Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Mage Kaiyer
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"Let's go, you bastards! Hya! Hya!"
Hiiiiiing.
Clack-clack!
Yans was thrilled, driving the latest model carriage pulled by two horses early in the morning after staying overnight at the castle.
There was no need to linger long at the lord's castle, so yesterday he bought a carriage and some daily necessities before setting off at dawn.
'Nice~!'
He spread a thick blanket on the carriage floor, lay down with his arms as a pillow, feeling the jolting vibrations from the wheels.
'It’s about time to leave.'
He had wanted to stay in the village until he mastered up to 5th Circle magic, but he knew enlightenment wasn't something that unraveled as easily as math equations.
And he couldn't stay in Luna Village forever.
His heart, like the endless blue sky visible as he lay there, yearned to flow freely.
'I need information. Some general knowledge about this world.'
Even the village chief, said to be the smartest in the village, was like a local pitcher, not major league.
At best, he knew a few gods, a few kingdoms, and fragmented bits that Kaiyer already knew plenty about.
'I asked Zamer to get the potions, so he'll handle it. With these basic self-sufficiency items, we can survive without issues for the next few years. After that... it'll be up to us.'
Luna Village had started as a bond from saving their lives.
He had done everything he could.
He couldn't live for them forever.
"Uh, Kaiyer!"
Suddenly, the jolting carriage stopped, and Yans called out to him in a voice full of fear.
"Yawn! What is it? The village isn't far now..."
Stretching lazily with a big yawn and raising his head, he froze at the sight before him.
'Who the hell are those guys?'
The only path to Luna Village was through a few small woods and a vast undeveloped plain.
Blocking that plain road were about twenty mounted bruisers.
"Yans, do you know them?"
"Are you joking right now? They're definitely the bandits who've been watching us."
Yans, whose sturdy build was going to waste, trembled and called them bandits.
'Perfect timing, since I was getting bored anyway.'
As Yans said, they could be bandits who followed after observing their big score from the territory, or they could be connected to the shady Darron Merchant Group that had it out for him.
And he figured it was the latter.
'Bastards, sending their underlings.'
After he'd already sent a magic beast to hell, these ragtag bandits didn't scare him one bit.
"Yans."
"W-what do we do, Kaiyer? Let's give them everything and beg for our lives. Then maybe they'll..."
"Sleep."
With a light incantation, Yans instantly fell into a deep slumber.
'Memorize in daily life. You're all dead!'
No need to pick a fight, but he couldn't let those who started one go free.
Crack.
He cracked his knuckles and stood up in the carriage.
'Twenty. Perfect number.'
It was half a day's ride to the village by carriage.
In this wide plain, no one to help him.
Thud-thud!
The enemies moved.
Whoosh.
He lightly leaped from the carriage.
Then waited for the horse-riders charging in an instant, tapping his foot to the rhythm.
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"Heh heh, so you're the fearless brat from Luna Village."
As expected, they knew him well.
'Mercenaries? Nah...'
Unlike the free-spirited mercenaries who had come to the village, these were starkly different.
The man in his early forties strutting like a mercenary up front, but those lined up behind showed disciplined movements like regular soldiers.
"Who the hell are you guys?"
He asked the mounted men with a cocky glare.
"You? Hah hah, the dead man asks too many questions."
"Sent by that pig-faced merchant Ryan from Darron? You don't look like mercenaries. Is it okay to harass the lord's subjects without permission like this?"
"..."
They exchanged glances, stunned by how he'd hit the nail on the head.
'Soldiers, huh.'
As expected, soldiers sent by that Ryan bastard and the administrator.
By now, news of his deal with the Rubis Merchant Group would have spread through the small city, and the administrator would fear his dirty secrets exposed to the lord.
"Not bad for a kid."
The apparent leader spoke in a quiet, sunken voice.
At the same time, the soldiers began emitting killing intent.
Mentioning the lord had clearly provoked them.
"Tsk tsk, you leeches living off taxes from the people should know shame. Got nothing better to do than banditry? Damn!"
Clang!
"Shut your mouth!"
At his curse-mixed words, the soldiers drew their cavalry swords.
'Unarmored cavalry... If I rough them up, will the lord find out?'
They had clearly ditched their armor somewhere and come as a group.
Unlike regular infantry, cavalry were key territory forces.
"Kill him!"
"Yes!"
"Hya!"
No sooner had the frontman's order dropped than one mounted soldier charged.
'Pathetic.'
Swinging his sword in a big arc atop his horse, clearly aiming to kill in one blow.
Clang!
