episode_0006

1.

The white-haired old man looked down at Evan.

His face was filled with distinct wrinkles, as if to prove that he had lived for a long time.

However, he was very robust.

Just by looking at his long, sturdy legs and his straight posture, one could sense that the old man was healthy.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen a crazy guy who uses explosion magic up close.”

The old man chuckled.

“A beast-like guy, indeed.”

He had never seen such an ignorant magician before.

The basic principle of a magician is to provide support from the rear during attacks.

There are no magicians who directly charge at enemies in the front.

This is because using magic requires casting time and magicians are generally physically weak.

But this young man was different.

Although he seemed frail and about to collapse at any moment, his spellcasting speed was unbelievably fast. Explosion magic is a 7th-level magic, which is a considerably high-ranking magic. He used it almost instantly.

The old man observed Evan with interest.

“…Get lost.”

Evan waved his hand at the old man as if telling him to go away.

“You disrespectful brat!”

The old man struck Evan’s forehead with his staff.

“Ow…!!”

Reflexively, Evan raised his hand above his head.

“Ugh…!!”

The moment he lifted his arm, he felt a sharp pain in his ribs.

He had forgotten about his broken ribs. He had only performed emergency treatment on them after drinking a recovery potion.

“Where are the other party members?”

The old man tapped Evan lightly with his staff.

“Ugh…”

It accurately stimulated the painful spot.

Evan glared at the old man fiercely, biting his lower lip.

“Are you alone, by any chance?”

The old man chuckled again.

He truly was a ridiculous guy.

A magician who travels alone to subdue demons.

It’s not impossible, but generally, parties are formed to undertake such tasks. Someone needs to buy time for the magician to cast spells.

“Do you think you don’t need them considering your skills?”

Evan insisted on being a solo adventurer.

He knew very well how dangerous and disadvantageous it was to travel alone. Even if he had a party this time, he could have defeated the demon without sustaining such injuries.

Sometimes, it was because of his stubborn personality that party members didn’t gather around him. But even when he received party invitations, he rejected them all.

The reason is simple.

Because I enjoy being alone.

I feel bored when I’m with someone.

“….”

Evan glared at the old man who was muttering to himself.

What is this old man?

With a staff in hand and wearing a robe, he looks like a wizard.

There’s a sense of ease coming from the old man.

Where does that ease come from?

I think it stems from years of experience.

Although I don’t sense strong mana, I can feel a sense of dignity from a strong individual.

“My body is a mess, my mind is a mess. I’m just a guy who can’t die and keeps on living.”

That moment.

“Eeek!!”

A giant monster emerged from the deeper part of the forest.

It looked like the lizard monster Evan encountered earlier, but it was larger and had four heads. Its skin shimmered like armor.

“….!”

Evan opened his eyes wide.

The one the adventurer alliance mentioned was that creature.

I thought it was easily defeated compared to the pursuers from the central army…!

What Evan had defeated was the offspring of that monster.

“Ugh…!”

Evan tried to get up from the ground.

He couldn’t stand.

He could only lie on the ground and catch his breath.

Even if he managed to get up, would he be able to fight?

He had used almost all of his mana by casting an explosive spell. The only magic he could use now was low-level spells.

“Lie down.”

The old man stepped forward.

Mana surged violently.

The ground trembled, and the air shook.

An overwhelming pressure Evan had never felt before weighed him down.

The old man raised his staff.

Distortion.

The two points in space twisted, and the arms of the charging monster were twisted in opposite directions at high speed.

The monster was bound like a chain.

It struggled to break free.

But the more it struggled, the more its arms twisted and slowly tore apart.

Implosion.

The monster’s body flattened as if it had been stepped on.

Bones turned to dust, and eyeballs burst like water balloons. The black blood inside its body spewed in all directions. However, instead of polluting the forest, it was sucked into the twisted space and condensed like a ball.

Evan doubted his own eyes.

Who is this old man?

He casually uses spatial manipulation magic that I’ve only seen in books.

The casting time took less than 5 seconds.

“Squaaaawk!!”

The other chicks scattered in the forest due to their mother’s death began to gather, screaming in terror.

“Watch closely.”

The old man chuckled and raised his cane again.

“Magic is not something to be used ignorantly.”

Explosion:

-Boom! Boom! Boom!

