Ch.59The Artisan of the Wilderness

Magic is omnipotent. However, that omnipotence comes with various restrictions. There are many factors to consider: the skill of the mage casting the spell, the total amount of mana they possess, and so on. That’s why replacing a collapsed bridge with magic was no easy task.

“Begin!”

At Shave’s command, ten mages simultaneously cast their spells. As the rough flow of mana surged toward the ground, solid rock masses shot up from beneath the cliff.

Rumble-!

“Keep going!”

The process repeated. They extracted rock masses with magic and consolidated them in one place, creating a platform for everyone to cross.

Dust from the wilderness rode the wind across the cliff. The mages shouting near the cliff looked much like construction workers at a site. In fact, what they were doing wasn’t much different. The only difference was that they were using magic instead of physical labor.

Mana platforms suspended in the air had limited weight capacity. They couldn’t transport dozens of mages, horses, and heavy carriages. That’s why the mages had begun constructing a new bridge.

The bridge construction wasn’t going smoothly. They were merely using magic to do what humans couldn’t, but none of them possessed even basic knowledge of construction. The clumsily built bridges repeatedly collapsed.

How much time had passed? The terrain around the collapsed bridge had undergone tremendous changes. As if someone had stretched it out by hand, rock masses extending from below had formed a path.

Most of the mages had collapsed from exhaustion. Yet the bridge still hadn’t reached the other side. Sae-rin headed to the edge of the extended cliff to gauge the distance. The girl’s gaze, piercing through the fierce wind, assessed the opposite side of the cliff.

It seemed like they could cross if they had something to serve as a foothold once or twice.

At that moment, Shave approached Sae-rin. He too was breathing heavily, having expended considerable mana.

“We’ll be able to cross soon once our mana recovers.”

That meant they would have to wait here for about half a day. Half a day—a long time or a short time, depending on how you looked at it. Sae-rin turned around. The strong wind gently fluttered the cloak hanging below the small girl’s shoulders.

Rationally speaking, waiting was the right choice. Crossing that vast wilderness on foot would be tantamount to suicide.

However.

‘I have a bad feeling.’

Sae-rin sensed something strange. Something was calling to her from beyond.

Without stopping her steps, Sae-rin said, “I’d like to borrow one mage and one horse. I intend to follow the group that left ahead…”

“One mage and one horse…? What exactly are you planning…?”

Shave’s gaze moved from the girl to the edge of the large cliff. Having personally experienced the knight girl’s physical abilities, Shave quickly understood what Sae-rin intended to do.

“W-wait! That’s too dangerous!”

Sae-rin closed her mouth. Shave wasn’t wrong. The vast wilderness was a dangerous area. But she couldn’t just not go either.

‘It’s just traveling together… I can’t question it beyond that.’

Though she didn’t like the situation, her cooperation mission with the Magic Tower was already complete. Now they were simply traveling together. She couldn’t hold the Magic Tower accountable for splitting the group and departing first.

Sae-rin pushed through the mages who were murmuring in confusion and grabbed Envy by the scruff of her neck. After placing the dazed girl on a horse, Sae-rin mounted behind her.

The small girl was extremely familiar with horseback riding. She immediately attempted to connect with the horse, guiding its movements.

“I’ll go ahead.”

Clop-clop-

As Sae-rin gently guided it, the horse began to trot lightly. Only a few mages reacted to the situation. They gripped and released their wands. Their gazes turned to Shave. They seemed to be waiting for the leader’s orders, but Shave did nothing.

As she passed by, Sae-rin’s eyes met Shave’s. That was the end of it. Sae-rin increased her speed.

“Run!”

Neeeigh-!

The time it took was barely two seconds. Just as Envy let out a “Eek!” scream, the horse leaped toward the edge of the cliff.

“W-waaaaaaait!”

The horse’s jumping power was considerable. It was because Sae-rin had used mana emission beneath the horse’s feet before it jumped. The horse soared through the air with the wind. It looked almost like a griffon.

The black cloak spread wide behind Sae-rin’s back. Immediately after, Sae-rin shouted.

“Envy!”

“Ah, aaaah!”

Even while screaming, she recognized what she needed to do. The moment Envy’s wand absorbed mana and emitted light, Sae-rin pulled the reins to guide their direction.

Tap- tap-

As mana platforms spread out widely, they simultaneously collapsed. The horse, guided by Sae-rin, stepped on the platforms and moved forward without hesitation. But that only lasted for a moment.

The platforms were breaking under the horse’s weight faster than they could be created. As the horse’s posture collapsed, they began to fall.

Sae-rin’s hands moved urgently. The flow of mana starting from her heart traveled through her chest, past her shoulders and arms, to her fingertips. The distance to push was far. A considerable impact would be transmitted. Sae-rin placed her hand on the horse’s flank.

