Chapter 120 – Quest Accomplished
The carriage led by Owl sped through the Kingdom of Estiria.
Whenever the horses showed signs of exhaustion, they were immediately swapped at a village or city, and meals were taken on the carriage itself, with simple preserved food like jerky.
For Verden, it was nothing unusual, but for the priest who had been suddenly abducted by Owl, such a forced march was too much to endure.
However, the priest did not utter a single complaint.
Upon seeing the mage in a horrific state, he immediately began treatment. He alleviated some of the infection and inflammation, and slowed the rotting of the body caused by the curse. It only extended the dying life by a little, but for now, it was more than enough.
'An admirable priest.'
Even while struggling with the jolting carriage, he continued treatment steadfastly, as though saving the mage was his divine mission.
Regardless of the strength of his divine power, this priest was certainly worthy of respect.
"Ugh..."
At that moment, Toreld groaned.
His face twitched, as though he was about to regain consciousness.
'If he wakes up, it'll get noisy.'
Thud!
Verden struck Toreld's head with the Oculus.
The twitching Toreld once again fell silent. Indeed, it was far better for him to remain unconscious. He would not disturb the priest this way.
From then on, whenever Toreld so much as stirred, Verden lightly subdued him. Bruises formed on his head, and a little nosebleed trickled down, but beyond that, there were no real injuries.
Still, to an outsider, it looked all wrong.
The priest, who was treating the mage, was too busy maintaining the miracle of healing to react, but he could still hear the sound and catch glimpses from the corner of his eye.
What he saw was Verden repeatedly striking an unconscious man without reason. Of course, there was a reason, but to the priest, unaware of the situation, it appeared nothing more than senseless violence.
'Oh… Lord Luas.'
The priest trembled inwardly.
To him, Verden was more frightening than the Owl who had abducted him out of nowhere. He could not be sure when that staff would be brought down upon his own head.
A journey that made one's flesh tremble.
That misunderstanding was only cleared up once they reached Rines.
***
Safely arriving at Rines, Owl and Verden headed straight to the Church.
Though the Kingdom of Estiria had not given Luas' faith a strong foothold, in a major city like Rines, a bishop-level figure resided.
Upon seeing the mage's condition, the bishop immediately began treatment, and the priest, drained of all his strength, collapsed and was carried into the Church as well.
"Fortunately, it seems we weren't too late."
The mage of the Flight Ban would likely live.
When he might regain consciousness was uncertain, but they had done all they could.
Now, it was time to hand over Toreld to Calia.
After days of forced marching, the carriage wheels had grown worn and shaky, but thankfully, they did not collapse along the way.
After handing Toreld over to the knight and while waiting for Calia's summons, Verden and Owl decided to finish some postponed business.
Namely, dividing up Toreld's magical items.
The appraisal had already been completed on the way.
Most of Toreld's possessions were items that enhanced physical abilities. Because these did not overlap with Verden's buff magic, they were more cumbersome than useful to him, and not particularly necessary.
'Still, there'll be plenty of demand.'
Their value was about the same, so splitting them half and half would be simple enough.
The important ones were the exceptions.
The [Lizard Sword], which caused infected wounds with its blade.
The [Wing Necklace], which granted the wearer the ability to fly.
The [Poison Claw], imbued with venom that caused paralysis in muscles.
The [Weight Boots], which temporarily increased or decreased the wearer's weight.
And finally, the [Bracelet of Mana Nullification], which once per day dispersed any magic power below a certain threshold.
These five items were the main points of contention, but before any debate, Owl readily conceded the choice.
"I deprived him of his mobility, but in the end, your magic circle played the decisive role in subduing the Black Wolf. And I hadn't anticipated such a rare bracelet would appear."
They could have been ambushed.
Objectively speaking, Verden's contribution was greater than Owl's. Thus, keeping to the promise of splitting loot was only natural.
"I won't refuse, then."
He could choose at most two.
Verden first chose the [Weight Boots]. Though not of particularly high value, they were the most practically useful for him.
