Chapter 181
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 181
Chapter Title: Slayer Coastal Island (5)
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Time spent on Slayer Coastal Island was fruitful in many ways.
"Shit, yes! Uhahaha! Got it, got it!"
Eleanor, who had endured so much hardship lately, finally succeeded in combining her long-practiced enchantment magic with holy magic.
Clang! Scraaaape!
"The lower guard is open!"
"Eek!"
Aiden sought out the Heavenly Dragon Knights whenever he had free time for sparring sessions.
"Impressive skill."
"Is that really the movement of someone who's only been wielding a sword for a year?"
"Didn't expect that twist from there."
"It's like a beast's movements. So free and unrestrained."
Aiden's exceptional talent provided fresh insights to the knights just by watching.
"Huff... huff..."
And Maya, just as Jun had advised, focused on depleting her mana whenever she could to expand her vessel.
'The results are undeniable.'
An insane wave of fatigue crashed over her, but comparing a month ago to now, her mana capacity had clearly increased dramatically.
Of course, it wasn't like she'd grown tremendously...
-What you're doing now is like getting into a ready stance.
-A ready stance? What does that mean?
-It means that if you get a chance at a skillbook or an elixir that boosts your total mana, you can maximize its effects.
-How does that work?
-Want me to explain?
-...Never mind.
It was all for the future.
Maya felt a small thrill knowing she was inching closer to her revenge even in this moment.
'Still a long way to go. At least I need to reach my father's level.'
No, she had to grow stronger than that.
Her father had lost to that bastard, after all.
She'd found a clue to inheriting her tribe's techniques, which she'd thought were hopelessly lost, so it wasn't impossible.
This was all possible because she'd joined this mercenary band.
Maya glanced gratefully toward her captain's room.
"...Thanks, but I can't help you. Sorry."
Recalling Jun, who had seemed unusually busy these past few days, Maya bowed her head toward his door.
"Urgh..."
The room was littered with countless scattered documents.
They were the materials Childs had gathered over the past few days.
"Maybe I shouldn't have started this now..."
There was far more to process than expected.
Initially, he'd planned to simply identify those who'd achieved rapid growth over the past decade, meet them personally, and check for corrupted spirits.
But this was Blackout.
A place where anything could happen—hidden pieces or equivalents could turn someone into a powerhouse overnight.
As such, the data accumulated over ten years exceeded Jun's imagination...
"Way more people shot up like that and then died."
Cross-referencing them all took considerable time.
"Urgh. If I'd known it'd be this much, I wouldn't have bothered right away."
It was an event years away anyway; obsessing over it now might be foolish.
"Sigh. No good. Need to clear my head."
As Jun rose from his seat,
Knock knock.
"Who is it?"
"Belles."
"...?"
A mage from Lanes Mage Tower had come to see him.
Was he here because he couldn't accept their previous duel?
'That'd be pretty disappointing.'
With that thought, Jun opened the door, and Belles recoiled in shock.
He was stunned by the disastrous state of the room.
"Wh-what is all this?"
"Oh... it's nothing."
"It's all in some unrecognizable language..."
Indeed, Jun's documents were all in Korean.
"So, what's up?"
"Oh... sorry if you're busy. I heard you weren't feeling well and got worried."
"...?"
One minute he was mocking Jun's lack of dignity, now he was worried?
'Is he nuts?'
The sudden change was unnerving.
His eyes even seemed clearer...
'...A maniac with clear eyes?'
Jun stepped back slightly in a chill, but Belles took it as an invitation and entered.
"You seem perfectly healthy, though."
"Ever since our duel, people keep approaching me from all sides."
"Ah, right. Sorry about that."
"..."
"Ahem. Actually, I came to talk with you."
"Talk? About what?"
Even if Lanes Mage Tower was story-wise allied, Jun couldn't fathom why Belles was approaching him like this.
"I... I want to discuss magic with you!"
"Discuss?"
"Yes. I've always believed a great mage must uphold dignity. But after seeing your magic, I realized my view was arrogant."
Why was he suddenly spilling his personal story?
At least he wasn't arrogant like before, so Jun's mercenary crudeness didn't surface.
"A mage upholds dignity through magic. Yours was more beautiful than any I've seen—at least among those I've understood."
