Chapter 31
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Toward the Empire (1)
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"To let the entire continent know that the future of the Talua Kingdom is bright."
A few days before the Asktalin Empire's Founding Festival began.
We departed from the Talua Kingdom after receiving King Leogart's address.
Naturally, I rode in the same carriage as Mone, and around us, carriages carrying others attending the Founding Festival lined up and moved along.
"Young Master."
Perhaps finding it boring to sit quietly inside the carriage, Mone spoke up.
"How long until we reach the Empire?"
"About a week."
"Faster than I thought? Considering the distance, I figured it'd take over a month."
"We're passing through a magic tower's magic circle midway and flying straight to the Empire's capital."
"Ah!"
The Asktalin Empire was quite a distance from the Talua Kingdom.
While it was possible to travel by land route with carriages, it took too long and was risky, so most people used the magic towers' magic circles to teleport directly.
'Come to think of it, the distance Princess Riya Asktalin walked back then was no joke.'
The image of the princess who had reached the Rakmes Ridge on foot was still vivid. It seemed that at the level of Dragon Calamity, one's stamina was far beyond that of an ordinary human.
"So a week is basically just the time to get to the magic tower?"
"That's how it is."
"I see... But what have you been doing since earlier?"
Mone looked at me with curious eyes. More precisely, she stared at the red lump on my hand.
"Is it like jelly? It looks squishy."
"This? Well, sort of."
"Amazing."
Mone seemed fascinated by the red lump on my hand that kept changing shapes.
'This is my blood.'
She'd definitely be shocked if I told her.
But explaining the truth was tricky. It wasn't just simple magic, and Blood Magic was something only demons could learn in the first place.
[Don't make a mistake and pop it, just in case. A faint-hearted maid like her would faint on the spot.]
'I know.'
What I was doing now was practicing Blood Magic.
Blood Magic had endless applications and could be used in various forms, but the common thread was using one's own blood by changing its shape.
Thus, the most basic training was to use one's blood and mana to transform it into various shapes.
'Is this the limit on size...?'
After repeated practice, I could now form something as small as a dagger.
But anything larger was impossible no matter how much I practiced. It was due to the physical limits of a human body.
[It was made for demons to handle in the first place. Especially Blood Magic—it's tough for humans with their physical capabilities.]
Handling Blood Magic with a human body that hit its limit after just a little blood loss was no easy feat.
'That's why I came up with this method.'
While Mone looked out the window, I levitated tiny droplets of blood into the air and shaped them into needle-sized forms.
[I've noticed this before, but you handle mana quite delicately?]
'Delicately?'
[You're effortlessly performing advanced manipulations with small amounts of mana. It's just not noticeable because your total mana capacity isn't that high.]
Is that so?
It wasn't something I'd thought much about, so it didn't really hit home.
Anyway, in this form—Blood Dagger—I could use Blood Magic effectively with minimal blood.
Next, I created a small tube in the air, sized to sheath the Blood Dagger. Then I inserted the thin dagger into it.
Silver Star Sword, latter half, first form: New Star.
Based on the principle of that technique, which explosively propelled itself by instantly spraying mana, I had created a form that could shoot the Blood Dagger quickly.
'And then...'
I focused all my attention and slowly infused mana into the Blood Dagger. Then I condensed that mana and rapidly circulated it inside.
'Huh? This time it might work?'
Previously, it had collapsed around this point.
But now, the mana was properly spiraling and rotating inside the tube.
It was right then.
[Wait! Turn that direction!]
At Gransesia's sudden shout, I reflexively raised my finger upward.
Pop!
It wasn't a large sound, but there was a sharp bursting noise like something exploding.
"W-What was that? I just heard something pop."
Since it was inside the sealed carriage, Mone had heard it too.
"Did you? I didn't hear anything."
"I swear, something just popped..."
"What could pop in here?"
"Well, that's true, but..."
Mone looked around the carriage suspiciously but found nothing.
'That was close. Who knew it would explode like that.'
It had been right on the verge of success, which was frustrating.
As if reading my thoughts, Gransesia spoke in disbelief.
[You think it just popped? You almost caused a big problem.]
'A big problem?'
[Look up.]
I glanced up and froze stiff.
There was a tiny hole in the carriage ceiling. Exactly needle-sized.
Gransesia snickered as she watched me stare blankly at the ceiling.
