Chapter 10. They Are Called Magicians (3)
Chapter 10. They Are Called Magicians (3)
A moment later.
"If you persuade people like that, they'll all fall for it! You seem to think money can solve everything, but... well, you're right!"
The clerk had already finished preparing to climb the snowy mountain.
"My name is Sia! Please take care of me!"
"Ah. I'm Sura. Please take care of me as well."
[I am Gabras Abisius.]
"Ah! Sura-nim! Gabras-nim! Please take care of me!"
Sura had inwardly expected Sia to be surprised when seeing Gabras, but Sia treated him naturally instead. Sura wondered what was up with this naturalness, but he soon assumed she was just a child with great adaptability.
Sura shook the hand Sia offered.
"You can use casual speech! I'm younger than you!"
"...Alright. I'm counting on you as our guide."
"Hehe. Let's go right away!"
Sia left the general store with Sura and locked the door.
And soon, she started walking forward with a bag larger than her own body strapped to her back.
Sura offered to carry it for her, but she refused, saying she couldn't be a burden.
Sura turned off the in-game microphone for a moment and spoke to the Tusu.
"She... is strong, isn't she? She's a natural."
She's a natural, fr.
Fr;; I'm telling you, all the veterans got beaten up by her.
And when you actually get strong enough to try and kill her, she's already in the Magician Association, so you can't even touch her.
Fr lol. If you try to kill an NPC in the Magician Association, you get hit by dozens of Magic spells and die instantly lol.
I think I saw a case where someone used cheats to kill her abroad, though... They just got flamed for killing a kid.
Yeah, better not to mess with her.
"No. I'm not trying to mess with her. I'm going to teach her martial arts."
It is the mindset of a martial artist that one cannot resist when seeing talent.
Darhan : ???
What does that make Darhan....
"Darhan is a damn assassin, why compare him to this kid.... Reflect on yourselves."
Oops.
To Sura, an assassin isn't even a human being!
Sura turned the in-game microphone back on and matched his pace with Sia, who was walking ahead.
The two began their climb.
"Alright! This is the starting point."
After leaving the village and walking for a bit, a massive mountain peak came into view, and below it, a path worn down by frequent travelers could be seen.
"Because of the snow, the path often gets buried, so sometimes you can't see it! That's why you need a guide."
"I see...."
"The head of the Association is determined to pave the road properly someday. I don't know when they'll do it, though!"
"The head?"
"Yes! We're very close. Ehehe. Actually, the person I fought with recently is the head. We'll reconcile soon. But thanks to Sura-nim, I'm going to resolve it now!"
Actually, Sia is the only one pouting lol.
Fr lol. If you ask the head, they'll tell you the whole story lol.
Is she at the age of a college student?
She was exactly at that age where one isn't quite mature yet.
The two people and one dragon began to climb the mountain.
As they moved slowly, Sia gave them various precautions.
"You really have to be careful of Ice Trolls. The head has taken some measures, but sometimes Ice Trolls just stand in the middle of the path!
That's why hikers usually go in groups.
In my case, I just hide nearby until the Ice Troll leaves!"
Living point: She beats up Ice Trolls.
I saw with my own two eyes her using Magic and then beating them up with her fists!
What is this? Is she playing coy lol.
Sura saw the Tusu's chat, but he pretended not to notice Sia's coyness and answered.
"It's fine. I'll get rid of them."
"Really? Thank you! We might arrive even faster then?"
Sia smiled and replied.
While climbing the mountain, Gabras looked at the surrounding scenery and didn't say a word, while the two continued their conversation.
It was mostly Sia starting the topic and Sura responding.
Thanks to that, Sura was able to learn various things about Sia.
For example, the head's name and why they fought.
"Malitern Dozir-nim doesn't seem to want to play with me.
There are other Association members there, so we could go on a trip for a bit!
I worked hard to save up travel money!"
"Isn't it because, as you said earlier, it's dangerous lately due to Garuan Mafras, so they can't leave their post?"
"Th...that's true. ...Actually, you're right. I was being stubborn...."
And what she wants to do in the future.
"I actually want to travel the continent! It's fun! Later, I want to go to other continents too!"
"Is that so? Hmm. Then you'll need to be very strong."
"I'm pretty strong too! I learned Magic from Malitern-nim!"
"That alone won't be enough... would you like to learn martial arts from me?"
Sura trying to recruit naturally.
