Chapter 153: How to Deal with a Mage (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 153: How to Deal with a Mage (1)
Rattle, rattle.
Inside the carriage heading toward Dmitry, Felix checked the documents he had prepared in advance.
'Dmitry. The so-called holy land of blacksmiths in the Cairo Kingdom.'
He had heard the rumors. Cairo's steel was exceptionally high in quality, and most of it reportedly originated from Dmitry. In truth, it wasn't a place that held much interest for Felix. While swordsmen would visit Dmitry to commission weapons as if on a pilgrimage, most mages headed to Kronos.
The continent boasted thirteen Magic Towers.
Seven of them, including the Sky Magic Tower, were located in Kronos.
Although the Magic Towers were strictly classified as neutral factions, Kronos was regarded as the holy land of mages because the empire hosted more than half of them. Even the Phoenix Magic Tower had once hoped to settle in Kronos. They had only changed their destination to Frank because their influence was too weak, but the magical infrastructure established in Kronos was arguably the best on the continent.
In contrast, the Cairo Kingdom offered absolutely no merit.
There wasn't a single Magic Tower within its borders, and the kingdom's own institutions for training mages were abysmal. Had it not been for Roman Dmitry's letter, Felix could guarantee he would never have set foot in Cairo for personal business in his entire life.
'Roman Dmitry. The genius swordsman who emerged from the Cairo Kingdom and became the youngest to enter the continental rankings by defeating Butler. Though he hasn't formally participated in a Ranking Match yet, there is no doubt about his skill.'
He was the man of the hour.
Roman Dmitry's fame was a massive topic of discussion, even in Frank.
Usually, weak nations barely managed to place two or three people on the continental rankings. Yet, Roman Dmitry had defeated Butler while only in his mid-twenties. It was a common saying that from the "demonic" top 50 onward, no one from a weak nation—excluding the empires—dared to list their name. With the emergence of a genius who might break that barrier for the first time, even the people of Frank had etched Roman Dmitry's name into their memories.
Felix was no exception.
If it was an invitation from Roman Dmitry, he judged it was worth trusting.
Besides, according to his own inquiries, wasn't the Dmitry family incredibly wealthy, even by Cairo's standards?
'Roman Dmitry offered an unprecedented 1,000 gold per month in exchange for sparring with him. What on earth is he thinking? I don't know why he contacted me, someone in a far-off foreign land, but for the Phoenix Magic Tower, securing 6,000 gold for just half a year of work is a godsend. With that amount of money, we'll have the leeway to sustain ourselves for the time being.'
His mind was in turmoil.
This journey to Dmitry...
If only the Master of the Magic Tower hadn't vanished, Felix would have had no reason to suffer through such a long trip.
Slide.
He drew back the carriage curtain.
Outside the window, Dmitry was finally coming into view.
* * *
To be honest, he had held prejudices against Dmitry at first.
It was a remote territory.
Since Cairo itself wasn't particularly grand, a peripheral region within it was bound to be sloppy from top to bottom.
But what was this?
Right from the start, a massive castle wall caught his eye.
"…This is Dmitry?"
The outer wall alone was staggering.
Dmitry had mobilized the family's artisans to build the sturdiest and tallest castle walls in all of Cairo. The gleaming gray stones overwhelmed onlookers with their mere presence, and the magical patterns visible here and there showed they were fully prepared for magical attacks. It was far too excessive for a remote territory. Even if someone had told him this was the estate of Cairo's most prestigious noble family, it wouldn't have felt out of place.
Furthermore, atop the massive steel gate, Dmitry's guards moved in perfect unison, aiming their bows down at the carriage.
Even though it was a time of peace, they demanded his business without a single hint of laxity.
"State the purpose of your visit."
"I am Felix of the Phoenix Magic Tower. I have come at the invitation of Lord Roman Dmitry."
"We will verify this shortly."
Felix stepped out of the carriage and presented his identity.
The wait was brief.
The guards had already received the guest list in advance. After confirming Felix's appearance from a distance, they opened the outer layer of the double castle gates. Even if an unfortunate incident were to occur, an intruder might manage to attack a few guards, but breaching the walls and threatening the safety of Dmitry itself seemed utterly impossible.
