When Loyalty and Romance Meet
It was clearly different from when he had only combined 1st-class magic.
By combining 2nd-class magic, he had granted two spells and still had one magic slot left.
With 2nd-class, the number of grantable slots doubled.
At 1st-class, there were two slots.
At 2nd-class, it became four slots.
However, granting a 2nd-class spell consumed two slots, while a 1st-class spell used only one.
Mana Enhancement takes two slots, Touch of Purification takes one. That means I can grant one more 1st-class enchantment spell?
There was no need to hesitate.
“Not finished yet, Lena.”
He performed another enchantment on the enhanced Ring of Purification.
The familiar granting magic.
Applying enchantment options.
Enchantment - Veil of Defense
Additional enchantment on the Enhanced Ring of Purification successful.
Changed to Ring of Purification and Defense.
New crafting blueprint added: Ring of Purification and Defense
Effects added.
- Automatically deploys a defensive barrier upon detecting danger
- Barrier deployment deals additional damage to nearby undead
“Lena! Look at this!”
He held it out to her proudly after confirming the added effects.
Lena could only open and close her mouth, unable to believe what she was seeing.
“Besides, the Ring of Purification and Defense seems capable of deploying the barrier twice, not just once.”
“It won’t break after a single use like last time. Mana Enhancement really does seem effective!”
“Yeah, you’re right. How about it? Pretty good?”
Lena pondered for a moment.
Then she carefully began to voice her opinion.
“But Theo-nim, what if we don’t sell this one?”
“Don’t sell it? Why? With this level of performance, we could probably fetch a high price.”
“We could get a high price, but……”
Lena continued, looking worried.
“Selling the Enhanced Ring of Purification should be enough.”
“But……”
“Isn’t it rare for a single ring to produce two or more effects?”
What Lena said made sense.
He had never seen an item like that in the general market.
“Probably…… something with these effects would draw even greater attention from others. People like Count Arno.”
“Ah, right.”
“Yes, and Theo-nim should wear something better than the items you sell. That way you’ll be safer.”
If enemies existed, they would assume the minimum power of the sold items and attack.
Therefore, when selling, one must always possess power beyond that.
“I didn’t think of that. Thanks, Lena.”
Perhaps because he had succeeded in crafting a new item, he had failed to realize even this simple fact.
He had nearly repeated the same mistake despite having lost his life once in a caravan raid.
“Was I helpful?”
“Of course! If you have any opinions next time, make sure to tell me. Your opinions are always helpful.”
“Thank you, Theo-nim!”
With Lena’s bright smile, Count Arno came to mind again.
He had barely forgotten while reading the spellbook.
But the moment he crafted an item, the thought returned.
I need to leave. I’ve already stayed too long.
It seemed he had to depart quickly.
Remaining too long in Count Arno’s territory felt somewhat dangerous.
Moreover, if they learned he had succeeded in crafting such a product, they would never let him go.
“Theo-nim, what about testing the newly learned Elemental Control……”
“No, let’s do that later. It could be a bit dangerous.”
“Yes! You have to show me!”
Magic that manipulated elements required a more cautious approach.
An accident during experimentation would be troublesome.
Besides, this lodging was clearly under surveillance.
He must not do anything that would draw attention.
“Lena, let’s prepare to return to Baron Sellevan’s castle.”
Lena began preparing the moment the words left his mouth.
As if she had been waiting for it.
“What? We can’t return to Baron Sellevan’s castle for the time being? What do you mean by that! Jacob!”
The Mercenary Guild in Asterium.
The atmosphere inside felt somewhat deserted compared to its size.
It contrasted sharply with the mood at Baron Sellevan’s castle.
There, he sought a way back to the baron’s territory.
But the answer he received was unexpected.
“Where have you been until now? You were nowhere to be found when we were looking for you.”
“No, there were circumstances……”
“I’ve never seen a case like this either, so I don’t know what to say. It’s war, Mage Theo.”
“War? You’re saying war has broken out?”
The suddenness made it feel unreal.
Wars in this era did not erupt so abruptly.
If war were to break out, mercenaries would be the first to move.
Yet it seemed even the mercenaries had only heard the news after the war had already begun.
“I heard Baron Sellevan and Baron Welden have allied and started a war against Viscount Haft.”
“Two against one? Who declared war first? Don’t tell me it was Baron Sellevan……”
“I heard Viscount Haft declared first. What was the reason again? Well, that’s not important. Anyway, he declared war on both territories at once.”
Seeing Theo’s dumbfounded expression, Jacob nodded as if he understood.
“Honestly, the man’s got some nerve. Declaring war on two territories simultaneously. Rumor has it he possesses an army on the level of a count’s forces?”
“Hah, what confidence……”
“He must have prepared in advance, don’t you think? I heard he has a numerical advantage as well.”
“More than the combined forces of both territories?”
He wanted to see what kind of madman this Viscount Haft was.
To maintain that many private soldiers, he must have squeezed the commoners dry and then some.
It was hard to believe, yet Jacob’s next words drove the point home.
“Why do you think the Mercenary Guild is so empty? Everyone’s sided with Viscount Haft. You earn money and keep your life by joining the winning side.”
The movements of mercenaries were a highly reliable indicator of which way the battle would turn.
It could not be ignored.
So this is why Count Arno openly offered to recruit me.
Somehow, all the clues were beginning to fit together one by one.
