Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Aurellen
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After a brief commotion, Durel and I headed to the adventurers' guild, the place in the city where the most people gathered.
Adventurers.
Wanderers who roamed the world without a fixed home. Sometimes, they were reckless souls who unhesitatingly placed their lives on the scales in pursuit of a single coin or a touch of romance.
In a world of swords and magic, I'd vaguely sensed the existence of adventurers as a profession, but I hadn't expected a full-fledged guild like this.
'I wonder if there are any dragons around...'
"Adventurers wander the whole world, so some of them might know what the western wind means. If not... we'll think of something then."
Five minutes after leaving the inn, a wide boulevard came into view. The expansive area had a different atmosphere from what we'd seen before. Instead of the smell of delicious food, there was the scent of iron, oil, and fire, and the people walking around generally had serious expressions.
One peculiar thing was that everyone made a point of glancing at us once or twice. Whether they were passing by or entering a building, their eyes flicked our way. Unlike ordinary folk, they didn't seem particularly frightened even when I looked back at them.
"Everyone's staring at us like crazy."
"You made such a scene yesterday. Our faces are probably known all over the city by now."
"That fast?"
"Rumors spread quickly."
"Hmm..."
We walked on, chatting with Durel for a bit, then stopped in front of a large building. It had a plain design without any flashy features, looking quite rugged.
"This the place?"
"Yeah, looks like it."
Thanks to the lessons from Durel, I could now read the sign hanging above the building properly.
"Isn't this the adventurers' guild?"
"The name's awfully long, isn't it? That's why everyone just calls it the adventurers' guild."
"Ah..."
Indeed, introducing it as the adventurers' guild was far more straightforward than rattling off 'Ber Kingdom Licensed Free Contract whatever.' I nodded and headed inside with Durel.
The wooden door opened smoothly without a single creak, well-oiled on its hinges.
The first thing that hit me was the heavy scent of wood and thick oil. Everyone was clad in iron armor, so it made sense.
The ceiling inside was quite high. I'd thought it was a single-story building, but there were stairs leading to a second floor, and decorative weapons hung along the thick pillars.
In the center was a reception desk arranged in a large circle. Thick stacks of documents sat beside it, and long lines of people formed for consultations—either posting requests or claiming them.
It wasn't noisy, but it wasn't quiet either.
Various groups of people chatted here and there.
As I stood there gaping at the surroundings, Durel strode straight to the reception desk. Notably, he completely ignored the long line. It was as if the people waiting for consultations didn't exist.
I hurried after him and whispered softly.
"No line?"
"Why should we wait in line?"
I blinked dumbly at Durel's reply. It seemed the perks of being a mage were no small thing. No one in the line tried to stop Durel or me.
They tacitly consented to us cutting in, as if it were the natural order.
And so, Durel and I reached the front of the desk.
"What can I help you with?"
The staff's response was the same. They cut off the ongoing consultation abruptly and turned to us immediately.
I swallowed dryly. It felt awkward somehow, but this was a culture I needed to accept as normal in this world. I had to get used to it.
"We're looking for information. About the western wind... oh, and."
Durel, who had been speaking casually to the staff, turned to me. Then, cautiously, he opened his mouth.
"Your master's master... I mean, info on Raymond too, right?"
"Yeah, if possible."
"Got it. Could you look into the whereabouts of a man named Raymond as well? He's a mage. Gray, ash-like hair is his distinguishing feature."
I gazed warmly at Durel's small back. Meeting him on this journey had been a stroke of great luck. Without this boy, things wouldn't have gone this smoothly.
With my shallow knowledge of this world, I might have wandered in circles, poking around the wrong places.
'Smart kid...'
"Understood. The fee for the request is 20 gelrit..."
"I'll pay if I like the info. That fine?"
"Yes."
That was the end of the conversation with the staff. Durel turned around, approached me with a light smile, and said,
"All done."
"That's it? Anything else?"
"Just wait. They'll send someone when they have the info."
"You're used to this, huh?"
"I've used it a few times before."
"I see..."
"Want to look around more?"
Durel was quick on the uptake, as always. I nodded and glanced around wistfully. He dashed in front of me and pointed to the open space.
