Chapter 196
Chapter 196
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: The Mage of Mages (16)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
****
Lucilla. Lucilla Aedran.
So she's a noble...
I distinctly remembered there being no mention of nobility in her recruitment companion window. Normally, noble NPCs come with a description like "such-and-such of House Whoever," but I had no recollection of seeing anything like that.
‘Probably because of this damn half-assed GG system.’
Truth be told, I'd experienced it multiple times, but the system messages and status windows in this game didn't carry much weight. Even quests would go like [Go to City A], and when you did, it'd change to [You've realized the client's terrible handwriting led you to misread the request. Go to City B instead], stuff like that happening all the time.
GG's system messages didn't kindly discern lies for you or reveal every fact. If there was info a player could figure out but missed, it just left it alone and spat out only the bare basics. When Lucilla first appeared and introduced herself as "Caravan Member Lucilla," and I registered that, the system noted it as such. That's why her status window in the companion list didn't have a [Noble] tag plastered on it.
‘Normally, by now there'd be a notification sound and something like [Companion Lucilla has revealed her true identity!]. Even if the system's reliability was iffy, it was still a system. Now even that's gone, so I guess I have to piece it together myself.’
Let's see... What was Lucilla doing when we first met?
Attire. Caravan laborer. A shabby, worn-out outfit suggesting low status.
Job. Again, caravan laborer. She was carrying a pretty hefty-looking large pack on her back.
First appearance. When Roman was flying that model airship, she approached claiming to be his spotter.
‘Hm? Hold on. Spotter? A menial laborer?’
"Agh. There's already a hint right there. She even said herself she was formerly a caravan leader. Why would a kid her age, who was a leader no less, be doing grunt work like hauling luggage?"
Someone who trains newbies has to be a veteran, at least a mid-level caravan member with plenty of experience. No way they'd be stuck doing simple labor like portering. That's where the first clue dropped that Lucilla was lying to us from the start.
If I'd been hardcore about it, glaring suspiciously at every word like when I first met Senadis and caught her lie? Then her status window probably would've shown differently when recruited as a companion.
[Lucilla Aedran: Lowly Caravan Member (Disguise)]
Something like that, I bet?
‘Hmm... Considering how the real lowly porters treated her, it didn't feel like they were dealing with a noble—let alone direct lineage of their boss's Gold Gaizer House. A leader, maybe, but at lowly newbie level, she wouldn't have much caravan experience, so other leaders besides the one she traveled with might not know. Which means the only one who knew her identity was that fat fake caravan master.’
One big piece of info revealed, and the facts hiding behind it started unraveling like sweet potato vines. Felt like just a bit more digging and the whole clump would pull free...
Let's see.
Lucilla Aedran, direct daughter of the Aedran House owning the Gold Gaizer Caravan, and a caravan leader, hides her identity, disguises herself as an ordinary porter, and joins a caravan expedition.
That expedition is a monstrously risky one, crossing the Blue Line under protection not from Aedran knights, but contracted mercenaries—a 200% risk premium option.
And the ones taking on such a dangerous run aren't veterans; it's full of green rookies who don't even know their caravan master's face.
.
.
.
.
Oh ho. A picture's forming, huh?
With my thoughts sorted, my eyes landed on Lucilla, sitting demurely like a doll. A far cry from the dusty kid a few days ago, wriggling amid the cart's cargo piles to squeeze out even one more drop of holy oil or handful of herbs. And the gazes pouring her way from the ever-growing crowd of imperial soldiers.
‘...Too many listening ears for a private chat.’
I turned my body, which had been about to call out to Lucilla, toward Ottoman instead. Brushing off an awkward situation was for average folks. Me? I'm a mage, after all.
“...Ottoman. That message spell thing—how'd it go again?”
“Message... You mean Rank 2 'Dormann Baldanis's [Message Drops]'? Not that hard. Sound vibrates air to reach the ear, right? This just uses a different medium—water works fine. The basic hand seal: first joint of the index finger for 'target,' ring and thumb together for 'rule adherence' and circulation...”
Even amid our rushed journey, in downtime Ottoman taught useful spells, saying, ‘Origin Spells are great, but tracing and using other mages' spells brings plenty of insights too.’ This [Message Drops] was one such minor spell. Unlike others I struggled with, its principle was similar to bone-conduction earphones, so it stuck with me somewhat—though I could only maintain it for a dozen seconds or so. I was still inept at using others' spells.
‘But the situation's a bit different now.’
Unlike [Origin Spells], cast from your own imagery, [Tracing Spells] follow someone else's imagery to build the incantation. Naturally, imagining a total stranger's mindset ain't easy, so you memorize their 'spell'—a sensory expression of their mental state—and try to align with the caster's imagery.
Before, this one sucked. No matter how I recited the incantation or formed the prescribed seals, I couldn't picture what mindset an unknown mage had for spouting such embarrassing nonsense.
