Chapter 97
Chapter 97
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: Remnant Light of Creation
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Most of the items in the bag were heavily damaged, but figuring out the owner's identity wasn't difficult at all. In fact, I'd had a pretty good guess just from seeing the mage's cloak, caked in blood and mud and hardened solid.
"A good amount of silver coins, a magic tome, and a handful of magestone powder came out. Of course, the magestone powder is completely ruined now..."
Durel said as he rummaged through the blood-soaked bag. All sorts of items from inside were scattered at his feet. Without these belongings, I might not have even realized this hardened pool of blood had once been human.
It had mixed so thoroughly with the mud that it formed a dough-like paste, making it impossible to even guess at the victim's shape.
"Why'd he have to get so close..."
I clicked my tongue and turned my head. That's when my eyes caught the magic tome Durel had pulled out. It was written in Ber Kingdom script, so reading it posed no trouble.
Remnant Light of Creation...?
A school name I'd heard before. The only mages in this world who handled lightning. I approached slowly and opened the tome. With a ripping sound, the pages tore right off.
Unlike the leather cover, the insides were just ordinary paper. The yellowed sheets, soaked through with blood, made the text nearly illegible. With a small sigh, I started to set the book down, but Semo darted forward and snatched it up.
"I know a way to remove the blood. Blood magic makes it no trouble at all. If you need it, I can start right away."
"Please do. I'm curious about what's inside."
"Right away."
Semo nodded and quickly retreated into the cabin.
At the same time, I turned to Durel as I eyed the massive hull.
"Anyway, nothing was stolen, right?"
"I checked immediately, but nothing's changed since we set out."
"Good."
"That said... what do you plan to do?"
"Do about what?"
"He fought a golem guarding a specific target. The battle traces left behind show he could've run but chose to fight to the end. In cases like this, there's usually one motive. Naturally, we can hold his school—the Remnant Light of Creation School—responsible."
"He's dead."
"That's beside the point. He treated our master's golem, our school, as something trivial. No matter how prestigious the Remnant Light of Creation School, this isn't something we can just overlook. Of course... whether they'll admit it easily is another matter. If we use this to demonstrate the Infinite Archive School's greatness to mage society..."
In the end, he was saying it was best to cover it up. Of course, that didn't sit well with me either. We hadn't suffered any losses ourselves, so dragging around traces of a dead man to demand accountability didn't paint a pretty picture.
Honestly, from my perspective, it was like setting a flypaper trap for flies, only for a giant stag beetle to come crashing in. Utterly ridiculous.
Suddenly, Raymond came to mind—the one with a bounty for killing a mage academy affiliate.
"This won't cause any big trouble, right?"
Durel stood, looking around as he replied.
"No witnesses. Semo and I already checked the surroundings. There was only one set of footprints. As long as we clean up the traces properly, we'll be fine."
Then we'd just bury this incident. I signaled the octopus golem lightly, and it lumbered over from where it waited, flames spewing from its arm.
Whoosh!
The searing flames scorched the ground, incinerating everything atop it. Only after confirming the dark red blood paste charring away and vanishing did I stir my mana and stomp lightly. The earth flipped over, swallowing every remaining trace.
A blend of Sunken Vein and Flowing Sands magic. It had a decent effect. Since the principles overlapped, there was little rejection. Of course, its power couldn't compare to using either alone.
With everything wrapped up like that, I shook off the cloak from my back and headed to the deck. Durel followed, naturally taking the cloak as he spoke.
"Your hair..."
"My hair?"
"It suits you."
I'd wondered what he meant—he was talking about the hairpin. I fiddled with my bangs as I replied to his compliment.
"Want one for yourself?"
"No, thank you."
We left the Black Feather Hawk well past noon. Semo came with me. I'd planned to go alone, but one of the three had thrown a fit about someone needing to stay by master's side, so I brought Semo.
His tall frame and sharp features would project more intimidation than Olbern or Durel's boyish looks. Plus, if things got heavy, Semo was the only disciple strong enough to carry it.
The moment Semo and I reached the city gates, the guarding soldiers approached with light questions.
"Welcome, mage. If it's not too much trouble, could you tell us your destination today?"
"Destination?"
"Yes... Orders came from above. If the mage returned, we were to ask."
