Chapter 228
Chapter 228
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 228
Chapter Title: Chapter 6. Langritsa Magic Tower
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"Up to here, then."
Via said. At the edge of the forest, the plains stretched out before them, and a cold wind whipped through. She and her disciples had accompanied Judah and the others all this way to the road leading to Calypso. Judah turned, bowing politely to her and her disciples.
"You didn't need to come this far. Thank you. I've been in your debt in so many ways."
At Judah's words, Via and her disciples exchanged awkward glances and let out sheepish laughs.
"We're the ones in your debt... but anyway, it's nice to hear you say that. Well, then. Don't go getting beaten up out there. I don't know why I'm telling you this, but since you studied under the Sword Saint, live boldly and with confidence."
"Don't worry."
She extended her hand for a shake. Clasping it felt like grasping a warm, solid rock. After a light shake and release, she gripped Judah's shoulders and pressed her lips to his forehead. He noticed as her face drew near but didn't pull away. He'd learned from past experiences that this was how elves expressed gratitude.
No matter how many times, he couldn't get used to it... And Arhil, watching from the side, let out a sharp "Hmph" as her face flushed red.
Her disciples followed suit, expressing their thanks one by one. The men kissed the back of his hand, which felt just as awkward receiving from another man. Still, he didn't show it.
'Hmm, should I do it too?'
Elves were beautiful women and handsome men, which made returning the gesture by pressing lips to their foreheads less off-putting. But even as a sign of gratitude, doing it suddenly might make someone uncomfortable. He worried.
Someone should ask about this sort of thing.
"...May I?"
Judah asked, skipping all the preamble. Via tilted her head, then seemed to understand.
"Of course."
Judah stepped closer, gently brushing aside the long hair covering her forehead, and pressed his lips there. He did the same to the other elves in turn. For the male disciple, he lightly kissed the back of the hand. Afterward, Arhil followed Judah's example and thanked them too.
She didn't strictly need to do it except for Via, but there was no harm in showing gratitude, so he didn't stop her.
"Well, then."
Judah and Arhil parted from Via and her disciples, leaving the forest behind and crossing the plains. Walking across land lashed by biting winds was no easy task. Fortunately, both Judah and Arhil had ways to endure the cold, which was a great relief.
The fur-lined coats from the elves helped immensely, but more than that, lightly activating mana or divine power in their bodies granted strong resistance to the chill, making it bearable.
"This feels like real winter."
Arhil said as she walked alongside Judah. True to her words, the road to Calypso was a true winter gale, filled with howling winds and frigid air, as if someone had declared it so. Snow piled thickly, making every step a struggle.
The fresh spring breezes of the elves' forest, Roengrim, and its capital already felt like a dream. He wanted to go back.
'I should have left after winter passed.'
There hadn't been any real rush, but turning back to elven lands now was impossible. Judah and Arhil pressed on toward Calypso, sighting beasts wandering far off in search of food, indifferent to their journey.
The <Bag> was truly invaluable.
It could store any item indefinitely, regardless of quantity, weight, size, or type. Only Judah could access it, so no one could steal, peek, or take it from him. As he'd traveled through kingdoms and cities, he'd filled it with purchases whenever funds allowed.
He could eat warm meals anywhere, never suffer from lack of water, and pitch a tent to block the wind, sparing him harsh nights outdoors. He resented 1st Lord Monarch Sian for dragging him into this world and making him endure all this, but he was endlessly grateful for granting the <Bag> function.
'If only it were like a game, where crossing a few map borders got you to the next kingdom.'
Then he wouldn't have to trudge like this.
Walking was wearing him out.
If not for the tower piercing the distant sky, he might have started complaining.
Adventure—or travel, as it was called—was enjoyable only at the destination, savoring famous buildings or cultures. The journey there was pure tedium.
Encounters with monsters or aiding someone in peril for rewards belonged in stories.
