Chapter 95

“Теll mе in dеtail.”

“Ah, уеs…! Ваsеd on what I cоnfirmеd using Deteсtion Mаgiс аnd Rесоnnaissanсe Mаgiс…”

Detесtiоn Маgic аnd Reсonnaissаnсе Мagic.

Nоt all Мages used Маna solely tо аttack others or еmрloy destructive Маgic.

Deрending оn thеir strеngths, using Rеconnaissanсe Mаgiс аnd Deteсtiоn Мagic likе this allowеd them to creаtе images with Маna, just likе the reсonnaissanсe Маge standing before Lеxаr.

“Аrjеon, whо are thеsе рeoрle?”

Ноwеvеr, whilе theу соuld crеаte images, they couldn’t hear sounds.

Yet Arjeon, a specialist in Detection Magic, could infer the conversation to some extent just by watching the other party’s lip movements.

“That Knight is named Byutek, the Mage is named Sharin, and the man with the diminutive physique is someone called Khan. If I may venture a guess, that Khan and Sharin seem to have a master-disciple relationship.”

“Master-disciple? So that guy is a Mage too?”

“Correct. For now, let’s continue watching the footage.”

Using Detection Magic allowed one to capture events that occurred at a location as they happened, in the form of images.

Of course, there were drawbacks like time constraints and the inability to store them for long periods, but Arjeon had arrived in time to obtain this intact magical footage.

The magical footage Arjeon displayed showed Sharin and Byutek fighting Kaldur’s group.

“Where is that guy Khan?”

“Ah, he doesn’t appear in the magical footage at the moment, but I presume he’s watching the battle from the rear.”

“Why do you think so?”

“Firstly, Kaldur’s group isn’t paying any attention to the person named Khan. And seeing that Mage Sharin is reciting a long Incantation to prepare her Magic, it seems Khan intentionally placed his Disciple in a dire situation to foster her growth.”

“Ah, I see.”

That was a fairly common practice among Mages.

To develop real combat sense, a Master would drag their Disciple into a Dungeon and push them to the brink of death.

Doing so would awaken combat sense in most Mages.

Since Mages of the Magic Tower generally underwent such practical training, Lexar nodded and continued checking the footage.

And a short while later.

After watching the entire footage, Lexar’s expression became subtle.

“Um… Sir Lexar?”

“Ah, kkhuk… My apologies. That guy… Khan, was it? He’s an interesting fellow.”

Lexar had been quite bored since coming to Erindel, and it felt like he’d just found a temporary plaything.

“By the way, Arjeon, what Circle are you currently?”

“I am 4th Circle.”

“Do you have any Magic you can currently use with Chantless Casting?”

“None. Isn’t Chantless Casting Magic something only the great Sir Lexar can perform?”

“Then what about that guy?”

“Ah, that person is…”

“Kkhuk… Enough. You may leave. And investigate that guy Khan a bit more. Including those traveling with him.”

“Yes…!”

As Arjeon flustered at Lexar’s question, he simply sent him out.

He had long grown tired of teasing his subordinates anyway.

His mind was filled solely with thoughts of revenge and hatred towards the Yellow Magic Tower, but now, for the first time, curiosity about something else was arising.

Thud.

After Arjeon left and Lexar remained alone in the room, he unconsciously muttered to himself.

“Chantless Casting… A very interesting fellow. What trick did he use? Even I don’t have any Magic I can use with Chantless Casting.”

Arjeon’s statement that Lexar could perform Chantless Casting Magic was merely flattery to curry favor.

Moreover, that guy Khan seemed intent on helping Eddy.

At the end of the magical footage, even Eddy appeared and was seen conversing with them, and seeing Eddy bow his head made it clear that Khan’s group had decided to help him.

“I’ll have to ask him before I kill him.”

How on earth did he use Magic with Chantless Casting?

Judging by the scale of the Magic and the amount of Mana that guy Khan used, he didn’t seem that strong.

Actually, it wouldn’t matter even if Khan were a fairly powerful Mage.

Lexar was confident he could kill anyone he fought.

And he would definitely kill anyone who interfered with his affairs.

* * *

Khan, who had entered Eddy’s shop, was looking around here and there.

Scrolls densely plastered on the walls to the point where the original wall color was invisible, and Artifacts filling the display cases.

“It’s humble, but please have a seat here for now. I’ll quickly bring some tea!”

“No, tea is fine. Let’s talk first.”

“Ah, understood! I can’t keep busy people like you held up for so long…!”

“Tell me about Lexar.”

“Lexar is someone who suddenly appeared in our city a few months ago. At first, he established himself in District 12, picking fights with the troublemakers in the city.”

“Those guys, they’re all dead now, I suppose.”

“Correct. After that, he…”

Eddy told Khan everything he knew about Lexar.

Why Lexar had kidnapped his sister, what exactly the guy wanted from him, and how cruel Lexar was.

Truthfully, Khan wasn’t that interested in Eddy’s story.

