Chapter 16 - The Magic Otaku Experiences a Homecoming
"So, it's not just spells that have tiers, but magic users as well?"
"That's right. They're called First Tier magic users, Second Tier magic users, and so on. Naturally, the higher the tier, the more powerful the magic user."
After leaving the manor, we passed through the South Gate from the main thoroughfare, raced through the farmlands spreading across the capital's outskirts, and were now taking a short break by a small stream a little way off the main road that cut through the wasteland. The area had been cleared of grass and trees, likely because it was a popular spot for travelers, and now resembled a small plaza. We disembarked from the carriage there, spreading a thick blanket on the ground to sit on.
It's a three-day journey on foot from the capital to Arcalai village. Even though we were traveling by carriage and horseback, the trip was still estimated to take three days. The reason was simple: there were only two villages along the road where we could rest. A carriage could make it in two days if pushed, but that would necessitate camping out in the open. With me and Ruria—the toddler contingent—in tow, the schedule had been planned with a generous amount of leeway.
Laz-san and the others were letting the horses drink from the stream, while Yoram-san, the coachman, inspected the carriage, his eyes vigilantly scanning our surroundings. Amidst all this, we were enjoying a pleasant chat while drinking tea Hanna had prepared. Right now, I was in the middle of getting a detailed lesson on magic from Nathan-san.
"So does that mean a magic user's tier is determined by the highest tier of spell they've mastered?"
"To be precise, that's slightly incorrect. A magic user can only ascend to the next tier after they have mastered every spell of their current tier. For example, let's say a magic user learns a Second Tier spell before mastering all the First Tier spells. They can use that Second Tier spell, but their rank as a magic user remains at the First Tier."
"Is it possible to learn spells of a higher tier than your own?"
"It's not recommended, but it is possible. However, learning a higher-tier spell without the requisite skill to back it up is fruitless—it takes longer to cast, consumes a great deal of mana, and so on. It also delays your own advancement. That is why most instructors teach their students to prioritize mastering all the spells of their current tier first."
And so, Nathan-san dutifully answered my questions. As soon as we had arrived at this plaza, he had been about to join Laz-san and the others on watch. But Mother Maria had forcibly made him sit down, saying, "It's been so long since you've seen each other, why don't you have a little chat?"
After some idle talk—"How have you been?" and "Have you found someone special?"—she'd then passed the baton to me. "Saki, if you have anything you want to ask Nathan, now's your chance. It's not often you get to hear from an active-duty military magic user, you know." But she was right; a chance like this wouldn't come again soon. And so, here I was, grilling Nathan-san with all the questions about magic I'd been dying to ask.
"By the way, Nathan-san, what's your tier?"
"I am Third Tier. Not just myself, but every member of the Dragon's Wings is Third Tier."
"And I'm Second Tier, for the record. Half the magic users who graduate from the Academy remain First Tier, so I'm actually quite skilled, you know~"
Mother Maria chimed in from the side. She'd been stroking the head of Ruria, who was sitting on her lap, but it seemed she'd been listening to our conversation. Ruria herself, oblivious, was completely absorbed in a book, letting Mother Maria do as she pleased. She had been forbidden from reading in the carriage because it would make her motion sick, so she was clearly trying to make up for lost time.
Still, for all the airs she put on as his senior disciple, Mother Maria was a lower tier than Nathan-san… It seems that, just as in the real world where a younger brother can't defy an older sister simply because she was 'born first,' there's a hierarchy among disciples that can't be overturned by skill alone.
"It must be incredibly difficult just to go up a single tier."
"Yes. As Maria-sama mentioned earlier, less than half of all magic users ever reach the Second Tier. When it comes to the Third Tier, that number drops to about ten percent of the total. And as for Fourth Tier magic users, like Lord Arcalai, you could probably count them on two hands in the entire kingdom."
"When you put it like that, you realize just how incredible Auntie's—I mean, Master's—Sixth Tier is. There's no one else who has even reached the Fifth Tier, let alone the Sixth…"
Mother Maria said as much, but honestly, it didn't quite register with me. I understood that Grandma was amazing, not just one but two heads above the rest in a world with so few high-ranking magic users.
