episode_0162

“Keuhm.”

After receiving Reika’s signal, I cleared my throat exactly twice.

This was my signal to Irene.

All of this had been discussed with them in advance.

She would have figured it out easily.

“What’s going on?”

“There have been several reports of items being stolen in this area. It happened right in front of this house.”

“I don’t know anything.”

“According to the testimony we have obtained, I think we need to talk to you for a moment.”

“I don’t know what I heard, but I have nothing to say.”

The man waved his hand and spoke, but Irene did not back down at all and took a step into the room.

“It would be good if you cooperate. Otherwise, you will be detained immediately.”

“What?!”

The man glared at Iren for a moment.

Perhaps because he knew that there would be no benefit in losing security and pretenders, he couldn’t help but nod his head.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, but don’t complain later that you made a mistake.”

As he said that, the man turned around and started to walk away –

“… … !!”

“That won’t happen, so you don’t have to worry.”

Iren said, pulling out the knife from her waist and pointing it at him.

“What are you doing now… … !”

“If you answer my questions correctly, I will spare your life.”

It may be a little extreme, but the opponents were people who were presumed to have kidnapped them.

Even with that out of the way, my judgment was that it would be safer to subdue it quickly as there were many twists and turns.

“… … What is it with you?”

“It looks like he couldn’t hear me clearly, but he said that if I answered my questions straight, he would save my life.”

“… … .”

There is no answer.

Iren slowly asked him a question.

“Where is Zenith?”

The man, who had remained motionless for a long time after asking the question, shrugged his shoulders for a moment when he heard the name.

And then, with a short sigh-

“… … Ha.”

With a sneer, he shouted loudly.

“The answer will be given in the afterlife!”

“… … !!”

at that time.

Somewhere in the corner, a human image quickly passed before my eyes.

It was a surprise attack on Irene.

And at the same time-

Don’t fall in!!!!

A sharp pillar of ice rose up inside the room.

“What, what?!”

“Haaa!”

visor!

While attempting a surprise attack, the staff was twisted by a pillar of ice, and one of the knives held by the man flew into the distance.

Without missing the opportunity, I quickly grabbed the knife and pointed it at the neck of the man who had been pushed back.

“If you go any further, you will lose your life.”

“K, ugh… … ! what’s this! What! What on earth happened… … !!”

You can’t help but be surprised when a pillar of ice suddenly rises before your eyes.

Yes, it was magic.

The second story I hinted at to Reika.

That was to prepare ice-type magic in advance and have it ready for use near me at any time.

* * *

After sending Ioline away, just before starting the search in earnest.

We did some light testing in an empty lot where no one goes.

This was the land that Irene received from Serpina, and was near where the mansion where they would stay together from now on was located.

“Haaa!”

Firstly-

It was to see how far I could control Reika’s magic with my rapier.

The reason Ioline was sent back to the mansion was because, as I told her, if a woman who looked exactly like Zenith was around, various problems could arise –

I was planning to use magic if I had to, and it was also advantageous in many ways for her not to be present in order to lightly team up with Reika.

Explaining magic to her one by one would not only take a lot of time, but would also expose our cards to others.

Not long ago, the moment when a hole was made in the castle wall.

I kept thinking about whether, with this ability, I could make the nickname ‘white-haired wizard’ that others had arbitrarily given me at least half true.

It is said that Reika continued to practice magic on her own while she was away from me.

I don’t know why, but this place seemed to have more magical power than the Balharat castle I used to stay in, and it seemed like he had been repeating the meaningless training routine he had been doing with me without my instructions.

I don’t know if it really helped or not – but in conclusion, Reika’s magic skills had improved significantly compared to the last time I saw her.

“Now. Now, let’s try some experiments. You know, right?”

“Yes, four… … !”

First, I tried controlling basic fireball magic.

After catching the fireball she created with her rapier, she threw it at a rock in the distance.

Shoo!

I was convinced when I saw it disappear with a popping sound.

‘It seems that the destructive power can be controlled if the magic is not held for long and is removed as quickly as possible.’

At that time, it happened so suddenly that the fireball accumulated in the rapier for quite a long time.

Since it was thrown by accident, it can be said that quite a lot of force was applied.

The next thing she experimented with was ice magic, which she was confident in these days.

Similar to the fireball, the ability of this is amplified if held for a long time, and crucially-

Squeeze!

By sticking the rapier into the ground, something like a sharp ice thorn rose up like a wall at a certain distance in front of my eyes.

“Wow… … !”

‘As expected, this application is also possible.’

The reason I came up with this method was because this ‘magic that makes ice rise from the floor’ was one of the magics that existed in-game.

When using magic, I followed the action of stamping the blunt end of the wand on the floor, and it worked the same way.

“This is a magical ability… … Certainly, if this ability were applied to the front line, the face of the war would change quite a bit.”

Iren said it with a look of sincere admiration and disbelief.

“It’s still impossible.”

“Heo Eok… … Wow.”

Reika, who had been repeating the experiment over and over again, was down on one knee, panting, as if exhausted.

“In order to use it meaningfully on the battlefield, it must have endurance, but this is impossible at the current stage. It may only make an impact on the first sortie, but… … The word ‘wizard’ has already spread to some extent because of me, and if I block it a few times, the quantity war will continue just like before.”

