Chapter 92
Chapter 92
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 92
Chapter Title: Arrival at the Secret Village
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"Is this everyone who's going?"
"Yes. I asked Sir Khalid, Sir Rector, and Sir Ralph, but they all said they had research or other schedules and couldn't make it this time."
"Hmm..."
At Tasha's explanation, Jeon looked around at the group that would be traveling together this time.
In truth, the group wasn't anything special.
Back when they rescued the Silvermont mages from the Kairon Dungeon, it had only been Jeon and Tasha, with Lena and Risar added to that.
"But is it okay for Sir Risar to come along too?"
"I got permission from Lady Mirna, who invited us. Actually, I wanted to bring more escorts for Lady Lena's safety... but she said too many would be inconvenient."
"Ah, she gave permission."
Jeon nodded awkwardly at Risar's words.
And well he might, because the destination for this group was none other than the hideout where the Silvermont mages were staying.
Besides, those Silvermont mages were basically a secret society.
Letting in two complete outsiders who didn't properly know of their existence was almost unthinkable.
'And yet she permitted them to come along.'
Unlike Risar, who seemed regretful about not being able to bring more escorts.
Jeon was surprised that they'd allowed not just Lena, but Risar as well.
'Well... they'll handle it their way.'
Of course, they must have their reasons for allowing it, but from Jeon's perspective, he couldn't help feeling a slight unease.
In any case.
The group, thus formed, packed all their belongings and boarded the mana carrier right away.
"Whoaaa! Without horses?!"
"The Mage Tower really has some amazing stuff."
Lena, seeing a mana carrier for the first time, looked around it with sparkling eyes, and even Risar showed a surprised reaction.
The daughter of Duke Silvermont was reacting like this, which really drove home just how advanced the Mage Tower's technology was.
'They don't export it anywhere else.'
Since the Mage Tower belonged to the Empire, they might share very basic tech, but advanced stuff like mana carriers or elevators was forbidden from export to other countries.
That's why Lena had reacted with similar wonder to the elevator on her first day at the tower, she said.
'This really shows why it's the Empire.'
It wasn't just the vast land they ruled.
Their technological prowess alone far surpassed other nations.
Which meant their military strength was no joke either.
Even amid the chaos of imperial succession, it made sense that no other country dared challenge the Empire.
'...So what the hell are the Ruin Church bastards up to?'
And that made the Ruin Church, which was practically turning the Empire—that monopolized this technology—and the whole world against them, seem all the more baffling.
Of course, having experienced the power of an Apostle through the Door of Awakening, Jeon knew they weren't just chasing empty delusions.
"Sis, can I try driving this?"
"Huh? You want to give it a go?"
"Yes!"
While Jeon mulled over such thoughts inwardly.
Lena, who had been admiring the mana carrier, went beyond mere sightseeing and expressed her curiosity by wanting to drive it herself.
"Sure, want to sit next to me while I drive and learn how?"
"Yes! Awesome!"
Thanks to asking Tasha, with whom she'd grown quite close, Lena got to sit in the passenger seat and learn how to operate the mana carrier.
'Well, if you see this and don't want to drive it, you're no mage.'
Jeon had felt the exact same way when he first rode one, so he understood Lena's enthusiasm in this regard.
Plus, unlike when she was alone with Jeon.
With Tasha there, she wasn't acting childish or spoiled as usual, but making a proper request, which made Jeon feel like Lena had gained a close big sister—something he found quite nice.
The problem was, while it was nice to watch, Lena's talent for driving was utterly abysmal.
"So, you inject mana like this while stepping on the accelerator..."
"No, no! Lena, that's not it!"
After watching for about a day, she cautiously gave it a try on her first drive, proving her driving talent was the worst in every way: sudden acceleration, hard braking, sharp turns, you name it.
"Hey, if you're gonna keep letting Lena drive, mind if I go separately? Feels safer to just rent a carriage nearby."
"Ah, ouch! Wait, it's just because it's my first time!"
Lena realized her lack of talent too—her face turned beet red—but she didn't give up easily.
Having grown up hearing she was a genius since childhood.
She was confident that even if she fumbled at first, she'd get the hang of it in no time and master driving.
But after a few more attempts, she realized talent for magic and driving were completely unrelated.
In the end, she had the wheel pried from her hands.
"Jeon and I will handle getting to the destination. Lena, watch carefully from the side, and you can try again on the way back."
"...Okay."
Perhaps because she'd tasted failure after such high hopes for her driving challenge.
The spirited Lena now watched the two of them drive with a somewhat deflated look.
"By the way, Jeon. When did you learn to drive a mana carrier?"
As she watched Jeon drive skillfully, Lena suddenly grew curious and asked when he'd last driven or something.
"Me? I learned it last time before heading out on that mission."
"Really? How long did it take you?"
"Let me think..."
"A week? Or a month?"
"Nah, about a day?"
"What?"
Having driving experience from his past life to begin with.
Once he got a feel for mana, operating a mana carrier was no challenge at all for Jeon.
But Lena, unaware of that, felt like she'd been beaten by Jeon even in driving.
"No way, that's cheating!"
"Cheating?"
