Nice to meet you.

　I answered without hesitation.
　Even though they felt frustrated at the opponent who beat them, they certainly recognized their ability, and even though the opponent was right in front of them, they were able to praise them straight away. It's a difficult mentality to get.
　Besides, he's strong.
　Basically, 【Brave man】 should be considered in a different frame of mind. It's a bit too substandard.
　Among them, the 【Brave Man of Flame】, 【Brave Man of Storm】, 【Brave Man of Lake】, and 【Brave Man of Mud】, who were loved by the four great spirits, are legendary.
　In the present day, Fenix is the 【Flame Hero】 and the leader of the world's number one ranked party calls himself the 【Storm Hero】, but in terms of individual strength, these two are the best.
　Of course, among humans.
　There might be a disciple's greed, but I can't imagine my master losing to someone else. Even if he doesn't, the [Demon King] that exists as a corresponding [Position (Job)] can compete with him.
　Anyway, it's just that Fenix is an amazing guy.
　It's enough to say that he's the strongest in the world.
　........That's why Alba couldn't be satisfied with the fourth place.

''Oh!　But if I may say so, it's quite nice of you to agree. It's a good number, but we can't let it go to waste, can we?

　There are seventy-two slots. Or there are only seventy-two slots. The idea will vary from person to person.
　I already have Mira, so the frame is seventy-one, but in my case, I didn't take it seriously.
　If I had to say it, I'd like to gather a variety of different kinds of friends. That way we can show hope to sub-humans of various species.

''I've seen Markosius-san fight up close, so I know he's a strong man, and his subordinates were highly skilled.

"You were dismissed with a single blow against a [flame hero]?

'That's because Mr. Markosias has responded to the way Fenix did. Finally, he made his way to the floor boss alone. There were obstacles in the way of those under your command, but you yourself did not move. I was ready to intercept you if you got there.

　The smile disappears from Mr. Markosias' face.
　He's not angry. It's a serious face, as if he has gained some kind of conviction.

''........as I thought.......''

　He muttered.

''After all, that was on purpose, wasn't it? Black Mage Lord, you released the black magic you cast on me the moment I and the [flame hero] faced each other.

Yes, sir.

Why?

Why are you the one who waited for me?　I was consuming quite a bit of magic that day, and it's extremely difficult to keep casting black magic on a highly skilled and agile group of people. If you had ignored the Fenixes and come towards us, you would have been able to make everyone but the Fenixes leave.

I don't know. I don't think you're that naive, if that's the case. I'm not sure what the bottom line is for you. To begin with, how is it possible for a human to create the magic to cast multiple black spells on all of my brothers for an extended period of time?

It's...

　Living things have organs that produce magic power, which can be strengthened through training, just like muscles and lung capacity. The method is simple.
　You just have to keep using it.
　And the effect and range of magic can be strengthened and expanded by trial and error in addition to continuing to use it.
　How did I train to my current level? The answer is pretty simple.

　I've been kneading my magic for twenty-four hours.

　I've been using magic for twenty-four hours.

　Master's training started with building up his body. He trained his physical and mental strength through hard training. In addition to basic training, he was left on a mountain with a beast, pushed off a cliff with the mysterious theory that he wouldn't die because there was a river underneath, and then told to come up the cliff without using any tools, and he was beaten to a pulp by his mentor after challenging him incessantly.
　On top of that, I was told to leave my magic behind and not sleep. He told me to create as much as possible and turn it into magic from the end of its creation. If you do that, your body will decide that 'magic power is insufficient, dangerous' and try to create it somehow. At that time, the magical organs are gradually strengthened. One wrong step could kill you, but that step never came. It's because my master stayed with me until I was able to do it.
　Sometimes the person I was casting magic on was my master, but basically - it was me.
　First, my master would show me how to do it. The slowdown made me dull as a turtle, and I puked while flailing around with poison, running around in the forest naked in confusion, stunned for minutes with a blank space in my thoughts, or scared and shaking as the darkness closed in on my vision. Incidentally, I could not even break a tree branch due to a decrease in attack power, and I could be hit by a pebble to my death due to a decrease in defense power.
　My view of black magic was overturned from the ground up and I was able to learn.
　There are no limits to magic. There are no limits to magic, only limits to the imagination and skill of the magician.

