Chapter 45
Chapter 45
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: High-Class? Manpower (2)
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Kella was a veteran adventurer whose experience and skill were recognized despite her young age.
Her adventuring career, started in childhood, had already surpassed a decade, and she now stood on the cusp of reaching 3rd Circle.
Thanks to that, even the lesser nobles of Bondales didn't dare treat her lightly.
And if they learned she belonged to Dragon, a top-tier adventurer guild? All the more so.
With that in mind, Kella took great pride in her adventurer's eye and experience.
By those measures, Rishir was utterly ordinary.
He had a noble-like appearance, but his gentle, unassuming air felt far removed from nobility.
For example.
If Kella learned Rishir was actually a noble—and a powerhouse at 3rd Circle like his peers—she'd have been shocked.
...But what if something even more extraordinary unfolded?
"Ma, magic...!? Rishir, that was you!?"
Kella failed to keep up, showing an uncharacteristically naive side for a veteran adventurer.
Their assessment of Rishir flipped in an instant.
Perhaps that gentle, unassuming vibe was a mask hiding something immense.
"Kella."
Rishir spoke up then.
"Y-yes? Ah, yes! Lord Rishir...! Speak freely!"
From "bro" to "lord" in a flash.
Sudden deference.
'Out of nowhere?'
Rishir found it odd but pressed on.
"Do you know anything about those guys?"
"No! No clue. What kind of idiots strut around Bondales in broad daylight—"
"...We have no business with you!"
The lead thug shouted.
"If you're not planning to interfere, we won't touch you! Leave now, and we'll call it even!"
"Normally, you offer a handshake first. If that fails, swing the sword. Not swing first, then offer a handshake when it flops. You trying to game the world too easy?"
"..."
Rishir said it, but he hesitated briefly.
He'd sensed the "alien aura" drawing him into the alley, expecting trouble—but not this straightforwardly.
Deep down, he wanted to take their offer and walk away.
Unfortunately, Rishir knew better.
The world didn't flow so smoothly or righteously.
These were men who'd lock eyes in a deserted spot and go straight for murder.
Trusting scum like that blindly? Foolish.
'Above all—'
Rishir's gaze pierced the group.
'That's it.'
One thug menaced the cornered wolf pup with something.
An obsidian ring.
Source of the alien aura Rishir felt.
He intuited it.
Let those guys walk with that thing? Trouble waiting to explode massively.
'So, let 'em have it. Normalization.'
The clincher.
Normalizing alien auras always boosted his mana.
With justification and setup perfect, no reason to refuse.
"Kella, what do adventurers usually do here?"
"Attacking a guild member is a challenge to the guild! Dragon would've captured them, investigated motives and identities!"
"So, you'd capture them and drag 'em to the guild?"
"Pardon?"
"They just attacked you, right?"
"Uh... yeah...?"
"Good. I'll help then."
"...Thanks?"
Wait.
Thinking back, he entered the alley first.
And took the first hit too, no?
Kella wavered but quickly steadied her stance.
Her instincts screamed: Don't let this weirdo slip away!
Besides, the thugs looked broken already.
"..."
The thugs exchanged glances.
Not forgetting their fallen comrades.
He was their top fighter and leader.
Now lost, along with core forces.
One steeled himself and acted.
Pouring full power into—
Fleeing the opposite way.
No looking back.
"Hmph."
Kella nodded approvingly.
Yes. That's right.
Run.
Sounded rational to her.
'Damn it!'
Rishir thought differently.
He hadn't considered flight.
His past foes were die-hards charging for mutual destruction when plans failed.
'Calling for backup!'
At least 1st Circle, up to 3rd.
These scrubs had backup nearby.
Others buying time till arrival.
'What if 6th Circle+ shows...! Then we're screwed!'
If Kella read his mind, she'd scoff.
6th Circle? Whose dog is that?
'Please be black mages! Manageable!'
If she read that, she'd snap.
Black mage = manageable? You're insane.
His warped senses conjured worst cases; Rishir grimaced, nodding gravely.
'Maybe I got cocky.'
