"Who are you?"

Caloto unconsciously broke into a cold sweat.

Although he tried not to show any signs of being shaken, he naturally felt tense at the mysterious appearance of his opponent.

'What is this? Was there someone like this in the Magic Intelligence Department?'

Even though it was a surprise attack, three of his five disciples were taken down.

These were people who were quite seasoned in combat, yet they died without being able to properly respond.

'No, more than that, even I didn't notice for a moment.'

Working in this underground world, one's senses inevitably become extremely sharp.

Wasn't he the one who immediately noticed the violet magician who had concealed their presence?

Yet he hadn't noticed his current opponent until they attacked.

This level of stealth is not something an ordinary human could possess.

"You're not from the Magic Intelligence Department."

There's a scent.

Unlike those hypocritical magicians pretending to be righteous, an excessively cold and pragmatic scent.

This one…he's of the same kind as himself.

"I don't know what this is all about suddenly, but you must be prepared to pay the price for daring to ambush us and killing my disciples, right?"

Caloto was already in a bad mood.

Just as he was thinking about overcoming the biggest obstacle to devour the Kingdom of Seville, this random person suddenly interfered and was getting in the way.

He couldn't remember doing anything to earn the enmity of someone of this skill level.

Perhaps they were a secret weapon that the Magic Intelligence Department had prepared in secret.

'Whatever it may be, you'll pay dearly for daring to provoke me.'

With three disciples dead, they had already crossed a river of no return.

The weight of that blood must be washed away with the blood of this person and other magicians…And with several times more blood at that.

'Still, I shouldn't let my guard down.'

Caloto calmly analyzed his opponent.

Not only had he failed to sense his presence before the ambush, but his magic was particularly extraordinary.

'Just now, they definitely moved through the shadows.'

Shadow magic? Is there such a thing?

It's not black magic. If such a school existed, word would have spread through the underground world.

The fact that it hasn't means it's rather individual magic, meaning he’s not a black magician but a regular magician.

'Shadows. Is it a derivative of dark attribute magic? Not good. The dark attribute is too rare, so there's not much information about it.'

Caloto pondered before shaking his head.

Why was he weighing things at this point?

"Everyone focus on the task. I'll handle this one."

"B-but Master."

"Do you all want to die?"

When Caloto glared at them with bulging eyes, his remaining two disciples hurriedly raised their magical power and prepared their magic circles.

While watching them, Caloto didn't neglect to observe Rudger.

'I thought there would be some interference, but he’s not showing any signs of urgency.'

The opponent had composure.

Whether that composure stemmed from arrogance or genuine ability would be determined soon enough.

-Kurrrr.

Magical power rose around Caloto's body and a sound like steam boiling in a turbine rang out with it.

This was unusual considering how magical power release typically occurs quietly.

It was because the excessive destructive power of hell magic was trying to run wild beyond the caster's will.

Ordinary hell magic black magicians would be unable to control this power and instead be dominated by it but Caloto was different.

As befitting a pillar supporting the hell magic school, he controlled this massive flow of power without any roughness.

What rose around Caloto was green magical power.

The reason it was named hell magic was probably because it was modeled after the eternally burning flames of hell that looked like this.

-Whooosh!

The green flames brightly illuminated the warehouse interior filled with all sorts of objects.

The darkness retreated as if washed away by the light emitted from the flames.

The same went for the shadow where Rudger had been hiding.

When Rudger's form, which had only shown blue eyes in the darkness, was revealed, Caloto twisted his lips as if surprised.

'Looking at his skill, I thought some crafty old fox had come in.'

Blue eyes that didn't lose their light even in the green illumination, pale white skin and a sculpture-like appearance with long black hair.

Isn't he quite young, looking as if he's never experienced any hardship?

'But his eyes and expression are full of composure.'

Caloto didn't like that look in his eyes.

To him, who had harbored an inferiority complex toward magicians from before, Rudger's cold gaze was subtly provoking his reverse scale.

"How dare you look at me with those eyes?!"

