Chapter A Needle Hidden in a Sack (4).

.Episode 21. A Needle Hidden in a Sack (4).

“What’s the plan?”

“We’re planning to place a curse on Aaron Bayonel here in Sancternim.”

A curse… That’s certainly effective.

Curses usually serve as support magic, weakening the opponent’s abilities.

In fact, when it comes to supportive dark magic, nothing surpasses curses.

I feigned ignorance.

“I don’t know much about curses—how exactly do you plan to cast it?”

“I can’t go into detail, but know this: the curse will use Aaron’s hair and fingernails as mediums. We’ve obtained the approval of the Bayonel family head and will be bringing sufficient material to Sancternim.”

Though the curse combat techniques developed by the Bayonel family are unique, as Lloyd mentioned, it’s common practice to use parts of the target’s body to cast such spells.

They say bad feelings are never wrong.

Professor Dave was steadily preparing to trap me right here.

But… it’s not that serious of a threat.

Dark mages, myself included, are careful with their hair and nails. Precisely because they can become curse mediums.

He must have gone through considerable effort to collect even a small amount with the Bayonel family’s cooperation.

At best, it’ll be a one-time use.

That’s why they want to cast the curse in Sancternim—where I’m most likely to be.

The closer the distance between the caster and the target, the more powerful this type of curse becomes.

“Thanks for the restaurant tip, but this is as much as I can tell you as someone from the Holy Department.”

“Is that so?”

I understand. He probably made arrangements with Professor Dave behind the scenes.

It would be awkward for someone in the Holy Department to share such detailed info directly with me, a student of the same field.

Not that it matters.

I snickered inwardly.

He must think I’m clueless about dark magic, sharing only the basics.

But I *am* Aaron Bayonel—a dark mage who returned from death through black magic.

In the previous timeline, maybe. But trying to curse *me* now? That’s already a mistake.

The Bayonel family is known for specializing in curses.

I mastered all four types of dark magic in my previous life, but I excelled particularly in curses.

I had been training in curse magic since I was a child. Did they really think I’d fall for something as outdated as this?

Casting wide-range curses using body parts as mediums takes time—at least a month, even for the most skilled dark mages.

Of course, I’ll make preparations just in case, but this isn’t critical.

“Does that answer your question?”

“Yeah, that cleared up a lot. Thanks.”

“I should thank you too. You led me to a decent restaurant…”

As Lloyd and I stood to leave—

**Bang!**

A hand slammed down on the edge of the table.

The loud noise drew everyone’s eyes.

“How rude!”

Lloyd scowled and turned toward the one who hit the table.

I followed his gaze—

“…That’s my question to you.”

It was Yulia, glaring coldly at us both.

Behind her stood Violette, glancing around nervously at the sudden attention.

What the—why are *they* here?

This place is pretty obscure. Freshmen from Sancternim shouldn’t even know about it.

Did they hear about it from upperclassmen? The timing is strangely perfect.

“What were you two talking about?”

“And why should I tell you?”

“Because I doubt you invited a freshman from our Holy Department here out of kindness.”

“What?”

“Huh?”

Lloyd and I exchanged puzzled looks.

Yulia seemed equally confused by our reaction.

“Wait… Didn’t you lure our freshman here?”

“I brought *him*? It’s the other way around.”

“What?”

“We were discussing what kind of instructor Professor Dave was in Necropia. I chose the restaurant.”

“But… freshmen usually don’t know about this place. I thought you’d heard about it from upperclassmen…”

“Ha! Do you think our department’s atmosphere is like yours? Upperclassmen? Not a single one ever visited my lecture hall.”

Dark mages don’t care much about seniority. They judge each other purely by skill.

Even if a freshman comes from one of the Four Houses of the Dark Empire, no one goes out of their way to greet them.

Students from other departments often misunderstand this.

Hence, this situation.

“So… Damon, how did you hear about this place?”

“I was told by someone.”

I glanced at Lloyd before answering.

“An upperclassman who liked good food once mentioned it.”

“Ah, I see…”

Her expression stiffened as she digested the truth.

Lloyd took the chance to tower over her smugly.

“Hey there, Holy Knight? Don’t you have something to say?”

“Ugh…”

Her lips twisted in frustration.

Is it that hard to apologize?

Eventually, she lowered her head.

“S-sorry. I misunderstood.”