He infused a bit of mana into the sword from the village chief and parried the soldier's downward strike.
"Argh!"
Thud.
The unexpected counter sent the soldier's sword flying from his hand, and the impact tumbled him off his horse.
Thwack!
A low kick to the dazed soldier's head on the ground knocked him out cold.
"Gasp!"
A scream escaped the soldiers' lips at their comrade dropping in one hit.
"So you've got some backing. Heh heh, but that won't change your fate of dying."
"Who says? You sure about that, big bro?"
He provoked the leader with a delinquent gum-chewing tone.
'This guy's a knight.'
Ordering the others, mana aura leaking from his angry body.
"Kill him!"
The order fell again.
Hiiiiiing!
Thud-thud-thud!
Three soldiers lined up about ten meters ahead charged.
'Time to show some real skill?'
Sword was fine, but his main was still magic.
"Magic Arrow!"
Whoosh!
A simple 2nd Circle attack spell created over ten arrow projectiles in the air upon incantation.
By circle law, arrow count exploded proportionally to circles with mana.
"Fall!"
The soldiers charging were startled as milky-glowing Magic Arrows formed in the air.
He lightly focused, guiding the arrows to their torsos.
Swoosh! Thud-thud!
"Gahk!"
"Kek!"
"Hng!"
Soldiers tumbled from horses, savoring arm-thick Magic Arrows in their bodies.
Unarmored hits meant at least a few shattered ribs each—serious wounds.
'Do these guys have health insurance?'
Not that he was hurt, but he worried anyway.
Kind-hearted Kaiyer couldn't help it.
"M-mage!"
"..."
"H-how is there a mage...?"
The remaining sixteen soldiers stared at him with fearful eyes, yelling "mage" repeatedly.
"Uh, which magic tower mage are you?"
The knight-like one asked in a trembling voice.
'Magic tower? The one Master Gandalf lived in?'
"None of that crap. Ever heard of a high school equivalency exam mage?"
"Equivalency exam?"
No clue, obviously. The knight spat it out.
His face suddenly flushed red.
He realized they were marked.
"You damn brat!"
Whoosh!
Proving his knighthood, he spurred his horse and swung his sword.
'Slow.'
Compared to the magic beast he'd fought, the knight's movements were laughably sluggish.
Stab!
Though magic was main, double-majoring in sword was trendy these days.
He stabbed the knight's lower body with his sword, halting the charge.
"Gasp!"
The knight, fixated on magic, freaked at the incoming sword, hastily turning his to block.
'Aura Blade!'
First Aura Blade besides his own since arriving in this world.
Clang!
'Ugh, what's with this Aura Blade?'
Unlike expectations, the knight's thin, frail Aura Blade fizzled out on contact with his, sparking away.
The knight froze momentarily, and a fierce kick exploited the gap.
Thwack!
"Cough... Gahk!"
Mana-infused strike to the side.
Face turning black from blocked breath, the knight stiffened.
Crack.
A light roundhouse finished him off.
'Be grateful. You met a 21st-century grand mage who values life.'
Foam bubbling from his mouth from the powerful kick, the knight passed out.
"Get down."
He ordered the soldiers, pale like orphaned pups.
"Fire Ball!"
Roooar!
What dazed fools needed wasn't medicine, but a club.
He floated a torso-sized Fire Ball lightly before him.
"Uwaaaah!"
"S-spare us, Mage!"
Thud-thud-thud!
No one waited first.
Remaining soldiers dropped weapons, dismounted, and slammed foreheads to the ground.
'Not even cornered pheasants.'
A scene showing how mages appeared to regular soldiers.
Not one dared stand; all prostrated flat.
"Sent by the administrator?"
A casual question.
"Y-yes."
A senior-looking soldier slightly raised his head, answering cautiously.
"Does the lord know you're doing this crap?"
"Th-that's..."
Probably not.
Piyor Viscount's lord didn't seem the type, from his impression.
"Strip. All weapons and upper clothes off! Now!"
Stunned soldiers at the sudden command.
"Move it! Want to be rotisserie chicken in the Fire Ball?"
Middle school 2nd year, that Marine endurance camp experience.
The drill sergeant's tone that drove them mad proved useful.
"Y-yes, sir!"
"Stripping! We're stripping!"
Already mentally crushed by him, soldiers shed daggers, gear, and shirts.
"Strip the downed ones too!"
"Yes, sir!"
Like his loyal troops now, they moved in perfect sync.
'How much is that worth?'
Mounted soldiers suddenly boosting his side income nicely.
