Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Half-Baked Mage
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About three weeks had passed since we left the first city. We arrived at a large city with a completely different vibe from the last one.
"Looks like we can take a short break."
Raymond peered out the window at the city and spoke.
"Does that mean this isn't our final stop?"
"It's less than a month's travel away. With a smaller group, we could've made it in a week. No merchant caravan in their right mind would stretch out a trip this short—it'd cost them a fortune."
"I see."
Right after the carriage entered the city, it pulled to a stop in a suitable spot. When Raymond and I stepped out, the caravan leader approached with a fawning smile.
"Two days. We'll rest here for two days. I've booked rooms at an inn, so you can relax without a worry."
"Good."
"The inn's called..."
He was even friendlier than when we'd first met. Probably thanks to all the magic I'd casually used throughout the journey.
Raymond employed magic lightly even in everyday situations. Like when the road was blocked and we'd have to go around—he'd step up and blast it clear with a storm of wind.
After getting the inn's name from the caravan leader, I naturally fell in behind Raymond. We walked for a good while, idly taking in the city's sights.
That's when Raymond turned to me.
"Not feeling cooped up?"
"Huh?"
"Plenty to see here."
I knew that. This city had a ton of sights. And I was just a little girl who'd spent her whole life in a remote mountain village—everything in this world felt new and wondrous to me.
"Yeah. Lots."
"Go check it out."
"What did you just...?"
"The Golden Wind must be free."
With that, Raymond pulled a leather pouch from his robes and handed it over. It had some real weight to it. Peeking inside, I saw about ten dull silver coins.
I didn't know their exact value, but I'd gleaned enough from sidelong glances. A whole basket of sweet fruit went for one of these. Raymond had just given me a small fortune.
"This is..."
"Buy whatever you need. Once you've seen it all, head back to the inn."
Raymond glanced at me standing there dumbfounded, then turned and walked off without hesitation. I started to follow out of habit but stopped myself in place.
Sudden free time and pocket money. How could I not be thrilled? Barely hiding my excitement, I bolted toward the market street.
-Hey! Hands off!
-Just looking?
-Mister! Check this out before you go!
The market buzzed with life and chaos. Exotic scents wafted through the air, at least to me. The street wasn't wide, but shops and stalls lined both sides.
Clack-
'Even the roads are paved...'
I looked down and tapped my small feet on the uneven stone bricks. Way cleaner than the black dirt paths back home.
That's when a strangely sweet aroma caught my nose, and I lifted my head. A stall with a long awning casting shade had wooden racks displaying mouthwatering fruit.
I stared at it, and the vendor asked,
"Wanna try one?"
"Huh...? I can?"
The vendor shrugged at my question. He grabbed a small knife hanging nearby and sliced a fruit in half with one clean cut, offering me one piece.
This was the first time anyone had been this nice to me as Lumia. Free food—had to be something wrong with it, right? As I looked up at him suspiciously, he bit into his half without a second thought.
Watching closely, I cautiously reached out and took mine. It was big and bumpy. After a brief hesitation, I opened wide and crunched down.
Crunch-
"Good, huh? Tasty, right?"
Crunch-
Instead of answering, I nodded and kept munching. The vendor watched me with satisfaction and said,
"If you want more, go beg your parents. Tell 'em how delicious the shiguru was."
Crunch-
I blinked while chewing. Ah, got it. This kindness was pure calculation. His eyes flicked over my clothes.
Fine fabric, too good for common folk. He'd mistaken me for some rich kid.
"How much?"
"One basket for 1 gelrit."
Gelrit. Gelrit. I mumbled it under my breath, and he pulled out a small coin to show me. It matched the ones Raymond had given me.
Learning so much from a quick chat.
'Maybe get some later...'
But not now. Still plenty to see and do—hauling a basket around wouldn't work.
"I'll come back for some later."
"Oh, you better."
"Yeah. Promise."
Turning away, I headed next to a table drawing a big crowd. Wasn't selling stuff, but tons of people. Curious, I tiptoed and peeked around until I saw what was happening.
Shff-shff-shff-
A hand gripped small cups, swiftly swapping their positions.
'Shell game... gambling den?'
Worlds apart, but human nature's the same everywhere. After peeking around, I finally clung to the table's edge.
"This one!"
"No! This! I saw it!"
Clink!
Excited men slapped coins down by their picks. Once most had bet, the dealer nodded and lifted the cups.
The dealer was a kid, surprisingly. My age, maybe.
Four cups total. He started from the rightmost.
Shff-
"Ah!"
"Nooo!"
Sighs, screams, and laughs mixed as empties revealed themselves. Momentum building, he flipped the rest.
The ball was under the leftmost cup—no one had bet on it.
'This guy...'
I watched intently, frowning. Faint mana flow as he lifted it.
'A mage?'
I realized instantly. The ball itself was magic—a simple mana orb, no properties altered, just shaped.
'This could be fun...'
Perfect timing—I was super interested in fellow mages. And this one looked my age.
Before the boy shuffled again, I used magic to catch his eye.
A cool, gentle breeze toppled one light cup. He turned naturally. I gave a small smile and wave.
His face hardened.
"...That's it for today."
"What? You're done? No way!"
"Can't leave!"
Losers raged, surrounding the table. But bigger guys moved faster—arms crossed behind him till now.
They loomed intimidatingly, and the angry men flinched back.
The boy swiftly packed coins and gear behind them. Watching, I asked,
"Why're you going?"
"...You with that guy?"
"What guy?"
Who? Was he on the run?
I tilted my head, and he tsked in exasperation, hopping down from his wooden crate.
"Temptation this time, huh... But you're not my type. Cute, sure, but... Hey, Big! Bay! Let's go!"
"What're you talking about...? I just wanted to chat..."
Ignoring me, he strode off with the bruisers. Frowning, I followed.
"Wait up!"
No answer. No look back. Just the awkward bruisers glancing over.
We'd chased a ways when he suddenly veered into an alley.
"Tch...!"
Cornering fast, a gust hit—and a huge rock flew at me.
'This...'
Shock was brief. Mana flow told me: fake. Mana illusion, no substance.
Without stopping, I stepped wide. It grazed past and vanished.
Far ahead, the boy gawked, eyes wide. Surprised I didn't fall?
'Illusion magic...'
Just visuals—no big mana needed.
My lips curved up.
Hand out, guiding ambient mana. Imagining vastness, ferocity—a dragon from another world's phantasm, pulled from memory.
Imperfect. Blurry, imprecise. No rules imposed, so it couldn't fully manifest here.
'Trickier than I thought.'
But enough for now. My gesture summoned a massive shadow rearing up.
'Go.'
Thrusting forward, it charged down the narrow alley.
When the hazy dragon engulfed the boy,
he toppled backward, eyes rolling white.