Chapter 17: Too Many

Stain lingered in front of the door, glancing around nervously as if he had something to say.

He looked ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠like he wanted to speak up.

"Ah! Long time no see. I don't have much time right now..."

"I know. You're heading to the count's territory, right?"

"Did the lord tell you? I'm going to pick up some magic books."

"If it's something like that, you should've asked me... I have a few myself, and I could introduce you to some dealers."

Stain seemed a bit disappointed.

I knew there were easier ways like that.

But they all came with debts.

Debts I'd have to pay back later.

So it was better to get the magic books myself, even if it meant more hassle.

"I'm thinking of it as a vacation of sorts."

"Makes sense. I heard about the Ring of Purification. Impressive stuff—putting out an item like that at such a price..."

"Compared to your potions, Stain, it's nothing... I just helped out the mercenaries a bit."

"That ring was no small thing... I hear the other magic shop owners are dying over it right now."

Stain praised me as he held out a potion in his hand.

His goal was still potions, it seemed.

A true alchemist's behavior.

"Ah, look at me! I thought you'd find these useful on your trip... Feel free to research them if you have time."

Stain had brought ten bottles of mid-grade recovery potions.

A man truly dedicated to his research.

It must have cost a pretty penny, but he handed them over without hesitation.

Seemed like a bribe mixed with some pressure.

"You didn't have to..."

I tried to refuse but ended up taking them.

I'd have to talk seriously with Baron Sellevan about potions soon anyway.

Might as well practice acting like I'd been tinkering with them.

"Well, see you when I get back."

After parting with Stain, I ran into Gaion too.

Since I'd seen Stain, it felt awkward to ignore Gaion.

Gaion gave me some advice on second-class magic.

Surprisingly straightforward of him.

"Be careful out there—no, wait. You need to get some real experience. Hone your combat mage talents and make the switch..."

Gaion ended with his usual push for me to become a combat mage.

Some things never changed, even after all this time.

Time to head out.

On my way to join the mercenaries after parting with Gaion, I recovered three of the magic dolls I'd scattered around the city for intel gathering.

I left two behind.

Curious to see how far they could operate.

"That must be the caravan," Lena said, pointing.

Merchants were gathered there.

That was the group we'd be escorting.

"Welcome, mage. I'm Grandfel, caravan leader for the Grandperi Merchant Group. Looking forward to working with you."

The man who seemed to be in charge bowed politely.

He wore the Ring of Purification on his finger.

One of my customers, apparently.

His friendly attitude suggested the ring had made quite an impression.

This... might be easier than I thought?

A smile tugged at my lips.

A cooperative caravan leader made things very convenient.

Plenty of leeway ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠now.

Oh? What's this now?

Moving with the caravan exposed me to all sorts of interesting goods.

That must've triggered new item recipes automatically.

The Insight of Invention couldn't stand me taking it easy.

But I'd think about that later.

Departure came first.

"Everyone ready?"

The mercenary captain for this trip was Jacob.

He'd joined up.

With his shout, the column began to move.

The long journey to the count's territory had begun.

Tougher than expected? This is straight-up grueling.

I analyzed the data streaming in from the intel-gathering magic dolls I'd sent scouting through the forest.

The forest path was far more dangerous than anticipated.

A sigh escaped me.

The undead weren't thinning out at all.

If anything, they were increasing.

"Jacob, is it always like this? We're getting hit too often."

"Hah, I didn't expect it to be this bad. I joined thinking it'd be a sweet gig with you along... but it's every kind of hardship."

"Sweet gig? Just watch our backs properly."

Jacob said he'd signed on expecting easy pocket money since I was coming.

But even seasoned Jacob was taken aback by the undead assaults.

"Still, thanks to you, mage, we've had no casualties. How do you even... Impressive."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"You know, sensing the undead attacks ahead of time."

Thanks to the intel-gathering magic dolls.

Deployed in advance, they let us predict and prepare for ambushes.

That's what he meant.

But it raised a question.

"Can't other mages do that? Mages are sensitive to mana—shouldn't they sense undead energy?"