Boom-!

With a powerful impact, the horse and Envy flew toward the opposite side of the cliff. Just before the two crashed into the ground, Envy seemed to use magic as their falling speed decreased.

The immediate danger was averted. Now it was time to ensure her own safety. Sae-rin immediately drew her Mage Killer. As she felt its heavy weight, mana began to drain from her body.

The rough wind blurred her vision. Sae-rin pulled a leather belt from her waist and wrapped it around the sword handle, ensuring a secure connection between her hand and the sword.

Immediately after, Sae-rin’s body began to spin. Mana flowing from her entire body added rotational force. When she felt the speed was sufficient, Sae-rin released the Mage Killer she was holding.

The Mage Killer, propelled by centrifugal force, pulled Sae-rin’s body with its heavy weight. The girl allowed herself to be drawn without resistance.

The girl’s form, flying with the sword, rotated smoothly. As she continued to move to dissipate the force in her body, the flying sword plunged into the ground, and the girl’s form landed on top of it.

Flutter-

It was a perfect landing. Her posture didn’t collapse, nor did she show any unsightly appearance. Sae-rin nodded in self-admiration at her own action.

If even she felt this way, how did it look to others? Sae-rin’s gaze swept past Envy to the mages left on the other side.

“A-are all knights like that…?”

Sae-rin turned her head at Envy’s question. Facing the fierce wilderness wind, Sae-rin arranged her hair.

“Of course not.”

Sae-rin gathered the scattered luggage and loaded it onto the horse. Despite taking a direct hit from the mana emission, the animal was in fairly good condition. She had sensed something extraordinary about it when it charged toward the cliff. This horse was different from ordinary ones.

‘Is it fearless…?’

Snort-

Even now, the horse looked out at the vast wilderness as if ready to run immediately. As if what had just happened was nothing.

“Let’s go, Envy.”

“Ah, okay…”

Sae-rin mounted the horse first and extended her hand to Envy. After hesitating briefly, she blushed slightly, took the hand, and got on the horse.

“Sorry for dragging you along without warning.”

“I-it’s… fine.”

Her reaction was strange. Sae-rin turned around to examine Envy’s face. She noticed the reddened tips of her ears. Her breathing was also irregular.

“Are you uncomfortable?”

“No! That’s not it!”

That’s good then. Sae-rin pulled the reins. The horse began to plod along. They had gained half a day. Sae-rin asked Envy:

“You said you’ve been to Black Forge three times. I’d like you to show me the way.”

At Sae-rin’s question, Envy looked around. Soon, she seemed to recognize a familiar place and nodded.

“There. See that big rocky mountain? If you go around it to the left, you’ll see a long stretch of railroad. It’s a transport route used by dwarves. If you follow it, you’ll reach Black Forge.”

Sae-rin shifted her gaze in the direction Envy pointed. Faint traces of carriages passing on the road remained. Though mostly erased by the harsh wind, it was undoubtedly the path taken by the Magic Tower delegation.

Sae-rin pulled the reins hard.

Neeeigh-!

As the horse began to run, Envy swayed greatly. Sae-rin immediately extended her hand, guiding Envy’s arm around her waist.

“Hold on tight. It would be trouble if you fell while running.”

No answer came.

The wilderness wind was extremely dry. The sand carried by the wind even made their skin sting. Sae-rin frowned and took out a thin cloth to wrap around her face.

“Why are you covering your face?”

“To protect my skin from damage.”

“But didn’t you say you don’t particularly care for skincare…?”

Sae-rin closed her mouth. Belatedly, she remembered what she had said before.

It was then that Sae-rin’s gaze caught sight of a figure sprawled in the middle of the wilderness. It was a short man with a sturdy build.

‘They said dwarves are short…’

Seeing one directly, he didn’t look that short. Perhaps similar in size to her brother’s body? Sae-rin pulled the reins, directing the horse toward the fallen dwarf.

Just as Sae-rin and Envy dismounted to check on the dwarf’s condition, the fallen dwarf’s body twitched. He wasn’t unconscious. The moment Sae-rin realized the dwarf was awake, her body reacted.

Her advancing leg stamped the ground firmly, preparing for the next attack. As the dwarf suddenly rose from the ground and shouted, Sae-rin’s fist struck his face.

“Wa-water…!”

Thwack-!

As soon as she realized the other had no intention to attack, she relaxed her hand. But she couldn’t dissipate all her strength in time. The dwarf, hit by Sae-rin’s fist, flew backward and rolled on the dirt.

‘I thought it was an ambush.’

Apparently, it wasn’t.