Chapter 10. They Are Called Magicians (2)
Chapter 10. They Are Called Magicians (2)
[Main Quest Chapter 4. Song of the Sage.]
You have defeated Gabras Abisius and Mar Svius!
Vahan Mashas highly values this and wishes to make a request of you.
The Magician Association. You have been chosen as the envoy for the Song of the Sage!
- Wait, they're counting the defeat of Mar Svius as part of the main quest?
- I mean, Mar Svius got wrecked and ran away. I guess it counts as a defeat. Yup.
- So that's how you get to the Song of the Sage in Hard Mode...
- You usually meet a member of the association in the early-mid game to get there anyway.
- Sura, just accept it. The Song of the Sage is essential for the main quest.
Sura turned off the in-game mic and answered.
"Understood. Let's go right away."
Sura turned the mic back on and spoke with Vahan Mashas.
"Very well."
[You have accepted Vahan Mashas Malius's proposal.]
"What is the Song of the Sage?"
"It is an organization where people who use magic gather to research and train in magic. It is located far to the north, on Mount Maias."
"The Song of the Sage, huh..."
"Since you are Lunance-nim's champion and have stepped up for the capital like this, I have judged that I can entrust this to you.
Besides, it seems you have learned 'magic.' There is no one more suitable than a magician for this.
That reminds me, when did you learn it? If it's the magic with the power I saw during the battle... I would have thought it would take quite a long time."
"Huh? I learned it right away?"
"?"
"?"
- LOL Vahan Mashas LOL
- He's totally stunned LOL
- No, seeing Vahan Mashas stunned is hilarious LOL
"No. What are you saying? Right away? Did you say right away?"
"...Yes. That is correct. I read a strange book and learned it immediately."
The magic book he read at that time is safely tucked away in Sura's luggage.
"Could it be... My god. A True Magician. I thought they had vanished..."
"A True Magician? What is a True Magician?"
"It is a race that accepts magic more easily than anyone else and wields it naturally. You... did you really not know?"
- Of course Sura doesn't know. There was no background explanation for that lol
- Lunance seemed to have noticed, though lol
- For reference, the race that naturally accepts magic is described in the history books of the Ancient Book as having gone extinct in the past.
The protagonists of the Ancient Book have a sort of tradition.
The origin of the protagonist. No one knows where the protagonist came from.
It is the biggest mystery for the history buffs of the Ancient Book, and if someone were to uncover it, it would have enough impact to hit the #1 spot on the best bulletin board immediately.
However, it was the established theory in the Ancient Book academic circles that this mystery was a kind of MacGuffin.
"Uh... I didn't know."
"What? What about your parents? Did the person who raised you not say anything?"
"...Actually, I lost my memories. When I came to my senses, I was on a battlefield. It was in the middle of a battlefield fighting against the army of Garuan Mafras."
As Sura answered by recalling his memories from the tutorial, Vahan Mashas was convinced.
"Regardless... if you are a True Magician, you must meet the Song of the Sage even more. They have been looking for people like you for a long time. Please. Go as an envoy and persuade them."
- It's good to go. You get unique magic and other things too.
- Yup, the people there shower you with gifts when they see the protagonist's identity.
- And there are new events too lol. Ah, I'm excited.
Sura nodded.
"Understood. I will go."
[Main Quest Chapter 4. Song of the Sage]
You have received the envoy mission from Vahan Mashas.
Receive what is necessary from him and make contact with the Song of the Sage.
"This matter must be kept secret. I recommend going alone if possible. And for now, get some rest today. I also need to clean up the mess in the capital. Come to my castle tomorrow morning."
"Understood."
With those words, Vahan Mashas hurriedly left, saying he had to clean up the aftermath of this incident.
[So you were the forgotten race, a True Magician.]
Gabras, who had been keeping his mouth shut until now, finally opened it.
"I don't know either. I have no memories."
[It is a pity. If there were a village, I would have liked to interact with them.]
"Well. It can't be helped."
[If I had my magic book, I would have given it to you.]
"That's a shame."
It was a shame, but it couldn't be helped.
Sura and Gabras returned to where Roland and Darhan were.
"Sura! You're back?"
Sura stared at Roland for a moment.
Is it the right choice to ask Roland about his identity right now?
However, Sura's intuition was telling him that now was not the time.
"Yeah. Roland. You aren't hurt, are you?"