Wait a minute. What if I compare a magic user's tier to the grades of a magical order? If I do that, Grandma's Sixth Tier would be equivalent to a grade of 6=5, an Adeptus Major. Seriously? That's incredible. Isn't that practically the upper limit a human can achieve? The seventh grade was supposedly an honorary title, held only by the founders of magical orders.
But in this world, there was someone even higher. Sister Magisa. She, who called herself a Magister Templi, would be an 8=3, a magus of the Eighth Grade, if her words were to be believed. That's a grade said to be unattainable for one with a physical body, denoting the spiritual leader of an order. She claimed to be called the "Goddess of Magic, Isis," and frankly, it fits. Possessing Ruria and speaking through her mouth is something no ordinary magician could ever do.
Still, I'm honestly troubled by the "favor" she entrusted to me. The revival of magic is fine, I suppose. I'm going to aim to become a magician either way, and I can just spread the magic I learn in the process. But resurrecting the Ancient Magic Kingdom and saving humanity from decline? I think that's asking a bit too much. That's not a job for one person.
"We've rested for quite a while. Shall we be on our way?"
Nathan-san's words snapped me back to reality. It seemed we'd spent more time on our break than I'd realized. Looking around, I saw that Hanna was gone. She must have sensed the conversation was turning to magic, excused herself, and had been serving tea to the men on watch. Now she was standing and chatting with Laz-san. Those two get along well.
In any case, we wouldn't reach our destination by just sitting around. I stretched once, stood up, and climbed back into the carriage to resume our journey.
The rest of the trip proceeded without a hitch. We stayed two nights in a village along the road, but we passed through smoothly without any of the usual travel troubles. It helped immensely that Father had sent a messenger ahead to inform them of our party's size and itinerary and to secure lodging. Though it was a village along the main road, it was a farming community of only a few dozen households. Perhaps due to the kingdom's economic level, there were few merchant caravans using the road, which meant the village had no inns. So what did we do? We stayed at the village chief's house. The advance notice was for that purpose, and it seemed the gratuities had already been taken care of.
The accommodations were simple beds and heartfelt meals, but I had no complaints. A hard bed is better than the floor, and as long as the food fills my stomach, I'm content. In fact, even my life at the manor was far inferior to my living conditions in my previous life, but I just thought, I guess this is how it is, and it never particularly bothered me. Recreating meals from my past life? Magic takes priority over that.
More surprising was the attitude of the village chief's family who greeted us; on both occasions, they were practically prostrating themselves. I thought it was just the status difference between nobles and commoners, but according to Laz-san and the others, there was more to it. Apparently, our House Arcalai is not only the local lord but is also known as a great house of magic, earning us considerable renown around the capital.
Hearing that, the words of the manor's chef—"magic users are scary"—resurfaced in my mind. Ah, so it's 'scary' squared. No wonder they were so timid. Being fawned over to the point where I started to worry wasn't a pleasant feeling, but I suppose it couldn't be helped. Better than being looked down upon.
And so, taking numerous breaks along the way, we ambled toward Arcalai village. As we got farther from the capital, the cultivated landscapes gave way to forests and wastelands. During this time, the number of people traveling the road was small, which genuinely made me worry about the kingdom's commerce.
According to Mother Maria, traffic increases during the harvest season, but in winter, it's rare to see anyone at all. I suppose you just can't defy the forces of nature.
Something else I noticed during our breaks was that the particles of mana floating in the air seemed to increase as we moved into the countryside. Looking around, the mana was clearly denser in the distant forests than it was on the road. Does a richer natural environment mean a greater amount of mana in the air? I'm probably the only one who would even notice something like that.
And so, late in the afternoon of the third day after leaving the capital, we arrived at Arcalai village.
"Saki-sama! Ruria-sama! A heartfelt welcome to you!!"
As soon as we reached the village, we were greeted by a bewildering sight. The village looked much the same as the ones we'd passed through, a collection of a few dozen farmhouses. But at its entrance, a crowd of what looked to be over a hundred people had gathered. A young man at the front of the crowd shouted, and a roar of cheers and applause erupted.
