Chapter 107
Chapter 107
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 107
Chapter Title: Talajin's Hands
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Basen Rak Oran hadn't quite grasped what Hui Ravina Muel was saying.
What he did understand was something along the lines of "Talajin's hands tried to use magic, and Ravina had the power to stop it."
In reality, it was a far more complicated matter.
-Making a spell fail while ensuring nothing happens in the process isn't easy at all.
A magic circle, examined closely, contains no superfluous information.
Every line drawn in it exists solely to activate the mage's intended spell.
Thus, if even one element of the circle doesn't fail perfectly, the spell could still activate partially.
-In that case, something could happen that defies the intentions of both the mage and the interferer.
Ravina responded to the horn's mumbling.
'It's information Prince Basen doesn't need to know anyway. Even if I explained it in detail, he'd get bored right away.'
The fact that Talajin's hands had failed to cast their spell—and that nothing had happened as a result—was because Ravina herself possessed a refined understanding of magic.
It wasn't just because she was cursed, walking alongside a demonic spirit of probability. It was because she was the closest thing to a true mage among them.
Ravina wasn't even an apprentice mage, her knowledge too incomplete to fully comprehend the rituals that formed spells.
But magic followed rules and procedures.
Ancient runes set specific values or entities, and Ravina understood what each component of the circle signified.
The probability spirit, attuned to her will, interfered with Talajin's hands: in their muscles, in the sea breeze, in the splintered mast fragments, in the rocking of the ship on the waves, in the blood and flesh used to draw the circle.
As a result, the magic circle drawn by Talajin's hands deviated from its rules—lines stretched too long or weren't straight, solid lines jagged out, letters smeared into illegibility.
'The question is, what do we do with them now?'
Fortunately, the fighting had died down, and everyone was realizing the extent of Talajin's hands' reach.
The deck was painted red with Deep One corpses up to where those hands could stretch.
'And Mazdari's claim that they were targeting only Deep Ones seems to hold true.'
But by the time Ravina looked around, Mazdari had vanished.
Ravina said to Basen,
"We should transfer to another ship."
"Why?"
"That magic circle might not disappear anytime soon if left as is. It could linger indefinitely. Until we're certain it's safe, it's better not to leave anyone on board."
"Is that so? It might stick around forever?"
Basen nodded as if it weren't a big deal.
"It'll make for a fine ship decoration."
"N-No, that's not..."
Ravina belatedly noticed the smile tugging at the lizardman's lips and realized it was a joke.
"As you saw, those hands are dangerous. Mazdari made them recognize only Deep Ones, but if we leave them be, they'll swing their arms indiscriminately, friend or foe, and people will get hurt."
"Hmm."
"Moreover, these aren't ordinary monster hands. They're otherworldly beings with consciousness and desires. They even possess secret knowledge we don't know. You saw them try to use magic, didn't you?"
Ravina herself had no idea what kind of magic it was.
But if Mazdari was right, those hands were furious—and they'd acted out in pure rage.
Even without explanation, Basen already knew they were an extreme danger.
Basen said,
"In that case, transferring over would be even riskier. Left alone, they're more dangerous than the Yabun Pirates."
"I'll stay behind and keep watch."
"By yourself?"
"Yes."
Basen glanced around.
"Where's Mazdari?"
"Mazdari... is gone."
"It's hard to keep track of people in the heat of battle."
Ravina decided to tell the truth.
"That's not it. Mazdari won't be coming."
"...Why do you think that?"
"He's not just any mage."
Ravina explained.
"When the Asbestos Knights attacked the Alchemist's Tower, the alchemists scattered. Many died. I was lucky enough to escape to Heukrin, but most alchemists never made it out of Asbestos. And Mazdari was probably the same."
Basen watched as Talajin's hands scuttled across the deck on their fingers alone, like some childish game. But he could feel the impatience and irritation of their owner.
"So Mazdari's an Asbestos mage after all."
"Yes. And above all, the fact that he alone showed up as a mage means we should be extra cautious. He probably sold out the other alchemists to become one."
