Chapter 70
Chapter 70
Тhе соmmerciаl сitу оf Еrindel.
Erindel wаs а city whеre cоmmеrсе hаd grеatly dеveloреd, and аt thе еnd оf thе citу stoоd a largе саstlе.
It was the сastlе of Viscount Аldrik, thе master of Erindеl.
“Кalsen is dead… I cаn hаrdly believe it. Who оn еarth…?”
Viscоunt Aldrik sаt аlоnе in his room, stroking his chin with his hаnd, lost in thought.
“Соuld it bе that Kаlоs hirеd someоne evеn more skilled than Каlsen?”
Kаlоs was thе noble whо had been lеading Silvаnоr, the city next tо Erindеl, until just а fеw daуs ago.
Каlоs held the sаme Visсоunt titlе аs Аldrik, and thе rеаson thе twо cities went to war was over something truly trivial.
“Now, if I conquer just one more city… I will meet the minimum condition to become a Count.”
There were various ways to obtain a higher title of peerage in the Kingdom of Sinsiniel, but among them, one was certain.
That was increasing the number of cities under one’s control.
To become a Count, one must lead at least six cities. By conquering Silvanor a few days ago, Viscount Aldrik now led five cities.
‘This chaotic time for the kingdom is my opportunity.’
Normally, when a war broke out between cities, kingdom investigators would come to inquire about the reasons for the war.
But now, no investigators were coming.
Recently, it was said that high-ranking nobles, namely Counts, had been summoned by the kingdom.
It seemed some major event had occurred in the kingdom, and because of it, neither the kingdom nor other nobles seemed to be paying attention to these petty wars.
“Hoo, this is serious. In this situation, I need to quickly find someone new as strong as Kalsen.”
Finding a powerful individual like Kalsen was not easy, but using the Underground Arena could make it somewhat easier.
After all, Kalsen was also a skilled individual discovered in Erindel’s Underground Arena.
“I should put up a very attractive prize for the Underground Arena and promote it properly.”
Having organized his thoughts, Aldrik immediately summoned the knights in the castle and gave orders.
He told them to promote the opening of a new Underground Arena, bring a good prize, and finally added one more thing.
“Ah, and find out who killed Kalsen as quickly as possible. Also, investigate if there’s any connection with that Kalos fellow.”
“Yes!”
With those final words, the knights swiftly left the room.
Aldrik sat in his chair, blankly staring at the city reflected in the window.
* * *
Blue Magic Tower.
The state of Belbek and Serina upon returning to the Magic Tower was pitiful.
Their mana-infused robes were torn and full of holes everywhere, and both had used so much mana and stamina that they wanted to lie down immediately.
Even after entering the Tower, no presence was felt on the first floor because mages, as a group, were mostly wandering outside or holed up in their laboratories conducting magic research.
“No one’s here.”
“Hoo, indeed. Let’s go see Master right away. I’m exhausted, really.”
But just then, a man coming down from the upper floors saw the two in their pitiful state and rushed over with a surprised expression.
It was Rion, an Apprentice Mage somewhat acquainted with Belbek and Serina.
“B-Belbek, Sir? Lady Serina…? What happened to you both!”
“It’s you, Rion. We had a bit of trouble. Where is Master right now?”
“Ah! Sir Alchemis said he was conducting some research on the top floor of the Tower today! But… are you both alright? You seem quite injured….”
“We’re fine. Go about your business.”
“Thank you! It’s nothing serious, so don’t worry!”
“Ah, yes…!”
Belbek and Serina quickly sent Rion on his way and walked to the center of the Magic Tower’s first floor.
Upon reaching the center, there was a door emitting a faint mana presence.
“Let’s go up.”
“Right.”
As Belbek and Serina approached, the door opened, revealing an interior space of about 20 square meters.
Thud.
A feeling somewhat similar to a modern elevator.
When the two entered, the door automatically closed, and they felt a slight sensation of defying gravity as it ascended.
Swoosh.
In an instant, they arrived at the top of the Magic Tower.
The elevator door opened by itself, and a bizarre smell stabbed at Belbek and Serina’s noses.
Through the open door, they could see a man manipulating mana in the distance.
Long, powerless white hair, a long white beard on his chin.
It was Alchemis, the master of Belbek and Serina and one of the Archmages of the Blue Magic Tower.
At Alchemis’s fingertips was mana of a purity difficult to describe in words.
Huum….
Swoosh….
Suddenly, the mana at Alchemis’s fingertips gradually receded, and he slightly turned his gaze, opening his mouth towards Belbek and Serina.
“You’ve returned. Your bodies seem quite damaged. What on earth happened?”
Even Belbek, whose emotions had faded considerably while practicing magic, was truly respectful before his master, Alchemis.
“I am ashamed. In the end, we found nothing.”
“I’ll explain, Master!”
Knowing Belbek wasn’t good at explanations from the start, Serina stepped forward.
She explained everything that happened in Asmar to Alchemis without missing a single detail.
“So, you’re saying you attacked a mage named Khan first?”