The hell magic, responding to Caloto's will, surged greatly as if caught in the wind.

It eventually spread in all directions like a tsunami, swallowing everything.

With nothing around that needed to be protected, there was no hesitation in using magic.

'This is...'

Rudger had to make a choice as he watched the approaching tsunami of hell magic.

'Blocking it head-on would be impossible.'

The power is too strong.

The magic Caloto used was probably only early 4th tier in his school.

However, its actual destructive power had already reached the mid-5th tier.

'Achieving 5th tier power with 4th tier spell casting speed. No wonder many magicians fall for hell magic.'

Magic is a path that must be climbed through constant effort and trial and error.

However, not everyone walks the same path.

Depending on talent, some walk faster and easier paths.

Those who can't must watch others progress well from afar while shedding blood and sweat.

It was natural for people who endlessly despaired to look for shortcuts, or slightly easier paths.

That's human nature after all.

'Nevertheless, Caloto's magic has reached quite a level of mastery. I guess this is why he's not just any representative magician of the school.'

Rudger quickly retreated backward.

The warehouse interior touched by the green flames oxidized without even leaving ashes behind.

In an instant, the field of vision was dyed green.

Rudger watched the green spark that flickered in front of his nose before disappearing like a mirage.

Then he looked down at his feet.

As if a line had been drawn, the trace of flames ended abruptly.

Considering the force shown, the range wasn't that large.

Rudger immediately understood why.

"There's a limit to your control."

"...!"

Caloto's expression distorted for a moment at those words that accurately pierced his core.

As Rudger said, while the power of Caloto's magic was strong, the moment he loosened the reins even slightly, it would grow uncontrollably.

A dog that has slipped its leash never returns.

No, it would be fortunate if it didn't return.

Hell magic was the type to rather bite its master's throat.

"With magical power you can't properly handle, you tried to dominate the kingdom's underground world? You dreamed too big without knowing your place."

"Shut up!"

Caloto used magic toward Rudger.

Three snakes made of green flames shot toward Rudger.

Rudger seemed to hide his body in the shadows of the remaining debris before disappearing from his spot and Caloto's magic only burned empty space.

'Damn it. Using rat-like tactics of moving through shadows.'

Caloto rolled his eyes.

It's true his pride was hurt by Rudger's remarks. But he wasn't so reckless as to lose his judgment.

His real target was Marias Selmore, not this black-haired youth who suddenly barged in.

However, the opponent also understood his circumstances and was persistently targeting that aspect.

"You damn rat! You're only good at running away like a coward when you couldn't even be my match in a direct fight!"

While shouting this, Caloto rolled his eyes to check on his disciples' status.

The work should have been finished by now, but because Rudger had eliminated three with his surprise attack, they still hadn't reached their target.

It was a situation completely outside the calculations and Caloto felt irritation and stress rising.

Hell magic that sensed its master's will was trying to rise like magma.

You're angry too, right? Just release everything. Then you'll feel better and it'll be good.

"Kugh."

Caloto had to grit his teeth and suppress the temptation offered by hell magic.

This was why this magic was problematic.

The moment your mind wavers even slightly, it immediately tries to control its master as it pleases.

As the tier increases, the frequency of temptations decreases, but occasionally there comes an unbearably big wave.

This was precisely that moment.

Caloto had to clench his teeth and suppress the magic but Rudger had no intention of letting that exposed opening slide.

Sharp arrows of magic power aimed at Caloto's brow, temples, and solar plexus.

Just as Caloto failed to react, green flames rose around his body and not only offset Rudger's magic but burned it away.

'Magic power on its own?'

Rudger laughed in disbelief.

Right. It's not like it only has disadvantages, is it?

'At this rate, halfheartedly hitting and running from the outside would be a waste of time.'

Having made his judgment, Rudger revealed himself where Caloto could see.

Just then, Caloto, who had regained his reason, glared at Rudger with wide eyes.

"How dare you. Someone who can't even properly fight me head-on..."

