Blacksmithing Is Child’s Play for a Dark Mage - Chapter 6

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 6
“Good. Everyone’s here. Then let me confirm. Gallin. Yosep. Tay. The three of you pay attention. I’m the squad leader.”
“Understood.”
“Yes, squad leader.”
Tay said nothing, only watched.
“The survival rate for Bronze Rank Mercenaries entering the Sewers has dropped far too low. It’s not just the Black Spear Guild we belong to—other guilds are in chaos too. That’s why Iron Ranks like me are stepping up. We even have a High Priest with us.”
Ellen, the muscular female warrior, spoke with remarkable clarity despite her imposing physique.
It seemed she was genuinely skilled in both martial and intellectual arts.
“Other guilds have sent scouts in as well, who knows what’s happening down there. You all know what’s in there, don’t you? What we’re dealing with down there?”
‘She must mean the rumors about Cultists and Dark Mages nesting down there,’ Tay thought to himself.
Tay muttered quietly in his mind.
In truth, it wasn’t merely rumor. Criminals actually did make hideouts down there to live.
There was even a black market deep within the Sewers.
Thanks to that, the population of monsters like Rat-men was at least kept somewhat in check.
The Sewers were vast, as befitted ancient ruins.
“Well… I’ve heard something about it…”
“So, how far do we need to go?”
Gallin looked reluctant, while Yosep posed the question.
“Our objective is to reach the Central Sewage Processing Plant and return. Whether we find something or not doesn’t matter. It’s not a commission where the guild is asking us to discover anything specific—more of a reconnaissance effort, you could say. Timeline-wise, as the guild told you beforehand, it should take about three days. Everyone brought proper supplies, yes?”
“Of course.”
“Got everything.”
“Yes, I have.”
The warrior smiled with satisfaction at the three men’s responses, including Tay.
“Good. Then let’s go. Gallin, take the lead.”
“You want me?”
“Aren’t you going to rank up your shield technique?”
It was a test.
Gallin understood the implication and furrowed his brow, then took the lead with shield in hand.
Ellen, following in a diagonal formation behind him, spoke.
“High Priest Molton, you take the rear. Archer, you go in the middle. Tay, position yourself in front of High Priest Molton. The three of you will handle most of the combat. Molton and I won’t engage unless it’s a critical situation, understood?”
“Understood.”
“Got it.”
“Yes, understood.”
The three Bronze Rank members responded accordingly. Molton simply smiled.
“Before we enter, I’d like to cast Mental Protection on everyone, if I may.”
Tay offered his opinion.
Ellen didn’t hesitate and nodded.
“Right. Except me and the High Priest.”
“Understood.”
Tay raised his staff—a staff crafted from rat-man skulls that radiated sinister magical power.
He spoke the incantation as he’d been taught, and as he channeled the dark magic through his staff, the spell manifested.
“Mental Protection.”
Gallin and Yosep were enveloped in the protective magic.
Tay did not cast it on himself.
After that, Tay summoned a demon through his spirit.
—Ash. Come now. It’s time to head to the battlefield.
—This place was quite comfortable, though.
From the shadows, the imp butler Glashalabalias appeared with a smooth motion.
At the sight, Ellen raised an eyebrow with curiosity, while Molton’s expression grew uncomfortable.
The two Iron Ranks reacted quite differently, though neither seemed to view it as a direct threat.
But.
Gallin and Yosep flinched visibly, fear etched on their faces.
It was understandable.
Even low-ranking demons were known to be malevolent beings from Nine Heavens Hell itself.
Had there not been the great war against the Foreign Gods a thousand years ago, it would have been impossible for Dark Mages to walk about so openly.
“A demon, is it? I’ve heard rumors, but…”
“It’s… it’s safe, right?”
Gallin and Yosep asked their questions in succession.
“The spirits and souls of these humans are frail indeed. I worry whether the contract holder can fight safely.”
“It’s fine. I have two people stronger than me nearby, after all.”
“True enough. A servant of Kalterra, god of war and struggle, and a warrior trained in the art of physical hardness—yes, such humans would suffice.”
“This is no ordinary Imp, I gather. According to our organization’s knowledge, you are an Imp Butler, are you not?”
Molton’s expression shifted as he posed the question.
“That is correct. I cannot reveal who my master is, but I assure you he is a person of considerable station.”
Ellen broke in then.
“Skull. Even the guild mentioned that you summoned a special demon. How many spells can your demon use? They said this Imp Butler or whatever was rather capable.”
Tay decided not to reveal everything, sharing only three.
“Darkness that Blinds the Eyes. Clinging Flames. Floating Hellfire. Those three.”
Floating Hellfire.
The name sounded impressive, but in truth it was nothing remarkable—a ball of fire materialized above the head, hovering and pursuing enemies.
