Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Spirit Mage (4)
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Galen had felt the limitations of Water Flow Manipulation, which was heavily dependent on the environment while hunting abominations. That was why he had wanted to learn other spells alongside it, with secret manuals as his long-term goal.
But when he thought about it calmly, magic didn't have to be learned solely through secret manuals.
Self-taught mages realized spells on their own, didn't they? He had no idea how they did it, but the point was that acquiring magic without a manual was possible.
Besides, the way Galen had originally learned Water Flow Manipulation was light-years away from the norm. If everyone had a status window, the world would be crawling with mages.
In short, learning a spell just by "touching" a secret manual was absurd from the start. So another bizarre method popping up wasn't hard to accept.
He just hadn't expected to discover it this quickly.
It probably wasn't just from seeing Redna's spell. If watching was enough, he would've realized it ages ago. He'd stuck around Jerbon for years.
Maybe it was the clash between spells. Perhaps some interaction occurred when the spirit's flames collided with Water Flow Manipulation's water.
'The Oceanis Family's secret manual had mana in it. No clue how they infused mana into a book, but the spirit's flames must be a special product of mana too. So is contact with mana the trigger?'
It was a plausible guess, but he couldn't be certain. The sample size was too small.
All he knew for sure right now was that a new type of status window had appeared the moment he'd clashed with Redna using magic. He needed to test it a few more times to confirm.
"Sir, we've arrived."
The coachman's voice snapped Galen out of his reverie. The carriage had already stopped before he knew it.
"Let's go."
Terti, who had stayed quiet so as not to disturb Galen's deep thought, finally spoke up and opened the door. Galen gathered his wits and followed him out.
The two men, who had immediately called for a carriage after Redna left, were headed to the Narok Family mansion.
The guards at the gate eyed their approach warily. The tense atmosphere lately had made their responses sharp.
"Halt."
"State your business."
"We have an invitation."
"What?!"
"P-Please wait just a moment!"
The guards' attitudes flipped to polite deference the instant Galen presented the envelope stamped with the Narok Family crest. One stood at attention while the other dashed inside.
A butler soon hurried out to greet them. The invitation was in Galen's name, but when they explained Terti was a companion, he was allowed in as well.
They were promptly escorted to the Family Head. Things must have been urgent.
"Thank you for inviting me. I'm Galen."
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Bruno, head of the Narok Family."
A burly, muscular middle-aged man with a somewhat haggard face extended his hand for a shake.
"And that fellow beside you... I remember him. Lord Terti, Nijerte's reserve Gold rank?"
"That's right."
"Ah, looks like the butler didn't recognize you. My apologies."
"No harm done. We never crossed paths, so it's odd he'd spot me at a glance."
As they finished introductions, the butler brought tea. Bruno lightly scolded him for failing to recognize Terti, then sent him away before wetting his dry lips with the tea and speaking up.
"Don't take this the wrong way; I'm just confirming what I've heard through rumors. Lord Galen, you're a water-manipulating mage, correct?"
"You think I'd be a mage who only controls beer?"
"Had to ask in case it was telekinesis or something. Eh, doesn't matter much either way. I don't know much about magic."
"I don't know much about other spells myself. But yes, I'm a water mage."
"Good. Mentioning the invitation means you're open to allying with us, right?"
"Not quite decided yet."
Terti stepped in. They planned to tentatively side with Narok, but they'd agreed beforehand to have the experienced warrior listen and judge, just in case.
"We've already clashed with the Gaud side once, in fact."
"What do you mean?"
Terti gave a brief summary of the earlier confrontation. Bruno shook his head.
"They're brazen thugs. Must think they're so superior their noses are in the air."
"After what they pulled, we're not joining Gaud, that's for sure. But that doesn't mean we're automatically with Narok. Mercenaries don't back lost causes, as you know."
"Well aware. It's why we're struggling to hire any."
"So before we accept, we'd like a detailed rundown of the current situation."
"Won't differ much from the rumors floating around."
Bruno gave a wry smile. Lying to mercenaries only led to broken contracts once discovered, so he explained as honestly as possible.
Terti listened closely and summed it up.
"Dozens of casualties, all Bronze rank, and only about a dozen deaths. Injuries were healed by priests, so no real losses. Your core Silver-rank warriors are all intact. Right?"
"Spot on. We're holding because of them. But just barely—we couldn't push back the invaders."
This kind of internal city skirmish was worlds apart from a full-scale war rife with murder, destruction, arson, looting, and rape.
The goal was to eliminate the rival's stake and seize control of the city. Turning it into a battlefield meant losses even in victory. Civil strife had to be fought "clean."
Sure, wiping out the enemy family entirely wasn't unheard of, but not in Nijerte. With Gaud and Narok evenly matched, forcing it would leave half the city in ashes.