“Th-that… It wasn’t me…. Belbek suddenly attacked.”
“Go on for now.”
“That mage named Khan… when I first saw him, I didn’t think he was a mage. The level of mana I sensed seemed like a mage who hadn’t even formed a Circle yet, and anyway, he just looked too weak.”
“But… you’re saying you both were defeated by him?”
“Yes…. He was casting magic with Chantless Casting, and he even used the exact same magic Belbek used, also with Chantless Casting.”
As Serina described the man named Khan and recalled him again, she felt a chill run down her spine.
The magic he had shown was truly at an incredible level.
Serina told him everything, including how the mage named Khan showed mercy by making a Mana Contract and agreeing to give them a Mana Pill within a month.
“…Master? I-I’m sorry…!”
After finishing her story, Serina cautiously observed Alchemis, who remained expressionless.
Since Alchemis usually had a fiery temper and would surely have shouted, Serina was prepared to tightly shut her eyes.
But.
“It’s fortunate you returned safely. We should actually express gratitude to that mage named Khan.”
“Huh…?”
A moment later, at Alchemis’s following words, Serina blinked her eyes like a fool.
‘He’s not angry…? No, more than that, saying we should be grateful to that mage… what kind of nonsense is that…?’
As she held that question and fell silent, Alchemis spoke again.
“Didn’t he teach you, who are holed up in the Tower all day, the dangers of the outside world? He even showed mercy in the end, so it’s truly something to be grateful to him for. But is that mage’s name definitely ‘Khan’?”
“Yes…. It’s a name I’ve never heard before. Do you perhaps know of him, Master?”
“I haven’t heard of him either. Let me check if he’s registered with the Tower.”
Saying that, Alchemis immediately drew upon mana.
Huum…!!
Then, a square screen formed before his eyes, and he began searching for something.
It was the data center containing information on all mages affiliated with the Magic Towers of the Kingdom of Sinsiniel.
It felt somewhat similar to the modern internet.
He searched for the name ‘Khan,’ but, as expected, no information about him appeared.
“As expected… the mage named Khan is not registered in the information system. Belbek, Serina.”
“…Yes.”
“Yes…!”
When Alchemis called their names, both answered with tense expressions.
“I think this opportunity made you keenly realize that you are still frogs in a well. From now on, don’t waste time on things like treasure maps; focus solely on magic research and training.”
“Yes…!”
“I understand.”
“And regarding this mage named Khan, I will investigate a bit more separately.”
“Um… what about the Mana Pill, Master…?”
“I will provide one Mana Pill separately. Giving Belbek’s would be a bit much.”
“Thank you, Master.”
“You may go.”
“Yes…!”
Belbek and Serina bowed and took the elevator down.
Left alone, Alchemis reopened the Magic Tower Information System he had activated earlier and began writing something.
[Magic Tower Information System]
[Name: Khan]
[Affiliation: X]
[Circle: X]
[Mana Level: ???]
[Remarks: A top-tier mage with no proper information known. Tall but slender build. Casts all magic with Chantless Casting. Possesses considerable mana. Overwhelmed Belbek and Serina of the Blue Magic Tower…….]
He recorded all the information about Khan he had just heard from Serina without omission.
If a Magic Tower-affiliated mage carelessly provoked a mage with such monstrous skills, they could be seriously injured like Belbek and Serina, or even possibly killed.
“By the way… I’d like to see this Khan fellow in person. Using all magic with Chantless Casting… that level would be in the realm of genius….”
He intended to properly investigate Khan.
After all, to deliver the Mana Pill to him, he needed to find out where he was.
* * *
Khan’s party headed to Bron’s Flame Forge as soon as day broke.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Bron’s Flame Forge now had its door wide open.
The blacksmiths inside were hammering with a passion different from before.
“You’re here! Fortunately, it seems we can obtain the materials from a dungeon near Asmar.”
“Dungeon?”
“Yes!”
“There’s a dungeon near Asmar too?”
“Ah, you didn’t know? A dungeon appeared near Asmar about a year ago. Adventurers say these days they don’t call them dungeons but ‘Gates’?”
“Gates?”
“Yes. Recently, there’s a rumor that dozens of dungeons… no, Gates have appeared in the kingdom’s capital region…. Anyway, what’s certain is that the world seems to be getting a bit chaotic.”
“……So, what materials do we need to get?”
“Ah, two things are needed. King Goblin hide and Minotaurus horn… can you get them?”
Fortunately, neither were that strong of monsters.
Moreover, with Byutek and Sharin, they could easily defeat them.
“Alright, we’ll go get them right now.”
“Yes! Then please be careful on your way. If… it seems too dangerous, you can just come back. I’ll try to get the materials somehow too.”
“Alright.”
Nodding to Bron, he lifted his foot to head towards the western region.
Then, a message appeared before Khan’s eyes.
[Main Quest accepted.]
Confirming the message, Khan, along with Byutek and Sharin, moved their steps towards the dungeon in the western region.
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Thanks for the chapter. I’m looking forward to the new one