The Game of the Greatest Black Mage

[Translator - Prøks]

[Proofreader - Prøks]

Chapter 47

As he cast the skill,

Seonghyun felt his control over his body disappear.

He couldn't even move a finger.

In that state, the scenery around him melted away and a new scene unfolded like a video.

A cutscene.

Also known as an event scene.

Seonghyun realized that this was the cutscene that played when he summoned the Demon Knight.

'Oh.'

The scenery that emerged as Kahku's second warehouse melted away was a vast plain.

Or perhaps it was a wasteland?

Tens of thousands of troops stood on the barren, uncultivated land.

The footprints of iron military boots were clearly imprinted on the hard dirt floor.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Tens of thousands of troops marched forward as if they were a single living organism.

Looking at another army charging towards them,

The two armies, each with tens of thousands of soldiers, clashed, collided, and swung their various weapons in a desperate struggle, regardless of friend or foe.

Clang! Clang!

Slash! Slash!

Every time a weapon was swung, the sound of clashing metal rang out from all directions, and red blood splattered everywhere.

The red blood splattered on the uncultivated wasteland soon turned dark red as if dead.

The battlefield was filled with malice, and blood spread everywhere.

Could the land no longer absorb any more blood?

Or perhaps it was disgusted by the blood that contained the ugly inner selves of these humans.

The ground, which had been absorbing the blood, began to regurgitate it.

Churn, churn.

No one in the battlefield, where tens of thousands were mixed together, noticed this strange phenomenon.

They only harmed each other with ugly expressions, venting their malice.

They swung their weapons at each other, thinking only of annihilating their opponents.

The gushing blood spread out like a lake.

The vast lake of blood, encompassing the entire battlefield, spread so wide that the stench of blood permeated the air.

The unique smell of iron and the disgusting blood clung to the soldiers' feet even as they trudged through it.

But no one noticed.

No one was in a position to care about the stench of blood or the sticky feeling on their feet.

Just as everyone was oblivious, blood surged from the center of the lake as if it were regurgitating.

Churn, churn.

It absorbed all the blood in the lake as if forming a single shape.

Perhaps realizing that something was wrong, the sound of clashing metal that had filled the battlefield subsided.

The shape that appeared in the center of the battlefield resembled a large human heart.

The heart, the size of a human head, had an unpleasant black hue.

As the black heart beat,

Disgusting dark red blood began to spread around it.

Instead of spreading in all directions, the dark red blood formed blood vessels in the air as if creating a circulatory system.

Thump! Thump!

As the heart beat and churned,

Blood vessels spread throughout the body, and around those blood vessels, bones made of dark red blood began to form.

Bones and blood vessels formed, and the blood in the lake swirled as if to envelop the body, transforming into muscles over the bones and blood vessels.

The massive figure, shaped like a human but three meters tall, didn't stop there. It drew more blood from the lake and covered its body again.

Over the dark red skin,

It draped itself with blood once more,

And clothes and armor materialized.

The figure, now fully formed as a human, reached into the red lake of blood, and a spear emerged.

As it brandished the spear in the air,

A red wave that seemed to split the world spread out, instantly sweeping away the tens of thousands of troops and filling the now-dried lake of blood once more.

Having slaughtered all the troops, the figure moved like a butcher.

Its direction was towards Seonghyun, who had witnessed everything.

Squish. Squish.

The figure's slow footsteps were sticky and unpleasant.

With each squishing sound, bloody footprints were clearly imprinted on the ground.

Finally, as the figure stood before Seonghyun,

Blood flowed out from its footprints, forming a magic circle.

A red, glowing magic circle appeared, resonating with its surroundings and scattering red light, spreading a bloody fog.

The figure's form became clearer, and the Demon Knight manifested itself in the world.

Wooo!

[You have summoned 『Blood-Red Demon Knight, Balthar』.]

[You are the first in Eternal World to summon a Demon Knight.]

[You acquire the title, 『Demon Knight Summoner』.]

[**Caution**]

[The Demon Knight's ego is more distinct than other summons.]

[It may disobey orders, and constant effort is required to control the Demon Knight.]

'Hmm?'

He had succeeded in the summoning and obtained a title.

It was a good thing, but...

The warning message that followed bothered him.

Its ego was stronger than other summons, and it could disobey orders?

With a cutscene like that, it would definitely be strong.

But did it have to come with such a demerit?

