The Game of a Legendary Genius Dark Mage - Chapter 84

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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 84
Episode 84
The moment Yoo Sung-hyun heard that name, he couldn’t help but stiffen completely.
Hindel?
The Hero Hindel?
Countless thoughts like these flashed through his mind in rapid succession.
Wasn’t I here for the Overlord’s main quest in the past?
Meeting Hindel meant….
‘Is he asking me to fight Hindel?’
A situation I genuinely had no idea how to handle.
Then Hindel laughed awkwardly, his face flushed with embarrassment.
“Aha ha…, so you haven’t heard of me before? I suppose it makes sense since I haven’t made a name for myself yet….”
“Oh, no. I have heard of you. The Hero Hindel.”
“Oh? Really? What sort of stories have you….”
Damn.
Was this an interrogation?
If Yoo Sung-hyun hadn’t possessed such a composed and unflappable temperament, he would have shown his agitation.
But Yoo Sung-hyun was no pushover either.
I quickly scanned Hindel’s appearance.
I couldn’t tell what era this was, but had he already shed his apprentice status?
Judging by his sword, it looked far superior to the one apprentice Hindel had carried.
So in that instant, I seized the opportunity and spoke.
“The vicious beast… Barphor was sealed away, they say….”
“Ah! W-well, how embarrassing. Ha ha. It was just a small feat during my apprenticeship, yet you know of it.”
“…Ha ha.”
I survived.
Yoo Sung-hyun swallowed hard, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
Since he’d laughed awkwardly and moved past it.
He wouldn’t press further, would he?
But what was I supposed to do here anyway?
Yoo Sung-hyun was bewildered, unable to grasp the situation.
Then Hindel spoke carefully.
“Phew, I imagine you’re curious why I’ve sought you out here.”
I genuinely was incredibly curious.
But Yoo Sung-hyun waited in silence.
And Hindel spoke to him.
“This is terribly embarrassing and I apologize, but bearing the title of hero, I must make this request of you….”
He wasn’t asking me to die, was he?
Yoo Sung-hyun maintained his vigilance, ready for anything.
Prepared to fight at any moment.
However, the atmosphere was distinctly different.
Both Hindel and his companions.
“Would you perhaps be willing to assist us in our journey to the Dark Castle?”
“…???”
“We lack the strength to manage alone and require your aid. That Dark Castle is home to the notorious Demon Lord Helena, and we earnestly seek your support. Of course, we would offer appropriate compensation….”
“Wait, hold on. You want me to go to the Dark Castle…?”
Could this really be happening?
This is the Overlord’s main Quest—team up with the Hero and attack the previous Overlord?
I’m in the middle of inheriting the throne. What is this?
Hindel continued speaking to Yoo Sung-hyun, whose mind was reeling.
“Ahem, I’m aware that you’re a Dark Mage, so please don’t worry too much. Not all Dark Mages are inherently evil, after all.”
“That’s… true, I suppose?”
I wanted to ask why they were going to attack Helena, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it.
For now, I’d stay silent.
“However, if we leave Demon Lord Helena unchecked, the world will descend into chaos. She possesses power greater than even the Archdukes of Hell—no one knows when she might decide to destroy the world.”
“…I see.”
Even though I knew that would never happen.
Lost in this situation, uncertain what to do.
The system extended a helping hand.
[You have been transported to the past of the Dark Castle.]
[A Sub Quest for the Overlord-exclusive Main Quest, 『Entrance to the Dark Castle』, has been created.]
[An Overlord-exclusive Sub Quest, 『With the Enemy of the Past』, has been created.]
Which meant.
Yoo Sung-hyun opened the Quest window with a sinking feeling.
As they say, suspicion truly does betray one.
『With the Enemy of the Past』
→《Main-Sub》
→Sub Quest.
→In search of the Dark Castle, you arrived at the Canyon of Despair, where the Dark Castle once existed in the Mortal Realm. Following the guidance of a note, you were able to enter a Secret Cave within the Cliff.
After defeating the guardian at that place and passing through the door, you found yourself in a distant past.
Upon encountering the Hero of that era, you receive a certain proposal from them.
They propose that you jointly attack the Dark Castle, where Helena—the previous Overlord and the very first Overlord—resides.
Having returned to the past, you decide to accept the Hero’s proposal in order to witness what the Dark Castle of that era looked like.
Proceed to the Dark Castle alongside Hindel the Hero.
→Overlord-exclusive Sub Quest.
