Chapter 29
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 029
Chapter Title: The Mage and the Sinner (4)
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"That's not a big deal."
When I replied nonchalantly, Bear fixed me with a piercing glare.
The emotion radiating from him was clear: distrust.
He seemed convinced I was just bragging to him.
"But first, I need your firm commitment. If I make it possible for you to meet Gloria, you'll serve as my bodyguard. Got it?"
Bear didn't take his eyes off my face.
He was trying to gauge if I was lying or telling the truth.
My confidence seemed too bold for mere bluster, which only made him suspicious.
"Fine."
"Good. Then shall we go meet her right now? Oh, first I need to get those stocks off you. Guess I'll have to ask Sir Jade."
As I said that...
Crack!
Suddenly, there was the sound of wood splintering.
Bear had flexed his arms and shattered the stocks binding his wrists through sheer force.
With his hands now free, he grabbed the part around his neck and crushed it too.
The stocks were pretty thick, yet they crumbled under his strength.
"Whoa..."
An exclamation slipped out of me unbidden.
His raw power exceeded even my expectations—it was genuine awe.
"If anything you've said so far is a lie, you'll die by my hand."
A moment later, fully freed, Bear looked down at me and spoke flatly.
He'd looked imposing even hunched over in the stocks, but standing straight, he truly resembled a giant.
Before learning magic, I wouldn't have dared meet his eyes—the aura pouring off him was that intense.
But that was all.
Even someone like him would lose his life to a single spell from me.
With that thought, my mind eased.
"To summon Gloria, I'll need a medium. Do you have anything she used in life? Doesn't matter what."
Bear fell silent at my question.
Then he unpinned a brooch from his collar and handed it to me.
A small leaf-shaped brooch made of wood, polished smooth from years of handling.
"Gloria's possession?"
"Yeah. Is this enough?"
"Perfect. Now guide me somewhere secluded. Summoning her here amid all these people would be too risky."
I glanced around.
Ever since Bear broke his stocks with brute force, passersby in the square were staring our way.
If I summoned Gloria's thought body here?
People would fetch the village priest in no time.
And I'd be branded a necromancer.
"This way."
Bear, who'd been staring straight into my eyes, turned and strode off somewhere.
The place Bear led me to was an old barn on the village outskirts.
No door, so you could see inside from outside—but I could just summon the thought body in the far corner to fix that.
In short, a perfect spot to get to work.
"Need anything else?"
"I told you, that's it."
As I stepped into the barn, Bear asked.
I answered and moved deeper inside, to a spot hidden from outside view.
Then I pulled the brooch he'd given me from my leather pouch.
"Gloria can only stay in this world for about ten minutes. Say what you need to within that time."
I cautioned Bear, who nodded solemnly, his face tense.
With that, I cast the Thought Body Summon spell.
'Ugh!'
The moment I did, a massive surge of mana drained from my body.
Right after, the brooch floated into the air.
Bear, watching breathlessly, widened his eyes.
The wooden ornament had shattered to pieces.
Pop!
The destroyed brooch's fragments spun in place before crumbling to dust and scattering.
In its spot appeared a translucent figure.
A kind-faced woman.
"Gloria...!"
Bear reached out toward her form.
His hand trembled visibly.
"Remember: ten minutes is all you get."
I reminded him once more, then stepped out of the barn.
A courtesy to let them have their moment.
Also to keep watch for anyone approaching.
It was a big risk for me too, so I had to stay vigilant.
As I stood guard outside the barn, Bear's voice faintly leaked from within.
Sorry.
Those were his first words.
'Better put some more distance between us.'
I had no habit of eavesdropping on others.
So I backed away from the barn until his voice faded.
The quiet surroundings naturally lent themselves to contemplation.
'The east it is, after all.'
What to do next?
Asking myself that, I settled on heading east.
Why the east specifically?
Several reasons, but the biggest influence was the grimoire.
I needed one most of all.
'Head east, help a noble or meet another mage—whatever it takes to get a grimoire.'
I'd seen and heard plenty on the journey here.
The east was a mess.
Bandits swarmed from massive peasant uprisings.
Not content with that, black mages lurking there stirred even more chaos.
And heretics joined the fray!
It was utter pandemonium.
Which made the east a land of opportunity for me.
In disorder, power held the highest value.
'The Silent Conformists are a bit concerning, though...'
According to Master's guess, at least ten teams dispatched to the east.
Over thirty people.
Not so many that I'd likely run into them by chance.
But our goals overlapped, which nagged at me.
They hunted mages.
And that's who I sought too.
Bad luck could mean crossing paths while chasing a grimoire.
'Still, I can't pass up this chance.'
With Master around, I could've grown stronger safely without such risks.
But he's gone now.
I might never reunite with him, so I planned for the worst.
Hence this bold scheme.
'Head east. Ally with nobles for support, crush black mages or heretics for loot. Simple and solid.'
I finalized my thoughts.
A feasible plan, given I could overpower most mages.
This world's mages weren't all that skilled overall.
Learning magic was incredibly hard to begin with, and even successes often stalled due to side effects.
They shied from new spells.
All good for me.
Letting someone who'd only read nine grimoires operate freely as a mage.
'Hm?'
Then, I sensed movement behind me.
Turning, I saw Bear emerging from the barn.
What, already ten minutes up?
Guess I'd lost track, deep in thought.
"Said everything you wanted?"
"Yes."
Bear answered my question.
His demeanor had shifted—polite now, treating me like a superior.
Very satisfactory.
"Then let's head back."
"Um, Mage."
"Call me Heros."
"Yes, Lord Heros. Thank you truly."
"Glad I could help."
With my reply, the talk ended.
Bear clammed up after saying his piece.
So I asked the questions.
"Sir Jade mentioned you've traveled far and wide."
"Yes."
"Must've had all sorts of experiences. Ever seen a mage?"
Genuine curiosity.
Of the mages I'd met, only Master, Rozanna, and her apprentice Melissa were legit.
The rest? Black mages.
"Three times."
"Oh? What was their magic like?"
"The one in the west controlled wind. Made for smooth sailing."
Wind magic? Gust spell, maybe?
Not bad.
Plenty of uses.
"Another western mage made pots that breathed fire."
"Fire-breathing pots?"
"Yes. Great for cooking on the road."
Couldn't tell if he was an earth or fire mage, but he clearly knew magic tool creation.
I needed that too!
Steady income from useful tools.
A reliable funding source.
"Finally, the central one... handled souls. Let me meet my dead lover."
"Sounds like me."
"Yes."
"Don't mention that around others. If word spreads I use necromancy, trouble's guaranteed."
"Understood."
Bear replied earnestly.
He seemed sincere—trustworthy.
Still, better not get complacent.
Some precautions wouldn't hurt.
"One more thing: I handle not just souls, but fire and lightning too. If you introduce me, say lightning or fire mage."
A show of strength.
Letting him know I had power.
Even if he turned treacherous, he'd think twice.
'Done what I can.'
As I wrapped up...
Bear spoke.
"Lord Heros, one question."
"Shoot."
"What’s it like living as a mage?"
"Same as anyone else. Mages are human too."
Still, no regrets becoming one.
Magic gave me power, let me live on my terms.
Sure, my life was at risk—but it was before too.
'Magic can't solve everything, but it turns impossible into possible. That's enough.'
Yeah, it was.