56 – Choice
“…………”
A profound silence persists. Kale and Freya, soaked in anger. And Ariel, contorting her face with a look of disgust, as if even bugs were repulsive to her.
Why? Why are they here in Snowfield Village?
Surely… Ariel said she was going from the palace to the academy…
But the scene before my eyes is not fiction, but reality. Kale and Freya, who always showed a bright demeanor, now glare at me with a menacing expression, while Ariel wears an expression of unbearable discomfort.
“…What should I do?”
I wanted to warn them of the danger right away, but I didn’t have the time. I had to hurry to the Black Mage Assembly, even if it was just a minute away.
Wait. I haven’t revealed my true identity as Venice. To avoid arousing suspicion from the black mages, I wore the robe of a black mage and put on a mask.
And neither Kale nor Freya, let alone Ariel, know that I use black magic. In other words, they have no idea what lies behind the mask. That’s why they look at me with such contempt.
“……..”
Through a moment of thought, I made a decision about my next move. For now, while my true identity is not exposed, I should escape and head to the Black Mage Assembly. Above all, that is my top priority.
In the case of Cal Bent, as a high priest, if he were to notice even a little, there would be a high chance of immediate execution.
“Mana Missile!”
“Binding Vines!”
However, they didn’t just let me leave. Vines sprouted from the ground, attempting to restrain me, while magical projectiles flew towards my vital points.
“Invisibility.”
“…….!”
“What…!”
I immediately used invisibility to conceal myself and quickly started running away. There were so many things I wanted to say to them, so many things I needed to say, but for now, it’s unavoidable.
As I hide my appearance, I hear Kale and Freya’s astonished voices from behind. But Ariel, still maintaining her silence, continues to gaze in the direction of my escape.
“There you are.”
[Warning! Identity can be exposed!]
[Warning! Identity can be exposed!]
[Warning! Identity can be exposed!]
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From Noble mtl dot com
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[Identity exposed. Concealment will be lifted!]
Crash-!
With Ariel’s brief words, maintaining silence, my concealment was lifted.
Until now, no one had seen through my concealment, except for the old man who appeared at the Dark Sorcerer Assembly. But Ariel effortlessly saw through and unraveled my concealment.
“Damn it… Ariel isn’t an ordinary person.”
Ariel is the person who will become a legend, like Ceris, illuminating the empire. It was my mistake to think that my concealment would hold based on common sense.
“Among dark magic, there must be ways to hide one’s appearance like that? Disgusting bastards.”
“Prepare yourself. The crime of endangering the townspeople is not light!”
“………..”
As my true form was revealed by Ariel, Kale and Freya erupted with even fiercer anger, unleashing their magical powers.
Ariel quietly gazes at me with a somewhat discomforted expression.
“……..”
They don’t seem to have any intention of letting me go easily. I suppose that’s only natural. It wouldn’t be normal to let a surviving Dark Wizard go free, especially after discovering one right in front of them. If I were an ordinary Dark Wizard, that is.
…But you know what? I’m not that kind of Dark Wizard. I have protected this village, and I will save many more villages in the future.
Please don’t see me that way.
Unbeknownst to me, my hand reached out towards them. Perhaps I wanted to prove my innocence. I’m not sure if there was any other reason.
However, when I saw the trembling ground and the fireballs rushing towards me, fueled by Kale and Freya’s magic, I realized that it was already too late to explain.
Their magic, filled with hostility and power, showed a determination to kill me.
“…Concealment.”
I quickly hid my body and searched for an escape route. But once again, Ariel’s interference shattered my concealment and revealed my presence.
“Why are you running away?! You’ve caused harm to people, and now you’re worried about your own life?!”
“Or maybe there’s a reason you can’t attack, you filthy bug!”
The insults hurled at me by people I know felt like daggers piercing my heart.
The emotional damage hurts more than physical injuries. Overwhelmed by the pain accumulating deep in my heart, I stopped in my tracks.
Goooh…
At that moment, mana resonated around Ariel, and a storm swirled. It was an incredibly intricate and clear mana that I couldn’t even imagine.
