Chapter 140
Chapter 140
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 140
Chapter Title: Departure Preparations
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After the negotiations with Kylius.
I inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.
The plan to disguise myself as a royal command candidate and enter District 1 had gone off without a hitch.
It had seemed pretty half-baked to me in several ways, but I'd trusted Elbert's word that it was feasible enough—and it had worked.
'Went smoother than expected.'
No weird snags had tripped me up, and I'd secured all of District 1's hidden pieces.
The shaky plan had succeeded perfectly.
Elbert really came through when it counted, as always.
A fresh wave of pride swelled in me.
'Things are going well. Really well.'
Not long ago, when I'd first entered this world, it felt like every tragedy was gunning for me.
Lately, though, everything seemed to be falling into place.
I'd powered through my growth without major hurdles, the silver-haired guy wasn't out for my blood anymore, and every move I made was yielding solid results.
If it kept up like this, I couldn't ask for more.
'Just gotta ride this momentum.'
Of course, no room for complacency.
With that in mind, I started sorting out my next steps in my head.
'No reason to stick around District 1 anymore.'
As I'd said, my business there was done.
And it wasn't just District 1.
If my memory served, there was nothing left for me in Asteron at all.
Time to head back to my original district... no, time to start prepping to leave Asteron altogether.
Nothing more to gain here, and the Prophecy of the Red Moon had wrapped up safely.
Next up: stick to the plan and head to the elves' land, Alvheim, to focus on leveling up.
Naturally, I'd run it by the party first.
But before that.
'Might as well check out the training grounds while I'm here.'
Too bad to leave without using them.
With that thought, I headed to the training grounds inside the fortress.
Curious about what District 1's setup was like, and I still hadn't properly tested out the Lich's Wand.
And so, I arrived at District 1's training grounds.
"...This place is insanely good."
One wall displayed dozens of weapons and combat-useful artifacts, with support facilities for training dotted around.
But the scale was what blew my mind.
It rivaled a school sports field in size.
At this point, it was more plaza than training ground.
Enough gawking.
"Let's get started."
I slipped into a one-person training room in the corner and extended my hand.
Then.
Shwoooosh!
The branch wrapped around my wrist like a gauntlet unfurled straight out.
The Lich's Wand.
I'd just discovered it could transform like this.
Handy feature, since it couldn't be used for light magic anyway.
No need to carry the Lich's Wand separately.
Anyway.
Whoooosh!
I channeled mana into the now-curved grip of the Lich's Wand.
Casting directly with it in hand felt refreshingly different after so long.
'The key is how much it amplifies dark magic.'
Visualizing pitch-black emptiness, I summoned a dark orb.
Shhooooo-!
The amplification was huge—the orb formed way bigger than usual.
Next.
'Space magic.'
I linked the orb to space magic right away.
Space yawned open in the air, centered on the orb.
The moment it did.
Fwooooosh!
"Wh-what...!"
Insane suction yanked at me.
It was amplified so much it threatened to swallow even me, the caster—who had some immunity.
Shhhhhh....
Before I could gauge its full power, I panicked and cut the mana, slamming the space shut.
Cold sweat trickled down; my heart hammered like mad.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
A blaring alarm that my life was at risk.
I pondered for a moment, then reached a conclusion.
"...This thing's dangerous."
Space magic with the Lich's Wand was still too risky for me to control.
I'd probably need at least one more circle to handle it properly.
And some practice controlling space magic on the side.
It was great that the weapon let me cast way stronger spells, but honestly, it left a bitter taste.
"Thought I'd gotten pretty strong."
Still a long way to go.
"...Gotta push harder."
Resolving to accelerate my growth, I left the training grounds.
Someday, I'd wield that space magic freely.
***
After sending my companions from District 1 back to District 6.
I moved a bit busier than usual.
Plenty of stops before Alvheim.
Since I wouldn't be back in Asteron for a while, I needed to give advance notice to those waiting for me.
Like my light magic teacher—or rather, Person.
"Alvheim? Ah... What a shame. Still so much left to learn."
"I won't be gone too long."
