“I’m sorry, but the registration period has already closed. If you forfeit your position as a contestant now, you’ll face a substantial penalty… Are you sure you’re okay with that?”

These words were devastating to Fulheim. She couldn’t believe she was bound to compete in the *League of Spirit*.

It was bad enough that Jeremy had manipulated her into joining, but not even being able to choose her team was intolerable.

“Wait, I can’t switch teams either? Why?”

“Well… when registering, contestants are required to declare their team affiliation. Ms. Fulheim, you’ve been formally assigned to the ‘Skalven Team.’”

“No, I refuse.”

“Excuse me?”

Throwing a tantrum wasn’t her usual style, but Fulheim was in no position to care about appearances now.

“Please, just think of it as saving a life and let me switch teams, okay?”

“The thing is… other teams have already filled their roster with five contestants.”

“But there has to be a way! I’m begging you!”

Seeing the determined glint in her eyes as she clutched her hands together, the *League of Spirit* representative felt his heart thump.

*So… cute…*

She was usually fiery and wild like a scrappy dog, but when she looked at him with such a pleading face, it was hard to resist.

“Alright, here’s an idea.”

The representative cleared his throat, steadying his mind. Letting one student sway him was unprofessional, but her request was so earnest that he couldn’t help but offer a compromise.

“There’s an additional qualifying tournament coming up. If you can find four contestants there and form a new team, you might be able to switch.”

“Really?”

“Honestly, I’d love to create a team for you, but that’s beyond my authority. Can you find four people?”

Fulheim nodded enthusiastically. She had no idea how she’d find four people, but anything was better than teaming up with Jeremy in the Skalven Team.

Grabbing both of the representative’s hands, Fulheim smiled with a sparkle in her eyes.

“Thank you! I’ll never forget this!”

“…I don’t think I’ll ever forget this moment either.”

If anyone else had made such a request, he might have been annoyed by the extra work. But Fulheim’s heartfelt gratitude made it worthwhile.

“Make sure you find four people.”

“Yes!”

Watching her bounce away like a child, the representative sighed.

“Then again… most of the applicants for the qualifier already have team affiliations. I hope she manages…”

He had his doubts, but there was nothing more he could do, so he decided to quietly watch and wait.

After all, with Fulheim’s popularity, finding four teammates should be manageable.

“…Should be, right?”

---

It was the evening after lectures had ended.

When non-resident students went home, Mayuseong would sometimes join them, taking the opportunity to stroll around Arcanium.

While his primary goal was strengthening friendships, he also found it ideal for conducting secret communications with external contacts.

Meeting his informants within Stella was risky. Even though his disguise as a dark mage was flawless, he always had to remain vigilant, as Vice Principal Akihayden was watching.

Akihayden, once a follower of the Dark Mage King, was anything but loyal.

With his sly motives and unpredictable plans, it was best to move as quietly as possible to avoid his gaze.

“Crow. Are you here?”

As Mayuseong called out in a quiet alleyway, a shadow parted, revealing a figure draped in a black robe.

“You summoned me, my prince.”

“I have something I’d like delivered to my father. Can you manage that?”

“Of course, my prince. I will do as you command.”

Crow took the letter from Mayuseong, though he felt a twinge of surprise.

The mature prince wasn’t the type to correspond with his father. If anything, he was the sort who avoided communication altogether. This was unusual.

But it wasn’t Crow’s place to ask questions. His duty was simply to obey.

“Oh, did you find out what I asked about?”

When Mayuseong asked, Crow gulped.

The prince’s only request had been one thing: to locate the *Contractor of the Earth*, Cheoriban.

Rumor had it that he had formed a pact with *Tamul Doywol* of the Twelve Moons, granting him an indestructible body. But the truth remained unknown, as Cheoriban had disappeared without a trace after the rumor surfaced.

“I… believe I have located him.”

“And?”

“Recently, he was sighted near the Seoribal Outpost. However… when our agents arrived, all personnel on site had been killed.”

“Hmm. That’s unfortunate.”

Mayuseong’s expression tightened.

Cheoriban must have realized he was being pursued, though he likely hadn’t pinpointed the agents’ exact location. He wasn’t that perceptive.

So, he had chosen his course of action.

By killing everyone on site, he erased all traces, leaving no loose ends.

“Still as ruthless as ever.”

“He left no evidence behind, so pursuing him further was impossible.”

“We’ll rest for now. If we keep staging attacks, it’ll just wear us both out.”

Although he tried to downplay it, Mayuseong couldn’t hide his disappointment.

Cheoriban.

If he could gain his cooperation, it would bring him one step closer to achieving his goal.

Why, then, was he choosing to live a life of seclusion, turning away from all challenges?

With such power, was hiding truly necessary?

Mayuseong couldn’t understand.

“Oh, and recently, there’s been suspicious activity in the Dark Magic Tower. They’re preparing for the ‘Heir of Darkness’ succession ceremony.”

“Hmm…”

In the world of dark mages, might was everything.

The strong crushed the weak, and those with power rose to the top.

The Dark Mage King had claimed the throne by being the strongest, and for decades, he had held his position unwaveringly.

Many dark mages had tried to challenge him, only to be met with bitter defeat.

