Whoosh.
Guillotine hummed as its blade touched the neck of the Dark Magic Tower Master, Libre.
Slick.
A thin stream of red blood trickled down from the point of contact, where the blade's aura had grazed his skin. Caron frowned at the metallic scent that hit his nose.
"What a revolting taste in hobbies you've got," Caron muttered. "Did you even fake the smell of blood?"
Libre smiled sweetly and replied, "As I said before—this isn't an illusion. This is my real body. If you sever my head with that sword, I will die here and now."
"You're making me want to test it. I've always had a terrible curiosity," Caron said.
"I expected as much," Libre said. "From my analysis, hesitation is not in your nature. You may as well try. I, of course, will die."
The most dangerous opponent in the world was a lunatic. One couldn't read beyond the madness in someone's eyes. Libre was exactly that kind of man—one who could smile in any situation. That made him truly deranged.
Caron kept his blade pressed to the boy's throat and offered a smile just as twisted. He said, "I figured you were working with the Mercenary King, but I didn't expect you to show up in person. Aren't dark mages usually the type to scurry around in their burrows like rats?"
Despite the overt insult, Libre chuckled and answered, "You understand the nature of dark mages quite well. After the rise of the Malevolent Emperor in the empire, we were no longer welcomed anywhere."
"For good reason. Every place you dark mages go ends up reeking of corpses," Caron replied.
"Dark magic is a discipline focused on the study of dark mana. Necromancy, which involves corpses, is only one branch of that. Still, modern dark mages have developed an odd obsession with it, so your statement isn't far from the truth," Libre explained.
"I don't think you're here to deliver a lecture on magical theory," Caron said.
Thud.
Caron casually drove Guillotine into Libre's shoulder. The boy's expression twisted slightly in pain.
"A blade that erodes dark mana... Is this the one said to have been used by Rael Leston?" Libre asked.
"No one outside my family's elders and the family head knows what this sword really is," Caron replied.
"Well, the history of the demons speaks of it. A blade that slaughtered countless demons—a sword they loathe beyond reason. To encounter such a mythical weapon... It's truly an honor," Libre said with a smile.
"Enough with the chatter," Caron said coldly. "Get to the point. So I can decide how I want to kill you."
Libre was no small figure. As the Dark Magic Tower Master, he led the continent's dark mages. He was, in every sense, a global threat.
And someone like him wouldn't reveal himself just to chat.
Even faced with death, Libre still smiled as he looked at Caron and said in a gentle voice, "I want to ally with you."
"You lunatic bastard," Caron said.
Slice!
Caron swung Guillotine and severed Libre's right arm. But as it hit the ground, the limb crumbled into dust. Moments later, a new arm sprouted from the wound.
Pouring mana into Guillotine, Caron growled, "You teamed up with the Mercenary King and swallowed an entire kingdom, and now you want to ally with me?"
It was utter nonsense. Just like all the others who used dark mana, this bastard spewed lies—lies that weren't even worth hearing.
"I was an idiot for expecting a halfway reasonable conversation," Caron said.
"The dark mages active in the Neon Kingdom are not under my command. The Dark Magic Tower has slipped from my control. You and I—we face the same enemy now," Libre explained.
Caron wondered if it was a trick. He replayed the words in his head, but he couldn't figure out what reason Libre had to lie. If the Neon Kingdom were already under the latter's control, he could easily do as he pleased from within.
Caron couldn't gauge Libre's exact power, but it was at least on par with the Imperial Magic Tower Master. A dark mage who was approaching the 9th Circle wouldn't take this kind of risk unless it was necessary.
And yet, the mere fact that he was a dark mage was reason enough to doubt him.
"For the sake of my long-held goal," Libre said calmly, "I must join forces with you."
"I don't give a damn about the ambitions of a dark mage worm," Caron replied coldly.
"You want to resolve this situation with minimal bloodshed, don't you? At least hear my offer before killing me," Libre suggested.
