Chapter 114
Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 114
Chapter Title: Guardian and Underground Tomb (2)
On the way back to the inn after leaving Dustin Castle.
Cedric glanced around, confirmed there was no one nearby to eavesdrop, and grumbled quietly.
"We presented the letter of introduction from Count Chester and even offered the skulls of a griffon and basilisk as gifts. But he wants to test us! Isn't this an insult to Sir Heros?"
Cedric clearly wasn't pleased that Count Dustin had set a trial for me.
"He's just checking what I'm capable of. Plus, it'll conveniently eliminate a threat near the city."
I replied as I recalled the count's trial.
The task was simple.
Wipe out the band of monsters settled near the city.
Though called a band of monsters, there were surely several among them who had already transformed into full-blown beasts.
'Not a bad deal for me.'
If I performed well in the trial, I could earn the count's favor and his support.
That was when Connell spoke up.
"Count Dustin seems to know what he's doing."
"I agree. Whether we succeed or fail in wiping them out, he loses nothing."
Succeed in wiping out the monsters?
Great—the threat near the city is gone.
Fail?
Perfect excuse not to support me.
Either way, Count Dustin came out ahead.
"What's the plan, sir?"
"I'll exceed his expectations. That's the only way he'll acknowledge my skills."
I answered Connell's question readily.
The count had said he'd send retainers to observe the monster extermination.
Verifying my abilities would be their job.
So, I planned to show off my magic in a way that would leave them stunned.
That way, they'd go back and sing my praises to the count.
"First, let's drop our luggage at the inn and scout the monsters' location ourselves. That'll give us a feel for how to handle the trial."
I planned to form a scouting party with myself, the burly trio, six undead knights, Cedric, Pergal, and the giant.
Finding the monsters' lair wasn't hard.
Everyone knew where it was.
And with Cedric as our excellent guide, navigation was a breeze.
"I can smell it already."
Following Cedric toward the monsters' territory.
At some point, a foul stench assaulted our noses.
The reek of something rotting.
I wasn't the only one noticing—the others' faces soured too.
Of course, the golem and undead were unfazed.
"There it is."
That's when Cedric pointed ahead.
I looked.
Monsters shuffled about aimlessly.
Every one in bad shape.
Their mutations had progressed quite far.
One had a belly swollen like a jar; another sported six left arms.
At a glance, there were dozens of them.
But that wasn't the real issue.
"Grraaah—!"
A sudden guttural roar.
Looking toward the sound, I saw a massive lump of flesh moving amid the monsters.
It was literally just a lump of flesh.
Ball-shaped, no arms or legs, rolling around.
"What a sight."
Pergal muttered.
His face was stiff.
Not surprising—he was witnessing his own kind's fall with his own eyes.
'Plenty of monsters.'
Not as big as that flesh lump, but I spotted several other large beasts.
All grotesquely formed.
Like clumsy clay figures shaped by a child—rough and uneven.
And a few emanated mana.
Signs of a dark wizard's touch.
'It's suspicious that all these monsters and mutants are gathered in one spot. Maybe the dark wizards are amassing forces here to attack the city.'
Unfortunately, no dark wizards in sight.
But their intent was obvious.
"This is enough. Let's head back."
I turned around.
Monsters and mutants together numbered over two hundred.
A decent force.
But small enough for me to handle alone.
'This'll be fun.'
How to showcase my magic.
I pondered that on the way back to the inn.
The next day.
I headed to the monsters' lair with the count's three observers for the trial.
A young man, a middle-aged man, and a young woman.
The youth was a knight; the middle-aged man and woman were mages named Randolph and Matilda.
"Aren't you rushing a bit? You must still be weary from your journey."
Randolph asked leisurely.
The mana emanating from him felt steady and grounded.
An earth mage.
"I'm the impatient type. I like to get things done quickly so I can relax."
I replied, then observed Matilda.
Sensing the mana she held, its dynamic energy excited me a little.
Matilda was definitely a fire mage.
Someone so timid-looking handling flames?
Unexpected.
"We're almost there."
Suddenly, the knight spoke in a clipped tone.
A warning—the enemy was close.
And soon, the monsters came into view.
Same scene as yesterday.
