Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Mage Lumi
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They said crossing the border required complicated procedures. With thousands of people passing through every day, the line was incredibly long. Just as I was steering the golem toward the end of that endless queue...
"Hold on! Please wait a moment! Not that way!"
A soldier who had been directing people from a short distance away came running over, out of breath. Wondering what was going on, I opened the carriage window and looked outside.
"What's the matter?"
"Mages from the association don't need to wait in line. We've been instructed from above to do our utmost to let you pass freely."
I turned to look at Durel at the soldier's words.
'We can just go.'
'What if other association mages spot us?'
'Even association mages don't all know each other. The situation's perfect. Let's just take advantage of the misunderstanding.'
Confirmation bias. The soldier had inferred and convinced himself of our identities based on his scant knowledge. I nodded.
"Is there some special issue...?"
"No. You said we can just go, right?"
"Yes. Head that way, and we'll open the gate for you right away."
The direction the soldier pointed to was a spot a little removed from the main checkpoint. They had torn down part of the tall wall to create a temporary gate.
This meant far more mages were involved in this affair than the ones I'd seen. Just how many mages had slipped across the border?
It was a moment when Raymond's safety weighed heavily on my mind.
As we turned the golem toward the makeshift temporary gate per the soldier's instructions...
Voices from soldiers behind the carriage drifted over.
"Aren't you checking their documents?"
"You idiot. They're using a golem. That means they're with the association mages."
"Really?"
"If you don't wanna die, hit the books. Wasting the mages' time could cost you your head."
"Yes, sir..."
As the thudding golem carriage approached the temporary gate, the soldiers guarding it stepped aside. Not one dared speak to us. They even bowed their heads to avoid offending us.
No one stood in the way of the golem carriage. The heavy, rhythmic thudding continued endlessly as we easily crossed the border checkpoint.
Once you exit the Ber Kingdom's border, you enter land that belongs to no country. It's a lawless zone. Naturally, it's teeming with criminals.
Sure enough, I spotted several groups that looked like bandit crews through the carriage window. The reason they didn't charge us was surely because a golem was pulling the carriage.
The golem carriage pressed on without incident.
It took about a week to reach the vicinity of our destination, Nuarein. Even using the golem nonstop, that's how long it took. It meant we'd caught up to most of the mages who had left ahead of us.
"Wow... Lending out a golem for this mission. The school must have high hopes."
"Hey, folks in the carriage. How many of you are there? We're almost at the destination—wanna chat? Or how about teaming up to catch that chain killer..."
Even after spotting the golem pulling the carriage, some approached or called out. Naturally, they were mages. Not every mage we encountered started off rude.
That changed the moment they saw our young faces peeking out the window.
"Hah, you're just lowly juniors! All the better. Follow me and gain some experience."
"This mission's dangerous. Hand over control of the golem and hide somewhere safe. Don't worry—if I catch him, I'll put your names on the report too."
No need to pay attention to such talk. For those who approached like this, I didn't even need to step in. Durel would just silently press a blade to their throat, and they'd shut up and leave.
"Are all association mages like that?"
"Not all. Mostly the low-rank ones with little experience. They don't know how big the world is and think their little bubble is the best."
"Frogs in a well, huh."
"Apt expression."
We arrived in Nuarein half a day later.
Even after sunset, Nuarein wasn't dark. The city's night was brighter than midday, dazzling to the eyes.
Thud thud—
Just like at the border, the golem carriage wasn't stopped by the city guards. They just glanced up briefly and cleared the way.
Passing through the grand main gate revealed the city drowned in revelry.
Scantily clad women and drunken pedestrians. No one batted an eye at someone rifling through the pockets of a man collapsed on the cold ground. Some wore flashy attire, others dragged iron chains.
To a normal person, it was a bizarre city. But no one saw it as a problem. They took it as everyday normalcy. That's what Nuarein was.
"We should always wear mage cloaks here. Same for the golem."
"That's what I was thinking."
The carriage stopped in a spot not far from the main gate. It was a parking area for carriages and wagons, apparently managed by the city for a fee.
Before getting out, Durel pulled a thick bundle of cloth from his bag and shook it out forcefully. With a whoosh, the cape unfurled and draped over his shoulders.
A satisfied smile played on his lips.
Watching him, I deliberately halted the rotation of my second mana circle. Mana began leaking from my body, naturally billowing the cape.
Whoooosh—
"Master. You look amazing."
Is this what impresses him? Wearing a stunned expression, I stepped out of the carriage with Durel. His excited steps were light.
Nuarein's night streets oozed a sticky atmosphere. The mix of strange body odors and booze made the air itself intoxicating—and deeply unpleasant to me.
"Where do you want to start looking? Somewhere crowded...?"
I frowned at Durel's words. With my activated Arcana, I could distinguish mages from civilians. If Raymond was in this city, I'd sense him immediately.
Provided he entered my field of vision. For that, I needed a very high vantage point overlooking the entire city.
"Somewhere high. A place where I can see the whole city at a glance."
"High up...? Then... that must be it."
Durel pointed to one side. Toward the city center, where the lights blazed brightest. A massive golden building towered, covered in so many ornaments that "gaudy" didn't do it justice.
"It's called Noir... the heart of Nuarein. The upper floors have a ballroom, the middle a huge casino, and the lower an auction house."
Glance—
Turning my gaze, I saw a small pamphlet clutched in Durel's hand—unclear when he'd picked it up.
"Let's go."
"Ah, yes."
No chance of getting lost. The massive building spewed lights so flashy they were visible from afar. Durel and I led the golem toward the building called Noir.
"People are staring a lot."
Even in diverse Nuarein, our group stood out: two young mages walking with a golem in tow. Countless eyes turned our way.
Normally, I'd have pulled my hat low against the stares. But now, I didn't care.
'Raymond.'
The man who changed my life. Our time together was short, but in this world, he felt more like a parent than my real ones. And now he was in danger.
"Master...? Your mana..."
My emotions surged, and the mana leaking from my body swelled. The cape practically shot skyward, sharp winds whipping around me. Uncharacteristically emotional. I took slow breaths to calm the mana.
"Just a bit. Got excited."
"Yes..."
As I stood still, regulating my long breaths...
Suddenly, a commotion erupted from a narrow alley between buildings.
-Over there!
-Grab him!
Eyes naturally turned.
In the world tinted blue by Arcana, several sharp lights darted about. A sudden chase, but no ordinary one. Both pursuer and pursued bore traces of mana on their bodies, and natural mana rapidly gathered into the alley.
Precursors to magic.
That instant. A gale exploded from deep in the alley.
Boom—!
-Arghhh!
-M-My arm...!
"Master. That sound..."
Reaching out into the air, the wind spilling from the alley coiled around my hand. A familiar sensation. Familiar magic.
'Golden Wind.'
Raymond was there.
I kicked off the ground immediately.