Chapter Thirteen: Associating with the Wrong Crowd

“Kid, don’t look at me that way. For us mages who practice dark magic, there’s no place better than this—one that connects the upper realms with the underworld—for our cultivation and living. If it weren’t for those dark entities lurking inside, I’d want to lie there forever and never come out.” The magus with a sharp mouth and monkey-like face seemed to casually lift the veil between them, but his casual words struck Comer like a thunderbolt.
“Mr. Rebrí, I…” Comer opened his mouth as if to explain something, but was stopped by a wave of his hand. “Enough, no need to explain anything to me. I’m not interested in your ridiculous background. Being a descendant of darkness isn’t shameful. It’s just that the prejudices on the continent make it hard for us dark mages to move freely; we even have to use disguises to hide our true identities. Heh, but finding a kindred spirit here really excites me. A noble lord, the honor of a mage—who would have thought it would be someone who can’t even be seen in the light? Isn’t that a bit funny?”
It sounded like he was talking to himself as much as questioning Comer, yet his words were filled with bitterness.
Comer perked up, his eyes gleaming. The meaning in the other man’s words made everything clear—he was also a dark mage, which matched Comer’s suspicions all along. But the fact that he could associate with a light mage as cautious and self-respecting as Mondel showed Comer’s admiration for his ability to conceal his true nature.
“Mr. Rebrí, I never expected either of us to end up on the same side. If the Church of Light finds out that two dark mages have suddenly appeared in the Caucasus, I wonder what they’ll think? Will they send their knights or Inquisitors to capture us? We might even end up hanged or burned at the stake.” Comer shrugged. Since they were kindred spirits, everything was much better. Having walked alone in the darkness, meeting a companion now felt indescribably wonderful.
“Kid, if this news gets out, I can just leave. The people of the Church of Light won’t keep chasing me. But you’re different. That idiot Malon represents the Church of Light. His death is a challenge to them. Do you think they’ll let you go easily?”

He gave Komer a smirk. The sinister smile on the disheveled man’s face made Komer’s heart skip a beat—even such things couldn’t escape his notice. A chill ran down Komer’s spine.
“Kid, don’t think your actions are hidden enough. Isn’t Onia already suspicious of you? It’s just that due to your status and their lack of concrete evidence, they can’t act against you yet. Those two Rema knights are still operating in your territory, aren’t they? Do you really think they’re in love with the scenery of the Caucasus?” Rebrí’s expression grew colder. “I don’t know why you killed a scumbag like Malon, but you’re now on a narrow path—you have to keep going, or you’ll fall into the abyss at the slightest mistake.”
“Mr. Rebrí, you didn’t come here to scold me, did you? The Caucasus is far away, and since I’ve survived the first trial, I believe we can avoid future troubles. If the Rema knights want to wander around the Caucasus, let them. Maybe they really see this place as a new land for preaching.” Komer acted nonchalant and carefree. “As you said, dark magic isn’t something to be ashamed of. Why should their Light Church dominate everything in the world? Just because they call it heresy, it’s heresy? They can burn anyone they want? Ridiculous! The Caucasus is mine—here, everything must obey me!”
“Hmm, ambitious. I saw your ambition from the moment I met Gutenberg. Kid, using the Essence Ring to win people over—how generous of you. Such actions will drive magicians crazy. Even I’m somewhat tempted. But what good is that for the Galicians? Unless you can trick that girl, Viro, into bed, that old fool Zelin won’t change his attitude toward you. Even if you get Viro, Zelin still won’t change—he’s not on your side after all.” Rebrí’s eyes lit up at the boldness in Komer’s words. He gently twirled a few strands of beard under his chin and smiled mysteriously. “I’m not on your side either. But if you can offer something that interests me, I might be willing to help you.”

“Is that so? I suppose there’s something in this Damansky Castle that makes you reluctant to leave, right?” Komer smiled darkly as well. “Mr. Rebrí, I think we needn’t play guessing games. I need your help, and I believe I have something here that you need as well. We can both get what we want. I imagine you haven’t met someone you can understand in a long time. If you seek the supreme path of darkness, or if you’d like to create a broader stage for dark magic, I think I can provide you with everything you desire. As for me, I prefer the worldly pleasures now. I also believe you can bring me many surprises.”

