The Compass (3)
I had obtained the free time I wanted, just as planned.
It was thanks to Rohbark turning my assigned patrol area into a flat plain.
'To actually make that happen.'
Even looking back on it, it was utterly absurd.
Considering Rohbark's temperament, though, it made perfect sense.
While the other trainees finished their duties, I stepped out of City Hall alone.
The guards on watch duty all turned to me in unison.
"Young master! Hail!"
"...You've all worked hard."
Dickferji's security force, crawling with disguised Red Ghosts, had no choice but to disband.
The resulting vacancy was temporarily filled by the main family's guards.
They expressed their loyalty to me excessively from every corner, leaving me unsure how to react as I passed by.
"It's Kirian, the young master!"
"Loyalty!"
"..."
I settled for nodding vaguely.
And giving a casual wave.
As I stepped outside City Hall, gazes poured in from all directions, recognizing the cloak I wore.
This, at least, felt familiar.
'Triumphal processions always followed major battles.'
I walked on steadily, enduring the citizens' stares.
Then a voice came from behind.
"You're taking this surprisingly well. Almost like you're used to it."
It was Obri, her arm wrapped in bandages.
"Yeah, probably because I'm direct lineage."
"I see. So your strength comes from being direct lineage too?"
"That too, I suppose."
"Your vague answers are wounding my pride..."
As a sixth-year, she had no separate assignment.
She seemed intent on tagging along with me.
But I couldn't show her the process of finding Doderek's compass.
"How far are you planning to follow?"
"Just to the city center."
Fine, then.
I kept walking, exchanging idle chit-chat with Obri.
Dickferji was a sizable trade city, full of sights.
Double-headed carriages and mana-powered automobiles raced side by side on well-paved roads.
Streetlamps and neon signs made from processed low-grade magic crystals flickered on one by one, defying the sunset glow.
A peace unimaginable five hundred years ago.
'Good times.'
[Far different from those days of blood every single day.]
In a way, it was strange.
The Demon King still existed, yet the atmosphere had changed so much.
Perhaps the Red Mist in the north was a barrier sealing Ulfrik away?
"...Kirian."
Lost in such musings, Obri quietly called my name.
We had reached the end of what could be called the city center.
She brought up something out of the blue.
"My graduation project was to protect you for a full year."
"What? Why would they assign something like that?"
"Who knows. The dean decided it, so I had no choice but to obey."
"Hmm..."
I scratched my cheek.
A graduation project was a crucial step for a trainee advancing to researcher.
It felt awkward that mine had twisted it into something weird.
But Obri drew a bizarre conclusion.
"Now I think I know why the dean gave me this assignment."
"...?"
"I lack the qualifications to protect you."
"Not ability, but qualifications?"
"Yes. Qualifications."
What was she talking about?
Even pureblood elves didn't speak in such riddles.
Obri gazed at her broken arm and sighed.
"I've trained diligently, but I'm still far from enough. There's only one way to wash away this shame: grow strong enough that no one envies me."
"No, you don't have to take it that seriously..."
"I'm not advancing to researcher. I'm becoming an officer and joining the northern front."
"..."
Trainees had various paths, but most aimed to become researchers and climb to professor.
Serving even a year as a professor in the Kirchheis school's faction meant lavish treatment and career boosts anywhere.
Yet Obri declared she'd join the military.
"I've heard monsters still appear frequently on the northern front. Magic realms seep through the Red Mist."
"That's why it's the front lines. I'll hone my skills in real combat."
Not a bad choice.
Real battle was the ultimate training.
As I nodded silently, Obri smirked.
"No regrets from you, huh."
"Any reason to?"
"Yeah, I suppose. Take care until we meet again, Kirian."
The half-elf turned and quickly faded into the distance.
Hierniorn materialized with a low sigh.
[Ha! What a pity.]
"What's so pitiful?"
[You're as clueless about romance as ever. Time for some self-reflection.]
"Ow! Get off!"
The phoenix, shrunken to sparrow size, pecked my earlobe—painfully sharp.
I shoved Hierniorn away and resumed my path.
If Obri was heading to the northern front, we'd cross paths again soon.
It bordered my destination, after all.
'Leaving the school for real combat experience to grow stronger. She knows her stuff.'
People in this era tended to believe everything could be achieved in labs and training halls.
In any case, I passed through Dickferji's walls and turned onto the hillside path.
At the same time, I whispered into Iphril's ring.
"Come out."
Fwosh!
