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Published at 21st of September 2018 09:32:23 AM


Chapter 28

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Capture A Magician

 

After that, the magical beasts became more active, as if my predictions had become true.

“Fire!”

Alan, who had come out to kill the beasts, shouted the order and a volley of arrows was unleashed from the line of archers at his back.

He and his men were hiding among the trees, their fiery arrows created streaks of light as they flew. They were headed straight for the mass of sky jellyfish that were floating above the prairie.

There were at least ten of the creatures, their long, semi-transparent legs reached up to swat the arrows out of the sky, but at least a third of the fiery arrows found their targets, and brought them down in a cloud of steam.

Alan and his men were about an hours ride from the castle.

Monster slaying such as this had now become a routine that occurred at least twice a week. This was because the nearby towns and villages had started to report sightings of magical beasts.

Before the monsters were completely destroyed, I turned my gaze to a different direction and started to run through the grove on horseback.

Cain followed close behind me.

That night, one month ago. I had told him that I would search for a magician, and he had asked, ‘Would that help in protecting the Margrave and his family?’ I nodded, and he then agreed to help me.

But there was one thing that puzzled me.

Cain had heard what I’d said to Alan, then persuaded Alan that I was not an enemy. Cain said that he would believe in me, but did he not think the story of my past life was absurd?

I asked him this, and he replied:

“My parents were killed in the last war with Ruain. At the time, we were not able to see Ruain’s devious traps. They were ambushed while sending reinforcements to Landor in the south. Back then, everyone had heard the number of troops Ruain had dispatched to Landor and assumed that they would not be able to touch the Margrave’s lands. We had even heard that heavy rainfall had caused landslides, which blocked the roads connecting to Ruain. If that were the case, then it was unthinkable for an army to pass through. But in fact, Ruain had been hiding its troops there, under the guise of workers clearing the roads. But no one had realized this.”

He smiled grimly.

“Because of this negligence, citizens who were close to the border and people who were out in their fields were also killed. And so I endeavor to never ignore any information, no matter how small it may seem. In the present, things that have never happened before are starting to happen. Considering all of that, I decided that your warnings should not be ignored.”

He had decided that given the circumstances, there was a ‘slim chance.’

I was quite relieved to hear this determined explanation, instead of just blind belief. And so I was happy to accept his offer to cooperate with me.

I dashed through the forest on a horse that was covered in dark black spots. From behind, Cain followed after me on a gray horse.

This was something I had to do in order to find one–A magician.

A month since that night, we’ve repeated this. I’ve been able to feel the sensation from the stone that the Princess of Thorns gave me, even when I was moving.

But every time, as if detecting me, the presence that I believed was a magician would run away.

Furthermore, there were usually monsters near the magician. And as I had no combat abilities, and had only Cain to accompany me, it was always difficult to get closer.

‘Perhaps the magician is controlling the monsters.’ That was Cain’s theory.

And it appeared to be the case, for when the monsters began to appear regularly and attack the towns, I would sense the presence of the magician close by.

Cain reported this finding to the Margrave and Margravine. He suggested that if this magician were defeated, then the harm from the monsters would also decrease. Thanks to this, Cain was assigned to assist me and I was given permission to search for the magician.

Even so, we were not to spread the knowledge that I was able to see where the magician was.

The Margravine was very worried that people may be disappointed if I failed, they might mistake me for a failed magician and persecute me. She was worried about such things and demanded that only the two us go on the search to avoid these dangers.

Alan… For now, he remained silent about it.

I’m sure that he too had a lot to think about. He would occasionally look at me as if he wanted to say something, but he never did. I didn’t feel any hostility in his gaze, but we would rarely exchange words anymore.

Regardless, the quickest way to prove my innocence was to become a magician. Until then, no matter what explanations I gave Alan, I would still have nothing that would satisfy him. It would be fruitless.

Because I needed proof.

Of course, if we waited, then my words would prove to be true. But then it would be too late.

So I could only hope that he would wait as I rushed to make contact with the magician.

