Chapter 231
Chapter 231
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 231
Chapter Title: Letters to the Wind Mage (24)
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****
Rumble rumble crash!
Crack!
“Over here! Over here!”
“This way.... where is it....”
“Aigoo, Besman you old fool! This isn’t your first time loading cargo! Not strong winds! Soft layers, multiple times over! The precious goods are gonna rip!”
A little earlier than early morning, in the pitch-black dawn. The dim valley was illuminated by the blue winds of the mages.
Following the winds, all sorts of metal ingots and arrowheads, pottery, exotic root crops and seeds were being loaded into the large hot air balloon’s basket.
Seeing the procession of so many goods, the Professor was enveloped in a sacred glow.
If the others saw it, they’d think, “In the end, Loharam couldn’t resist the pressure and bestowed holy power on that cultist saint wannabe!” But thankfully, that wasn’t the case.
The Professor was surrounded by paladins who had been praying without eating or sleeping while waiting for him to appear, and was now communicating with the archbishop.
[Ahem.... This isn’t exactly the best environment for a conversation between a saint and an archbishop. The mana interference is causing static....]
“Can’t beat being surrounded by dozens of unwashed burly paladins. We’re all uncomfortable, so let’s just say what needs saying and wrap this up quick.”
[Then first off.... You still haven’t heard the divine voice of Lo-Haram? Truly? You can trust us more than anyone in this world now, Saint. No need to hide it?]
“You know dozens of letters asking the exact same thing have flown in, right? I could make a list of Radiant Order bishops from the mail alone! No! I even prayed just in case, but there’s been no contact from Loharam or anything! So stop with the formal speech to someone young enough to be your grandson! Huh? I’m not that holy a guy! Let’s just go back to normal!”
At that point, one paladin started sobbing with something like, “Such humility in never losing his初心, truly, aaah....” The Professor wanted to end the communication spell one second faster.
[That can’t be. You are already the bona fide ‘Saint of Blood,’ and the one who rescued the saintess’s soul, no less. You’re far too noble to compare to some country bumpkin.]
“Argh, do whatever. Anyway, to explain once more: the one who rescued the saintess’s soul wasn’t me, it was a black mage named ‘Aldrich.’ More precisely, a soul sorcerer. He extended the grasp of his soul and directly pulled out the saintess’s soul that was being suppressed and consumed by the mute. Make sure you record that properly. Okay?”
[That’s.... quite a sensitive matter. But it could turn into good press. Even a soul sorcerer who defies the laws of life is an undeniable villain. However, we can record it as the saintess’s halo being enough to make even such a villain repent.... And perhaps prepare a baptism for that Aldrich black mage?]
“Hmm.... maybe.”
Baptism.... Considering he’s a black mage but was cradling the saintess’s soul, he’s definitely not your average black mage. But he deals with souls, right? Plus, he seemed deeply entangled with that soul called ‘Nell.’ If all that gets purified away.... wouldn’t that be a problem?
He tabled the handling of Aldrich for now and requested they bring in a priest knowledgeable about black magic to delve into the nuances of the church’s enemy: black magic.
The rest of the conversation was all about the saintess. The archbishop of the Order of Mercy showered endless praise on our hero party’s actions, which had set out to clear up a long misunderstanding. He said that the moment the saintess’s soul arrived at the Order of Mercy’s headquarters, they would officially announce her return to our fold.
[It’ll be a huge morale boost for the weary soldiers after a long war. Once the saintess’s soul is freed, the Mercy paladins will immediately break from the front lines to search for her. After that, they’ll move solely around the saintess.]
“....Won’t that cause issues with maintaining the front? The Merciless paladins make up a pretty big chunk.”
[True. But fortunately, our ‘Saint of Blood’ dealt a mortal blow to that wicked, horrific, vile white devil, didn’t he? The heroes who were struggling to hold back that fiend now have breathing room, so the gap left by their departure shouldn’t be a worry. Haha! Truly, even in absence, your influence benefits all far and wide—like Loharam’s very sun. Haha!]
‘....Please stop with the cringey praise already.’
If it were just the two of them, fine, but right now there was no holy relic or temple, so they were using a communication spell powered by a group prayer of twenty paladins. These hulks were hearing every word. Every time the archbishop praised him, the hefty dudes crept closer with pleased faces!
No good. He’d have to send a letter later; if he stayed here watching the situation, he’d get crushed to death in these holy knights’ embrace.
He’d conveyed all the necessary updates, so he decided to hear the most important part and end it.
“What about the reward? What’s the Order of Mercy offering?”
At that, the archbishop let out an awkward cough.
[Frankly.... Compared to the great feat, it’s rather modest....]
“It’s wartime, and the church has poured all its resources into fighting the mutes, so we’ll make allowances. So, what’s the content?]