The soldier looked terribly pitiful, tense as he awaited my reply. For him, even addressing a mage must drain immense mental energy. Proof was the sweat already beading thick on his forehead in that short time.
What's the harm...?
I planned to grab the info and leave right away anyway. After a brief hesitation, I answered casually.
"Heading to the Adventurer Guild."
"Thank you...!"
That seemed to be all. The soldier stepped aside with thanks, and the others waiting inside cleared the way too.
As I walked through slowly, I asked Semo,
"What'd you guys do yesterday?"
"I don't recall anything that could've caused trouble..."
"Then why are they asking our destination?"
"I don't know either..."
The soldiers weren't swarming aggressively, nor did I sense hostility. Same as yesterday. I paused briefly, then hurried my steps again.
The Adventurer Guild I revisited was far quieter than yesterday. It had buzzed so loudly it echoed outside, but now it was eerily still. Probably because I'd said I'd return tomorrow, fewer people had shown up today.
As I approached the entrance, I released Concealment. My freed mana rode the Gentle Wind, spreading in all directions.
Whoooosh—
Just as the formless wind made an eerie whistle. The building's interior revealed itself beyond the naturally opening door. Not empty, but far fewer than yesterday. As expected, it was deserted inside.
I strode in confidently and glanced upstairs. More mana users than yesterday. Mages were like unpredictable nukes in this world, so it was natural precaution on their part.
Though it wouldn't mean much.
"We've been waiting, mage."
At the counter, a guild staffer handed over a thick stack of documents as if expecting me. No need for further talk. I took them naturally and checked the contents right there.
Flip, flip, flip—
There were plenty more major incidents besides these. The world is vast. So many things happening beyond my sight. I hadn't expected much, but the processing was impressively thorough.
I raised one eyebrow and asked the guild staffer,
"These are all legit, right?"
"Yes. We excluded any unverified information from the start."
"Hm... this one... this... and this..."
I nodded at his words and picked out a few documents lightly. I'd said it when posting the request: bring good info, and I'd pay extra. Of course, to avoid suspicion, I skipped the Raymond-related one.
"These are pretty good."
I paid the extra for the selected ones and turned to leave lightly. Semo approached close and whispered,
"Did you find what you wanted?"
"Yeah."
"Glad to hear it."
I nodded and handed the document envelope to Semo. I'd gotten Raymond's news. Bounty increased meant he hadn't been caught yet. Details would require reading the docs, but not the place.
The moment I stepped out with a sigh of relief.
"We sincerely welcome your visit, mage!"
People surrounding the building bowed their heads in fervent greeting. Their attire differed from commoners'. Not flashy, but neat and upscale. Behind them loomed large carriages.
Overly ornate and huge. Expensive at a glance.
Nobles...?
"Semo."
"I... I don't know these people."
If even Semo didn't know, where had they come from? I frowned and shut my mouth. Then a woman emerged from one carriage.
"Pleased to meet you, seniors. But... the letter said one person, and a Drakain at that? Strange... but it clearly said..."
Insight hit the instant I saw her. She harbored lightning within. Like azure sky unleashing endless blue bolts with thunderous roars.
Something's misunderstood...
That instant. She tilted her head, raised her hand, and her mana birthed blue lightning that shot toward Semo's bag.
Crackle—
Not an attack spell. Just verification. Semo fumbled the bag open in panic, and the tome inside floated up, wrapped in blue lightning.
The Remnant Light of Creation tome. Before it reached her, I stepped forward and extended my hand.
The situation's...
Twisted badly. As my outstretched fingertips brushed empty air, the mana circle in my heart spun wildly, converting the mana spreading through my body.
The gentle surrounding winds vanished. In their place: blue lightning.
Crackle, crackle—!
I saw a new world before my eyes. No need to read the Erkamon tome. My eyes pierced the inscribed principles directly.
A light flick of my fingers, and lightning surged from my whole body, snatching the tome flying toward her.
Rumble—!
Remnant Light of Creation. The lingering echoes of creation gods' voices. Fragmented lightning bore divine wrath, its thunderous roar shaking the heavens. Think that, and the rest followed naturally.
Lightning cloaked my form.
I shook the tome in my hand lightly and said,
"Insolent."
Crackle—
Cold voice mingled with electric static. Her face drained pale blue in shock.
This is bad...