"Of course not, Sura! There's no way I, your servant, would get hurt!"
"...He shouted a lot. I thought my ears would go deaf."
At Darhan's snitching, Roland scratched his head.
"Ahaha... That can happen, Darhan!"
Roland naturally patted him on the shoulder.
Darhan's eyes narrowed slightly, but they relaxed again when he saw Sura in front of him.
Darhan was feeling awe for the man in front of him.
To cut through a dragon's breath. To go up against the champion of Garuan Mafras, Mar Svius.
He felt pathetic, even though he was the champion of the Murder Lord, Sorana Margrin.
"Give me an order."
"Ah. Darhan. Let me see the faces of your assassin group."
"Understood."
Darhan closed his eyes for a moment and muttered something.
A moment later, a group of masked assassins ran over and stood in front of Darhan.
There were about 10 people here right now.
Seeing Darhan subtly imply that this wasn't all of them, it seemed they hadn't all gathered.
Sura stood in front of them and declared.
"As of today, I am the leader of the Dear Friends. Know that. Don't worry. The practical leader is still Darhan."
Unexpectedly, no one stepped forward to object.
- Huh. No one is stepping up?
- Even the ill-tempered ones are just staying quiet?
Just as Sura was wondering, Darhan approached from the side and added.
"They all saw it. They saw Sura-nim dealing with the dragon."
"Ah."
Well, having seen that, it would be strange for them to dare to step up.
"Then that's fine. If they had stepped up, I was going to turn them into mush."
To repeat, Sura hated assassins.
"Darhan. Keep operating as usual, and step in when I need you."
"Understood. Then, may I accompany you from now on?"
"No? Don't you have a way to contact me when needed?"
He had to go on the envoy mission now.
Darhan wasn't needed, and since Vahan Mashas recommended going alone, he couldn't follow.
Meanwhile, Darhan's face stiffened strangely at those words.
"Ah..."
"What is it, Darhan."
"That... actually. I want to follow you around and learn, too. Sura-nim's swordsmanship."
"Hmm..."
Sura thought about it.
It didn't seem like it would be bad to teach him, right?
Darhan had excellent skills, and he already had a hold on his weakness.
As he pondered what to do and turned his head slightly, he spotted Roland.
"Ah!"
Sura immediately pointed his finger at Roland.
"Learn from Roland!"
Darhan's expression crumpled violently.
After beating some sense into the crestfallen Darhan, a few days passed.
The day after the attack on the capital, Sura visited Vahan Mashas and was able to receive the handwritten letter to be sent to the Song of the Sage and the reward for defending against the capital attack.
He was able to get quite a lot of gold and light armor passed down in the kingdom. Originally, Vahan Mashas intended to give him heavy armor, but Sura, thinking of the armor he had received from Lord Rubites, received the light armor instead, thinking his body would become heavier.
Besides that, he got shopping district discount benefits in the capital and the title of Honorary Knight.
And best of all, he received a house in the capital.
- Wow, usually the existing capital quest only gives you the right to buy a house even if you clear it.
- And it's not even giving it to you completely, you have to bring money. And it costs a huge amount...
- Hard mode is hot! Giving a house too LOL
- If it's a house in the capital, it's the best house in this series.
- Sura has become a building owner, damn.
An empty lot on one side of the house.
There, Sura had been teaching Darhan swordsmanship for the past few days.
"I said my sword technique is based on the Sura Sword Technique, right? There are 10 forms, but for now, just know up to the 9th form."
- Come to think of it, we haven't seen him use the 10th form?
- Well. He only taught General Salin up to the 9th form too.
Seeing the chat, Sura turned on the in-game mic to resolve that doubt.
"It's because the 10th form is difficult. That alone is about 1.5 stages..."
- Oh lol, will we see it later?
- It keeps coming out the more you dig, Sura's swordsmanship lol
"I'll show you if I get the chance."
Sura turned the mic back on and said to Darhan.
"Damn it! Like this! Put more strength into it!"
Unable to hold back, Sura approached Darhan, drew his sword, and showed him directly.
The sword technique he unfolded was graceful.
"Understood."
Even though there was room for complaint, Darhan didn't say anything.
Over the past few days, he had been properly tamed with the carrot and stick.
Above all, Sura's sword technique had blinded Darhan.
"Sura!"
"Yeah. Roland. Why?"
"That... can't you take me with you?"
