Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Confrontation with the Sky Knight
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"Are you leaving?"
"Yan, Yans."
Two days after Armis and Jamer departed.
The village buzzed with energy now that the distribution of goods brought by the merchant caravan was complete.
I rose from my spot before the morning sun had even crested the horizon.
'How did he know?'
In the village where all my tasks were finished.
I had planned to slip away as silently as I had arrived, like a passing breeze, yet Yans asked if I was going as he got up.
"Haha! I think it's time for me to set off on my journey."
I scratched my head and forced a bright smile, pretending it was no big deal.
Having never parted from anyone on my own terms before, a swirl of awkward emotions churned inside me.
"You have to. A young man must wander.... Thank you. Without you, this village would have been forgotten forever."
Yans, usually so quiet and simple, looked like a sage today.
"H-Here, bread."
'Cecil too....'
"How did you know I was leaving?"
"You've been staring off into space, refusing even the food you love so much—who wouldn't notice? Even a heartless log would pick up on it."
'Ugh! Because of food!'
I'd tried to leave quietly, but food had given me away.
"The weather's still warm, so eat the bread before the day ends. It has eggs in it, so it could spoil easily."
Not the usual hard barley bread, but soft, white wheat bread mixed with eggs.
Cecil had already packed a small bag full of it.
'Tch.'
Yans's generous smile tinged with regret, Cecil's sad face as she packed the bread, her expression stiff.
Only clueless Deron slept soundly through the morning.
'So that's why... people grieve over goodbyes.'
The moment of departure felt different from when I'd planned it.
A hollow ache opened in my chest.
My nose tingled, and my eyes grew hot.
"Kayer, we only know your name, but no one in the village ever saw you as an outsider. If you ever feel lonely or tired wherever you go, come back. Think of this place as your home."
Yans gazed at me with the look of a father seeing off his son.
"Yes, don't worry. I'll return when my journey ends. Stay healthy until then, Yans."
"Yes, you stay healthy too. Don't skip meals...."
"B-Be careful. Thank you for everything."
Yans's voice grew thick as he gave his final plea, and Cecil bowed her head without looking up.
"I should be thanking you. Cecil, next time I come, I'll bring gifts, so make me something delicious?"
"Yes, anytime... p-please visit. Sniff."
She couldn't finish, tears streaming down her face.
"Tell Deron I said hi. Tell him to become a fine man by the time his big bro returns."
"Got it. I'll make sure to tell him his pervert big bro sends his regards."
"....."
The mood soured at Yans's joke.
"Then I'll be off."
"We won't see you off. And there's a horse tied by the gate."
'The villagers knew too.'
I'd hoped to leave without anyone noticing, but they'd seen through it.
Clunk.
If I lingered any longer, I'd cry too, so I flung the door open vigorously.
Whoosh.
The autumn breeze I'd not felt until yesterday rushed in through the open door.
'Farewell, everyone.'
Short but long memories in Luna Village.
No matter where my continental travels took me, I'd never forget them.
'Now it begins!'
I stepped out, one foot forward.
The red sun's rays broke through my thoughts at that moment.
Like a small blessing from the gods for the dreamer and adventurer setting forth.
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Clop clop clop!
"Ugh!"
Horses seemed easy at first glance.
In movies, protagonists rode them stylishly, shooting guns or charging with swords, but each bump against the saddle stung my flesh.
"Stop, you rice bucket!"
The horse grazed leisurely across the plains, oblivious to its rider's pain.
'Ugh, am I gonna get hemorrhoids like this?'
How happy I'd been leaving the village.
In Korea, chances to ride horses were rare.
Only kids from wealthy families learned riding; commoners like me never did.
Yet here I was, a total newbie, galloping across the plains.
Feeling the whooshing scenery and the thudding hooves for a while.
Then suddenly, my thighs and butt screamed in protest.
'Ugh, that's why you need a license.'
Like driving without one and regretting it, I shed bloody tears.
The freedom of the wind turned to most of my thigh skin peeling off.
Neigh!
Yanking the reins, the big brown horse stopped with a joyful cry.
"Ugh... ugh. How many times today?"