The trip here had been boring beyond belief, with nothing to do. He'd walked steadily for days, chatting idly with Arhil. Their only pleasure was mealtime.
Ingredients stayed fresh in the <Bag>, and packed lunches were ready. Wooden bowls could be discarded anywhere after eating, no cleanup hassle.
"Ugh! Why is that tower so damn far away?!"
Judah gave a wry smile at Arhil's grumbling. Indeed. Like climbing a mountain—the summit in sight, yet so hard to reach.
"Just to that tower, and we're done. We'll use teleportation magic no matter the cost, so hang in there a bit longer."
"Ugh...!"
Her cheeks puffed out in full pout, inflated with frustration. As he suppressed the urge to poke them and kept walking, he sensed mana gathering around, warping space.
Short-range teleportation.
A skilled mage was approaching. Startled by the sudden mana surge, Arhil faltered. Judah quickly moved in front of her.
A burst of blue light cracked through the air like lightning, and robed figures—quintessential mages—appeared.
Five of them.
They thrust forward the staves in their hands, readying spells toward Judah and Arhil the moment they materialized.
"Sleep."
He'd expected some incantation, but no. As one uttered the word, all five from the tower unleashed their magic.
"Huh?"
Arhil, hiding behind, staggered and collapsed under the barrage. Glancing back, Judah saw her eyes slowly closing. Despite her magic resistance, she couldn't withstand spells from superior mages. He dropped low, cradling her to check her condition.
"......"
Just asleep. Breathing steadily, snoring softly in a cute way—it was magical slumber, but harmless to her life.
'Phew.'
With a small sigh, Judah gently laid her down and stood.
"Not sleeping?"
He rose briefly, but stayed awake, staring them down. The mages seemed flustered. Another round of spells fired. Three targeted Judah with sleep magic; the other two readied defense and attack for contingencies.
"Won't work."
Not due to fragments—sleep spells affected the mind, and Judah's <Player> trait rendered them useless.
"No intent to attack here, so put away those lethal spells."
Judah raised both hands, signaling no resistance. The mage poised to loose flame arrows from thin air glanced at who seemed the leader of the five.
"...Who are you, coming from the elves' forest in Langritsa Magic Tower robes?"
Judah now wore the robe from Combat Clan Cheriu's fighter, retrieved after reclaiming fragment [Lüsen Ardahan]. He'd crossed the plains in the elves' farewell coat for warmth but changed upon sighting the tower.
Naturally, Arhil wore the same Cheriu Clan robe.
"If you don't answer—"
"Ah, sorry. I was organizing my thoughts on where to start. To your first question: I'm an adventurer hired in Rijeng. The one collapsed behind me is my companion."
"...Then why the robes?"
"Well, it's complicated. The clan leader, Shinbalre, asked me to wear them. Had to for survival. I have her badge inside—may I show it?"
The mage frowned silently, then nodded curtly. To avoid seeming threatening, Judah slowly reached as if into a pocket, opened his <Bag>, and pulled out the [Combat Clan Cheriu Leader's Badge] item he'd kept, tossing it over.
Thud.
One caught the arcing badge. After inspecting it and glancing at Judah, the mage's eyes widened.
"Senior, it's genuine. The leader's badge."
"......"
"Sorry, but mercenary—no, adventurer. Can you show your adventurer badge too?"
"Her companion one too?"
"Yours is enough."
At the mage's demand, Judah tossed over his silver badge. Moments later, the mage holding both approached warily, extending them. Judah took them back, pocketing them.
"...With the leader's badge, come to the tower with us first. And just until transport, we'll bind your hands with magic restraints. Understood?"
He could agree. But that meant leaving Arhil to them. Waking her was an option, but no need to rouse her peaceful magical sleep and bind her. Judah shook his head side to side, carefully lifting Arhil.
"No funny business, so don't worry."
========== Author's Note ==========
Q. You're the one who wrote that novel, right, Uncle?
A. Not anymore...