That Thing
The lodging where the slave merchant group had settled was prepared for large-scale trading companies. The massive inn, capable of accommodating hundreds of people depending on the size of the group rather than a small party, was always bustling with activity.
“Lord Leoric. The evacuation of all the commoners, including the inn’s guests and the nearby residents of the territory, has been completed.”
“Hmm. For now, have them stay at the inn. We’ll cover all the costs incurred during that time.”
“Understood.”
One of my retainers bowed his head and withdrew from the room. The inn that should have been packed with people was now completely empty, with only the castle’s personnel coming and going.
I felt sorry for the innkeeper, but I’d make sure to compensate him separately later.
“We’ve also removed all the cargo from the merchant group.”
“Then let’s prepare.”
Since there might be some kind of clue in the merchant group’s luggage, we started by emptying everything, beginning with the bald merchant’s belongings. Except for one particular box.
A square wooden box. It was quite large. The cargo that filled an entire carriage. Everything except this one piece consisted mostly of Magic Stones and pearls. They were essentially bait.
Nearby… mainly, they absorbed the magic power of that thing inside the box and interfered with magic detection from the outside. The purpose was to hide that thing concealed within the inner box.
It was an exquisitely balanced ratio. If even slightly off, the magic power inside the box would leak out. Up until now, they seemed to have been absorbing it with Magic Stones and replacing the saturated stones each time.
As I stared at the box, a clanking sound reached my ears. I turned my gaze to see knights clad in full plate armor appearing.
“Lord Leoric. Preparations are complete.”
“Good. Take your positions.”
“Take your positions!”
The knights in iron armor echoed my command and began to move.
Humans strengthened by magic power gain abilities that surpass imagination. If one asks why knights who possess physical capabilities and durability beyond even those enhanced humans would wear armor, it’s true that facing people is often better without it. But it wasn’t entirely useless.
No matter how much one strengthens themselves with magic, moving freely in full-body armor is physically demanding. Yet the reason such armor exists is because it isn’t ordinary armor.
“How long has it been since you last wore that?”
“Hah… let’s see. It must be over ten years now.”
“Is it an antique?”
“Hahaha. You’re too harsh. Still, it’s a comrade that has been through countless wars with me. It’s still in active service, so please trust it and leave it to us.”
“Haha. Then I’ll be counting on you.”
I smiled back at the veteran knight’s bitter laugh. There was separate armor used for ceremonies. The reason for wearing this physically cumbersome armor despite magic reinforcement was simple.
A tanker. Quite literally, when a meat shield was needed. During wars, it was often used in sieges, especially when defending a castle, I was told.
Armor forged from metal mixed with iron and Magic Stones was not only incredibly hard but also dramatically increased resistance to magic power. In one-on-one situations, it struggled to respond to enhanced agility, and its reinforced defense could be easily pierced, making it useless. But in situations where bombardment flew in from a distance… in other words, during sieges, the story was completely different.
The reason for the existence of armor called a second castle wall.
We had brought out that armor for one reason alone.
“Lord Leoric.”
“Mm.”
A subordinate who had been measuring the magic power inside the box sent a signal. In response, knights holding shields made of the same material as the armor took their positions. They thrust their man-sized shields forward and planted them firmly into the ground.
“Golden Lion Knight Order! All units, prepare!”
“Prepare!”
The finest knight order of the Franz family. Veterans among veterans of the Golden Lion Knight Order. Most had followed my father onto the battlefield, but among them were also knights who had remained in the territory on standby. I had summoned most of them, outfitted them in armor, and had them form a defensive formation.
“Reinforce!”
“Reinforce!”
They strengthened their bodies, armor, and shields with magic power. Blue magic power rippled from the knights surrounding the cargo, instantly forming a massive wall that began to envelop the luggage.
“The rest of you, evacuate as well.”
“B-but…”
To the hesitant retainers, I spoke sincerely.
“We might not be able to stop it.”
“…Understood.”
At my serious tone, the remaining personnel finally began to evacuate. After some commotion, I confirmed that most people had withdrawn from the inn.
Now, the only ones left were the knights maintaining the barrier around the box and myself.
“Ugh. It’s been a while since I’ve felt this kind of pressure.”
“Hoo…”
Ignoring the knights who let out low groans, I focused magic power into my eyes once more and gazed at the box. Even to my eyes, the magic power inside the box was beginning to ripple visibly.
