'Even if everyone has their match, Demona doesn't exactly have a flock of girls hovering over his every word, right?'
Meanwhile, future Roan, as if suffering from a headache, rubbed his forehead with one hand and asked, "Don't tell me... you forgot about your own wedding?"
Actually, that was true.
Although it was a fact, Roan needed to act fast if he wanted to pass the trial.
"Roan..."
Wearing a pitiful expression with Demona's face, Roan tried to approach future Roan emotionally, acting as if he were deeply touched.
This was an obvious reaction of a Demona, who just so happened to be very moved!
Crash —
But future Roan immediately cast an offensive spell and sent Demona flying across the room.
"Don't come any closer. It's disgusting."
"Hiiing..."
'This crazy guy!'
Roan cursed inwardly, even before feeling the pain of being hit.
'Casting an offensive spell on a friend? Who does that kind of thing?'
Surprisingly, though, Demona's body wasn't as damaged as Roan expected.
It seemed like a high-level spell, yet it hadn't caused too much harm.
'Looking through his eyes, I can't even tell that it's dark magic.'
Was it because he was seeing through Demona's perspective?
"Just open the box."
"Oh, okay."
Roan slowly picked up the box and opened it.
"!!!"
He was astonished.
As soon as he opened the box, a brilliant light poured out.
Inside was a necklace.
'The Eternal Facetal Amulet!'
It was encrusted with hundreds of priceless gems, an ancient relic from the era of gods.
Over time, the genuine article had disappeared, leaving only replicas or drawings behind.
How on earth had future Roan obtained this artifact?
'But I shouldn't act like I recognize it, right?'
Despite his trembling hands, Roan remained calm and composed on the surface.
There was no way Demona would recognize such a precious treasure.
In a slightly shaky voice, Roan asked, "W-What is this?"
As a top-tier God and Devil player, it was a truly humiliating moment.
Future Roan furrowed his brow slightly but then nodded.
"I didn't expect you to know. It's the Eternal... Never mind. Just give it to your wife – she'll like it."
'She'll like it?'
Even the most modest woman would do three backflips upon receiving a necklace like this!
Roan was inwardly horrified.
'And if you got something like this, you should keep it for yourself, you fool!'
The Eternal Faestal Amulet was legendary even in the stingy lore of God and Devil, known for its absurd effects like 'massive magic power boosts, health regeneration, eternal youth, and five short-range teleports per day.
Gulp —
Roan couldn't help but swallow.
'Can't I just keep this for myself...?'
The amulet was a treasure so tempting that the thought naturally crossed his mind!
Of course, no matter what he did in this trial, he wouldn't be able to take any items with him.
It was definitely a treasure beyond reach.
'I'd love to ask where he got it, but Demona wouldn't ask something like that.'
Roan closed the box and forced himself to sound casual as he grumbled, "Tch, instead of this, you should've brought me a dark magic tome."
The moment the words left his mouth, he immediately regretted it.
Future Roan smirked.
"I figured you'd say that. You haven't changed one bit."
For some reason, that smile lingered in Roan's mind.
Future Roan's smile faded as he got up from his seat.
"Well then, I'll be going then."
"Sure..."
Roan carefully placed the box into his arms and saw future Roan off.
"Where are you headed now?"
A minor curiosity compared to the Eternal Faestal Amulet.
How was future Roan living his life?
'Is that Roan also a black mage just like me?'
Even Josephine, who was probably observing from the outside, wouldn't be able to read the hidden meaning behind this question.
Future Roan hesitated for a moment before answering, "North."
"North? The Chase Territory?"
The Chase Territory was the northernmost region of the empire, beyond which was a harsh, uninhabitable land.
Future Roan shook his head.
"No, further than that."
"Hmm… the Thebes Mountains?"
Future Roan shook his head again.
Roan was shocked.
'This crazy guy, where is he going?'
Further north than the Thebes Mountains meant the Belunga Polar Region, where active volcanoes erupted as if they were something extraordinary.
It was no wonder that he found something like the Eternal Faestal Amulet in a place like that!
Even Roan, who prided himself on having done almost everything in God and Devil, had given up on conquering Belunga.
'Well, if you have the time, I guess you could do that.'
Roan quickly accepted the idea.
With a talent stat for dark magic at 100, there was no reason to spend a lifetime in the Holy Empire.
If he couldn't clear the game, he might as well enjoy exploring unknown territories.
Meanwhile, future Roan suddenly turned his head and scrunched his face up into a frown.
"I'm running out of time. I have to go for real now."
"What? Why — Whoa!"
Roan suddenly lost his balance as an overwhelming surge of power erupted from future Roan.
It was the Abyss, a force Roan was familiar with, but the intensity and concentration were on a completely different level.
"I was never here. But I'll leave a substitute behind."
"What are you talking ab—"
Roan soon understood what future Roan meant.
Rumble — crackle! Boom!
Future Roan unleashed a barrage of dark magic, devastating the surroundings.
Amazingly, it was pure black magic, untouched by False Divinity.
It seemed that future Roan had discovered a way to use magic without relying on divine power.
Meanwhile, present Roan hid behind a sofa, trembling in fear amidst the overwhelming storm of magic.
'So this is what they meant by a bad ending!'
Roan had truly become a dark mage — what could be worse for a bad ending?
Unleashing black magic like that in the Wickron Mansion was something only someone who had given up on life would do.
The once-grand mansion quickly became a ruin, and future Roan vanished without a trace.
In his place...
"... So, you're the substitute?"
"Kneeling at the call of the heir… Who are you?"
A high-ranking demon, likely of the Count rank, knelt down but looked confused.
At the same time…
Boom!
"Lord Wickron!"