Unable to proceed, we had no choice but to get out of the carriage, at which point the crowd's excitement seemed to rise another notch. Everyone was shouting things like, "Welcome, young master Saki!" or "Ruria-sama!" while waving their hands furiously or jumping up and down. If this were Japan, they would have been on the verge of starting a chorus of 'Banzai!'.
Eventually, an elderly man stepped forward from the crowd. His hair and beard had streaks of white but were neatly groomed. Combined with his well-tailored and clean attire, he had the air of an old gentleman enjoying country life. He turned, raised both hands to quiet the villagers, then faced us and began to speak.
"A warm welcome to you both. I am the village chief, Ruth Arcalai. On behalf of the village, I offer you our greetings. Arcalai village welcomes you both."
As soon as he finished, the villagers erupted again. Seeing this, I felt a little intimidated. Never in this life or my last have I been welcomed by such a large crowd. It was like being a celebrity swarmed by fans waiting at an airport. Honestly, I wanted to hide somewhere. Ruria had already retreated behind me.
Just then, someone placed their hands on our backs and pushed us forward. I looked up, and of course, it was Mother Maria. I could hear whispers from the surrounding villagers, "It's Maria-sama," and "Lady Maria." Mother Maria pushed us to the very front of the crowd, looked around, and said:
"Alright everyone, quiet down and listen. Our future lord has a few words for you."
Ugh, she really did it. I looked out, and the villagers, whose clamor had vanished as if it had never been, were now staring at me and Ruria with intense, heated gazes. And the instigator of this whole situation stood with her hands on her hips, a smug "Hmph" practically written on her face, observing the scene. Ruria, stuck to my back as if with suction cups, was a non-combatant from the start.
Damn it, I have no choice. I bought some time with a deliberately theatrical cough, my mind racing to assemble words appropriate for the occasion, and then I began to speak.
"It is a pleasure to meet you all. I am Saki Adoni Arcalai, the legitimate heir of Viscount Levi Arcalai. To be able to visit the land of my ancestors is a great joy and a profound honor. All of you, who have stood with our House Arcalai for generations, are our family's treasure. From this day forward, let us work together to bring ever more prosperity to the House of Arcalai."
In that instant, the largest cheer yet exploded from the crowd. They all chanted my name, "Saki-sama! Saki-sama!" and waved their hands with twice the previous vigor. Some of the older folk were even scrunching up their faces, their eyes welling with tears. While I felt an awkward desire to be anywhere else, there was also a strange sense of pleasure and warmth, and I found myself waving back at the villagers.
"Honestly, why is this child like this?"
I looked up to see Mother Maria looking down at me with a heavy, humid glare. I gave a speech because you suddenly thrust it upon me, so why am I the one getting blamed?
"Weren't you the one who told me to speak?"
"You could have at least panicked a little, or made a mistake. I was trying to show them an endearing side to win them over."
"That expectation was your mistake."
Ruria, her face still buried in my back, uttered a devastatingly blunt remark.
"Maybe I should have had you speak after me, Ruria?"
"Impossible."
She's quick with the refusal. Well, I was worried she might feel sick being suddenly dragged in front of a large crowd, but she seems to be doing better than I thought. More importantly, the villagers' excitement isn't dying down at all. What am I supposed to do about this?
"My, what a lively crowd."
The voice cut clearly through the murmurs of over a hundred people. In an instant, the previous clamor vanished, and silence fell upon the place.
Grandma had appeared between us and the villagers before I knew it. She wore the same simple robe I'd seen before and carried a staff that was taller than she was. The moment they recognized her, the villagers all dropped to one knee. Hanna, of course, as well as Nathan-san and the male servants, knelt. Only Mother Maria remained standing, bowing her head. For a second, I almost knelt with them before catching myself and just bowing my head.
"It's good of you all to gather. But my grandchildren have just arrived from a long journey from the capital. Let them settle in for now, and we'll arrange a formal meet-and-greet later. Alright, dismiss, dismiss."
As Grandma clapped her hands, the villagers all stood, bowed once, and then dispersed in their own directions. As the murmur of conversation returned, I was finally able to relax. I, along with Ruria, Mother Maria, and the servants, approached Grandma.
"It has been some time, Auntie."
"It's been a while, Grandmother."
Mother Maria and I bowed our heads to Grandma again. Ruria peeked out from behind me and gave a quick little bow. Grandma looked over us with a satisfied smile.