Lucky my mana was several times more than other mages and recovered faster, or I'd have run out mid-Heal spell.
"Heal!"
I pulled my right hand back, placed it near my butt, and cast Heal gently.
Flash!
I craned my neck but wasn't a giraffe; I couldn't see the wounded area, just the spell's light.
"Ah! Feels cool."
Good thing I learned magic, or I'd have saddle sores forever.
'As expected! Mages are the best!'
Cool, refreshing sensation on my butt and thighs.
A strange thrill raced up my spine.
"Stomach's rumbling. Time for bread?"
I'd left the village early morning and hit the road blindly.
The "road" was just a grass-covered plain—follow it and you're good.
'Where to now.... Gotta stop by the castle first?'
Grandpa taught me few lessons, one being: preview without review is like shitting without wiping.
'Gotta beat that administrator bastard. Only then the village won't suffer.'
I'd left village safety and economy to Jamer; the rest was on me.
Crunch crunch.
I pulled bread from the saddlebag and chewed.
"Pity no strawberry jam or peanut cream."
Not comparable to hard barley bread, but still lacking.
"But it's soft—nice."
Jamer brought a milking cow; bread with milk and eggs was savory enough.
But my tongue, spoiled by sugar, salt, and additives, refused this world's fare.
"Ahh, great sky!"
Satiated with bread, I drank from the wooden canteen and gazed at the sky. Cloudless autumn blue cleared my chest.
"That cloudless sky, no travelers in sight. But wait, a bird appears far off, flying busily. Huh? Bird? Is that a bird?"
Gazing at the autumn sky, a poetic swell in my chest—then a bird emerged far away.
No, not a bird.
A massive entity hurtling at incredible speed.
"Ar-Archaeopteryx!"
I yelled in shock.
Unmistakably the giant bird from dino pics or Jurassic Park.
It circled the sky then dove straight at me.
"Mommy!"
Crisis before breakfast digested.
'What spell! This! Aaaah!'
I frantically recalled 4th-circle spells for fast-moving targets.
Dying hours after a stylish start would shame my family.
"Wind Shield!"
I yanked out all my mana, erecting a thick barrier five meters overhead.
Even an archaeopteryx wouldn't shatter it at full power.
"Ice Spear!"
Can't die sitting.
Double-casting complexly, I summoned thick ice spears.
'Come on, you damn bird!'
The archaeopteryx closed to a hundred meters.
Flapping huge wings, serrated beak aimed at me in dive.
Gulp.
Dry sky thunderbolt—no, one archaeopteryx plummeted my mood from heaven to hell.
Throat bobbed.
Eyes strained for focus.
"Gasp! W-What's that?"
Amid glaring at the bird-like thing, I spotted something.
"P-Pants? No, armor?"
Not wild—cloth with clear human crest and silver armor draped on it.
"Gasp! A person!"
Then I saw.
As the diving bird twisted, a figure stood haughtily gripping reins near its neck.
Whoosh!
Sudden armored bird and rider.
Nearing ground at ten meters overhead, it banked sharply and flew back whence it came.
"Did it just toy with me?"
Tension peaked like midnight graveyard visit, yet it mocked and vanished.
Against its bulk, impossible speed—it soared sky-high instantly.
"W-Wait, could that be... a Sky Knight? Then that bird's not archaeopteryx—wyvern?"
Priest Armis's childhood dream: Sky Knight.
It clicked.
"Wow! This era has an air force!"
Knew wyverns existed, but not as air force mounts.
"Whoo~! Awesome."
Thrilling just imagining.
I'd dreamed of Air Force pilot once as a kid.
Harsh physicals and constant alert duty killed it.
This Sky Knight revived that dream.
Why it threatened me didn't matter.
Only thought: must become a wyvern-riding Sky Knight.
'Time's all I got. Decided! Gonna raise a bird!'
No pilot's license or certs here.
Do as heart desires.
Thud thud thud thud thud!
'Huh? What's that?'
Mid-fantasy of soaring as Sky Knight, urgent hoofbeats.
"Where you headed?"
Around a kilometer off, knights rounding mountain corner.