He warmly admired their beautiful camaraderie in stripping each other.
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"Ka-Kaiyer, what the hell?"
"You up now? Must've been exhausted, collapsing like that."
Clack-clack, heading back to the village.
Yans had good instincts, so even without him, the village neared, and upon waking from the spell, he gawked at the weapons-laden horses tied in a line trailing the carriage.
"Kaiyer, where'd the bandits go, and these horses...?"
"Oh, these? Turns out they weren't bandits, but devout philanthropists. Told 'em Luna Village's plight, and they stripped off horses, clothes, weapons, and left. Hard to believe such folks in this harsh world."
"R-really?"
"Yans, when have I ever lied to you? If they were bandits, could you and I return safe like this?"
"W-well, true, but..."
"Village in sight!"
"Already?"
While Yans slept, he'd cast Light on the carriage, galloping across the plain with the horses.
Sun setting; no desire for late-night monster fights.
"Yans~!!"
"Yans and Kaiyer are back!"
Most villagers had 2.0 eagle eyes, so watchtower folk shouted welcomes loudly.
"Yans, like I said, say nothing till merchants arrive."
"Y-yeah, got it."
The carriage goods alone would make villagers happy.
Tomorrow's caravan arrival would double the joy.
'Tonight, proper feast.'
Most anticipated: Cecil's dinner.
Returning with castle-bought spices and kitchenware.
"Daddy!! Big bro Kaiyer!!"
Village gate opened; Deron, waiting eagerly, ran up.
Behind, expectant villagers emerged one by one.
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"How about a tuna party today?"
Two days after returning.
Sturdy twenty-odd horses and carriage gifts had the village in festival buzz.
So poor before, small gifts multiplied joy tenfold.
And today, merchants arrive.
Left the castle yesterday; Zamer with goods by afternoon latest.
'Village Chief'll faint?'
Horrified at using tax money for potions, buying all horses instead.
Rumor: his groans echoed house-wide like songs nonstop.
"Big haul, let Zamer buy holy water. Knows loyalty; he'll watch village even without me."
For that, lavish him with Madir today.
"Mana full; issue now: repel sea monsters, transport tuna safe..."
A kilometer offshore.
Tunas leaped mockingly from afar.
Peak season; only three months yearly pass village waters.
"There they come."
Pondering tuna transport, a group approached distantly.
Ordered goods: enough grain for village year's plenty.
Hundred-odd wagons lined horizon.
"Whoa, worth the sweat. Master's platinum card nothing to envy."
Months since master's home continent, yet aiding others with small effort for big result swelled his chest.
Korea: just top student pony.
Here: village guardian patron.
Ding-ding-ding!
"S-someone's coming!"
"Gather everyone!"
Watchtower spotted wagons; bell rang wildly, villagers bustled.
Luna Village: rare visitors sans monsters.
Welcomed guests for them.
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"Wh-what is this...?"
"Wooow! Pigs and cows!"
"That's all flour?"
"Top-quality leather armor!"
Like a market, villagers swarmed out.
Dozens rough mercenaries with merchants, but villagers gawked awestruck at unprecedented goods.
Likely never seen such volume born.
"W-we only have potatoes and barley to trade. Horses too, but... not ours..."
Gap-toothed Village Chief scratched head before Zamer's fine wares, pondering potato trades.
"Merchant Zamer!"
"Where is he? Finally here?"
Zamer, troubled by villagers' gawking, lit up at his appearance.
Even top caravan merchant: his credit buys burdensome.
"Goods reliable, right?"
"Kaiyer, your family motto honesty?"
"Yes, honesty."
Zamer asked playfully about motto.
"Our caravan code: deal only honest folk. I trust your conscience."
'Huh, my conscience?'
Even he sometimes distrusted his fuzzy conscience.
Zamer trusting it: no pushover.
"Kaiyer, you know these folks?"
Village Chief eyed him shocked at easy top-merchant chat.
"Goods delivered per Madir payment."
Zamer nailed the deal.
"Of course. But satisfied? Extra pay, right?"
Zamer adventured trusting him.
First Kalian Continent investor in him.
"Betray no trust: always Rubis top client."
No more words needed.
"Shall we check goods?"
"Uh, no, caught already?"
Zamer startled at his words.
"Merchant yet ignore fish life's freshness?"
"Well, true, but..."
"To village rear. Good mood today; catch plenty."
"What're you saying? Deliver what? Receive what?"
Village Chief dying curiosity.
Only Yans behind nodded knowingly.
"Let's go."
Catching Madir sans magic: impossible.
