Chapter 98
Chapter 98
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: Remnant Light of Creation
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“I-I’m sorry for not recognizing you!”
The woman immediately bowed her head. As if to test her resolve, I snatched the grimoire and glared at her, and she hurriedly continued.
“We were worried because you arrived later than the scheduled time… Then we heard a mage had appeared, so I rushed over right away. But you looked nothing like the person described in the letter… I was concerned that something might have happened to you, and then I sensed the presence of that familiar grimoire…”
“So you attacked? To retrieve it?”
“My hand moved on its own…”
‘This isn’t good…’
The situation had gotten messy. At the same time, fragmented pieces of information connected, forming a rough picture. I could guess what had happened. A woman who had joined the Remnant Light of Creation School, and a mage dispatched by the school to support her.
And my octopus golem had killed that mage.
‘The grimoire was the problem…’
A small greed had tripped me up. If it weren’t for the grimoire, none of this would have happened. After a moment of thought, I let out a long sigh. What was done was done. There was no going back now and revealing the truth.
If I couldn’t avoid it, I had to take control.
I started acting right away. Recalling the mages I’d encountered before. It wasn’t hard. Arrogant, haughty, utterly overbearing. They had to have everything at their feet.
I handed the grimoire back to Simo and opened my mouth.
“In your words…”
“Yes…?”
“There are two parts of your story that don’t make sense to me.”
The woman cautiously lifted her head at my words. Ignoring her gaze, I continued speaking. Even my smallest gestures dripped with arrogance. A surge of blue lightning followed, radiating an immense presence.
Clearly, this wasn’t my true personality, yet it felt perfectly natural, as if I’d always been this way. It was a strangely subtle sensation.
“You were worried? The school you joined is the Remnant Light of Creation. We wield the power of gods in human flesh. What could possibly harm us, that you dared to think such a thing?”
“Th-that’s…”
A mage views the world they hold as truth. Thus, they place everything beneath their feet. It’s natural to them, an act of protecting their worldview, so they feel no hesitation. For something to contradict that mindset is to rebel against the mage’s very world.
A junior who had entered the same discipline was worrying about a mage from her own school. How could that not turn her world upside down? She had unconsciously assumed the existence of something that could surpass her school.
Otherwise, why would she worry about a superior mage?
‘This should work…?’
Don’t doubt. A mage never doubts their own thoughts. The moment they conceive it, belief forms, and that belief becomes truth.
“And the other. Your hand moved on its own. You mean you unconsciously focused your mana, chanted Erkamon, and unleashed a spell? With skills like yours? Speak plainly. Are you mocking us? After seeing me and this one.”
Lightning crackled in my voice. The young girl’s tone blended with a tearing roar, creating an eerie atmosphere. Blue lightning still danced across my body. As I stepped forward, everyone around us—except the woman—scattered in panic.
She was speechless now. The woman gasped roughly, as if breathing was a struggle.
“You have clouded eyes. You judged by appearances alone. With such meager skill, you dare speak of worry? If I were another mage, your head would have flown the moment you were rude.”
“S-sor…”
“Your head’s held too high.”
Her reaction was immediate. She clamped her mouth shut and dropped to her knees right there. Beside me, Simo let out a choked gasp.
“You mentioned a letter. The school head sent me in their stead.”
No other explanation was needed. As I headed to the carriage, countless gazes followed my back. Simo quickly approached and opened the door, and I boarded and sat down.
The arrogance cloaking me made my posture relaxed. I naturally spread my arms to lean back. My small frame couldn’t fully drape over the seatback, so my arms naturally fell. Simo, sitting across from me, gave an awkward smile.
‘They wouldn’t have seen…’
I’d checked before boarding. The interior wasn’t visible from outside. No one would have seen. I quietly cleared my throat and spoke.
“What are you waiting for? Let’s depart.”
My voice wasn’t loud, but everyone here could hear it. People sprang into motion immediately. The kneeling woman staggered to her feet and cautiously approached the carriage.
But no. I signaled Simo with my eyes. He stood, strode forward, and slammed the door shut.
Bang—
“S-Senior…?”
The woman’s trembling gaze and puzzled voice reached inside the carriage. I didn’t even glance her way. Crossing my arms, I sank deeper into the sofa.
