Dark Warlock in the Apocalypse

"Boss, are you really planning to just take the craftsmen and leave?" Derek asked as the craftsmen were being handed over. He approached Justin , clearly frustrated.

"Then what do you suggest?" Justin replied.

"You know what I mean. Since we're already here, why not wipe them out?"

Justin blinked at Derek's bold remark. Everything was already settled, so why cause more trouble?

"On what grounds? They've done everything we asked for."

"We can figure out an excuse later," Derek said dismissively.

"Are you an idiot?" Justin asked, giving him a half-lidded stare. Derek liked a good fight, but he clearly wasn't thinking things through.

Derek flinched, finally realizing that Justin was annoyed. He lowered his head. "S-sorry."

"Do you even know why you're apologizing?" Justin asked.

"For wanting to undo what's already settled..." Derek trailed off.

"That, and because you're oversimplifying the importance of justification. Do you think politicians on Earth spout nonsense because they're stupid?"

The time when people believed in the righteous causes of war was long gone. Now, everyone knew wars were fought for profit, not honor. But politicians still worked hard to present justifications, not for diplomacy or show, but because wars without just cause wouldn't garner public support.

"We came here to get the craftsmen for the good of the territory, and they're handing them over. What more can we gain from attacking?"

"...That axe that looks like a dungeon reward? And maybe some villagers to collect taxes from?" Derek suggested weakly.

"Is it worth wiping out 12 pioneers just for that? Does that make sense?" Justin asked.

Sure, there were things they could gain, but was it worth the risk of wiping out 12 pioneers? It wasn't just about the success rate or danger—this wasn't a profitable trade-off at all.

Derek was at a loss for words, but Justin wasn't done.

"Besides, they're practically surrendering. If we attack now, we'll look like villains. Do you think others would like that?"

"N-no, they wouldn't," Derek admitted.

"Of course not. This is also the first time our team is fighting other people. If we fight in a situation like this, do you really think it'll boost morale?"

Derek seemed to shrink under Justin 's words. The rewards were minimal, the battle unnecessarily cruel, and the risks too high. There was no way to feel motivated to fight in such a scenario.

"Now, keep your mouth shut. Don't pick a fight just because you want to show off your skills."

"Yes, sir..." Derek muttered.

"Squawk!" Fafnir cried from Justin 's shoulder, as if mocking Derek. Derek glared at the dragon, but Fafnir simply blew a puff of air in defiance.

Meanwhile, Eugene reunited with his lover, Diana, embracing her tightly. Behind them, two middle-aged people, likely her parents, stood with conflicted expressions.

As the exchange of the craftsmen was almost complete, Grayson, the enemy leader, finally approached.

"I'd like to have a word," Grayson said.

Justin's group tensed up, wary of the enemy leader's approach, but Justin waved them off and stepped forward. It would look cowardly if he let his men protect him while Grayson came alone.

"Is there anything left to discuss between us?" Justin asked.

"There is for me. I'd prefer to speak one-on-one," Grayson replied.

"What, are you planning to assassinate me? Swing that axe when I'm not looking?"

"I'm not! Do you have a ghost whispering in your ear, making you paranoid?" Grayson protested, pounding his chest in frustration. It seemed like he was afraid Justin would change his mind and attack.

Justin chuckled and nodded. "Alright. Let's talk."

"Lord Justin !"

"Brother!"

"You can't!"

Voices called out from all directions, trying to stop Justin . It made sense—if a warrior and a mage fought in close range, the mage would be at a disadvantage. But Justin waved them off.

"Don't worry. Even if I'm ambushed, I'll still win."

"Huh?"

"Ah!"

While most of the group looked confused, his teammates' eyes widened when they noticed the ring on Justin's finger—a protective ring that could block one attack per day. Even if Grayson tried something, Justin would have enough time to retaliate.

Justin walked with Grayson to the edge of the village, just within sight of the others. It was far enough to speak privately, but close enough that any attack would be immediately noticed.

Grayson got straight to the point. "How about an alliance?"

Justin blinked, unsure if he'd heard correctly.

An alliance? After this humiliating negotiation?

He stared at Grayson, waiting for confirmation. Grayson nodded, indicating that he was serious.

Justin , still incredulous, blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

"Are you sick? What kind of nonsense is this?"

"Can't you at least ask why before mocking me?!" Grayson snapped, clearly frustrated.

"What reason could you possibly have that wouldn't sound insane?"

"Ugh..." Grayson's body trembled in anger, but he sighed deeply, seeming resigned to the insults.

"Just hear me out. Dungeons are opening up, which means contact with other territories is inevitable. The problem is that there's no one out there we can approach peacefully."

"Well, of course. We're all competitors," Justin replied, and Grayson nodded silently. For most pioneers, switching to another territory might be an option, but for leaders, there's only one path—taking down another leader. In any organization, there could only be one at the top.