"It's good to see you all are well. Saki, Ruria, you've both grown again in the short time I haven't seen you. Ah, and Nathan. My apologies for asking so much of you."
"Not at all, Master. It is an honor to be called upon."
Nathan-san, who had been waiting behind us, gave a deep bow. Grandma watched him with a look of satisfaction before turning to us and announcing:
"In any case, I'm glad you came. There's not much here, but please, make yourselves at home and relax. For now, you'll get unpacked at Ruth's house, and then we'll have supper. Does that sound good?"
The last part was directed at the village chief, who had remained behind after the crowd dispersed. The chief replied, "As you wish," and, along with another young man who had also stayed, invited us into the village. This young man, if my memory serves, was the one who shouted the first words of welcome when we arrived. The chief's son, perhaps? Hmm, doesn't this man have black hair? Could it be...
"Hey, are the village chief and the others perhaps…"
I tugged on the sleeve of Mother Maria, who was walking beside me, and she answered before I could even finish.
"That's right. That's my father and Aunt Ester's younger brother, Ruth Arcalai. The one next to him is my older brother, Caro Arcalai. Since Levi is too busy to leave the capital, my father and brother look after this village in his stead."
I see, so he's a village chief and a proxy governor of sorts. Incidentally, I could only see a normal person's level of magical glow from Ruth-san and Caro-san. Grandma, Mother Maria, Ruria... perhaps the Arcalai blood grants magic more strongly to the women. Seeing as I'm like this, it's possible my father is an exception.
And yet, despite being relatives, Ruth-san and Caro-san are so deferential to Grandma and me. Is this the status difference between nobles and non-nobles within the same family? My name, "Saki Adoni Arcalai," includes "Adoni," a title indicating noble rank. The village chief's family doesn't have it. So they're a branch family.
Hmm? Then what about Ruria? She's the daughter of my wet nurse, a commoner, so it's strange for her own grandfather and uncle to use "-sama" with her. Is it because she's a magic user, or an apprentice? No, Mother Maria, walking ahead, is talking normally with Ruth-san and Caro-san. Then again, Mother Maria is easygoing, and maybe their relationship is too close for formal language.
I glanced sideways at Ruria, who was walking while holding my arm. She noticed my gaze and looked back at me with her usual, slightly sleepy eyes. This was it—the face she makes when her eyes are saying, I'm hungry.
"Once we get to the chief's house, let's ask them to bring out the sweets we brought as souvenirs, okay?"
When I said that, Ruria nodded her head over and over. For some reason, I found it incredibly funny and, laughing, asked Hanna about the sweets.
The village chief's house was splendid enough to be called a mansion. The basic construction was the same as the surrounding farmhouses, but it was larger and had a second story. It was old but well-maintained, perfectly fitting the description of a "traditional country home." On our way here, we passed another house just as large, which I was told Grandma lived in by herself. She apparently had it built when she decided to retire. This house we were in now was the one she and her siblings were born in, an ancient structure that had been renovated and used for generations.
I hadn't doubted it, but it was true they were an old family. Personally, I wanted to see the scroll said to be passed down in this house as soon as possible, but it would be too forward to ask right after arriving. Since Grandma would be joining us for dinner, I decided to bring it up then.
While Ruth-san and Caro-san's wives prepared dinner, we relaxed in the spacious dining room. Arcalai village, like the others, apparently lets travelers on the main road stay at the chief's house, so there was still plenty of room even with our party of nine. Though, the men were busy unloading luggage and tending to the horses, so only Nathan-san was here at the moment.
Hanna offered to help with dinner preparations but was told, "We couldn't possibly ask you to do that," so now she was serving tea to everyone. As such, I shot a glare at the person sitting next to me.
"Well, you see, today I'm a guest, so…"
"It's impressive that you can guess what I'm going to say before I say it, but I'm not sure about your brazen attitude."
While her own mother and sister-in-law were busy, Mother Maria was leisurely sipping her tea. On her lap, Ruria was silently eating the sweets served with the tea. Is this really how a daughter acts on her homecoming? I glanced around, but Ruth-san and Caro-san just smiled wryly.
