Ch.212212. Marquis of Bordeaux (6)

After creating a gale with Corin’s assistance and sending the 7th Astolfo flying away as previously agreed,

[Gregory, are you sure he’ll be okay?]

“I told you he’s fine. Someone of his rank wouldn’t die from something like that.”

After briefly falling back to keep watch on our surroundings, I rejoined Astra, then promptly gathered Won-sul and Kechak, who had proudly vanquished the knights, and hurried on my way.

From the dark, cloudy sky high above, Corin was extending her senses to monitor the ground, allowing me to move without hesitation despite heading straight into enemy territory.

‘Let’s jump over, Astra.’

[…Yes!]

The guards at the gate clutched their spears with trembling hands as they watched us. When I glanced at them, they collapsed to the ground. Leaving them behind, we leaped effortlessly over the wall.

Beyond what could hardly be described as merely “tall” walls lay the cityscape of Bordeaux, renowned for its prosperity.

After briefly surveying the clearly well-maintained area, I strode confidently through the eerily empty streets.

‘Astra, release what we prepared.’

[Yes.]

To prevent anyone from approaching us carelessly, I had Astra emit an aura that appeared magnificent but was actually just a healing effect.

With that, plus surrounding myself with carefully calibrated Pir—adjusted low enough that even ordinary or faint-hearted people wouldn’t collapse—my basic preparations were complete.

Though I might look like something out of a cheap Chinese mobile game advertisement, to the people of this era, I would appear as someone possessing both dignity and intimidation… or so they say.

‘Is this… really right?’

[Oh come on. You look awesome, what’s the problem?]

[That’s right, Master. Master is sparkling right now!]

Despite Astra and Corin’s reassurances, I harbored a trace of uneasiness as I walked down the main road toward the castle.

‘Corin, any reaction from the castle?’

[None. Rather, they’re heading into the central castle.]

I continued walking without pause while discussing the situation with Corin, who was sharing her senses through the dark clouds.

I rode Astra along the well-maintained road paved with flattened gravel, which was thoughtfully divided into separate paths for carriages and pedestrians, much like modern roads.

[Master. There are people ahead. Should I clear them out in advance?]

‘…No, that won’t be necessary. I’ll handle it myself.’

Almost simultaneously as I sensed their life forces, Corin’s message came through. Dozens of armed individuals were hurriedly approaching from the main road ahead.

Men-at-arms, I presumed—security guards equipped with chain mail, helmets, spears, and small round shields. Leading them were heavily armored cavalry, likely knights judging by their life force.

These forces, presumably responsible for the territory’s security and peacekeeping, rode frantically toward us but suddenly froze when they sensed the Pir I was gently emitting.

[…Beast’s Presence, manifest.]

Having no desire for mass slaughter, I neutralized them with a simple fear-inducing spell.

Within wild magic, which primarily utilizes the wilderness aspect of nature’s mysteries, there exists a wide variety of fear-inducing spells.

From magic that deliberately borrows the presence of beasts to spells that stimulate primal human instincts to evoke fear.

Just as diverse as the methods of inducing fear are the varying degrees of fear-inducing magic compared to normal cases.

For example, the most powerful fear-inducing spell I can use is called “Screaming Beasts of the Forest,” which goes beyond simply causing magical fear to implant madness in the mind.

Another spell, “Owl’s Lament,” may not cause great fear itself, but becomes difficult to resist when certain conditions are met.

This magical fear goes beyond mere dread of something—it’s a kind of magical status ailment. Even the bravest and most fearless person can easily panic from even a weak magical fear spell.

Among these various fear-inducing spells, what I cast was “Beast’s Threat.”

It’s an incredibly simple spell that merely causes fear from within when one hears the sound of the spell being cast, without any additional effects.

-Awoooooooo!!!!

“…Urgh!”

“””””…!!!”””””

-Thud!

The spell’s effect, combined with my aura, forced even the knights to their knees—the weaker ordinary soldiers fared even worse.

The Pir, amplified specifically for them, was enhanced by the magic’s influence, so it wasn’t surprising that they collectively lost consciousness.

The easily frightened and sensitive horses all collapsed to the ground foaming at the mouth, followed by the soldiers who, while not particularly timid, had relatively lower magic resistance and mental strength.

“Huff, huff, huff…”

Only one knight who had been leading them barely managed to withstand it, raising his sword after catching his breath…

“If you point that at me, you will die by my hand.”

“…!”

“Yes. So choose wisely. Consider whether you truly want to risk your life for something meaningless.”

As I spoke to him in a calm voice, his hand holding the bastard sword trembled, and after looking at me and exhaling roughly…

-Clang!

“…Yes, you chose well.”

After briefly observing him as he dropped his weapon and slumped to the ground, I fixed my gaze on the inner castle beyond.

※ ※ ※

I think I’ve mentioned this before, but dealing with mysteries inevitably causes one’s body and soul to be influenced by them.

It’s very similar to how students who frequently use pens develop calluses, except that handling mysteries affects one’s mind and soul.

A typical example is how humans exposed to fire mysteries while practicing fire magic develop hair that burns like flames, or how those who practice ice magic gradually become insensitive to external stimuli and their emotions slowly fade.

Of course, these are extreme cases. Most mystery practitioners experience less dramatic effects, like changes in hair color, but they cannot avoid being influenced in some way.

And I am no exception to this rule.

Druids like myself, who connect with and assimilate into the vast mysteries of nature, are particularly susceptible to these influences.

My mother’s body transformed into something resembling a deer beastkin, and at druid gatherings, I’ve seen druids with clouds floating above their heads or antler-like branches growing from them.

Even I grew to over 180cm by the age of 12, and gained sensory abilities far beyond normal human capacity, even without using magical power.

And I couldn’t escape the most fundamental mental influences either.

The symptoms I developed included dulled emotions and somewhat reduced empathy, though fortunately, this emotional dulling was somewhat offset by my specialization in wild magic.

Perhaps because of the interplay between the “animalistic” aspects from wild magic and these effects, my mental state ended up not too far from what people would consider normal.

However, these counterbalanced emotions didn’t simply disappear—while the surface returned to normal, the reality beneath remained far from it.

The most notable example is probably how I, despite still maintaining somewhat modern perspectives, have become considerably desensitized to the act of killing.

At some point, I stopped feeling any emotional disturbance even when taking human lives.

The aversion to ending human life certainly remains, but once I decide someone needs to die, this aversion vanishes instantly.

It hasn’t caused problems in my daily life yet, but it’s an issue I should probably look into if necessary.

‘…Huh, it’s time.’

And that’s where my reflections end.

Noticing that the drawbridge serving as the gate across the moat surrounding the inner castle walls was raised, I prepared to enter, maintaining a relaxed expression despite my hardening resolve.