Chapter 101
Chapter 101
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 101
Chapter Title: Dracain
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After passing through the tent entrance, we were immediately escorted straight to the special seats. The four of us entered, and no fewer than a gold coin was tossed their way. This level of convenience had to be taken as entirely natural. I strode forward confidently and climbed onto the oversized chair.
"Wow! Master! Did you see inside? Goblins are walking around, greeting everyone!"
Olbern, brimming with excitement, pointed at the performance arena and shouted. Just as she said, a few goblins were milling about inside the vast hall, bowing to the audience. Of course, they didn't look like your typical goblins. Their skin was pale, their eyes a vivid red, and even the clothes draped over their bodies were surprisingly neat and tidy.
Simo, peering down at the arena alongside us, nodded.
"Those are under the sway of blood magic. They're called ghouls."
"Ghouls...! So, are all the other monsters here tamed the same way?"
"Every last one of 'em. How else would you tame monsters?"
"Whoa... Then, then, could that blood magic control people too?"
This was a question that piqued my interest as well. Simo paused at Olbern's words before shaking his head.
"Nah. It only snares weak-minded critters like monsters. Doesn't work on humans. Of course, the ancestral blood magic might be a different story."
"Ancestral blood magic?"
"Yeah. The records say vampires from the bloodline that wielded domination magic could seize human minds and turn them into ghouls. But that's ancient history now—impossible these days. Even top-tier blood mages can only nudge emotions a little."
"Hmm..."
The ability to sway human emotions—what remarkable magic. Simo brushed it off as minor, but in the right hands, it could unleash chaos. Imagine a natural rabble-rouser wielding that power.
'I want to see it for myself.'
As we chatted, the goblins finished their greetings and slipped behind the curtain. With most of the seats filled, the main show was about to begin. Glancing around, I realized the guests here were mostly elves and dwarves.
'Makes sense... They said it's mostly mages. Elves and dwarves must be a dime a dozen.'
The show itself wasn't anything extraordinary. But the performers were: goblins juggling, kobolds balancing atop massive balls and rolling every which way, cockatrices leaping through flaming hoops—tricks from creatures you'd never expect.
Fascinated by blood magic, I scrutinized the ghoulish monsters through my Arcana and the Dracains issuing their commands. Yet the insights were few and far between.
'No glimpse of their inner worlds, no sense of the laws woven into the active blood magic.'
I'd assumed it was Simo's doing, but the other blood mages seemed no different. A wave of disappointment washed over me. A long sigh slipped from my lips.
-Thank you so much for coming!
-Kieek! Kuek!
-Kyaruk!
Before long, the performance wrapped up. The staffer directing the show bowed deeply in thanks, and the monsters at his side mimicked the gesture. They then shed their costumes and hats, drawing closer to the audience.
-If you enjoyed the show, please toss some coins their way~
The moment the words left his mouth, Olbern sprang from her seat. She fished a handful of coins from her pouch and showered them on the monsters.
"Here you go! Buy yourselves something yummy!"
Olbern clearly loved the show. Clutching their windfall, the monsters let out chirping kirikik cries as they waddled off.
We were just exiting the tent when whispers from a group of dwarves nearby caught my ear—not far off at all.
-Dracain blood magic sure is something... A high blood mage must be even more impressive, right?
-They say they can draw out blood to craft their own doubles or something. Who knows if it's true.
-Heh, I'd love to see that. Speaking of which, isn't the lord here supposed to be a master blood mage? Bet we could catch a demo if we paid him a visit.
-As if we could just waltz in on the lord. Unless we're invited to one of his parties... Getting peckish anyway. Let's grab a pint.
High blood mage. Lord. Party. The words burned into my mind. As we made for the tent flap, I called out to Simo.
"Simo."
"Yeah?"
"Does the lord here throw parties?"
"Uh, yeah. Now and then. You interested?"
"Heard he's a high blood mage."
