Chapter 22
Chapter 22
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Job Selection (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
A mysterious Swordmaster.
Presumed to be from the Empire with high probability.
He scanned me up and down before asking,
"A personal airship equipped with defensive magic formations must cost a fortune. It seems your family is quite wealthy, young master."
"Excluding the nobility, our Nuboten family dares to claim to be the richest in the kingdom."
It's actually a thriving merchant house.
The key to a solid lie is building it on a foundation of truth—it won't crumble.
"So, where were you headed, young master?"
"I came out far to grant my maid's wish to see some monsters, and then...
If it weren't for you, sir knight, we would have been in real trouble. Thank you sincerely once again."
This polite demeanor would never overlap with the image of that wastrel prince.
Even if the Swordmaster noted my appearance, he wouldn't suspect a thing.
The elf Object shot me a look that said, 'When did I say that?'—just for my eyes.
The Swordmaster burst into hearty laughter.
"Fulfilling the wish of a beautiful lady is a knight's duty. I like your boldness, young master. Follow me. I'll show you my splendid monsters."
No, I just want to part ways right here.
"There are many dangerous monsters in the Karbalon Mountains.
But now that I've slain the Wyvern Lord, there's no need to fear the rest. Just trust me and follow along."
"Thank you for the kind words, sir knight, but my maid seems quite shaken, so if we could just..."
"How do you plan to navigate out of these treacherous Karbalon Mountains without an airship?"
"...I know it's presumptuous, but could we trouble you to escort us to the nearest village? My family will reward you generously."
"Hoho, but I have no intention of leaving the mountains right away. You'll have to travel with me for a few days."
"In that case, all the better. Thanks to you, sir knight, my maid will get to see some rare monsters up close."
"Let's get moving then. Anything you need from the airship?"
"Just disposable items."
The knight, who had briefly vanished, returned dragging a bundle of iron chains.
He wrapped them tightly around the Wyvern Lord's corpse and began dragging it along.
Only then did the elf Object's eyes widen in astonishment.
I wrapped an arm around the Object's waist and walked, acting as if she were my cherished concubine.
At the same time, I wrote on her palm with my other hand to communicate.
Swordmaster. High chance he's from the Empire.
The Object wrote back on my palm.
Is that why you're hiding your identity?
He never revealed his name. He's infiltrated our kingdom for nefarious purposes.
I focused on playing the role of a rich young master soothing his startled concubine maid.
Prepare an escape spell just in case.
No mage can beat a Swordmaster in a one-on-one duel.
That's an ironclad truth.
The nameless knight lightly dragged the massive Wyvern Lord corpse around as he walked.
Witnessing a Swordmaster's raw strength firsthand left my jaw dropping.
Could Canelian do something like that?
Even while walking, the knight chattered nonstop.
Mostly legends of the Karbalon Mountains—monsters, dungeons, treasures, and such.
"I've heard tales of golden-furred goblins growing golden fleece in the Karbalon Mountains. How could a knight resist such a story?"
When I started looking tired from walking, he even fashioned a chair atop the Wyvern Lord corpse for me.
Riding in a carriage made from a Wyvern corpse being pulled by a Swordmaster...
Blink magic formation ready. Activate to teleport randomly about 100km toward the capital.
Truth 1: Mages can't beat peer-level knights.
Truth 2: Knights can't catch peer-level mages who are serious about fleeing.
The Object and I kept communicating via palm writing.
The knight, munching on dried meat as he sat, looked at us and laughed boisterously.
"You two look like honey's dripping from your eyes. Enjoy it while it lasts, haha."
The Object blushed faintly and averted her gaze.
Impressive acting skills.
Doesn't seem too dangerous. Is he acting too?
A Swordmaster wrapped in artifacts sneaking in to hunt uncertain golden goblins? Suspicious from the start.
I felt a twinge of regret for not bringing Canelian.
Then shouldn't we Blink out right now?
We've prepared for escape. Now we need to figure out why this guy's infiltrated my kingdom.
Could be hunting hidden epic monsters or scouting secret dungeons.
With Blink ready anytime, I'll squeeze out as much info as possible.
I can't tolerate a foreigner plundering treasures from my land.
The crackling campfire burned steadily.
The three of us sat around it, chewing on roasted jerky and chatting.
Silvret remained nestled in the prince's arms.
She had been utterly flustered when he suddenly pulled her close at first.
In a situation like this, advances?
But the prince communicated ceaselessly via palm writing, preparing countermeasures.
Even now, he conversed with the unidentified Swordmaster verbally while writing nonstop on her palm.
Neither of us can sleep.
I can go days without rest. I'll keep watch.
