Chapter 111
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 111
After several rounds of trial and error, their new weapon was finally complete: the Water of Death.
The greatest challenge in utilizing it had been figuring out how to store it. At the very least, they needed a container made of a non-dissolving material to accumulate and transport the liquid properly. To find one, they experimented with every material they could get their hands on, starting with wood and moving through common metals like iron, ceramics, and more.
"This one?"
"That won't work."
"Then how about this?"
"…Wait, are you seriously thinking of making a container out of gold?"
"It's lying around everywhere here anyway, so why not?"
Fortunately, the Coloa Region was a mining hub where all sorts of minerals were buried. There was an abundance of materials for their experiments; they could even freely use precious metals that would be considered a fortune in other regions. Of course, since these were technically the property of the Lavitas Family, they couldn’t use them recklessly, but sneaking a few samples for testing wasn't difficult.
Through numerous trials, they discovered that transparent crystals and glass could withstand the Water of Death.
"What do they have in common other than being transparent?"
"Maybe it dissolves color?"
"I'm not sure, but I don't think that's the reason."
Even after comparing the chemical makeup and structural strength, the only commonality between the two was their transparency. In fact, colored glass or tinted crystals would dissolve instantly when exposed to the Water of Death, making Solif’s theory—that it dissolved anything with pigment—sound quite plausible.
Once they had secured a storage method, they moved on to testing the substance on living organisms, ranging from common plants and animals to Magical Beasts.
They experimented with spraying the Water of Death, feeding it to subjects, freezing and injecting it, and even vaporizing it to envelop targets in a mist. The results proved that the third method was the most devastating.
"…This is something that absolutely cannot have its production method leaked. It's even more dangerous than the Soul of Fire."
"Yeah, no kidding."
Not long ago, this wetland had been covered by a dense jungle. Now, only the skeletal remains of melted trees and a viscous swamp of dissolved flora and fauna remained. By vaporizing a large quantity of Water of Death and using wind magic to spread it across the forest, they had created an inescapable fog of death.
"There's no need to mention what it does to animals… even most Magical Beasts wouldn't survive stepping into it."
Of course, sufficiently powerful Magical Beasts could withstand the effects. They had diluted the liquid in water to adjust the concentration, testing it through ingestion and direct application. They found that even the pure, undiluted liquid wasn’t fatal to high-ranking Nobles with immense Mana.
However, as a weapon for mass-killing relatively weaker enemies, it was even more lethal than the Soul of Fire. Since it was a liquid, it was especially useful in environments where the Soul of Fire struggled, such as during heavy rain.
"Let's wrap up the experiments here. Messing around with this stuff lately seems to be putting her in a bad mood."
"Got it."
Meisa didn’t want to be an obstacle to the development of such a vital weapon, so she forced herself to remain composed. But every time they tested the Water of Death on animals, her expression darkened. If she saw Turan experimenting on his own body, she would likely feel twice as miserable, so he kept those particular tests a secret.
Even as they refined the new weapon, the land reclamation project continued steadily. There was a minor mishap when they attempted to use the Water of Death to clear land—the dissolved organic matter contaminated the soil—but with the help of the settlers, progress soon picked up speed.
Two and a half months passed since they had mastered the production of the Water of Death. Spring faded into summer, and by the time the region's second rainy season came to an end, the final area of land reclamation was finished.
"It's done!"
"Wow!"
Solif, who had spent months complaining about the humidity, cheered alongside Meisa, who had actually grown to enjoy the area. After all, when one poured their soul into a project and saw it through to completion, a sense of accomplishment was only natural.
When they returned to the settlement and officially announced the completion of the reclamation, Yoznil, along with the Knights and officials of the Lavitas Family overseeing the settlers, erupted in cheers.
"This reclamation will truly become legendary!"
"That's right. The time it took to clear this vast land…"
"It must have been about ten months, right?"
