Report
Derek’s training was far harsher than expected.
“It’s time to wake up. If you’re late even once more, I’ll splash water on your face.” “Your balance is off. Focus, and then focus again. Your mind and body need to move as one.” “Don’t give up. You can lift more than this. Doing just one more won’t kill you, so get on with it.” “Eat more. Nutrition is even more important than the training itself.”
No matter how strong one’s desires and willpower are, without a clear direction, it becomes nothing but wasted effort.
Derek became an excellent guidepost for Damian.
Thanks to this, Damian’s body grew stronger by the day. Before he knew it, he was waking up earlier than anyone in the auxiliary palace, and his appetite had doubled compared to the past.
The logs that once made his entire body shake with effort now felt light, and he even began to show off feats of strength.
‘As expected, it’s best to start training young.’
In his past life, he had made attempts to address his physical shortcomings, but his condition had never improved as rapidly as it did now.
Ultimately, the timing of when you learn something is crucial.
"Are you asking to learn swordsmanship?"
Damian wanted to master not only physical strength and power but also refined techniques. Although this went slightly beyond their original contract, Derek did not refuse.
How to wield a sword.
How to subdue an opponent barehanded.
How to build a campfire.
How to track enemies, and conversely, how to erase one's traces.
How to craft improvised weapons using simple materials.
These skills were not directly related to dark magic, but Damian absorbed every lesson eagerly.
Not every problem in this world can be solved with dark magic. When faced with such situations, the skills he learned now would undoubtedly prove invaluable.
Thus, the scorching summer passed, giving way to autumn. Winter came and then melted into the start of spring once more.
While the time given to him wasn’t limitless, he didn’t rush.
A solid body and an unyielding mind. Although Damian wielded the most malevolent power as a dark magician, he knew that his body and spirit had to be purer than anyone else's.
Of course, Damian did not spend all his time solely on physical training.
“Young Master, I’ve brought the materials you requested from the Adventurer’s Guild.”
Damian continued investigating the locations of the Books of Hell, which he had learned about before his regression, utilizing any free moments between his rigorous training.
While his past knowledge and experiences were a major advantage, he couldn't rely solely on them. There was no guarantee that the Books of Hell would still be in the same places.
Moreover, the current situation was different from before his regression.
Back then, the continent's security was quite lax, as it was just before the civil war broke out in earnest.
As a result, there were fewer restrictions on accessing dangerous areas. In other words, places that were once easy to enter might now be difficult or impossible to access.
For example, apart from the Abandoned Tower, there were several more Books of Hell located within the Imperial Palace. However, the current Damian had no means of accessing those areas.
On the flip side, because the current era was still a time of peace, the continent’s information network remained intact.
Thus, even while staying within the auxiliary palace, he could roughly track the locations of the Books of Hell.
The potential locations could be categorized into three main groups:
Ancient ruins, like the aforementioned Abandoned Tower, where the books lie dormant.
Private collections of rare book enthusiasts, tucked away on dusty shelves.
The hands of deranged demon worshippers, who hoarded such dangerous knowledge.
“But why go after such old books…?”
To most people, like Felix, the Books of Hell appeared to be nothing more than ancient, dusty tomes.
It had been well over a thousand years since the last dark magician before Damian was executed. People feared demons and dark magic, but they no longer understood what such powers truly entailed.
Thus, it was unimaginable that the books Damian was researching were the very foundation of dark magic.
The only forbidden books in the Empire were those related to demons and dark arts, yet most people had no idea which specific books these were.
The total number of Books of Hell was unknown. However, if possible, Damian intended to secure every single one.
“Hmm…”
Damian propped his chin on his hand as he gazed at the map of the continent.
Marked on it were locations where the Books of Hell were either stored or suspected to be hidden.
“I didn’t expect them to be scattered so chaotically…”
Looking at the map, it became clear how incredibly fortunate he had been in his previous life. Many of the Books of Hell had moved closer to the continent’s center, away from their original locations.
“Was this all orchestrated by Ishtar?”
Ishtar had shown interest in Damian not long after he first began practicing dark magic.
She appeared before Damian without even using one of the Books of Hell. Despite rejecting her contract, she continued to show a keen interest in him.