By now, it was common knowledge.

The Dark Mage King was invincible, and his rule was absolute.

But… there was one issue. Rumors had spread that he was once a member of the *Order of Light Mages*.

Though the order no longer existed, it had been an elite force created by Stella Academy with the sole purpose of exterminating dark mages. In just one year, they had instilled such fear that dark mages scattered into hiding like rats.

A light mage turned dark mage ruling as king?

He was indeed the strongest, but as a king, he was unacceptable.

Thus, the underworld of the dark mage alliance had been busy plotting ways to overthrow him.

“How pointless.”

Mayuseong laughed coldly.

Though he despised his father, he knew one thing well.

His father’s power was beyond anything simple tricks could overcome.

That was why he was so desperate to find Cheoriban.

Cheoriban was the only dark mage who had ever faced his father and survived.

*A dark mage blessed by the Twelve Moons…*

Surely, he was one of a kind.

“Do we know where he’s headed?”

Crow, looking troubled, nodded.

“Yes. Although the tracking spell was broken, it wasn’t hard to predict his route. He’s a straightforward man…”

“Is that so?”

“He’s likely heading toward the Namuhwalan Orchard in the Third World Tree. There’s no other major city nearby.”

“It’s best to avoid troubling the elves, but he wouldn’t cause problems, would he?”

“Indeed. Angering the elves and the World Tree King would be dangerous, even for Cheoriban.”

“Good. He’s not foolish enough to go that far.”

Mayuseong smiled.

“You’ve done well. Head back now. Staying out too long won’t do any good.”

“Thank you for your concern, my prince.”

With a quick bow, Crow vanished back into the shadows. Mayuseong looked up at the sky, which was beginning to darken.

“The sky looks so ominous today…”

It was a particularly cloudy evening.

---

*Bang!*

“What?! Why are you telling me this just now?!”

Central Skytower, Magic Society.

The Star of Vallierki.

The conference room was filled with archmages, each of whom had published over a hundred spells of level seven or higher. Deputy Head Karaden’s voice boomed.

“The Seoribal Outpost was completely wiped out…?”

Formed to eradicate the beasts inhabiting the Seoribal Plateau, the Seoribal Outpost was a base of veteran warrior-mages, renowned for their defense capabilities.

It had been deemed impossible to eliminate the plateau beasts for over a decade, so the outpost focused on preventing incursions with the most thorough defenses.

And yet, total annihilation.

“…Calm down, Karaden.”

Karaden was about to shout again, but a calm voice stopped him. He turned around to see a young man in his twenties, the society’s head mage and director of the Mage Union, Ayurmoon.

Having lived over 150 years, the young-appearing Ayurmoon was hardly disturbed by a crisis of this scale, finding Karaden’s excitement more annoying than anything else.

“Explain it clearly. Was it some unexpected super-beast?”

“No… that’s not it. Upon investigation by a search team, there were no signs of a fight with the beasts.”

“Then… a dark mage?”

“Yes… and it appears to be one capable of using magic.”

“Hm.”

Dark mages capable of magic were rare. Most lost their intelligence, or at the very least, their mana, upon succumbing to dark magic, rendering them unable to cast spells.

However, some dark mages retained enough of their original abilities to wield magic, making them exceptionally dangerous and troublesome.

“It seems the culprit uses earth-based magic. He doesn’t seem particularly cautious, but his tracks were completely erased.”

“Is that so?”

An earth-affiliated dark mage capable of obliterating the Seoribal Outpost single-handedly… Only one name came to mind.

*After nearly a decade, he’s resurfaced… Cheoriban.*

But why now?

He had been quiet for years, so why had he chosen to act suddenly?

Had someone provoked him?

Was there a reason?

A multitude of questions flooded his mind, though one thought stood out…

“The succession ceremony for the Dark Mage King must be nearing. They plan to install him as the new king… after all, he’s a pureblood dark mage.”

“A pureblood…?”

It was a rare term among the mages, and some looked puzzled.

For mages, a dark mage was a dark mage, without distinctions in bloodlines.

“Yes. They’re curious creatures… they categorize each other by lineage. They’re not like humans.”

Ayurmoon chuckled at his own observation, watching the mages fluster over how to respond.

Amused by their reactions, he shook his head with a small laugh.

“Have we pinpointed his location?”

“The trail was lost, but from Seoribal Plateau, there’s only one likely destination.”

“The Third World Tree, Namuhwalan’s Orchard?”

“Indeed…”

Of all places, that volatile beast was heading to the serene city of the elves.

“I hope he behaves himself there… Send a detachment of the *Dark Mage Extermination Unit* quietly.”

“Yes, sir.”

The elite Dark Mage Extermination Unit, with the strongest anti-dark mage capabilities, might be able to mitigate the damage…

But the ideal outcome would be for Cheoriban to move to another region without causing any trouble.

*Sigh.* 

Ayurmoon, feeling exhausted, sighed again. It seemed his final years would be plagued with endless challenges.

“Inform them I’ll go personally.”

“Sir, you’ll go in person…?”

“There’s no need for further discussion.”

With that, he rose.

Though he felt aged, worn, and wondered how much help he could be…

He still had his duty.