Chapter 10: News from the Desert Mage (2)

The mage opened his eyes after a full day had passed.

“I… Hassan… Thank you for saving me.”

His kingdom’s language was halting.

“Where are you from?”

“I am from… the southern kingdom of Al-Khamar Ruum Vael’shydra’ama.”

A long country name.

“A kingdom from the desert region.”

It seemed Lucia knew of the country.

When Aria offered him water, Hassan took it with trembling hands.

“Thank you very much. You are my saviors…”

“You should rest first.”

“Thank you. Thank you very much…”

After some time had passed, I brought up the topic I had been waiting for.

“Mr. Hassan, would you be interested in joining our mercenary corps?”

The spider cave rescue event. It was bound to succeed, nine times out of ten.

“A mercenary corps?”

“It’s a mercenary corps called ‘Age of Romance’. The weekly wage is about 3 gold coins.”

Hassan hastily waved his hands.

“No! That’s too much money… I can’t demand such money from my saviors.”

“Then how about half?”

“That alone is more than enough. I will show you my skills first.”

In the open space behind the inn.

Hassan lifted his peculiar staff. The mana crystal at its tip pulsed with a golden light. It was a unique shape, engraved with decorations characteristic of the desert region.

“Stone Missile.”

He chanted the spell in a low, deep voice.

The ground split open and five fist-sized rocks shot up. The gray stones paused for a moment in the air, then flew towards the target all at once.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

A series of impacts echoed through the open space. The targeted tree was shattered to pieces. It was far more precise and powerful than Lucia’s fireballs.

The passersby who were around also began to murmur.

“He can control rocks like that?”

“The power is no joke either.”

Hassan didn’t stop.

“Earth Wall.”

As he chanted again, the ground rose, and a thick, hard wall of earth shot up. It was twice the height of an adult man. Its surface was also smoothly polished.

He was proficient in defensive magic as well.

“Mister, you’re amazing! This is on par with a decent professor!”

Lucia let out a cry of admiration. Her voice was mixed with pure wonder rather than jealousy.

“You praise me too much. But my magic has clear limitations…”

“Limitations?”

“Rock magic is powerful… but its range is narrow.”

Aha. He means it’s not good for mass killing.

That must be why such a powerful mage was caught by mere spiders.

Watching Hassan scratch his head, Lucia nodded.

“Fire magic is the specialty for dealing with many weak enemies. But mister, why did you come all the way to the north?”

Hassan’s expression turned serious.

“A Noble Phantasm has been discovered in the North.”

“Is that reliable information?”

“It is more than 90 percent certain.”

A silence fell.

A Noble Phantasm.

An ancient artifact that chooses its master and can only be used by that master. A wielder of a powerful Noble Phantasm is comparable to a Sword Master or a Great Mage.

Most great families possess a Noble Phantasm. No, one must possess a Noble Phantasm to become a great family. If you lose your Noble Phantasm, you fall.

Our Adelheit family was no different.

Because it possessed ten Noble Phantasms, including two of the highest grade, the Adelheit was considered one of the top great families.

The royal family’s case was even more incredible.

Of course, the exact number and abilities are top secret, but it is estimated they possess at least ten top-grade Noble Phantasms. If you include the mid-grade ones, it’s estimated to be around a hundred.

Conversely, the fall of families who lost their Noble Phantasms was devastating.

Without a Noble Phantasm, the family’s prestige plummets, they face checks from other nobles, and eventually, they walk the path of ruin, either slowly or rapidly.

“Do you know what kind of Noble Phantasm it is?”

“It’s not certain. However… it is said to have a high probability of being a weapon.”

If it’s a weapon-type Noble Phantasm, its value is even higher. Unlike armor or accessories, it brings a direct increase in combat power.

“And according to rumors… it might be a Noble Phantasm made by elves.”

“An elven-made Noble Phantasm?”

In that case, its value would jump several times over. The elves’ technological prowess far surpassed that of humans.

“Is this information certain?”

“Yes. The royal family and the great nobles are already on the move.”

It was at that moment.

“A Noble Phantasm! A Noble Phantasm! And it might even be elven-made!”

Lucia started running around the field. Completely out of her mind.

“There’s no need to get that excited…”

“No need? It’s a Noble Phantasm!”

Her voice grew so loud that even the passing pedestrians turned to look.

What was even more surprising was Aria.

Even she, who was clumsy with the kingdom’s language, had her eyes widen at the word ‘Noble Phantasm’. An emotion flickered across her usual expressionless face.

“Noble Phantasm! Noble Phantasm!”