"You can't expect Maria to do housework. Ever since she was little, all we had her do was magic."
Surprise! A covering fire from Grandma! And then I realized she was also defending herself. Grandma and Mother Maria, sipping tea with nonchalant faces, and Ruria, engrossed in her sweets. More than ever, I felt the undeniable blood connection in this three-generation lineage of witches.
The meal served at the village chief's house was in no way inferior to what we usually ate at the manor. It was a simple menu of bread, a meat and vegetable stew, cheese, and salad, but the meat and vegetables were incredibly fresh. I heard that the game bird and vegetables used were all caught or harvested today. What else could you expect from the source of production?
"It's late today, so let's leave that matter for tomorrow. Is that alright with you, Saki?"
At the dinner table, Grandma brought it up. She'd preemptively shut me down, but since it was apparently our family's secret tradition, I couldn't say anything careless. I had no choice but to reply, "I understand." Grandma smiled and said, "Good boy," before continuing.
"I have an errand I'd like Nathan and the young men from the manor to run. I think it will take a few days, so you all can take it easy in the village during that time."
"But isn't Nathan our guard? Is it really okay for you to use him as you please, even if you are my aunt?"
"No, Lord Arcalai himself instructed me to follow the Master's orders upon our arrival here."
"There you have it. Or what, are you saying this old woman is less reliable than those young men?"
"O-Of course not! I don't think anyone would be reckless enough to try anything in a village with you in it, Auntie…"
Apparently, Nathan-san and Laz-san's group were being sent off somewhere else as soon as they arrived. Even though it had been a very relaxed journey, being given another task right after reaching their destination—all I can say is my condolences. As for me, it seemed the fatigue had been building up without my noticing. As I ate the delicious dinner, drowsiness began to creep in.
Through my hazy vision, I saw Ruria next to me, looking even sleepier than usual as she dozed off. Yep, I'm done for. The scroll would have to wait until tomorrow anyway. I'll just go to sleep now…
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Three days after Saki's party arrived in Arcalai village. Deep within a grove of trees far from the road they had traveled, a group of about twenty men lay in wait.
The men were all unkempt and unshaven, armed with machetes, short swords, and shortbows. At first glance, they looked like highwaymen or bandits, but their numbers were too large. Of course, they could have been a large bandit clan, but the traffic on this road was not heavy enough to support a group of this size. Moreover, the content of the men's conversation revealed they were no mere thieves.
"So, we're hittin' a noble's carriage headin' to the capital, right? And we're snatchin' the kids inside it, yeah?"
"That's right. Heard there's seven or eight of 'em total, but hey, half are women and kids. We kill all the men, grab the brats, or kill 'em if we can't. As for the women… well, do what you want, I guess?"
Vulgar laughter erupted among the men. Their expressions were clearly those of people who had no qualms about trampling and taking from others.
"But ain't snatchin' kids a pain? They cry and scream like crazy, and they die if you hit 'em a little too hard."
"The reward's higher if we bring 'em back alive. Heard there's two of 'em. If they're both alive, they'll pay five times the promised amount. We'll be livin' easy for a while."
Several off-key whistles echoed through the air. While some of the men were getting fired up, others looked uneasy.
"Honestly, I'm not keen on messin' with nobles. Their guards are often skilled, and there might even be a magic user."
"What, you scared? Don't worry, even if they've got some skill, there's this many of us. We'll have 'em surrounded, no problem."
"That's right. Besides, even if they're nobles, they can't just hire a magic user that easily. And…"
The man who seemed to be the leader, who had been explaining things, looked back with a meaningful tone. There, a short distance from the others, was a man in a cloak, leaning against a tree with his head down.
"We've got a magic user on our side, too. We're countin' on you, sensei."
The cloaked man, called sensei, nodded silently, not bothering to hide his displeasure.
The man's life up to this point could be summed up in one word: "half-assed." His family was of noble rank, but they were a minor barony with only a single village to their name and were not particularly wealthy. Born as the second son to this petty noble, he would go on to experience numerous setbacks.
Since his older brother would inherit the family title, his parents stretched their finances to send him to a private academy in the capital. His grades there were neither good nor bad. Deciding to pursue magic school because he had slightly more mana than others, he failed the entrance exam repeatedly, spending years languishing in mediocrity. In his early twenties, he finally passed and began his path to becoming a magic user.