　I was already thrilled.

　Just as I promised Fenix, in three years I had acquired magic power and skills that surpassed the average [Black Mage].
　At the same time, I was able to constantly generate magic power and deploy magic without my master's supervision.
　I'm constantly putting a load on my body. Both physics and magic have decreased offensive and defensive power, and my body and thoughts are slowing down, confused and in a state of darkness.
　I had no problem attacking dungeons because I used my magic body (avatar) to attack the dungeons. I've never unlocked magic in the flesh.
　He was trained by his master's demon wrench to be able to do it even in sleep.
　If I stopped generating magic power and deploying magic, I would be beaten up.
　By the way, I left the village by lying that I was going to attend the adventurer training institution with Fenix and took care of my master.
　This is how to become strong while becoming a 【Black Mage】, which is supposed to be an unfortunate 【Position(Job)】.
　When other people train for a few hours a day for a long time, I train for twenty-four hours.
　When you say you've trained for ten years, it doesn't mean you can actually use all the time to train.
　But as far as I'm concerned, it's the time to train, even when eating, sleeping, bathing and entertaining.
　When I say I've trained for ten years, I'm training for a whole decade.
　Training that can be done only because it's not a combat-based 【Position (Job)】.

　The state of affairs I can reach only because I became a 【Black Mage】.

　Honestly, I couldn't have become like this if I didn't have a master, and that's why I will never betray my master.
　It's natural to work hard to make your dreams come true. It's just a matter of luck if you are blessed with people who can teach you everything you need to know about hard work.
　I've been blessed with people.
　My best friend who said he wanted to be number one with me, and my teacher who took me as his apprentice and took care of me until I became a full-fledged master.
　And then there's Mila, who showed me the way to be a hero on the demon's side, Lucy, who hired me, my new friend Blitz, and my lovely secretary Kash, who is a healer.
　No matter how hard things are, I am blessed by people at the edge of my life.

''What's the matter, [Black Mage] Lord?''

Oh, no it's a long story.

'Mmmm ... well then, that's a story for another time. But I'll let you hear the other one.

　In a one-on-one match between Mr. Markosias and Fenix, I broke the black magic.

'Fenix set up a one-on-one, and Mr. Markosias complied.

Yeah.

Then it would be tactless for me to do anything.

What if, by your choice, in the unlikely event that the [Fire Brave] exits, what will you do?

　.........................Oh, I see.

''In a one-on-one, that guy can't lose. So the choice isn't whether to win or lose, the choice is whether I will respond to Markosius-san's will in response to his one-on-one battle with that guy or not.

　For a moment, he as well as Mila and Kash pouted.
　After a while, there was a laugh that seemed to echo through the playground.

''Fuhahahahaha!　That's good!　Will you be sure of your friend's victory and even take the pride of your enemy? I can't even get angry if you say it off that pleasantly!　In fact, it was a complete defeat!

　He laughed for a moment and then went into a human state.
　He is a tall man with silver hair and red eyes, with a fearless face. His body is smaller than when he was turned into a wolf, but he is still large.
　He held out his right hand towards me. The form of a handshake.

''But 【Black Mage】-dono, you intend to repel that 【Flame Hero】, don't you?

'Yes. We'll win together.

I'm in.

　We shake hands.
　Our magical power flows into each other's rings.

"I, [werewolf] Markosius, do hereby swear that I will respond to your summons and destroy that enemy.

　They don't have a set wording for the oath. The strongest thing to do is to show your willingness to respond to the summons.

'Alright!　We are brothers now, aren't we?　Hahaha!

　He seems to call his friends his brothers. It's an unfamiliar feeling, but I don't feel bad about it, considering that's how it is.

'Then let me ask you, brother. Why do you have a baby girl who is clearly less than ten years old?

　Mr. Markosias said, looking at Kash.

- Number of contractors 2/72.