“I see. Is it endurance? … However, assuming that this ability can be used properly, it is safe to say that it can definitely influence the fate of the continent. Even an ordinary general like me can already think of how it can be applied.”

If you listen to those around you, Irene seems to be a very outstanding general, let alone an ordinary one… … Anyway, that was the second problem.

“How are you, Reika?”

“I think I can still use it a few more times… … .”

“Good. Well, the test ends here.”

This ‘magic’ ability was essential in order to reliably subdue the opponent, so Reika should not have lost all her strength here.

Moreover, according to what Reika said, it seemed like not only I was consuming mana by using magic, but also my rapier.

‘I think it would be good if we could handle it as cleanly as possible without having to use something like this… … .’

I’ve already tested it, but it would be best if it goes through without any problems.

I definitely thought so, but-

* * *

After all, life doesn’t always go the way you think.

Anyway, as soon as I noticed the man jumping out, I used the rapier on my waist to block the magic that Reika had prepared in advance, and then hit the ground.

As I tested, a sharp ice pillar rose from the floor and was able to effectively block his blow.

In the first place, according to Reika’s words, Zenith was not alone with a man, but was talking while surrounded by men.

Of course, I expected that there would be someone other than this man, and this time, my prediction turned out to be correct.

‘good. If we continue to work together like this in the future, we might be able to use magic freely as needed.’

There was also the effect of amplifying Reika’s magic through my rapier.

As long as I had her with me, it meant I could use magic.

As someone who only knew how to make predictions that were always correct and had no means of protecting myself, I couldn’t help but feel very reassured by this fact.

In the future, if Reika fully awakens to her abilities, I will also have the opportunity to play an active role on the battlefield alongside Iren.

Since I am already known to have summoned a meteorite from the sky, no one will question my abilities.

“Rain, damn it… … !”

“Now, what should we do?”

Irene lowered her voice and brought the knife closer to her throat.

“… … what… … Do you want it?”

In my heart, I wanted to just kill these bastards who tried to harm us right here, but-

These guys had a story that must be heard.

“You probably know about Janice R. Kasky. You won’t say you don’t know now, right?”

“… … .”

“Just tell me where he is now.”

Is it silent?

I didn’t want to go this far, but there’s nothing I can do if I don’t say anything.

“Now, wait… … !”

I lightly grazed the fallen man’s neck with the sword I had snatched.

With a small drop of blood falling from the tip of the blade –

“I’ll say it! I’ll tell you, please… … !!”

I was able to obtain information without difficulty.

*

I was able to hear the full story of the incident from two men sitting on chairs with their entire bodies tied up with rope.

“So, you guys are errand boys?”

“That’s right! I wanted to persuade a man named Janice Al Kaski, so I just asked him to take me there… … !”

“Then who is the client?”

“… … .”

“Why did they say they wanted to persuade Janice R. Kasky? What on earth are you trying to convince me of?”

“… … .”

Are you not going to say anything until the end?

With a sigh, I approached the man I had defeated and asked.

“Hey.”

“… … Well, something.”

“Did you see the ice pillar rising from the floor?”

I placed my hand on his chest and spoke in a cold tone.

“How would you feel if it came out from inside you?”

“Hee, hee Iik… … !!”

I don’t want to threaten you, but-

Seeing as they couldn’t even say anything in this situation, there was a high possibility that they were also being subjected to something equivalent to a threat.

For people who couldn’t speak because their lives were at stake, they had no choice but to touch their lives as well.

Since they don’t know how magic works, they probably have no choice but to take my word for it. Because something unbelievable was unfolding before my eyes.

“Ma, I can’t say… … In other words, we really die… … !”

“Do you want to die now, or do you want to talk and live a little longer?”

“Rain, damn it… … !!”

Irene, who was listening to me, spoke in a solemn tone from behind.

“I came here knowing roughly everything, so please be honest. If you do that, my life will especially be saved.”

“da… … What can a mere security guard like you do!”

“… … .”

Irene took off the hood she was wearing without saying a word.

With that, chest armor with the royal family symbol clearly engraved on it was revealed.

“… … !!!”

“I am one of the generals who serve my lord. If you will just report this directly, I will put my honor on the line and spare your lives. You could be punished and sent to prison. However, I promise I will never kill you. You don’t have much of a choice anyway, right?”

In order to make someone who is afraid of their life being taken away speak out, all you have to do is give them their life?

I smiled bitterly at the thought that I was engaging in a typical ‘bad cop, good cop’ strategy.

Before coming here.

I explained my rough predictions to Iren and Reika.

The story is that ‘the series of events may be related to treason, and Janice Al Kasky appears to have been caught up in it.’

It was a somewhat absurd claim, but both Iren and Reika seemed to trust me quite a bit.

Even though it’s Irene, it felt good that Reika trusted me… … I didn’t feel very comfortable asking her, a civilian, to do such difficult work.

“Now. Please be honest.”

“… … Life… … It is certain that he will be saved… … ?”

“Of course, of course.”

I made eye contact with the man and smiled as kindly as possible.

This time, I thought about how correct my guess was.

“… … Open the door behind you.”

When I opened the door the man pointed to, there was-

“… … !!”

Zenith was locked in a small closet with her entire body bound.