Strongest Novel Extra: The Irregular Mage is an Exorcist

"That's just too impossible! How did he get those kills so easily?" complained one of the individuals transported with Zarael.

Her supporters, along with those who knew her reputation as a leader among her peers, were baffled by the revelation. How could a nobody excel better than the Golden Prodigy?

"It's… surprising and completely unexpected. But we can't rule out the possibility that his luck was extraordinary or that he's been hiding his powers and identity from the public," one of them reasoned.

"Even so… if he was planning to play it that way, he should have revealed himself if he wanted to reap the benefits of his powers. What's the point of entering here otherwise? One of the main perks is to gain connections and subordinates," another added.

The children, speaking like scummy adults, sounded oddly mature yet unmistakably naive at the same time. Zarael, listening to their chatter, couldn't bring herself to fully agree or disagree. She knew they were speaking this way just to grab her attention. Who knew? Maybe one of them was planning to court her in the future.

Still, this was typical of how children these days thought. Exposed early to life's harsh realities and the inevitable struggles of the future, they were conditioned to think like adults.

Zarael, growing tired of their murmurs, turned on her heel with a frown. Without a word, she walked away from the group and ventured off on her own, leaving those who had accompanied her behind.

Channeling a small amount of mana, she began to fly.

Fucking bastard! How dare he surpass me! I'll find him and take back what's mine!

With her anger boiling over, Zarael made a vow. She wouldn't allow herself to fall behind in the rankings. This resolve burned in her heart as she started her hunt.

Meanwhile, Vonn had just finished his fifth kill of the day. The sun began to set—not that it made any difference in the Dark Land, where light was perpetually absent.

Searching for a place to settle for the night, he eventually found a flat rock. It wasn't much, but it was enough for him to stretch his back.

Exhausted, he lay down, prepared for whatever the next day would bring.

***

The first day had arrived, and without wasting any time, he began his search for food. The gnawing ache in his stomach was impossible to ignore, as if his insides were being torn apart.

'What kind of hunger is this? I'm sure I ate enough yesterday!'

His body weakened, and he stumbled, falling to his knees as the pain intensified. It wasn't the kind of hunger he could simply endure or dismiss.

Before he could gather himself, something lunged at him from behind, adding to his already dire situation—a stomach ache from hunger and now a monster attacking out of nowhere.

Though he sensed the threat, his reaction was too slow. The next moment, his face slammed into the ground with an unexpected force.

His eyes widened in shock. That kind of strength wasn't normal for the goblins that roamed this area.

'What kind of monster was that?' He hadn't seen his attacker, but the sheer power behind the blow left no doubt—this wasn't an ordinary foe.

'If that's how it wants to play, I'll surprise it too!'

He quickly scanned his surroundings, but all he found was silence and shadows. Readying himself, he crouched into a defensive stance, every muscle in his body taut and his senses on high alert.

"Did I just get hit and run by some kind of goblin thug?" he muttered, irritation creeping into his voice.

Before he could process the situation further, another impact slammed into his side, sending him staggering. He gritted his teeth and turned toward the source of the blow. This time, he caught a glimpse of it—a goblin, but one unlike any he had ever seen.

The creature was taller than the usual goblins, its lean, sinewy frame radiating speed and strength. Its dark-green skin had a faint gleam, and jagged crimson markings etched across its body pulsed with energy. Its glowing yellow eyes locked onto him, and it snarled gutturally before vanishing back into the shadows.

'This thing is fast...'

"Alright, you sneaky bastard," he growled, gripping the hilt of his weapon. "Let's see how you like it when I fight back."

The goblin lunged from the darkness, its claws aiming for his throat. This time, he was ready. Sidestepping swiftly, he deflected the attack with his wind blade and countered with a precise slash. The goblin twisted mid-air, narrowly avoiding the strike, but its movements were no longer unfamiliar.

The creature circled him cautiously, baring sharp fangs as it searched for another opening. He smirked.

"No more surprises. Let's end this."

The goblin charged again, and the battle began in earnest. The clash of espera against claw echoed through the forest as they exchanged blows. This goblin wasn't just fast—it was calculating, dodging with precision and striking with ruthless efficiency.

Each strike tested his resolve, but he refused to falter. Finally, after an intense exchange, he spotted his chance. Feinting to the left, he baited the goblin into overcommitting to an attack. In one fluid motion, he pivoted and drove his wind blade straight through its chest.

The goblin let out a strangled screech, its glowing yellow eyes flickering before its body collapsed to the ground. He stood over it, breathing heavily, his grip firm on his weapon.

"What the hell kind of goblin are you?" he muttered, wiping the sweat from his brow.

As the goblin's body began to disintegrate into a dark mist, it left behind a strange, glowing crystal. He crouched to examine it, curiosity etched on his face.

"And just what is this?" he murmured, picking up the crystal. Its glow pulsed faintly, almost as if alive.

His grip tightened around the mysterious object, and when realization dawned, a wide smile spread across his face. For the first time that day, he felt true elation.

'This wasn't easy, but it was worth it,' he thought, glancing down at the treasure in his hand. He wasn't yet experienced or fully conditioned to navigate the dangers of the Dark Area, but the effort hadn't been in vain. This was no ordinary item—it was one of the treasures he had been seeking.

"First treasure, done," he said softly, his tone laced with satisfaction. "It wasn't easy, but I've got the treasure closest to the Mother Tree. And this… this is just the beginning."

He closed his eyes and held the crystal tighter, imagining it turning to dust in his grip. Focusing his energy—his Espera—into the crystal, it vanished, absorbed into his Esperic Storage.

"Esperic Storage, analyze and store the treasure," he commanded with a grin.

The knowledge that his Esperic Storage—a reservoir of energy within his soul—was now functional sent a thrill through him. This crystal wasn't just a trophy, it was the first step in creating his Mana Hearth through magic.

He rose to his feet, his confidence renewed. The Dark Area held many more treasures, but now, he was ready to claim them.