Fifty-odd riders, lead with banner.
Rushing plains frantically.
"Huh? Why're they charging me!"
Wyvern followed by new cavalry.
"T-That guy again!"
As if waiting, wyvern and Sky Knight crested distant ridge.
"N-No way, not because of me alone."
No reason, I thought.
But bad hunches always hit—fate's cruel hobby.
Neigh!
They charged, halting a hundred meters off powerfully.
Full-plate armored cavalry exuded heavy aura, glaring.
'They wanna go now?'
Reason unknown, but vibe screamed fight.
'Isn't this overkill?'
Even top magic swordsman couldn't ignore numbers.
Their aura: not scrub cavalry—not long ago's—knights wielding Aura Blades.
'Maybe that incident...!'
Flash of dread.
Scene replayed silent film: administrator's cavalry attacking me and Yans.
'Lord knows... won't let slide.'
Administrator spun tales to fool dumb lord.
Likely saw me as insolent mana-freak ignoring lord.
'Right. Rotten.'
Their banner: Piyor Viscount's—black shield with two white horses, like at castle.
Screee.
1 vs 50, plus bird.
Not Marines—this unfair.
Wyvern landed flapping between knights and me, confirming headache.
'H-Huge!'
Big from air, but close-up: enormous.
Thick elongated bones, gray tough hide.
Wingspan ten meters easy; body like ten cows bundled.
Soccer-ball red eyes, serrated teeth, iron beak, black talons shredding anything.
Legs buckled just looking.
'Ahh! How to escape this mess!'
Normal knight: Fly skyward. But wyvern's big eyes blinked; couldn't move.
'Kill 'em all?'
Impossible.
Mana overflowed, but not vs full-plate knights.
Wyvern key problem.
"You the fearless black mage!"
'B-Black mage? Me?'
Not standard armor—leather-silver mix—figure in helmet's glass visor scolded sternly.
'Lord!'
Familiar voice; beyond visor: Piyor Viscount Territory's lord.
"I'm a mage, yes. But white mage pursuing justice and truth—not black. Haha!"
Awkward laugh opened talk.
"Nonsense! You dared humiliate my territory's knights and soldiers! Even Magic Tower mage must follow my law! Stealing warhorses, armor, tarnishing knight honor! I'll judge that crime!"
'Pissed good.'
As expected: clueless lord believed administrator's ragged escapees.
Infuriating.
All from lord's mismanagement, yet he blamed—tried killing—me.
"What crime exactly?"
Unsure wyvern/Sky Knight power, but no cowering like punk.
Heaven and earth, my balls!
Die proud, live free.
"Insolent! No title, yet blabbing at lord!"
Unaware kind words beget kind replies, knight lectured.
His thick long sword bloomed blue Aura Blade.
"Uahaha! Hilarious. Pot calling kettle black—dog with shit barking at rice-straw dog."
No more talk.
Do or die.
"D-Dog with shit? You bastard!!"
Knight bellowed.
Steam rose illusory from him.
'Let's throw down!'
Outnumbered, wyvern wildcard—no fear.
Boom boom boom boom boom!
Decided brawl—wyvern flapped skyward.
'Strike now?'
Perfect attack chance.
But no scavenger.
Swoosh.
Brief flap—rose fast into air.
'Eyesore first!'
Wyvern worry, but 50 knights bigger.
"Attack!"
Thud thud thud thud thud!
Knights charged pre-lord command, craving glory.
'Picked wrong day!'
Baseless confidence sprouted chest.
"Ice Fog!"
Daily memorized 4th-circle spells.
Longer mana drain, turned air mana to cold fog.
'Catch me, roast~!'
Fog spread my area—10m to 20m thick.
Clang!
Thud!
'Go play far.'
Neigh.
Couldn't fight knights on horse I barely controlled.
Kicked horse butt hard—sent fleeing.
Thud thud! Thud thud thud thud!
Knights closed meantime.
Fog hid, but Aura Blades glowed faint.
'Heh, taste this!'
Heavy-armored knights.
Mage present—no dumb charge.
Hands raised, evil grin in damp Ice Fog.
"Lightning Wave!"