"Good. I pray for a swift reunion."
"Yes, Master."
Or Elbert, who might pull something weird if I vanished suddenly.
"Ah, I see. You've been talking like you were leaving for a while now—makes sense. Got it. I'll keep that in mind."
"I'll crush you with swordsmanship when I get back."
"Pffft... We'll see? Not that easy. You haven't forgotten I'm the knight order captain, have you?"
"What, after that spar? Seemed pretty meh."
"...Your arrogance knows no bounds. Next time, I'll show you exactly why the captain's called the king of knights."
Or Lena, reorganizing the request office in District 6.
"What, Alvheim? What about requests? I'm reopening the office soon."
"Won't be able to for a while. Honestly, no clue when I'll be back."
"Tch. Fine. But I'll set aside a few good ones for you—long deadlines, fat payouts."
"No need to—"
"That's me saying hurry back. You don't wanna cost me, right?"
"Of course not."
Or Ashion Gail, who doted on me obsessively.
But.
"...He's out?"
"Yes, the chairman's away right now. With the vice chairmen."
That was what the entrance guard told me when I went to say goodbye to the chairman.
Ashion Gail was currently out.
A bad feeling crept in.
Wasn't he always going on about guarding the academy being part of his duties?
For him to ditch work like that—couldn't shake the unease.
The more I thought, the more anxious I got.
"...Where'd he go?"
What if he was stirring up trouble?
Entirely possible.
He'd definitely mentioned settling things after the war ended.
And sure enough.
"Heard he went to District 3. Said there was something urgent to handle..."
'Damn.'
Ashion Gail had headed to District 3.
"Gotta respect that stubbornness."
Looked like he was off to meet Barus Garian.
***
Clop, clop.
'Hurry...'
I'd shelled out top coin for a direct public carriage to District 3, fidgeting anxiously the whole way.
Just a bit late, and disaster might already have struck.
No way to speed it up, so I waited it out—and luckily, arrived in time.
'There!'
Ashion Gail came into view.
For some reason, he was outside a building, facing off with Barus Garian.
I scanned Barus top to bottom—no visible injuries, thankfully.
No fight had broken out yet.
'...Yeah, no way it would have.'
Ashion Gail was big and strong for a mage, but still a mage.
He wouldn't settle this with fists.
"Yoo Han? No idea how you knew, but step aside for a bit. Got business with this guy."
"What business...?"
"He threatened one of our academy students to drag me—the chairman—into a war. Time he paid for that, don't you think?"
Ashion Gail's eyes burned with unyielding resolve.
Like no words would sway him.
Funny thing: the vice chairmen behind him were egging him on.
"We can't just let this slide."
"He needs to pay dearly, Chairman."
"I agree fully, Vice Chairman."
They nodded among themselves, glaring at Barus like they were ready to throw down.
Barus, meanwhile.
"Wh-why are you all doing this? We had a contract, and we're delivering the agreed compensat—"
Swarmed by mages, he couldn't muster any spine.
Like a kid who'd seen something scary and frozen up.
The chairman ignored it, pressing Barus hard.
"That's why the plan was wrong. You really asking if you don't know? You think kidnapping someone and forcing a contract is right?"
Ashion Gail glared at Barus with murderous eyes.
Barus flinched, averting his gaze.
Then he spotted me.
Pleading like a lost kitten.
Ashion Gail's tone sharpened.
"Wonder if the royals know. Do they know about your nonsense?"
"Th-that is..."
"Never mind. It's obvious."
Barus hung his head, speechless.
A far cry from how he'd treated me at first.
Ashion Gail kept hammering how wrong his choice was.
No end in sight.
Just endless sharp exchanges.
How much time passed?
"So what do you want me to do? The contract's done, and the participation rewards for Ashion Academy are on their way."
"Is that what matters right now?!"
"..."
I waited a good while, but no sign of them wrapping up.
Tensions rising, voices louder.
Waiting more wouldn't help, so I stepped between them.
"Everyone, how about this."
Looked like I had to mediate personally.
And conveniently, a perfect solution had just come to mind.