"So you want a magic debate?"
"I know it sounds insincere now, but... I apologize for my rude words before."
What to do?
After a moment's thought, Jun nodded.
'Was just about to take a break anyway.'
Plus, he was quite interested in Lanes Mage Tower's magic.
It specialized in combat spells, after all.
And this mage's talent wasn't bad.
Jun had experienced Belles's skills in their duel, and he represented the tower here where even two royals had visited.
"Hm... no harm in trying. Sit down."
"...! Thank you. Truly!"
What started as a casual chat turned out far more useful than Jun expected.
Not in magic, but in information.
They lost track of time, engrossed in magic talk.
"...So, the direction of my magic is maximizing efficiency."
"Amazing! I've never heard of using enchantment magic like that. Linking it to other spells instead of standard scrolls—like intricate machinery. Creating it must be incredibly hard, let alone preparing such advanced spells in advance."
"Inspired by [Memorize]."
"Of course. Makes me feel pathetic."
"...Suddenly?"
"You're immersed in magic daily, while I've wasted time at parties upholding 'dignity' instead of focusing solely on it..."
Though he said that, Belles invested as much time in magic as any mage.
With his talent, he spared no effort—a true magic lover.
"Parties..."
"Even this time. Last night, I spent the whole day talking with Viscount Boletic."
"With Viscount Boletic...?"
"Yes. He has quite an interest in water-attribute magic. He thought my ice magic was similar and asked many questions."
"Hm... I see."
"Anyway, looking back, those talks were nutrient-poor. Fun at the time, though."
At that point, a lightbulb went off in Jun's head.
'Maybe I can use this guy to extract info on Viscount Boletic?'
With that idea, words flowed smoothly.
"I don't just study magic all the time either. The brain needs rest like muscles do."
"Hm... Have some leisure?"
"Yeah. Hobbies are fine, diving into other things isn't bad. Meditation's best, but... Was your talk with Viscount Boletic yesterday just boring to you?"
"No. Honestly, I have a keen interest in art. Especially the portrait of his deceased younger brother he showed— it moved me deeply."
"...Portrait of his deceased brother?"
Did Viscount Boletic have a brother?
This was noteworthy intel.
"Yes. His younger brother was exceptionally talented. At just thirteen, he awakened great potential and grew rapidly."
But he passed before his flower could fully bloom.
An accident during knight training, they said.
"A tragic genius. Entangled in scandals until the end."
"Scandals?"
"Something about bloodline. Different father, I think."
"...That must've hit hard."
"Indeed. But had he overcome it and lived, he'd be a famous knight now. Handsome even as a child."
"Must've been something if you're praising him like that."
"Want to see?"
Belles pulled out a projection recorder.
"...You took this with it?"
"Yes. Snuck it without the viscount noticing."
"Why sneak?"
"He wouldn't allow it. But thinking I'd see such a beautiful artwork only once in my life—I couldn't resist!"
Definitely nuts...
As Jun thought that, Belles played it.
Jun's eyes upon seeing it...
"...!!"
Widened enormously.
"This painting...!"
"Haha, you recognize it too? Truly beautiful. Makes you wonder who the artist is. Probably from the Emeli family, I think..."
Belles's rambling speculation started, but not a word reached Jun's ears.
Jun focused solely on the image playing on the recorder.
No need for [Exceptional Memory]; he'd seen this painting in the game.
'Why is the ornamental item from killing the boss mob here?'
His mind raced.
Viscount Boletic's brother.
He'd died about ten years ago.
The realization hit, and Jun frantically rummaged through the scattered documents.
Startled by Jun's sudden action, Belles opened his mouth to speak but saw the grave expression and quietly slipped out.
Mistaking it for a eureka moment in magic.
Jun didn't notice Belles leaving, searching for ages.
"Found it."
Just as Belles said—exactly ten years ago.
Documents on Viscount Boletic's brother.
"Viscount Boletic... what are you hiding?"
In the game, Slayer Coastal Island's boss monsters were divided into two types.
And killing the humanoid one dropped exactly the portrait Belles had shown.
'Humanoid monster... So high chance the viscount's brother, said to have died ten years ago, is actually alive and hiding.'
Then where was he hidden?