Is That My Alter Ego chapter 53

53 – Storm

Fortunately, there were spare carriages at Frost Fortress, allowing them to ride and reach Snowfield Village.

“Oh? It’s Venice. Long time no see!”

“Uncle Ben, it’s been a while.”

“Yeah. Seems like you’ve been busy lately? Come around the village more often, show your face.”

“hahahaha… I understand.”

Greeting the security guard Ben warmly after a long time, I quickly entered the village, checking every nook and cranny – houses, alleys, corners of the village – making sure there were no remnants of dark magic left.

The village, still small but lively as ever. The residents, with subtle smiles as if there were no inconveniences at all.

“He hasn’t come yet, huh.”

It was the usual peaceful Snowfield Village, unchanged. I sighed with relief, thinking I hadn’t arrived late.

“Oh… Venice! Why aren’t you showing your face around these days?”

“hahahaha… Just a bit busy lately.”

“Really…? Is that Lady Yeongae giving you too much work? If that’s the case… tell me! I’ll help in any way I can!”

Smiling and greeting the bakery lady, who was showing off an invisible baguette while talking, I continued toward the orphanage.

Not far from the bakery, the old orphanage had been reborn as a new building with Frost Gaju’s support.

Now, it exuded a sophisticated and elegant atmosphere even from the outside. I entered the orphanage with a smile.

Unlike the past when the rusty latch echoed loudly when opening the door, the new door opened smoothly and quietly.

Entering the orphanage, I saw a clean and pleasant interior where children could truly feel at ease.

Dust floating in the air, several holes in the floor, cobwebs accumulating everywhere, and the orphanage that used to be permeated with the smell of mold were now gone.

“Hey, kids! Look… oh, it’s Mr. Venice!”

“Really. Hey, kids, Mr. Venice is here!”

Berry and Lenny, sitting neatly on the well-organized wooden floor, looked at me and spoke to the children. The kids ran towards me, giggling.

“hahahaha. Have you all been well?”

The children were so excited, endlessly questioning me and sharing their stories. I listened to each of their words attentively and responded.

“Miss Berry, and Miss Lenny, aren’t you tired?”

“Yes, I think this job suits me perfectly. It’s not hard at all; in fact, I look forward to it every day!”

“Me too. I’ve decided to quit the knights’ order now that it’s come to this.”

Just like when I first saw them, they seemed to enjoy and genuinely love taking care of the children.

Fortunately, the children also followed them well, so there was not a single inconvenience.

As we were engrossed in conversation, time flew by, and it was soon time for the children to go to sleep.

“Miss Venice, where are you going at this late hour?”

“I still have some work left. I’ll be going ahead.”

“Ah… make sure to take breaks in your work. Well then, take care! And come to visit us again!”

After putting all the children to bed, I bid farewell to Berry and Lenny and left the orphanage.

‘Concealment’

After ensuring no one was around, I concealed myself and walked towards the place where I had hidden my bag.

The village was quietly asleep as if it had never been lively. I looked at the village scenery.

“Good. Now it’s time for surveillance.”

Dressed in a black mage’s robe and mask, unlike usual, I stood quietly on the roof of a house overlooking the entire village.

The black mages had declared they would attack Snowfield Village tomorrow at the assembly. However, since the exact time was not specified, I couldn’t afford a moment’s carelessness from now on.

‘Just in case I run into those black mages.’

The reason I was dressed like a black mage, unlike usual, was to avoid even a moment’s suspicion if I happened to encounter them.

After all, a stab from the back is sharper than an obvious frontal attack.

…The village may not be saved. I can’t prevent every building from being damaged and collapsing.

Yet, I will ensure that no one is harmed. That is the goal I’ve set for myself.

“………….”

I quietly look down upon the entire village.

***

‘Why… aren’t they coming?’

Time swiftly passes, and it becomes the next day. Evening falls, and the night moon rises. Yet, the black magicians are nowhere to be seen.

I couldn’t have gotten the date wrong. The date set at the black magicians’ assembly was precisely today.

Contrary to my expectation of a fierce battle erupting the moment today arrived, Snowfield Village remains peaceful.

People still exchange greetings with gentle smiles, and the tranquility is such that no danger seems imminent.

…As if it becomes extremely calm before a giant storm.

Ding-

Just as I’m feeling a bit tired from staying up all night, suddenly, an alert sounds and a status window appears before my eyes.

[A powerful black magic is detected. Would you like to absorb it?]