“...[Message Drops].”
Ssslrp—Plop!
Now... it worked way too well. Maybe from being forcibly NPC'd, or some other effect—who knows. But my magical abilities had definitely skyrocketed.
The small water droplet conjured with the spell silently crossed the air and burrowed into Lucilla's ear.
Splash!
“Eek!”
Startled by the cold water in her ear, she whipped around, glaring at Ottoman and me in turn—no need to guess who. Suspects? Just the two water mages right here.
[Can you hear me? Ah, ah. There should be a little water droplet in front of you. Swallow it if you can hear. Let's talk quietly.]
Lucilla scowled at my voice worming into her ear, glanced around warily, then demurely covered her mouth and swallowed the droplet ahead of her.
[Ugh, it's cold.]
[Oh. Coming through clear. Easy peasy.]
[Ahhh, feels kinda weird though.]
[Noble, right? Never used message magic?]
[Only artifact versions. First time being the target of a spell like this.]
Chatting via message magic felt... like a headless guy talking through his throat. Weird analogy, but that's the vibe. No lips or tongue moving, words just transmitting.
After fumbling briefly with the new method, Lucilla adapted fast. Outwardly the picture of a gentle noble lady, inwardly she griped at me nonstop.
[Ughhh, mages are all the same! If you'd just waited a bit, we could've sat in the Vizilen House's plush armchairs, sipping fragrant tea and talking calmly!]
[After all the boring, convoluted noble greetings, welcome parties, social gatherings, and endless ceremonies, you mean. Why wait when I can ask right now?]
If she left now under that tall knight's escort in this state? Obvious. "Welcome from afar, hope the trip wasn't too taxing," fake smiles probing each other's intentions, value, response level in refined noble discourse. Moment her status as marriageable noble daughter from a wealthy foreign house leaks, a modest welcome party turns into nameless noble guys swarming her for dances till she's worn out.
Worst case, some pointless visit drags on for 2-3 days. I can't stand not knowing. How to wait?
[Let's see. If you're direct lineage using the house name officially, you're a big deal in Aedran House and Gold Gaizer Caravan. Yet you joined this dangerous run personally, hiding as a regular laborer?]
[...Sorry first off. Wasn't trying to deceive, but there were reasons—]
[Family opposition that bad? Risking life over the Blue Line, hauling even scraps worth carrying?]
[Huh, how?]
My sudden stab hit home; she forgot her lady act, whipping around in shock.
[Obvious. Neighboring Lordric's in 24/7 war, nearby nations prepping hard—why bother crossing mountains? Triangular trade Lordric-Free Trade Union-Teldrat alone would rake in piles of cash. Choosing this risky mess over war profiteering that rolls silver like snowdrifts? Tells me plenty.]
Nothing fancy—just think of it like corporate heirs fighting over conglomerates. Massive pie right in front, yet messing with Somali-adjacent shipping? Nah, powerful bro closest to succession grabs prime cuts, scraps left for others.
‘Teldrat's famed for fertile breadbasket plains. In wartime, high chance they supply scorched Lordric. Kingdom desperate enough to pawn crown jewels, yet luxury trades with empire over food?’
[No fool risks this now without reason. You're no fool, so one thing left. Got your ass handed to you by well-connected sibs, scraped last funds and contacts for one big score. Right?]
At my words, doll-like Lucilla turned, scanning me up and down like ‘What the hell kinda guy is this?’
[...Hero, you'd have made a killing as a merchant.]
Quietly hearing me out, she conceded my guess was spot-on.
[Spot on. I'm Lucilla Aedran, tenth child of seven sons and four daughters in Aedran House, leader of liquor and precious metals caravans.]
[Liquor and gems... Decent? Teldrat's top barley and sugarcane—no slice there sucks, but gems are stable, liquor from grains gets premium as Teldrat mountain beer or distillates. Didn't seem desperate enough for beggar rags on risky runs though?]
[Blame my outstanding talent.]
Still beaming sweetly at the imperials outside, but sighing inwardly like a world-weary elder, Lucilla said.
[Already juicy liquor market? I blew it up huge.]
[Brag later... How?]
[Struck beer supply deal with the empire's 'Red Rockface Dwarves.']
[Ah, sorry. That's legit impressive. Yeah, flex away.]
No empty words. Dwarves live sans water or food, but not beer. Exclusive beer contract with a dwarf clan means produce unlimited, no stock worries. 'Red Rockface'? Major clan on iron veins. Big deal even for massive Gold Gaizer.
[So why get sidelined?]
[Well... My influence didn't match the huge stakes I moved. Money scaled up, big bro and sisses eyed my rights. I held out, but war exploded...]
[Snatched by family name. Into hands of the guy who snagged inter-nation war merchant rights. Right?]