"That doesn't mean we have to fight every time we meet. If that happened, none of us would get any sleep. Diplomacy is about reducing enemies and making deals," Grayson continued.

"And you think we're the right choice for that diplomacy?" Justin asked.

"Exactly."

"You're out of your mind. You think the person who just got beaten up is a good candidate for an alliance?" Justin said, incredulous.

"Just hear me out!" Grayson protested, veins popping on his forehead as he continued. "The only reason I'm considering you as an ally is because you're at least rational. Even though you had the upper hand, you still chose to negotiate."

"That's because you were practically surrendering. After throwing away all your pride, how could I say no?"

"Yeah, it was humiliating, but most people wouldn't even consider a surrender like that. The moment they see a rival, their first thought is to wipe them out."

Even if it meant taking significant losses, many would attack just to remove a threat. It was an irrational but common decision, made out of fear of the unknown.

"But you didn't do that. You had control, you saw the bigger picture, and that's why I want this alliance."

"Hmm. Fair assessment. You do have a good eye for people."

"...I can't believe you can say that without a hint of shame," Grayson muttered, exasperated.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"I left my shame back on Earth, along with the rest of the garbage," Justin replied smoothly, while mentally processing Grayson's offer.

Now Justin understood why Grayson wanted an alliance. He saw Justin as someone capable of making rational decisions, which was an important trait in this chaotic world. Unlike an emotional rival who might betray you without warning, a rational ally was predictable, easy to deal with, and trustworthy—at least as long as mutual benefit was involved.

'The hardest people to deal with are the ones ruled by their emotions,' Justin thought. 'With them, you never know when they'll betray you or what it'll take to keep them calm.'

But with someone rational, you could plan ahead. You'd know when a betrayal was coming and could prepare for it.

Still, there was something Justin couldn't quite grasp. "But why trust us? Even if we make this alliance, there's no guarantee we won't stab you in the back later."

Grayson smirked. "True. But that's the case with all leaders. Who can you really trust in a world like this? No one. So, when trust doesn't exist, you have to rely on competence.

A smart, capable ally is more useful than a dumb, trustworthy one."

Bold words, Justin thought. Grayson didn't seem concerned about the potential risks of an alliance with someone as capable as Justin . Either he trusted his own ability to handle betrayal, or he was simply willing to take the risk.

'It's not a bad offer for me,' Justin mused.

To be honest, when the negotiation had ended earlier, Justin had felt a bit uneasy. A leader as competent as Grayson was either someone you completely eliminate or ally with. The negotiation had ended on uncertain terms, but now Grayson was offering an alliance, which was preferable.

Plus, from what Justin could tell, Grayson wasn't exactly beloved by his own villagers. The trembling, anxious expressions of the villagers confirmed that Grayson's rule wasn't particularly kind.

In other words, even if word got out about this alliance, it wouldn't be a problem. No one would admire a harsh leader, and Justin's more lenient rule would likely win people over instead.

"Alright, I'll accept the alliance," Justin finally said.

"I knew you'd see reason!" Grayson grinned, extending his hand.

Though the alliance was just a verbal agreement for now, it could prove valuable down the road. This alliance was a form of insurance for future encounters.

"Oh, and while we're at it, could you return that sword?" Grayson asked.

"No," Justin replied flatly.

"..."

After forming the secret alliance, Justin led his group of pioneers back to their territory. Some of the pioneers were disappointed they hadn't gotten to fight, while others were relieved. Regardless, everyone was happy that they had secured the craftsmen without a battle. In their minds, it was practically a victory without bloodshed.

As they traveled back, Zachary approached Justin .

"Lord Justin , are we heading straight back?"

"That's the plan. Why?"

"Since we're already out here, and it seems like we're close to a dungeon, maybe we should explore it before returning," Zachary suggested.

The idea was tempting. Since they were already on an expedition, it wouldn't hurt to take advantage of the situation. However, Justin hesitated. The dungeon was likely further away, and he had to consider the safety of the craftsmen they had just acquired.

'We're getting too far from the territory. If we take too long exploring the dungeon, night could fall. And I don't like the idea of leaving the craftsmen unguarded for too long,' Justin thought.

Continue your journey on empire

After some consideration, he pulled out the brass compass. His plan was to check the dungeon's location and decide based on its proximity.

The compass reacted strongly, indicating that the dungeon was indeed nearby. Justin 's face lit up, and he was about to announce they'd explore it when the needle on the compass suddenly spun wildly.

"...!?"

The needle, which had been pointing to the dungeon, began to rotate rapidly before settling in a completely different direction. The dungeon the compass now pointed to was much further away, and the needle's reaction was much weaker.

Someone had just cleared the dungeon.