However, his performance there was also lackluster. Furthermore, captivated by the flashy power of higher-tier spells, he recklessly dabbled in them, failed to meet the graduation requirements, and was expelled. He was forbidden from using spells for the rest of his life.
When his expulsion was finalized, his mind was consumed by anger. Why wasn't I born into a wealthier family? Why wasn't I born the heir? Why wasn't I born with more powerful magic? Why. Why. Why.
For reasons he felt were beyond his control, the path to becoming a magic user was closed to him. Back when he was a student at the magic academy, people on the street would look at him with awe when they saw the robe he wore. Now, he couldn't even return to his family home, and even commoners looked at him as if he were a stone on the roadside.
The decree that he could never use spells again was unbearable. It was the sole proof that he was "special, different from others." But if it ever came to light that he had used a spell, the only thing awaiting him was the death penalty. Naturally, he found himself walking into the shadows of the capital. He began to make a living by selling his services as an illicit magic user to shady individuals.
Eventually, he took to wearing a cloak over his plain clothes. A robe was too conspicuous in this capital, and there was the risk of his identity being revealed. The cloak was his last bastion of bravado. Even while surrounded by blatant criminals, it was his silent declaration: I am not like you.
His brooding over his past misfortunes was dragged back to reality by a sudden shout: "Enemy attack!!"
It started with a single arrow that flew from nowhere. It struck one of the hiding men in the throat. The man let out a hissing sound, like air escaping, which quickly turned into a gurgling, watery noise. His eyes rolled back, and as he collapsed backward, clutching the fletching sprouting from his neck, the others watched in silence.
Soon, shouts of "It hurts!" and "Dammit!" followed, and as the continuous whizz of arrows filled the air, the men finally snapped back to their senses. They ducked their heads and yelled to each other that they were under attack. The leader peered through the undergrowth in the direction the arrows were coming from and saw three figures about thirty meters away, in the middle of the grassy field leading to the road, kneeling and drawing their bows.
How did they find us? No, who the hell are they? Why are they attacking us? Did they crawl through the grass to get this close? Are there really only three of them?
A storm of questions swirled in the leader's mind, but even as he thought, the arrows kept coming. With a grunt of pain, the leader learned that another of his men had been wounded. He shook his head and focused on the most important calculation: profit and loss.
If we retreat into the forest, the arrows won't hit us. But if we run now, we lose everything, and our reputation hits rock bottom. Even if I have to make excuses to our employer, I can't make a case unless we take out these intruders. There are three of them. If we get out of the forest, we can surround and crush them.
"You bastards! Don't just stand there scared, we're charging!"
At that moment, the failed magic user was not part of the leader's calculations. It was their first job together, and more importantly, the surprise attack had rattled his composure. And so, the men, weapons in hand, charged out from the forest.
The man in the cloak watched with a cold gaze as the group of thugs charged toward the enemy. The fact that things had gone wrong before the job even started made him momentarily consider abandoning it all, but he remembered that this request came from a source he couldn't refuse and held back. He felt no motivation whatsoever, but he knew he had to silence those archers first.
"[Armor]."
The man drew a sigil in the air with his finger and uttered a single word. An invisible barrier enveloped his body. Getting hit by a stray arrow would be foolish. After preparing for any unforeseen circumstances, he slowly began to observe the battle from the cover of the trees. Ahead, the attackers had also abandoned their bows and drawn their weapons for close combat. Was the [Armor] unnecessary? the man thought, clicking his tongue at the wasted mana. His side had lost a few men to the arrows, but they still outnumbered the enemy four or five to one. In a brawl, they shouldn't lose, the man concluded, deciding to watch for now.
But something was wrong. Despite the overwhelming numerical advantage, the attackers weren't breaking. On the contrary, one by one, his allies were falling to the ground, struck down by the enemy's swords. Were the attackers that skilled? As another man collapsed with a groan, the ruffians' leader turned and shouted at him.
"Hey, sensei! Do something!"
The man in the cloak, looking utterly fed up, finally stepped out from the cover of the forest.