[...Yes. Red Rockface famed for quality steel dwarves. Aedran runs on money logic—couldn't block second bro's word with supply monopoly. My hard-built caravan, callused hands and all, handed to him; crew bribed or threatened away. Limbs cut off, ‘Did my best, I lose,’ ready to quit...!]
Sniff!
“Father calls me to dinner after years, tells me prep for marriage! To a 60s geezer in distant Free Trade Union!”
[Hey! Mouth! You're talking out loud!]
[...Oops!]
Emotions surged; she blurted aloud unwittingly. Knight ahead turned at the fuss; she waved it off smoothly like nothing, then drooped.
[Anyway... Father, thinking me out of succession race, tried selling me off politically. Stripped of rights, last grab—my body for profit.]
[Oof. Way more... noble damsel cliché than expected? Basically ran from unwanted marriage?]
Clang!
Ow. Why toss innocent pots, kid?
[Eeeeek! It's pride! Even stripped by second bro, I'm Lucilla Aedran! Trekked to dwarf villages, boozed till they couldn't tell barrel from girl, befriended walking beard-rocks! Secured that contract, listed proudly under Gold Gaizer! Great merchant achieving that at fifteen—sold as old fart's concubine?! That's ‘loss’! Succession matters, but wasting rival like that? Not Gold Gaizer way!]
Grin, grin!
Message magic flooded with her heated rant. Calming, she spoke evenly again.
[...So I gathered last jewels and assets for final caravan run. Dodging intensified watch post-marriage talk, disguised as porter to sneak out.]
[Ah, so that's it. That fat caravan master—Geld? Geld Fraus? He...]
[Fraus Uncle taught me business from start, helped tons. Stayed when others fled, backed this risky venture. Sorry. Couldn't reveal till Blue Line crossed and no one returns to Teldrat—had to fool Hero's party.]
[Hmm... I see.]
Makes sense. Second bro near heir apparent. To him, pesky talented midget sis was variable; merchant paranoia demanded elimination. Probably bounty like ‘Report fleeing miss: 200k silver.’ So fronted as long-haul trade by Geld Fraus, using unaligned newbies and bought mercs only.
[Then you picked Roman too?]
[Asked Fraus Uncle. Looked like gold rolling roadside—couldn't pass up in panic. Planned to spot for him, mold into my guy from scratch.]
[Desperate hoarding in elf village...]
[...Honestly, my rushed goods couldn't offset this risk.]
Hm. So that's the story.
‘...Hero Unit?’
Backstory out—maybe status updated, but no way to check. Still, key figure for my situation.
Nodding satisfied as puzzle clicked, lightning thought struck. Hero Unit and Gold Gaizer... that guy.
‘Wait. Roman yapping loyalty and favors to the caravan master who recognized me—means he's already under Lucilla. Gold Gaizer settles, he doesn't skyrocket; she does? Airship? Joker flipping the board!’
Rights stolen by family power. But people? Uncooperative ones?
Roman's a mage—stubborn one pioneering his path. They never recant sworn words.
Literally, ‘not even dying.’
“Hmm...”
Stroking chin in thought, I spotted wilted Lucilla glancing like post-confession. Done spilling, awaiting judgment?
[...Kid's scared.]
[That means...?]
[Won't chew you out much for hiding status. Quit puppy-pissing-blanket face.]
Her wilted face bloomed like a flower bud.
[So you'll help?]
[Huh? What nonsense. Who said help?]
“Eh?”
Bloomed... then sank instantly.
Look at her. Emotional blackmail for free lunch?
[Contract party's changed—rewrite the deal. Was loose ‘Cross mountains, help Gold Gaizers mutually, travel together’ verbal pact. But with caravan boss here? Different story. Wanna hash out what we offer each other?]
[Hero of Lo Haram of Light! Sold out mercy shining equal on all?]
[Selling it now. To you. Want heroic mercy? Pay up fittingly.]
Gotta cross empire to Storm Hill anyway, through tons of unknown noble lands.
Lucilla, connected to imperial houses and merchants? Plenty useful companion.
Clop clop clop
“Lady Lucilla, unwell anywhere?”
[No,]
“No, uh, well...”
“...Exhausted from the main journey, it seems. Just a bit more till we exit Rey Line into our house's territory—please endure till then.”
Knight approached, spotting her scowl; our chat wrapped there.
[Ughhh, punk!]
[Greenhorn.]
Hm. Pissed plans derailed, but no flat refusal. Sorry kiddo, to brainlessly pump our Roman gacha man into 4-world supercarry, need your backing. He'll burn Gold Gaizer roots once cash flows; lock contract now, no regrets later.
[Ahem. Professor, you... Still look like a real bastard...]
[Eh? Ottoman? Heard?]
[Droplet shaking like that? Impossible not to.]
Professor grinned at head-shaking Ottoman.
Far off, heavily guarded gates, sturdy walls, three-headed lion banner fluttering atop.
****