Rebrí stopped abruptly, feeling a chill in his heart. This guy didn’t seem as easy to deal with as he had imagined. He could see through his deepest thoughts and even wanted to use his own power to help him achieve his goals. Interesting—this was actually a good offer.

“Kid, it seems we’re truly fated. I’m growing more and more impressed with you. Yes, I do have some friends who, like me, are pursuing the ways of the dark world. I prefer to explore through travel, while they prefer to cultivate in secluded mountains and ancient castles. But as I said, if you have something that could attract them, I think they might even be willing to travel here or even settle in the Caucasus.” The disheveled man’s eyes sparkled as if he were pondering something.

“Don’t worry, Mr. Rebrí. You and your friends will find many things in the Caucasus that will keep you there for a long time.” Komer didn’t give a direct answer. Since even Rebrí was interested, they must already know everything he had done in Versailles and the Greenland Forest. News of such matters on the continent was always highly sensitive in the magical world; they wouldn’t remain indifferent.

Nodding lightly, the disheveled man turned his gaze toward the distant castle. “I look forward to seeing how you perform.”

“What does Mr. Rebrí think of this castle? The people of the Caucasus and many others expect me to move in, but this castle seems to have many ominous prophecies that concern me. I wonder if Mr. Rebrí can offer any advice?” Komer finally brought the conversation back to Damansky Castle.

“Kid, to overcome difficulties, one must rely on oneself above all. I didn’t know your mastery of magic was so profound—why then are you so lacking in knowledge in this area? You know nothing about this place, a rare treasure trove for us dark magic practitioners that comes once in a hundred years. I really can’t figure out where you got your dark magic—was it bestowed upon you by the heavens?” Rebrí shook his head in frustration, dissatisfied with this seemingly naive fellow. “The Eye of Darkness is a place we, along with those necromancers who seek shortcuts, have long dreamed of entering. But it’s also the perfect habitat for vengeful spirits, demons, and ghosts. There are many such creatures lurking inside this castle. I can sense it—once we drive them out, this place will be the most comfortable dwelling for you. Even I envy your good luck, kid. But among these creatures, there seems to be a hidden powerhouse whose origins I can’t determine yet. Kid, are you interested in exploring it with me?”

With a loud laugh, Komer raised his head and said, “How could I refuse Mr. Rebrí’s invitation? Besides, I’ve long wanted to see what my dwelling looks like. The Eye of Darkness… I really want to see what exactly dares to occupy it.”

“Kid, don’t underestimate those necromantic creatures. They’re far from as simple as you think. Your few necromancy spells are nothing compared to theirs. Not even I could act carefree there without some preparation first.” Rebrí shook his head and warned, “Don’t think your spells give you carte blanche. There are countless experts on this continent. At best, you’re just a frog in a well. Though you have great talent, talent alone isn’t enough. What, not convinced?”

Seeing Komer’s skeptical expression, Lebrí’s disdain grew even more: “I heard you killed Malon—probably by using dark magic as well, right? Let me tell you, there are dozens of people like Malon in the Light Church, and at least a dozen more among the two major knight orders of the church who are better than him. As for magicians, there are even more. Just Onia, the chief magician at the Nicosia court, is two levels above Malon. Think about it carefully. Not to mention others—Duke Zerin’s chief mage, Mondel, has already reached the level of a grand mage and is on his way to becoming an archmage. You must be aware of the situation in Cyprus as well: although there aren’t many magicians serving Philip, at least two of them are on Mondel’s level, and several others are comparable to Malon. If Philip really wanted to harm you, it would be effortless for him to deal with you.”

Lebrí’s presence delighted Komer greatly, especially when he saw Lebrí sending out invitations to his friends. Komer even began to feel that the Caucasus would become a place on the continent free from various constraints—whether in terms of religious beliefs, magic practice, or racial distribution. The Caucasus would become famous for its unconventional approach, which was Komer’s own definition of it. The Caucasus wasn’t some paradise; to attract people and talents, it had to embrace everything with a tolerant mindset. That was Komer’s definition of the Caucasus.