Creeeak.
The gate opened.
The guards conducted their inspection with systematic precision.
Some verified Felix's face once more, while others meticulously searched the carriage for any dangerous items. It was a scene that evoked fresh admiration. While typical remote territories were prone to lax attitudes and a complete lack of system, Dmitry's guards didn't let their guard down for a single second.
That wasn't all.
Felix's eyes gleamed as he observed the guards' strides.
'They aren't just random rabble. They've received enough training to establish a clear, disciplined system.'
It was unexpected.
Dmitry was famous for its blacksmithing.
The family's military strength hadn't been highly rated, but this succession of surprises forced him to alter his perspective slightly. After concluding the brief but thorough inspection, Felix stepped inside and was welcomed by a clean, straight road stretching ahead, flanked by various sturdy buildings rising on both sides.
'It's certain. Dmitry is not some family rotting away in the countryside. The disciplined movements of the guards and the sturdy castle walls show they are prepared for war at any moment. And the interior reveals just how much wealth the Dmitry family is investing to create a thriving environment. To think such a family is undervalued simply because they are in a remote region. As expected, public rumors cannot be trusted.'
Suddenly, he recalled the sights he had seen before reaching the castle walls.
Just a year ago, the shabby environment of the slums would have caught anyone's eye, but that area had now been transformed into a clean, organized space.
Following a massive investment in the iron mine, Baron Romero had actively initiated internal improvements, heavily reflecting Roman's opinions. Not only did he train the soldiers and repair the castle walls in preparation for potential war, but he also completely overhauled the living conditions of the estate's residents. Baron Romero had always been a good lord. However, he lacked the experience to meticulously address every deficiency. Roman's advice had provided the path forward for Dmitry.
In just one year, Dmitry had completely transformed.
But for Felix, who had only just set foot in the territory, he naturally assumed that the Dmitry before his eyes had always been this way.
'Perhaps I underestimated Dmitry.'
As he headed closer to the inner castle, Felix's expectations swelled.
* * *
It was just as he expected.
The moment he met Roman Dmitry, he knew his swelling expectations were not misplaced.
"I am Roman Dmitry."
A handsome appearance and a powerful voice.
Though Roman had merely offered a handshake, Felix felt overwhelmed by his sheer presence.
'He is no ordinary man.'
Felix concealed his expression.
This meeting had a purpose.
Since the deal had not yet been finalized, he didn't want to show his hand so soon.
"I won't beat around the bush," Felix said the moment he sat down. "First, please confirm if the conditions mentioned in your letter are true. If you can guarantee them, we can discuss the specific clauses in earnest."
1,000 gold per month.
That was the condition that had drawn Felix all the way here.
If there was even the slightest exaggeration, Felix intended to storm out of the room, regardless of what else was said.
Roman replied smoothly.
"As stated in the letter, our conditions are clear. In exchange for being my sparring partner every day, we will pay you 1,000 gold per month, totaling 6,000 gold over six months. If necessary, we are willing to pay in advance on the first day of each month. While 1,000 gold is not a small sum, we consider it a gesture of trust."
"…Those are exceptionally good terms."
Advance payment.
Those words instantly built trust.
Since they were offering to pay upfront, there was no way it was a lie.
He believed Roman Dmitry.
He understood that Roman was willing to pay a fortune, but he still couldn't comprehend why he would go to such lengths.
"To be honest, I don't quite understand," Felix admitted. "If your sole purpose is sparring, there's no need to spend such a fortune. Even for just a hundred gold, there would be plenty of mages volunteering to be your sparring partner. So why on earth did you make this proposal to the Phoenix Magic Tower? I want to know why you singled me out, even going so far as to offer a massive sum of 1,000 gold."
Roman had specifically asked for Felix.
Facing the mage's demanding gaze, Roman didn't hide the truth.
"Since you ask so directly, I won't beat around the bush either. Although the Phoenix Magic Tower has been faltering recently, back when the Master of the Magic Tower was still active, you were called one of the greatest talents on the continent, Lord Felix. A 5th Circle mage in his thirties. In particular, I heard that the unique fire magic of the Phoenix Magic Tower boasts the greatest offensive power. 1,000 gold... by the standards of a Magic Tower, it is not an extraordinary sum. But because the Phoenix Magic Tower is currently in a difficult situation, I judged that I could buy your time. That is all. I wanted the most outstanding mage for a reasonable price, and that was you, Lord Felix."
