Chapter 12

"Hey, have you heard? Red Wings suddenly took in a new member."

A short mercenary, who was drinking ale with his companion, said this.

"Oh? Red Wings? The Red Wings with 'Thousandmaster' (the Thousand Spell Mage)?"

"Exactly, exactly, the one who can use a thousand spells, the strongest mage! The Red Wings he founded were already powerful enough. Recently, the so-called strongest mercenary, 'Thousand Blades' Lakan, joined. Now there's a new member? Who else could be as strong as those freaks?"

"I heard it's a mage skilled in lightning and space magic, but I don't know who specifically."

"Space magic? That's rare, they must be quite powerful."

"Of course, to fight alongside 'Thousandmaster,' how could they not be powerful!"

The short mercenary, talking about his idol, was unusually excited. Even the unknown mage, just because of the connection to his idol, became someone he admired.

Just as he was excitedly describing his idol's strength, a hand landed on his shoulder.

"Huh?"

The short mercenary turned around and saw a tall, blonde beauty in a black cloak and black tight-fitting clothes.

"Kid, where is the 'Thousandmaster' you mentioned?"

"Hey, beautiful. Looking for 'Thousandmaster'? Such a famous person isn't easy to approach. Why don't you come with me..."

The short mercenary's friend also turned around. Seeing the beautiful face of the blonde woman, he immediately perked up. When his gaze dropped to her ample chest, his drunk face became even more lecherous.

To become a mercenary, one generally has to be fearless. In this group, a large portion are former thugs, brutes with no other skills. Once these mercenaries drink too much, their thug nature easily shows.

The short mercenary's friend was just such a person. Before he finished speaking, his trembling hand reached for the blonde woman's chest. Unfortunately, his muddled brain forgot the law of the magic world: women are not necessarily weak, and those who dare to appear in a mercenary tavern are even less likely to be weak.

Before his hand could verify the softness of those two mountains, it was as if he was suddenly hit by a speeding carriage, flying high and smashing the bar's wine cabinet to pieces.

"Filthy bitch! How dare you refuse me, do you know who I am!"

The mercenary, struggling to get up from the debris and spilled alcohol, shouted the standard lines of a small-time thug.

"I really want to kill someone, Master. Let me kill him."

The blonde beauty hadn't even spoken when a doll appeared, floating in the air, holding two kitchen knives that were completely out of place with her appearance. She spoke in a tone as casual as talking about eating or sleeping.

"Puppeteer! You, you are, ah! You are 'Gospel of Darkness'!"

The short mercenary, who had been trying to help his companion, immediately felt weak at the knees and fell to the floor, which was already flooded with alcohol, upon seeing the strange doll.

"Oh? Not bad, shorty. You have some knowledge. Since you know who I am, quickly tell me where 'Thousandmaster' is!"

The black cloak, the tight leather outfit that accentuated her perfect figure, this tall, mature, and alluring beauty was none other than Evangeline, who had used an illusion to appear as an adult.

For a whole year, Evangeline had searched through most of the magic world but still hadn't found Levi. The wasted year made her wonder if she had missed him. She almost wanted to return to the castle to wait quietly. However, she couldn't bear the anxiety and would leave after a few days to search again.

The vampire progenitor, driven to the brink of madness by anxiety, never expected to receive such joyful news in a small bar in a remote city. A mage with both lightning and space magic, and considerable strength, could very well be the man she had been searching for so desperately!

"Please, please, spare my life! Lord 'Gospel of Darkness'! I'm just a small mercenary, how could I know where such a great mage is!"

The short mercenary, a man who had proven his courage by becoming a mercenary, couldn't even think of running in the face of the terrifying vampire, whom many considered the embodiment of evil.

"Hmph! Useless!"

In fact, Evangeline didn't expect to get an answer from such a small fry. The news she received today was enough. Unlike Levi, who had never ventured out, 'Thousandmaster' was already famous throughout the world. Finding his whereabouts would just take a bit more time.

"Chachazero, let's go! Capture that 'Thousandmaster'!"

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"Legend says the man who can use a thousand spells, 'Thousandmaster'! In this far eastern island nation, you are finally cornered. Today, I will make you reveal Levi's whereabouts!"

"The terrifying vampire progenitor, 'Gospel of Darkness' Evangeline, how many innocent people have you harmed for your beauty and power... and now you even want to harm my friend..."

A young man in a mage robe, holding a staff, with disheveled red hair flying in the sea breeze—Nagi Springfield.

"Abandon your malice towards my friend, you cannot defeat me."

Nagi, who had never heard Levi mention his romantic history, had always misunderstood Evangeline, who had never revealed her purpose for finding Levi due to her shy nature.

"Hmph, a lone mage is just a long-range cannon!"

Evangeline was too impatient to argue further. She had finally caught up with this guy who was an expert at running away. It was best to subdue him first.

With Chachazero, holding two knives, leading the way, Evangeline followed, rushing towards the isolated strongest mage!

"Ahh!"

"Master, it's a trap."

On the flat beach, a large hole suddenly appeared. Clearly, it was a trap that Nagi had prepared. Evangeline, who never thought anyone would be foolish enough to use such a low-level tactic in a battle of this caliber, was deceived by the most ridiculous trap. In her shock, she even forgot that she could fly, and fell straight into the deep pit filled with seawater.

"Ha ha ha ha ha~"

Nagi, with a laugh that was completely out of character, rushed to the edge of the pit like a child who had just pulled off a prank. He took out two large bags—garlic and leeks, which vampires fear the most—and dumped them into the pit.

"If everyone knew that the feared vampire progenitor is just a child, what would they think?"

Due to Nagi's weak point attack—actually, partly due to the sudden shock—how could a top-tier vampire progenitor like Evangeline be so easily defeated by such a ridiculous attack? She became powerless to resist, and even her illusions were dispelled. The main reason, of course, was not the water, leeks, and garlic, but the magic array Nagi had set up around the beach, centered on this deep pit.

"You are 'Thousand Spell Mage'! Why don't you fight me honorably, using such despicable means!"

"Oh? Has no one told you that I only know a few spells? I was even expelled from the magic academy!"

Nagi, with a carefree smile, seemed to take pride in his bad record, announcing it loudly. He pulled out a notebook from his pocket—filled with magic incantations.

"Nagi! I won't harm Levi, because... because I love him!"

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