The Vastness of Magical Destiny
Chapter 343: Volume 6: Cautious Planning - 6: Darkness_2

"Ilot, it looks like there are quite a few ogres over there. It seems our mining venture is going to be quite the challenge. With these ogres lurking nearby, I’m afraid no one would want to come here to mine." Komer scratched his head in annoyance, smacking his lips. "Did that Dwarf make any new discoveries?"

"Boss, isn’t it a bit late to beat a retreat now? The workers have started making preparations for mining one after another, and all sorts of mining equipment and tools from Caffrey have already been delivered to Bahomon. What’s left is for us to deal with the ogre problem so the workers can start working in the mines. Besides, a considerable amount of money was spent on the initial construction of the simple road from Bahomon to Ugru, and now it’s being repaired and expanded again. Puber and Caffrey have really poured their money into this. If you say let’s call it quits now, won’t they fight you tooth and nail?" Shrugging his shoulders, Ilot let out a soft whistle, somewhat absent-mindedly flicking his sword blade, which shone like a pool of autumn water, and said casually: "Boss, you have quite a few weird treasures on you; just take out a couple and you could easily beat the ogres into a hasty retreat. Why be so stingy?"

Komer understood the implications in his companion’s words. He smiled wryly and shook his head: "Ilot, it’s not that I don’t want to tell you and Puber, but many things are too bizarre to believe. Speaking of them would only confound the mind and serve no purpose. Moreover, many things I can’t even explain myself—I only have a rough understanding. Sigh, my own brain is also a tangled mess, indescribable and unfathomable."

"Boss, what is there in this world that’s indescribable and unfathomable? Ever since you returned from exile, Puber and I have noticed you changed too much. Even though you joined us to come here to Caucasus, we still feel like we can’t see through you. You’re not the same boss we used to know, but Puber and I can still feel, your fiery heart hasn’t changed. However, we feel the responsibility and pressure you’re carrying in your heart is too much. Puber and I have always seen you as our boss, and if you still consider Puber and me as your brothers, then tell us everything you’ve encountered. We are brothers. Regardless of the danger, whether it be a sea of fire or a mountain of blades, we brothers will face it together!" Ilot suddenly became angry, his speech more impassioned as he fixed his intense gaze on Komer’s somewhat helpless face.

After much consideration, Komer also felt that continuing to conceal things was not the answer. He couldn’t hide the fact that he was a Dark Mage from Ilot, and Ilot had clearly witnessed him using Necromancy. It might be better to lay things out clearly, so as not to breed mistrust in the two childhood friends who had never betrayed him.

In plain and simple terms, Komer recounted how he wandered the Continent during his three years in exile, how he encountered a Dark magician and became his disciple, came into contact with Dark magic, and became a Dark Magician. He told of his return journey home, witnessing the assassination by the Church of Light, and the Church’s pursuit to kill him. Then he spoke of how he happened upon a Dark Crystal and Sheepskin Scroll from a corpse, how the Dark Crystal could merge with his Dark Magic power under certain circumstances, and even the various transformations that occurred. He told of the experiences and gains he made in his nightmarish dreams—a series of adventures so astonishing that from any perspective, they sounded more like legendary myths from an ancient hero. From being flabbergasted to sighing in admiration, from itching with curiosity to yearning with excitement, Ilot was completely engrossed in the mythical stories Komer recounted, although narrating was not one of his strong suits.

The mysterious and sinister Dark Mage, the thousand-mile pursuit by the Church of Light, the despicable tactics of the Thunderhorse Knight Group, the fascinating origins of the zombie thieves, the extraordinary origins of the Dark Crystal, and the arcane depth of the Sheepskin Scrolls made Ilot sometimes slap his knees and sigh, sometimes speak with passionate conviction, almost convincing Komer himself that he had become a Bard, spinning epic myths of a hero.

To Ilot, who was already not too fond of the Church of Light, learning that the Thunderhorse Knights would stoop to underhanded tactics of assassination and that Kennifer III allowed his vast Dark Empire to crumble because he fell for the Church’s honey trap, he felt even more scorn and disgust toward the Church. However, he was most interested in the hidden Court treasures of the Dark Empire and Kennifer III’s martial arts and combat experience as an unparalleled sovereign. The fact that such treasures and techniques lay in the far and Dangerous Wilderness of the South prevented Ilot from immediately setting aside everything to embark on a treasure-hunting adventure. His interest was therefore concentrated on the martial arts knowledge and combat experience stored in Komer’s brain.

However, Komer had to throw a bucket of cold water on Ilot, who was excited by the prospect of inheriting the experiences of Kennifer III from memory. Although the memories contained the journey to become an unrivaled sovereign, this kind of experience couldn’t be conveyed just by talking; it required endless training and tempering. Certainly, Komer could provide Ilot with guidance when necessary, but this did not mean everything could be bypassed—it simply meant less detours. And that was enough to send Ilot into raptures.