'This is troublesome.'

A summon that didn't listen to its summoner.

It reminded him of the red dragon that didn't listen to its master in that old cartoon about raising and evolving monsters.

Was this Balthar the same?

No, being negative from the start wouldn't solve anything.

It might be obedient.

Its first impression wasn't bad.

Seonghyun looked at Balthar's appearance.

'Hmm.'

Dark red skin, various scars all over its body visible through the gaps in its armor.

And the five large horns that were clearly visible despite the helmet were intimidating.

Despite its large build, it had quite a handsome appearance, but...

Its cold eyes and sharp features felt quite oppressive.

It was a rather displeasing sight.

As if dissatisfied with something, it frowned at Seonghyun.

The oppressive presence of the Demon Knight's already intimidating face weighed down on him.

-Ha! A weak human like you is my master? You're worlds apart from the previous Overlord! Don't even think about trying to control me!

These were the first words of Balthar, the Blood-Red Demon Knight.

His tone seemed elegant, but...

It was laced with discrimination and contempt.

Seonghyun wondered where to even begin with educating him.

'This is awkward.'

He hadn't had much experience with this kind of situation.

Seonghyun had always been favored by ghosts, and as a handsome man, he had always been treated well by people.

This was the first time he had been treated this way, so he was at a loss.

He didn't know how to handle this awkward situation.

As Seonghyun was struggling,

Balthar shouted.

-I see you can open the Netherworld. Send me there and never take me out again. This is not a request, but an order. Heed my words.

"Hmm."

Seeing Seonghyun's awkwardness,

Balthar frowned as if urging him to open the Netherworld, and was about to say something else when...

-Taltar! What kind of behavior is that!

"Hmm?"

He felt a slight chill around his right shoulder and turned his head.

There, a small woman with a familiar face was sitting on his shoulder.

Her luscious red hair tickled his ear, and her soul, as a ghost, made his shoulder cold.

Wearing a bonnet that a medieval noblewoman might have worn, with a black veil covering her face, revealing only a glimpse of her features like a see-through fabric, the woman was holding a black parasol and expressing her anger.

'Helena?'

Why did Helena suddenly appear?

And more importantly, Taltar?

Did they know each other?

However, Helena's words didn't reach Taltar, or rather, Balthar.

-Oh my! This is frustrating!

Only Seonghyun or other ghosts could hear the words of a ghost.

It was only natural that Balthar couldn't hear her.

However,

'Was Balthar Helena's summon before?'

-Of course! I raised him since he was a child! Look how ill-mannered he's become! I need to discipline him!

Seeing Helena, who was unusually agitated,

Seonghyun's awkwardness dissipated, and he couldn't help but chuckle.

A chuckle escaped him.

Balthar glared at Seonghyun with burning eyes.

He warned him in a low voice, like a growling beast.

-Send me to the Netherworld while I'm still being nice.

[『Blood-Red Demon Knight, Balthar』 is emanating energy.]

It was a clear warning.

Even the system message was notifying him.

However, Seonghyun had a very reliable weapon.

-...Say this.

Helena, with a sulky expression as if she couldn't stand it anymore, told Seonghyun various things.

Seonghyun nodded and said,

"Hmm, Taltar. How dare you speak to me, the disciple of the former Overlord Helena, in such a manner. Do you not care if your secrets are revealed to the world?"

-Ha! How dare you impersonate the Mother of All Demons, her name!!

As Balthar shouted in a fury, and the situation escalated to the brink of explosion,

Seonghyun continued,

"Taltar, when you were young, you followed Belladonna around and you..."

-Whoa! Ugh! Uwaaaa! Uwa! S-stop there!

Balthar was startled as if he had been doused with hot water.

However, Seonghyun wasn't finished.

"Ahem, how dare you interrupt your master? Do you not care if it becomes known that you were later dumped by Belladonna and tried to throw away her underwear, but couldn't bring yourself to do it, and then later fell for Savilia and even while dating her, you still couldn't throw it away?"

-Ah, ah!!

"Hmm."

The effect was tremendous.

It was a truly vulgar and pathetic story, befitting a demon, but...

For the dignified and oppressive Balthar to become like this...

'Perhaps the more dignified they are, the greater their weakness?'

-Of course, of course~ Demons are unexpectedly concerned about their reputation~

If Helena said so,

Seonghyun took it for granted.

However, would he submit just because of this?