"What now, sir?"
The knight asked quietly.
I decided to show rather than tell.
"Sir Gilbert, if you would."
I called to Gilbert, mindful of our audience.
He charged forward.
Darting through the enemy ranks, drawing the monsters' and mutants' attention.
"What the...?"
"Are you insane?"
"He'll get himself killed!"
The three observers cried out almost in unison.
My actions made no sense to them.
'How could sparrows comprehend a phoenix?'
Still, I spoke up.
Needed to calm them.
"Everyone, relax. It's all part of the plan."
They fell silent at my words.
But their faces still screamed confusion as they stared at me.
Nothing more to say.
They wouldn't get my strategy anyway.
'They're gathering nicely.'
A few minutes after Gilbert plunged into the fray.
Monsters and mutants trailed fast-moving him.
Exactly as intended.
'A mage's true hunt is herding the prey.'
With that, I called Gilbert back.
He'd drawn enough attention.
"That madman!"
Randolph gaped as Gilbert raced back with monsters and mutants hot on his heels.
The other observers paled.
But Heros's group remained calm.
Randolph couldn't fathom it.
Then, he sensed mana flowing from Heros.
Swish.
Weeds on the ground stirred on their own, binding the lead monsters' feet.
They toppled, losing balance.
As the horde stalled, Gilbert slipped away.
'A plant mage? But not just that. Can't take down a basilisk with plants alone. He must know other magic.'
Randolph watched Heros, his guess spot on.
Earth Compression
An invisible force spread squarely in the air, then slammed down over the enemies' heads.
Right after.
A massive boom shook the earth.
Monsters and mutants within the spell's range vanished in an instant.
Crushed flat.
"Huh?"
Matilda's eyes widened at the sight.
It baffled her.
Randolph explained.
"Earth magic."
Earth magic.
Randolph's specialty as an earth mage.
He marveled at the advanced earth magic Heros had just displayed, convinced he was an earth mage.
'An earth mage.'
Randolph's eyes gleamed as he focused on Heros.
Eager for more earth magic.
But Heros dashed his hopes.
Lightning Bolt
Sparks flew from the red gem at the tip of Heros's staff.
A thick, sharp beam of light shot out.
It struck the lead monster.
A blast, and the monster charred black.
But it didn't end there.
Dozens of lightning bolts erupted from the spot, spreading rapidly.
Dozens of forks from the initial bolt.
Monsters hit convulsed and collapsed.
"L-Lightning magic!"
Matilda cried, eyes wide.
Randolph was stunned too.
Lightning magic?
Over twenty years as a mage, and this was his first time seeing it.
That rare.
'A lightning mage...!'
To hide such power.
Randolph was shocked.
Then.
The area brightened suddenly.
"Hm?"
Randolph looked up.
Flaming embers drifted down.
Like a rain of fire.
No other way to describe it.
"Whoa! So pretty—!"
Matilda's awe beside him.
Randolph wondered.
'No damage from the flames. Not offensive. Why use this in a crisis?'
That moment.
Two small flames bloomed before Heros.
They swelled instantly into massive fireballs.
Roaring infernos radiating heat.
Visibly powerful.
"Dual casting..."
"I've never seen fire magic this intense!"
Randolph and Matilda gasped together.
But for different reasons.
Randolph admired the mana control; Matilda the raw power.
Flame Burst (Dual)
As the mages reeled.
The two fireballs hurtled toward the enemy.
And.
A deafening roar dyed the world red.
The spell's might promised fierce backlash.
Randolph braced his legs.
But nothing happened.
A transparent barrier shielded him from the wind.
When had he cast that?
Randolph analyzed amid the chaos.
'Wind magic...'
Plant, earth, lightning, fire, and wind.
Five types in short order.
Was that all?
'No way.'
Randolph was certain.
Heros wielded even more varieties.
Untapped spells remained.
Which made it all the more baffling.
'Mastering one school is hard enough. How does he wield so many so freely?'
Overwhelming talent.
Randolph witnessed it and felt humbled.
But his curiosity endured.
"What... are you?"
Randolph asked, voice trembling.
Pure intrigue.
He wanted to know more about this Heros.
Heros turned, flashed a grin.
"A mage."