[Ahem.... First, they’ve officially announced the resolution of the long rift between Mercy and Radiance, and a highly amicable relationship going forward. They say the Goddess of Mercy will now view Radiance very positively.]
“That’s a given. What else?”
[They said they’d use the relic at headquarters, ‘The Touch of Saintess Rafsache,’ for this war. It’s the relic that connected us to the Goddess of Mercy after losing the saintess. A divine object imbued with the power of second-cycle Saintess Rafsache.]
Oh, that’s decent. Pretty much the Order of Mercy’s number one relic. A wide-area infinite DoT heal totem. Doesn’t fall far short of the saintess herself. They must’ve kept it as a last bastion at headquarters, but now that they’re getting her back, they’re deploying it.
Beyond that, standard stuff followed: material support, fighting the demon hordes even more fervently than when searching for the saintess.
“....A bit lackluster.”
[They can’t help being shameless. True to their name, it feels like they’re begging us for ‘mercy’....]
“No, that’s why I’m saying it. They’re not that kind of people. Is that really it? Nothing else?”
[Ahem....]
“Really nothing? Swear on the heavens? I’ll pray right now? If Loharam’s gaze is on me as you say, it’ll go straight to you guys?”
[Well.... There is one very minor thing.... Not sure if it’s a reward or an insult, so trivial that old fogey Rotmali must be senile....]
“Why hesitate so much? Sun’s coming up soon, for real? Just say it before it’s under broad daylight.”
[That.... They say the saintess’s rescue is the hero Professor’s achievement before Radiance’s, so in the Order of Mercy’s name, they’ll canonize you as a saint. Goodness, the rudeness and thick skin know no bounds. How dare they.... Even an honorary title for a saint under Loharam....]
Murmurs.
Whispers!
“The Saint.... as a saint?”
“The Goddess of Mercy must be out of her mind after getting her daughter back.”
“There’s decorum! How can they slap our Saint with such a hasty—”
“Ahem, Brother Gregorius! Before the Saint! Mind your words!”
The paladins connected to the communication spell went more berserk than the Professor himself, who was flustered.
‘Figures. All the other rewards were so meh.’
They’d handed only the bare minimum to the church and shoveled the rest to him.
Someone enshrined as a saint in multiple orders? Rare, but not unheard of. Levit Princess alone is recorded as a holy figure across all orders as a savior hero.
The key was the authority. Even honorary, being named a saint gave him the right to request aid from any Mercy temple. Not just aid—the authority to uproot the temple’s pillars and pillars and carry them off.
And it wasn’t even forced. With word spreading that he rescued the saintess, if he asked for 10 in help, they’d bring 200 or 300.
‘Not bad at all? In the final scenario, I can demand command of Mercy priests and paladins. By then, they’ll have found the saintess’s body and seated the soul, so I’ll have a connection with the newly born Mercy Saintess. Perfect. I was worried about political maneuvers since I hadn’t done any—how to wedge into the endgame.’
GG’s storylines tangled into mountains, but the final main scenario never changed.
Final scenario. All-out war.
The political and military situations players wheedled, lured, and schemed to create. Recruited hero units, drawn-in reinforcements.
The moment endgame hit, it all culminated in massive battles as mute forces and human forces clashed everywhere.
Right now, with only Radiance saint status, he could only speak for Radiance forces. But as field commanders of the two most active orders in the war? That carried weight.
[Don’t think too highly of it. It’s just the penniless Mercy beggars slapping an empty title on you for face-saving....]
“No thanks, pass. I’m not some bat. I’ve worked with Loharam long enough. Don’t panic so much.”
[A, ahem!]
The archbishop knew he wasn’t devout, so must’ve feared he’d defect if he liked their doctrine.
With a rough “Got it,” the Professor cut communication with the archbishop. Anything else, he’d send via the imperial temple.
Rumble!
Crash!
“Wha, whoa.... whoaaa!”
“It’s tipping—ooooover—!”
“Besman you idiot! Don’t just stand there gawking, grab it! [Wind Veil]! [Wind Veil]!”
“Kyaah! The ‘watermelons’ we got at great expense from other caravans for big money! What about my trade goods!!!”
In the dim dawn, Lucilla could be seen grabbing a mage by the collar amid watermelons spilling their red innards.
“Hey, paladins. Got nothing to do?”
“Command us, blessed one. Any holy mission, even leaping into pits of evil flame, we Radiance paladins shall not waver—”
“Not that. Help me move some cargo. They say prep by sunrise, but looking at that mess, we won’t make it. Hey, broad shoulders—perfect for loading. Let’s go!”
“Uh, um.... If you so desire.....”
Around 5 AM.
The hot air balloon loaded with the Professor’s party’s luggage and trade goods was finally ready.
All that remained was waiting for a good wind.
****
“Waaah.”
“Amazing.... magic device.”
“Yeah. Doesn’t look ordinary at a glance. The mana infused between the wooden pieces, that distinctive energy—”
“Spirits. Looks like they’re dancing between the sails and balloon to steer.”