"I told you last time, no. Roland."
The day after the capital attack.
Sura, who had received the handwritten letter from Vahan Mashas, told Roland that he thought he had to go somewhere alone.
It was because Vahan Mashas said he wanted to keep sending the envoy a secret.
Hearing that, Roland was upset and had been subtly pestering him for a few days.
"Ha. I'm disappointed. Sura. To think our friendship was only this much!"
"What's not possible is not possible. Roland. Go practice swordsmanship with Darhan."
"Sob."
- Why is Roland like that? He's whining like a puppy.
- I guess he finds playing with Sura fun.
- Well, when he cuts down all the mobs that appear while passing by, there's nothing more fun than that.
The viewers (Tusu) put themselves in Roland's situation.
Then, they understood Roland's heart a little.
"Anyway, I'm really going now. You two get along well."
[I shall go.]
At some point, Gabras flew over and sat on Sura's shoulder.
"Ah. Gabras-nim. Let's go."
Sura, who had been speaking informally at first, decided to use polite language to respect Gabras's age.
Besides, they weren't enemies anymore.
Above all, it was that Gabras Abisius he had encountered in Ancient Book 7, so it was hard to continue speaking informally.
"That's unfair! You're taking Gabras-nim!"
"Gabras-nim knows the situation roughly, so that's why. He's not someone to talk about it anywhere else. Understand, Roland."
"...Okay..."
It is morning now.
Whether he was watching Darhan do morning training for a moment, Sura decided to leave now.
The destination was the Magician Association. The Song of the Sage.
"Thank you."
"May you reach peace! May the protection of the Throne of the Eight be with you!"
"I hope you reach peace as well!"
Sura, who took a carriage in front of the capital and moved north.
Fortunately, the carriage movement process could be skipped, so he could move quickly.
This place is the north.
It was Dariwood, a village near the foot of Mount Maias that Roland had mentioned before.
Sura had Gabras on his shoulder, so he turned off the in-game mic for a moment and asked.
"Phew. Is the road to the Song of the Sage that rough?"
- That place is seriously a bit unique;;
- A crazy group that lives by digging holes in cliffs;
The place where the Song of the Sage lives was unique.
Right at the top of Mount Maias. They live by digging caves in the cliffs there.
- It's something the leader there did. A strange person...? Can you call them that...
- The cave is really big, so it's fine.
"Let's go for now. Phew. Mountain climbing. I did it often when I was in the Central Plains."
- For real? lol Sura will be good at mountain climbing
- Sura, buy cold-weather gear first. If you just go, you'll freeze to death.
"Uh-huh? Really? That even the cold is implemented... Understood. I'll buy cold-weather gear here."
- Mount Maias is a bit of a famous spot... so hikers gather and walk around together.
- They're crazy people. What famous spot. It's an Ice Troll famous spot LOL
- But since it's famous for being high on the Salas Continent, people go there to challenge it.
Meanwhile, Gabras opened his mouth, flapping his wings slightly.
[This is looking forward to it. A magician group, huh.]
"Gabras-nim, have you never interacted with them?"
[Since we live in different places, I haven't.]
[I learned magic on my own by looking at magic books, not by learning through magicians.]
[Magicians are rare on other continents, you see. It is the Salas Continent where the Magician Association is located that is unique.]
[Anyway, this is looking forward to it. A new opportunity for learning, huh.]
Gabras expresses his excitement by flapping his wings once again.
True to his title of Sage, his desire for knowledge seemed extraordinary.
Sura walked around the village looking for a general store.
Fortunately, he was able to find the general store quickly.
[Snow Mountain General Store]
When he went inside, a brazier was placed in the center of the shop, and it was full of all kinds of goods. A clerk with brown hair, who looked like a college student, was dozing off with her chin on her hand at what looked like a counter, but she felt a presence and hurriedly came to her senses.
"Hek! Welcome. This is the Snow Mountain General Store."
- Oh, detail.
- It's like they're really alive;
"Hello. I'm looking to buy some cold-weather gear."
The clerk's gaze turned to Gabras hanging on his shoulder for a moment, then she came to her senses.
"Ah... just a moment! Would you like to come this way?"
The clerk led Sura to a place where clothes were piled up.
"This is high-quality leather in its own way. There's deer leather. Bear leather. There's even cold-weather gear made of more expensive Ice Troll leather!"
