Chapter 5

The twilight dusk and the darkness of the night sky meshed like interlocking gears. Beyond the snow-white horizon, darkness descended upon the earth faster than the snow itself.

“Dale.”

At Master Sepia’s words, Dale stretched out his arm. A zombie rabbit, resurrected from death through necromancy. And the ice armor encasing that rabbit. The moment he focused his consciousness on the target…

Clang!

The frozen armor encasing the rabbit shattered into pieces, exploding like a grenade. Countless ice shards scattered and spread in all directions.

Frozen Explosion.

The baptism of explosion didn’t stop there. Immediately after the frozen armor enveloping the rabbit shattered, the frozen flesh beneath the armor burst open.

Corpse Explosion.

Following the ice shards, bone fragments within the body scattered like sharp blades, and the dual explosion finally came to an end.

A preposterous feat, harmonizing the dual attributes of water and darkness as fluidly as flowing water.

“Well done.”

Destructive power capable of sending down at least five or six heavily armored soldiers in a single strike. At first glance, it appeared to be an ordinary explosive spell. Yet Sepia did not miss the techniques hidden within each and every one.

‘Maximized lethality through fragmentation.’

Dale deliberately applied a fine-grained texture to his explosives, tearing the outer shell into tiny fragments to emphasize the shrapnel effect. Sepia had no way of knowing that this principle was identical to that of 21st-century grenades.

‘The sophistication is utterly unbelievable for the work of an 8-year-old.’

Magic is ultimately the materialization of the user’s mental imagery. Thus, magicians induce the ‘personality and form of magic’ that aligns with their purpose through conscious self-suggestion, known as incantations.

And eight-year-old Dale wielded a ‘formula of slaughter’ that rivaled battle mages who had devoted their entire lives on the battlefield.

Beyond the combat magic doctrine of the Imperial Army, accumulated through centuries of war and refined through endless improvements. What kind of world exists within this child’s mind?

“It’s all thanks to you, Teacher!”

Even so, this child, receiving praise from her teacher, beams brightly like any other child her age. Sepia watched her, wearing an incredibly complex smile.

“Let’s call it a day for now.”

“Yes!”

It was at that very moment.

Hiiiiing!

Beyond the twilight-shrouded horizon, a group of mounted figures came into view. They were knights clad in surcoats bearing the Saxon ducal crest over their black armor.

They were the Knights of the Night Raven, who had recently set out to conquer the dungeon that had appeared in the Demon King’s domain, led by Lord Helmut.

“Uncle Helmut!”

Seeing them, Dale waved his hands. Only then did the knights, who had been about to pass the two, abruptly turn their horses around.

“Young Master, and Lady Sepia, what brings you here?”

“I’m learning magic from the teacher.”

At Dale’s words, Sir Helmut blinked in surprise.

“You’ve already begun to master magic!”

Lord Helmut mutters in disbelief.

“Oh, I’ve only just started learning.”

Dale maintained an uncharacteristic humility for an 8-year-old and gave an awkward smile.

“But Uncle Helmut, how did the dungeon raid go?”

After laughing, Dale asked again. Helmut patted his breastplate and laughed heartily.

“This dungeon was conquered safely once again!”

“You’re the man, Uncle.”

A swordsman counted among the top seven across the entire continent. And the ‘Black Cavalry’ led by that very knight.

The military might of the Duchy of Saxony did not rely solely on the Black Duke’s commanding arts.

“Helmut! I swear to devote my life to the House of Saxony, so that one day, I may safely pass this land on to the young master!”

“Thank you, sir.”

Dale smiled and nodded at Baron Helmut’s loyal display. After saying that much, Baron Helmut adjusted his horse’s reins once more.

“I shall report the remaining matters to His Highness the Duke and then discuss them with you.”

“Be careful going in, Uncle Helmut.”

“Yes, my lord!”

Lord Helmut pulled on the reins with a jovial smile. His black warhorse then kicked up dust, its mane flying as it charged forward.

“The land he will inherit someday.”

Sepia murmured flatly, watching the scene. Her gaze fixed on the endless white mountain ridges stretching along the horizon.

“Truly, it is an immensely vast land.”

That night.

In the Saxon Duke’s office, Lord Helmut, the Saxon household steward, and the elders of the Black Magic Tower stood in line alongside other retainers. Sepia, the elder of the Blue Magic Tower who served as Dale’s tutor, was no exception.

“How is Dale’s training progressing?”

The very first topic the Duke brought up was, unsurprisingly, a question about his son.

“He has achieved 1st Circle Master in both Command Magic and Water Magic.”

“Summoning magic and water magic? Could it be dual attributes…!”

The elder of the Black Tower gasped in astonishment upon hearing her words.

“However, teaching Master Confucius any further dark magic beyond this point seems beyond my capabilities.”

After saying that, Sepia’s gaze turned toward the Duke of Saxony.