I shook my head and laughed.

The sight of the two girls was nice, but…

“Lucia, Aria, calm down. A Noble Phantasm isn’t something you can obtain so easily.”

But it was no use.

Lucia was still running around the field, and Aria was the same.

The next morning, I visited the back-alley information broker again.

“It’s true. A massive ruin has been discovered in the Montenegro Mountains in the north. A Noble Phantasm reaction has also been confirmed.”

The information broker ‘Rat’ spread out an old map. It was an old map with stains all over it and frayed edges.

The place he pointed to was the eastern edge of the Montenegro Mountains.

About a week’s journey north from the capital.

“The distance isn’t as far as I thought.”

“But you should be careful. It’s a place where a large number of monsters appear.”

I nodded and examined the map closely. Monsters in a rugged mountainous terrain. It was indeed dangerous.

“Is there any speculation as to what kind of Noble Phantasm it is?”

Rat scratched his chin.

“Well. They say they haven’t been able to enter the ruins yet. But it’s certain that it responded to Noble Phantasm detection magic.”

“Noble Phantasm detection magic…”

“It’s highly likely to be a weapon. Given the mountain terrain, it could have been an ancient battlefield.”

Rat pointed to a few places on the map.

“Ancient weapons have often been discovered in this area before. Though they weren’t of Noble Phantasm grade.”

“Interesting.”

“For your reference, it seems the great nobles are also starting to make their move.”

“Great nobles?”

“The Adelheit family. That is, your young master’s main family would be a prime example. To be precise, it’s said that Young Master Roderick will be making a move.”

“Roderick…”

Hearing that name, anger surged within me. The very person who framed me and had me kicked out of the family.

“My nemesis is stepping up. I’ll have to pay back what I suffered. With interest, of course.”

Rat shook his head.

“Young Master, Young Master Roderick has a powerful family-in-law and maternal family backing him. That’s why you suffered at his hands.”

“I know.”

“And you’ll still stand against him?”

“I have something I believe in.”

Rat stared at me for a long time, then sighed.

“Then I suppose there’s no helping it. This is a letter of introduction to the information guilds in the cities around the mountain range.”

“A letter of introduction?”

I took the document and examined it. It was a formal document with Rat’s signature and seal.

“Thank you. Is additional payment required?”

“No need. However… I would appreciate it if you could make things a little difficult for Young Master Roderick.”

Come to think of it, this man also had a bad history with him.

A dark shadow briefly crossed Rat’s eyes.

“Is it a personal matter?”

“Well… something like that.”

I didn’t ask any further. But I had a rough idea.

Roderick’s business expansion. In that process, many small merchants had been pushed out. It was legal, but he used any means necessary.

A method of seizing existing commercial districts and eliminating competitors one by one. He didn’t use direct violence but drove them into a corner with economic pressure.

More than a few merchants had collapsed, unable to withstand the process.

This information broker must have been a victim in that process as well.

“I’ll get revenge for your share too, so look forward to it.”

Three days later, on the road heading north, I encountered the procession I had expected.

A carriage with lavish decorations and elite knights.

The crest of the Adelheit family was clear.

“That’s…”

Lucia muttered quietly. It seemed she also recognized the procession from the main house.

The carriage procession stopped in front of us. And the carriage window opened, revealing a familiar face.

“Well, well, who do we have here. If it isn’t my dear brother who coveted my wife.”

It was Roderick. His gaze, laced with a sneer, swept over our party. It lingered especially long on Aria and Lucia.

“You speak of a false accusation as if it were fact.”

“Is sister-in-law Lucia well? I was worried when you suddenly cut off contact.”

“Worried? You’re the one who cut my support, you bastard.”

Lucia replied coldly. Her voice was mixed with anger.

Roderick deliberately threw provocative words. I could see the surrounding knights suppressing their laughter.

There was no physical evidence, but I had a strong suspicion. The man before me was, nine times out of ten, the one who framed me.

“Brother Roderick, you are also heading north.”

I replied as calmly as possible. But my fists clenched on their own.

A resolution was already forming in my heart.

“You must have the same purpose, right? It looks like it’ll be an interesting competition.”

The corner of Roderick’s mouth twisted even more. He had a relaxed expression as if the match was already decided.

“Competition, you say…”

Yes, this is a competition.

Because in a ruin exploration, anything can happen and it wouldn’t be strange.

It was a place where you could be attacked by dangerous monsters, fall into traps, or even be betrayed by a comrade blinded by greed.

“Yes, it seems it will be a very interesting competition.”

That son of a b*tch’s face won’t last long.