Everything in this world was still strange and wondrous to me. I wanted to soak in the unique, solemn atmosphere created by the guild and all these people a bit longer.
And so, Durel and I wandered freely around the place.
"That's the bulletin board. They post public requests here."
The requests varied widely. Simple errands, herb gathering, subjugation missions, even escort jobs for merchant caravans.
"What about non-public ones?"
"Those go through reception consultations."
"Hmm..."
"Shall we go up to the second floor?"
At Durel's suggestion, I looked up at the second floor. It had a distinctly different vibe from the first. A few adventurers leaning on the railing at the far end met my eyes.
'They don't look away?'
They were the first not to avert their gaze upon locking eyes with a mage. One of them even waved lightly with a smile. As I tilted my head, Durel said,
"Must be crazy."
The world is wide, and people are many. It's what keeps things from getting boring. I shrugged and headed to the stairs with Durel.
The carelessly built stairs had uneven steps. The inn's were uniform, so the constructor here must not have been very skilled.
Lost in such idle thoughts, we climbed for a while and finally reached the second floor.
"Whoa..."
"Looks like... a rest area."
As Durel said, the second floor seemed designed for relaxation. People lounged singly or in pairs on sofas scattered about, and several snored in front of the large fireplace.
What stood out was that they all exuded some indefinable aura of presence.
'Their presence...'
It wasn't noticeable on the first floor, but up close now, it was clear. Their presences were strikingly distinct. Even in a crowd, you'd spot them instantly.
'Mana...?'
"What business do mages have on the second floor?"
I was spacing out, scanning the area, when a man stepped forward to block our path.
He had an overwhelming presence unlike anyone I'd met before. Just standing there radiated intimidation.
His longsword hung low at his waist, sheathed. He eyed Durel and me with an irritated expression. Durel stepped up and replied.
"Just curious about the second floor. Problem?"
"This is the rest area for our guild members. I'd appreciate it if you didn't bother us and went back down."
"That's awfully rude..."
"Young or not, a mage is a mage."
"What do you mean by that?"
As Durel's question ended, the air grew tense. The man's hand moved toward his sword hilt, and Durel began gathering mana.
'Danger...'
A sudden surge of. Without hesitation, I yanked Durel's nape back and stomped the wooden floor hard with my foot.
Thud-!
A fierce gust erupted from my toes, blasting the space ahead. The man's sheathed sword swung at me but bounced right off.
Bam-!
"Huh, what's this...?"
"Y-You bastard...! How dare you attack...!"
I silently stepped in front of Durel. The man before us feared no mage. He had something to rely on, no doubt—most likely his own skill.
"Durel."
"Master..."
At my call, the boy bit his lip in frustration. Quick-witted as he was, he'd realized he couldn't beat this man.
'Not even with Durel's magic...'
Not that many could.
As I pushed Durel back and was about to tell the man to stop, he kicked off the ground and swung his sheathed sword again.
'Fast...'
This was leagues beyond that drunken thug from the inn. Quick and concise. My dynamic vision could barely keep up.
Bam-!
Without Gentle Wind, that club-like scabbard would've cracked my skull.
"Hah!"
The man never drew his sword. He kept swinging it sheathed.
'Upper... no... lower? So fast...'
Was my body loosening up? His movements sped up. Then, the wall of Gentle Wind, which had been holding off his strikes well, shattered.
Pop-!
"...?"
It was incomprehensible. The same attack as before, yet the law I'd imposed broke, scattering my mana. The man, as if waiting for it, slipped through the collapsed barrier and closed in fast.
One step.
I retreated, erecting Gentle Wind again. The two Mana Circles in my heart cycled absorption and circulation, supplying endless mana to aid swift casting.
"What...? The magic speed...!"
He still hadn't drawn his sword. We'd been rude first. I couldn't go all out against someone not showing killing intent.
The vast library in my mind opened, a book flying out and flipping open rapidly.
I needed simple incapacitation now.
The moment I vaguely pictured the required spell, my lacking imagination filled instantly.
'Blue light, flash, jolt, paralysis, chain.'
The mana flowing through me underwent a new transformation. At the same time, a blue glow shot straight from my right fingertip.
Crackle-!