Sura looked at the condition of the leather for a moment.
Back in the Murim days, he had occasionally sold leather when he didn't have money.
Moreover, since he was from a merchant family in Murim, he had also learned how to look at leather.
"Hmm! It's excellent. I'll buy the one made of Ice Troll leather."
- It looks like Sura is examining it himself.
- Well. Isn't that what he learned in Murim?
- Concept detail, damn.
"Yes! Ah! Besides that, there's food and various tools! We sell them bundled together cheaply like that. Because quite a lot of people come here."
"Show me that too."
When the clerk brought heavy items with her small stature, Sura immediately approached and helped her.
"Thank you!"
"Don't mention it. Let me see..."
The supplies were diverse.
Various mountaineering tools for climbing the mountain. A tent to avoid wind and snow.
And even a blanket to protect the body from the cold. Various items were all inside the bag.
'Sigh. Is it really necessary?'
There were certainly only necessary items.
However, for Sura, who climbed various mountains including the 5 great mountains of China like eating meals, he wondered if these items were really necessary.
'They say it's better to be safe than sorry... Well. Let's take them.'
"Give me all of this. Ah, and... rope? Is there anything to fix the rope? I have to climb a cliff."
"...Ah! By any chance. Are you trying to go to the Magician Association? You don't need that! There's a way to go!"
"Huh? Do you know the Magician Association?"
"Yes! We deliver food to them regularly from our general store! Among those who come to Mount Maias, there are people whose purpose is to see them!"
- Yup, the Magician Association is known quite well.
- If you suffer for a few years, you get at least one magic, so people who know, know.
- Besides, magicians also do external activities, so you run into them occasionally.
- In the normal difficulty main quest, you get involved with a Magician Association member who was active outside.
While the Tusu were chatting, Sura thought quietly.
'Who does the delivery...'
"Come to think of it, who does the delivery?"
"Sometimes I do! But these days I ask others!"
"?"
- lol Sura is flustered.
- Well, when we first found that out, the Elderbook Specters were surprised lol
- lol How does a girl who just looks like a college student climb a snowy mountain lol
It was information that the Elderbook Specters, who had been poking around in the past, found out.
Don't ever mess with the young-looking clerk at the Snow Mountain General Store in the beginning, and don't steal either.
It was a kind of hidden NPC.
The golden rule of games. Don't mess with old people, children, or women.
The setting that an NPC who looks weak is actually strong is a time-honored setting.
"Ah. I'm a bit close with the people there! I even know magic!"
"I see..."
Sura also knew this cliché.
It is common for children or elderly masters who have reached the state of returning to the truth in Murim, and for the evil heads of the Sapa or Magyo to be swept away by tremendous female masters like the Sword Empress.
"Come to think of it, you need a guide too. The snowy mountain is a bit of a rough area... If you go out of the building and go to the inn side, guide people will be soliciting customers! Check it out there."
"...Can't you do it?"
Seeing that she does the delivery herself, this clerk must know the way.
Above all, he was interested in this clerk.
Meanwhile, at Sura's words, the clerk was troubled.
"Ah... I had a slight argument with someone there... so these days I ask others for delivery too. I'm sorry."
- That won't work, Sura. We tried it while doing high-level player stuff, but it didn't work.
- She's a girl you meet in the beginning, but later on, she quits her part-time job here and stays at the Magician Association.
- So later, hiring is blocked entirely.
- Yup. Just go to the inn and find one. We'll filter them appropriately.
Sura pondered.
It really doesn't work?
Without a word, Sura opened his backpack and took something out.
It was a pouch containing the seed money he had recently taken from Darhan and the gold coins he had received from Vahan Mashas.
- No way...
- No. It's not that, is it?
"One thousand gold."
Sura put the gold in the clerk's hand.
"Uh-huh? No! I can't go because I argued with that person."
"Two thousand gold."
"Uh-uh-uh???"
"Three thousand gold."
"Ah... no, that..."
"Four thousand gold."
"Hiccup!"
The clerk is so surprised she hiccups.
"Five thousand..."
"Uwaaa! I got it! Five thousand! Stop at five thousand. Please!"
Sura was satisfied.
- If you can't be persuaded by money, think about whether you don't have enough money...
One of the Tusu's chats summarized this situation well.
[My god. Such an ignorant thing to do...]
Gabras's sigh echoed through the shop.