Undead had a distinct aura.

One any mage should pick up on.

I could sense an imminent attack even without the dolls.

So I figured it was standard for mages.

But Jacob's words suggested otherwise.

"Dunno. Seems not? They get more startled than us when undead show up. That's all I got to say. Makes you a real standout, Theo the mage."

"Ah, uh, yeah?"

"If other mages were like you, fewer good men would die. Shame, real shame."

I'd assumed other mages at least felt the undead aura.

The dolls just gave specifics like numbers and directions.

Apparently not.

Is it my hunter instincts? Or how I handle mana?

No way to know yet.

But I'd need to be careful talking to other mages.

I was clearly different from the average.

As I mulled over Jacob's words, a mercenary approached cautiously.

"Any rings left over, by chance...?"

Music to my ears—like rain in a drought.

A smile crept onto my face.

Good thing I'd prepared for this.

"Lucky you, customer. Got some spares."

The assaults were so fierce, some had burned through their ring uses.

Not bad for me.

I could pad my funds nicely on the way to the count's territory.

Sudden Hunter System alert.

Relayed from the intel dolls.

"Assault incoming! Everyone prepare!"

I drew my Sunogi.

Lena was ready too.

"Everyone form up! Stay sharp! Use the Ring of Purification if it's dicey! We've got a mage here—don't hesitate!"

Jacob's absurd shout, but I didn't stop him.

Worries were in order.

About my pockets lightening from ring sales.

With Jacob's yell, the undead emerged.

Skeleton soldiers.

Thud-thud-thud—thud-thud-thud—

Sunogi bolts pierced the skeletons.

Some slipped between bones and missed.

As expected, Sunogi wasn't efficient against undead.

But something felt off.

They're tougher?

The feedback from firing felt different.

Like the Sunogi wasn't dealing proper damage.

Confirming the message turned unease to certainty.

And this sensation...

Familiar.

Like the ones from the mine.

Far stronger than normal undead.

Skeletons kept advancing despite arrows embedded in them.

Even headshots or half-shattered bones didn't stop them.

"Don't fall back! No swords—use blunt weapons!"

"Smash 'em! Smash them completely! Hit harder!"

"Damn it, they won't shatter! What do you want?!"

"Harder, you idiot!"

"Gah! I-I'm out of ring uses!"

The mercenaries fought back but struggled.

At this rate, the line would break.

We needed a breakthrough.

"Lena! Fake holy water!"

Lena reacted instantly.

She hurled pre-made fake holy water.

Thud-thud-thud—

Clang—

Boom! Crunch—

Crash!

The hit undead weakened.

Now Sunogi bolts started landing properly.

But the problem is...

Inefficient.

One bottle took out maybe one or two skeletons at best.

And we were running low—had to improvise more on the spot.

No time.

Too many pushing in.

And behind the skeleton soldiers, new shapes appeared.

Unwelcome guests in this situation.

A massive undead in black armor.

Much larger than regular skeleton soldiers.

Its bones were dark and ominous.

"A commander? What fresh nonsense is this."

I scowled.

This thing was why the skeletons were stronger than usual.

Already outnumbered, and now a commander? Real danger.

What to do?

I devised a strategy while analyzing the Commander Black Skeleton.

Standard methods wouldn't cut it.

Vulnerable to control interference, but I didn't know any such spells.

Like with the ogre skeleton, I'd have to use Hand of Purification.

But the situation differed, so a variation.

"Lena, Ring of Purification."

"Not fake holy water—the real ring?"

Lena handed it over, asking.

"What do you plan to...?"

"Need a stronger punch."

"We'll draw its attention our way!"

Thud-thud-thud—

I kept firing the Sunogi even mid-strategy talk with Lena.

Maintaining distance with arrows.

The other mercenaries could barely hold the skeleton soldiers.

Jacob was leading them well enough to hang on.

So the commander was on me.

No—if I couldn't take it down, we were done.

Had to drop it.

Just tossing fake holy water at it would be inefficient...

Fake holy water, Sunogi, Veil of Defense.

I quickly calculated my resources.