He put them on and tested the effect.
'If used properly, they'll be worthwhile.'
The change in weight could serve as a tactical trick.
Furthermore, their durability surpassed even the boots he had been using, made from Forest Wyvern leather.
'Then next...'
Verden chose the bracelet.
The reason was simple. Regardless of utility, it was the most expensive item here. With the black market auction to be held in about two months, he needed to save up as much money as possible.
Next was Owl's turn.
He chose the Wing Necklace. Seemingly quite pleased, he put it on his neck and gave it a brief test.
"Controlling the flight is a little tricky… but I'll adapt quickly enough. This will do for me, so the rest should be sold along with the other items. Since I've only taken one, we'll settle the profits at seventy-thirty."
"You'll handle the sale?"
"Yes. I'll give you a detailed statement later. Clean and simple."
Verden nodded without objection.
Even with the smaller share, the bracelet alone meant Verden was coming out ahead.
Just as they finished dividing, Calia's knight arrived.
"Mage Asher, Lady Calia summons you."
***
Owl was Calia's subordinate.
Since this was different from a commissioned quest, there was no need for him to attend the payment settlement.
Thus, Verden faced Calia alone.
"As requested, you brought Toreld back alive and intact. Well done, Asher."
Calia commended Verden.
Of course, it wasn't just words. Right there, she produced a peculiar banknote.
"This is a personal blank check with my name inscribed upon it. Unless a noble has absolute credibility, such notes cannot even be issued. A precious thing."
Calia wrote two hundred million Elk into the blank and personally handed it to Verden.
"Take it to Dyna Bank, they'll exchange it for cash immediately. I could pay you in cash or deposit, but I prefer this method. I hope you'll accept it without complaint."
"Thank you."
"Now that I've paid you, let's move to the next matter."
Calia leaned back in her chair.
"I heard you went to the Church right after entering Rines. From what I see, neither of you bear so much as a scratch…"
She was demanding an explanation.
Verden calmly recounted the events.
The mage of the Flight Ban, imprisoned beneath the sanctuary, the black magician who tortured him, the Orb of Command they shared, and the conversation about a traitor.
Of course, he left out the encounter with the black magician in Mildruen.
'Hard to explain, with no proof.'
He told her only what he had seen and experienced in the course of the quest.
That would make it easier for Calia to understand.
"Hooh."
As expected, Calia's interest was piqued at the sudden appearance of a black magician.
"A black magician. As far as I know, no kingdom noble keeps one under their command openly. Perhaps unofficially, but in any case, this isn't something to dismiss lightly."
The existence of a black magician itself was not strange.
In the Western Continent where the Kingdom of Estiria was founded, they were rare but not nonexistent. In fact, the one who managed Estiria's royal cemetery was also a black magician.
The problem was this—
Verden's report differed from the details known publicly about the Flight Ban.
"A mage, who attempted to murder Count Plishr's son but only managed to severely wound him before fleeing, led to this absurd ban, pushed through under the influence of the Third Prince. But now you're saying this mage was actually a traitor to some unknown group of black magicians, was tortured by another black magician? And that black magician was searching for an ominous object called the Orb of Command?"
Suspicious.
There was clearly something beneath the surface.
"Hmm..."
Calia sank into brief thought.
Soon, her gaze fixed squarely on Verden.
"Understood. I'll send knights to watch the mage closely. If word leaks, we can't know what may happen, so everyone must be silenced."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Good. And once we extract meaningful information from Toreld, I'll take action as well. If he has no information, of course our arrangement will collapse… but somehow, I doubt that will be the case."
Calia suspected it too.
If they peeled away Toreld's insides, what she desired would surely come forth. Her intuition told her the same.
Verden inwardly smiled at her response.
'The best result.'
Now that Calia knew of the black magicians, the Union and nobles would inevitably act to keep them in check. With this, every objective he had set was fulfilled.
With a lighter heart, Verden left Calia's mansion.
