The Regressed Illegitimate Child is a Genius Dark Magician

Chapter 4

Derek’s training was harsher than expected.

“It’s time to wake up. If you wake up late again, I’ll pour water on your face.”

“Your balance is off. Focus, and focus again. Your mind and body must move together.”

“Don’t give up. You can lift more. Doing one more won’t kill you, so do it.”

“Eat more. Meals are just as important as training.”

No matter how strong one’s desire and will, without direction, it’s nothing but futile labor. Derek became an excellent guidepost for Damian. Because of that, Damian’s body grew stronger by the day. Before he knew it, he woke up earlier than anyone in the detached palace, and his appetite had doubled from before.

At first, he trembled all over while lifting a log, but at some point, he could lift it effortlessly and even perform tricks with it.

‘As expected, learning things young is the best.’

In the past, he had also made efforts to solve his stamina issues. However, his condition never improved as quickly as it did now. In the end, the timing of learning anything is crucial.

“Swordsmanship, you say?”

Damian wanted to learn not only physical strength and endurance but also technique. Though it was slightly different from their contract, Derek did not refuse. How to wield a sword. How to subdue an opponent with bare hands. How to make a campfire. How to track an enemy, and conversely, how to erase one’s own traces. How to make improvised weapons using simple materials, among other things.

These were not directly related to black magic, but Damian absorbed all of them. Not all problems in the world could be solved with black magic. In situations where it wouldn’t work, these skills would prove useful. And so, the hot summer passed, and autumn arrived. Winter came and went, leading into spring once again. Time was not infinite, but there was no need to rush. A strong body and a resilient mind. Even as a black magician wielding the most sinister power in the world, his body and mind had to be purer than anyone else’s. Of course, Damian did not spend all his time solely on physical training.

“Young master, the Adventurer’s Guild has brought the materials you requested.”

The location of the Book of Hell he had acquired before his regression, Damian investigated it whenever he had time between training sessions.

His past knowledge and experience were a great advantage, but he couldn’t rely on them alone. There was no guarantee that the book was still in the same place. Moreover, the situation now was different from before his regression. At that time, the empire was on the brink of civil war, and law enforcement across the continent was rather lax.

As a result, accessing certain dangerous areas was not heavily restricted. Meaning, places that were easy to enter back then might not be accessible now. For example, apart from the Abandoned Tower, several copies of the Book of Hell were kept within the Imperial Palace, a place Damian could not approach in his current state.

On the other hand, since this was still an era of peace, the intelligence networks across the continent were still intact. Thus, even while staying in the detached palace, he could roughly determine the locations of the Book of Hell.

These locations were broadly categorized into three types. First, books that lay dormant in ancient ruins, like the Abandoned Tower. Second, books tucked away in the bookshelves of antique collectors. And third, books in the possession of insane demon worshippers.

“But why would you want such old books…?”

To most people, including Felix, the Book of Hell was nothing more than an old, dusty tome. It had been well over a thousand years since the last black magician before Damian was executed. People feared demons and black magic, but they no longer truly understood what those things entailed. Because of this, no one imagined that the books Damian was investigating were the very foundation of black magic. The only banned books in the empire were those related to demons and black magic, yet ironically, no one knew exactly what they looked like. It was unknown how many copies of the Book of Hell existed. But if possible, he would collect them all.

“Hmm…”

Damian rested his chin on his hand as he examined the map of the continent. Marked on the map were locations where the Book of Hell was kept or suspected to be hidden.

‘I didn’t expect them to be scattered this messily.’

Now that he had organized the information, he realized just how fortunate he had been before his regression. The Books of Hell had all gathered in the central region of the continent.

‘Was that Ishtar’s doing?’

Ishtar had taken an interest in Damian not long after he first started practicing black magic. She had appeared before him even though he had never used the Book of Hell. Even after he rejected her contract, she continued to show interest in him.

‘The more one delves into black magic, the more they crave greater power.’