A group of holy knights and battle priests appeared in formation, surrounding the human and the demon.
"Huh? What are you guys doing here?"
Roan tilted his head in confusion.
One of the paladins hurriedly stepped in front of Roan and explained, "We sensed the energy of Roan Darc…! Are you alright?"
The gears in Roan's mind started churning quickly.
Future Roan had said he was out of time, launched a sudden attack, summoned a high-ranking demon, and now there were paladins surrounding them.
Recalling Demona's stern voice when scolding the freshmen, Roan spoke in a commanding tone.
"It's not Roan. It's that demon's doing. I made him submit to me, so deal with him!"
"You insolent fool! How dare you insult Lord Wickron! Everyone, attack!"
"??? No, wait! I was summoned by the heir —!"
"Shut up, you!"
Even though the demon was a powerful high-ranking entity, this was the Wickron Mansion.
In a place full of debuffs for demons, and against the combined assault of numerous paladins and battle priests, the demon had no chance of holding out.
***
In the underground prison of the Wickron Mansion, Roan was having a conversation with the captured demon.
"So, Roan summoned you?"
Judging by the context, the 'heir' the demon mentioned seemed to be Roan.
"Yes! Please, release me! I swear I will repay this favor!"
The demon spoke desperately, and Roan chuckled mischievously.
"Wow~ You sound really pitiful. I almost want to help~"
"You Hiloa's dog!"
"Yeah, but even if I let you out, this is the capital of the Holy Empire~ A demon like you couldn't possibly survive even if I set you free~"
Roan teased the demon relentlessly, his voice dancing with a playful rhythm.
'This is more fun than I thought.'
Since he was already possessing Demona, it was starting to feel like it might be better to stay as carefree Demona rather than live as the serious Roan for a lifetime.
The demon trembled in frustration, but there was nothing he could do.
"Should I call Hector? Want to be friends?"
"H-Hector? The Demon Destroyer?"
"…?"
Roan tilted his head in confusion at the demon's intense reaction.
"Isn't he just a professional crusader?"
"What are you saying? Please whatever you do, don't call Hector…"
Apparently, Hector had grown up to be quite a formidable figure.
… That wasn't particularly good news for Roan.
'By the way, what exactly is the trial?'
Although a considerable amount of time had passed, with the situation unfolding so chaotically, Roan still had no idea what the actual content of the trial was.
Up until now, he seemed to have been acting the part well enough, but the trial wouldn't end unless he properly resolved some event.
"..."
"Wh-what are you planning to do?"
As Roan stared at the demon, the demon became nervous and pressed him.
'Demona and a demon... Could it be?'
Suddenly, Roan realized something.
"Hey, can you teach me dark magic?"
"D-Dark magic?"
If this wasn't part of the trial, what would be?
Roan casually asked, and the demon stammered in surprise.
"I heard you're from the Wickron family... but why would someone from a family of mages want to learn dark magic...?"
"Shouldn't a mage know more things?"
"That's... true."
"Then wouldn't they need to know dark magic too?"
"Th-that's also true, but..."
Demona's peculiar rhetoric made it hard to argue against him, as usual.
The demon, after a moment of thought, flashed a wicked grin — exactly what you'd expect from a demon.
"If you make a contract with me and offer a single sacrifice, I could pass on some ancient, forbidden dark magic that even the heir wouldn't know."
"What? Really?"
Roan jumped up from his seat.
Was it truly possible?
Not just to learn, but to actually inherit such power?
"Even though I've already learned holy magic?"
"Yes. Normally it would be impossible, but you're carrying a very special item."
"A special item?"
Roan quickly searched himself and —
Grabbed —
There was only one thing that came to mind.
His expression immediately frosted over.
The Eternal Faestal Amulet.
The demon's wicked grin grew even more sinister.
"Yes. That's the one."
"Wait, no, this is…"
Roan mumbled, trying to deflect.
How did this demon know how valuable the amulet was?
"Why hesitate? Someone like you doesn't ask to learn dark magic without being prepared to sacrifice something significant."
"That's true..."
"Well, if you don't want to, then forget about it. But without a sacrifice of that magnitude, it would be impossible to use both holy and dark magic."
The demon leaned back comfortably as if waiting for Roan to make up his mind, smugly assuming he would cave.
At that moment, Roan realized — this was the test!
The demon glanced slyly at him and asked, "So, what's your decision, Great Sage Wickron?"
***
Saaa —
Roan found himself back in the Garden of Dawn.
The silver mist that had enveloped him slowly condensed, returning to the fountain.
Roan slowly opened his eyes.
In those eyes, the flames of hell seemed to flicker.
'Kill Demona, kill Demona, kill Demona...'
Had he really handed over the Eternal Faestal Amulet to a demon just to learn dark magic?
And on top of that, the amulet he, himself, had been given as a wedding gift?
Roan knew this was just one of the bad endings and had prepared for it, but still, the thought filled him with rage.
'I didn't even get to use it once!'
To pass the test, Roan had to give the amulet to the demon.
Roan became a notorious fugitive across the entire empire for openly using dark magic — that was why it was considered a bad ending.
But no, the real reason for the bad ending was that the Eternal Faestal Amulet, a priceless treasure Roan had acquired after much struggle — though he didn't know how future Roan had obtained it — had been given away just to learn dark magic.
The moment he handed over the box, the test ended.
But the outcome of that decision was painfully clear.
'As soon as I give him the wedding gift, I'm reporting this to Hector.'
Meanwhile, Josephine, who had been watching Roan emerge from the trial, was utterly shocked.
"W-Who exactly are you? C-Could you be a demon god?"
She had begun speaking to him with the highest form of honorifics.