***
Watching Verden's departing back through the window, Calia spoke.
"What did you make of this Asher fellow?"
Owl replied.
"As I reported before, he is entirely unlike the average mage. Not only is he adept at long-range, but he seemed skilled in close combat as well, and even created a magic circle on the spot to subdue the Black Wolf Toreld. In my opinion, he still hides many cards."
"A magic circle… To use such a difficult thing in real battle, he must have a brilliant mind."
Calia turned her gaze aside.
"Vespa, what do you think?"
The captain of the knights, Vespa.
While Verden had gone with Owl to capture Toreld, Vespa had investigated his background. There wasn't much need to dig deep.
His name was already spreading from Gray, within the kingdom.
"A Fourth-tier lightning mage. And judging by his ability to wield other elemental magic as well, it is clear he holds rare talent. To have joined Mithril-rank parties like Manha in subjugation, I would say, by adventurer rank standards, he is comparable to the mid-upper tier of Platinum Rank."
However.
"This is a minimum estimate. Having never seen the full extent of his power, I cannot say for sure, but perhaps he could rival Mithril-rank by himself."
"Mithril, hm..."
Calia scrutinized Verden in memory.
That striking ash-gray hair, those sea-like blue eyes. In appearance, he looked no more than his twenties. At most, just over thirty.
'How many in the world have reached such a level at that age?'
Especially as a mage.
Common sense dictated that strength came with age. Few mages stood out so young, and those who did were labeled prodigies, geniuses, and received specialized training, their twenties and thirties carefully cultivated.
But he was different.
His ability, his composure, neither could be compared to his peers. Who knew what kind of life he had lived? Yet, it was more than enough to capture Calia's interest.
'He's worth watching.'
A genius mage.
That was how Calia remembered Verden.
And just a few hours later.
"We've confirmed all of Toreld's information, Lady Calia."
"And the result?"
Vespa handed over the documents.
After scanning through them, Calia allowed a faint smile to curl.
"This is a jackpot. Far greater than I imagined."
She did not doubt the information.
Of course not. They had used the heirloom of the Marquisate Esperanza, the Scales of Truth. Though the conditions for use were strict, limiting it to at most twice a year, before those scales, the word 'falsehood' did not exist.
Strictly speaking, it required the Marquis's permission to use, but Calia had willfully skipped that step. Convincing her father would take too long.
'After all, forgiveness is easier than permission.'
Calia immediately summoned the knights.
The White Crest Knights, who wielded command under her father, the Marquis Esperanza. Always purging criminals alongside her, they were nothing less than her second sword.
Standing on the platform, Calia spoke.
"Knights."
Silence descended.
"Count Plishr's corruption has been confirmed. Drugs, smuggling, even seizing good citizens to sell into slavery. Slavery was abolished years ago, and yet he still dares to cling to it. What do you think, Vespa?"
"He is, without a doubt, a stain upon the kingdom."
Vespa, captain of the White Crest Knights, answered.
"Indeed. They directly defy Esperanza's house motto. But this time, the scale is far greater than the criminals we've punished before. Not just Count Plishr, but other nobles are entangled as well. It could cause a great uproar in the kingdom."
Calia's eyes gleamed.
"But a rotten wound must be cut away."
To the knights, Calia's word was absolute.
Not because of the Marquisate Esperanza's influence. They truly, wholeheartedly pledged themselves to her. They were knights who had purged evil countless times at her side.
Calia turned her gaze backward.
"Benien, Rojas, Cardrox."
"You called, Lady Calia."
"You three will infiltrate Count Plishr's villa ahead of us. Secure the evidence, and signal us."
The three knelt on one knee, receiving her order.
"Then, the subjugation of criminals begins."
Calia and the White Crest Knights loaded supplies like food into their carriages and left Rines at once. The day was fading, but darkness would not hinder them.
Barely five hours after Toreld had been captured in Rines, the knights were on the move.
White Steel Calia.
For one with conviction, there was no hesitation.