“The deeper you delve into dark magic, the stronger your desire for power becomes.”
It was possible that she had guided events to ensure Damian’s growth, knowing that his pursuit of greater power would eventually lead him straight to her.
“Normal people or demons, the ones obsessed with me aren’t sane, that’s for sure.”
Rubia and Ishtar. Despite one being human and the other a demon, they both shared an intense, almost fanatical fixation on Damian.
Of course, their reasons were not the same.
Rubia’s obsession with Damian was clear-cut.
His mother possessed a charm that had captivated even the Emperor himself—Damian had inherited a part of that allure.
When he looked at his reflection and then at the only portrait of his mother that remained, it was obvious that his appearance was exceptional.
“I would have preferred talent in aura or magic over good looks, though.”
Rubia was pathologically obsessed with beauty, driven by a madness to preserve it eternally.
Had he accepted her final offer before his regression, he would likely have ended up preserved in a jar of formaldehyde.
Their first encounter had been at Mihail and Rubia’s engagement ceremony.
When she abruptly invited him to her chambers, he had trembled in fear, unable to respond.
Rubia’s obsession had continued unabated. Although their meetings were infrequent due to Damian isolating himself in the auxiliary palace, she sent messages every few months.
Even after his regression, he had already received six letters from her.
In the past, he had carefully stored them, unsure of what to do. This time, he burned them in the fireplace without even opening them.
“Ishtar’s obsession is different from Rubia’s.”
To Ishtar, Damian’s appearance was merely a shell.
She was more interested in something hidden within—his soul or his spirit. That was what piqued her curiosity.
Yet he couldn’t figure out why.
The demons might take interest in Damian’s unique talent.
“I am currently the only dark magician in the Empire.”
But Ishtar’s fixation went beyond mere curiosity.
For someone of her extraordinary status in Hell, it made no sense to be so concerned with a single human.
“Eventually, I’ll have to deal with Ishtar as well.”
For now, Mihail and Rubia were the immediate obstacles. Yet he couldn’t ignore the threat of the Empress of Hell entirely.
“I need to investigate that artifact as well.”
The relic that suppressed the powers of dark magic. Damian had an idea of how Rubia might have acquired it.
After mastering all contemporary magic, she turned her attention to the ancient arcane arts.
Through her family’s resources, she organized expeditions, scouring the Empire for remnants of ancient civilizations.
That bell must have been discovered during one of these digs.
He couldn’t assume there was only one such artifact. He needed to locate them first and secure or destroy them.
Fortunately, there was still time before Rubia would earn the title of Grand Sorceress and take full control of the Clyrent family.
“But how did she suspect my power was dark magic in the first place?”
Modern people couldn’t differentiate between regular magic and dark magic.
They could only observe mana manipulation, unable to perceive the demonic contract bound to the soul.
For most, it simply felt eerie or unsettling, never prompting them to consider the fundamental differences from conventional magic.
This included even the Grand Sorceress Rubia.
In fact, her mastery of magic made it even harder for her to suspect. She wielded a power far beyond ordinary magicians.
“It’s not an urgent issue for now.”
Damian had time on his side.
Even Rubia had taken over a decade to realize the true nature of dark magic.
So, he would simply kill her before she uncovered the truth. After all, dead people tell no tales.
“Young Master, I’ve brought some snacks.”
As Damian was lost in thought, Anna entered, carrying a tray full of food.
“Please enjoy,” she said with a bright smile. Her smile seemed even brighter than before.
Due to his intense training, Damian’s appetite was now incomparable to what it used to be.
This inevitably increased the workload for Anna, who handled most of the affairs in the auxiliary palace.
“I don’t mind the extra work. What’s more important is that you’re full of energy, Young Master.”
A slightly bittersweet smile crossed Anna’s face as she said this.
“To be honest, I was worried you’d become even more withdrawn after losing the duel with the Fourth Prince.”
It wasn’t an unfounded fear. Before his regression, Damian had become a recluse for years after that defeat.
“I’m glad I was wrong. You’ve gotten stronger, and you’ve grown so much taller.”