“The magic power…”
The knights’ expressions gradually changed. I, too, couldn’t help but smile at the tingling magic wave I felt on my skin.
This was… a bit more dangerous than I had anticipated.
Just in case, I placed my hand on the Magic Stone bracelet on my wrist and began drawing up my magic power.
A brief silence descended upon the inn. In the quiet atmosphere, I could feel the magic power inside the box slowly writhing.
-Clunk!
The box, which had only been emitting waves of magic power, began to creak and swell little by little. Whatever was inside it had awakened.
Instinctively, I began to control my magic power. I confirmed a golden aura rising around my body.
-Clunk!
I had deployed the defensive formation just in case, wondering if it might explode like a Magic Stone. But judging by this flow, it seemed more accurate to think that whatever was inside had opened its eyes rather than that it was about to burst.
“Ah.”
Finally, the creaking box fell silent again. However, the knights and I, who could sense the presence of magic power, noticed it immediately.
Whatever was inside had opened its eyes.
-Ssssss!
Blue magic power began to seep from the box. Like mist, like flowing water. It poured out from the box as if overflowing and slowly began to spread across the floor.
Blue magic power. The basic color of magic power. Could it really be?
No. That was dangerous.
“Everyone, fall back!”
The knights who had frozen at the blue magic power retreated at my shout. In that momentary hesitation, one knight failed to escape in time.
“Ugh!”
The knights retreated at tremendous speed despite wearing massive armor. However, their retreat gradually slowed. The cause was the swamp of magic power that had already risen to their ankles.
“…This, ugh! I’m stuck! It’s hard to move properly, and even with magic reinforcement, the force holding my body, the pulling force, is stronger!”
The knight quickly explained the phenomenon he was experiencing. His retreat slowed, and proper movement became difficult.
“I get it, so just grab onto this!”
I extended my magic power toward the knight who was still trying to explain, wrapping around his torso like telekinesis and pulling him with force.
-Splash!
From afar, the sound of waves could be heard.
“Ugh!”
The higher the grade of magic power, the more distinct its characteristics became. The golden magic power of Franz. The sky-blue magic power of Boreng. The navy magic power of Muller. If so, then this blue magic power was—
“Damn it!”
-Splash!
This wasn’t the light of basic magic power. I had mistaken it for something similar in color. I should have retreated immediately. I had let my guard down.
The magic power holding the knight. The knight also tried to pull back while grasping onto my golden magic power, but as the magic power continued to rise, movement became increasingly difficult.
This was dangerous. In that case—
“Magic power, properly…!”
“Focus!”
Golden light blazed. I hurled the Magic Stone from my bracelet into the air. In an instant, it swelled into a massive sun.
An Artificial Sun created by adding my magic power to what I had normally stored in the Magic Stone. The impossible temperature created an illusion that everything would burn in a flash—and it was no illusion.
-Hssssss!
The magic power that had been overflowing like water and rising from the ground hesitated. As if vaporizing under tremendous heat, the magic power on the floor churned and its momentum halted.
At that exact moment, I dragged the knight whose ankles were caught free.
“Th-thank you.”
“It’s fine. Fall back.”
“…Ugh, understood.”
At my words, the knights clenched their fists and withdrew from the building. Fortunately, startled by my golden sun, the magic power that had been rising like water around us stopped its advance.
-Gooooooo.
The massive sun continued to burn behind me. Maintaining it, I stared at the box.
-Splash!
The sound of waves echoed. The salty scent tickled my nose. When magic power reached a certain grade or higher, that bloodline gained its own unique magic power. The golden of Franz. The sky of Boreng. The iron wall of Muller. Each had characteristics symbolizing them embedded in their magic power.
The first noticeable change was the color of the magic light. Then—
What happened when the grade of magic power rose even higher?
-Splash!
The magic power that had reached below my ankles flowed in like water, then receded. High tide and low tide. That image came to mind. Was it the moon? Or the sun? In any case, the tides caused by gravity. The tidal phenomenon.
That very phenomenon was unfolding before my eyes. The blue magic power surged forward like seawater, then receded. It felt exactly like being in a real ocean.
When my thoughts reached that point, something began to rise from inside the box.
Blue light… no. There was a dark black, like gazing into the deepest abyss of the ocean.
It was dark. Dark eyes were staring at me.
-Splash!
Ah. I am in the sea right now.