episode_0043

43. Omen of Bondage.

While a fierce battle continued, the groans of two men echoed inside Sir Jakison’s tent.

“Ugh…”

“My head, my head hurts so much…”

At that moment, a soldier spoke to the two wizards.

“Here, this is an herb that helps with mana exhaustion. It’s best to eat it raw, so chew it thoroughly.”

“Excuse me? Eat that whole?”

Even amidst his splitting headache, Johan couldn’t help but ask. To eat an herb as thick as an average adult male’s forearm whole—was this perhaps an assassin sent by the Grand Duke?

But unfortunately, the soldier’s intentions were pure.

“Oh, it’s Madoraji? My master only had a few, where did you get such a precious thing…”

“The butler obtained it.”

The soldier massaged Johan’s body here and there. It was first aid for mana exhaustion.

“Sir Jakison and Sarah are worried about you. They said not to let you two out until at least the third wave.”

Johan was startled and asked back.

“Didn’t the second wave just start? And you’re telling us to hold out until the third?”

“Yes. Please hold out.”

He looked at the soldier with a troubled expression. However, the soldier’s attitude was firm. Rather, he rummaged through his chest and took something out.

“Sarah’s advice was true. I guess I’ll have to tie you up.”

The soldier slowly brought the rope to Johan’s body. Johan screamed in horror.

“Okay, I understand! I get it, so put that down!”

The thought of being restrained suddenly made him feel extremely uneasy. He didn’t know why.

“Haha, I’m envious. Mr. Johan. You’re being loved by your lover.”

“…”

Johan looked to the side. Was he being sarcastic right now?

“Hm? What’s wrong?”

But Jerry’s eyes were shining excessively. It seemed he was being sincere.

Johan sighed deeply and relaxed his whole body. He regretted using too much mana.

‘I got too excited. The compatibility was better than I thought.’

Practice and real combat are different. He knew it in his head, but it was difficult to apply in reality.

Although not as much as Johan, Jerry’s talent was clearly dazzling.

He instinctively followed Johan’s mana guidance well, which resulted in an amplification of the spell’s power.

‘I was originally going to use a new spell besides Flame Star, but the plan went awry.’

Naturally, Johan’s thoughts extended to the battle situation earlier. Although he borrowed Jerry’s power, it was a scale that entered the ranks of grand magic.

The pillar of fire burns the inside, and the star of flame constricts the enemies’ breath from the outside.

It was a spell that annihilated enemies in a strange way, different from the Raging Wave spell.

The moment Johan was deep in thought, he heard an excited voice from the side.

“By the way, the final explosion was a really brilliant idea. How did you think of linking it with the Fire Fox?”

“Haha, no. It was all thanks to Jerry for following me so well.”

“Aww~ No way. You paved the way so well, it would be strange not to follow.”

“…”

Jerry was sincere. Even for him, who had trained in flame magic for decades, controlling flames had always been a challenge.

To combine two different types of spells like that? It was a method Jerry couldn’t even imagine.

“I will study even harder! I may not even be able to reach the tip of Mr. Johan’s toes!”

“Hehe…”

Johan smiled helplessly. Jerry’s attitude was still awkward. Where had yesterday’s arrogant self disappeared to? Now he was just an extreme fan.

Jerry’s Johan worship continued for a while. Fortunately, the second wave ended not long after, and Sir Jakison and Sarah returned to the tent.

Sir Jakison, who cheerfully pulled open the entrance to the tent, shouted.

“Hm! You’re resting well! Good job.”

Sir Jakison praised the soldier who had the rope in his arms. The soldier expressed his intentions by bowing politely.

“Certainly, a slightly forceful method is effective, just like Sarah said.”

“I told you. Johan needs to be forcibly tied up.”

“Haha, that’s right!”

Cold sweat formed on Johan’s back. It was a reaction that occurred as soon as he heard Sarah’s words.

“But Johan. Didn’t I tell you to use mana moderately? How many times have I said it?”

“…Sorry. My compatibility with Jerry was too good, so I lost control.”