Just as Anna said, not long ago, they were about the same height, but now Damian stood a full head taller.
His muscles, though hidden under his clothes, were visibly more defined.
“You were very handsome before, but I like you better now. Back then, you had a delicate look. Now, you seem solid and strong.”
Damian was in the process of transforming from a boy into a young man.
“Time has flown by so quickly.”
“Huh? What do you mean all of a sudden?”
Anna tilted her head in confusion, but Damian just smiled and started eating the snacks.
It had been two years since that day he vowed revenge and set his sights on claiming the throne.
***
“Then, let’s begin.”
At Derek’s signal, Damian placed both hands against the boulder and took a deep breath.
He bent his right knee slightly and stepped back with his left leg. He wasn’t pushing the rock with his hands; he was pushing against the ground with both legs.
Recalling Derek’s teachings, Damian contracted his muscles. Holding his breath for a moment, he exerted explosive force, and beads of sweat formed on his forehead.
Rumble. As the massive stone moved, birds scattered from the nearby trees in surprise.
Damian only released his grip after moving the boulder as far as his own height. It took effort, but it wasn’t beyond his limits.
This level of strength would be enough to open the stone door.
“With this, our contract is complete.”
Derek stepped closer to Damian.
“A lowly person like me lacks both the insight and the heart to understand your true intentions, Lord Damian.”
No matter how great one’s physical strength, power, and skills were, without the ability to wield aura, there would always be a limit.
“If we limit the discussion solely to physical talent, excluding aura... to be honest, you’ve exceeded my expectations. Whether this is due to the royal bloodline, I cannot say.”
This wasn’t empty praise. In training, Derek had been strict with Damian, never giving any special treatment due to his status.
“Lord Damian,” Derek hesitated briefly, then asked, “Do you desire revenge?”
Derek’s single, wolf-like eye gazed at Damian intently. There was certainty in his look.
Damian didn’t respond. He merely met Derek’s gaze. To Derek, that silence was as good as an affirmation.
An illegitimate son of the imperial family seeking revenge—Derek knew it was best not to ask for more details. It was safer for his own wellbeing.
“If your opponents wield aura or magic at a certain level, continuing this kind of training may not be of much help.”
Mihail and Rubia.
They weren’t merely at a high level in their respective fields; they stood at the very pinnacle.
“I’m sure you know this already, Lord Damian. Which means you must have some kind of plan. Though, I suspect it’s not a particularly pleasant one.”
Derek hadn’t guessed it was dark magic, but his instincts as a seasoned mercenary were sharper than most.
“Although our connection has only spanned two years—a mere blink in your lifetime—I wish for your victory, even from afar.”
With that, Derek gave a slight bow of his head.
“I will be leaving tomorrow.”
The contract as a stable master had already ended. Now that his agreement with Damian was fulfilled, there was no reason for him to stay any longer.
“Where will you go once you leave the palace?” “Well, originally I planned to settle in a quiet village in the east. But with the generous payment you’ve given me, I’m considering a visit to a southern resort instead.” “I think the south sounds better. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to spend the rest of your life with a bit more energy.” “Indeed, I’ll think it over slowly.”
With that, Derek gave a casual wave and headed back to his quarters.
‘If I push too hard, it might backfire.’
According to the original history, Derek would settle in the east, only to be attacked and killed by an unknown assailant—most likely a mercenary with a grudge.
It was because of that incident that Damian had learned Derek’s true identity before his regression. Back then, having little connection with Derek, he hadn’t felt particularly moved.
But now, it is different. Damian had learned a great deal from Derek over these two years. Knowing what lay ahead, he couldn’t just stand by. It was a form of repayment.
The next day, without any farewell, Derek left the palace. In his quarters, only an arming sword was left behind.
The handle was worn from age, but the blade remained as sharp as if it were new. Even without using it, Derek had maintained it daily.
Damian took Derek’s sword.
“This level of strength should suffice.”
There was no more reason to delay. Today, he would open the stone door and form a contract with a demon.
“You damned woman!!”
Just as Damian was about to head straight for the Abandoned Tower, a sudden shout echoed from the auxiliary palace.
It was a voice he knew all too well.
