CH 42

Finally, I understood the gist of things. Experience gained from a dungeon boss monster was distributed according to contribution. Wipera still lacked attack power and level to single-handed defeat a boss monster, but it was another story if his attack power was doubled. “…You would kill your team member just to gain experience all to yourself, to grow stronger alone?”

“Hmph, such narrow thinking,” he replied. “Take a long-term view: wouldn’t peace come to the world if I used all you useless cretins to grow stronger and eventually defeat the Demon Lord? A sacrifice for the greater good is inevitable.”

What bull droppings. How many promising sprouts must Wipera have trampled on? I was struck by an appalling illusion of a mountain of dead geniuses, piled one after another by a mediocre man in his desire to become a genius… And knowing that his life would end as a mediocre man without even gaining any proper renown, even after all his filthy deeds, made it all the worse. Why were the other team members cooperating with him? Blackmail? Or was it…

I looked around at the others in a daze, but instead of avoiding my eyes, they faced me without the slightest hint of shame, their faces colored by greed. Their share of the reward… That was what they would get. Wipera got to have experience, while the team members got to have money. This had to be their strange form of mutual dependence.

As my mind worked furiously to understand the situation, Wipera grabbed my chin and forced me to look up. He held a knife to my throat as he whispered, “I don’t hate you—in fact, I pity you. As a fellow support mage, I know what garbage our abilities are.” The keen edge of the knife was chilling. He didn’t seem intent on killing me right away, however; he soon withdrew the knife. “When I was despairing at the difference in talent between me and those of the 1st Corps, I awakened to magic by chance. I was happy at the thought of becoming a magic spearman, but not for long because I realized my element belonged to that of a blasted supporter! The anguish I felt then…!”

What, was he owed good magic or something? He couldn’t even be grateful for what he had! I had more than one thing to say, but I quietly held back. I had to let him go berserk and expose him completely.

“Yes… But I soon realized that it was all part of God’s will… That’s right. Saint Marianne granted me this magic because she wanted me to become a more powerful spearman.” He prattled on and so far, it seemed conceivable. Anyone would self-rationalize this much. The problem, however, was that it didn’t end here. “The mediocre wouldn’t know the will of God…” he muttered. “I’m only doing as I’m meant to by gaining more power, regardless of the means and methods—because I. Am. A chosen one!”

Seeing him go beyond self-rationalization and into the zone of utter insanity, talking of God and being chosen, I felt it was time to deal with this lowlife and shut him up… But Wipera continued to blather, lost in the heat of the moment. “This ability of mine may be useless, but it can help me become a greater spearman. But you? You’re nothing but a support mage. Look at how pathetic you are! What can you do with this thin arm of yours?”

Then, suddenly, Wipera twisted my arm. “Ack!” I screamed. My body was indeed worthless, but I didn’t want to hear that from the scum that doped up on the lives of others. Swine like him were the reason behind the reputation of support mages falling into the mud!

He was a snake in the grass and had to be eliminated on the spot. The worst thing that could happen was his dog dropping ideas spreading and drawing the like-minded into one place. Unaware of my thoughts, Wipera clicked his tongue with pity, continuing, “I’m sure you must’ve been desperate as well, not sparing the means nor the methods. Isn’t that how you became vice-captain with that body? I too was only being desperate.”

“Don’t use me for your sophistry,” I snarled. “Unlike you, I’m a talent personally scouted by the captain.”

I was done with being polite. I knew Wipera inside out by this point, so there was no need to listen to him any further. But just as I was about to give Mayer a signal to end this farce, Wipera suddenly stepped back despite seeming ready to stab me at any time. “Still putting on a strong front…” He smirked. “Well, that isn’t a bad attitude. The dog that barks doesn’t bite, isn’t that the saying?”

No, I really was scouted… I had spoken the truth yet Wipera didn’t seem to believe me at all.

“Considering how we’re fellow support mages… Alright. I’ll give you a choice.” And no sooner than he said this, another team member dragged over Mayer.

“…May—ah, Sevi?” I called out cautiously. Why was he bringing over the tiger that was keeping quiet? I admit that I had been about to call for him, but… Were they doing me a favor, or looking for trouble?

“Now, you choose,” Wipera said. “Either you sacrifice the boy and become one of us, or you become the sacrifice.”