"Well, nobility and all. Thick blood in his veins means high mastery of blood magic."
"Would it be rude to ask for a demonstration?"
"That... Well, first you'd have to get an audience. They won't even let you through the gates. Lucky if the guards don't chase you off."
I wanted to witness it firsthand. Blood magic wasn't so different from regular spells at its core. The activation method was the key. A high mage's inner world had to be vast.
With a high blood mage's blood, I might even glimpse the secrets it held.
"Hmm..."
The issue was how to arrange a meeting. Nobility wasn't something you could just barge in on. Nothing to be done for now. No use brooding over it. I turned on my heel and started down the path.
"Show me the next spot. Anything worth hitting after the monster festival?"
"Next spot... What about this place? Me and my friends used to go all the time—Slime Racetrack. It's a total blast..."
"Ugh..."
I woke with a headache like my skull was splitting. Blinking my eyes open and scanning the room, I realized it was a familiar spot: the captain's bed in the Black Feather Hawk's cabin. Clutching my roiling stomach, I slid out of bed.
Just then, the foggy memories sharpened into focus. After the monster festival, we'd hit the slime racetrack.
The racetrack. Slimes hurtling down the course in a heart-pounding race—that was the thrill spot.
A game or two hooked us, and soon we were placing bets. Wins and losses piled up as the Infinite Library crew got rowdy and we drowned ourselves in booze. Pour it down, watch the slimes race, pour it down again, repeat.
-Run! Run, you little shit! I put ten gold on you!
-Master! My mana’s going wild!
-Hieeek!
-Olbern! Olbern’s flying!
"Ah..."
Regret hit late and hard. Why chug so much of that weak swill? Why lose my head like that? Booze really was the root of all evil.
I worked the kinks out of my aching body bit by bit and scooped up my hat from the floor. Somehow, I'd made it back here in one piece. Hat in hand, I headed for the deck.
"You're up?"
"Du..."
"Durel."
Durel was the only one out on the deck, shrouded in night. He'd lit a single lantern and was practicing his sword forms. I tugged my hat down and approached.
"Where are Simo and Olbern?"
"Simo went off to meet a friend. Olbern's sleeping below."
"Ah..."
Something felt off—Erkamon wasn't active. Looked like the hangover was messing with my magic. Belatedly, I spun up the circle in my heart, rousing all my dormant mysteries.
Whoooong—
The booze haze lifted from my body on a breeze. Starlight belatedly filled my vision, and as my Gentle Wind domain expanded and settled, hidden things came into view.
As I slowly pieced my wrecked state back together, Durel sheathed his blade.
Swish—click—
"You seemed to love the slime races. If you say the word, I could set some up right here on the Black Feather Hawk..."
"N-no, that's fine."
I cut Durel off and turned away. I'd drunk the most and remembered it crystal clear— no way the kids didn't. What a disgrace. Showing that ugly side in front of them.
"Durel."
"Yes."
"Next time I say I'm drinking, stop me. No matter what."
"...Got it."
We were idly chatting with Durel when a motion snagged in the nearby woods—not far off. It brushed my Gentle Wind domain, staggering along like it was three sheets to the wind.
Arms crossed, I stared into the trees.
It wasn't long before the bushes rustled, and out crawled Simo.
"Hic... Master... I'm baaack. I'm heeere...!"
He was trying to walk straight, but he kept wobbling. Reeking of booze, he clambered onto the deck.
"Ah, there you are... Master..."
His eyes were glassy. He wasn't in his right mind. I was about to ask Durel to handle him when Simo, slumped on the deck, pried his mouth open with effort.
"F-found it out... how to get there..."
"Found what?"
"The party... the party. The lord's party... if you look loaded... sly invitation... urgh... invitation comes."
"How'd you find that out?"
"Friend... friend told me... said he's seen it a few times. Folks getting invites like that..."
With that, Simo's words trailed off. Like he'd said his piece, he went fully limp and started snoring.