Chapter 193 – The Awakened Elf (1)
Geltone stared at the flame he had lit for a while.
Despite his haggard appearance, a bright smile spread across his face. Any Mage would have been able to guess, at least a little, what emotions he was feeling.
Soon, when the lingering glow began to fade, the firelight died down.
Exhaustion was written all over Geltone's face as he let out a deep breath.
It was not the same sigh as before. It was the sigh of a man rewarded for his efforts.
Verden asked.
"Was the request a success?"
"You ask something obvious."
Geltone smiled as he pulled out Dexar's Jewel.
The green light reflected in the sunlight shone in his eyes. His callus-free fingers traced the jewel.
"To be honest... offering this jewel as payment alone is not enough. Compared to what I have gained, it is far too little."
"Value is subjective."
The second-generation Dexar's Jewel.
To Geltone, it was nothing more than a consumable that could be used for maybe five spells.
But to Verden, it was different.
Not only magic, but it could also store a magic circle that was difficult to realize in actual combat.
Geltone repeated Verden's reply.
"Value is subjective... I see. For Lord Asher, this Dexar's Jewel must have that much usefulness."
"You can't buy this with money, can you?"
"Haha, that's true, but..."
He clamped his mouth shut.
No matter how he thought about it, his heart was not at ease.
The Multi-dimensional Continuity Theory.
This teaching was too great for Geltone. Greater than the value Verden placed on it.
Yet he could not add more material payment.
Nothing would be enough.
Money or mana potions would only diminish the meaning, and even if he tried to offer his Mage-exclusive equipment, they would not match the quality of what the other already had.
"..."
After struggling, Geltone extended the jewel.
And the moment Verden received it, he spoke softly.
"If someday you ever need my help, please reach me through the Adventurer's Guild. I may not be able to assist as a Mage, but as an adventurer, it will be different."
Even as part of a party, Geltone was Mithril-rank.
A high-ranked adventurer carrying the Guild's name could not be treated carelessly by anyone, and would be respected wherever he went.
Such a social standing was not something that could be gained by earning notoriety in the underworld.
It was just words, a promise.
But it was also the most valuable thing Geltone could offer.
Verden, with Dexar's Jewel in his hand, nodded.
"I will remember."
"I will always be waiting."
Geltone stepped back.
Perhaps feeling lighter in spirit, the seriousness on his face eased a little. Lifting his head, he saw the blue sky through the branches.
"...It's time to return to my companions. Haha, I can already picture how shocked they'll be when they see me use flame magic."
Of course, it was far too weak to use in subjugation.
He would have to cast aside impatience and build his foundation step by step, steadily. Otherwise, his mana circuits would suffer serious damage.
Geltone held Verden's teaching deeply in his heart.
'Still...'
At least he could light a fire while camping.
That alone was satisfying. To be of help to his companions.
"Will you continue working in the Kingdom?"
"My companions mentioned that the Republic of Beldirn has some famous tourist spots. I'll probably be leaving the Kingdom soon."
Subjugations and journeys.
That would be the life of Geltone, who had now truly become an adventurer. Abandoning the thought of returning to the Magic Tower, he had at last become a Mage.
Geltone straightened his attire.
Then he bowed deeply, filled with respect.
"Thank you, Lord Asher."
With that, Geltone departed.
Verden watched his back as he left.
Geltone had not yet overcome the wall of the 5th tier he yearned for. Instead, he had gained the experience of a new path.
The theory he had grasped after years of struggle.
With his lifelong preconceptions shattered, even when facing the same magic in the future, his perspective would be different.
If he never stopped training, perhaps he would one day overcome the wall and reach the 5th tier.
'Not a bad commission.'
A Mage who pursued magic with sincerity.
Seeing that he had succeeded sooner than the three weeks Verden had predicted, one could guess how much effort he had poured into it. It was an achievement carved out of his very life.
He was unlike those who relied on human experimentation, sacrificing others as stepping stones. It was the very image of a Mage Verden had long yearned for in the past.
The Multi-dimensional Continuity Theory.
For the first time since he had created the theory, Verden felt a sense of reward. He briefly recalled the memory of seeing magic for the first time at the orphanage, then shifted his gaze.
Dexar's Jewel shimmered brilliantly.
He had already decided what magic circle to store within it.
And that would be, in another sense, one of Verden's trump cards.
'Whether I'll ever get to use it, who knows.'
Crisis always comes suddenly.
That was why he had prepared several trump cards.
The commission was complete.
Having received his payment, Verden returned straight to Asern.
***
Word came that the magic stone was finished.
While he was waiting at the tavern, soon Bartol appeared, carrying a thick bag on his back.
"Oh my. You brought it yourself? Didn't send your subordinates?"
"How could I let someone else handle this after all the effort it took?"
Bartol snapped at Perne, then strode inside.
He approached Verden, who was seated at the table. After meeting his eyes for a moment, Bartol set the bag down very carefully.
"The artisan said, how the hell do you even make something this complicated?"
"And?"
"I told him if he wanted to end up on the street, then go ahead and give up. So he worked hard. Thanks to that, the artisan collapsed from exhaustion. Anyway, I had it crafted exactly according to your design, so check it yourself."
Verden opened the bag himself.
He took out the contents one by one and laid them on the dining table.
Six mid-grade magic stones, cut into octahedrons.
When Verden infused one of them with magic power, the magic circle activated. The magic stone, glowing blue along the engraved lines, floated gently in the air.
He carefully observed each one like that, one by one.
'Damn it, why the hell am I so nervous?'
It was the kind of gaze that seemed ready to find fault in anything. The atmosphere turned solemn.
