Surviving as an Academy Black Magician

―Karl Demian, the porter of the warrior party, no, Cheonakcheon, the small heavenly horse, looked forward with his characteristic empty eyes.

Huge horns reminiscent of those of a goat. However, other than that, it was difficult to find anything different from the race called ‘human’. If I had to pick one out, it was about outstanding physical ability.

The man with the horns straightened his sword, gasping for breath with an expression contorted in pain.

More than himself, who was covered in blood, he was acting to take care of his subordinates who had already become incapacitated.

It was foolish. As a result, the range of choices that could be taken narrowed, and as time passed, the aspect of the battle was getting worse and worse.

Demon King, Deamon.

That was the man’s name. He possessed great strength enough to withstand the all-out offensive of the warrior party by himself.

But his men caught him off guard.

The party of warriors, who knew that they would not be able to defeat the demon king in an all-out war in the first place, decided to slowly choke him rather than face him.

I had obtained information that he cared terribly for his subordinates.

It was a cunning plan that even Cheonakcheon, who would become the owner of the Demonic Cult, would stick out his tongue.

At this point, I was confused about who was the Demon King and who was the Hero.

He released the poison, kidnapped and tortured, entered the secret passage of the castle and easily subdued the executives.

The demon king Deamon came to know about this belatedly, but he couldn’t show his skills due to his severely injured subordinates.

The Demon King’s subordinates, who are extremely loyal, begged him because they knew that they were holding him back.

Never mind us, please show your inaction. If it’s for you, it’s not a waste to give my life.

But nonetheless, Deamon.

“How could I abandon you guys? It is a nation built with your sweat and hard work. And I am the head of the country. There is no future for a master who has abandoned his subjects.”

Honest, foolish. However, Cheonakcheon did not hate that.

‘I like it.’

He was the closest to a warrior than any human he had ever seen in this world.

‘That foolishness will save you.’

Brilliant light emanated from the body of the hero Ras.

It was a sacred skill that could only be used by warriors chosen by the goddess.

“It is over. Damn you goddamn bastard. The hero Ras will kill you and save humanity from evil.”

The demon lord, Deamon, gave a fishy smile. It was an obvious laugh.

“It’s not even funny. You humans always treat us as ‘evil’, but don’t you know that you are closer to ‘evil’ than anyone else?”

“It’s time to die, so you’re talking nonsense.”

“Am I wrong? Even in the long history of the demons, we have never invaded your human territory first. It’s always been you humans invading our land! Arbitrarily defining us as evil, in the name of serving humanity! our people! Aren’t you the ones who brutally massacred them!”

It was a cry close to a scream. However, the hero looked at him with emotionless eyes without any agitation and said.

“What will you do? Resent that you were born as a demon. Demons are the enemy of mankind. therefore it is evil That is the law of the world, and the will of the goddess.”

The saintess Lia and the mage Lin Mage assisted.

“You are right. You don’t have to listen to the wicked. Warrior.”

“okay. Do you think we’ll blink an eye at the slick words invented to live? It’s like seeing a little girl who appeals to the subject of being a demon king.”

Only Teresa, the leader of the knights, silently watched him.

Deamon gripped his sword as if resigned. He knew he couldn’t go against his fate, but he still intended to burn his life to the very end.

“… Will definitely come back.”

The moment when the warrior’s sword, swaying with golden waves, was about to advance towards Deamon’s heart.

“Stop.”

A piercing voice echoed through the hall. Everyone’s attention turned to the owner of the voice.

The hero Lars burst into laughter when he discovered the owner of the voice.

“what? stop? under… . Now, are all the idiots interfering?”

It was because the owner of the voice was none other than Carl Damian, the porter of the warrior party.

However, he stared straight at the demon lord Deamon, completely ignoring Lars in front of him.

His red eyes shimmered quietly like a calm lake.

“Demon King, Deamon.”

It was no longer the voice of Kal Damian, the porter of the hero’s party.

“Are you really crazy? you really want to die… .”

“Do you want to live?”

It was the voice of the Small Heavenly Demon, the Heavenly Demon, the only disciple of the Heavenly Demon, who was the head of the ten thousand demons and unified the world.

The moment his voice rang out, no one in the room could open their mouths.

Even the hero Lars, who had been angry like a fire until just now, was frozen hard.

An incomprehensible fear that he dared not refuse came crashing down on him like a wave.

Cheonakcheon smiled.

“I will ask you again. the king of demons Do you want to live?”

Truly arrogant and full of composure, but more than that, a smile full of dignity.

A shudder flowed through the whole body of Demon Lord Deamon who saw it.

Just like when they faced [Orbas], the demon they worship.

“I, I… .”

Deamon’s voice trembled.

“I want to live! I want to live fiercely! I don’t want to die like this!”

A close cry of screaming.

Realizing that something was wrong belatedly, the party of warriors hurriedly prepared for battle.

“Lin! Kill that bastard first!”

