'At last, Aslan shows his true colors!'

Yulia clenched her fist tightly, resolute. Researching black magic—this was the moment she had been anticipating.

'The reason Aslan is keeping me around must be because of black magic.'

Necromancy? It certainly was a useful ability. Unique and practical, but the Vermont family’s long-held desire had always been black magic. He was undoubtedly trying to use my brilliant mind to complete it!

What would happen if black magic were perfected? From what she had seen in fairy tales, the evil god descends into the world, plunging it into chaos and eventually leading to its destruction. Therefore, it was her destiny to stop Aslan from completing black magic!

'This is a heavy burden!'

Yulia trembled with a sense of mission. If she didn’t successfully disrupt Aslan’s research, she wouldn’t be able to prevent the world’s destruction. The fate of the world rested on her fingertips! She needed to keep her mind sharp!

"I noticed you take great notes last time. Summarize the main contents of this book for me."
"Huh? Summarize? Is that what research is…?"
"That’s how the first step always goes."

She felt a bit empty inside. Wasn’t she called upon for her brilliant mind?

With a somewhat subdued mood, Yulia settled down and opened the book Aslan had handed her.

'Hmm. This seems to be a historical text on black magic.'

The book was organized with details about who conducted what research and how it was continued. Feeling a spark of interest, Yulia began to focus.

Black magic was believed to be a malevolent form of magic that existed in the past. It had a completely different system from existing magic and was said to emit a black light. However, the system and its intricacies had all been lost, leaving no one who could use black magic.

"Isn’t black magic just a myth? There are only testimonies of people claiming to have seen it, but no evidence at all. All attempts to recreate it have failed…"
"No. It definitely exists."
"…"

Aslan replied firmly.

Many scholars had raised the possibility that black magic was merely a legend. Yet, Aslan had the insight to know that black magic was real. This was due to the existence of the evil god, Carly.

[The evil god 'Carly' is cheering you on, saying you're doing well!]

The evil god herself was urging the research on black magic. With Carly endorsing the existence of black magic, could it really be a fabrication?

'…Considering her intelligence, it might make sense.'

Although Carly seemed to radiate a sense of foolishness, she was still an evil god. Even when they visited the academy library, she had guided Yulia to a space where black magic books were hidden.

Carly didn’t just pressure Yulia to conduct research without intelligence; she also helped and guided her toward making progress, which indicated that black magic was not a fabrication.

That was Aslan's conclusion.

'If he speaks so decisively, it must really exist.'

Yulia tilted her head in contemplation and turned her gaze back to the book. It seemed that Aslan wasn’t the only one interested in black magic. The book stated that countless people had attempted to recreate ancient black magic.

'Not everyone began their research with malicious intent, huh?'

Contrary to Yulia’s expectations, the majority of the research into black magic had academic purposes. It began purely out of curiosity. However, the ultimate outcomes were universally horrific.

Some had fallen into depravity and were executed for conducting cruel experiments on people. Others had starved to death while solely focusing on their research without paying attention to themselves. Still, others had gone insane and become hopelessly deranged.

'Ugh. With so many precedents like this, why do people still try to conduct research…?'

This was precisely why the state banned and suppressed black magic. But why would those who saw the grim endings of previous researchers still want to pursue it? Yulia simply couldn’t understand these moths to a flame.

Oh, speaking of moths to a flame, there was one here too.

Yulia glanced sideways at Aslan, who was concentrating with a serious expression, and tilted her head. She had this image that everyone researching black magic was insane, but while Aslan’s appearance seemed sinister, he turned out to be surprisingly normal upon getting to know him.

That made it all the more puzzling. Why was Aslan so fixated on black magic?

"You."
"Calling me that makes it sound like I have a proper wife or something."
"That's inappropriate! Do you always live with those kinds of thoughts in your mind?!"
"…"

Aslan didn’t deny it.

"Why did you call me?"
"Just you… Ah, no. Uncle… Ugh. That sounds off. Y-you… You, sir?"
"Any title is fine, so just get to the point."
"Ugh. What I wanted to ask was why you’re so fixated on black magic. I wanted to know that…."
"…"

Aslan fell silent.

