Chapter 73
Chapter 73
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Caradun Kingdom
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My heart ached dully. The mana circle nestled there was also spinning unevenly, as if overloaded.
'Grand Dissolution Spell... A one-strike kill technique. Can't use it consecutively.'
It made sense. I'd forcibly suppressed the magical backlash. My body had taken the full brunt of the aftermath. In my memories, the spell's original caster had seemed fine even after using it, but reality was a bit different, it seemed.
'No.'
The spell was perfect. It was a mystery that manifested laws nonexistent in this world. It had to be identical to the one in my memories. I was simply the one lacking.
I panted heavily, cooling the overheated mana circle. As chunks of the massive wyvern's body rained down with wet thuds, the eyes of the evacuating people focused on me.
-Did you just... see that?
-Is that... a royal court mage?
-He shot a sun from his hand...!
Awe at the magic. Normally, I'd have gladly accepted such praise. But the situation wasn't over yet. I'd only taken down one—just one out of eight.
I caught my breath and opened my mouth.
"It's... not safe yet."
My voice wasn't loud. Yet it rode the wind, carrying my words to everyone in the vicinity.
-That's a human...?
-Hey! Don't stop! Hurry, this way!
-That human mage is right. Evacuate now!
Being able to wield mana also meant sensing it. I could feel the wyverns rampaging in all directions turning their attention to me. But they didn't approach rashly. They were wary. Of the spell I'd just unleashed.
In the meantime, several powerful mana signatures approached from afar. They were closing in rapidly from the massive black fortress. Probably the knights and royal court mages the locals had mentioned.
I breathed a sigh of relief. Even I couldn't handle the remaining seven wyverns at once. Taking them on one by one with time in between might be possible.
Long, deep breaths gradually cooled the overheated mana circle, and my condition started returning to normal.
That was the moment. The nearest wyvern flapped its wings furiously and charged at me with terrifying speed.
'Damn.'
If my body had been in top shape, I'd have reacted instantly. But I was slow. With the overheated mana circle not yet at full performance, I could only watch the massive body barreling toward me.
Boom—!
A heavy blow. It twisted mid-flight, whipping its enormous tail around. The lash-like strike hammered my body, sending shockwaves through me.
But I was fine. Almost no pain. The treasure from Hayar's Black Throne—the nameless elf's gift—had absorbed all the impact.
Mid-air, my belatedly recovered mana circle unleashed Gentle Wind.
Whoosh—!
Wind burst from my entire body, steadying me in the air. Calming my breath amid the enveloping gale, I spotted the wyvern preparing its next attack. It crouched low, gripping the ground hard with its winged arms. Its swollen chest made the incoming strike obvious.
'Mana gathering in its chest...'
A golden opportunity. Mana immediately concentrated in my right hand. The image I envisioned: azure lightning. Seizing the unbridled fury of untamed nature. In that brief instant, I forcibly imprinted devastating principles into the manifested spell.
This was a spell with no intent of control from the start. The moment it formed at my fingertips, I used Blink to teleport right in front of the wyvern's snout.
Whoosh—!
Just as I arrived, it opportunely opened its maw. It was gearing up to spew the searing heat brewed in its belly—but that proved its fatal mistake.
Before the lightning in my hand could scatter wildly, I shoved it straight into the wyvern's mouth.
Zzzap—!
Different magics inevitably clash with violent backlash. The wyvern's breath was magic too. It manifested the mystery of scorching flame through mana, no different. The azure lightning surged into its body, and I instantly Blinked away to create distance.
Kaboom—!
The wyvern's body, mouth agape to unleash its breath, swelled once. The internal explosion delivered massive trauma; the giant reptile's face twisted in agony.
[Kreeeeek!]
'How tough is this thing?'
I hadn't killed it, but it looked in no shape to move right away. The fallen wyvern vomited blackened smoke alongside dead blood from its mouth.
-There! It's fleeing! Catch it!
-We've captured three! How about you?
-Civilians first! If capture's impossible, kill without hesitation!
While I dealt with two wyverns, the reinforcements had begun containing the chaos. The rampaging beasts were swiftly captured or slain, and rescue operations started amid the collapsed buildings.
Then I sensed a tremendous presence. Even without Arcana, I knew. The approaching dwarf was an extraordinary powerhouse. Just looking made my skin prickle.
Thud—
Dwarf-typical short stature, but he didn't seem small at all. Muscles cloaked his entire body like armor.
'Mana traces all over his body...'
Regular knights, not mages, left mana traces only in parts of their bodies—mainly the most-used areas. But this one was different. Like a mage, mana traces emanated from his whole body.
What let me confirm he was a knight, not a mage, was the absence of an inner world in his mindscape.
"Thanks for the aid, human mage."
His breathing steady even post-battle. He'd mercilessly butchered a giant wyvern and still had composure to spare. He slammed his massive battle axe into the ground and stated his name.
"I am Thorval Ironhand, captain of the Black Iron Knights of Caradun Kingdom."
"...Lumi of the Infinite Archive School."
An odd gaze. The dwarf Thorval's eyes held no mana. Yet that look felt no different from mages activating detection spells.
"Lady Lumi. I salute your courage. Without you, the damage would have been far worse. If you're amenable... I'd like to invite you to the castle. Reporting this directly to His Majesty would surely earn you generous rewards."
'They won't hold killing the wyvern against me...?'
This was the man who'd ordered killing over capture if needed to protect civilians. He didn't seem to be lying.
I hadn't helped for rewards. My body had simply moved faster than my thoughts.
That said, I wasn't flush enough to refuse offered compensation. I'd promised Simo some decent magic tools too. Kingdom-level rewards could mean a hefty sum.
I nodded in response.
"I appreciate the captain's kindness. I gladly accept the invitation."
"Kindness? Just doing what's right... Do you have companions?"
"Yes. A young boy besides me... and one dracani..."
"Understood. Could you bring them here? I need to oversee the cleanup."
"Of course. Then..."
I turned and kicked off the ground. As my heart's mana circle vibrated briefly, the scenery flipped.
Whoosh—
Finding Durel and Simo was easy. They stood fidgeting anxiously in front of the inn. Spotting me, they rushed over.
"Master!"
"You're safe! Wyverns escaped! It's dangerous—get inside!"
They'd only heard about the wyvern breakout. No clue the incident was already resolved and cleanup underway.
"It's over. Pack your things."
"Pardon?"
"Pack? Are we leaving? This late?"
"Invited to the palace."
"The palace...?"
Durel moved fastest. Ignoring Simo's dumbstruck question, he dashed up to the inn. Simo, eyeing him, followed belatedly.
"Got my stuff!"
"Me too!"
Sharp Durel hadn't just grabbed his own. My bag dangled from his right hand. I extended my arm naturally, and he hurried over to sling it on me. He straightened my clothes and tucked stray hair behind from the strap.
"What happened? Palace invitation...?"
"Everyone knows about the wyvern escape, right?"
"Yes. No way...?"
"Were you there?"
The way back was fairly far. I'd Blinked here in seconds, but with them, we had to hurry.
I jogged lightly, briefly recounting the events.