A flash of light, and a small girl burst forth.
Her face blank with shock.
Traveling via connection points normally required immense mana.
But after several improvements, I'd drastically reduced the cost.
Especially for those bound to restricted zones.
The Red Ghost glared at me.
"You, you...!"
"What."
"What did you do to me?"
"That again?"
"The proof of my contract with the Leader is gone! What did you do? Tell me!"
The Red Ghosts' king, the Leader.
A figure shrouded in mystery.
Higher-ranking Red Ghosts formed a Blood Contract with him to receive power.
"You... what was your name again?"
"You mad bastard?"
"Hm, Mad Bastard, huh. Unique."
"Parasha! It means 'butterfly'!"
Parasha had barely secured a contract as a Follower.
But Dumroad and I had erased it.
It was such shoddy contract magic that mere scrutiny shattered it.
So we replaced it with a new leash.
By linking the Vampire Choker to the connection point, binding her to the restricted zone.
With my Dominator Trait, I could control her.
"The power I lent you working well, Parasha?"
"Yeah! Enough to kill you right here!"
"Then shut up and walk ahead."
"...!"
Clop. Clop.
At my command, Parasha obediently started walking.
Her bewildered expression was amusing.
"What the hell did you do to me?!"
"The necklace around your neck is the medium. Wear it like that, and you can borrow power. But you obey my orders."
"No way!"
"Don't like it? Rip it off. You'll be free. Do whatever."
Strictly speaking, Parasha obeyed Dumroad.
But as Dumroad's command authority holder, the chain extended to me.
Loosely enough that she could break it if she tried.
"You think I can't rip it off?!"
Parasha grabbed the choker.
But her fist lacked strength.
She just gripped it, grinding her teeth.
"What? Too sturdy? Want me to do it?"
"D-don't come closer!"
"One choice: use the power or live free. Can't have both."
"..."
Parasha pondered, eyes wavering.
She released the choker with a deep sigh.
"I gave up everything for Red Ghost power. For revenge. Promise one thing: you won't interfere with my revenge."
"Revenge on who?"
"Some mage. My parents' killer."
I nodded readily.
"Sure. I promise not to interfere."
"...That easy? You didn't even ask who. What if it's your kin?"
"I promised not to interfere, not to help."
"Ugh..."
I'm racing toward revenge on Ulfrik too.
A goal known only to the guardian spirit and Dumroad.
I believed in keeping the target's identity secret as much as possible, so I didn't pry.
Even if it was a Kirchheis?
'She'll handle it herself.'
Not my problem.
Parasha muttered meekly.
"Thanks. If I'd known, I'd have opened up sooner..."
"Lead the way. Didn't summon you for chit-chat."
I pushed her forward.
A bit farther, the hillside steepened, revealing a plateau.
A low fence encircled it, with graves and tombstones scattered about.
Curators wandered lazily.
Parasha halted.
"This is a battle ruin? Where Ulfrik fought the demon legion five hundred years ago...?"
"Listen up. Here's your job."
I pointed at the curators.
"See them? Go bluff convincingly. Pretend you brought me here. Got it?"
"Huh? No clue."
"Act like a guide. Say you know something's hidden here."
This was why I called Parasha.
As we approached with her in front, the curators blinked and came over.
"Huh? Isn't that the Kirchheis young master?"
"Kirian! What brings you here?"
"And who's this...?"
I nudged her out of sight, and Parasha stammered.
"I-I'm a guide. I know something. So... there's something important hidden in this battle ruin... and Kirian here is really curious about it... uh... yeah, something like that..."
A mess of an explanation.
But the curators bought it.
"Ah, well, it's a Kirchheis site, so of course the young master is curious."
"I've long thought Allmaster's artifacts might be buried here. Never confirmed, though."
"Come in! We'll guide you!"
Nice folks, but I couldn't let them see me digging.
I nudged Parasha again; this time, a quick excuse popped out.
"He, he likes to explore quietly! Just us!"
"Thanks for your hard work, everyone."
I handed each a silver coin; they left beaming.
Inside the ruins, an eerie familiarity washed over me.
Not eerie—I'd been here five hundred years ago.
Anyway, it might be here somewhere.
'Doderek's compass.'
An artifact inscribed with Ulfrik's teachings.
The problem: no clue where or how it was buried.
How to find it—
[Hey! Cowards! Assemble! No running today!]
Land Spirits who treated the earth like home.
This time, I'd put them to proper use.