The raid by thieves including an Aura User and a mage, the appearance of undead.
He felt that everything was a prelude to this war.
However, Count Arno’s actions were somewhat difficult to understand.
His vassal’s family is at war, yet he offers no help?
Upon reflection, it seemed he was wary of the war escalating.
In other words, if the parents joined the children’s fight, things would grow too big.
So for now, he was only watching.
Even if nobles went to war, they rarely died unless it was serious.
Because these wars were fought for each other’s ransom—that is, reparations.
Of course, that did not mean they never died.
In an unusual war like this, no one could predict the outcome.
Count Arno intends to wait and see for now?
The situation had become complicated.
Because of Count Arno’s proposal, he needed the high-class umbrella that was Baron Sellevan.
Yet Baron Sellevan was now in danger.
Perhaps this was Count Arno’s aim all along.
“So what will you do, Mage Theo?”
“Me?”
“That’s right. You haven’t been here long, but you’re still a territory mage, aren’t you?”
He was right.
However, that did not mean he was obligated to participate in the war.
In the first place, he was closer to a hired mage than a territory mage.
The contract contained no clause regarding participation in war.
Whether he knew this or not, Jacob offered advice.
“Don’t go. Even if you go now, you won’t be able to enter the castle anyway.”
“Has it already fallen?”
“Fallen? What do you mean fallen…… I’m saying Viscount Haft has surrounded the baron’s castle.”
Jacob’s words were advice that could become flesh and bone.
If he were still a slave trader’s mage, he would have followed that advice.
No, he might have even sided with Viscount Haft instead.
After all, war was also an opportunity to obtain countless slaves.
“But why aren’t you going, Jacob?”
“Me? Well, mercenaries move for money, but…… there are a lot of guys I know in the baron’s castle, so it feels a bit off. Ahem.”
Mercenaries had no such thing as conscience.
They lived and died for money.
Normally, he should have joined Viscount Haft long ago, sold information about Baron Sellevan’s castle, and pointed his blade at it.
The fact that he had not done so alone made Jacob remarkable.
But that did not mean Theo could simply sit back and wait.
He still needed Baron Sellevan’s protection for now.
“Jacob, is there any way to obtain a map?”
“A map? If you’re looking for one, it’s not impossible to get…… Don’t tell me you’re thinking of going back?”
“Yes, I want to at least try.”
Jacob looked like he was about to say something, then simply let out a sigh.
Even so, he secretly handed over an old map.
In truth, maps were not easily obtainable items in this era.
They were originally military goods, so they were not items that could be openly sold.
Yet Jacob handed over the map despite the risk.
“You really are a mage? For a mage, you’re quite the man of loyalty! It’s a map I drew while traveling between the two territories. It should be of some help.”
“The price……”
“Forget it. If you’re still alive later, just pay me back handsomely then.”
Jacob spoke as if seeing off a dead man.
Theo smiled and replied to him.
“I’m not going to die, Jacob. I don’t plan on it either.”
“Save those words for the battlefield. On the battlefield, even a Sword Master can fall to a stray arrow, so watch your back.”
“Thank you, Jacob. I’ll definitely repay you.”
With those words, Jacob waved his hand and left.
Even while rolling in the dirty mercenary world, Jacob possessed romance.
“Lena, let’s prepare. There’s no time.”
“Theo-nim, how about we settle somewhere else instead? There’s no need to go back……”
“I want to do that too, but right now I need Baron Sellevan. To escape Count Arno’s proposal.”
No one could enter a battlefield without worry.
Especially Lena, who was a woman.
Yet she nodded without a word at his command.
This was why he could not help but trust her.
“This should be far enough, right? Lena, check thoroughly whether any subordinates of Count Arno followed us.”
He had already confirmed there were no watchers by releasing all the dolls.
But he checked again just in case.
At the entrance to the forest located between Asterium and Baron Sellevan’s castle.
They hid there after creating a shelter.
Because he was accustomed to camping in the forest with Lena, he could build it quickly.
“Theo-nim, there’s no one here!”
As soon as Lena’s confirmation came, he opened his spatial pouch and took out the prepared contents.
Only four intermediate magic stones left. In addition, I’ll have to use all the black iron obtained while fighting undead.
To realize what he was about to craft now, he would likely have to exhaust almost all the materials he had gathered so far.
Not only that, but before leaving Asterium he had purchased steel ingots and several other necessary items, so materials were sufficient.
Now all that remained was to craft.
“Theo-nim, what are you trying to make? You should rest a bit…… Otherwise you won’t be able to move tomorrow.”
While he was contemplating the design of the new item, Lena’s worried voice reached him.
Then he suddenly remembered that Lena was his crafting assistant.
It would be more meaningful if we made it together.
If Lena participated, the success rate would surely increase.
Therefore, he slowly explained what he was planning.
“A mountable doll? Is something like that really possible?”
“Didn’t I tell you? You always have to break common sense to call it magic. What’s impossible about it?”
“Theo-nim really…… always surpasses my imagination.”
Lena seemed genuinely impressed.
There was no time to savor her expression.
Considering the battlefield situation, he had to finish it as soon as possible.
“Ordinary means of transportation won’t be enough. We need something that can break through the battlefield.”
On the makeshift workbench, the intermediate magic stone emitted a blue light.
Using Material Conversion, he began mixing black iron fragments and steel ingots, reconstructing their structure as he started building the frame of the mount.