Chapter 107
Chapter 107
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 107
Chapter Title: 327 Lives Saved
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“G-Goodness, dear. Are you with us?”
“Huh? Oh, uh... Where are we...?”
“That mage over there saved us.”
Clear sunlight began filtering through the small window of the prison cell.
...Morning already.
The day that had turned to evening at some point had fully brightened.
‘By now, everyone’s probably rotated out to the battlefield...’
“M-Mage! Thank you! For saving us—”
“Thank you. Thank—”
The couple from whom I’d just lifted the brainwashing approached and bowed deeply.
They seemed to be expressing their gratitude to me, but honestly, I could barely hear them.
I felt drained, my mind foggy.
After going at it for a full fifteen hours, it wasn’t strange at all.
“No need. Rest, rest easy.”
Damn it.
Even speaking was a struggle.
“...Mage. Are you all right?”
I looked up to see Eos gazing at me with a worried expression.
I nodded weakly once, then forced my mouth open.
“...Next patient.”
I couldn’t stop now that I’d come this far.
If my memory was correct, there were only a handful of people left to treat.
Just a bit more. A tiny bit more effort.
“Yes.”
After a short wait, Eos seated a young man in front of me.
Clack! Crack! Clack!
My neck ached like fangs were about to sink into it any second, but by now, I felt nothing from it.
“Hold him tight...”
“Yes.”
Whoooosh! Sliiiide!
I infused mana with attributes and holy power, then pushed it into his body.
Shatter!
Then located the mark and destroyed it.
The process, now second nature, flowed smoothly even in my hazy state of mind.
“Next.”
“This is the last one.”
“Last...”
Those words gave me a spark of energy.
Since it was the final one, I squeezed out every last drop of strength.
Soon enough.
“Wh-where is this?”
“Haha, it’s done...”
Hearing the now-recovered young man’s voice was the last thing before my mind drifted off.
Drifted off into the distance.
***
Two soldiers trudging back to their barracks after grueling combat came to an abrupt halt.
“What the heck is that?”
The reason was the endless line stretching from the detention center—impossible to count.
“...Yeah, what are they doing?”
There’d been no word of additional reinforcements arriving.
Sure, they could’ve come unannounced, but the people’s ragged appearance and bizarre behavior made that unlikely.
“Not reinforcements, that’s for sure... What are they up to, all flocking together like that? Coming out of the camp? Oh, wait, no way?”
A grim thought flashed through one soldier’s mind.
“Escaped prisoners?”
Now that he thought about it, he’d heard rumors.
A bunch of people had emerged from the rift, corrupted by demonic power, and been locked up temporarily.
The soldier squinted, scanning the crowd.
Ragged beggar clothes, endless numbers. And right in front of the detention center.
No doubt about it—the ones they’d locked away.
“Whoa, that’s dangerous! Gotta report it now!”
“Let’s hurry!”
Realizing the severity, the soldiers spun on their heels.
They had to report this ASAP.
No telling what those demon-corrupted freaks might do.
Just then.
“No need for that.”
A burly knight with insignia on his shoulders blocked their path.
Looking up, they recognized the face.
“7th Knight Captain...?”
Elbert Tairan, commander of the 1st Barracks soldiers.
No Asteron soldier wouldn’t know him.
“No need, you say? What do you mean?”
“Exactly what I said. They’re neither escapees nor suspicious. No need to report.”
“Huh? Then what are they?”
“Just... people. Like us.”
“...?”
It made no sense, but the soldier nodded anyway.
“Got it, then. We’ll be on our way.”
“Yeah.”
They were just grunts, after all.
If the commander stepped in like this, there wasn’t much they could do.
No point stirring up trouble.
‘If something goes down, he’ll handle it.’
With that thought, the reinforcement soldiers headed back to their barracks.
Once they were gone, Elbert Tairan turned his gaze.
To the bizarre procession, unmistakably.
No—to the mage being carried, unconscious, within it.
“Hah, really saved hundreds, huh?”
It was astounding, heartbreaking.
He’d known the mage was exceptional, but who could’ve predicted this?
That he’d actually lift the brainwashing from hundreds.
All by himself!
Just over fifteen hours since the assignment.
Anyone could tell how grueling it must’ve been, even without witnessing it.
And so?
For some reason, Elbert felt a sting at the tip of his nose.
“...Well done.”
A sense of responsibility to uphold his word, and the tenacity to see any task through.
Those two forged this outcome.