Why was he so fixated on black magic?

Yulia didn’t want to ask him that.

…It wasn’t something she could say aloud.

However, considering why the former Aslan Vermont had dabbled in black magic, she could infer his feelings and answer.

"Not everyone is born with extraordinary talents. They may have lost that talent. While most people choose to be content with their current state, some find it impossible. In my case, I can no longer walk the path of magic. But what if it’s black magic, which has a completely different system from existing magic? That’s how my research began."
"Hmm…"

So the reason wasn’t as sinister as she expected. Surprised by this unexpected answer, Yulia let out a long snort.

'I have one less reason to dislike Aslan…'

In the Vermont mansion, there weren’t any cruel human experiments taking place. The purpose of researching black magic wasn’t to satisfy a wicked greed or to bring about the world’s destruction.

Of course, it was wrong to study black magic, which had been banned by the state. But for now, it was being treated as an interesting, scholarly pursuit.

She hadn’t harmed anyone so far…

So wasn’t Aslan not such a bad person after all?

Suddenly, Yulia felt confused.

"Huh?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Oh, it’s nothing…."

Yulia turned the pages of the book, startled. She tried hard to suppress her agitation.

What she found in the book was, surprisingly, a decisive piece of evidence regarding black magic.

• There has never been a definitive proof of black magic found.

• All claims of evidence for black magic today are just substances that produce something black. Some scholars, who are too ashamed to be called such, even refer to flames that produce black smoke as tools of black magic.

• However, the mineral called Neodymium that I discovered is different. This substance emits a large amount of energy along with a black light under certain conditions. The exact cause of this phenomenon is unknown. However, what is clear is that this cannot be explained by existing laws of physics or magic.

• After ten years of various experiments to attempt to reproduce this phenomenon, there has been no progress.

• The royal family ordered the experiments to cease. Therefore, all Neodymium must be disposed of…

This was it. This was the one.

A phenomenon that couldn’t be explained by science or magic.

Though the author of this book was forced to stop his experiments due to pressure from higher-ups before achieving success, at least it seemed certain that the substance called Neodymium had some sort of connection to black magic.

'Should I tell him? Or not?'

Yulia struggled internally. If she revealed this, it would lead to significant progress in Aslan’s research on black magic.

Her rational mind screamed that she shouldn’t tell him.

'Not everyone is born with extraordinary talents.'

Ever since hearing Aslan’s story about his circumstances, her heart had ached slightly.

What she thought was a curse in her insomnia had actually been her talent for necromancy.

Aslan didn’t have such a talent.

Yet he was still searching for a way.

To rise higher.

To shine brilliantly.

He was struggling with a talentless body.

Even if that method were to be viewed as a wicked force, Yulia didn’t see Aslan as particularly evil.

She wanted to help Aslan.

At the same time, a terrifying thought began to emerge.

'What if Aslan falls into depravity like the numerous scholars?'

What if Aslan met a horrific end like the researchers mentioned in this book?

What if she told him this information and, as a result, progressed his black magic research, leading to his ruin…?

'That would be too painful…'

Then her heart would ache terribly.

Yulia tightly gripped the book and sniffed back her tears.

Just imagining such a future terrified her.

'Yes. I’ll keep it hidden.'

This wouldn’t do.

Deciding to hide the information about Neodymium, Yulia was about to turn the page when—

"Neodymium!? This is it! Is this the material for black magic? Fuel? Isn’t it something like that?"
"…!"

Startled, Yulia slammed the book shut at the voice that came from behind her.

Turning around, she saw Charlotte with a bright smile, gripping Yulia’s shoulder.

Why is she only smart at useless times, and acts like a fool at critical moments…!?

Yulia shot her a resentful glare, but Charlotte looked bewildered, not understanding what was going on.

"Neodymium? Let me see it."
"Ah…"

This was bad.

As Aslan approached with interest, Yulia's expression quickly turned to one of despair.