Chapter 19: Camping (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 19: Camping (1)
The casting of [Frost Explosion] concluded.
Garzia was trapped within a massive block of ice, his body riddled with scars. As the spell reached its end, the ice shattered, disintegrating into a pale blue powder before scattering into the void.
Soon after, Garzia’s body crumbled into ashen dust, vanishing futilely into the air.
“Is it over?”
“It’s over.”
The moment the enemy’s resurrection spell was neutralized, Kaya immediately confirmed the outcome.
[Congratulations! You’ve defeated the demon [Garzia the Hermit (Lv. 110)] and gained EXP!]
[Level Up!! Your level has increased to 40!]
[You have gained 8 additional bonus stat points!]
Shortly after, the [Hunter] trait deactivated. My body suddenly felt heavy—a jarring sensation I could never quite get used to.
Thud—
At that moment, one of the weapons Garzia had been holding hit the ground. It was a dagger encased in a black sheath. I picked it up immediately.
[You have obtained the loot: [Sheath of Disaster]!]
[Sheath of Disaster]
If you engrave a magic circle onto the sheath and infuse it with the required mana, the spell can be cast directly from the sheath's location.
Limit: 5-star magic
Cooldown: 10 minutes
Rating: Tier 1
The [Sheath of Disaster]. This was an immensely powerful item that would significantly broaden my tactical options.
When using a spell engraved on the sheath, there was no active mana consumption because the mana had to be stored within it beforehand. The blade inside was a mere facade; beneath the magnificent exterior was just an ordinary dagger.
“Sir Isaac, what is that?”
“A weapon the demon possessed. I’m retrieving it.”
This is mine now. Heh.
Suppressing the urge to hum, I tucked the [Sheath of Disaster] into my magic pouch.
“Now…”
With Garzia the Hermit defeated, the Disaster Ants should have been destroyed as well. However, because I had frozen them, they remained trapped in ice, unable to move or dissipate.
I reached out and deactivated the frost covering the entire cave. The ice disintegrated into pale blue powder, dispersing like a cloud of fireflies. For a brief moment, the massive release of mana looked like a fireworks display. I could tell from Kaya’s soft exclamation that she found the sight beautiful as well.
The Disaster Ants, who had been standing in perfect formation, quickly turned to ashen dust and vanished.
At that moment, a system window flashed before my eyes.
[Congratulations! You’ve defeated 300 [Disaster Ants (Lv. 70)] and gained EXP!]
[Level Up!! Your level has increased to 50!]
[You have unlocked the achievement: ❰Genocide❱! You have gained 10 additional bonus stat points!]
“…”
Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold on a second.
When I defeated Garzia in 「Act 2, Chapter 4」 of ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, all the Disaster Ants were destroyed as a consequence, but the player received zero EXP for them. The only way to get experience was to defeat the ants directly.
To make matters worse, the ants usually didn't attack all at once; they used complex tactics to pressure the player, making it impossible to wipe them all out.
However, by freezing the entire cave, I had technically "touched" every single Disaster Ant. The system judged that I had dealt with the entire population myself.
As a result, I had just hit the experience jackpot and secured the [Genocide] achievement.
“Oh, ohh…!”
Just as I was about to shout in triumph, I caught Kaya’s gaze. I cleared my throat and regained my composure.
No, no, I can’t lose it here. I can celebrate after I part ways with Kaya. Until then, I need to keep this joy under wraps.
…Hahaha!
“Sir Isaac?”
“Kaya, I have a favor to ask.”
“…What is it?!”
Kaya’s green eyes sparkled with expectation, like a curious child eager to help.
[Kaya Astrea]
Lv: 93
Race: Human
Elements: Wind, Ice
Danger: X
Psychology: [Delighted at the thought of doing you a favor.]
It’s nice that she’s happy, but isn’t that a bit of a servant’s mindset…?
In any case, she had gained co-op EXP and leveled up as well. Even though she was already in the 90s and her level only increased by two, the raw amount of EXP must have been massive. Her performance in this battle had clearly been deemed excellent.
Well, I had to admit, I was glad things worked out this way. If Kaya hadn't been here, I would have been in serious trouble.
Now, there was only one thing left to do.
“I’m going to retrieve those now,” I said, pointing to the pale yellow magic stones, Zephrim, scattered across the ground. “Help me out.”
Be honest, you got stronger thanks to me, right? I can ask for this much.
“All right!”
Kaya agreed enthusiastically.
