6-006. A Monstrous Deed
“Work under Baron Sellevan?”
Silence fell at the administrator's proposal.
I could feel Lena tensing slightly beside me.
“Not directly under him, just work somewhere in the territory. Why, doesn't it appeal to you?”
Seize's sharp gaze turned toward me.
He had a keen eye for people, as befitting a territory administrator.
A mage like me wasn't exactly common, after all.
I kept the conversation calm and steady.
There was no need to tense up over the administrator's offer.
I was a mage, no matter how you sliced it.
“If it wouldn't be rude, I'd like to hear the conditions.”
I gave a positive signal.
Administrator Seize caught it and smiled.
As the talk seemed likely to drag on, the village chief's son dismissed the villagers.
With the villagers scattered, Seize spoke more casually.
“Of course. Our Baron Sellevan welcomes talents like you anytime. For starters, you'll get permission to run a workshop freely in the territory. Pay your taxes properly, and the rest is up to you.”
It was an unexpectedly generous offer.
Normally, setting up a workshop required a guarantor and no small sum of money.
Even more so for one crafting magical items, with all the stringent procedures involved.
“Just wondering if the tax rate might be specially hiked for me or something...”
“No such thing—don't worry. I guarantee it. Believe it or not, Baron Sellevan is my cousin. We don't go back on our word.”
“Ah, I see. But why make this offer to me?”
It felt too pushy, which raised questions.
From what he said, he was related to the lord.
That didn't fully resolve my doubts, though.
The terms were too good.
Pay taxes, and they wouldn't meddle in anything else.
Territories like this were rare.
At my question, Seize glanced around and lowered his voice.
“Truth be told... bandits have been popping up all over the territory lately. But they don't seem like ordinary bandits, do they?”
I nodded at Seize's words.
I'd thought the same.
“Their level was higher than expected.”
I didn't mention the Aura User.
No point bringing it up when I wasn't sure of the full situation.
Seize nodded in agreement.
“Exactly. Too organized for mere bandits. It's been happening more often lately. Feels like something's up, but we can't make sense of it...”
Seize trailed off.
I could understand.
Even if he knew, he wouldn't spill to an outsider.
“Anyway, sounds good. I'll tag along for now. Just hoping it's not 'one job and you're stuck forever' or something...”
“Come on! Do you take us for slave traders? Nothing like that. You'll see once you go—you won't regret it.”
As someone who'd worked with a former slave trader, those words hit a little close to home.
After some time, Seize finished up in the village.
He seemed to be assessing the damage and attack details.
“Good thing the damage wasn't severe. Thanks to you. Alright, let's go.”
Following Seize's words, we set off with the administrator's group.
Lena came along naturally.
She looked a bit displeased now that the group had grown.
“Lena, bear with it just a bit. Can't be helped if we're heading to the city with the lord's castle, right?”
I soothed Lena and bid moderate farewells to the villagers before leaving.
I figured we'd arrive peacefully at the city with the lord's castle.
We had Knight Preil and a decent escort force, after all.
But it didn't take long to realize that was wishful thinking.
Squeeeak—
A blue light streaked across the sky.
A magic arrow.
“Everyone, prepare for battle!”
Mana surged at Knight Preil's shout.
“Take out the knight first! Solid rear support!”
“Push the rest!”
“Just one knight! Stick to the plan! Crush 'em! Wipe 'em all out!”
Dozens of bandits burst from the forest.
An ambush.
They'd hidden cleverly in the underbrush and struck at the middle of our formation.
Clang—
A sharp metallic ring echoed as sparks flew.
Knight Preil's blade was blocked.
“Stealing with Aura at your command! Have you no shame?!”
Preil roared in fury.
But the foes ignored him.
On the contrary.
“Flame Arrow!”
A flaming arrow sliced through the air toward Knight Preil.
A mage.
The mage was teaming up with the bandits to target the knight.
“To think even a mage is in league with them. Bandits without honor...”
Preil gritted his teeth and fought back, but he was gradually being pushed.
The rest of us were holding up well against the surprise attack, fortunately.
Preil's fight would likely decide the battle.
A mage, huh...
Take out the mage hiding somewhere and firing flame arrows, and we'd be fine.
He was holding against their combo assault.
Eliminate the mage, and Preil would handle the rest.
Where is it?
I gauged the direction of the incoming flame arrows.