“…We’re close!”

I said. Cain then advised that we continue on foot to be cautious.

In order to surprise the magician, I took the tool that had been tied to the horse and slowly moved forward. Cain had a bundle of yarn. I had two water flasks.

It was just the two of us. I was practically baggage when it came to combat, so we had talked and decided together on how to capture the magician.

After walking for about twenty meters, I could see the back of a lone elderly figure sitting on a fallen tree. The elderly figure resembled a hermit, wearing a sand-colored robe of sackcloth that reached the ankles and a dark, hooded cape, likely to hide in the shadows. There was a cane leaning nearby. It was made of a straight tree branch with a T-shaped handle that suggested it was for walking.

The elder’s gaze went in the direction of a clearing in the trees. There was a clear view of the raging sky jellyfish in the and the rain of fiery arrows that fell on them.

I mentally did a fist pump in the air.

There was no doubt that this person was the magician I had searched for this whole month. We had chased with only a sensation to guide me, we fled from attacking monsters, and we had encountered this elder three times in all.

But now there were no monsters nearby. Perhaps the magician had thought it would be safe, given the distance, and because Alan was concentrated on fighting them.

Another advantage for us was that the magician seemed to be preoccupied with controlling the beasts, and had not noticed us yet.

I and Cain nod at each other.

A moment later, Cain threw the net.

“Whaoa?!”

The magician was startled. While the net may have been meant to catch fish, it easily covered the magician’s whole body. But that would not be enough. As the elder immediately tried to break the net with magic, I stepped forward and poured water all over the magician’s body with the extra large flask.

“That’s cold!”

A scream came from the old man, which I ignored.

As a finishing touch, I grabbed what was in the second flash and threw it at the magician.

The leaves shone between the sunlight that poured between the cracks in the trees. Below was a body and head that looked like a bulb. It’s roots thrashed happily around.

The thundergrass had been trapped in a dark space for so long, that it was now so happy to be free in the sunlight again, that it discharged electricity as it fell.

And then it his its target.

“Gyaaaaahhh!!”

While not visible, it seemed that the electricity had run through the water covering the magician’s body.

After that final scream, the old man’s body went limp on the ground.

This was the only method to attack that I could think of, as someone who couldn’t use magic. And surely, one thundergrass would not be enough to kill. I assumed it would be just enough to prevent the magician from moving.

“…He’s not, dead…right?”

I asked, but Cain looked a little worried.

For the present, I picked up the stunned thundergrass with a stick and threw it far away. Then we tied up the magician with the net.

As we did this, the magician was groaning, so we knew he was alive.

Once we had him completely bound up, Cain held a sword at the magician’s neck as I started to shake him to wake him up.

“Waake uuuuuup. Riiisse aaand shiiiine Miiiister Magician.”

I had no idea of what I should say, which resulted in such nonsense. But it was effective, as his eyes opened wide.

“Who are you bastards!”

“We’re the ones who have captured you.”

To the side, Cain was mumbling ‘that’s a…rude way to put it.’

On the other hand, the magician seemed to have recognized my face.

“Hmph, aren’t you the fools who interfered with my beasts recently? I remember you, that was three days ago. Hehe.”

The magician, who resembled a dead tree branch let out an eerie laugh.

“I suppose you think you’re going to catch this old man and stop me from inciting the monsters, eh? Heheeheee.”

“No. I want to know how to become a magician. Can you answer me that?”

Apparently, my answer was unexpected because the old magician’s eyes widened for a second.

“Ohh, do you wish to die young and in a burst of sand? Hehehe…”

What, you die and become sand for just trying to become a magician!?

He seemed to sense my wavering, as he now had a devilish smile as he laughed.

“There are not many out there who can become a magician, you know. Even though a master might lead them, half will still turn into sand. It all comes down to whether you can bear the contract of the stone… Eh hee hee he. A lady like you with a long future does not have a chance. Everyone who attempts to become a magician does so, because they have no other way to live. He heee…”





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