Demon Disease, Again (1)

***

The dark mage Belgian was bewildered.

“So you’re telling me to grow these fungi now?”

That was the proposal Yulian had made to him as part of a plea bargain.

“When you said it was a plea bargain, I thought you were going to send me to a penal battalion. I never imagined I’d end up working for a merchant guild.”

Having been granted a special pardon and released from prison, he said this in Professor Yulian’s laboratory in the Academy territory.

“A penal battalion? Why did you think that?”

“The Empire doesn’t waste capable people. It gives them hope, then makes them struggle within that hope and burn themselves out for the Empire. Hasn’t that always been the secret to the Empire’s survival?”

“At least you’re aware that you’re capable.”

“Not as capable as you, but there was a time when ordinary folk praised me. I may never have become a star like you, but I flatter myself that I was at least a firefly.”...