Libre's eyes glimmered black. Though death hovered inches away, the dark mana within him remained chillingly serene.
It was strange. Dark mana usually corroded the user's mind.
Caron had experienced it himself, back when he was Cain Latorre. The dark mana forced into him by the Malevolent Emperor had repeatedly seized his mind, constantly slipping out of control.
But Libre's dark mana was different. It was quiet and unrushed. That silence, however, was not peace.
"...Dark mana of the Void," Guillotine murmured, almost in a whisper.
An end where nothing remained but silence. The stillness Libre emanated... It was exactly that.
"Did you make a pact with the Demon King of Void?" Caron asked.
Libre shook his head slowly and answered, "Who knows? I merely borrow power from beyond the veil."
Dark mages drew their dark mana by forming contracts with demons. The strength of their dark mana depended entirely on whom they contracted with.
The most tragic dark mages in history had always been those tied to Demon Kings. But not one had ever forged a pact with the Demon King of Void.
"You don't yet know what lies beyond the veil," Libre said. "Which is why you can't trust my words. So let me prove my sincerity."
Libre showed no sign of urgency. With composure, he reached out and placed his hand atop Guillotine's blade.
"Many in the Dark Magic Tower made pacts with different demons. They ousted me, then started acting on their own. Currently, those aligned with Slaughter, Sloth, and Havoc are leading the Dark Magic Tower. It was they who allied with the Mercenary King and devoured the Neon Kingdom," Libre explained.
Information about the recent events poured from his lips, but Caron suddenly grabbed him by the collar and cut him off. He said, "You're probably one of them. You know what our family's oldest tradition is? ' We do not negotiate with dark mages.' "
"I don't follow any of the three Demon Kings," Libre said.
"Isn't that ridiculous? A dark mage who doesn't serve a Demon King?" Caron scoffed.
Then, Libre summoned something into his palm. It was a jewel, glowing red. He showed it to Caron and said, "This is my Life Force Vessel. If you still doubt me, I'll wager my life on it."
"His life force is tied to it. It's real," Guillotine said quietly.
Caron frowned as he took the red gem into his hand.
"Ask the Imperial Magic Tower Master my name," Libre said. "He'll tell you who I am."
"...What a mysterious bastard," Caron muttered.
"As I said earlier, I too desire the extinction of the Demon Kings," Libre declared.
"Why is that?" Caron asked.
Libre grinned brightly and answered, "Because I desire perfect freedom. The kind no one can ever infringe upon."
Libre was someone who could never be trusted.
Thus began Caron's first encounter with Libre, the Dark Magic Tower Master.
***
After the unexpected encounter with the Dark Magic Tower Master, Caron returned straight to his quarters and immediately contacted Cor, the Imperial Magic Tower Master.
"...Libre. So that bastard really was still alive," Cor's voice buzzed through the communicator. "Libre, huh... That one's... different. He is the most brilliant dark mage alive, and yet the least like a dark mage. He showed himself to you?"
"He even left behind his Life Force Vessel," Caron answered.
"I never imagined he'd become the Dark Magic Tower Master. He's an odd one, sure, but he's no fool. Are you familiar with what happened in the Zion Kingdom, thirty years ago?" Cor asked.
"I don't really keep up with foreign history," Caron replied.
"There was a savage civil war—dark mages clashed in Zion, trying to seize the throne. But someone who claimed the title of Dark Magic Tower Master wiped them all out. The land where it happened is now called the Corrupted Forest. Even today, traces of that event remain," Cor explained.
The more Cor explained, the more it jogged Caron's memory. He'd heard a story like that somewhere before.
He frowned slightly and tapped the red gem sitting on the table, asking, "What's your take on this, Magic Tower Master?"
"No matter how strange he may be, a dark mage is still a dark mage. They're not to be trusted. If he handed you his Life Force Vessel, then yes, he's given you his life—but who knows what game he's playing? You'll have to judge that yourself," Cor continued.