I handed her one of the empty magic pouches. She moved to the opposite corner of the cave and began collecting the Zephrim. Using her powerful wind magic, she gathered the scattered stones into a single pile in seconds. Thanks to her, I was able to sweep up the entire haul with ease.
“But what are all these magic stones for?” she asked while depositing the Zephrim into the pouch.
I didn't see a reason to lie, so I answered truthfully. “They’re materials used for forging weapons.”
“Are you planning to craft a weapon?”
“No, I’m going to sell them. I’m collecting them to make money.”
Kaya nodded as if she understood. “You were short on Guel because you were pretending to be weak. If you had just told me, I would have helped you anytime.”
That’s a bit much…
Kaya was the second-ranked student of the first-year Magic Department and the daughter of Duke Astrea. If a Grade E commoner like me were seen having a "friendly" meal with her, the rumors would be a nightmare.
“I don't need that,” I answered sternly.
*
On the journey back, Kaya and I climbed the dark, uphill path leading out of the underground labyrinth, guided only by the glow of a luminous lamp.
The magic bag, now stuffed with two pouches full of Zephrim, weighed heavily on my shoulder. Add the [Sheath of Disaster] to that, and…
It’s almost full to bursting.
“Sir Isaac.”
As we walked through the silence, Kaya suddenly spoke up.
“What was that black ice from earlier?”
As expected. I had been wondering when she’d ask.
[Black Ice] was a magic created by combining the ice and dark elements. While one couldn't definitively call it "demon magic" just because it was black, it was natural for her to have doubts in this situation. If I dodged the question, her imagination would likely run wild.
Should I make something up?
There was no need. I decided to be mostly honest.
“Did you use a magic tool to change the color or something?” she prompted.
“It’s demon magic.”
“…!”
Kaya’s eyes widened.
Whiiing—!
She immediately recoiled, wind magic swirling around her feet as she took a defensive stance. Her face was tense with alertness.
[Kaya Astrea]
Psychology: [Wonders if you are a demon.]
See? This is exactly what happens.
I stopped walking and said calmly, “…I defeated a demon in the past and obtained an item.”
“An item?”
“The [Remnant of Darkness]. It’s a Tier 1 item that combines dark mana with my own elemental mana, allowing me to learn new magic. That’s how I can use Black Ice.”
The term "Tier" referred to an item’s rarity. The lower the number, the more valuable it was—and Tier 1 was the absolute highest grade.
Did that sound too much like a rehearsed explanation? Does she think I’m lying?
“…”
Three seconds passed. Three eerily silent seconds where time seemed to stand still. Finally, Kaya lowered her gaze and nodded. She seemed to have reached her own conclusion.
[Kaya Astrea]
Psychology: [Trusts you.]
I had defeated a demon right in front of her. That alone was proof enough that I wasn't on their side.
“I’m sorry for doubting you,” Kaya said, relaxing her guard and returning to my side.
Twenty minutes later, we emerged from the Tantak Underground Cave. We were greeted by a starry night sky and a sweeping view of the gorge, the forest, and the unpaved road. Perhaps it was because our spirits were high, but the scenery looked particularly beautiful.
“We finally made it… Thank you for your hard work, Sir Isaac.”
“Yeah.”
“But… how are we getting back to the dormitory?”
“…?”
“…?”
…Oh, right. How was she planning to get back?
“Aren’t you going to camp?” I asked.
“…?”
Wait, seriously?
It was an hour’s walk from here to the carriage stop. It was already late, so the service would have ended long ago. There were no inns nearby, either. Furthermore, there was a limit to how far Kaya could fly using wind magic.
Condensing enough wind to carry a person while maintaining a steady output consumed an enormous amount of mana. Even at Kaya’s level, she would run dry after about three minutes of sustained flight.
“Did you really come all this way without a plan?” I asked.
Kaya silently lowered her head, her face turning beet red.
[Kaya Astrea]
Psychology: [Embarrassed to show her clumsy side.]
…Well, that’s understandable.
She never imagined I intended to camp out and had simply followed me blindly.
“…Follow me. I’ll take care of it.”
“Huh?”
Kaya looked up, her face filled with skepticism. A literal question mark seemed to hover over her head.
*
We stopped in the middle of the gorge.
The crescent moon reflected off the rippling stream, and the high walls of the gorge kept the wind at bay. The ground was flat and quiet—the perfect camping spot.
I began pulling supplies out of my magic pouch. First, I unfolded a simple tent and set it up with practiced ease. With a blanket and a luminous lamp placed inside, it looked surprisingly cozy. Then, I pulled out two makeshift chairs. It was a good thing I’d brought extras just in case.
