<145 - Follower>
Dark Mana is treated as poison.
Even if only a small amount of Dark Mana has infiltrated the body, it must be immediately expelled using the Mana Flow Technique to filter it out and discharge it.
Whether it’s released as sweat, coughed up in blood, or expelled as bodily fluids, the means are unimportant.
“Do you understand, Your Highness? If you consume Dark Mana, you must immediately expel it instead of trying to use it.”
“Pathetic♡”
The young Princess Masugaki laughed off the advice of the Royal Tutor hired by the palace.
“Just mixing a small amount of Dark Mana with existing Mana increases its destructive power♡ If handled well, there’s no better technique♡ You’re just scared because you lack control~?”
“Well, that’s true. But getting closer to Dark Mana will ultimately lead to temptation. If you handle just a bit more Dark Mana, you could become stronger. If you completely shift your Attribute to Dark, you’d feel a dramatic improvement in your abilities.”
The Royal Tutor sternly warned.
“That’s how one becomes a Dark Mana Addict. Once addicted, you won’t be able to utilize the powers you possess when faced with a stronger monster, a turncoat from humanity, or the demonic clan targeting high-ranking officials and nobles of the Empire.”
For the Untalented, Dark Mana is deadly poison.
For the Talented or Wealthy, there exists a vision to escape its side effects.
Using a Special Incantation, enhancing safety through drug-assisted training, artificially increasing resistance to trick the Mana by claiming this body isn’t pure enough to be attacked by Dark Mana, or using the opposing force to suppress it.
Such secrets exist even within the Imperial Family.
This makes it even easier to become enthralled by Dark Mana, and to prevent such dangers, the tutor admonished firmly.
“Look, this Imperial Guardsman became enthralled by Dark Mana and strayed down the wrong path. He couldn’t stop the incursion of an Incubus, and now he faces execution for defiling the purity of His Majesty’s concubine.”
Thanks to the home tutor, who was serious about early education, showing scenes of beheading on the guillotine even at the age of 10, Princess Masugaki was made well aware of the dangers of Dark Mana.
However, the princess was secretly pondering.
“Pathetic♡ Weakling♡ If my Dark Mana levels are higher than an Incubus, wouldn’t the Incubus have to obey me instead?♡”
Since she was bound to fall, wouldn’t it be better to gather Dark Mana to the point where the Incubus would feel like it’s beneath her, and then use it to turn it into a subordinate and deal with her political enemies?
Growing up with such fantasies of corruption, Princess Masugaki felt jealousy upon hearing that Oknodie was knowledgeable in Dark Attributes and could wield black magic.
“What kind of magic did she learn this time~?”
“During the lesson on the theory of field expansion magic, she learned Dark Vision Magic and an Automatic Tooth Cleaning Magic that turns teeth black.”
“Huh!? Useless! There must be cooler magic out there. Are you absolutely sure about what you found out~?”
“I-I apologize. That’s all we have this week.”
“There has to be more black magic, like a spell that turns someone blind, or an automatic tracking attack spell that breaks others’ teeth♡”
“I’m sorry that I couldn’t meet Your Highness’s expectations, but it’s already impressive that I applied variations to the theory I was taught and practiced what I understood.”
“Incompetent♡ Your excuses are too long♡ That’s enough. Go out and study for your assignment♡ By the way, you got the answer to question 3 wrong♡”
“Ah, thank you, Your Highness!”
Upon closing the door, the Follower could be heard chatting with a friend waiting outside.
– What did she say?
– She asked what kind of black magic Oknodie learned. And she helped me with my studies too. Truly, the princess has a kind heart. She must care deeply about her classmates’ grades.
– Nah, you’re mistaken. Think about it logically. Why would the princess be interested in what black magic Oknodie learned?
– Then why do you think she cares?
– Obviously, she’s going to use it as leverage! How can we leave a child who learned such terrible black magic alone? She must be preparing a petition to His Majesty, intending to ultimately bring about a decree of extermination against her!
– Shut up! Don’t slander the princess! She’s a kind person who doesn’t know how to wield such cunning tactics! She helped me with my assignment last time too!
– Ugh. You’ve really got your head in a flower garden. That’s why people are saying you’ve been completely charmed by the princess.
The sound of the Follower who sees the princess as a good child arguing with the one who sees her as a bad one.
So boring♡
She felt shame if her followers’ academic performance dropped due to the tasks she gave them.
While she did have a desire to do something about Oknodie, it wasn’t because she wanted to kill her, but rather because she was envious of her knowledge of black magic.
The longing for black magic formed during her childhood, her rebellious psychology against the tutor’s early education—all of it blended together, and she saw an opportunity.