“Don’t give orders! Because if you don’t say it, it will! I wish for the light of burning fire… .”

The judgment was not bad, but it was a meaningless struggle.

Something like a haze began to sway all over the body of the Cheonakcheon.

At that moment, a thunderous roar erupted from his mouth.

The sound was so loud that even Lin Meiji, who was reciting the incantation, lost her concentration and covered her ears.

“good night! In the name of the Socheonma Cheonakcheon, I will declare that from now on this place is the domain of the Great Heavenly Demon God.”

At the same time, he slammed his foot down toward the ground.

bang-!

“Everyone kneel.”

Cracks appeared in the ground where Cheonakcheon stepped, and the bodies of the warriors stumbled.

An invisible, intangible force oppressed their entire body.

They tried their best to resist, but the difference in strength between them was as great as the difference between an elephant and an ant.

A party of warriors gasping for breath while lying flat on the floor.

Only Cheonakcheon stood upright and looked down at them.

On the night of the full moon, the full moon dyed red.

Second Coming of the Heavenly Demon.

It was the beginning of a twisted world.

* * *

The mirror didn’t speak to me anymore.

I only opened and closed my eyes for a moment, but the mirror that was talking to me was gone.

As if it never existed here in the first place.

It was a hazy feeling, like a dream.

I don’t know how to select a doppelganger, but first of all, one thing is certain: I’m not.

‘A doppelganger after Dullahan… . I don’t know if it’s because of the ban, but the difficulty is definitely abnormal. Even considering the level of the party, this doesn’t make sense. It feels like they’re deliberately testing how long they can last.’

… I thought that maybe the cause of all this might be because of me.

The veiled bloodline of the Sieghard family.

Even one of the 7 Transcendentalists, the chairman of the board, Ashtar, personally defended me, so the examiners wondered what my capabilities were.

But, of course, I didn’t have the heart to go along with their pranks.

Moderately. It will only show them up to the appropriate level that they can understand.

I got out of the place where the mirror was and walked forward.

It wasn’t long before the appearance of the party that had arrived first came into view.

They huddled together and were talking with serious faces. Eden, who spotted me first, said with a rare serious face.

“captain. Why are you so late?”

“It came right away. What’s wrong?”

Eden pointed to the floor.

“Take a look at this.”

[Welcome to the Mirror Forest. Now, I will briefly explain the rules of this forest. One of them has a doppelganger. From now on, if you can’t find and kill your doppelganger before sunset, everyone here will die. Also, if you do not kill the doppelganger within the time limit, or if you kill a non-doppelganger, everyone will die.

1. A doppelganger replicates the same experiences and memories as the person it clones.

2. Doppelgangers cannot lie.

3. Doppelgangers have no shadows.

4. Doppelganger grows out of ‘recognition’.

5. The only way out of this forest is to find and kill the ‘doppelganger’ among you.

Above all, good luck.]

I knew that the Mirror Forest was themed around doppelgangers, but I just knew there were rules like this for the first time.

“You mean there is a doppelganger among us.”

“That’s right. It’s very embarrassing. Among them is a doppelganger… .”

Frey opened her mouth cautiously. Judging by the expression on his face, he seemed to be thinking pretty desperately about this ordeal.

“As you may have seen, Lord Seil, it is said that a doppelganger replicates the original’s experiences and memories. That means that it is no different from the original character, so would it be possible for us to find a doppelganger?”

“… I’ll have to look for it. Fortunately, it doesn’t seem like there is no way at all, so let’s put our heads together.”

Then, Charlotte looked at me and said.

“Aren’t you your doppelganger?”

Her sudden words made my face crumple without my knowledge.

“Are you doing this to me?”

“okay. you.”

“Why do you think so?”

At first, I wondered if she pointed it out blindly because of her resentment toward me, but now, unlike usual, she continued speaking with a very serious face.

“Me and the commoner went in the same direction. A mirror was placed there, but nothing special happened. So we both know each other is real. Because there’s no way I wouldn’t know if something was wrong. Right commoner?”

Eden, whose name was suddenly called, responded with embarrassment.

“Yes, it is, but… .”

Charlotte said in a more confident tone.

“Once I and the commoners are excluded from the list of suspects, the only thing left is you and Frey. But you know what? Frey was here before me and the commoners. Right Frey?”

Frey looked back at me and Charlotte with wide eyes and cautiously answered.

“yes… . That’s right.”

“Since I came that early, there is a high probability that nothing happened. Because me and the common people came at the same time. But you are too late to compare with us. As if something had happened. So, of course, I have no choice but to doubt you.”

It is sophistry. No, it’s full of sophistry. There are too many loopholes in her logic.

“Are you making me a doppelganger just because I’m late? If that’s the way you think, wouldn’t it be possible that the first Prey among them could be your doppelgänger?”

“I-I am not!”

At that time, Eden, who was contemplating something, looked at me and asked.

“captain. If so, can you explain why you are late?”

It was clearly a look full of doubt.