Pinning down the magic's origin was easy.
“Lena!”
I called her name sharply.
Lena was already primed.
Thud-thud-thunk— Thud-thud-thunk—
I unleashed the Sunogi without hesitation.
Lena did the same.
Thump-thump-thud—!
“Argh! Who the hell—?!”
I couldn't see clearly, but it hit.
The mage didn't drop easily, though.
The blue-robed mage stepped forward and yelled.
“You insolent fool, firing arrows without knowing your place? I'll make you regret it!”
He'd spotted me.
But his attack spell never finished.
The Sunogi was faster than his incantation.
Thud-thud-thunk—
Clang-clang-clang!
The sound was different.
Like it hit a barrier.
The mage smirked vilely at the noise.
“Heh, nice shooting, but you think that'll work?”
Overconfident.
A closer look revealed a transparent barrier around the mage.
Magic.
“My Triple Barrier of Defense won't fall to mere arrows...”
Thud-thud-thunk— Thud-thud-thunk—
“No matter how hard you try, it's fu—”
Crack-crack-crackle—
“W-Wait! What kind of monstrous deed is this?!”
Chatty mage.
Makes sense—cracks were spiderwebbing across his magic barrier.
Arrows tracing precise trajectories, targeting one spot relentlessly.
Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-thunk—
Concentrated fire on a single point.
The homing-enhanced arrows struck exactly where I aimed.
Magic-infused, they curved through space in unnatural paths.
Crack-crack-crackle!
A splitting sound rang out.
Thump-thump-thud—!
“Urk...!”
The arrows finally pierced the barrier and impaled the blue-robed mage's chest.
As the shield vanished, a barrage turned him into a porcupine, confirming the kill.
“This can't... Magic... Gah—.”
Thud—
One final arrow.
It punched through the mage's skull.
The talkative mage went silent.
“You took down a mage with arrows? Heard tales but never believed them... Incredible! My eyes didn't deceive me!”
Seize exclaimed in admiration.
But his voice was soon drowned by the rough cheers around us.
“Why'd the support... Hngh!”
The bandit leader's head was severed by Knight Preil.
The skill gap showed once mage support cut off—the fight ended swiftly.
“These vermin! Sweep them all away!”
The bandits panicked with their leader and mage down.
Organized or not, bandits were bandits.
Some fled.
Some fought to the end.
Others surrendered.
The chaos intensified amid the variety.
In the midst of it.
“Lena, cover me for a sec.”
“Don't worry, Theo-nim.”
“Just a moment.”
I slipped through the chaos to the fallen mage and rifled his pockets.
Mage gear seemed likely.
With Seize and Preil around, claiming spoils later would be tough, so I moved fast.
Jackpot in the confusion.
Magic books?
Magic Book Barrier of Defense - 1st Class acquired.
Magic Book Hand of Purification - 1st Class acquired.
Magic Book Mark of Preservation - 1st Class acquired.
Thoroughly study the magic books to acquire new spells.
This is... a jackpot?
A smile tugged at my lips.
Not just the magic books themselves.
The final message.
Thorough study grants new spells.
This was Hunter-style.
Back then as a Hunter, it was skills, but here it applied to magic.
Was stressing over how to learn new magic... but this might work out perfectly?
That had been my worry.
I needed to learn magic, but piecing it together bit by bit felt daunting.
This message wiped that away cleanly.
And I'd learn it way faster than others.
Just read thoroughly once to master it—couldn't be easier.
Need to test it first, though...
Not certain yet.
So I stashed the magic books in my spatial pouch.
The battle was wrapping up around me.
“Don't pursue! Hold formation! Stay alert for more ambushes!”
Knight Preil stayed vigilant.
Impressive.
I'd thought he disliked my quiet nature, but this incident seemed to shift things.
“You alright?”
“Ah, yes. I'm fine.”
“Impressive archery. I'll make sure to report your feats to the lord. Thanks.”
Preil's straightforward gratitude.
Then he busied himself cleaning up the battlefield.
As Preil dashed about, the chaos settled.
Seize approached stealthily.
He asked casually.
“That crossbow of yours.”
Seize eyed the Sunogi keenly.
Sharp as ever.
“Did you make it? If so... could you mass-produce it?”
His gaze on the Sunogi was anything but casual.
I had to choose my words carefully.