Kaya just stood there, blinking. She seemed stunned that I had actually come prepared for a full camping trip.
“You came here with all of this…”
“Of course. I’d catch a cold otherwise.”
I had overspent on the gear, but I figured the profit from the Zephrim would more than cover it. It turned out to be the right call.
“Kaya, can you gather some firewood?”
“Oh, are you going to start a campfire?”
I nodded.
“I’ll be back soon!”
Kaya wrapped herself in wind magic and soared toward the forest above the gorge. With her magic, gathering wood would be trivial. Since I had helped her get stronger and was providing the shelter, I figured I could ask for this much.
I sat in a folding chair and placed a dimmed luminous lamp in front of me.
Let’s see.
I took the [Sheath of Disaster] out and examined it. Fine scratches covered the black surface, and it felt slightly rough to the touch. It looked old and plain—perfect for catching an opponent off guard.
Shuk—
I drew the dagger. The edge was moderately sharp, but it was ultimately just a normal weapon. Still, it would be useful in a pinch. I set the blade aside and focused on the sheath.
I planned to engrave the [Frost Explosion] magic circle onto this sheath. Once finished, I could trigger the spell without consuming any active mana. I wouldn't have to channel mana or even strike a pose. It was the ultimate hidden ace.
Of course, the 10-minute cooldown was a factor, and I’d need to pre-load it with mana equal to the cost of the spell. I’d likely only get one shot per battle, but that one shot would be enough to decide the outcome.
Naturally, I had to actually know the spell first. I had reached Level 50 today, so I should be able to learn [Frost Explosion] soon. Ideally, I wanted it mastered before the PvP Performance Evaluation.
“I’m back, Sir Isaac.”
Kaya had returned already. Beside her, a small whirlwind kept a bundle of firewood spinning in the air.
She’s fast. She’d make a great soldier.
Then again, life in the Astrea mansion probably isn't much different from the military.
“Good job.”
“…!”
[Kaya Astrea]
Psychology: [Delighted to hear your praise.]
She’s like a puppy.
I felt a bit embarrassed. Had I ever had this much influence over someone? I couldn't remember anything similar since I was a class leader in elementary school.
Regardless, it was time to light the fire. I took a fire magic scroll from my pouch, spread it on the ground, and weighed it down with a stone. I infused it with mana, and a soft flame flickered to life.
「Fire Generation (Fire Element, ★1)」
Elemental scrolls only went up to 2-stars because of mana storage limits, but a 1-star scroll was more than enough for daily life. Kaya released her wind magic, stacking the wood over the scroll. Before long, the wood caught, and the campfire was complete.
“Sit down,” I said, pointing to the chair next to me.
“Yes, sir!”
The bonfire was warm, but the night air was still biting. I wrapped myself in a blanket and tossed the spare to Kaya. She thanked me, huddling into the fabric just as I had.
Next, I heated some water over the fire and handed her a cup of warm tea. Kaya seemed amused by the sheer variety of things I was pulling out of my bag, a small grin playing on her lips.
“It’s so warm…”
Kaya’s expression softened, her tension melting away.
Crackle.
The sound of the burning wood filled the silence. We sat there, sipping tea and watching the flames. The silence wasn't uncomfortable.
It’s been a while since I’ve felt this relaxed…
In fact, it was the first time I’d felt truly at peace since transmigrating into ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱. It had been a month and a half of non-stop grinding, pushing myself to become strong enough to face the final boss, the Evil God Nephid. Perhaps that was why this moment felt so foreign.
“…”
Memories of my past life drifted through my mind like the smoke from the fire. It was a life I tried hard not to regret. Even though I had ended up here, I had no intention of giving up. If I gave up now, everything I had struggled for—the exams, the training, the studying—would be for nothing.
It was hard. The magic training, the physical conditioning, the constant studying… there were days when 24 hours didn't feel like enough. But you get used to the hardship. I was managing.
As I sat there in the quiet, my thoughts began to wander. I felt lucky that, of all people, one of the characters I liked most from the game was sitting right next to me. It provided a strange kind of psychological comfort.
She must have finished her tea by now.
I turned to offer her another cup.
“…?”
For some reason, Kaya had her head bowed low, her face a deep shade of crimson. Steam practically seemed to be rising from her head.
Had she caught a cold in the cave? Or was she just embarrassed to admit she was shivering?
Worried about her condition, I checked her Status Window.
[Kaya Astrea]
Psychology: [Extremely nervous at the thought of being alone with you.]
I was a fool for worrying.