"Ten months… That's just ridiculous. It would have taken a hundred years for people to do this by hand."
Before long, a festival broke out throughout the settlement. There was strong liquor made from the sugarcane that grew abundantly in the south, snacks drenched in dark sugar, and skewers packed with various meats and vegetables seasoned with local spices. With thousands of settlers singing traditional southern folk songs and dancing amid the food and drinks, the sight was nothing short of spectacular.
Although Turan and his group did not mingle directly with the crowds, they sat in the seats of honor, watching the celebration unfold. As Meisa chewed on a spicy frog leg, she muttered, "It still doesn't feel real. I feel like I have to get back to work again tomorrow."
"I suppose most commoners live with that feeling every day."
Except for the wealthy few, the majority of people could never escape the cycle of labor. In a way, Turan and his group had indirectly experienced that grueling routine themselves.
At that moment, from across the table, Solif—who had just downed a glass of his favorite sugarcane liquor—turned to Turan.
"So, what are we doing next? I seriously want to have some fun in a big city now."
"First, we report the completion of our work to the Lavitas Family… and then, I suppose we should check on the people we rescued from the island to see how they're doing."
"Oh, that. So you’re really going through with it, huh?"
Based on the occasional letters exchanged with Asiz, the Arabion-Carmine war didn’t seem likely to break out anytime soon. Furthermore, from a recent visit, Turan had confirmed that the Zahar Family wasn’t making any suspicious moves in Kalamaf. With the most urgent matters settled, they finally had the chance to take care of unfinished business.
At the same time, they planned to travel through the Southern Sea to search for the Merfolk royal family rumored to have fled there.
"Besides, since we're heading east, I was thinking of stopping by your family estate. Looks like you’ll get to visit a big city after all."
Hearing Turan mention visiting the Baraha Family, Solif's jaw dropped in shock.
"…I don’t know if that’s such a good idea. Aren’t we just walking into danger?"
"You can just use my mask to disguise yourself like you always do, and we also have a few other ways to stay hidden."
Over the past few months, Meisa had been diligently practicing the enchantment magic she had learned from Asiz. One of the techniques involved infusing power from a Mage of a different Bloodline. While assisting with this process, Turan and Solif had made an interesting discovery.
Turan could use his Holy Relic as a medium to help create a Magic Tool that possessed the abilities of the Wave Walker and Mimic Bloodlines. As a result, they had recently completed a necklace that could adjust the wearer’s apparent age and a ring that could change the color of their eyes and hair. Compared to the Transformation Mask, these were much simpler disguises, but considering how rare such Magic Tools were, they were still incredibly valuable.
"Besides, let’s be honest—you’re curious too. Don’t you want to know how your parents are doing?"
"…Hmm."
Solif only let out a faint groan, unable to give a proper answer.
*
After the festival ended, the settlers wept as they learned Turan and his group were leaving. Not only had the trio protected them with overwhelming strength, but they had also healed their wounds and cured their illnesses. To the settlers, the ‘gods’ who had saved them were departing.
But they couldn’t stay forever.
Before they left, the settlers requested portraits of the three of them. They intended to build statues and offer prayers, vowing to honor and revere them for generations. After entrusting the settlement’s management to a few local Knights, Turan and his group set off northward to Merem, the capital of the Lavitas Family, accompanied by Yoznil.
Unlike their arrival, when they had traveled on lizards provided by the family head, they had to travel on foot this time, which made the journey considerably longer. If Solif and Turan hadn’t taken turns carrying Yoznil on their backs, the journey would have taken over a month—maybe even two—at an ordinary Knight’s pace.
Solif kicked at the damp ground and grumbled. “Ah, damn it. Honestly, I just want to ride Bije.”
“I get it, but… we’d rather keep our mobility hidden as much as possible.”