The continent’s foremost command mage and dark sorcerer. The pitch-black mage tower lord reigning at the pinnacle of the Black Mage Tower.

And at the same time, Dale’s father.

For a mere elder of the Blue Tower to claim they could teach him dark magic was laughable—even a passing dog would scoff at such a notion.

“For now, as Dale wishes, I ask that you continue guiding him in water magic.”

The Black Duke, grasping the meaning, nodded.

Elena still doesn’t know her son is learning necromancy. But if Dale continues to desire dark magic, teaching it is not Sepia’s responsibility.

“I’ll try talking to my wife again.”

Having said that much, the Black Duke ended the topic of Dale.

That dawn, in the duke and duchess’s bedroom.

“My dear, you’re late.”

Elena smiled softly at her husband, who had returned after the meeting.

“You worked hard today.”

“Thank you.”

He smiled and then offered a cup filled with wine. The Black Duke, unusually, accepted the cup with a gentle smile.

“I have most excellent news.”

A gentle smile he rarely showed to the world, save for his wife Elena. She too, before knowing his smile, feared the Black Count’s notoriety, just as the empire’s people whispered about it.

“It concerns our son.”

“Dale?”

The moment she heard her son’s name, Elena’s face lit up.

“His Majesty said he has already mastered first-circle magic.”

“Already that far!”

“That child possesses a brilliant talent unlike any I have ever seen before.”

The Black Ball continued, his voice brimming with satisfaction. He couldn’t hide his pride as a father.

“Our child truly is extraordinary.”

“Certainly, there are aspects about him that are unlike other children his age.”

It was beyond what could be described as mere genius. Though he didn’t show it, sometimes the child’s unchildlike behavior was so unsettling it sent a chill down his spine.

“Still, she’s our beloved child.”

Yet Elena’s expression held the unwavering smile of a mother.

“There’s no doubt it’s our child.”

The Black Prince was no different.

“To that child…”

Therefore, the Black Duke took a deep breath and remained silent for a moment.

“As a father, I wish to teach him the strength to protect our land.”

After the silence, the Black Duke spoke.

A few days later.

Dale was immersed in his magical training on the plains outside the city, as usual.

Raising corpses and manipulating cold. Refining the dual attributes of water and darkness, advancing toward the second circle.

And just as he was listening to Sepia’s guidance as usual,

Far off at the city entrance, a procession bearing the Saxon ducal crest began to approach.

‘Father headed for the Necropolis with the Black Magic Tower this morning—what could this procession be?’

Dale tilted his head slightly at the sight. Immediately, the knights guarding Dale and Sepia hurriedly knelt before the figure stepping from the carriage.

“Oh, Mother!”

It was Dale’s mother, Elena.

Supported by her maids, Elena approached. Dale swallowed his bewilderment for a moment, and Sepia felt the same.

“Were you learning magic here?”

“Yes.”

Elena paid no heed and moved toward Dale. Beneath her feet lay the rabbit that had just moments ago been hopping back to life from the brink of death. Though she had hastily reversed the revival, the rabbit’s corpse sprawled at her feet was utterly suspicious.

“Eh, Lady Elena. This is…”

Even Sepia, the world-renowned healer, seemed unable to hide his bewilderment. Seeing this, Dale too was about to speak when—

“I made a promise with your father.”

Elena cut Dale off.

But her voice held no reproach toward Dale. Instead, it carried a motherly tenderness deeper than usual.

“How terrifying that army of the dead he raised must have been to my young self.”

Elena continued in a gentle voice, never once raising her temper.

“So when he confessed his feelings to me, I was so terrified I burst into tears right there.”

“Mother…”

“I was such a young and foolish girl back then. The sight of him flustered before me is still vivid in my mind.”

After saying that much, Elena paused for a moment.

“But our domain is exposed to far too many threats from enemies.”

After the silence, Elena quietly opened her mouth. Her words carried a resolve even firmer than the benevolence she had shown moments before.

Though Elena was the cherished daughter of a count’s household, raised like a precious jewel, she was nonetheless an imperial noblewoman. Moreover, as the mistress of the Saxon ducal house, Dale could keenly grasp the hidden meaning behind her words about “far too many enemies.”

The ugly reality of the empire, stained by the fierce struggle for desire.

“It seems I forgot that your father’s strength lies in defending this land against those enemies.”

“……”

“As the eldest son of the Duke’s household, my immaturity lies in not fully grasping the burdens you must bear.”

The burdens you must bear as the eldest son of the duke’s house. Dale could not continue.

“This vast land and house, myself and your father, and even your new brother.”

“A… younger sibling?”

“Didn’t you say you wanted a little sister?”

Elena smiled gently, caressing her belly. Feeling the faint, stirring life within.

“A slightly belated birthday present.”

It was the moment Dale’s wish, made on his eighth birthday, came true.