[Can't call it a full success, but at least you've managed to launch it now.]
'For real.'
I thought to myself while staring blankly at the hole.
'...How many days until the magic tower?'
Half a day since leaving the kingdom, but at least over six days remained.
'I'll practice this during the remaining time.'
Since it required delicate mana control, it would also help improve my mana handling skills.
And so, over the six days until we reached the magic tower, I focused on mastering this new technique more perfectly.
* * *
"We'll camp here tonight. The magic tower is just a little further, so hang in there."
Over the past six days traveling by carriage, we hadn't gone outside much except during brief rest stops.
As a result, most of the group looked unwell.
'At least if we'd run into monsters midway, it would've been better.'
Including Count Ribina, the others were all knights, so they seemed itchy from not moving their bodies.
"Young Master, not encountering a single monster in six days—talk about good luck."
Right beside me sat Mone, smiling cheerfully.
I'd never really felt Mone's good luck except during card games, but this time it was clear.
'No wonder monsters never showed up when traveling with Mone.'
Even so, not encountering even one monster in six days was astonishing.
Especially since the path to the magic tower passed through Hicks Forest, infamous for frequent monster appearances.
"Damn! Where the hell did all those monsters go?"
"Six days without a fight—it's killing me."
Thanks to that, I could focus on learning a new technique, but the others had no such distraction, so their reactions were understandable.
"Hmm, we're short on firewood."
Then, as he looked at those preparing the camp, Count Ribina muttered.
Gloria Hersel, who happened to pass by and hear, turned to him.
"Count, if it's alright, I'll go gather some firewood."
"Ah, Lady Hersel. No need to trouble yourself. There are plenty of other knights anyway..."
"The other knights have been busy escorting us all the way here, so I'll go. I want to stretch my legs in the forest anyway."
"Hmm, in that case, very well. No monsters around here, so it should be fine."
Since we were representing the kingdom heading to the Empire, the royal family had assigned special knights and soldiers to escort us.
As Count Ribina said, gathering firewood wasn't something Gloria needed to do, but he seemed to respect her wish.
"But in case of emergencies... Count Banheart, could you go with her?"
"Yes, of course."
I had nothing else to do and wanted some fresh air, so it was a request I had no reason to refuse.
"Sorry to suddenly burden you with chores. Even without monsters, a forest at night is dangerous. But sending a group might make Lady Hersel feel underestimated... so I'd prefer someone capable to accompany her."
"Strictly speaking, Lady Hersel's achievements surpass mine..."
"Swordsmanship isn't everything. Especially yours—I've heard plenty about it from Gelvin."
Count Ribina's gentle demeanor made it hard to recall his moniker "Red Lion."
But I knew.
This was just the face Count Ribina put on for public dealings.
According to the settings, his true nature was a tyrannical, radical temperament fitting the word "tyrant."
"Understood."
No need to rile the Red Lion unnecessarily.
With a light reply, I approached Gloria.
She, who had changed into light clothes to gather firewood, noticed me late and gave a wary glance.
"...What is it?"
"Count Ribina asked me to go with you to gather firewood."
"Pardon?"
Her retort carried a wealth of emotions.
Why send support for something as simple as gathering firewood?
And why me, of all people?
A complex mix of feelings came through.
"Sigh, fine."
Gloria reluctantly agreed.
She was still one of those who doubted my skills.
Proud of her swordsmanship honed over long years, she couldn't accept my sudden rapid growth.
In the awkward atmosphere, Gloria and I headed out to gather firewood.
There were no suitable trees near the campsite, so we had to go a bit farther.
"...I heard you beheaded a mid-level demon in the war."
Breaking the silent quiet, Gloria spoke first.
"It's said you need Sword Master level to take down a mid-level demon."
"Usually, yeah."
"Then how did you, Count, manage to behead a mid-level demon?"
Gloria's question was valid. And it was the doubt everyone, including her, harbored.
My level was low-grade Sword Expert.
Common sense said I couldn't have beaten a mid-level demon.
'How should I explain this?'
My go-to excuse in these cases was that I used a sword blessed by Michel.
The sword I used then was one I conveniently picked up on the battlefield, so it had holes, but since there were no other options, people generally bought it.
'Alright, go with that.'
I'd just settled on it when.
From the forest's darkness, red glowing eyes flashed and moved.