In essence, it was a torch substitute spell.
Still, being dark magic, it carried one additional effect.
Those without the protection of Mental Protection magic would have their minds corroded by the sight of this flame, falling into Madness.
If one possessed a strong will, they might resist, but otherwise—immediate Madness.
This held true for both humans and monsters alike.
And that was precisely why—
Dark Mages were always in demand in any party.
They could inflict psychological attacks on enemies, wielded fairly powerful offensive magic, and could apply debuffs like curses.
Quite indispensable, one might say.
“Three spells? That’s practically Iron Rank level, isn’t it?”
“We were fortunate. And I myself can cast all three of these spells as well.”
“You too? Incredible. So what, you’re saying there are two Dark Mages in the party?”
Ellen’s face lit up with the expression of someone who’d just struck gold.
And for good reason.
Spell users were always in high demand. And one person could do the work of two?
This was an absolute steal.
Despite Dark Mages being a shunned profession—no matter how much they’d proven themselves in the great war against the Outer Deities a thousand years ago, those who consorted with demons could hardly be welcomed—there was always demand for them.
High demand, but limited supply. A seller’s market.
“Precisely so,” Tay replied.
Ellen nodded at his answer.
“Right then. Let’s actually go in now.”
At Ellen’s word, the fat man Gallin stepped forward to lead the way.
* * *
“Squeak! Squeak! Squeak! Demon—demons!”
“Eeeeee!”
The Floating Hellfire. And the Imp Glashalabalias darting above Tay’s shoulder.
The moment the Rat-men caught sight of these two, their willpower utterly drained away, and they began to go berserk.
Three Rat-men that burst from beyond the Sewers corridor immediately lost themselves to Madness.
One threw itself into the sewer water beside it, while another began smashing its head against the wall in self-harm.
The last one came charging at them like a wild beast.
Berserker pattern.
Twang! Whoosh!
Yosep fired his bow, but the shot went wide. The charging Rat-man closed in on Gallin and thrust a crude blade forward.
But Gallin knew how to hold his own well enough, blocking once with his Shield before bringing his Mace down.
His technique was sloppy, though—he failed to crush its skull in one blow and instead struck its shoulder.
Crack!
The small-framed Rat-man shrieked as its shoulder crumpled, falling to the ground.
Gallin brought the Mace down on it again, smashing its head to pulp.
Crack!
“Phew. Why do these bastards act like this….”
“Fat man. If you’re going to work alongside a Dark Mage, you’ll have to get used to it. This is what Dark Mages do best.”
“Ah! I’ve heard about it, Captain. So this is that?”
“Yeah. Madness.”
“It’s convenient enough, but…… earning coin this way feels a bit awkward.”
Gallin, for whom cutting others down was as natural as breathing, had deprecation as his default passive.
Of course, Tay paid it no mind.
Rather, the Imp Glashalabalias responded instead.
“So this is what they meant about the middle planes being so delightful. To enjoy fine dining without even lifting a finger—truly a joy.”
“What’s with the sudden culinary talk out of nowhere?”
“Master. You do understand what demons savor, do you not? The wicked emotions of humans are our finest delicacies and the source of our strength. And that pathetic fat fool’s jealousy….”
Tay let out a sigh.
There was no point telling a jealous person they were jealous—it only bred resentment.
“Eek!”
Yet it seemed no resentment was building after all.
Glashalabalias and Tay’s exchange had frightened the portly Gallin, who let out a strange noise and shrank back.
Demons were unsettling creatures, whether they were the lowest rank or otherwise.
So it made sense that one would recoil at a demon’s words.
Especially so.
Mercenaries, after all, were superstitious folk.
“Come now. Enough chatter. Let’s move on.”
Ellen redirected their attention, and the group pressed deeper into the darkness.
The magical light that had been set at the entrance of the Sewers had vanished, and now only complete darkness lay ahead.
The Floating Hellfire illuminated their surroundings, but even so, it didn’t reach far.
“Molton, I need you to cast the Light of the Entire Body.”
“Very well. Oh War and Struggle, behold your humble servant as I beseech a miracle! Let the Light of the Entire Body descend upon this place!”
As the priest’s booming voice finished his prayer, a sphere of light the size of a human skull materialized above the group’s heads, illuminating all around them.
If the Floating Hellfire was like a small torch, this was more like a fully-charged headlight.
An illegally modified one at that.
In fact, the light now reached far enough ahead that their visibility had greatly improved.
They didn’t extinguish the Floating Hellfire despite this.
There was something psychologically effective about demoralizing any enemies they encountered right from the start.
The Dark Mage is Too Easy for a Blacksmith
Author |
Automaton G
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(주) Samyang C&C
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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