No—add to that the humanity of treating District 7 residents as people, despite being a mage.
Three things combined.
“Don’t worry. Your will has been conveyed.”
The kid already had the makings of a commander.
Elbert resolved to help him reap the rewards once the war ended, then turned away.
***
“Ugh...”
I clutched my pounding head and opened my eyes.
Then flinched involuntarily.
“Why’s everyone staring at me like that?”
Dozens of people were fixedly watching me alone.
Anyone would jump.
“These are the ones who volunteered to nurse you, Mage.”
Eos answered my question.
“How’s your body feeling?”
“Oh, yeah. I can manage.”
Honestly, it felt like I’d been hit by a truck, but I didn’t say that.
They were all gathered here fretting over me—what would happen if I mentioned it?
I hated being a burden.
“Phew... Thank goodness. When you collapsed earlier, we were so worried...”
Eos let out a relieved breath, suddenly grabbing my hand.
“327 people, Mage.”
“Huh?”
“The ones you saved.”
“Oh... Right.”
327, huh?
I’d never counted myself, so I hadn’t realized. More than I thought.
Though compared to District 7’s original residents, it was pitifully few.
Many had died before I convinced Elbert.
And plenty more when the demons first invaded.
That left 327.
Rather than guilt over how few I’d saved, a greater sense of accomplishment swelled.
I’d saved all these lives with my own hands.
And above all.
“How long was I at it? Time-wise.”
“Oh, about fifteen hours and thirty minutes.”
“Three minutes per person, then.”
My mana manipulation skill had skyrocketed from the ordeal.
What once took two hours now averaged around three minutes.
No—factoring in the time sinks at the start, my skill had grown far more.
By the end, treatments took only about ten seconds.
‘Not what I was aiming for, but feels good.’
Unexpected magical growth.
In a way, more valuable to me than the 327 lives.
Because this magical progress would save thousands, tens of thousands later.
Anyway.
“Any word on the battlefield?”
My task was done.
Now, back to the front lines.
“Oh, yes. Looks like they’re about to start closing the rift.”
“Rotations happened?”
“Yes, this barracks is empty now, and royal forces are due soon. But... you’re heading straight to the battlefield?”
I nodded firmly at Eos’s words.
No question about it for me.
“Have to. My comrades are waiting.”
I’d vanished without proper explanation for far too long.
They must be worried sick.
Plus, with dusk falling, Wave 3 had likely been underway for a while.
The war’s outcome would hinge on this critical phase—had to return ASAP.
Sure, my body felt like it’d crumble any second... but I’d endure.
“Exactly as he said. Your own safety doesn’t rank high, does it, Mage?”
“Huh? Who said what?”
“The commander stopped by earlier. Said you’d head right back once you woke.”
“Oh, really?”
He’d pegged my personality spot-on...
I quickly scanned the room, gauging reactions, and relaxed.
They were just standing there gawking—no orders to stop me.
If anything.
“So he asked me to give you this.”
“This is...?”
“An [Elixir].”
“What?”
Elbert had pulled a shocking move.
Handing over that precious [Elixir].
“He gave this to me? For me?”
“Yes. Said not to worry about the cost.”
“Hah.”
Hard to believe.
[Elixir]—a recovery potion said to hold pure spirit essence.
Varieties abounded, but even the cheapest cost tens of thousands in gold.
Pop!
I uncorked the [Elixir] and sniffed.
Sniff sniff! Sniff!
‘Smells fine—not poison.’
Half-wondering if it was an assassination attempt for defying him, but no.
My heart was steady.
Though a twinge of suspicion lingered at the unexpected kindness.
“Eh, whatever. Not gonna die from it.”
Trusting my gut, I chugged the [Elixir].
Gulp gulp.
From mouth to esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine.
A fiery burn spread inside, like strong alcohol.
Then.
Zing!
A thrilling jolt hit, and I sprang to my feet.
“Whoa.”
“Feeling better?”
“Feels like I could fly.”
Way beyond “better.”
My mind cleared, body reborn.
Better than any potion I’d tried.
Swish! Whoosh!
Even swinging my arms and legs confirmed it.
Seemed superior to a ‘level up’ recovery.
“No wonder it’s so pricey.”
My first time drinking a real [Elixir].
Its effects surpassed my expectations.
Too expensive for me to afford personally, though.
Anyway.
“Time to go.”
The 5th Circle Mage, Yuhaness, had revived.
Now to finish this war.