“Goo.... boat, boat. Boat with lotsa bumps.”
In the end, morning broke.
The well-rested Professor’s party finished their last meal at the home, loaded necessary luggage plus Lucilla’s hastily bought personal trade goods she swore to sell somehow, and were finally ready to depart.
“Th.... thought it was a hot air balloon....”
“Ooom....? Big basket.... with wind-filled ball hung on it is hot air balloon.... right....”
The fully prepped hot air balloon to the elf forest looked nothing like what the Professor knew. Not one big air sac, but medium round ones with small balloon-like sacs dangling everywhere. Even small sails and a rudder attached.
“Winds caught high up.... all hung on, so they’ll fuss to go back home.... Once up where no wind, shooo, put sac to mouth. Follow spirit direction three days.... arrive....”
“I heard it till my ears bled this morning, mage. Nothing else to do but stay in the prepared bedroom once above clouds, always keep air sac to mouth when moving. Winds up high are freezing cold, so warm clothes. Right?”
“Yes.... if precious.... guest dies.... no face to see Felix....”
The sixth-circle mage with sloth-like long beard. Short time, but fond now, he’d come out to see them off despite morning mail prep time.
Most other mages were out too, but that one guy was nowhere.
“Uh.... where’s Astrad?”
“Ooom.... Astrad said convey goodbyes.... thanks.... see again when winds touch....”
“Won’t come out after all. Cold-hearted brat.”
“Don’t be too harsh.... young wind still.... lost master, didn’t want to waver easy.... now must grow alone....”
“Not clueless. Must be complicated. Still, got attached, wanted to at least say bye.”
Looking back at the home wistfully. Scorched and cracked spots here and there, but the mysterious beauty unchanged. Wind mages’ home.
Toot toot tooo—!!!!
At the horn-like echo, the Professor extended a hand to the old mage one last time.
“We’re off.”
“Ooom.... may good winds brush your brow....”
“....Yes. Stay healthy too, mage.”
Flutter!
The Professor boarded, ropes tying the balloon to ground untied one by one, and the balloon carrying the party floated gently into the sky.
Lucilla, changed into a thick coat, approached the Professor leaning on the railing, watching the shrinking Felix home, tying her windswept hair.
“Thought we were screwed when we got here. But we’re leaving like this after all.”
“Yeah. Others?”
“Ottoman and Aldrich are laid up with nausea. Notum’s nursing them, Borca climbed the mast to launch mail from the highest spot and see where we’re headed. Yggdrasil is....”
Poke poke.
Where Lucilla pointed with her thumb: in the hazy dawn air, an elf watching with gleaming eyes. Beside, wolfkin with arms full and even mouth stuffed with letters—must be the mast.
“....Mail’ll just go back to the home then out again. Pointless.”
“Said they hid a scent. Gonna find their letter somehow amid the flood.”
“....Well. Grasping at straws, father’s heart. Can’t blame him.”
....Swoosh.
Swooooosh—!
Far off, with dawn, white papers flew in like migratory birds.
“Ah, morning mail.”
“Yeah. Wind mages’ day starting again.”
.
.
.
.
.
.
“Hey, Lucil.”
“Yeah?”
“Astrad. What’s he think of me?”
Seeing the incoming mail flock, he recalled the kid wrestling endless letters in a small room.
“Hmm.... hard to say. If anything, plague ghost?”
“Ugh, why? How well did I treat him.”
“Let’s see. Sneaked in impersonating master’s acquaintance at first, exposed as red mute and wrecked their precious home, so remembered as monster. Sure, if left alone he’d have grown a huge force and attacked Storm Hill way worse, but still, trigger for losing his master....”
“....Damn. Should’ve shown a better side? Like this, my shiny 4world, grand mage favor.... ugh....”
Slap!
Spot on, as he spiraled into “What if he hates me enough to hunt me in 4world?”, Lucilla’s small palm flew at him.
“Jeez! Just a joke and you freak out?”
“Not a joke. I got reason to look good to him.”
“Besides, Astrad. I think I know why he didn’t come out.”
“What.”
“Not hate. Likes the hero too much to come out. Got work at home. If he sees us flying free like wind, he might waver. Something like that, right?”
Lucilla recalled yesterday’s tireless hustle, the party returning with the Professor. Couldn’t believe the stunned young mage who couldn’t even cry, finally unleashing his lost heart and crying his master’s name, was moved by this dumb-looking guy before her. Absolute same person.
“....Tch. Hope so.”
Storm Hill receding. Like when they arrived, white building dancing beautifully amid countless hearts.
“....Live well, Astrad. If chance, see you in 4world.”
Swoosh—
Letters sucked to home shot back up into the sky, seeking owners.
In the white magical vortex swirling the hot air balloon, the Professor felt like he sensed Astrad’s wind.
****