Magic circles appeared above the heads of the demons rushing towards the old man, blowing off their skulls. Over ten demons met their demise in an instant.

“It should be used accurately and skillfully.”

They were clearly spells of the same rank, but they felt completely different.

“If you distribute mana, you can use it multiple times instead of just once. Of course, the power decreases, but there’s no need to worry because explosion magic is inherently powerful magic.”

The old man tapped Evan’s head with the end of his cane.

“Do you understand?”

2.

Evan returned to the village with the help of the old man.

“…”

Lying in the cathedral ward for treatment, Evan stared blankly at the ceiling.

The vivid memories of what he saw in the forest still lingered.

He had witnessed a realm of magic completely different from anything before.

Overwhelming power.

A sorcerer truly worthy of the name “strong.”

“Dimensional magic was undoubtedly a 10th-rank magic…?”

He had thought of it as magic that only appeared in books or in theory.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t use it.

He knew that there was only one person who could use it.

The sage, Arahan.

A hundred years ago, he became a mage of the party that sealed the Demon King and received recognition for his achievements, becoming the Tower Master of the Mage’s Tower in his old age.

He is known to be under medical care due to illness.

He had read about it in a newspaper a long time ago.

There was an article about the sage being hospitalized due to an incurable disease.

Everyone thought it was about time.

Because of his age.

No matter how great a hero he was, he couldn’t defy the laws of time set by the gods. Eventually, everyone returns to dust.

Since I have never seen the sage in person, I cannot conclude that the old man is the sage.

However, there was no doubt that the magic he showed was astonishing. No, I didn’t even have the audacity to doubt it.

-Knock, knock.

When I was lost in thought, I heard a knocking sound. I ignored it. It had always been like that. I didn’t feel like dealing with anyone. I replayed the magic I had witnessed over and over again. The order in which the magic circle was drawn. The flow of mana. I tried to draw the magic circle in my mind while recalling those things. However, despite Evan’s indifference, the door to the hospital room opened. “You beastly guy, answer me if you’re inside.” The person who opened the door and came in was the old man I had met in the forest. I thought he had come from the Adventurers Union, but it turned out to be someone completely unexpected. Evan was surprised and sat up straight in bed. He wasn’t a magician who could dare to act recklessly against anyone. “Forget it. Don’t bother with formalities.” Evan hesitated and lay back down on the bed. “Don’t bother with formalities? Or do you mean don’t bother?” “Oops…” Evan got up again. Whether he meant to show respect or not. His body wasn’t fully healed yet, so even a slight movement seemed like it would cause him to scream in pain. The old man chuckled. “Forget it. Just relax.” Evan leaned against the wall and sat down. “You seem fine.” The old man sat on the chair next to the bed. “…”

“Why are you on guard? Do you think I’m going to eat you?” The old man sighed. “Aish, how boring. Try to react more interestingly.” “…” “Ah, really, such a boring guy. Arthur, you’re really boring.” The old man waved his hand dismissively. “…What can I do for you?” “Oh, don’t go away just yet. Did you learn any interesting words?” “…I apologize.” “Apologies are unnecessary. I didn’t come here for your apology. It actually felt refreshing after a long time. How many years has it been since someone told me to go away? Over 90 years?” Although he didn’t say it, Evan was almost certain that this old man was a sage. Over 90 years… It’s surprising that he lived without being ignored for such a long time, and it’s even more astonishing to think that he’s close to or over 100 years old. If he’s truly a sage, he must be around 120 by now. He doesn’t look like it at first glance though. “I heard you’re quite famous around here.” There isn’t anyone in the village of Kapra who doesn’t know Evan.

Because it is a small town, even staying for a short time allows people to recognize each other. However, apart from that, Evan’s notorious reputation is too well-known.

“People call him a tyrant? Drinking and beating people, drinking and beating people, or just drinking. Why do you live like that, wasting your talent?”

Evan choked up.

He touched his scar.

Does anyone really want to live like this?

If he doesn’t drink, he falls into severe depression. Only with something as stimulating as violence can he barely shake off the nightmares that haunt his mind.

Alcohol and violence are the bitter remedies that torment Evan.

“Don’t meddle…!”

“Do you want to learn magic from me?”

Evan’s words, which were about to express anger, were interrupted.

“If you’re going to waste your life, don’t do it like that. Waste it under my command. How about that?”