Expansive strike lightning spell—not pinpoint.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!
"Dirt! Air Shield!"
Like electrocuting fish in lake.
Cast lightning, burrowed with Dirt.
'Bye~!'
No wave—sequential Dirt.
Body sank underground.
"Arrrgh!"
"Uwaaaaa!"
Neigh!
Knights and horses screamed agony.
Aura Blade knights? Useless.
Brute force meant stupidity—body-deep lesson.
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Splatter! Splatter!
'Over?'
Wide-area lightning—not lethal.
But knights/horses tasted sizzling armor electrocution.
Heavy horses collapsing waves across plain.
'Wyvern issue though....'
Foot knights: tough fight.
But buddy-system rice-bucket knights.
My spell-net zapped—heart-shock.
'Wait for mana regen?'
Dirt + Air Shield secured space underground, but serial 4th-circles halved mana.
Magic versatile, but dry = done.
"Find him!"
"Nearby! Search everywhere!"
'Huh? Movers?'
Underestimated mana-wielding knights? Footsteps above—dozen.
"Ground suspicious here!"
"Mana depleted! Stab with Aura Blades!"
Ice Fog plains wouldn't last.
Lightning neutered cold anyway.
Voices above spotted burrow mark.
'Not bad.'
Unknown escape, but knights' agility impressed.
"Rock Wall!"
Rush = pincushion.
Earth spell overhead.
Rumble rumble!
Soil hardened rock-like, surged encircling 2m space.
"Huh!"
"W-What's this!"
Knights above pre-attack yelped.
"Hyah!"
Soil-to-rock gap let light in.
Sword up, kicked ground—leapt onto Rock Wall barrier.
"Hahaha! Here I am, bastards!"
Skyward view:
Most knights charred armor-downed; horses too. But ~10 knights stood, lightly singed armor intact.
'Magic armor!'
Made sense now.
Clear magic arrays on armor.
Deflected dispersed lightning—magic armor.
'5th-circle Chain Lightning would've killed all.'
Regret 5th-circle.
Licked lips, landed.
"Y-You use swords too?!"
One of encircling dozen knights asked shocked.
"Magic major, swordsmanship minor."
"...Magic Swordsman!"
Word slipped; encircling knights flinched visibly.
"Heh heh, get it now? Too bad—I'm in pissy mood today."
Bluff full—mana low, state crap, but evil grin pressured.
'Fuck, 3rd-circle useless vs magic armor.'
Anxiety mountains inside, scraped mana for big flashy Aura Blade.
"Mmm...."
Stiffened knights groaned.
Knights invincible? Lives single.
Swoosh!
'Miss!'
Knights demoralized—sudden ear-piercing whine, body hairs stood.
Thud!
Kicked Rock Wall stone urgently.
Boom!
'W-What!'
Sky-fallen: 2m silver spear, child-arm thick.
Pierced magic-hardened rock like tofu, quivering deep.
'Lord!'
Forgot Sky Knight.
Head snapped skyward.
"Gasp!"
"All knights, fall back!"
Lord's mana-charged order.
Rustle!
Knights bolted sans glance.
"H-Huh?"
'Not like this....'
Couldn't call fleeing knights.
Swoosh!
'Aaaah! Rotten bird bastard!'
Boom boom!
No time look up.
Spears thudded viciously.
I bolted knights' direction too.
'Hey! Together!'
Worst: flee.
Sun Tzu's best strat.
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"Huff huff!"
'Damn fast!'
Mana-foot sprint—knights matched pace.
Trained fleeing, not swords.
'Die running.'
~700-800m ahead: shallow wooded dip—useless cover.
'Fuckin' birdhead!'
Sky: lord reined wyvern like horse.
Big chicken controlled by human.
Wanted Fireball-roast.
But reality...
'Where flee? Shit....'
Running drained remnant mana.
Other 4th-circle mage: flat "take me."
Swoooosh!
Stopped—lord hurled silver spear waiting.
'Magic item!'
Flee-miss: gleaming mana-charged spear.
'Bastard!'
Rage boiled.
Murderous intent at innocent me, bird and rider.
'Come, dog!'
