Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Grateful Farewell
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"I-Is that monster... dead?"
"That young mage took down that monster...?"
"Hah..."
Those who had been watching Jeon and Zarka's battle from afar in bated breath all murmured in a daze or were unable to speak at all.
The fight had been in a realm utterly incomprehensible to them, so they couldn't immediately accept what had just happened.
Moreover, toward the end, the two had been engulfed in something like a black mist, making it impossible to even see how the battle had progressed.
But regardless, the outcome was clear.
The goblin that had seemed like a monster, Zarka's body, lay on the ground without its head, while the boy standing on the opposite side was still on his feet.
"Woooaaah!"
"He really did it! He really took it down!"
"Hooray! We're... we're saved now! Waaah!"
"Thanks to that boy! His name was Jeon, right?"
"Hey! It's not Jeon, it's Jeon! Call him Sir Jeon!"
"Sir Jeon! Sir Jeon! Sir Jeon!"
Not only Zarka but all the remaining goblins had been swept away and killed by the silver flames.
That meant Queta Village was finally free from isolation.
The villagers erupted in cheers all at once.
Some shouted Jeon's name, while others sobbed as they recalled their past sufferings.
But separate from the villagers' reactions...
"Ugh, dizzy."
Jeon staggered slightly, feeling his head spin for a moment.
'Lost too much blood, huh.'
In that final moment,
Instead of just scraping up all the mana stored in the red artifact, a corresponding amount of Jeon's blood had been sucked into it as well.
In fact, even though the artifact's stored mana was completely depleted, its color seemed even deeper than before.
On top of that,
Since learning the mana cultivation method, Jeon had never depleted his mana to the very bottom before.
Right now, Jeon's mana was utterly empty.
The exhaustion from the blood loss and mana depletion was far greater than he had anticipated.
"Sir Jeon! Are you alright?"
Bolton rushed over upon seeing Jeon like this and supported him.
But Jeon could already feel his eyelids growing heavier.
Just eyelids, yet their weight seemed to double each moment, to the point where closing them once made it hard to open them again.
"That book over there..."
"Pardon? What was that?"
"The book... please grab it for me..."
With his last ounce of strength, Jeon uttered those final words before closing his eyes and collapsing into Bolton's arms.
"S-Sir Jeon!?"
Fearing the worst, Bolton hastily held a hand to Jeon's nose.
Fortunately, Jeon's breathing was perfectly normal.
He had simply passed out from the overwhelming exhaustion, falling into a deep sleep.
"Phewww... I thought my heart was going to drop out."
Sighing in relief, Bolton quickly hoisted Jeon onto his back.
There were no visible major wounds, but rest was the priority.
Of course, he didn't forget to pick up the spellbook that had fallen beside Zarka.
As he turned toward the village with Jeon on his back, he saw the villagers still cheering.
Seeing them made his chest swell with emotion, even though he hadn't been the one to defeat Zarka.
'...What an incredible person.'
Bolton realized anew just how fortunate he was to have met such a person.
A week had passed since Queta Village escaped its isolation.
In that time—short if short, long if long—the village quickly normalized and regained its footing.
"Are you feeling better now?"
"Yeah, I'm really fine."
Jeon had slept for three straight days out of that week.
It was the result of collapsing from blood loss and total mana depletion.
Even after waking, Bolton's daily morning visits to check on him had become routine.
"Today's the day you leave, right?"
"Yes. Things are mostly sorted here, and we've traded everything we could to help Queta Village... so it's time to go."
Though he said that, the fact that they had stayed in Queta Village for a full week after defeating Zarka was entirely due to Bolton's consideration for Jeon.
Bolton had nagged him relentlessly to rest absolutely until he was fully recovered, warning that setting out while still unwell could lead to trouble.
'Well, I can see why he'd be shocked.'
Thinking about it, Bolton had witnessed Jeon collapse right in front of him, so it wasn't incomprehensible.
It had been Jeon's first time not just fainting but being unable to keep his heavy eyelids open.
'...That was strange.'
But what intrigued Jeon even more was the final clash with Zarka.
Shattering Zarka's black mana and landing the Compression spell.
'Space, huh...'
Especially Zarka's feat of filling space itself with mana had given Jeon tremendous inspiration.
He had never before combined the concept of space with magic while casting spells, but Zarka had opened his eyes to a new perspective.
'This might be the stepping stone to the next circle.'
Mages could reach the 3rd Circle through effort and talent, but from the 4th Circle onward, enlightenment was required.
Jeon had advanced quickly to the 3rd Circle thanks to the Korean Patch and his mana-absorbing arm, but he had felt stuck on the next step.
This experience might just be the key clue and foundation for progressing further.
"By the way, the villagers want to treat you to a meal before you leave."
"A meal?"
"Yes. Now that the village has some breathing room and regained its vitality, they insist on repaying you properly before you go."
To reach the next village before sunset, they needed to depart by lunchtime at the latest.
Originally, the villagers had wanted a full evening party, but Jeon had talked them down to just a morning meal.
"They don't need to go that far..."
