Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Toward a Wider World
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"First, the Western Wind. As you'll see in the documents, there are various interpretations..."
I squinted as I skimmed through the stack of papers. It had been quite some time since I'd started learning to read from Durel, so now I could handle even the trickier words without much help.
Just as Cardia had said, the documents lacked any real substance. In the end, it seemed like a regional term, and the conclusion was that I should head west myself to investigate.
"Next, regarding that male mage."
Unlike the scant info on the Western Wind, there were fairly detailed accounts of my mentor Raymond, the one who'd taught me magic.
'He got into a heated argument with a mage from the academy in Caravello... killed him and fled...? After that, his whereabouts are unknown...'
"Caravello is a city about two weeks away from here on foot. Faster if you ride a horse, of course."
Durel, sitting beside me, answered my unspoken question. A glance his way showed he was peering at the same papers I had.
When I handed him the documents, Durel scanned them again. He tapped them lightly with his fingers—tap tap—before speaking.
"The information falls short of expectations."
"If I may offer an excuse... we gathered this in just one day..."
"I can't pay for this."
Cardia chuckled lightly at Durel's retort, as if he'd expected as much.
"That's all the info our guild can provide. If that's all..."
With that, Cardia rose from his seat and left the inn.
I stared blankly at his retreating back before turning to Durel.
"Durel. What's this Caravello place?"
"It's not far from here. Roughly a week and a bit, I'd say."
'Closer than I thought...'
"Planning to head to Caravello? He won't be there anymore."
I nodded in agreement. According to the papers, Raymond's trail had gone cold. I didn't know how powerful this 'academy' was, but for him to kill one of their mages and escape capture meant he'd left Caravello long ago.
"We head west. That's where they pointed us."
"Setting out right away?"
"Maybe... I'm thinking of finding an escort job or something."
"An escort mission?"
I nodded and stood up. Long journeys required hefty funds. We'd need more food, water, oil, blankets, and the like.
I had a good amount of money, but spending it carelessly would leave me broke in no time.
Still, there was a way to cut costs.
Escort missions for merchant caravans.
"Makes sense. If you're lending your strength, the client covers most necessities. A smart choice."
Durel had a real talent for lifting spirits.
We left the inn after finishing our meal and headed straight for the adventurer's guild.
Even early in the morning, the guild hall buzzed with people—but the moment we entered, it fell deathly silent. A few oblivious chatterers persisted until their neighbors jabbed them with elbows, shutting them up quick.
"I'll find something suitable. Wait here."
Durel dashed off toward the large bulletin board, checking the open postings first.
Having someone handle the legwork made things easy for me. I found a spot and sat down.
As I surveyed the vast hall, I twirled my noticeably softer hair around my finger. It used to be stiff from malnutrition, but lately, it felt much smoother.
The changes weren't just in my hair. My gaunt frame had filled out some. My face had color now, looking healthy and vibrant.
'Grown a bit taller too, maybe.'
That's when Durel came rushing back, beaming with success.
"Found one!"
"Yeah?"
Two days later, Durel and I packed our things and left the inn. Today was the caravan's departure day.
Our luggage was light. The client had promised to provide most long-trip essentials, so we only brought spare clothes, emergency rations, and drinking water.
At the rendezvous point, we found the caravan nearly ready to go. And I was in for a shock—the wagons and carts weren't hitched to horses, but massive lizards.
I knew intellectually this wasn't Earth, but this was my first time seeing a non-human beast with my own eyes.
"Durel. What are those things?"
"Riven, looks like. I've heard they're used instead of horses in the Red Desert regions."
"Desert?"
"The client's from a Red Desert caravan. Probably brought a few when they left."
"Ah..."
We'd barely arrived when a man directing the loading spotted us and came running.
"You're right on time...! Thank goodness!"
"Mages keep their promises."
"Y-yes, of course. No doubt here. I just worried I'd given the wrong place or time..."
I studied the bowing man closely. His face stood out—prominent nose, thick brows, sunken eyes around, giving him an exotic air.
'Skin tone's about the same, though...'
"An honor to travel with you. I'm Kalam, head of this caravan. We've prepared a special wagon for you mages—rest inside, and we'll depart once we're set."
The provided wagon was huge and ornate. Durel gave it a quick once-over, nodded as if it were only natural, and headed forward.
"Shall we?"
Soon after boarding, the fully prepped caravan train began to move. I watched Aurellen's receding scenery for a long while before voicing a question.
"Durel."
"Yes?"
"This caravan—what made them hire us? Aside from being mages, we didn't show them anything. Did you demonstrate something?"
"It was Master who showed them. On our first day at the guild, you took down that Cardia guy on the second floor, right?"
"Because of that?"
"Cardia's supposed to be quite skilled. Subduing him easily proves our worth, no questions asked."
"I see."
The sky was overcast. Clouds shrouded the moonlight, plunging everything into darkness. Even the caravan's torches barely pierced the gloom.
"Stay vigilant!"
"These ones are smart! Don't fall behind!"
A foul, fishy stench rode the wind. Like wet dogs on a rainy day.
"Master."
"Quiet."
Exactly one week into the journey, uninvited guests arrived that evening. Their yapping in the distance gave them away.
'Gnolls,' they called them. Beasts with dogs' heads on human bodies. Sure enough, barks echoed from the shadows now and then.
No gnolls had approached my side yet, but the long caravan line had clashed with them several times. Screams, shouts, and the tang of blood carried on the breeze.
"Mage!"
The caravan head's desperate call sought me out. But with enemies invisible, I couldn't just unleash spells wildly. Even with the Gentle Wind barrier, it wasn't invincible. Spending mana on attacks would weaken the shield.
Snipers loosed arrows sporadically from the dark—it wasn't easy to commit without certainty.
What we needed now...
My heart's Mana Circle spun, whispering to me. You can do it now. Create what you need. I had the concept. The blueprint. All that was missing was the massive mana for all those functions.
'Enhanced dynamic vision... sensing life presences... and... channeling mana directly... plenty.'
Mana surged from my heart through my veins to my eyes. There, it enveloped them, tracing bizarre patterns. No special meaning—just the shape needed to sustain the spell.
The moment starlight flickered in my eyes...
A gust erupted from my feet, sweeping the surroundings. My cloak billowed wildly on my shoulders. My hat nearly flew off, whipping in the gale.
"Master...? What are you—"
"Just a moment."
Step—
I took a large step forward, raising both hands. With starlight in my eyes, the pitch black posed no issue.
"Just changing how I see the world..."
Altering my perspective on the world. Not wrong. My vision blazed like broad daylight. Things looked—and felt—different. Vague awareness versus clear detection? Night and day.
'There they all are...'
Crackle—
Chain Lightning (Lv. ?)
Blue bolts cascade over the gnolls!
The instant blue light flashed from my hands, a straight bolt shot out, banishing the dark for a split second. In that fleeting moment, azure lightning rained down on the dwarven dog-heads.
Rumble—!