"Yeah, cheating! Not fair! Not fair!"
To be fair.
Jeon could drive so well thanks to his past-life experience, so maybe Lena was right that it was cheating.
No one gets their license just by watching for a bit, after all.
But regardless.
Teasing Lena in situations like this was always fun.
"Lena, life has differences in talent, you know."
Jeon tossed the provocative words at her with a straight face.
"Aaaah! I can't accept that!"
Her reaction was as lively as a freshly caught fish flopping around.
"What can you do? That's just how the world works."
Jeon chuckled as he drove the mana carrier amid her frantic protests.
And so, after a few more days of enjoyable banter and teasing.
"We should arrive at the destination soon."
"Oh, really?"
Jeon's group finally reached the place where the Silvermont mages lived.
"It's quieter than I expected."
"Right?"
The place they arrived at after over a week of travel from the White Mage Tower.
It was a small mountain village located midway up a mountain.
So small it wasn't even marked on maps that if you didn't know, you'd just think it was some nameless little village—the atmosphere and appearance were that natural.
'In a way, the perfect hideout.'
Even knowing it was a hideout, Jeon saw the village and it overlapped with Brea Village, where he'd stayed briefly before.
Not hidden too ostentatiously, but just enough to deflect suspicion if any arose—truly ideal.
"This is... really where the Archmage lives? Not just a stopover village?"
Even Lena, who came along, had thought it was just a brief lodging spot at first.
"Welcome."
The people who came to greet them from the village looked perfectly natural too.
'Those are the faces I saw back then.'
Though their demeanor aside.
They were faces Jeon had seen when he rescued the Silvermont mages from the dungeon.
"Then I'll guide you straight to the village chief."
"...Village chief?"
"Yes, Lady Mirna is this village's chief."
"Ah, got it."
He wondered what they meant by guiding them to the village chief right away.
But apparently, they called Mirna the village chief here.
"I called it a hideout, but it functions as a real village too. There's even a small inn for clueless travelers passing through."
"...They're serious about the concept."
No wonder the atmosphere felt so natural.
It went beyond just looking like a village—they'd built a real one, with the mages settled in among the rest.
A closer look showed plenty of non-mage-looking folks mingling about.
"So among the villagers, there are ordinary citizens who know nothing about the Silvermont mages or the White Mage Tower."
"Wow..."
Every bit of info Tasha whispered made Jeon realize just how committed the Silvermont mages were to this place.
"They even supply food with crops they grow themselves."
So it wasn't just some typical mountain village—it was a real, typical mountain village.
As Jeon marveled at this hideout so unlike what he'd imagined.
"Right this way."
The group arrived in front of the house where Mirna stayed.
A small, modest home that hardly seemed fit for an Archmage.
'Even Brea's village chief lived in something bigger.'
Still, it was well-kept and tidy.
Anyway, guided inside.
Mirna was there in what looked like the living room, preparing tea.
"Oh, you arrived sooner than expected."
Seeing the group enter, she smiled warmly and guided them to seats.
With just Jeon, Tasha, Lena, and Risar—four people—the living room felt bustling.
"Thank you for visiting this humble place."
"Oh, humble? With such esteemed guests, it's a noble space."
Sitting around a simple round table with no head seat, five including Mirna.
It felt less like visiting an Archmage and more like being invited by a real village chief—cozy and warm.
"And yet... it hasn't been that long, but you've grown another step, Sir Jeon."
"Ah, yes. I had a good opportunity and broke through the wall."
"Such an astonishing growth rate. I hope you continue advancing."
Across from him.
Mirna, sensing Jeon's growth just by looking, nodded proudly at him.
"How have you been, Lady Tasha?"
"Yes, quite well."
"I'm always grateful to you two, as well as Sir Khalid and Sir Rector."
"Oh, no. We just did what needed doing."
"It was something that might have cost your lives. You can't call that 'just doing your job.' It was truly heroic."
Perhaps because it had been over a month since they last met.
Mirna looked at Jeon and Tasha, expressing fresh gratitude.
And amid this heartwarming exchange.
"Um..."
Lena, who had just been listening, timidly joined in.
"Ah, you must be the one coming along this time."
"Y-yes! Nice to meet you. I'm Lena Silvermont!"
As soon as Mirna's gaze turned to her, Lena greeted with a slightly trembling but spirited voice.
'Hm?'
In that moment, Jeon sensed a faintly wistful look in Mirna's eyes as she regarded Lena.
"Your spirited demeanor is refreshing. You remind me of someone I know."
"Th-thank you."
"No need to be so stiff."
But her eyes returned to normal in the ensuing talk, as if it had never happened.
'Did I imagine it?'
Jeon tilted his head inwardly, wondering if he'd just misread it.
"You've had a long journey here, so have dinner and rest well tonight. I'll show you around the village tomorrow."
"Ah, yes."
By the time they'd arrived, the sun was already setting anyway.
Resting tonight and talking more tomorrow sounded right, so the group nodded in agreement.
-Sir Jeon, meet with me alone after dinner.
But contrary to her spoken words, Mirna sent a telepathic message just to Jeon.
'...How do I respond to this?'
After the group's replies, Jeon could only nod awkwardly.