→Reward: Clues regarding the entrance to the Dark Castle, additional compensation (Hindel the Hero’s commission fee).
*Hindel the Hero’s commission fee varies depending on your performance.
→Failure: The past repeats itself.
‘Are you serious?’
Attack the Dark Fortress where Helena resides, hand in hand with Hindel the Hero?
To anyone watching, it looked like a suicide mission.
And he was proposing this?
Yoo Sung-hyun stared at Hindel with an expression of utter disbelief.
Yet as if sensing the meaning behind Yoo Sung-hyun’s expression, shadows fell across the faces of Hindel and his companions.
“…We understand, truly. We know it appears reckless, that it will seem like suicide to you. In fact, since you are a Dark Mage, you may understand even better than we do just how formidable her power is.”
“….”
Yoo Sung-hyun offered no verbal response.
Yet anyone could see he was affirming their words.
However.
“But I am a hero. No matter how overwhelming the odds, no matter how transcendent the power, if I do not step forward, who else could possibly do so?”
I could not help but admire Hindel’s noble words.
I understood the overwhelming nature of the challenge all too well.
I knew the probability of my defeat was high.
After all, Hindel would eventually be killed by Helena.
Yet the fact that he never surrendered, that he charged forward to defeat Helena—that was undeniable truth.
He advanced without kneeling before transcendent power.
Even though Helena, his target, was not evil but virtuous.
Still, his nobility would not be diminished by that.
Was that why?
My heart stirred without reason.
Once a Quest appeared, participation was inevitable.
The lingering guilt over attacking Helena faded away entirely.
It was the past anyway, so it mattered not.
As I was thinking thus.
Hindel forced a smile and spoke as if it were nothing.
“But this is not something we should impose upon you, sir. Thank you for hearing our proposal.”
This was not a tactical retreat to gain negotiating advantage.
Hindel was genuinely attempting to leave so as not to coerce me.
How could one’s heart not be moved by such sincerity?
His companions rose from their seats without protest.
I opened my mouth.
“No, I shall join you, however modest my contribution may be.”
“…!”
I had not stepped forward readily.
Yet the moment I accepted.
Hindel’s expression shifted to genuine surprise, and after struggling for words, he bowed deeply to express his gratitude.
“I… truly… thank you.”
He seemed clumsy for a hero, somewhat foolish even.
Perhaps that was why.
His sincerity reached me completely.
Yoo Sung-hyun grasped Hindel’s shoulder and helped him to his feet, extending his hand.
“I appreciate your cooperation, however brief our time together may be.”
“…Yes! I should be the one thanking you!!!”
Thus began the peculiar partnership between the Hero Hindel and the Second Overlord Yoo Sung-hyun.
0.
The Hero Hindel’s party.
Since Yoo Sung-hyun had chosen Hindel Village back in Beginner Village, these were already familiar faces to him.
Starting with the Hero Hindel himself.
A serene-looking woman with slender, long silver hair that radiated an unmistakable holy aura.
“Greetings. I am Adeline de Aquitania, chosen as the Saint of this generation from Aquitania. Though my blessing may be humble, I shall pray for it to light every path you walk.”
“No one would consider a Saint’s blessing humble. Thank you.”
The Saint offered her greeting to Yoo Sung-hyun.
Next was a young man—or perhaps a woman—with androgynous features standing beside her, his long hair braided in violet strands, yet unmistakably male.
A youth who somehow resembled that irritating boy he’d encountered recently.
“Welcome! Hyahaa! Having such talent join our team is truly moving, wouldn’t you say? I’m Flang! Though it’s rather unbecoming, I’m known by the epithet of Sage.”
“…A… quite spirited individual, I see. I look forward to working with you.”
A Sage with an aura reminiscent of the Sage’s descendants from the Mortal Realm offered his greeting.
And finally, a pointed-eared woman with pale lime-green hair cut short and neatly into a bob.
“An elf…, Lyaden.”
“I look forward to working with you.”
Brief though her introduction was, the elf archer Lyaden had offered her greeting.
They were all legendary figures whom Yoo Sung-hyun had seen as statues in Hindel Village, yet he felt no particular awe toward them.
After all, he’d already experienced such sentiment upon meeting Hindel.
There was no reason to feel it anew upon seeing the others of the Hero’s party.
What did strike him as odd, however.
Was that someone was missing.
The Knight of the Hero’s party, Giordan von Riescan.
He was not here.
‘Perhaps he hasn’t joined yet?’
The reason remained unclear, but I couldn’t bring myself to ask.
He might not have joined yet, or he might have temporarily left.
