The black mage wearing a goat-bone mask looked rather small in stature.
Judging by height alone, he was about half of Ludger. Small as he was, it wasn’t something to dismiss.
Hadn’t he just witnessed with his own eyes how that cursed mist had pierced the Magia Giant’s mana barrier with ease?
It was no ordinary curse.
“I heard some commotion outside and came to see for myself, and what is this mess supposed to be?”
The voice inside the mask echoed hollowly.
He aimed a staff, far taller than his own body, at Ludger.
“So, are you the one who caused this uproar?”
“I heard that the Ancient Curse School was trapped on the battlefield, merely waiting for rescue.”
“What? Hahaha. What a funny thing to say. Rescue, you say?”
At that laugh, Ludger realized Gariel must have gotten his information wrong.
“Do you know about Gariel Cosmo?”
“Gariel Cosmo? Hmm. Wait a moment. I think I’ve heard that name somewhere. Ah! Now I remember.”
The goat-bone masked black mage tapped his palm lightly with his staff.
“Heh. Come to think of it, I once considered opening dealings with that brat. If you’re asking about his name, then is that why you’ve come looking for me?”
“Yes. Gariel Cosmo judged that your Ancient Curse School was endangered by being caught up in the war. That’s why I came to offer aid.”
“Aid, you say.”
The black pupils behind the white bone mask swept over Ludger’s surroundings.
“You really came to give aid? Yet you’ve turned Zone E-34 into a complete wasteland.”
“There were too many bugs.”
“Bugs... you mean those fellows still watching us from far off?”
The black mages remaining on the scene were keeping their distance, only stealing glances at Ludger.
When Pomput had stepped forward, they were ready to join in as soon as victory seemed assured—but once they saw him crushed in an instant, they drew back.
After all, Pomput had been subdued even while piloting the Magia Giant, a power suit meant for anti-mage combat.
Now, with all their artifacts spent, the black mages had neither strength nor will left to fight.
“Communication was cut off, so I suppose people outside made a fuss. But from the start, this was where our school had been staying. No matter the opponent, we had confidence we could endure.”
“And yet here you are, outside.”
“When waves of mana from consecutive 6th-circle spells are felt, shouldn’t one at least come out to see what’s happening?”
The release of two 6th-circle spells in succession meant a clash between Lexuror-class mages at minimum.
“I thought a civil war was breaking out in the New Mage Tower. Even for me, if Lexuror-class mages fight in my own front yard, I can’t just lie there peacefully, even if it doesn’t blow out my back.”
“Then I’m glad you didn’t.”
“Glad? Nonsense. The real problem is that this sight was caused not by two, but by just one mage.”
“So you’re wary of me?”
“Wary? No, just curious. I wondered what sort of person would come to us with business.”
“Seems at least a conversation is possible.”
Ludger fired a mana bullet into the air.
Mana /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ burst like a firework overhead, scattering brilliant light.
End of engagement.
At that signal, Gariel suddenly appeared beside Ludger.
The mirage-like arrival made the Ancient Curse School’s black mage shake his mask in surprise.
“What is this? Appearing suddenly from nowhere? Spatial movement? No... there are no traces of mana at all.”
“Wait, it’s already over?”
Gariel, arriving, was just as bewildered by the scene.
When he’d heard that a battle was raging in Zone E-34, he thought they’d be staging a rescue to pull the Ancient Curse School’s black mages out safely.
But what he saw was different.
Ludger had dropped into the center of the battlefield and, alone, completely overturned it.
‘This lunatic... how much stronger has he gotten since I last saw him?’
He’d already known Ludger had a brilliant mind and immense talent in magic, but this was beyond reason.
‘It hasn’t even been that long since I saw him, and yet these traces... did he use some kind of grand magic? How many elixirs has he consumed in just a few years?’
Gariel’s stunned thoughts didn’t last long.
Right now, the black mage before them came first.