The bandit leader desperately dodged the sword swings of a young man while looking for an opening. His comrades had tried to rush the man from the side several times, but their opponent advanced fearlessly. The man's face was more than young, it was almost boyish, but his cold gaze felt like it was ruthlessly aiming for his life.
What was stranger was that, despite his and his comrades' weapons grazing the man numerous times, he showed no signs of injury. He wore a leather breastplate, gauntlets, and greaves, but the leader didn't think they were thick enough to completely block his short sword or his allies' machetes. The enemy was completely unscathed, while several of his own men were already down. And then, another scream of "Gah!" echoed across the battlefield. A comrade who had been facing another opponent collapsed, the white of his bone visible through a deep gash above his knee.
A horrifying chill ran down the leader's spine. What the hell are these guys? Something's definitely not right. On the verge of panic, the leader finally remembered the ally who wasn't participating in the fight. He turned and saw that bastard was still hiding in the forest. Filled with frustration, fear, and anger, the leader called out to the man in the cloak.
"Hey, sensei! Do something!"
The man in the cloak stopped at a distance from the brawl, took aim at one of the three attackers, and began to draw a sigil with his finger. They were just skilled commoners; they had no way to resist a magic user. This spell never missed its mark, and its power could take down a knight in full plate mail.
"[Magic Missile]."
A white streak of light shot from the man's fingertip and flew unerringly toward its target. But in the next moment, just before reaching its mark, the magic arrow vanished in a shower of light, as if it had collided with something. The targeted man seemed to flinch for a moment but continued to clash with his opponent.
[Shield]? No, that's impossible. Then that means—
The moment he saw that, the man in the cloak tried to turn. But he couldn't twist his body. He couldn't take a step to flee. His entire body, down to his very fingertips, was no longer under his control.
"Scum. No, even the word scum is too good for you."
The voice that reached him was laced with a suppressed killing intent, and the man in the cloak felt a fear so intense his knees nearly gave out. In reality, his body was rigid, unable to buckle or fall. The voice had come from above for some reason, but his neck was completely locked, making it impossible to see its source. Not that he had any will left to confirm who the speaker was.
"[Sleep]."
As the voice spoke again from above, the bandits who were still fighting in front of him began to collapse one after another, like puppets with their strings cut. The last one standing, the leader, threw down his short sword, knelt, and began begging the three attackers for his life. And then, he saw him get stabbed through the chest and fall to the ground.
The man in the cloak was terrified. If he could move his body, his teeth would be chattering uncontrollably, and tears and snot would be streaming down his face. And the moment he saw the robed man slowly descend from above, the man in the cloak lost consciousness from sheer terror.
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In the forest, the last of the men was covered with dirt, the ground smoothed over. After erasing all traces of the brigands, Laz Heim, the Arcalai family attendant, straightened his posture alongside Nishim and Tal, knelt, and spoke.
"Nathan-sama. We are truly grateful for your assistance. Thanks to the protection spells you cast for us, we were able to complete our duty without a single scratch. We offer our sincerest thanks."
Nathan Grion, an officer of the Magic Corps, accepted their thanks and replied, shaking his head.
"I was merely following orders. More importantly, allow me to apologize for putting you all in danger. It was necessary to take every precaution in order to capture this one alive."
At Nathan's feet lay the man in the cloak, bound like a parcel and gagged. He still seemed to be unconscious. Nathan's gaze as he looked down was filled with cold contempt.
"What do you intend to do with that man?"
To Laz's question, Nathan replied with a smile.
"Another team is arranged to transport him. I will hand this man over and then follow you. Please depart ahead of me. If we are late in returning, we may cause Saki-sama and the others unnecessary worry."
At his words, Laz and the others exchanged glances, but eventually, they bowed once, left the area, mounted their horses which were tied up nearby, and returned to the main road. Nathan watched them go for a while before averting his gaze to the sky and muttering to himself.
"The shame of our school must be cleansed by our own hands."
To whom were those words directed? Nathan shook his head again and continued to wait in the grove for the person he was to meet.
This is the fifteenth chapter. My apologies for the long delay between posts. It's been a year since I started posting, and I'm burning with shame at how slowly it's progressing. I will continue to do my best, so I hope you'll stick with me.