“I don’t want to share space with the incompetent. Come separately.”
“U-understood…”
Only after the woman vanished from view outside did the carriage start moving. Simo, who had been peeking warily, seemed like he wanted to say something, his mouth twitching.
I let out a long sigh and stopped channeling mana. The blue lightning that had replaced the wind faded, replaced by the gentle breeze of Gentle Wind. Using that, I formed a barrier isolating the carriage interior.
A wind wall that blocked sound was complete.
“That was close.”
“Is it safe to talk now?”
“Yeah. I’ve taken precautions.”
At my response, Simo peeked out the window. After staring for a long while, he finally sighed in relief.
“Haa… I really thought we were done for.”
“The trouble already happened.”
“But it’s not the worst case. I thought we’d have to fight right there.”
“Should’ve burned the grimoire with it too…”
“I’m sorry.”
“No.”
It wasn’t Simo’s fault. I was the one who asked him to hold the grimoire. My poor choice led to this. Blaming him now would just be an adult shirking responsibility.
“Um, if I may ask… Are you really affiliated with the Remnant Light of Creation School…?”
“As if.”
Simo’s cautious question. I laughed lightly and answered, and he nodded as if he’d expected that.
“It was so natural and suited you so well that I almost believed it… Our Drakain high blood mages spoke just like that. Could it be that Master’s lineage has Drakain blood…?”
“I’m purely human.”
Shaking my head at Simo’s words, I stood. As expected, the carriage was heading toward the largest mansion in the district. If we kept going, we’d really enter it.
I extended my hand to Simo.
“Grab on.”
“Yes…?”
“Grab on. We’re escaping.”
“Is that okay…? If we just run now, surely…”
“You want to follow it all the way to the mansion and teach that woman magic? Besides, we can’t leave Durel and Olbern behind. We were going to get caught sooner or later anyway. Better to slip away quietly now.”
“Y-yes…”
Simo’s hand rested in mine. My mana circle spun fiercely, mana flowing out and shimmering. Simo and I dropped not from the carriage, but into an alley in the city.
Flash—!
“This is Blink…”
“Focus. Keep quiet.”
“Yes…!”
We needed to get out of this city as far and fast as possible. I used consecutive Blinks with Simo in tow. But only about five times. Taking someone else across space overloaded my mana circle immensely.
“Hoo…”
Exhaling long to cool the overheating, thick breath escaped my mouth. No more was possible. I released his hand and started jogging lightly forward; Simo followed.
Leaving the city was instantaneous. We passed dumbfounded soldiers and dashed into the forest path. Leaning into the Gentle Wind approaching softly from behind, we glided smoothly. A sprint borne on the wind. Almost like flying.
Simo leaned into the Gentle Wind familiarly too. The wind bore the burden of our bodies. Meaning we could chat comfortably while running. Simo spoke with a much more relaxed expression.
“Planning to leave right away?”
“Yeah.”
“When heading to Levan Polo, how about disguising as a Drakain? The title ‘noble of the night’ suits you perfectly.”
“I was thinking elf… But I can’t use blood magic to begin with.”
“A shame. Though an elf would suit you well too, of course.”
While chatting idly with Simo, we’d already entered the canyon. Not far off, I sensed the mana of Black Feather Hawk and my two disciples. The octopus golem was fine too, so nothing had happened while we were away.
I kicked off the ground with Simo and descended onto the deck. I’d recovered the octopus golem’s core in the meantime. Leaving its massive body crumbling behind, I released the mana within me.
The released mana spread from my feet across the hull, reviving my control over Black Feather Hawk.
The moment the float core and propulsion core activated. Fierce winds erupted beneath Black Feather Hawk’s hull, shooting it into the sky.
Vrooom—!
‘Remnant Light of Creation…’
We’d forged a bad connection. Suddenly, Durel’s words came to mind. Mages rarely killed each other. Complicated ties of grudge and favor made for endless hassle.
‘Need to think about barrier magic. Revise the golem’s command system… When heading back to Ber Kingdom, put a mask on Simo.’
“Master?”
“Master! You’re back!”
At that moment, a boy and girl poked their heads out from the cabin and ran over quickly. Durel and Olbern.