“Ahem. A pleasure to meet you. I am Gariel Cosmo.”
“Ah, yes. The carefree Gariel. I’d heard of you from your disciple, but to actually meet you in person.”
“By any chance, are you the Master of the Ancient Curse School?”
“Yes. That’s why I came out here alone.”
At the word Master, Ludger silently nodded.
The curse magic he’d shown while subduing Pomput was far beyond what an ordinary member could wield.
‘Not magic through standard formulas. There’s a reason their school bears the word Ancient.’
The black magic used by this Master was of a different vein than standard black magic or magic in general.
If anything, it resembled the [True Magic] Ludger himself used.
“So, what’s the reason you sought me out?”
“Is it true that the Ancient Curse School can wield the most powerful curses that no longer exist in this world?”
“Eh? I don’t know where you picked that up.”
“What? Then it isn’t true?”
“No, it is. You came to the right place.”
Gariel’s expression, once sinking in disappointment, twisted with surprise.
“Then why did you—”
“The curses we use are indeed powerful. Perhaps none in the world can compare.”
It sounded like boastful swagger, but having seen it himself, Ludger knew it was no exaggeration.
“And yet?”
“But we do not use these curses carelessly.”
“What?”
“A curse, in the end, is something to kill. And if you’ve come to us, isn’t it because you want someone dead?”
“Ah, no, wait a moment. Aren’t you black mages?”
“Yes.”
“And you dislike killing people? You didn’t even kill with curses here?”
“It’s not that I dislike it—it’s that taking assassination contracts with our art doesn’t sit well with me.”
“Why not?”
“Why? If the shopkeeper doesn’t want to sell his goods, he doesn’t have to.”
Gariel was at a loss for words, then regained his composure and gave a laugh.
“In that case, it should be fine. We are not here to borrow curses to kill anyone.”
“Not to kill?”
“Yes. We want to save someone.”
At that, a faint violet glow seeped from the black pupils within the goat mask.
“Oh? To save someone with curses. I think I see—using poison to cure poison, yes?”
“...Well, something like that.”
The remark pierced the situation instantly, leaving Gariel flustered.
There was no hiding it now. If they could not persuade the man before them, they had no other way.
“If it is to save, not kill, then you should have no objection, correct? What do you say?”
The Master fixed his gaze on Gariel and replied sharply:
“No.”
“What? What’s wrong now?”
“I don’t like your arrogant attitude.”
“What, what does that even—”
Gariel was left speechless at the Master’s behavior, which was more like that of a sulking child.
Weren’t Masters of a magical school supposed to be the most composed, insightful of all?
Were all black mages like this?
When Gariel, flustered, failed to give a proper answer, Ludger spoke.
“What will make you accept the deal?”
“A deal must, of course, be an exchange of what both sides desire.”
“I can pay money. Any amount.”
“What if I ask for enough to buy this entire island?”
“......”
The Master of the Ancient Curse School chuckled.
“We have no need for money.”
“To wield ancient curses, rare herbs, reagents, and materials must be required, no?”
Ludger’s sharp remark did not faze him.
“That, we can gather ourselves. If money was our aim, would we be living in such a remote place? We have our pride as well.”
“Then what do you want as the condition for the deal?”
“Persistent, aren’t you? But I don’t dislike that. Hmm. Well then, how about this?”
The violet pupils within the mask curved like a crescent moon.
It was like the mischievous grin of a child imagining a fun scheme.
“An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Magic for magic.”
“You mean...”
“Yes. In exchange for granting ancient curse magic, the condition is that you must also give me comparable magic.”
At those words Gariel cried out in alarm.
“W-wait a moment! To demand as a condition some ancient magic that has already vanished from the world! That’s the same as refusing to make a deal at all!”
“Refusing? If you show magic, or offer it as condition, we’ll do it. What clearer deal could there be?”
“You call that—!”
“Oh, if that condition is too harsh, I could be lenient and settle for a special spell at least. What about a magic you yourself possess?”