If she could cleverly manipulate Oknodie into becoming her subordinate, she could use her knowledge of black magic and mana to become a master of Dark Mana!
Princess Masugaki’s true ambitions were completely different from the baseless speculation of her underlings!
“Fools♡ Just know you’ll get no encouragement from me, and if the princess’s followers are known for failing, I won’t let it slide!♡”
“Wooaah! The princess is cheering us on! Let’s all pass this! Absolutely!”
“Isn’t encouragement just a reward? I’m so happy to receive a morning beating from her!”
“…You idiots. If you fail the exam, it could disrupt the family business and cause a disaster where a trade deal that’s lasted for 20 years is suddenly cut off and we get kicked out of the market—I’m simply warning you to behave properly if you don’t want the family to go bankrupt.”
“Why are you so negative about the princess? Are you a spy planted by Yayoi?!”
“Ha. Why would I join a line with no backing like that 3rd princess?”
Regardless of their true feelings, this morning, Princess Masugaki diligently managed her followers.
Of course, it wasn’t for encouragement or rewards but because she intended to punish them if they really did fail.
If they didn’t want to be punished by her hitting their palms with a switch, they better put in the effort!
“Your Highness!! Urgent news!!!”
Immediately after the Mana Evaluation Test, a student rushed in, panting.
Ah, that kid…
She was a remarkable follower the princess remembered.
Question 3 (Open-ended): If James 1175, who hasn’t mastered mana, is pushed off the roof of the academy dormitory at a height of 50m, what % of mana transfer efficiency should the fall structure nets have installed to ensure he doesn’t die while falling at 200 km/h?
The confident answer was that a higher transfer rate is better, so she said to use a network with 100% transfer efficiency.
Fool♡ If mana goes in that well, the impact on the ground would be too great!
However, she did well on similar questions like how many times he should utilize the Body Reinforcement Magic, which doubles speed for one minute, as is reduces lifespan with each use while trying to escape a predator chasing him in the mountains!
She was a typical smart average student who might lack in application but excelled in simple calculations!
She lacked confidence in open-ended questions but had a fair degree of confidence in multiple-choice ones.
“Did you come running to brag about passing the exam with full marks? How cute♡”
“Ah…! Th-Thank you! But I didn’t come to brag; I really have an urgent message!”
He was the kind of kid who got scolded by other followers for being infatuated.
Even though he was a person too, he felt frustrated acting like a good child all the time, but since his heart was admirable, it wouldn’t hurt to give him a reward occasionally.
“Here’s a reward♡ You can have one♡”
“This… these are boulders the size of my fist! Why does Your Highness have these…?”
“I’ve been researching Oknodie’s training♡ If you carry heavy rocks around every day, it’ll make it easier for you when you have to carry supplies later on!♡”
“Ohh, what a great purpose…! Then I’ll take the heaviest rock!!”
“Don’t overdo it—pick a weight you can actually handle! If you hurt your back and can’t attend the lecture, you’ll have nothing but yourself to blame!♡”
“Ugh. The kindness of considering my fellow followers’ study progress! As expected, the princess is a much better good child than that infamous Oknodie!”
Cue mocking laughter
“So, what was the urgent news that made you run out of breath~?”
“Ah.”
The follower set the rocks down and spoke.
“Oknodie has knocked out a student who caused a disturbance during the exam by pulling their soul from their mouth.”
“HUUH?! Why are you only telling me this urgent news now!!”
“S-Sorry about that.”
“Now hurry up and tell me in detail!”
The Follower stumbled over words before finally answering upon receiving the princess’s pressing barrage.
“Using Dark Mana, she easily threw away the weapon of the student who broke a rock, bound their feet, and made them lose consciousness with one hand, then pulled out their soul!”
“Explain what you mean by ‘pulled out their soul’!”
“I reached deep inside their mouth and pulled it out, and the corrupted soul magically condensed into a small orb in my hand!”
Oh my!
Princess Masugaki clapped her hands and covered her mouth.
How could such wicked magic exist?
“So? What happened to that orb?”
“It was stored in Oknodie’s candy pouch! That soul orb resembles candy so much that it might have actually been a soul pouch rather than a candy pouch!”
“…Fine, whatever. Just bring the heaviest rock!♡”
“Huh?! To think you’d give me the heaviest rock for considering the dramatic rise in my follower’s strength!”
Princess Masugaki hurriedly opened the door, dashing toward where Oknodie was located, ignoring her follower’s gushing praises.
She could tolerate everything but such insane magic as soul compression and extraction; she absolutely couldn’t stand it!
No matter what, she had to learn such an incredible magic!