Perhaps she had guided him to become stronger on purpose. Because the stronger he became, the more likely he would eventually seek her out.

‘Why is it that everyone who obsesses over me, whether human or demon, is abnormal?’

Rubia and Ishtar. Though they were from completely different races, one human, the other a demon, they were both equally fanatical in their obsession with him. Of course, their reasons were different. Rubia’s obsession with Damian was clear. His mother, the empress, had possessed an allure capable of captivating the most powerful man in the empire. Damian had inherited a portion of that charm. Looking at his reflection in the mirror and then at the only remaining portrait of his mother, he had to admit, objectively speaking, his looks were outstanding.

‘I would’ve preferred to be less attractive and have more talent in Aura or Magic instead.’

Rubia was pathologically obsessed with beauty. She was utterly consumed by the idea of preserving it eternally. If he had accepted her final offer before his regression, he would likely have spent his days preserved in formalin solution. Their first meeting had been at Mikhail and Rubia’s engagement ceremony. When she suddenly asked him if he would come to her chambers, he was so terrified that he couldn’t say a word.

Rubia’s obsession continued afterward as well. Though Damian had rarely left the detached palace, she sent him letters every few months. Even after his regression, he had already received six letters. Before, he had carefully kept them, unsure of what to do. This time, he didn’t even open them, he threw them straight into the fireplace.

‘Ishtar’s obsession is different from Rubia’s.’

To her, Damian’s appearance was nothing more than a shell. What intrigued her was something hidden within him, his soul or mind. But he couldn’t guess why. It was understandable that demons would take an interest in his talent.

‘After all, I’m the only black magician in the empire.’

But Ishtar’s obsession went beyond simple curiosity. As someone who held unparalleled authority in hell, there was no apparent reason for her to take such an interest in a mere human.

‘In the end, I will have to deal with Ishtar as well.’

For now, Mikhail and Rubia were the most immediate obstacles. However, that didn’t mean he could ignore the Empress of Hell entirely.

‘I also need to investigate that artifact.’

A relic that suppresses the power of black magic. It is possible to speculate how Rubia obtained it. After mastering all the magic of the current era, she became interested in ancient magic. Thus, she organized an excavation team at the family level, scouring the empire in search of traces of ancient civilizations. She must have discovered that bell at that time as well. One cannot assume that there is only one such artifact. Naturally, it must be found first, either secured or destroyed. Fortunately, there is still time before Rubia earns the title of Grand Mage and fully takes control of the Clarent family.

‘But how did she come to suspect my power as black magic?’

The people of the current era cannot distinguish between magic and black magic. They can only perceive the manipulation of mana, but they cannot recognize the contract made with a demon residing in the soul. At most, some people may feel a slight chill or an eerie sensation, but they would never dare to think that it is fundamentally different from modern magic.

This is no different for Grand Mage Rubia. In fact, because she is a Grand Mage, it would be even more difficult for her to suspect it. She, too, wields immense power that is on a different level from ordinary magicians.

‘It’s not an urgent issue for now.’

Damian has the weapon of time. Even Rubia took more than a decade to uncover the truth about black magic. So, he just needs to kill her before then. The dead do not speak.

“Young Master, I brought some snacks.”

As he was lost in thought, Anna entered, carrying a tray full of food.

“Please enjoy.”

Anna said with a bright smile. Somehow, her smile seemed even more radiant than before. Due to his training, Damian’s appetite had grown far beyond what it used to be. This inevitably increased Anna’s workload, as she was in charge of managing the affairs of the detached palace.

“I don’t mind if my work increases. What’s more important is that the Young Master is full of energy.”

A slightly bitter smile crossed Anna’s face as she said this.

“To be honest, when you lost the duel against the Fourth Prince, I was worried you might become even more despondent.”

It was not an unfounded worry. Before his regression, Damian had fallen into ruin for several years after that defeat.

“I’m glad I was wrong. Your health has improved, and you’ve grown so much taller.”