Especially 4th Circle pinnacle attack spell: villagers bound notice.
"Wait, first: someone wants meet you."
"Huh? Someone wants see me?"
'Someone?'
Few Zamer honored.
Fewer visiting him.
"Open carriage door."
"Yes, Chief Merchant."
Zamer's aide Terrison replied briskly, rushing to a carriage.
'Who, so revered by merchants?'
His curiosity peaked matching Village Chief's.
"Here. Come out."
Clunk.
Terrison carefully opened door.
"Thank you."
'F-female?'
Pleasant clear voice from carriage.
Rustle.
White leather shoes stepped on carriage step.
"Gasp!"
Stepping into sunlight, one woman's descent stunned his heart still.
'A-Armis!'
Indeed.
Shockingly, Zamer's Luna Village companion: Mercy Goddess Neran's novice priestess Armis.
"Thanks to bond-master Romero allowing this reunion."
Kalian Continent: lives tied to gods.
Armis approached gracefully, curtsying like noblewoman.
"I-I'm honored to meet again."
'What the hell!'
Armis came this far with merchants to see him.
Unicorn-riding, animal-friend holy beauty smiled at him.
'Heart, why pound so?'
Her holy beauty warmed just viewing.
Heart pumped foolishly.
"Ooooooh! Gods!"
"N-Neran's priestess here...!"
"Sob! Mercy Goddess Neran!"
Thud-thud.
While he reeled, Village Chief-led villagers crossed themselves, kneeling.
'Th-this much?'
Overwhelmed, tears streamed as they signed crosses frantically.
"Sorry. And love you. Neran sheds joyful tears for faithful servants..."
Pure faith to Mercy Goddess: Armis shed gem-like tears sparkling sunward.
Not just villagers: merchants, mercenaries pious too.
'True faith.'
God's knowing servant and yearning lambs.
Far from corrupt money-tainted 21st-century faith; different emotions surged.
"Why bring Armis?"
No priest ever, yet god-reliant villagers' hot Neran priestess meet.
Quietly pleased Zamer questioned.
"Didn't ask for potions?"
"No, potions and priestess—what link? Just novice."
Countered by his common sense.
"Didn't know? Armis makes Neran temple potions."
"..."
'No wonder the halo glow.'
"You're blessed, kid. Armis: top divine power among current priests, I'd say. Her coming see you: you'll bask in god's blessings ahead."
Zamer eyed him enviously.
"Ahem, I'm pretty blessed."
No humility urge.
Goddess Armis stroking god's lambs with blessing hand.
Her coming for him warmed his chest.
'Walking hospital. Perfect.'
Holy power heals most ills: priests, priestesses.
No harm knowing.
Especially such beautiful priestess: hands-up welcome.
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"See tuna—no, Madir there?"
"See it, but... no boat, how catch?"
Burly mercenaries neatly arrayed 2.5m wide, 1m tall magic freezers on shore.
Villagers, merchants, Armis, mercenaries watched his hand-guided leaping swimming tunas.
"Just catch somehow, right?"
"Sure, but how you..."
'Heh, see for yourself.'
No boast desire, but unavoidable now.
"Kaiyer, why such reckless..."
Village Chief heard gist, eyed pityingly.
Bald head or all here: no answers visible.
'Armis, don't smile like that.'
Only Armis smiled mysteriously knowing-like, sparkling eyes on him.
Heart fluttered.
"Don't disappoint."
Zamer's face hardened; no riceball answer.
'People only burned trusting.'
Even he seemed untrustable.
"Kaiyer, qu-quick apologize. Mess up... uh uh!"
Yans approached, halted midstep.
"Fly!"
Mana gathered breath-deep, erupted body; memorized spell incantation lifted light to sky.
"M-mage!"
"Kaiyer mage?!"
"I-impossible!"
Light wind-borne to sea, below erupted chaos.
Plain folk living with them: mage fact.
No shock? Chronic calming pill abuser.
'Kukuku, expect great! Real variety lightning show today!'
This is mage life's flavor.
No learn magic for plain pathetic life.
Talented live talented, untalented untalented: life.
He: true romantic enjoying life.
'Umuhahahahaha!'
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'Mage...?'
Merchant instinct knew unordinary from first sight.
No hick village boy look: uncommon face, noble-like unbowed natural poise and spirited eyes.
Plus merchant-rival human psychology insight.
Black-haired youth Kaiyer impressed enough even Zamer, Rubis next top caravan lord pick.
And he mage.
'Fly so natural: only 4th Circle master possible. That age 4th Circle? Absurd?'