As he briefly entertained that thought,

[You are the first in Eternal World to subdue a noble demon, 『Blood-Red Demon Knight, Balthar』.]

[You acquire the title, 『Master of the Demon Knight』.]

A system message appeared before his eyes, and...

Balthar knelt on one knee before Seonghyun and declared,

-I greet you, the rightful successor and disciple of the esteemed Mother of All Demons, Helena!!

Seonghyun looked at Balthar in disbelief.

'It worked.'

-You should have done this from the start.

Helena, who had been standing on Seonghyun's shoulder in a huff, also nodded in satisfaction with her arms crossed.

Well, it was a good thing he had subdued him.

Just as he was about to move on,

Balthar, already subdued, cautiously bowed his head and asked,

-I-if it's not too much to ask, where did you...n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Ah, hmm."

-I-if it's difficult to say, you don't have to tell me...

It wasn't just anyone; it was his subordinate, an NPC.

Seonghyun casually replied,

"Hmm, I can see Helena's soul."

-Ah!? Ah!! T-then!?

"Yeah, she's on my shoulder. She's a bit smaller now."

-Ahaha, that's because her energy hasn't fully recovered!

-Gasp!!

Helena laughed as she spoke, and Balthar, as if his breath had been taken away, fell backward with a thud.

Seeing this,

'He... must be strong, right?'

He was given a title just for summoning him, and another title for subduing him.

He must be incredibly strong.

His energy was also extraordinary.

However, judging from his behavior...

'He's so embarrassing.'

He couldn't help but be doubtful.

Helena, who had heard Seonghyun's inner thoughts, laughed.

-Mwahaha! Even though Taltar looks like that, he's incredibly skilled. That's how he managed to date Savilia.

'Hmm.'

-Anyway, he's skilled, so trust him.

With that, Helena gave a seductive smile and stood up from Seonghyun's shoulder.

It seemed like her time was up again.

-I'll go get some more rest then. It won't take long, though. I recovered a lot yesterday by absorbing the memories of the mercenary group.

'Ah?'

-See you later then~

With those words, Helena disappeared.

Seonghyun recalled her words and kept them in mind.

To think there was such a secret.

It seemed like she recovered her strength as he absorbed the memories of ghosts.

Considering the memories and experiences Helena had given him,

It made sense.

To think that she had become so small because of him.

Feeling a bit apologetic, Seonghyun turned his head.

-S-so, are you w-watching me here and m-making fun of me? Uwaaa!

Balthar, the foolish Demon Knight, was in a panic after hearing that there was a ghost.

Seonghyun sighed and shook his head at the foolish Balthar.

Just then, the alarm he had set rang.

Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!

"Ah."

It was time to gather for Kim Chegeon's interview.

'It's almost time.'

He wanted to test out Balthar and his new skills, but...

It seemed like he would have to test them out in that dungeon.

He could also check out the new titles he had obtained on the way.

-Ugh, what if Savilia finds out about this? Uwaa, I-I did throw them away, but, s-she'll definitely despise me just for it being known.

First, he should put this vulgar Balthar in the Netherworld.

2.

The record-type dungeon, Fortress of the Past.

It was a dungeon that served as a testing ground to gauge the skills of users before their second job advancement.

It was a place that any rookie from a major guild would visit, and...

A place that some would even deliberately enter to join a major guild.

A user, wearing a large satgat and dressed in hanbok that seemed to belong in the Joseon era, was waiting for her companions in this place.

JoseonBestSwordsmanKimChegeon.

He, no, she let out a small sigh.

'Phew, finally, the Rapid Guild interview.'

She hadn't passed yet, but...

How much effort had she put in to get this far?

She had trained tremendously.

She had even come to this distant foreign land despite her family's opposition.

And finally, she was able to have an interview.

"I'm so emotional."

As Kim Chegeon was making a proud expression, someone approached her.

A person equipped with decent gear, holding a shield along with a sword.

The person, who appeared to be a Sword and Shield Warrior, stood before Kim Chegeon.

"Are you perhaps the one who's scheduled for an interview with Rapid Guild...?"

He trailed off, unable to speak properly.

Kim Chegeon nodded and replied confidently,

"That's right. I am JoseonBestSwordsmanKimChegeon."

"...How can a person's nickname be..."

"What did you say?"

"Ahem, nothing."

"???"

[Translator - Prøks]

[Proofreader - Prøks]