There was no such thing as a "good" dark mage. If someone were good, they would never have turned to dark magic in the first place. Dark mana was power born of the Demon Realm.
Smashing the gem and ending Libre's life right now wouldn't be a bad move. A mage on the brink of the 8th Circle was a variable too dangerous to ignore.
"Hmmm..." Caron sighed.
And yet... Killing Libre now felt wasteful.
Yes, dark mages deserved death, but Caron thought if one dark mage could be used to eliminate the others, it would be ideal. If he could inflict heavy damage on the enemy while keeping allied casualties to a minimum, it was worth considering.
"He handed me his leash, so it'd be a shame not to use it," Caron muttered.
"Are you thinking of teaming up with him?" Cor asked.
"Not exactly. More like... Use him until he's outlived his purpose and then cook him," Caron replied.
"You really are the most ruthless bastard I know. You may as well become a demon yourself," Cor said.
"Anyway, thanks for the info," Caron said.
With that, the communication with the Imperial Magic Tower Master ended.
Caron tucked the communication orb back into his pouch of dimensional space and let out a breath. Then, he turned to Seria and asked, "What are your thoughts?"
"There's something strange about the Dark Magic Tower Master," Seria answered quietly. "He felt... like someone who came from another world."
"The intel he gave us is surprisingly useful," Caron said.
Libre had told him that the Mercenary King's elite units had undergone body modifications performed by dark mages—and the king himself was no exception.
That explained the monstrous strength Caron had sensed during their duel. It hadn't been natural—it had been engineered.
"So there was a reason the Mercenary King was so confident about challenging the Queen," Caron said.
Libre had revealed something even more shocking. He'd told Caron about a drug, called "Eve," that had been prepared.
A twisted creation of dark mages, Eve granted its user a massive surge of dark mana, turning them into monsters in a matter of moments.
The dark mages who had ousted Libre and taken over the Dark Magic Tower—those now controlling the Neon Kingdom—had brought with them a whole arsenal of such abominations.
"They could even force the other pirate crews to take it, if things go sideways," Seria said.
"Exactly. These drug-addicted bastards..." Caron muttered.
It was a foul strategy. If negotiations failed, they'd dope the pirate crews and seize the Queen's fleet for themselves.
It was typical mercenary behavior—winning by any means necessary.
"That means the real threat starts when the Mercenary King takes the drug," Caron added.
Given how he hadn't even flinched before the Queen, it was clear the Mercenary King believed he could beat her. That kind of confidence didn't come out of nowhere.
Caron recalled Libre's words...
"Leave the dark mages to me. If you take care of the Mercenary King, I'll give you the rest—every single one of them. Oh, and I believe you'd appreciate the Death Knights as well? I'll wrap them up nicely and deliver them as a gift."
Libre had known everything about what happened in Loki Village.
Caron stroked his chin in thought, thinking, The priority is the Mercenary King...
If the dark mages were split into factions and fighting among themselves, that only worked in his favor.
There was no need to rush with Libre. Disposing of the Dark Magic Tower Master could come later.
If anything feels off, I'll kill him on the spot, Caron thought.
That alone would suffice. Use him for as long as he remained useful, then toss him aside. He was a dark mage—there would be no guilt in it.
Because he's a dark mage, Caron thought.
He gave a small nod, then turned toward Leo and asked, "The exchange event starts tomorrow, right?"
"Yeah. What's the plan?" Leo replied.
"I'll have to change it," Caron said.
Originally, he had planned to send Leo out first to gain some experience. But with dark magic already coursing through the veins of the enemy's forces, that plan was no longer viable.
Caron toyed with Guillotine's hilt, a sharp grin forming on his lips. He said, "I'm going out first."
He was already looking forward to seeing just how prepared the dark mages were. He had no intention of passing up this delicious opportunity.
"Once I crush the mercenaries..." Caron trailed off.
In battles like these, speed was key.
"...I'll drown the Mercenary King right there," Caron concluded.
He had to be sharp, swift, and brutal.
Caron was ready to begin the operation.