Merchant before, mage dreamer Zamer.
Quit post 2nd Circle novice, but knew well.
Just-turned-twentyish 4th Circle: magic history unprecedented.
'What your true identity, Kaiyer.'
Basking in crowd's shocked gazes, reached Madir-swimming seaside sky.
His hand wove formulas midair.
"Lightning Wave!!"
Boom! Crrrrrackle-crack!
"Waaaaaaah!"
"Magic!"
Innocent villagers first-seeing 4th Circle gaped, exclaimed awe.
"Am-amazing!"
Even unflappable Zamer gaped, praising Kaiyer.
Fly-casting 4th Circle top attack.
Mana control that perfect: believe 5th Circle master.
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Boom, boom, boom.
Powerful electric shocks flipped tuna school bellies-up floating sea.
'One, two... heh, fifteen in one go... jackpot.'
School habit: 4th Circle Lightning Wave shocked afloat tunas.
Not just tuna.
Torso-sized common fish to thousands miscellaneous drifted sea-top.
'Now towing issue...'
First clueless catch hardship gone.
No progress: not human pinnacle, just monkey pal Wondol.
'Mana halved. True 4th Circle attack pinnacle.'
Fly-casting mana control: not easy as thought.
Other 4th Circles: Fly mana alone overwhelming.
'Next: Wind Fan.'
Other-named "wind fan" 2nd Circle.
Low circle, but drawing tunas 1km to beach: no easy.
Lucky: high tide sea aiding attempt.
"Wind Fan!"
Madir-catch pondered formula combos.
Memorized: incantation deployed.
Whirrrrr!
Pre-scatter tunas: wind gathered one side.
Stunned fish school per will pushed shoreward.
'Perfect! Genius me! Kekeke!'
No ship: who thinks big tuna catch?
One-man deep-sea vessel captain, he again savored magic's boundless utility joy.
'Today: unforgettable memory for all gathered! Festival! Festival time!'
Humans not live bread alone; plain life needs festival events.
Especially village folk never tasted life's joys proper.
Gift deathless memory souvenir.
'Hm? What's this aura?'
Festival-thinking pleasant tuna-herding midst: uneasy aura felt.
"Gasp! Th-those bastards!"
Tuna-fish well-herded: decent catches suddenly sea-deep vanishing.
Spreading blood trails, below black silhouette shadows.
Sea monster for sure, tales-only.
'Damn! What's this now?'
Kid-fluster 21st-century speech, mood plunged.
Hard-caught tuna-fish aside: effortless monster predation.
Villagers starved yet sound fish-gazing moods understood.
'Uwaaa! Pisses me off!'
One-two fish gone, then decent tuna sunk too.
But no attack way.
Mana one-third left post-spells.
Strike spell: thread-snapped kite fate sure.
'Gods! No conscience? Good deed this hard: who coins charity pots?'
Shore 500m ahead still.
This slow: tuna bones gone.
Sky-gazing, cursed ruling gods.
Fwooooosh!
'Huh?'
Answering fervent gripe: holy aura suddenly blanketed sea.
"Holy blessing!"
"Oooh! Neran's purification power!"
Shore voices shocked.
Turned head.
Saw.
Hands clasped fervent-praying woman.
'Armis...'
Peace-descending angel sight.
Far yet clear-view.
Her body sunlit radiance holy aura flowing.
Screeeeech.
Holy aura sea-sprinkled: freebie-lover bald monsters screeched sudden-vanished.
'God's power.'
Shaman possession seesaw fan vastly different dimension force.
Why locals cling gods desperately: understood.
'Kugh, why keeps popping mind!'
Earth-left pretty Yerin, yet Armis holy face kind curves brain-filled.
Unmated snow leopard blood-boiling hormone secretion undeniable.
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"Madir... coming!"
"F-fish! Fish!"
Fishermen yet unable-call-fish-fish Luna villagers cheered beach-flooding fish.
Typhoon days rare wave-blind fish tastes only.
Madir-led thousands fish floating drifting spectacle: souls lost awe.
"Mercenaries, quick haul Madir! Terrison, neck-slit bleed! Madir life freshness!"
No gawk-time knower Zamer.
Chided dazed hired mercenaries merchants.
'All unscarred premium! At least 200 gold each!'
This pace Madir haul: caravan huge profit.
Then Madir-troubled caravan: Zamer trust self-evident.
'Kaiyer, thanks.'
Identity-unknown weirdo youth Kaiyer.
"Hahahahaha!"
What so fun: Fly-flying sky-freely, scattering a hearty laugh.