Gripped sword, glared incoming spear.
Swoooosh!
Mana-charged sky spear: light-speed.
Sword raised at it.
'Now!'
Seconds post-throw—space-compressed magic spear.
Scraped mana, swung hard at air.
Boom!
"Cough!"
Sword gone; body tumbled impact.
Gurgle.
Red clot burst chest-thick rage.
Amid, fury/audacity fueled rebellion—blood boiled.
'Kill 'em all.'
Wrong-blind lord/knights attacking blindly.
Pariah scum ganging one mage.
First killing urge dominated.
"Huuu!"
Stood, deep breath.
Emptied mana core.
Circulated upper/middle/lower dantians—waist mana core shrunken like deflated balloon.
'Alone I die! You too....!'
Calmed breath, sucked nature's qi.
Empty core: hour+ mana breathing needed!
Overdo: circle collapse risk.
One choice.
'Kill....'
Taunting: wyvern/lord hover 50m overhead stationary flap.
Pulled forbidden circle formula mind.
'Wind mana, lend cold breath—heed my will! Irresistible wind blade! Fury's cold storm!'
Clasped hands, opened dantians, sucked all air into circles.
'Ugh....'
Ripping pain: forehead to toes, impure mana shredded channels.
'T-Too late! Bastard!'
Finally sensed oddity—wyvern flapped flee.
"Heh heh, go! Wind Tornado!"
Strongest 5th-circle wind spell.
Multiple-fold Wind Cutter blades storm.
Boom!
Thrust hands—circle mana/will at target.
Whooo!
Will-fused mana.
Blue magic light—small breeze started.
Roooooar!
Brief—tore air, blade storm engulfed wyvern/lord.
Kreeeeee!
First wyvern shriek pierced ears.
Boom boom boom!
'Sh-Shield spell!'
Wyvern bloomed massive shield, blocked Tornado.
Crack crack crack crack!
Momentary—shattered shield, fury magic hit.
Wobble wobble.
Halved power via shield, but 5th-circle devastating.
Wyvern wing-wounded, spun dizzily uncontrolled—crashed ground.
"Huff huff huff!"
Panted ragged.
Rule-breaking spell.
Mana channels' tearing pain vanished like lie.
Heavy circle feel.
'5, 5th-circle?'
Incredibly: not four, five circles swirled waist.
'Damn, ascend earlier.'
Life-risk extreme yielded insight.
Second time.
Boom!
Shock calmed mid-5th-circle awe—wyvern thud-landed flailing bulk.
Swish.
Picked fallen knight sword.
Step step.
Eyes gleaming, slow-walked ~100m to wyvern.
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"Za, Zaigen! Zaigen! Pull yourself together, Zaigen!"
Dafis Kingdom's Piyor Territory lord/viscount Danian.
Desperately called his wyvern Zaigen.
From normal knight to this: wyvern's credit.
Zaigen earned viscountcy, territory, royal Sky Knight guard.
Beloved wyvern wounded by black mage's power, flailing.
Tough wings shredded dozens; auto-shield armor scarred.
Pain-filled eyes pitied master.
"Ugh, Zaigen...."
Family-dear wyvern cherished.
Sky Knight school grad: Zaigen chose him—no glory.
Danian felt heart-ripping pain.
15 years together.
First defeat/injury.
"Painful? Lord weeping over mere wyvern?"
Approaching black-haired magic swordsman mocked.
"I'll kill you!"
Clang!
Drew light longsword Sky Knights permitted.
Mana-up, Aura Blade slashed.
Clang!
"Guh!"
But black mage flicked away Danian's emotional swing effortless.
"Funny guy. Think I'll die 'cause you say?"
Cold, rage-filled black mage.
"W-What'll you do!"
Danian sensed doom in black mage's sneer, murder-lipped toward wyvern.
Heart froze at sword-raise.
"Why? Fear easy death? No worry. Curious anyway—wyvern hide toughness, gut's today's meat count."
Black mage spat brutality casual.
"K-Kill me instead!"
"No worry. Lord ignoring starving/montster-dead serfs—what live for."
Black mage's barb gutted Danian.