It was a brutally candid statement.
While the praise of being outstanding was pleasant, being confronted with the harsh reality of his faltering Magic Tower made it impossible for Felix to smile.
"I do not ask much of you, Lord Felix. However, please do your best. I will hold you entirely blameless regardless of whether I am injured or killed in the process. Give it your all at every moment. If you can promise me just that one thing, Dmitry will never break its deal with you."
At those words, Felix wore a strange expression.
The request to give it his all...
Somehow, it sounded as if Roman Dmitry was absolutely certain of his own victory.
Perhaps that was why he couldn't help but ask.
"Are you sure you won't regret this?"
It was a provocative question.
Felix's gaze turned sharp.
* * *
They relocated to Dmitry's training ground.
Felix had asked Roman once more on the way there, but Roman Dmitry still insisted that he do his absolute best.
'Roman's true intention must be one of two things. Either he is genuinely sincere, or he is severely underestimating mages.'
Whichever it was, Felix didn't particularly like it.
His magic was not so trivial that Roman could easily handle it every day for six months.
Roman drew his weapon.
"I will yield the first move to you. Attack."
It was a statement that lit a fuse.
As if his pride hadn't already been wounded enough, Roman's offer to yield the first strike made Felix let out a cold laugh.
"Well, I won't refuse."
He drew upon his mana.
6,000 gold.
It was money the Magic Tower desperately needed.
However, he had no intention of selling the pride of the Phoenix Magic Tower cheaply by forcing himself to cater to Roman's arrogance.
'I'll start this first match by knocking Roman Dmitry down a peg.'
Whoosh!
Fwoosh!
Flames erupted.
The wave of mana Felix conjured rapidly transformed into a roaring blaze.
"Fire Lance."
A 3rd Circle fire magic.
Flames shaped like a spear exploded forward.
The powerful fire swept directly toward Roman Dmitry, but Roman evaded the attack with light, effortless movements, as if he had anticipated it. But that was just a throwaway attack. Since his pride wouldn't allow him to seize an overwhelming advantage with a cheap first strike, Felix had used Fire Lance simply to force his opponent to dodge before launching his real assault.
"Inferno."
Roaaar!
The surrounding flames grew fierce.
Absorbing the blazing fire, the spell erupted in all directions, engulfing the area so thoroughly that it could not be easily avoided this time.
His circles spun rapidly.
As Roman Dmitry moved swiftly to evade the flames, Felix controlled the fire to relentlessly pursue him. The flames moved like living creatures, snapping from all directions. While one part of his mind pressured Roman's movements, another part prepared a new attack.
"Fire Wave."
Whoosh!
Fwoosh!
The flames exploded.
Surging like a tidal wave, the fire seemed to finally corner Roman.
Tap.
By a hair's breadth, Roman escaped the inferno.
It was an astonishing display of movement.
Roman Dmitry evaded the magic a step ahead with uncanny timing, but even that had been factored into Felix's calculations.
'It's over.'
Memorize.
The magic he had stored in advance instantly erupted.
"Rune Flare."
A 4th Circle magic.
It was a powerful, decisive blow.
He was certain that this single strike would completely finish Roman Dmitry, who had just run out of escape routes.
In truth, he could have used 5th Circle magic.
However, fearing that Roman Dmitry might actually die if he went all out, Felix had intentionally lowered the power slightly.
Boom!
Ruuuumble!
The magic detonated.
Amidst the flames spreading in all directions, there was no visible path for Roman to escape.
It was finished.
No matter how great an Aura Swordsman he was, taking a direct hit from magic of this caliber meant he could not possibly emerge unscathed.
This was the price of his arrogance.
If Roman had chosen him as a sparring partner, he shouldn't have spoken as if he were so certain of his own victory.
But just then—
Whoosh!
The flames surged wildly.
Piercing straight through the blazing inferno, Roman Dmitry charged toward Felix, completely engulfed in fire.