"Are your arms ...... not working properly?

　I looked at my arms again.
　They're almost skin and bones.

"I can't even hold a wizard's wand with these. ......

　I thought, and then I smiled to myself.

I don't need a wand anymore. I don't have any magic left in me.

　I've been training to be a wizard for years.
　To protect Irina.

　Under Valerie's tutelage, I've worked hard to develop my magic, memorize complicated chants, learn to control my mind... I'm not saying I'm top-notch, but I think I'm pretty good.
　I think I've acquired enough power to protect Irina.

　It's the only thing I've worked for my whole life.

　But it's gone now.
　Maybe it'll never come back.

　But then again... the very reason I wanted to be a wizard is already lost.

　To protect Irina.
　I don't need to fulfill that purpose anymore.

　As I thought about it, the image of her and Juno popped into my mind.

　The two of them looking down at me as I collapsed in extreme pain.
　The two of them kissing each other passionately, as if to show off.

　I was the only one who was allowed to touch their lips, but they easily took them and enjoyed them.
　You'll be able to find a lot of people who are looking for the best way to get the most out of their life.

　The vomit-inducing betrayal of a lover and best friend.
　d*mn it...

I love it. The dense, deep hatred - now it seems to have gained strength again.

　Inside me, the voice echoed again.
　The voice of the [Darkness] that says it resides in me.

The damage of the EX Skill [Fixed Damage] has been increased from 2 to 3.

　It's only one more damage.

"...... Well, whatever.

　I'm not sure what to do.
　One by one, I'll build it up.

　Eventually I'll have the power to destroy everything.

Someday, I promise. ......

　I staggered to my feet.

　Compared to my arms, which were reduced to skin and bones, my legs were a bit weaker.
　I can walk slowly - with some pain - but it doesn't bother me.

　However, it will be impossible for me to run fast.
　I probably won't be able to do any strenuous exercise for the rest of my life.
　Step by step, I walk with a feeble gait.

　I'm not strong enough to avenge them yet.

　But the path I take... the path ahead...
　I believe there is pain and despair for them.

　For now, I'll just nurture the darkness inside me...



　I walked down the mountain path on weak legs.
　I wanted to get to the town first.

　I'm unusually hungry.
　Come to think of it, I haven't eaten anything in over a day.

What the...?

　I felt a disturbing presence, and I stopped.

"Oops, you'll have to pay a toll from here on out.

　A dozen men emerge from the bushes.
　They look like thieves.

"Leave all your stuff behind, heh heh.

　With these words, the men draw their swords.

　All of them are laughing at me.
　All of them looked down on me with lazy eyes.

　They must have realized that I, a skinny, weak man like a dead tree, was easy prey.

　The old me could have kicked all of them to the curb with a few attack spells.
　They would have been much stronger than the sword wolf, but I would have been able to defeat them without a problem.

　But I've lost that magic now.
　His physical abilities have diminished considerably, and he is now a helpless ordinary man.

But he doesn't look like he's got much of anything, does he?
No, wait.

　No, wait." A man who looked like a chieftain, standing at the back of the line, stared at me.

You've got something very expensive on you, don't you?

　When I was expelled from the party, I didn't bring any money with me, but I did have a few pieces of equipment.
　All of them are expensive magical equipment that can be recognized by those who see them.

　However, if you sell them to a seller, you can get a lot of money.
　But if you sell them, you can make a lot of money.

I'll take it and go into town later. I'll have plenty of liquor and women for the time being!
"That's a good one!

　The thieves shouted and came at him.

　Don't be silly.

　I felt a powerful rage welling up in my chest.

　I'm here for revenge.
　I can't let Juno and Irina betray me.
　I will not tolerate the betrayal of my friends.

　I'll live until I'm done with that.


　I'll fight.

And you're gonna...
"Heck, I'll beat you to death!

　One of them hits me, and I'm blown wide open.

　I felt every bone in my body creak.
　I think I might have broken something.

　Not only have I lost weight, but my bones, and maybe even my organs, have weakened.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
He's too weak, man!　Hahahahaha!

　Ha-ha-ha!" Their sneers echoed.

　What a weak man I am now.
　I'd probably lose to a child in close combat.

What the ......?　I have a strange feeling right now.
I feel like I'm hurting. ......
Is this guy using witchcraft?

　The thieves were staring at me.

　I'm using my skill to deal 3 fixed damage every 3 seconds.
　That's why the damage is accumulating on them little by little.

　But that doesn't mean I can't kill them with a single blow.

　Time.
　Just buy us some time and wait for the damage to build up to a fatal amount...

No, you're not.

　I say to myself.
　Bide my time?
　Run around until then?
　No, you're not.

It's not that kind of power I'm trying to get.
"What the hell are you talking about?

　The thieves are back.

What I need to obtain is a much more overwhelming power...

　The image of Juno and Irina popped into my mind.
　I had a vision of them embracing naked.
　Irina easily betrayed the eternal love that she had sworn to me and allowed Juno to touch her.
　Youno, who took Irina away from me, easily trampling on the firm friendship we had sworn.

　The image of Valerie flashed through my mind.
　I've always respected her as a master of magic.
　But she used me like a tool.
　A sacrifice to the spell.

　That goes for Riot, Fara, Margot.

　I thought they were my friends.
　I thought you were my friend.

"Don't be ...... stupid!

　The flames of my anger turned to flames and burned my chest.

"It's good anger and hatred. The hatred level is rising rapidly.

A voice from the darkness said.

The damage of the EX Skill [Fixed Damage] has been increased from three to four.
'Furthermore, the amount of damage has been increased from four to five. And more...
I'll go as high as I can.

　I look at the thieves.

"I'll hate you to no end...
I'll hate you to no end." "But ......, .......

　At last, one of the men in front of me coughed up blood and collapsed.

"What the ......?
"Oh, hey ......!

　One more, and then another.
　One by one, the ones with the lowest HP reached the fatal level and fell.

What's ...... that, what's ...... that, what's ...... that, what's ...... that?

　The last remaining man, who looked like a chieftain, backed away.

You are the sacrifice. You are a sacrifice, to set my darkness ablaze.

　I laughed, the corners of my mouth hanging open.
　I was flattered.

"Thank you. For the reward...

　All that anger, all that hate, feeds my power.
　For giving me that chance.

Die.


　The chieftain spurted blood from his body and died.