With each magic stone that passed inspection, Bartol swallowed hard. Sweat trickled down his clenched fists. It felt just like when he had to hand over tribute money to the thugs in the back alleys as a kid.
...Tak.
At last, the inspection of the final magic stone was complete.
"The artisan has good skill."
At that one remark, Bartol let out a breath of relief.
He rubbed his hands to wipe off the sweat, then produced a sheet of paper.
"Here's the bill of settlement. I didn't skim anything, so check it yourself."
Blue eyes scanned over the numbers.
The cost of the magic stones used as materials and the crafting fee were well within the expected range. Strictly speaking, it was even a bit lower than the average price.
It seemed he had done his best, in his own way.
Bartol gave a small cough.
"Hrmm, if I've gone this far, I think I've done my best... what about the promise?"
"What does your best have to do with the promise?"
"What...! Then you mean you're not satisfied with the stones?!"
"No, I'm satisfied."
Perne placed two money bags, prepared in advance, on the bar. With a click of the button, wads of banknotes were revealed inside.
Two checks, floating in the air, landed neatly on top of the stacks of bills.
"The crafting fee, and the remaining debt of 1.2 billion Elk. Check it."
"...I'll check it when I get home."
Damn it, Bartol cursed inwardly as he grabbed the bags.
The heavy weight in both hands, the amounts on the checks—together they matched the total sum almost perfectly. It was the instinct of a moneylender.
"Don't lose it, and be careful on your way home, Bartol."
Perne waved her hand.
At that irritating farewell, Bartol's eye twitched.
"You look like you're enjoying life, Perne."
"Well... thanks to someone?"
She shrugged her shoulders.
It was a stark contrast to a few months ago, when she had been drowning in debt. Her shimmering violet hair was especially irritating.
"If I need money later, I'll contact you."
"Shut up."
Not wanting to hear any more, Bartol stormed out into the street.
That such a moneylender would show himself like that. Perne giggled as she wiped a glass.
Verden packed the crafted magic stones into his spatial bag and rose from his seat.
"Oh? You're leaving right away?"
The preparations were complete.
There was no reason to linger in Asern.
"Blue."
At the call of his name, the spirit darted out from inside.
Perhaps excited at the thought of soon meeting an Elf, he was visibly thrilled.
Perne's expression turned gloomy.
"...So I won't see Blue again?"
"I wouldn't know."
Elves or spirits, these were unfamiliar existences to Verden.
Whether he calmed the Elf after healing her enough to converse, whether the spirit stayed with the Elf or returned to the tavern afterward—he had no way of knowing how things would turn out.
'In the first place, I only revived the spirit to prepare for the Union sending assassins.'
But now the Union had collapsed.
Having allied with a marquisate, and having built an intelligence network stronger than before, Perne no longer needed a guard.
Well, he would see how things unfolded.
That was all Verden could say.
"Blue...!"
Perne hugged the spirit tightly.
They had spent almost all their time together, so she had grown quite attached. The emotions flowing from Blue were also tinged with sadness and longing.
He was not unaware of it, but...
"Enough, let him go."
It had been several minutes already.
At last, only after Verden's words did the two part.
***
A small town built north of Rines.
Heading to the marquisate's safehouse, Edmon welcomed them.
"Oho, I've been waiting! Come in, come in!"
Greeted by Edmon, they entered the house.
It was a plain home with only the necessary furniture. Its atmosphere was not much different from the warehouse they had seen before.
"Where is the Elf?"
"I placed him down below. If I kept him upstairs, I feared he might break a window and escape, so I kept him secure. Still, he never woke up in the meantime."
"His condition is the same?"
"Worse than before. Even if he can go without eating for some time, there's a limit. If this drags on, it'll get difficult in many ways. But..."
As he descended the stairs, Edmon tilted his head.
"I sense strange magic power from you. It feels like yours, but it's as if it's split into two... may I ask what it is?"
There was no need to hide it.
He would have to reveal it soon anyway.
Verden lifted his robe.
The spirit, Blue, who had been hiding quietly, revealed himself. At the sudden appearance of an abnormal species, Edmon blinked.
"...A spirit? Where in the world did you find this?"
"It's a long story. I'll explain after treating the Elf first."
Verden strode down into the basement.
Blue clung firmly to his shoulder. The sight of an abnormal species and a man together was strange even to Edmon.
'As expected, that fellow is extraordinary...!'
Truly, a being of mystery.
Edmon swallowed his excitement and followed.
Clank, clank.
Unlocking the magical lock, the thick metal door opened, revealing the Elf lying on the bed.
He looked slightly more emaciated than when they had last seen him.
Buzzz! Buzzz!
Blue began thrashing about.
Verden bent his back slightly and surveyed the surroundings.
"It's quite cramped. Especially the low ceiling."
"This place is a kind of prison. It was built to restrict movement and prevent escape."
The ceiling was made of metal.
There was only one way in or out—the door.
Uncomfortable, stifling.
It was certainly a suitable place for confinement.
"But how exactly do you intend to heal that Elf? And why bring that spirit? I can't hold back my curiosity. Won't you show me already?"
"...Understood."
At the Magus's urging, Verden's hands moved quickly.
He pulled out the six magic stones from the spatial bag and arranged them around the Elf's bed, at precise intervals.
"Oho! Six magic stones engraved with magic circles!"
Edmon's eyes shone brightly with curiosity.
Though it was distracting, Verden continued silently with his preparations.
"Blue."
At Verden's command, the spirit flew into position.
Blue hovered in the air, right above the Elf.
"Then I'll begin."
Verden exhaled and released his magic power.
Fwoooosh!
The six magic stones responded at once.
Three floated above the Elf, three below, and halted in place. At once, the magic circles linked together, and Verden's magic power began to flow into them.