Johan cowardly sold Jerry out. It was a pathetic excuse. Of course, Sarah’s eyes narrowed, knowing that.

“Is that what you call an excuse…”

Sarah’s lecture continued for a while. Her straightforward tone made the listener feel intimidated.

What saved Johan from this was the huge siren sound. With a huge voice echoing through the inner castle, the third wave began.

Sarah sighed when she heard this.

“Haa… I’ll stop here. Get plenty of rest.”

“…Okay. Be careful.”

“Okay.”

Sir Jakison and Sarah, who were making tired expressions, left the tent. Immediately after, Jerry’s voice was heard from the side.

“Um, too much love isn’t good.”

“…I agree.”

“…”

Splash, Johan was now standing on a small pond. A lotus leaf only as thick as his waist was supporting Johan, and fierce waves were crashing on the edge of the pond.

What was unusual was that the waves didn’t touch Johan’s side at all. Only calm currents flowed.

Johan somehow blankly looked at the edge. With his calm personality, he couldn’t possibly stand to watch the waves crashing.

—So he decided to stop the waves.

Swish…

The moment Johan willed it, the waves slowly began to subside. It wasn’t that they had completely lost their momentum.

It was unrecognizable compared to before, but Johan still didn’t like it.

But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t stop the faint waves.

“…”

In the end, Johan decided to be satisfied here. They were originally difficult to control. Someday, an opportunity would arise.

He turned his head once. After keeping the surrounding scenery deep in his heart…

He opened his eyes.

“…”

“…”

“He’s awake. You can come out now.”

“Oh! Already?”

Before he knew it, the scenery full of blue light was gone, and only the gloomy tent and Jerry’s face could be seen.

Johan stroked his chest with his hand and murmured.

“Amazing… The mana exhaustion has improved a lot.”

“Heh, it’s a mana operation method developed over centuries. It can’t help but be effective.”

“To give away such precious knowledge so easily, I’m really grateful.”

He was sincere. The mana operation method that he started with Jerry’s encouragement while lying still. At first, he was skeptical, but after it was over, the effect was certain.

The manipulation of mana that was circling in his body became much lighter, and he felt less burdened. No, it actually was.

Whoosh…

Almost simultaneously with Johan’s will, Magic Missile was assembled on his palm. Johan’s eyes lit up.

‘It’s not just faster. Precision and stability have also increased.’

It was truly an all-around secret art. Johan was now seeing Jerry as a lucky charm.

“You can keep repeating it whenever you have time. It may be awkward at first, but you’ll get used to it quickly.”

“Now, I’m embarrassed that I told you this as a know-how.”

“Haha, no. Aren’t geniuses supposed to help each other?”

Johan slightly raised the corners of his lips at Jerry’s answer. He was really glad he didn’t change him into karma.

“Hehehehe.”

“Hahahaha.”

Johan and Jerry laughed for a long time, as if the tent would collapse. The soldier watched the scene and secretly shook his head.

‘As expected, wizards are all mentally ill.’

***

Johan practiced the mana operation method Jerry taught him for a while.

In this process, he also learned the exact name, which was [Stillness of the Waterfall].

Somehow, it was a name that didn’t suit the fire-type school.

Not long after, Johan dusted himself off and stood up.

It was because the fourth wave had begun.

[All personnel!! Prepare for battle! Prepare for battle!!!]

Seeing Johan like that, Sarah gave him a suspicious look.

“Are you really okay?”

“Yeah. Don’t worry. I won’t overdo it.”

“Okay…”

Dudududududu─

Waves mixed with gray and white are rushing in.

It was a number that made it hard for those guarding the walls to breathe.

But Johan’s heart was only infinitely calm.

Swish…

Johan twisted his fingers here and there, pulling up mana.

Mana bloomed with a much more organized momentum than before. Immediately after, a huge fireball was created above his head.

Even Jerry next to him was startled by the detailed mana operation!

Finally, the wizard’s mouth opened. The core of fire magic, the second.

“Explosion.”

It was the concept of explosion.