Basen shook his head—for understanding, or some other reason, Ravina couldn't tell.
Ravina continued,
"Your Highness summoned me from the Southern Archipelago to counter mages from other countries. My knowledge and abilities are one of the few means to oppose magic. But I didn't feel the need to stop Talajin's hands."
"Why?"
"Because I could read the magic circle, and knew it was drawn as Mazdari described. But there was a trap."
Ravina pointed to the magic circle Talajin's hands had tried to draw directly.
Now only traces remained amid the destruction they'd caused, but that made it stand out even more.
"Talajin's hands themselves could use magic. Whatever it was, it would have endangered Heukrin—and Mazdari knew it. By now, he's probably safely back on his ship, waiting for chaos to erupt on ours."
Having said her piece, Ravina hoped Basen would hurry and order the allied navy to confront them.
With the pirates fleeing past Doltan Island, Heukrin and the allied navy were now effectively facing off.
In the next battle, securing advantageous positions for cannon fire would be key.
But Basen said something entirely unrelated to her expectations.
"No need for that."
"...Pardon?"
Basen jerked his chin toward the space behind Ravina's back.
She turned.
"How rude, Ravina."
Garuda Mazdari was limping toward them.
"I didn't think our friendship was that shallow."
Ravina stared at Mazdari in disbelief at his words.
She pointed first to her own horn, then to Mazdari's head.
"Weren't we the kind who looked at each other like 'a cow eyeing a chicken'?"
"No need for such colorful metaphors... Is the Chief thinking differently? Was I the only sincere one?"
"What sincerity are you talking about?"
Basen cut in.
"Admiration aside, if you've heard the conversation, care to explain, Mazdari?"
"Hmm."
"I nearly believed Ravina. If you hadn't shown up right in front of me."
Mazdari touched his head lightly.
There was a real gash bleeding, but it almost looked like playacting to buy time for thought.
"Prince Basen. I know how to wield magic, so you could call me a mage—but I'm not yet master of every spell I use."
"Is that so? Though I suppose it's hard to expect summoned things to cast magic themselves."
"Except for that part."
"...Hm?"
"It's a book I received directly from my master, so Ravina and other mages probably haven't seen it. But ancient texts are full of warnings about Talajin's hands. Especially not to leave them lingering too long. They wield immense power and are ascendant mages themselves—so even a single arm summoned can expand a magic circle if there's ample material around and cross over to this land."
Ravina grew wary.
"Then you, Mazdari, really are..."
"No, I'm not."
Mazdari cut her off firmly.
"I knew you, Ravina, would thwart the magic Talajin's hands tried to use."
"It could have failed."
"I didn't think so... But it was a gamble worth taking."
Basen asked,
"A gamble?"
"Yes, a gamble."
"Explain in detail."
Mazdari nodded.
"Prince Basen, how many spies from other countries do you think are aboard Heukrin's ships?"
Ravina thought it an absurd question.
She expected Basen to confidently say none—but his answer surprised her.
"There are several whose loyalties I can't confirm. Around ten, then."
"Then, out of everyone who saw the horn attack with sea monsters, me using magic to repel them, but my magic backfiring and summoning Talajin's hands to cast another spell—how many witnessed it all?"
"One or two."
"Lucky us."
Ravina questioned,
"There are spies, and that's lucky?"
"That spy will surely report that I, as an Asbestos mage, tried to deceive Heukrin and inflict heavy casualties on your soldiers—proving it."
"What?"
Basen seemed to have already pieced it together.
"Ravina, Mazdari's spy wasn't watching our soldiers—he was watching Mazdari. As you said, Mazdari boarded under orders to 'attack Heukrin.'"
"...Ah."
"But whether he changed his mind or never intended to, he gave you the chance to dispel Talajin's hands' magic. In doing so, he successfully fooled the spy while inflicting minimal harm on Heukrin's troops. ...Am I right, Mazdari?"
Mazdari nodded.
Basen drew his sword.