His reason for helping Eddy was entirely because of the Quest.

“So.”

“Yes?”

“What’s your sister’s name?”

“Ah, come to think of it, I haven’t told you my sister’s name until now. My sister’s name is Sophia.”

Anyway, Khan planned to rescue Eddy’s sister Sophia while clearing this Quest.

Doing so would essentially put Eddy deeply in his debt, and Eddy would provide appropriate compensation to repay that debt.

‘Looking at it this way, I seem like quite a sociopath.’

But it didn’t matter.

Whatever the case, it was good for Khan himself to clear the Quest, and it would be good for Eddy to rescue his sister Sophia.

“I… also asked various Mercenaries and adventurers to help rescue my sister.”

“……”

Suddenly, Eddy began speaking to himself.

“Those people are all dead now… but they were all only eyeing the Commission fee I mentioned. Not a single one asked for my sister’s name. Thank you truly, Sir Khan. I believe Sir Khan can truly rescue my sister.”

As Eddy spoke with a slightly moved expression, Khan quickly drew a line.

“I’m not trying to defeat Lexar to rescue your sister. I’m going to kill him because I don’t like the guy.”

“It doesn’t matter. Regardless, Sir Khan intends to kill Lexar and rescue my sister, right?”

“……”

As Khan stared without saying a word, Eddy abruptly rose from his seat and went into another room in the corner of the shop.

After about ten seconds passed like that, Eddy returned carrying a rather hefty-looking money pouch.

“It’s modest, but this is the Commission fee I’m offering. If you rescue my sister… I’ll give you double this amount! Please, I beg you to rescue my sister. I implore you…!”

Eddy bowed his head towards Khan and extended the money pouch with both hands.

But at that moment.

“Hey! Do you think we’re Mercenaries or adventurers! I say, Eddy! This makes it seem like our Hyungnim is merely rescuing your sister for money, doesn’t it!”

Byutek, who had been quiet all this time, sprang up from his seat and shouted loudly.

“Ah, but still……”

“Hey! Put it away!”

At that moment, Khan turned his head and looked at Byutek expressionlessly.

Sharin sensed killing intent towards Byutek from Khan’s expression.

“B-Byutek oppa! Just shut up and sit down quickly! Huh?!”

Byutek also immediately closed his mouth upon seeing Khan’s expression.

‘D-did I make an unnecessary mistake…?’

Originally, Byutek had said that because, having traveled with Khan until now, he knew Khan had no greed for money, but seeing Khan’s expression, that didn’t seem to be the case.

Khan sighed inwardly and looked at Eddy.

‘He’s making it difficult to receive money that could have been accepted without issue. What should I say to accept it…’

Because Byutek unnecessarily stepped forward, he now felt reluctant to readily accept the Commission fee.

‘With this much money, I could buy a fairly decent Artifact.’

Since Artifact prices were so high, this amount of money seemed necessary to procure at least one usable Artifact.

Listening to Eddy’s story about Lexar, since he was an incredibly powerful Mage from the Yellow Magic Tower, it seemed necessary to prepare more robustly.

‘That bastard Byutek, really…’

Looking at Byutek’s face, anger suddenly surged within him for a moment, but his emotions didn’t explode.

[Skill ‘Sage’s Heart’ has been activated.]

Thanks to ‘Sage’s Heart,’ Khan, who had unwillingly calmed down, decided that since things had come to this, he would just naturally accept the money from Eddy.

It was simply a matter of reaching out his hand right now to take the money pouch, so there was no need to think about it so hard.

But at that moment.

“Ah, how foolish of me! You are the ones who saved me from Lexar’s Gang Mages, and I’m offering only this much… It seems I miscalculated the amount.”

Saying that, Eddy quickly dashed back into the room he had brought the money pouch from.

Then, after a short while, he reappeared holding two money pouches of the same size in both hands.

“Sir Khan, I sincerely thank you for saving me. And my sister… I entrust her to you. If you bring my sister back, I will give you double this amount…!”

“Don’t worry. I’ll kill Lexar with my own hands.”

Saying that, Khan accepted the money pouches.

One money pouch Eddy initially brought, and the two money pouches just brought.

Sneaking a peek inside, they weren’t Copper Coins but all Silver Coins.

‘With this much money… I could buy a pretty good Artifact?’

In the end, it seemed things worked out a bit better because Byutek stepped forward.

I’ll retract the curses I just thought internally.

‘For Artifacts, I’ll go to a separate Artifact shop to buy them, and for Scrolls…’

Khan turned his gaze towards the numerous Scrolls plastered on the wall.

“Ah! If there are any Scrolls you need, I can provide them!”

“……Then I’ll check for a moment. What Scrolls you have.”

“It’s been quite a while since I stopped business, so there aren’t many… but feel free to use any!”

Looking at Eddy who was giving generously, Khan conveyed his gratitude inwardly.

‘This Quest… might be cleared more easily than I thought.’