"W-What! My territory better than others! Low taxes, serfs content—what nonsense!"
Vowed no tyrant post-knight—Danian bristled.
Unyielding honor/pride.
Conscience clear.
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'Huh, this guy?'
Lord's words truth-detector pass.
First impression not bad.
'Sigh, dilemma.'
21st-century civilized me couldn't murder lightly.
But crippling wounds? Prepared.
"Heh heh, believe that lie? Near Zar Mountains, villages sword-farm alone sans knight/soldier aid, dying—lord so great?"
"No words there. Few knights/soldiers can't cover vast territory."
Lord admitted frank.
His pained face deepened my quandary.
"Sure, peasant-born sin. But heavy taxes from those villages? You might recall—Luna Village tax-bringer was me."
"I know. Black mage... how forget black hair."
"Yeah? Easy then. Luna's tax wasn't your 30 gold."
"W-What? Not 30 gold?"
Shocked lord queried.
'Dumbass naive or idiot?'
"Lord unaware? Small village, maybe. Listen sharp. While you lolled capital, serfs squeezed by pig administrator, merchants, knights. Luna 50 gold—not 30. Other villages too, fool lord!"
"Gasp! 5-50 gold? Not 30?!"
"Heh, clueless. Chased here, humiliated—real reason unknown."
"....."
Stung silent, lord dazed thoughtful.
"Your words true?"
Quiet truth-probe.
"Ask villages on fine birdhead. Or faster: your knights."
Fleeing knights per lord's order flanked, swords drawn guarding.
Knight pride protecting lord.
"Sir Rubes!"
"M-My lord, command."
One knight who'd heard all stepped forward, bowed.
"Mage's words fact? Administrator overtaxed secret?"
"T-That is...."
Rubes trailed, couldn't deny.
"Ru-Rubes, my friend. I left territory to you... my fault?"
"....."
Lord's sob-like voice.
Rubes: lord's friend apparently.
"All knew? Ugh, territory became tyrant exploitation we young despised—all knew!"
"M-My lord, kill us!"
"Ugh!"
Clank.
Lord's rage-query: all knights knelt.
"O Gods....!"
Lord sky-gazed.
Visor-off: hot man's tears rained like downpour.
'Oh man....'
Mood weirded.
Lord left territory to friend Rubes, went elsewhere.
Absent: administrator/knights gorged.
'Pity, end here.'
Wanted Fireball bird/lord, but lord pitiable.
Betrayed trust.
Die-wish mood.
"Man must rule house first, then nation for country. How rule-less house-man aids king, wields sword for realm?!"
Fitting classical: 'cultivate self, regulate family, govern state, pacify world.'
Sternly scolded lord.
"Mage, your name?"
Tears stopped, queried.
"Kayer."
Short.
"Kayer, I'll remember. Never forget today's all."
'Good or bad?'
Noble life-death brawl, smashed pricey pet-bird mage.
Exposed flaws—what feelings? Exciting.
'Whatever—fear nothing now!'
Truth: grateful to lord.
Death-brink yielded 5th-circle wall.
'Time bail.'
5th-circle unstable—extreme-gained.
Safe spot stabilize circles/mana.
"No business? I'm off."
None had.
Smashed high-level wyvern before eyes.
Grateful not dead.
'What stare! Fuck! Gouge eyes!'
Turning from lord/knights—scarred wyvern glared.
Murder-eyed back.
Grrrr!
'Brat bluffing. Chickenhead.'
Birds = chickens to me; wyvern oversized pride chicken meaningless.
Human challengers: smack education firm.
"Oh, taking this sword. Inferior to mine, but oh well. Nice guy eats loss."
'Heh, fits hand.'
Village chief's fave sword wrecked blocking lord.
Grabbed thick knight swords—wyvern-skinning attempt.
Swish swish.
Mid-waking shocked knights: unbelted fine scabbards.
'1.3m length, ~4kg? Perfect.'
Not sharp fine-sword, but solid blade, heavy hilt feel.
Loved it.
"Haa, fine day!"
Sky-glanced like nothing, walked to distant horse.
Rough start first journey.
Felt not smooth ahead.