Dark Warlock in the Apocalypse

"Since when did you start caring so much about the commoners? Did your humanity suddenly awaken because someone else was tormenting them instead of you?" Justin asked mockingly.

"To be honest, I don't really care what happens to the commoners. I just value my own life," Aaron responded, his voice dry.

The only reason they had left the territory alone yesterday was because there was no one available to take over it. Now that they knew the location, they could invade at any time, kill Aaron, and take over the territory. In fact, there was nothing stopping them from killing him the moment he showed up at the meeting place today.

"That's why I came here to ask for your protection. You can have the territory, or whatever else you want. Please, just spare my life," Aaron said, pressing his forehead to the ground in supplication. His subordinates also bowed their heads deeply.

Justin looked down at Aaron for a long while without saying a word. The silence dragged on, and Aaron seemed to sense that something was wrong. He began to fidget nervously.

"Um, excuse me..."

"Where's the meeting place?" Justin interrupted.

Aaron's face lit up as he looked up. "It's just a little further up from the hilly region! Shall I lead you there?"

"I didn't ask for a guide. I asked so I could avoid it," Justin replied coldly.

"What? No, but...!"

Aaron visibly panicked at the suggestion that Justin intended to avoid the fight. His blatant reaction almost made Justin laugh.

It was obvious what Aaron's intentions were. Justin decided to play along for now.

"Just kidding. Of course, I asked so I could attack them first."

"R-really?" Aaron stammered.

"Yeah. If they're that kind of people, it's better to deal with them sooner rather than later."

"Absolutely!" Aaron exclaimed, letting out a sigh of relief.

Justin nodded after getting the time of the meeting with the others. "Prepare yourself and wait. I won't ask you to fight, just make sure you guide us properly."

"Y-yes, of course!"

As Justin turned away from Aaron, Nathan tugged at his sleeve. Despite having heard the conversation, Nathan's eyes were filled with doubt.

"Justin, are you really planning on fighting them after hearing that?"

"Why? Aaron's not a good guy, but the other side sounds like villains too, right?" Justin responded.

"That may be true, but it all seems too suspicious," Nathan said, his voice tinged with concern.

Of course, there were ulterior motives behind Aaron's plea, so it was natural for Nathan to be suspicious. However, they had no choice but to fight, regardless of Aaron's true intentions.

"He probably didn't tell us everything. But two things are likely true: the location of the territory has been discovered, and there's a chance they'll invade."

Otherwise, there would have been no reason for Aaron to come groveling like this.

"If that's the case, then we have to fight sooner or later. We're already planning to take over the other territory, but now that they know our location, we've become a target. We need to make our move before they prepare and come for us."

"They could all be lies, and maybe they're actually good people."

"What kind of good people would deliberately find out the location of someone else's territory?"

"..."

Nathan couldn't argue with that. There was no reason for someone to find out the location of another territory unless they intended to invade it.

"Let's just go and see. If they're as much trash as Aaron says, we'll fight them. If not, we can just talk and leave."

Of course, Justin felt that the latter was unlikely.

"...And what about Aaron's group? You're not planning to take them along as allies, are you?" Nathan asked, his voice filled with worry.

"No," Justin said firmly.

"There's no need for that. All we need from them is proper guidance."

"Um... Why are we still tied up?" Aaron asked, sweating profusely.

He must have assumed they would be untied and allowed to fight alongside them. Justin couldn't help but chuckle at Aaron's bewildered expression.

"Because I don't trust you. You could decide to stab us in the back at any moment."

"But it doesn't make sense for the five of us to take on twelve of them! There could even be more of them by now!" Aaron protested.

"That's for us to worry about. You just keep your nose out of it," Justin said dismissively.

Although this was a fight between pioneers, Justin's group decided to move with just five people, excluding Aaron's group. The other pioneers had only fought monsters, and in the worst-case scenario, they could end up being a hindrance rather than an asset.

Even within Justin's own group, during their first battle, everyone had been so flustered that Justin had to handle almost everything on his own.

"Besides, they're not going to target you while you're tied up. If things get dangerous, I'll untie you, so don't worry too much."

"...I trust you," Aaron said, nodding with a resolute expression.

Justin let out a small laugh. Trust? No, it was simply that Aaron had no other option but to trust him.

With Aaron guiding them, they headed past the Gnoll habitat and into the hilly region. Along the way, Aaron's eyes widened in shock as he watched Justin's group effortlessly take down the Gnolls.

"A-amazing strength."

"Well, of course, we're strong. Did you really think we were on the same level as you?" Justin retorted.

Aaron's face turned red, and he shut his mouth. From then on, he quietly led the way, and soon they arrived at the meeting place.

In a location surrounded by three hills, there were indeed twelve pioneers gathered.

'Luckily, there aren't any more of them.'

It wasn't that Justin doubted they could win, but fewer opponents always made the fight easier.

The group of pioneers, who had been gathered closely together, stood up as soon as they saw Justin's shadow approaching.

"Hey, you bastards! Why are you right on time? You should've come at least 30 minutes early... What the hell?"

The leader, who had been shouting, suddenly froze when he saw Justin's group. More specifically, he seemed surprised to see Aaron and his group tied up.

Experience more tales on empire

Justin smirked and shook Aaron slightly. "What do you think it is, idiot? He tried to pull a trick and ended up caught instead. This guy planned to hand us over to you, but we figured it all out."

"...!?"

Aaron's jaw dropped, and he looked at Justin, his mouth opening and closing as if he wanted to say something. But before he could, the leader of the other group frowned and muttered.

"Damn it, I spared him, and he couldn't even do one job right. I shouldn't have trusted him. Should've killed them all right then and there."

Hearing the leader confirm Justin's words, Aaron's group froze in shock. Aaron, in particular, looked at Justin, his face drained of color.

Justin met Aaron's terrified gaze and spoke.

"Did you really think you wouldn't get caught?"