“That is...”
When Gariel hesitated, the Master of the Ancient Curse School snorted.
“So it’s that important to you, yet you can’t give up even one thing you possess? This is why one must respect the greed of mages. If you were truly desperate, you would be able to do it.”
He mocked Gariel, while glancing sidelong at Ludger.
That gaze was not of expectation or doubt, but of near certainty.
‘You’re the same, aren’t you?’
That was what the violet eyes within the mask were saying.
Ludger was an extraordinary mage. Therefore, his greed for magic must be even greater.
To climb to the 6th-circle required talent and effort, but those alone were not enough.
All of them were twisted in some way.
It was difficult to define exactly what that distortion was, but its direction was akin to obsession bordering on madness toward magic itself.
To demand magic from such a person was the same as touching a dragon’s reverse scale.
That was why he laid out such an absurd condition with such confidence.
“If you can’t, then let’s end—”
“I will.”
“...What?”
The goat-bone mask tilted slightly to the side.
As though he had misheard something.
“Did I hear wrong?”
“I said I will make the deal.”
“Truly? I do not like lies.”
“What reason have I to tell a lie that will be exposed here?”
“You might lull me into carelessness, capture me, then threaten me.”
“No one would dare touch a black mage who has openly revealed himself. The moment they did, the warding curses hidden inside his clothes would strike them down.”
“Heh. You even know that? Good. Then what spell do you intend to offer me?”
Even though his tone carried a warning—that if it did not meet expectations there would be consequences—Ludger did not flare up.
It was as if he had complete certainty that this deal would not fail.
That attitude began to irritate the Master, when Ludger spoke.
“Choose.”
“Choose? Choose what?”
“Choose among the spells not reliant on formulas, but wrought with the power of Mystery itself.”
When the Master saw the intangible aura rising around Ludger, his violet eyes widened.
“You...”
“At the very least, what I can offer appears greater than what you can.”
The image of something once used by mages of a distant age flickered before his eyes.
As one who studied ancient curses, there was no way he could fail to recognize the aura Ludger was displaying.
Not the mana formulas of modern magic, but something vague and abstract.
Some would call it barbaric or inefficient, yet in truth it was neither.
“You... what on earth are you?”
Ludger’s voice was quiet, aimed at the Master.
“Now will you talk seriously?”
* * *
“My name is Cravat.”
The Master of the Ancient Curse School, who led Ludger and Gariel down into the underground, finally introduced himself.
When he removed the goat-bone mask, his face was shockingly youthful.
His two-toned hair, gold streaked with orange, stood out vividly.
His hair was long, tied back into a ponytail at the back of his head.
From his short stature, one might have assumed he was an old man, but his unwrinkled skin made him look like a child.
“What? Do I look that strange to you?”
“Ah, no, it’s just... you look younger than I expected.”
When Gariel scratched his cheek as he spoke, Cravat furrowed his brows.
“Even looking like this, I’m over forty, you brat. Don’t judge me by appearances. Look over there. That one hasn’t reacted at all.”
Cravat glanced at Ludger’s face, now uncovered from shadow.
Ludger had no reason to be shocked at Cravat’s youthful looks.
He knew someone who looked even younger, despite being ten times older.
Of course, Vierno was an elf, but the difference between true age and appearance was the same.
“So, where is the person in need of my curse?”
“This way, please.”
Now that he knew Cravat’s real age, Gariel’s tone grew quite respectful.
At that, Cravat raised his brows, but followed silently behind Gariel.
Since his school members were said to be safe, Cravat had chosen to move alone.
Through the underground waterways, the three eventually arrived at Gariel’s hideout.
Once inside, Cravat spotted Rine lying on the bed and immediately examined her condition.
“Hmm. Hooh? Hm.”
After raising his mana and making a detailed diagnosis of Rine’s state, Cravat finally spoke about ten minutes later.
“This, I can do.”