But hadn’t I just learned that pretending to know things leads nowhere?
I was not one to repeat mistakes carelessly.
So I decided to let the matter pass, curiosity notwithstanding.
Everyone had finished their introductions and exchanged names.
I didn’t know how long we would be together.
But it seemed odd not to exchange names when we were clearly going to spend time together.
“We are truly grateful that you’ve joined us. While we do have Flang, our Sage, we unfortunately lack close ties with the Royal Palace and Magic Tower, so we genuinely needed high-firepower magical support like yourself.”
“…I see, so that’s how it is.”
The history Yoo Sung-hyun had learned was somewhat different, but it seemed that time had not yet come.
From what I learned through Helena, I understood that Hindel had been gaslighted by the Magic Tower and Royal Palace, leading him to become estranged from Helena.
Yet he said they weren’t close.
Though Yoo Sung-hyun hadn’t observed him for long, Hindel’s nature certainly gave the impression of considerable animosity.
Was that why Knight Giordan von Riescan wasn’t present?
But then, why had he become estranged from Helena?
‘I suppose I’ll uncover that gradually.’
Yoo Sung-hyun quietly set himself a modest objective.
Flang grumbled with evident irritation.
“It’s those old fools at the Royal Palace and Magic Tower who are the problem! Sure, Helena is called the Demon Lord, but has she ever taken the initiative to attack a human village? Yet they cower in fear and spout nothing but parroted nonsense about how she must be eliminated! That’s why we refuse their orders! Ugh! Idiots.”
“Flang….”
“Forgive me, but I entirely agree with Flang’s assessment.”
“A fair… point.”
Hindel wanted to restrain Flang, while his other companions sided with him.
They seemed to understand that Helena wasn’t evil.
Then why were they going to confront her?
Wasn’t that contradictory?
Yoo Sung-hyun regarded Hindel with evident bewilderment.
Perhaps interpreting this as a request for explanation, Hindel nodded.
Perhaps now that I had become a comrade, there was no harm in speaking.
“…I did tell you we were going to stop her, but truthfully, we’re attempting to persuade the Demon Lord—Helena.”
“Persuade her?”
“Yes. As Flang said, the Demon Lord—Helena, or rather, whether she deserves that title is debatable—has never directly attacked a human village. All those who have fallen by her hand were villains. However, it’s also true that many fear her due to her overwhelming and transcendent power. Indeed, every Magic Tower and the Royal Palace itself desire her death.”
“…So you’re attempting to persuade her?”
“Yes. That is our party’s objective. Hah… it’s rather embarrassing to state so plainly.”
I couldn’t help but believe Hindel’s words spoken with such conviction.
They aligned with Helena’s account as well.
Then was this Hindel before his deception?
Did that mean there were reasons for him to be deceived?
He had mentioned that the Tower Masters were corrupt.
In this tale of the past, it might be difficult to discern.
But I had obtained a clue.
‘I can investigate this when I return from the past.’
Yoo Sung-hyun felt his interest deepening with such thoughts.
How could someone as steadfast and righteous as Hindel have been deceived by the Magic Tower and Royal Palace?
The significance of tracing Hindel’s footsteps seemed to grow.
But that was a matter for later.
For now, it was time to move forward in alignment with Hindel’s objective.
“Then our priority should be arranging an opportunity to speak with her.”
“Precisely.”
“Though I suspect that’ll be the hardest part~”
Flang’s dispirited words drifted through the air, yet no one present could deny them.
It was, after all, no different from attempting to shatter a boulder with an egg.
Yoo Sung-hyun watched with keen interest to see how this situation would unfold.
It was then that he sensed a presence drawing near—quite close, in fact.
And he was not alone in perceiving it.
Hindel, the Hero, naturally felt it, as did the Sage Flang and the Elf Archer Lyaden.
Even Helena, the Saint—a non-combatant—sensed the presence, and all eyes turned toward it.
Even at a glance, this was no ordinary monster.
Was it even a monster at all?
If one were to mold slime into the shape of a human form, would it appear thus?
Yet this was of an entirely different caliber than slime.
A woman whose body shimmered with a deep, celestial blue—as though woven from the cosmos itself, mysterious and ethereal as the night sky.
The aura she emanated was nothing short of overwhelming.
Even Hindel the Hero and the entire party felt the weight of her presence.
Yet there was one.
Only one who gazed upon her and asked softly:
“You’re Fiora, aren’t you?”
-Huh? Ah, no, that’s not… well…
It was, though?

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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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