“Sever.”
The technique that effortlessly tore countless Dark Wizards to pieces now came crashing towards me. I had a gut feeling that I couldn’t completely evade the already launched magic.
Swoosh!
I narrowly twisted my body and barely avoided the attack, but the magic grazed my face. If it had been just a few centimeters lower, I would have died on the spot.
Crack…
But something even more terrifying than death happened. The mask that couldn’t withstand the blow shattered into pieces, revealing my bleeding face.
The cold air that arises when the winter wind meets hot blood may be chilly, but it will be less so than their gaze.
“….Younger sister?”
“Why are you…”
“Ven…ice…?”
She tried to cover her face with her hands, but the expressions of despair on their faces already revealed that it was too late.
“….Miss Ariel.”
“Yes… Why… why on earth did you use black magic…”
Olgoth, who had never wavered before, now sees Ariel’s pupils shaking uncontrollably. Ariel, who was always surprisingly logical and relentless, cannot continue speaking as if she has become mute.
…Damn it. This is why I wanted to escape quickly…
First, it’s important to let them know my situation. Whether they believe it or not will be their choice.
“….Can you please listen to me?”
“You… how did you… ah… aah…?”
Ariel mutters as if she’s a broken person and then stares at me blankly. A single tear streams down from her cold eyes.
Surrounding Ariel, Kale and Freya step forward.
“Did you approach Ariel with the intention to harm her? Sister… no, black mage.”
“…I was able to remember someone whom I thought was truly trustworthy. Disgusting, you.”
In the face of the complete disgust and contempt pouring out towards my revealed self after the mask was shattered, I couldn’t say a word as if my throat was blocked.
I muster up the courage to open my mouth.
“I approached her with no such intention…”
“You’re saying you didn’t? Of course, you would say that. But here’s the thing. How do you explain your use of black magic?”
“That…”
“That is something even Ariel, who spent even more time, didn’t know.”
“……..”
I was wrong. Whatever I say, whatever explanation I give, it won’t reach them. In their determined expressions, there was already a full distrust towards me.
No matter how I try to explain, it will only sound like a plausible excuse to them.
“Venice…”
“Ariel, I…”
“Until now… were you deceiving me? Trying to kidnap me like the other sorcerers?”
“…No. I really didn’t have that intention…”
“Then… why are you a sorcerer?”
“……..”
There was simply no way to explain. This body is actually a clone, and as soon as I fused with it, I was able to use dark magic. It would be fair to say that explaining this is nothing more than gibberish from a fool begging to be killed.
[Until the Sorcerer’s Assembly Begins: 38 minutes 29 seconds]
Please make your choice.
[Choice 1: Spend time to prove innocence to Ariel.
Reward: Clear the false accusation on the user and gain Ariel’s trust. / Survival of the clone.
Cost: Death of Ariel, Kale, and Freya, destruction of 15 villages, extensive damage across the continent.]
[Choice 2: Head to the sorcerer’s assembly without claiming innocence.
Reward: Survival of Ariel, Kale, and Freya. / Minimize destruction of villages and damage across the continent.
Cost: Unremovable false accusation and stigma on the user.]
At that moment, a status window appeared before me. I had 38 minutes left. Even if I were to run right now, it would be a close call. But time kept ticking away.
The status window forced me to choose between two options. My own survival and innocence, or the lives of those in front of me and the destruction of the continent.
“…Ha. You call this a choice?”
“…I’m sorry, Miss Ariel.”
“You… Where are you going?! Come here!”
“…You’re no different. Disgusting human.”
Ding-
[You have chosen Option 2 (A noble sacrifice unbeknownst to others).]
I chose to sacrifice myself for everyone. As I ran away, I could hear Kale and Freya’s curses and magical attacks from behind, and the sound of someone collapsing.
Now… there’s no turning back. I must fulfill my remaining mission.
The veins on my face had already disappeared due to the dark magic, but a hot stream of blood trickled down my cheek once again.