"Let's do it."

"What?"

"I'm saying I'll fight you head-on. Let's go all out against each other, no holding back."

Caloto couldn't understand what Rudger was saying.

Could this be some kind of trap?

"What? Are you scared?"

The moment he heard those words, Caloto erased the possibility of a trap from his mind.

"Fine. Since you asked for it, I'll show you properly."

Right. When an opportunity arose to break the arrogant magician's pride, how could he refuse?

Caloto soothed his magic power.

There's your prey right in front of you. There's someone who looked down on and ignored us. So devour that person with all your might.

The green flames he built up writhed like tentacles.

It wasn't an illusion.

Behind Caloto's back, a giant octopus made of green flames appeared.

"That arrogance drove you to death! Magician!"

Caloto shot magic toward Rudger.

Green legs surrounded Rudger from all directions as if to encircle him.

Even if he tried to escape with that precious shadow magic, it was large enough to devour the entire area.

Until then, Rudger hadn't made any particular magical preparations.

'What is this?'

While Caloto was certain of victory, Rudger's behavior puzzled him.

They hadn't fought for long, but during that short time, he could clearly feel that Rudger's way of fighting was ruthlessly rational and thorough.

Even though he was openly exposing himself now, there must be some scheme behind it but even though his life was in critical danger, Rudger just stood still.

'Has he lost his mind?'

Caloto inwardly rejoiced.

Right. He must have tried for a head-on battle thinking we were easy targets, only to be frightened by this magic.

For someone who seemed like a veteran, it was an embarrassingly disappointing mistake but that's how real combat is.

Even a battle-hardened veteran can lose their life from a small mistake.

Caloto believed without doubt that this was the case for Rudger, until he suddenly pulled out a red jewel from his breast.

"Devour it, Pasha."

Pasha, who had been waiting for an opportunity, responded.

The direction of the green flame tentacles targeting Rudger from all around changed.

Like water being sucked down a drain, the red jewel greedily sucked in the green flames.

"Wh-what is this?"

Caloto lost his composure at the sight of his magic power, and even his most powerful spell, being absorbed by a mere red jewel.

"What the hell is that thing!"

Moreover, what bewildered him more was the being gradually revealing itself while devouring those green flames.

The massive dragon head that rose behind Rudger's back absorbed all the remaining flames, then snorted.

What? I thought it would be some tasty flames, but it was nothing special.

The dragon's expression seemed to clearly say that.

As if there was nothing more to see, the dragon head returned to the jewel.

Rudger naturally put that jewel back in his breast.

"Flames of hell, huh. Unlike its grandiose name, it wasn't much."

"Wh-what did you say?"

"I said that because this one didn't find it very tasty, contrary to expectations."

Rudger understood Pasha's reaction.

After all, dragon's flame was one of the biggest influences in his birth.

To one who eats flames, a mere black magician's fire wouldn't be satisfying.

Moreover, hell magic isn't pure elemental, but flames mixed with all sorts of impurities.

From Pasha's perspective, it probably felt like eating junk food full of artificial flavoring.

True to his picky taste, he didn't particularly like it.

"Such, such..."

Caloto was half dazed.

Not only was his pride and joy, the flames of hell, so helplessly absorbed, but it was even treated as cheap stuff, causing no small crack in his mental state.

Because of that, his magic power that he had been suppressing with composure and reason until now started to surge over his skin.

By the time Caloto belatedly realized this, it was already too late.

"Kuaaah!"

-Whoosh!

Caloto's body was engulfed in green flames.

The green flames instantly devoured Caloto's entire body and blazed up as Caloto's skin cracked like stone.

Sparks scattered as flames leaked through those cracks.

His clothes burned away, and even the staff in his hand turned to ash and disappeared.

"...This is unexpected."

Rudger watched.

In the green flames, as flesh disappeared and only bones remained of Caloto.

What remained in place was not a well-dressed black magician, but a charred skeleton spewing green flames who turned its head to stare at Rudger.