Just as Anna said, until recently, they had been of similar height, but now there was about a head’s difference between them. The muscles that had developed on his body were noticeable even beneath his clothes.

“You were always very handsome, but I like you even more now, Young Master. Back then, you had a delicate look, but now you seem strong and resilient.”

He was in the transition from a boy to a young man.

“Time has flown by so fast.”

“Huh? What do you mean all of a sudden?”

Anna tilted her head in confusion, but Damian simply smiled and started eating his snack. On the day he vowed revenge and set his sights on the throne, two years had already passed since his regression.

“Then, begin.”

At Derrick’s signal, Damian placed both hands on the rock and took a deep breath. He slightly bent his right knee and pulled his left leg back. The key was not to push with his hands but to think of it as pushing the ground with his legs. Recalling Derrick’s teachings, he tensed his muscles. Holding his breath momentarily to exert explosive strength, sweat formed on his forehead.

Rumble.

The sound of the massive rock shifting startled the mountain birds into flight. Only after moving the rock as tall as himself did Damian release his hands. It was exhausting, but not overwhelming. This should be enough to open that stone door.

“This concludes our contract.”

Derrick approached Damian.

“As a lowly servant, I do not have the insight or the desire to understand what intentions you may have.”

No matter how great one’s physical strength and technique are, without the ability to wield aura, one would eventually hit a wall.

“If I were to judge based solely on physical talent, excluding aura… honestly, it exceeds my expectations. Perhaps it is due to the blood of the royal family; I wouldn’t know.”

He was not saying this to flatter Damian. Derrick was strict and never paid heed to his status when it came to training.

“Damian.”

Derrick hesitated for a moment before speaking again.

“Do you seek revenge?”

His lone wolf-like eye locked onto Damian with certainty. Without answering, Damian simply met Derrick’s gaze. To Derrick, this silence was as good as an affirmation. A royal bastard seeking revenge. It was better not to ask who the target was, for Derrick’s own sake.

“If your opponent can wield aura or magic at a certain level… continuing this kind of training won’t be of much help.”

Mikhail and Rubia. They weren’t just at a certain level in their respective fields, they stood at the very pinnacle.

“I’m sure you are aware of this. Which means you must have a plan. Though I doubt it’s anything pleasant.”

While he hadn’t considered black magic, his seasoned mercenary instincts were sharper than expected.

“Though our two-year acquaintance is but a brief moment in your life, I wish you victory from afar.”

Derrick said this and gave a slight bow.

“I will be leaving tomorrow.”

His contract as a stable manager had already ended. Now that his agreement with Damian was concluded, he had no reason to remain here.

“Where will you go after leaving the palace?”

“Not sure. I had originally planned to settle in a quiet village in the east. But with the generous payment I received from you, I’m considering visiting a southern resort instead.”

“I think the south sounds better. A bit of excitement in your remaining years wouldn’t be bad, would it?”

“Well, I’ll think about it slowly.”

With that, Derrick casually walked back to his quarters.

‘If I push too hard, it might backfire.’

According to the original history, Derrick would settle in the east, only to be ambushed and killed by an unknown assailant. Likely a mercenary with a vendetta. Before his regression, Damian had only learned of Derrick’s identity because of that incident. He hadn’t felt particularly affected at the time, as they had little connection. Now, things were different. Over the past two years, he had learned a great deal from Derrick. Knowing the future, he couldn’t just ignore it. This was his way of repaying the debt.

The next day, Derrick left the palace without a word. All that remained in his quarters was an arming sword. The handle was well-worn, but the blade remained razor-sharp, as if new. Even if he never used it, he had maintained it daily. Damian took Derrick’s sword with him.

‘My physical strength is sufficient now.’

There was no reason to delay any longer. Today, he would open the stone door and make a pact with the demon.

“You wretched wench!!”

Just as he was about to head straight to the abandoned tower, a sudden shout erupted from the detached palace. It was a voice he knew all too well.