Thanks.
Silvret's heart swelled at those words.
Is this really the same wastrel prince from before?
When he'd offered unlimited Mana Herbs for Raisha's magic training, she'd thought he lusted after her body.
But after experiencing the 'Eye Observing Magic' and completing the weather magic that had eluded her for 150 years, she realized.
He's not the old prince anymore.
Either the man had changed, or he had reasons for playing the wastrel.
Silvret recalled the moment the prince shattered starter magic formation errors with Canelian's aura.
Thanks to him demonstrating it repeatedly, she completed the weather magic.
Nestled in his arms like a concubine maid,
Silvret gazed up at the prince's face.
If the prince helps, I might reach the pinnacle of magic.
"Hohoho, the lady looks utterly smitten with the young master. Love's pouring from her eyes."
A wave of clear shame hit her.
Silvret buried her face in the prince's chest without thinking.
The prince pretended to stroke her while writing.
Good job. He doesn't suspect our relationship.
"She's utterly lovable. Not quite wife material, but perfect as a concubine."
Shring!
The knight suddenly drew his sword.
Silvret startled, lifted her head, and glanced at him.
His face, reflected in the firelight, was tense. She steeled herself.
Ready to activate the Blink formation anytime.
"Sir knight?"
"Of all things, the troublesome ones show up."
Fortunately, the knight's hostility wasn't directed at them.
The prince asked in a slightly tense voice,
"What's wrong?"
"Shadow Wolves."
Normal Shadow Wolves are level 11.
A razor-thin level gap for scraping up some experience.
But why is the Swordmaster tensing up over level 11s?
"Ten presences. But we can't let our guard down. The ones hidden in shadows don't register."
The knight rose, sword in hand.
"Trash mobs like these? Alone, a hundred or a thousand are no issue."
His tension was for us.
He sees us as helpless civilians.
"Never look at your own shadow. A wolf hidden inside will leap out and bite."
"Understood, sir knight."
Ah, these NPCs don't know the Shadow Wolf pack farming method.
Level 10 bracket Shadow Wolf pack farming is prime power-leveling.
To users, it's all over the guides—just tasty experience protein.
"Stay vigilant. I'm not used to fighting while protecting others."
"Understood, sir knight."
Ten gray wolves emerged from the darkness.
Eerie red eyes dripping malice.
Level 11s look intimidating in person.
I checked the elf Object.
She showed no worry.
Protecting Your Highness is no issue. But the knight will realize I'm an advanced mage. What now?
Leave the Shadow Wolves to me. I know the method.
Pardon?
The knight swung at the nearest Shadow Wolf.
I activated Discernment Eye to observe him.
His internal mana flow was stable.
Not the explosive power of Canelian's Aura Blade.
He doesn't want to reveal his full strength in front of us.
He went all-out on the Wyvern Lord... Ah, it landed on the ground, so no issue?
Wyvern Lord is strongest in the air; on land, even decent knights can handle it.
The knight methodically eliminated Shadow Wolves one by one.
But he couldn't touch those hidden in shadows.
He doesn't know the trick.
I grabbed a burning log from the campfire.
Kept my eyes on the fire.
Pretending to ignore everything behind me.
Then, in a flash, twisted my arm back and slammed the log into my shadow.
-Awooooo!
A pained wolf howl echoed from behind.
Only then did I turn around.
The log stuck in the Shadow Wolf's mouth from my shadow was searing its palate.
The Shadow Wolf whimpered, struggling to escape the shadow.
This was its most vulnerable moment.
Put your shadow behind you, face forward, and jab fire backward—it impales their mouth.
Forced out of the shadow, it enters a defenseless state.
Precious experience protein for easy sweeping in the level 10 bracket.
"How...?"
The knight stared at me in shock.
I feigned panic and excitement, relentlessly burning the Shadow Wolf's mouth with the flaming log.
"D-Die!"
The defenseless Shadow Wolf couldn't withstand the log thrashing inside its mouth.
It vanished into dark particles without escaping my shadow.
"Young Master Jeguelle! Impressive! How did you take it down? No—finish it off first, explanations later!"
One kill shot me straight to level 2.
Choosing my first job now unlocks three skills.
I really can't grow through training alone.
Have to hunt monsters or clear dungeons like in a game for experience.
No quests yet?
So my job will be...
I'd agonized over it fiercely.
Thief or unarmed fighter lines for assassination immunity.
Mage or engineer lines for superior national management.
Warrior line for balanced anti-assassination and war prowess.
And my final choice...
To defend the kingdom and lead its revival in the impending continental war storyline,
I need a mage sovereign.