Chapter 18
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Border
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It took quite some time to reach the border, but nothing out of the ordinary happened.
Framed positively, it was like a long picnic on a fine spring day with great weather. Framed negatively, it was just an endless daily march.
If he had to pick something noteworthy, it was that the endless Great Plains gave way to forest instead of more grassland.
But whether it was open fields or forest paths, the six of them still had the same job: strap on their packs and plod along. No real difference there.
The six made for pretty compatible travel companions.
The mustached duo weren't actually taciturn; they were just shy. Over time, they loosened up, even cracking jokes when things got boring. They were getting close.
About two days into the forest path, an inexplicable unease settled in. If he had to describe it, it felt like facing a massive but shallow tsunami.
'What's this? The drizzle?'
No, that wasn't it. He'd never felt this during downpours heavier than a drizzle.
No need to agonize alone over some unknown phenomenon.
Tae-jin naturally knew little about this world yet, and admitting ignorance wasn't shameful.
Right beside him was old man Richer, who fancied himself his mentor.
"Hey, old timer. Something feels off, right?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"I've had this weird feeling since lunch."
"Since lunch? How so?"
"Like a thin wall pressing down."
"Hmm. Hold on a sec."
Richer stopped dead, sharpening his senses. Then his face shifted—he'd noticed something—and he grumbled a bit.
"Figures. Your senses are sharper than mine. I knew it, but the gap's bigger than I thought."
"Why? What's up?"
"That's the border ahead. You're just more sensitive..."
"The border's giving me this weird vibe?"
Tae-jin tossed out the question, and Richer shot him an incredulous look.
"I hoped it wasn't true, but your common sense is truly pitiful..."
"Why? Explain first, then roast me. Why do you always nag after dropping one little fact? I lived beyond the Gate originally."
"Think about it. Why'd we tag along with Blan's crew?"
"To cross the border without getting caught."
"What do you think a border looks like?"
"Some wall to block passersby, guards patrolling around?"
"There are some guards, but the walls are pretty flimsy. And if it's like you say, couldn't we just go invisible, fly over with levitation magic?"
"Yeah, now that you mention it."
Tae-jin blinked dumbly, and Richer immediately tsked in disappointment.
"You're short on common sense and flexible thinking as a mage. Didn't even consider sneaking over airborne?"
"Hey, that's an option, sure. But I haven't used magic as long as you. Anyway, there's some reason we can't fly over?"
"That weird sensation you've felt? It's the Alarm Magic spanning the entire border."
It was astonishing. Did Alarm Magic have such a massive presence?
"That big? How? Most mages can only cover tens of meters with Alarm Magic, right?"
"Chains of countless magic circles. Ones to gather and supply mana, linked like a chain across the whole border. Touch the Alarm Magic, and it blares. Cast a spell within tens of meters, same deal."
"That'd take insane manpower to build and maintain. Feasible?"
"Plenty of manpower. Rookie mages from the Magic Towers start with border maintenance. I did half a year on the Empire's border myself."
"Every country does it like that?"
"Most do. Volterio Kingdom has it fully set up—no way the Empire doesn't."
It was odd. If rookies maintaining border magic was standard, someone would've mentioned it casually, like soldiers swapping army stories.
But none of the dozens of mages around the Gate had brought it up to Tae-jin.
"There were always dozens of mages by the Gate. None mentioned it."
"Of course. They were all Kaiso Kingdom mages."
Richer answered, paused thoughtfully, then continued.
"Come to think of it, you wouldn't know about border arrays. Kaiso Kingdom doesn't maintain them."
"Why not?"
"Why? Kaiso's a backwater dump in the corner with no resources. No invaders, barely any sneaks—no need."
"Past tense?"
"Didn't need 'em before, but now nobody dares touch Kaiso. Volterio Kingdom sure won't invade."
He got why it was touchy. Their mutual defense pact (though Kaiso helping Korea was nil) meant invading Kaiso would bring Korean tanks rolling in.