"Come on, you're already a hero to the people of Queta Village."
"That much?"
"Dylan says he's going to immortalize you in a fairy tale as Queta Village's legend."
"Ugh... that might be a bit much."
"Haha, rest a little more then come out. Breakfast should be ready by then."
With that, Bolton left the room after his check-up visit.
Alone now, Jeon reflected on Bolton's words.
'It's a bit over the top... but it feels good.'
Dylan's fairy tale idea seemed excessive, but it still made him happy.
He hadn't helped expecting any reward, yet these reactions filled him with pride.
'And there's the unexpected reward too.'
Moreover, strictly speaking, Jeon hadn't left empty-handed from this ordeal.
On the contrary, he had gained something quite worthwhile.
'The spellbook the goblin mage was carrying.'
Jeon, who hadn't heard its name and just called it the goblin mage's spellbook, now had Zarka's book in his possession.
Bound neatly in black leather like a craftsman's masterpiece, it exuded luxury at a glance.
'Who made this...?'
However, unlike the pristine binding, the contents were all written in the goblins' language.
Considering goblin language wasn't widely known among humans, it seemed like goblins had made it, but the craftsmanship was too refined for typical goblins.
'Someday I might find out.'
In any case,
Unable to defy Bolton's insistence on bed rest after waking, Jeon had spent the time thoroughly studying the spellbook.
'It was quite fascinating.'
From his perusal, he learned that goblin magic fundamentally differed from the systematized Rune Magic or modern magic used by humans, starting from the method of use.
'Not through Magic Language or diagrams, but like casting commands.'
Unlike humans who accumulated mana via cultivation methods,
Mutants like goblin mages naturally mastered ways to accumulate mana.
Naturally accumulated mana was easier to handle,
And goblin magic involved inputting verbal commands to transform its form or properties.
'Basically, chattering away to manipulate mana.'
Of course, at Zarka's level, they didn't need to speak aloud; silent incantation sufficed.
On a whim, Jeon extended his right hand and drew up mana purely by sensation, without Magic Language.
A blue glow emanated from his palm.
"Gather."
Bzzz.
Issuing the command to the gathered mana, the blue glow lazily shifted, forming a spherical orb.
It took considerable time and focus; sweat beaded on Jeon's forehead.
"Sharpen."
Bzzz.
Commanding the sphere again, it twitched at his words before wriggling into a sharp awl shape.
"Hoo."
Just gathering into a sphere and sharpening it required immense concentration.
As an unfamiliar method, adaptation would take time.
'Pretty tough.'
Zarka had freely reshaped it without speaking.
Jeon was far from that proficiency.
'Mixing in Will Rune Magic would make it easier.'
Of course, to use this magic immediately, incorporating mana enhanced by Will Rune Magic would allow faster, simpler casting.
Still, true mastery required raising proficiency, even with rune assistance.
"I'll practice slowly."
Jeon decided not to rush.
With that resolved, he rose and stepped outside.
"Wow."
What greeted him were bustling villagers.
They had said just breakfast...
'This is practically a feast.'
Beyond the busy food preparers, long tables stretched outside his lodging, filled with villagers.
So much for breakfast; it looked like a morning banquet.
"Ah, you came out?"
"My goodness! You must be hungry—sit down quick! Food's almost ready!"
The villagers spotted Jeon and greeted him with smiles.
"Come on over here, don't just stand there— this way."
A villager grabbed the bewildered Jeon and seated him.
"You're here."
"Ah, you're all here too."
It was a spot with Bolton and many from the merchant group already seated.
"But is it okay to prepare something this grand? The village finances must be tight."
Concerned by the lavish spread, Jeon asked Bolton.
But the answer didn't come from him.
"No need to worry about that!"
Dylan, seated among the merchants, grinned and replied.
"It's a way to vent our pent-up frustrations and motivate ourselves for the future, so don't feel burdened at all."
With that reassurance, Jeon felt awkward pressing further.
'They all looked so haggard at first, faces and clothes alike.'
Compared to then, everyone's faces now brimmed with vitality—good things were good, after all.
"Alright, food's coming out now!"
The main dishes began emerging from the kitchen.
"Waaah! Let's eat well!"
"Oh, looks delicious!"
"Hold on! We all need to thank the guest of honor first!"
"Right! Almost forgot!"
Before the meal proper began,
One villager's words drew all eyes to Jeon.
"Thank you so much!"
"We owe you everything! Thank you!"
"Thank you!"
Gratitude poured in unison.
"Ah, n-no, really, it's nothing. Please, everyone, eat up!"
Unaccustomed to such treatment, Jeon ducked his head shyly and urged them to eat.
The villagers chuckled heartily at his reaction and dug in cheerfully.
Jeon smiled too, despite his embarrassment.
The meal lacked fancy dishes but was truly delicious.
With the lively atmosphere, it was arguably the best breakfast of Jeon's life.
'Ah, this is nice.'
He had thought of it as just a passing village, yet he gained unexpected warmth here.
After this heartfelt breakfast,
Jeon and Bolton's group set off once more toward the White Mage Tower.