Even expert on alien auras, butting in rashly?
He admitted his arrogance.
Bracing to own the mistake—
"Goddamn it!!!"
Thugs bolted en masse.
Reading his darkening face as doom.
"...?"
Rishir finally clocked the mismatch, shifting perspective.
From another angle, they seemed too pathetic for scheming black mage cronies.
"You idiots...!"
The obsidian ring thug stared blankly at fleeing backs, frozen.
He cracked, chasing after—
"Gahk!"
Rishir, late to grasp, moved to contain.
Gale force knocked out the ringleader, then pursued the rest.
"Gaaaaah!!!"
"Ma, mage tower wizard!?"
"Mercy pleeeease!!!"
His superhuman pursuit speed crushed them effortlessly.
"Heh..."
Capturing even the first runner, Rishir chuckled wryly.
'This okay?'
His warped senses screamed.
"Attribute magic that fluid... 5th Circle? At his age?"
Kella, watching from afar, chuckled too.
'This for real?'
Her senses warping.
Same time.
Meltas handled an unexpected guest in his lab.
"...So, you need Rishir's help capturing that young spirit?"
"Yes."
"Heh. Gadena, to see you—an elf—need a human for spirit business. Long life, new sights."
"..."
"What then? Ask him to snag it with his spirit-friendly aura?"
Gadena shook her head.
"Impossible."
"Impossible?"
"This spirit shows freakish hostility to life. Even we elves can't approach. Rash moves just amp its hatred."
"Then?"
"That's why I need that human's aura. Have him craft a mana stone infused with power. Compensation ample."
"Hm... Got it. I'll float it. Coincidentally, I need him too."
As old man and elf conversed—
"Knock knock."
"?"
"?"
A knock(?). Didoa mimed at the open lab door.
"Master Didoa... you again?"
Nod.
"Just checking if Rishir came by."
Lately, Didoa visited periodically, inquiring about Rishir.
Meltas, exasperated:
"If you need him, why not go straight? I gave the address."
"No errand."
"Huh?"
"Showing up unannounced? Rude, no?"
"..."
"So, if he shows, could you casually mention? Master Meltas."
"That you're looking?"
"Too direct. Off-putting?"
"...How then?"
"Thought about it: 'Master Didoa's lab looks stocked with tasty snacks and tea.' Thoughts?"
"...You think he's a kid?"
"Ah. Stock booze too?"
"...Try beyond food lures?"
"Elixir?"
"I'm losing it."
Meltas shook his head at the hopelessly socially inept half-demon.
"Ah."
Meltas eyed Gadena, idea striking.
"Perfect timing, Didoa."
"?"
"Seems I have that errand for you."
"Errand?"
"Go to Rishir for me, handle it."
"!!!"
Energetic nods.
Her messy hair bounced wildly.
"Done. Gadena, go with her to Rishir. He'll craft the stone on-site, right?"
"..."
Me, team with the half-demon?
Gadena recoiled, glaring at Didoa.
Didoa, deadpan:
"Thank you."
"...?"
Not "please take care"?
Gadena felt exhaustion already.
"Let's see."
After subduing the thugs, Rishir first secured the obsidian ring, source of the alien aura.
"What's that?"
"Oh, nothing much. Ring infused with black magic aura, I guess."
"...!"
Kella recoiled in horror.
Suddenly recalling the thugs tormenting the pup with it, Rishir glanced over.
-...
The pup lay there, fixated on the ring.
-Grrrrrr
Baring teeth at it.
Not wary or scared—covetous.
Rishir vaguely grasped the ring's power.
Obsidian drew the pup.
Stimulating its instincts.
'Aphrodisiac—sorta?'
Crude for enchanted gear.
Mass-produced knockoff vibe.
Habit nearly made him purify the aura, but he stopped.
Evidence, after all.
Preserve till case closed.
So instead, he applied Normalization to the aura-tainted pup.
It transformed.
Blurring outlines.
Expanding mass.
Wolf became woman—with ears and tail.
She looked around, stunned, then yelled:
"Fuck yeah! Finally!"
"?"
Rough mouth on that form.