"Then the two of us must fight."
"Indeed."
As Mazdari drew his own, Ravina panicked.
"W-Wait a minute? Why does it always end up like this? Didn't you just say you had no intention of attacking us? That you were only pretending for Asbestos?"
Mazdari raised his greatsword, sized for a Garuda's frame.
A normal soldier would need two hands, but Mazdari wielded it one-handed effortlessly.
"A mage infiltrated enemy lines and unleashed a spell to slaughter them. But enemy interference caused it to fail, and he was found out. Now, that mage makes his last stand."
Basen grinned.
"Meaning the play isn't over yet."
Ravina realized she couldn't stop them with logic or force.
Mazdari said,
"It's a play, but I wouldn't mind making it one where I subdue you. Don't worry—I'll go easy."
"What nonsense is this, mage?"
Basen beckoned with a finger.
"I'll be the one holding back. I'll even let you have the first move."
Mazdari refused the handicap.
The Garuda's massive form charged at the lizardman.
Doltan Island, sandy beach.
Heukrin and allied navy ships faced off in the shallows, while soldiers stood arrayed in two groups on the shore.
The leaders of each force were Heukrin's Captain Basen and Asbestos General Oldor.
Basen said curtly,
"A mage prisoner for this ransom? It's a bargain."
"Remember, the allied navy outnumbers Heukrin two-to-one. And our cannon tech is evenly matched, isn't it?"
"What about the threat to my life?"
"...You can't call what you're getting insignificant."
Basen snorted and sent the tightly bound Mazdari over to Asbestos General Oldor.
Basen had won his duel with Mazdari, so Asbestos raised the price to reclaim their mage.
With no standard ransom for a mage, negotiations dragged—but not for too long.
The trade goods were right there.
"Heading out immediately? Even if Doltan Island is Heukrin territory now, we wouldn't treat you so stingily."
"...Hm, until next time. We're not allies anymore—can't keep acting chummy."
In exchange for handing over Mazdari, Heukrin secured a several-weeks' truce and Doltan Island.
As a passage to the southern continent, losing it to Heukrin—who'd fought alongside them against the pirates—stung the allied navy badly.
Especially since the mage belonged to Asbestos anyway; they now owed compensation to other nations.
Of course, Oldor and the allies believed they could retake Doltan Island after the truce—they didn't see it as a pure loss.
Above all, the battle with the Yabun Pirates had showcased the mage's power.
Oldor thought he'd secured the mage on the cheap before its true value was established.
'Perfect. With this mage, we can win any fight.'
A few days later, the allied navy withdrew to Babrin for refit.
Once the brief truce ended, a greater battle would erupt.
'Immediately? Who knows. But Heukrin won't shrug off this mage's attack so easily.'
Wary Heukrin might break the truce and advance, Oldor went to warn Mazdari.
But the room he hadn't checked in days was covered in bizarre magic circles.
"...What are these magic circles?"
"Oh? Ah, it's you, Oldor."
Mazdari, engrossed in drawing a small circle, sighed in relief.
Oldor eyed the circles warily.
"Why so startled?"
"I thought a Sokseon priest might have come in."
"Priest?"
Oldor pressed, unsure of the intent.
Mazdari slumped into a chair, replying languidly.
"I was testing a few magic circles."
"Doing dangerous work on a ship?"
"No, it was necessary."
Oldor perked up at "necessary."
"What kind of magic requires that?"
Mazdari said,
"A spell to deceive the gods' eyes. Called 'sleight of sight.' It's not that grand—even 'deceive' is a stretch. It just averts divine attention briefly. But since I'm still alive, it must work properly. Without it, Sokseon might have intervened during the play with Basen—though Yacheon could have helped. Either way, since I'm fine, this circle definitely works. Ancient mages weren't at the gods' mercy for a reason."
"What does that...?"
"Ah."
"...?"
Mazdari pointed at Oldor's feet.
"That's the 'spontaneous combustion' spell."
Flames erupted from beneath Oldor's skin, across his entire body.