“Bwahaha! See, if it was a misunderstanding, an apology’s in order. At least you’re not completely unreasonable.”

Her awkward apology made *me* feel sorry for her.

“I get it now. You were meeting Lloyd to get information on Professor Dave. Makes sense.”

She turned to me.

“Still, Damon, please don’t associate with dark mages anymore.”

“Don’t associate?”

“Yes. In the Holy Empire, dark magic is treated as forbidden. If this weren’t Sancternim, you could’ve been arrested for merely contacting a dark mage.”

“……”

I hesitated.

What I was about to say would definitely upset her.

If I just nodded and stayed away from Lloyd and the other dark mages, I’d make a good impression on Yulia.

But then… what’s the point of returning?

If I stay out of it, war between the Dark and Holy Empires is inevitable.

Knowing the future, I *must* work to improve relations between them.

More than that, it just doesn’t sit right with me.

I *am* a dark mage like Lloyd.

For me to denounce dark magic as forbidden and avoid fellow dark mages…

*Pfft.*

Even I found that thought laughable.

“Thanks for the advice. But I don’t feel like taking it.”

“…What?”

Surprise flickered across her face.

“You do know how things are between the Holy and Dark Empires, right?”

“What’s that got to do with me?”

“It has everything to do with you. You awakened with holy power. That’s why we call you brother. Even if not now, after graduating, you’ll likely serve the Holy Empire.”

“Who says I have to join the Holy Empire?”

The longer we argued, the more attention we drew.

Lloyd watched with amused interest while Violette rubbed her forehead in distress.

“Agh…”

Yulia stepped closer and whispered.

“Do you know how many Holy Empire citizens are in our department? Say things like that here and they’ll start treating you like a heretic…”

I appreciate the concern, but it doesn’t matter.

I never planned to change sides anyway.

I answered coldly.

“That’s not your business. It’s mine.”

“You really—!”

Whatever she was about to say was cut off by a metal tray suddenly wedging between us.

“Uh… excuse me.”

A female staff member had stepped in, sensing the tension.

Her elongated ears drooped slightly—clearly a beastkin.

Her half-lidded eyes and soft voice were at odds with the fury radiating from her upright, twitching tail.

…Huh?

I squinted at her face.

She looked oddly familiar.

“Excuse me, but your name?”

“…Why do you ask?”

She hesitated but soon answered casually.

“Lucia Dorg. I’m a year ahead of you obvious newbies.”

Right. Lucia Dorg.

I knew she was a Sancternim student—but I didn’t know she worked here.

I’ll remember this. A pleasant surprise.

“…Sorry.”

Yulia apologized meekly.

I nodded slightly and left the restaurant.

Yulia didn’t stop me. We’d drawn enough attention as it was.

Afternoon classes passed quietly. Though there were a few breaks, neither Yulia nor Violette spoke to me again.

Time passed without pause.

And the academy’s first day of class came to an end.

—

**After School**

Yulia blinked at Damon standing across from her.

…What is this?

They were at a training hall within Sancternim.

As expected of an elite academy, even freshmen could reserve private spaces for practice.

Meaning: the two of them were alone.

As soon as class ended, Damon had invited her here to point out the flaws in his “Divine Light Refinement Technique.”

She came along—partly because of a promise.

“I was antsy waiting till after class, that’s all.”

Damon stretched as if none of their earlier arguments had happened.

…What is *with* him?

Logically, this made no sense. But she needed confirmation.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Go ahead.”

“We *did* fight at the restaurant earlier, right?”

“Yeah, we fought.”

“And in front of all the students?”

“Sure did.”

It wasn’t a brawl—just a heated argument—but it was still a fight.

Which made her hesitant about how to speak to him now.

But Damon seemed utterly unbothered.

“Don’t you feel awkward around me?”

“No? Not really.”

He looked puzzled by the question.

“That was that. This is this, right?”

He’d fought to the death with Yulia countless times in his past life.

An argument wouldn’t faze him—but of course, she had no idea.

“……”

Her expression flattened.

“Ahem. Surely a faithful servant of the Holy Church wouldn’t break her promise, right? No way~”

He even had the nerve to smirk.

Yulia took a deep breath and began a silent prayer.

*Oh Lord, why have You bestowed divine power upon such a shameless man…*

She found herself just a little angry at the divine.