Is that the situation where a veteran finds a promising newbie?
However, she waved her hand dismissively.
"Ayy. How could a weak girl like me learn martial arts?"
Lies come out automatically whenever she opens her mouth....
The veterans who got destroyed by you are crying, you little brat.
She says she's strong, but then says she's weak lol. It doesn't add up lol.
Unfortunately, it seemed she had no intention of learning martial arts.
But Sura decided not to be impatient.
Everything has its time.
Sura could wait for this talented-looking newbie.
The climb was smooth.
No Ice Trolls were seen, and coincidentally, no other hikers were seen on the path.
The two climbed the path diligently.
Then, suddenly, Sia stopped walking.
Gabras also turned his head to look where Sia was looking.
[Something is coming.]
"Yes?"
"Right! We need to set up the tent! Snowstorms often come to Mount Maias, and it looks like it's that time now!"
"Ah. Is that what the tent is for? I thought we had to sleep halfway."
"It's not that high! It's just past lunch now. We'll arrive by evening! Anyway, let's hurry and set up the tent!"
The two began to set up the tents they had each brought.
Sia set up her tent as if she were used to it, and Sura also completed setting up his tent as if he were used to it.
Oh, you're good at setting it up, Sura?
Is this also thanks to the Murim concept?
Sura turned off the in-game microphone for a moment and answered.
"Well, I do have experience from Murim, but it's because I've done it in the army."
I see!
If it's the army, that's acceptable lol.
The two entered their respective tents and began to avoid the snowstorm.
Soon, the snowstorm began to roll in, and the two took shelter in their respective tents.
Sura turned off the in-game microphone for a moment and said.
"Phew. Everyone. We've avoided the snowstorm. But it's a bit boring without the chatty Sia."
Fr lol. Sia seems like a good companion NPC.
It was fun to listen to her lol.
"Anyway, until the snowstorm passes... I'll chat with you guys. Gabras-nim is quiet."
Okay.
Woohoo! Chat time!
It was when their conversation was deepening.
Kuaaaaaaagh!
"...What is that?"
Sura's hand immediately grabbed his sword.
Clearly, he heard something like a cry amidst the snowstorm.
[Judging by the cry, it's an Ice Troll.]
"An Ice Troll? In this blizzard?"
Sura, it looks like an encounter overlap? The Ice Troll and snowstorm encounters overlapped.
It's a possible situation if you're a bit unlucky.
Sura grasped the situation from the Tusu's chat.
"Sia might be in danger."
[...Hmm... I don't think you need to worry, though.]
"Gabras-nim. Sia is a kid who just became an adult."
The Tusu also chatted that he didn't need to worry, but Sura immediately came out of the tent and looked around.
In the distance, 3 Ice Trolls were lumbering toward them.
3 of them? Usually it's 1.
Hard mode + Lunance mode, RIP.
Oh right, I forgot because of Sura's gaming skills.
Just in time, Sia also came out of her tent, perhaps having heard the cry.
"Sura-nim! Stay inside! I'll handle it!"
Sob Our Sia is so kind.
Even if she plays coy, she steps up when there's a crisis.
Huh, she might be kind of cool?
Sura pulled the hand of Sia, who was stepping forward.
Sia's body naturally came in front of Sura.
"Don't worry. I'll handle it. You can just stay put."
"...Yes? Ah. Okay!"
While Sia was stunned, Sura drew his sword and stepped forward.
His sword glowed dark red.
Here comes Chivalry!
Sura isn't struggling because he's out of mana anymore lol.
Take that, you Trolls lol.
One Ice Troll kicked off the ground and lunged at Sura.
Sura watched it calmly and drew out the power of Chivalry.
As the power of the Sword Qi gathered on his sword.
When Sura swung his sword, the explosive power of the Sword Qi sliced the Ice Troll in two in an instant.
"One."
The Ice Troll, feeling fear at the sight, hesitated.
Sura stood with his sword raised, glared at the remaining ones, and took a slow step.
His sword flashed.
"Wow...! That's amazing! One-shotting an Ice Troll...! By the way! You were a knight!"
"Oh...? I guess so? I did receive an honorary knighthood, after all."
"That's amazing!"
Once the Ice Trolls were defeated, the snowstorm also began to subside gradually.
Sura and Sia confirmed this, packed up their tents, and began to move again.