Thus, only family retainers and hired mercenaries were deployed, targeting only the rival's key businesses. They'd occupy them without permission, call out the enemy, and fight it out among themselves, sparing civilians as much as possible.
While Galen and Terti were away subjugating, Gaud and Narok clashed about once a day—and Narok lost every time.
"These past few days have drilled into me how terrifying an unchecked mage is."
Bruno shuddered.
"The horror of a man burning to death... Rolling on the ground doesn't put it out. You have to douse him with whole jars of water, but who's got time for that mid-fight?"
"What about using servants as firefighters?"
"We are. But sprinkling water isn't enough. They switch targets constantly and set buildings ablaze at the drop of a hat. Can't keep up."
"They're using spirits to sow maximum chaos with minimal effort. Huge impact, low cost."
Galen clicked his tongue.
"But even if I block the spirits, can we win?"
"We won't lose like this, at least. As I said, our forces are largely intact. We've just been forfeiting because we couldn't counter the spirits."
"Well, in that case."
"What'll you do?"
Terti glanced at Galen, who nodded calmly.
"We're in. Long as the contract specifies what you just said."
"What I just said?"
"No blaming us if you still lose even after I bind the spirit mage. That sort of thing?"
"Obviously. Don't worry—Narok won't nitpick over that."
"Why would I pull that on people offering help? If Lord Galen agrees, what about you, Lord Terti...?"
"I'll sign too, as Galen's guard."
"Thank you! Truly!"
Bruno beamed. A powerful warrior's addition was nearly as welcome as the mage's.
They'd head to the guild together to draft the contract.
"Ahem. Bit late to ask, but as the employer, I have to wonder..."
"Go ahead."
"From Lord Terti's story earlier, the spirit mage was awfully arrogant. Doesn't that mean she's that confident?"
"Worried Galen can't handle her?"
Terti chuckled. He reassured Bruno, who couldn't quite say it outright.
"Galen earned Silver rank. You hadn't heard?"
"Silver...?"
"This morning, at the guild. For his part in the subjugation. He took down a troll almost single-handedly."
"A troll?!"
"Unless she's Gold, I doubt Galen loses to another Silver mage. Just my take from seeing it."
"No need to hype me up. I'm not invincible."
Galen grinned sheepishly at the now-radiant Bruno.
"Just one request for you, Family Head."
"Name it!"
"Prepare for battle like always. Just add one thing."
"...Huh? That's your request?"
"That's it."
*
After drafting the contract at the mercenary guild, Galen and Terti checked out of Bron Brothers' Haven—just in case Redna showed up looking for trouble.
"Thanks for everything."
"Your stay record won't vanish till we close for good."
"Come visit again!"
They'd be guests at the Narok mansion anyway. With incidents popping up, they couldn't afford to be caught apart.
The contract day passed quietly, but the next morning brought urgent news after a day of rest.
A warehouse belonging to a merchant company run by one of Narok's allied families had been seized.
Forces assembled before the mansion in under an hour: 150 Bronze-rank warriors and 15 Silvers.
Meager for a faction controlling half the city, but this wasn't all-out war. Mass slaughter of hundreds would ruin the city's vibe.
The point was to flaunt superior core forces—Silvers were the mainstay. Bronzes were just for show, easily hired with coin.
Nearly 200 including support. Plenty for a brawl.
"We leave it to you, Lord Galen."
"Count on me."
With Galen and Terti joining, the troops marched into the city heart and reached the warehouse on Nijerte's outskirts.
Already remote and sparse, civilians had evacuated knowing a fight was brewing, leaving it deserted.
Except for the open lot before the warehouse, where a similar number of foes had formed ranks.
"Prepare for battle!"
Veterans of multiple clashes, Narok closed in fast. Gaud didn't parley either—just fought.
Redna led Gaud's front line, flanked by yesterday's guard. Other Silver warriors spread like wings on either side.
"Just like we heard."
"Yes. Business as usual."
Galen noted. A nearby Narok commander nodded.
Past battles followed the same pattern: Redna flung a flashy fireball, Narok dodged and broke formation, then Gaud charged.
Redna, staying put, ended up protected at the center while her spirits wreaked havoc everywhere.
To counter, Galen took the front. Terti guarded his side, Narok Silvers arrayed like Gaud's.
The oddity: a cart right behind Galen.
The armies drew close enough to make out Redna's expression.
She smirked wickedly, mouthing something inaudible.
"She says you should've stayed out of sight for your own good."
"No need to relay it. Probably just more boasting."
"Can't let me hear it alone, I guess."
Irked by their casual chat, Redna furrowed her brow and cupped her hands before her chest.
The fireball playing above her hands spat out an identical one forward.
Roarrrrr!
Flying through the air, the fireball ballooned wildly—from child-fist size to big enough to swallow a wagon whole.
Fwoooooosh!
Then an even huger water shield slammed into it, crushing the flames flat.
Redna's eyes bulged.
Galen grinned as he savored her shock.