“….What?!”

I immediately stand up and survey the entire village. From the secluded corners of the peaceful village, black magic starts to emerge simultaneously.

It seems the black magicians were not arriving today; they were already hidden within the village.

However, the ordinary residents, unable to sense the black magic, continue heading to their homes, unaware of what’s happening.

From Noble mtl dot com

“Damn it…!”

I quickly begin to absorb as much black magic as possible, trying to assess the situation. But the simultaneous surge of black magic from everywhere makes it difficult to decide where to start.

Why… Why wasn’t the dark magic detected? Despite my vigilant observation of the village since yesterday, not even a hint of dark magic was felt.

‘This isn’t the time for such thoughts.’

The first and foremost action to take now is to evacuate the people.

Since no attack or trickery using dark magic had occurred yet, there was still time.

I rush towards the orphanage. Bursting through its doors, I gather all the oil and flammable materials inside.

The orphanage was so quiet because Lenny and Berry had taken the children out on a picnic. It was about time for them to return, but they hadn’t arrived at the orphanage yet.

Crackle…!

I looked around for any remaining children, but seeing no one, I lit a match from the table and hurriedly stepped outside the orphanage.

Whoosh…!

Oil and flammable materials. The orphanage, along with the trees, began to burn rapidly.

-Wha… What?! What’s that!!

-It’s a fire!! Fire!!

People, seeing the brightly burning building in the dark village, began to shout in confusion, and hearing them, other residents rushed out of their homes.

There were a few reasons why I had no choice but to burn down the orphanage, which was both a haven for the children and a home.

First, not everyone would hear if I knocked on every door telling people to flee. Some might be already asleep, or they might dismiss it as the act of a mad person.

Second, there was desperately little time. In a situation where the village could be devastated by dark magic at any moment, burning the orphanage was the best way to catch everyone’s attention.

It pained me to burn down the orphanage with my own hands, but to draw the attention of all the villagers, I had no choice but to set fire to the largest building in the village, the orphanage. It was also the only building without anyone in it.

Fortunately, my plan worked. Alarmed by the screams and the fire, and the sounds of explosions, people rushed out of their homes.

-Shouldn’t we extinguish the fire first?! If it spreads to other houses…!

-How are we supposed to put that out! Let’s evacuate the village for now!

-Reni… Am I really seeing this properly?

-Yeah… It seems like it. It’s not a dream.

Residents of the village began to gather slowly at a point far away from the orphanage. Fortunately, there was no one left in their homes, unaware of the news.

A little later, all the residents of the small Snowfield Village gathered, slowly evacuating outside the village. It seemed they had given up because the fire was too massive to be contained.

[A powerful dark magic is sensed. Will you absorb it?]

However, the dark wizards were not going to easily let the people gather peacefully in one place.

The dark wizards, revealed in various places, initially startled by the sudden fire, now grinned as they looked at the gathered residents.

-Is… isn’t that a dark wizard?! Run away!!

-Send the children and the elderly first!

-aaahh!

At the sight of the exposed dark wizards, people hurriedly began to flee.

Under normal circumstances, ordinary citizens wouldn’t even know the identity of the dark wizards. However, recent imperial decrees warned even ordinary residents to be cautious of the black robes and black magic characteristic of dark wizards.

“hehehe… nicely gathered. All of you, perish!”

The dark wizards, gathered together, unleashed dark magic attacks on the residents simultaneously. Terror crept into the eyes of those fleeing, and some even fell to the ground.

Clumsy dark spheres flew towards the villagers, and some villagers tightly shut their eyes.

“Where.”

Kwachang-!

And I am not just watching that scene. As soon as I reverse the dark magic, the dark wizards, surprised, shake their bodies and point at me.

“We sense dark magic. You’re a dark wizard too, so why are you blocking us?”

*Sigh*…

Originally, I had planned to quietly infiltrate among the dark magicians and systematically eliminate them one by one. But it seems like I’ll have to change the plan.

‘Shadow Lance.’

Fwoosh-!

Krraaah-!

Without even a chance to react to the spear of dark magic rising from the shadows, the dark magicians are cut down. Some of them were barely clinging to life, but I dispatch them with Dark Spheres for a confirmed kill.

[Mastery of Dark Magic Lv.5 —> Lv.6]

‘Hurry.’

Feeling the powerful surge of dark magic, it seems there are still many dark magicians left.

Realizing that the attack of the dark magicians is starting now, I quickly run towards the sensed dark magic.