Even back at the settlement, everyone knew that Bije wasn’t an ordinary golden eagle but a Magical Beast. However, no one knew that despite her small size, she could pull a steel swing carrying multiple people and fly at high speeds for days on end. Without top-tier Noble-level Mana, a Magical Beast as small as Bije shouldn’t have been able to display such strength. Since this mobility was one of their greatest advantages, it was best to keep it a secret.
Besides, walking wasn’t entirely pointless; it allowed them to stop by villages and cities along the way to gather information. Specifically, they wanted to find out how far the rumors of their deeds had spread.
The results were exactly as Turan had expected.
“Our story is only famous around the Coloa Region. Once you go a little further north, barely anyone has even heard of us…”
“Well, it’s not really the kind of thing that would spread far. We’re not the only ones reclaiming wetlands, after all,” Meisa spoke with a slightly deflated expression.
Turan chuckled. If anyone had actually seen how they carried out the reclamation, they wouldn’t have been able to hide their shock. Burning hundreds of meters of land, evaporating tens of tons of water, and raising walls from the earth—such feats were enough to inspire awe even among the most powerful Nobles.
However, the only witnesses were the settlers and a handful of Knights. The only ones who could spread the story were the commoner merchants who visited the settlement. Naturally, when these merchants told tales of incredible individuals reclaiming the south with overwhelming power, the Mages in other regions didn’t take them seriously.
‘Those ignorant commoners probably think any magic powerful enough to clear a swamp is terrifying. They’re exaggerating.’
This was the general consensus among Mages who heard the rumors. After all, who would imagine that three individuals, each strong enough to be considered a semi-family head within a Great Noble House, were out in the wilderness doing manual labor? Likewise, the fact that Solif had revealed his true identity as the heir of the Baraha Family for a short time hadn't spread widely either.
After walking for about twenty days, they finally arrived back in Merem.
“Welcome back! My, you’ve all gotten such a nice tan.”
Lida greeted them warmly, gently patting their faces and arms. Of course, Noble skin wasn’t so weak that a bit of sunlight would cause noticeable tanning; it was merely a polite greeting. After welcoming them, Lida immediately prepared a lavish banquet, insisting they had worked too hard in the southern wilderness.
There was no comparison between a countryside cook and the personal chef of a Great Noble House. For the first time in a while, Turan and his group indulged in a feast so delicious their stomachs nearly burst.
“Ugh, I can’t eat another bite…”
“Don’t say that. There’s still plenty left.”
Like a grandmother doting on her grandchildren, Lida smiled contentedly as she pushed more food toward Solif.
After enduring this round of ‘food torture,’ Turan’s group arranged a meeting with Osel, the head of the Lavitas Family, through Lida. Since Yoznil had already reported in advance, Osel specifically instructed that Solif—or rather, his supposed attendant Knight, ‘Phil’—should join the meeting as well.
Three days later, Turan and his group entered the secluded residence. There, reclining leisurely with the curtains drawn back, was the family head.
“You deceived me.”
As soon as they met, Osel pointed accusingly at the disguised Solif.
Turan chuckled. "I don’t recall deceiving you. I simply didn’t mention it."
During their last meeting, Osel had never once asked if ‘Phil’ was the heir of the Baraha Family, so technically, Turan hadn’t lied. Of course, it was just wordplay. For an ordinary wandering noble, such an attitude toward the head of a Great Noble House would be considered highly disrespectful, but none of them seemed to care. Osel already knew their capabilities, and unlike before, they now stood on equal footing.
"Fine, let’s say I let that slide. But what about my sister? You definitely deceived her."
"I already apologized for that. Fortunately, she was very understanding."
"Hmph. You’d better not take my sister’s kindness for granted. If there’s one thing I despise, it’s people who try to use her for their own gain."
As Turan had sensed before, Osel’s attachment to Lida was excessive. It wasn’t particularly strange, given she had essentially raised him, but his protectiveness was fierce. After sulking for a moment, Osel regained his composure.