If the conversation until now had been Sia chatting and Sura responding, this time it reversed to Sura telling his own stories at Sia's pestering.
"How did you get the knighthood?"
"...Yes? You defeated a dragon and fought the leader of Garuan Mafras's fanatics...? Ayy! You're lying...!"
"...Really? And Gabras-nim here was that dragon?"
"Uh... why is this real?"
[It is true. I guarantee it.]
"Wow...."
At Gabras's guarantee, Sia's mouth dropped open.
"Th...that's amazing! If I go outside, I can experience things like that, right?"
Sia's expression was strangely excited.
"Do you want to travel that much?"
"Yes.... Actually, the reason I took the money Sura-nim gave me is because of travel funds. I have enough now, so I can go, but Malitern-nim is against it...."
Sia's expression gradually became gloomy.
"Actually, I've only lived in the Magician Association and Dariwood village. I often heard stories about the outside from the hikers and Association members who come here.
The stories I heard from them were all fun! That's why I want to go too."
"I see...."
Sura's brain was whirring.
'I think... I can take her with me.'
It seemed like a matter of just persuading the head, Malitern Dozir.
Wow, hasn't the route to take Sia with you opened up?
lol Everyone couldn't even try it because they didn't have money in the beginning, so we didn't know lol.
Sura, let's take Sia! It would be fun to take her around and teach her martial arts!
Sura turned off the in-game microphone for a moment and said.
"Let's do that. I'll persuade Malitern and try to take her with me."
Around the time evening fell in the Salas Continent, the party finally arrived at the summit.
"Ah! We're here! Let's see.... The entrance is.... Ah! It's over there!"
"What is this?"
When Sura and Sia approached, what they saw was a shining Magic circle inside a huge tent.
"You can ride this! If you step onto the Magic circle, it'll automatically take you to the Association!"
"Oh...."
Sura admired this cutting-edge technology and was about to step onto the Magic circle when Sia made him step back for a moment.
"Wait! There's a precaution!"
"...? What is it?"
"If you move using the Magic circle, first-timers immediately fall into an illusion and undergo a trial!
It's a space created by the head personally!
First-time visitors are usually a bit flustered."
"Ah, really?"
"Yes! The details of the trial will be explained once you enter!"
You'll know when you go in, Sura.
It's more fun than confusing lol. If you try it.
Yeah, yeah, that's right, there's fun stuff.
Sura nodded, taking the Tusu's words into account.
"Got it. I'll go."
"Yes! Be careful!"
Soon, Sura and Sia stepped onto the Magic circle, and Sura's vision went black.
When he moved using the Magic circle, what appeared was a black space.
Sura felt his shoulders become lighter. Gabras was gone.
Perhaps he was undergoing his own trial as well.
Soon, Sura could see the text floating in front of him.
[This trial involves choosing an opponent to fight against!
Please choose!
Trained human adult.
Orc Gladiator.
Bandit leader.
...
You can give up this trial at any time!
The story will progress even if you give up or lose!]
"There are a lot of options?"
However, the Tusu unanimously said one option.
This is definitely Doppelganger.
Fr lol. Sura, this is number 20.
"If it's a Doppelganger... that's that, right? A clone."
Yes, that's right.
To be exact, it's a monster that acts exactly like you.
Anyway, that's the most fun. It collects game play data and the AI acts similarly.
Fr, it looks exactly like me.
...Wait. Game 'play' data? You Tusu, think about it. What Sura has done.
At one Tusu's words, the Tusu fell into thought for a moment.
[Overwhelmed Knight Goran and Knight Salin without Chivalry.]
[Defeated the strongest of the Throne of the Eight, Lunance Abervich, with swordsmanship.]
[Defeated Darhan, ranked 3rd on the continent according to Roland.]
[Slaughtered Zarin Savas, the right-hand man of Mar Svius.]
[The one who cut the breath of the 'Sage' Gabras Abisius.]
[Defeated Mar Svius, the strongest on the continent according to Roland.]
All sorts of actions Sura had taken came to the Tusu's minds.
Wow, this is going to be super interesting.
Uh, why is this so fun?
Is this a super fun match incoming?
Me vs Me, damn.
Damn, equal vs equal.
Sura is... doubled?
Lunance is smiling ear to ear lol.
"Hmm. Then this is definitely Doppelganger."
It seemed more fun for the broadcast as well.
Sura clicked the Doppelganger option.
Then, his vision went black.