!”
“Yes, yes sir! Haste! Strength!”
Various buffs flickered around the two, illuminating the men briefly, before they raced off through the forest at terrifying speed.
The man, observing the trees flying past, quickly evaluated the situation.
‘Fortunately, this is a Level-3 Gate. The facility isn’t that large. We’ll reach the main unit soon. Soon enough, we’ll regroup with the main unit…’
Indeed, his sharp judgment demonstrated considerable experience, but unfortunately, that only went so far.
KWAK!!
The shield encountered an obstruction.
Attempting to break through only caused sparks on the shield.
“What is this?”
“Senior, it’s over there!”
“…!!”
There on the shield’s surface, where sparks flew, was clearly visible—
…Wire!
The moment the man identified the wire, a chill swept over the nape of his neck.
We’ve been trapped! Completely had! This is a trap!
And his judgment was right.
In the blink of an eye, the shield was dismantled. A forced dispel.
What followed was predictable.
The man shouted “Duck!!” and bent down immediately, but…
“Cough!!”
It was already too late.
One moment late, the junior fell onto the dirt ground, an arrow through the neck.
No, it wasn’t an arrow. It was a spear. A spear made of bone.
Gurgle, gurgle.
Clutching his throat, the junior coughed up bl**d.
Stretching his hand towards the man, pleading for help with desperate eyes, the junior begged—but the man was no longer concerned with his subordinate’s welfare.
“…!!”
A throwing spear.
Coming from left side, 40 degrees. A speed so fast even a martial artist wouldn’t be able to react to in time…
For a mere sorcerer like me, the chance of dodging is:
0%.
None.
I will d*e!
In the instant the man concluded this,
His choice was to roll.
He tumbled on the muddy ground.
Though his body was covered in dirt and his skin scraped against rocks, he rolled as hard as he could and barely hid behind a tree.
“Gasping, gasping.”
Just as he caught his breath, a voice rang out from behind the tree.
“Wow, you’ve got some experience there, huh? Experience doesn’t betray you, after all.”
A deep, coarse tone full of masculinity…
“Hmm? This guy’s still alive? Seriously, villains’ lives are tough. Tsk, how many have you killed to have your spirit so worn down? You won’t be going out gently.”
The meticulous approach of pushing his prey to a corner. The ruthlessness of showing no mercy to a trapped prey.
“Hey, you hiding there behind the tree. Yeah, I mean you. Why don’t you save us both some trouble and come out? There’s something I want to hear. And don’t worry, you won’t suffer like him.”
The conclusion was clear.
There was no escape.
Clenching his teeth, the man began to cast a spell.
“If only I could secure some vision…”
Dark mana slowly filled his left pupil.
The third eye, an observation magic.
Magic Eye.
Since one who can incapacitate a martial arts superhuman from an unseen position is certainly a martial artist themselves, taking the initiative in terms of visibility and preparing for interception might not be entirely hopeless.
Judging so, the man cast Magic Eye. However…
“…”
What the Magic Eye revealed was …
Darkness?
There’s darkness even though the sun is shining?
And just then,
Hundreds of eyes in the darkness opened simultaneously.
“Gwaaah!!”
The man’s left eye burst.
“Tsk, don’t go experimenting with dark sorcery lightly. If you’re going to use it, do it properly. I wanted to play a little longer, but my little friends will be here soon. So…”
POW!
The tree shattered in all directions, and now the man, who had slumped to the ground, could finally see who had been after him.
A figure so tall it obscured the view.
Park Ki-hyuk.
“Let’s have a quiet chat, shall we.”