"Anyway, I’ve received Yoznil’s report. The three of you worked tirelessly to complete the task. You even established a settlement and a sustainable revenue structure."
"Yes. We received advice that this approach would help maintain the reclaimed land. Your aide is quite capable."
"There’s always a reason when the head of a Great Noble House takes a mere Knight as a trusted aide."
Osel's arrogant phrasing made them chuckle, but he suddenly turned serious.
"That being said, would you be willing to take on another request?"
"A request?"
"Our debts to each other may be settled, but that doesn’t mean you won’t need help again in the future. Last time, I allowed you to defer payment for the treatment because of my sister. This time, I’m asking if you’d like to pay in advance."
In other words, he needed their strength, but he was offering a vague promise of future medical treatment as currency. Turan glanced at his companions before nodding.
"I’m open to hearing you out. Does it align with the conditions I mentioned before?"
"Yes. It's catching a thief. A sufficiently righteous deed."
Catching a thief sounded simple, but if the head of a Great Noble House was requesting outside help, it was unlikely to be easy. Turan waited for him to elaborate.
"A man named Moroz Lavitas, a distant relative of mine, recently fled with an important Holy Relic belonging to the family."
"By Holy Relic, you mean..."
"Yes. The very one my sister promised you."
It was the same Holy Relic Lida had agreed to give Turan if he brought back the White Elf Spirit-Caller—an Artifact that continuously imbued its owner with the powers of healing and purification.
"And how did this happen?"
"It’s an internal family matter, but… tch, fine. The bastard fell in love with a Knight and stole the Holy Relic because he didn’t want his lover to die of old age. As if that would change anything; when the time comes, they’ll die just the same."
From what Turan had heard, if a commoner used the Holy Relic, their lifespan would extend to about 130 years. A Knight’s lifespan would likely be even longer—perhaps close to that of a Noble. It was a romantic reason for a crime, but stealing a Holy Relic was an unforgivable offense.
"How strong is this thief?"
"A little weaker than my sister."
That put him in the upper-mid tier. He was a formidable Mage, but for anyone in Turan’s group, defeating him wouldn’t be difficult. However…
"We don’t know his exact whereabouts. The last sighting reported that he boarded a ship heading east. Beyond our family’s territory, his location is unknown."
He could be anywhere in the world. The only fortunate thing was that his escape route aligned with Turan’s next destination.
"What’s the deadline? And what’s the reward for retrieving it?"
"Unlimited."
Turan’s eyebrow twitched.
Osel continued, his expression grave. "Whenever you find it, just bring it back. As for the reward: no matter who you bring to me, no matter how severe their injuries, I will use my full power to heal them. I understand that this task warrants such a price."
For the Lavitas Family, which had an abundance of healers, this lost Holy Relic wasn’t essential for survival. However, it was the intended payment for a Spirit-Caller. Since such an individual was crucial to the family’s dream of immortality, they had to recover the relic at any cost.
"Understood. I can’t promise to drop everything to search for it, but I’ll retrieve it if the opportunity arises."
"Good. I’m entrusting this to you because I trust your integrity. You’ve already proven you can complete a request faithfully."
If they had been unreliable, they might have tried to keep the relic for themselves. A Holy Relic that halted physical aging was a massive temptation. Aware of this, Osel added, "That Holy Relic grants healing and purification, but its actual restorative power isn’t particularly strong. For major injuries, you’d still need my personal intervention."
"I’ll keep that in mind. But before we move on, I have one more question."
"What is it?"
"Are we free to deal with his Mana as we see fit?"
Osel let out an amused chuckle. "Well, if you find him far away, capturing him alive would be a hassle… As long as the Holy Relic is recovered, I don’t care. Besides, someone of his level wouldn’t be of much use to you anyway. Do as you wish."
"Understood."
Turan nodded, idly toying with the Mimic Relic hanging from his chest. It seemed he would have to make room for another one soon.