"I get the gist, but why specifically Volterio Kingdom never invades?"
"Eh, it's complicated."
"Short version."
"When your soldiers first came through, Volterio was a duchy, not kingdom. They tried disciplining the Gate side—set up catapults nearby."
"What happened?"
"Shelled 'em. Wait, why am I explaining your army's stories?"
Tae-jin vaguely recalled hearing it.
"Oh, that was Volterio? Didn't know which country."
"Yeah. Duchy called it a rogue lord's stunt, cut him loose. He apologized, end of story. Heavy losses plus groveling. Sane folks don't poke Kaiso after that."
"Kinda pathetic."
"Before the Gate, Kaiso was half-crushed by the duchy, Empire backing it. Only started holding its head up post-Gate."
"Anyway, how do we bypass the Alarm Magic?"
Pavilion cut in.
"Dug a tunnel skirting the Alarm Magic. Tight squeeze, but passable. Right ahead."
The six halted by a lightning-struck tree. Ahead loomed sturdy wooden barricades—not too high, enough to glimpse beyond.
Notably, the sharpened stakes pointed only toward Kaiso Kingdom. Like the array, Volterio's handiwork.
Focusing, he clearly sensed the massive guard array.
Leading Pavilion turned to Blan beside him.
"Rain's picking up. What now?"
"If no water inside, punch through quick. Should be fine... Scout first."
"Got it. Hang tight."
Pavilion kicked aside brush, revealing a perfectly hidden tunnel mouth. He tied his pack to his legs, ready to lead.
"How long's the tunnel?"
"Short. Exit's beyond that yellowish-leaved tree yonder."
Eyeballing it, about fifty meters. He could imagine the digger's hellish toil.
The six tied packs to legs with rope, lined up. Pavilion went first.
Less than a minute later, a voice echoed from inside.
"No water yet! Move quick!"
Tae-jin and Richer followed Pavilion.
Pavilion crawled like he was proving rabbits dig and live in burrows—astonishing speed, near walking pace.
Tae-jin slithered after. Tight but crawlable. No supports inside.
Dirt trickled where Pavilion passed, as if ready to bury anyone anytime.
Soon, Tae-jin emerged.
Squatting, untying his pack, Richer crawled out filthy next. Then Blan.
Then dirt poured at the entrance.
Clear danger sign. Blan yelled at the collapse.
"Castia! Oboe! Get out! Tunnel's bad!"
Mustache-man Castia scrambled out. But the entrance caved before he fully cleared, burying his lower half.
Pack snagged his legs, but Blan and Pavilion yanked him free quick.
Trouble was goatee Oboe—fully buried inside.
Freshly out Castia flopped by the collapsed mouth, yelling at the ground.
"Oboe! Hear me?"
The five pressed ears to earth. The other four heard nothing, but Pavilion caught Oboe's voice.
"Hold on!"
Richer asked.
"What’s he saying?"
"Bracing the dirt with his back, curled up holding."
Tae-jin pondered. Pavilion started digging with hands. But Blan and Castia hesitated, not helping.
"Guys, what're you doing?"
Pavilion answered.
"These bastards wanna ditch him."
Tae-jin gaped.
"Leave goatee buried?"
"Smugglers do. If someone's nabbed or lags, standard to abandon. Get caught smuggling? Years in prison, or death depending on goods."
Pavilion yelled at the pair.
"You fucks! Guards come, bolt if you must—but try saving him first! Over a year together, and you ditch Oboe without blinking?"
Blan shot back.
"My brother's still locked up from a border grab! Think I like this?"
Tae-jin started magic to dig but stopped. Recall: magic near border triggers Alarm.
Richer watched silently, ready to follow Tae-jin's lead.
"Old timer. Magic here triggers Alarm, right?"
"Yeah."
"Guards far enough we escape?"
"Dunno. Slim chance."
Tae-jin eyed Pavilion clawing the dirt.