Chapter 49
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Knight Enveloped in Blue Light (3)
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When we reached the very back of the procession, one knight staggered and fell backward.
His sword lay dropped on the ground, and his body was wrapped in dangerously crackling lightning energy.
As the black Gatra bared its fangs and approached the fallen knight, the Silver Guard Knight thrust a sword glowing with blue light into the back of the black Gatra's head.
Kieek!
The black Gatra let out a short scream before tumbling over.
That was the last one.
Countless Gatras and a single black Gatra lay sprawled there already.
Mingled among them were the unconscious knights and the wounded survivors.
The Silver Guard Knight was the only one still standing on his own two feet in that spot.
"A bit late, Blue Guard Knight."
The Silver Guard Knight shook the black blood from his blade and spoke calmly.
Judging by the blood staining his clothes, it was clear he had taken down most of the Gatras single-handedly.
Impressive skill, but the eyes of those watching the Silver Guard Knight held not admiration, but fear.
"...You didn't need my help after all, Silver Guard Knight."
My father's gaze was icy cold as he said it.
The White Guard Knight decided to set up camp in a nearby clearing and spend the night there.
Aside from disposing of the Gatra corpses—which was secondary—they needed to treat the wounded and help the merchant caravan that had been attacked first get back on its feet.
We had planned to resume travel as soon as cleanup was done, but sunset was approaching far too quickly.
In the end, establishing a new camp nearby was the safest choice.
Fortunately, there was a wide open field to the left of the road.
Covered in soft grass, with clear sightlines in all directions—it was perfect for camping.
If we ignored the ominous forest shrouded in darkness atop the hill to the right of the road, that is.
The workers swiftly pitched tents and lit campfires and torches throughout the site.
The now-calm horses were led by the coachmen to a separate clearing, while the cooks and servants began preparing dinner.
The edge of the plains was turning red in the fading light.
In the largest tent, set up for the White Guard Knight, the meeting was still dragging on.
Just before entering the command tent, Steward Wilton looked utterly pale, as if mentally battered by the magical beast attack.
And my father and the Silver Guard Knight, summoned to the meeting side by side, looked decidedly frosty toward each other...
I was dying to know what had happened between them. I really should have pestered Luwen about it.
With Steward Wilton tied up in the meeting, no one was giving me orders, but I couldn't just sit idle.
Grain and Wedin were moving among the wounded, healing injuries with holy magic, while Clemence helped the maids with meal prep and tent setup.
Shuren was hauling goods from the attack site alongside the other knights.
Meanwhile, I got to work on mage duties.
Stopping in the center of the camp, I gripped my staff in my right hand and touched the ground with my left.
Recalling the defensive barrier ritual I'd learned through attribute attunement, I drew mana into my palm.
When enough mana had gathered, I slowly spread it outward in all directions.
The mana traced faint golden runes across the ground, racing past people's feet as it expanded rapidly.
A few let out surprised gasps of admiration. Some even lifted their feet, wondering what it was.
Once the runes had spread to cover the entire camp, I lifted my hand from the ground.
Then, a transparent crystal pillar glowing blue began to grow like a tree.
The blue crystal swelled larger and larger, surpassing even my height.
I focused my mana to raise it up overhead, as tall as the tents.
This crystal pillar was the heart of the barrier.
Like the central pole supporting the tents, it was the pillar upholding the camp's protective barrier.
"Oh, impressive."
"Never seen anything like this."
Before I knew it, members of the delegation had gathered around, murmuring in excitement. Some exclaimed in awe, others looked baffled.
I backed away in embarrassment.
Had I messed something up?
I'd learned the ritual so hastily from Luwen that I hadn't checked what the completed barrier was supposed to look like.
"Uh... it should work fine..."
I mumbled to no one in particular and slipped through the crowd. My face felt hot.
Maybe I should double-check the book. The ritual seemed right, though...
Then came a booming laugh from behind me. "Kuhahat!"
"Making all sorts of weird stuff, little mage."
It was that mercenary guy.
The one hired by Merchant Leader Hopf. His name was Lambert.
An Iron Arbat who could transform parts of his body into metal.
"What's wrong with it? It's pretty."
A woman with short brown hair approached, gazing up at the blue crystal pillar.
Tasha, who worked mercenary jobs with Lambert. She was an Iron Arbat too.
"I've traveled everywhere, but I've never seen a barrier pillar that stands out like that."
"Still, it looks sturdy enough."
I cleared my throat awkwardly. Better change the subject before they kept giggling.
"Did you find all the cargo?"
They'd left the injured Merchant Leader Hopf with the holy mage to search for the caravan's goods.
Hopf's group—one merchant leader, two mercenaries, and three or four workers—had taken a shortcut through the woods and been ambushed by a ferocious Gatra pack.
The leader had a hole punched through his gut but survived thanks to his padding... or maybe Grain's skill.
The escaped workers had been found hiding in the brush by the knights and brought to the tents.
For an attack by such a large Gatra swarm, it was a pretty decent outcome.
"Oh... yeah. We got it all. Stacked it over there."
The tent Lambert pointed to was piled high with wagon fragments, wooden crates, and rolled fabrics.
"Guess we'll need a new wagon..."
"The White Guard Knight said he'd help until we reach Beldaine. Y'know, the white-haired grandpa."
"The White Guard Knight."
I politely corrected Tasha.
"That's weird, though. Were there any magic tools in the caravan's goods?"
"Huh? ...No? Why?"
Lambert sounded surprised.
I tilted my head.
"Black Gatras are pretty rare. They're even more drawn to mana than regular Gatras."
That was probably why the meeting was running long.
Black Gatras were among the rarest Gatra variants.
Our instructor in beast biology at knight school had said, "Most of you will never see one in your lifetime."
Lambert thought for a moment, then replied.
"A few with ecronium. Wagon assist drives, lights, that sort. They kept breaking, so we barely used 'em."
"Simple tools like that don't attract magical beasts. The mana flow isn't strong enough..."
I glanced toward the caravan goods Lambert and Tasha had brought back.
"Mind if I check the cargo? If something dangerous is mixed in, beasts might attack again."
Tasha nodded at my words.
"Sure, a quick look..."
"We'd need the merchant leader's okay for that."
Lambert cut her off swiftly.
Tasha gave him a what-gives look, but he shook his head stubbornly.
"We're just hired blades. Can't go poking around the boss's stuff without permission."
"Ah. Got it..."
I nodded, understanding.
A bit suspicious, but I couldn't rummage without approval.
We'd promised to help Hopf's caravan anyway, so best to wait and see.
Just then, the bell signaling dinner rang out across the camp.
The scent of hearty soup and smoked pork suddenly hit me full force.
"Starving. Let's eat, Tasha. And little mage."
Lambert grabbed my shoulder and yanked me along.
I gawked up at his stubbly jaw in disbelief.
"Why do you keep calling me 'little'? My name's Liberic."
"I know your name. How old are ya?"
"Fifteen..."
"Ah, right! Shoulda called you baby then."
Lambert ruffled my hair while chuckling.
I give up.
I covered my face with my hands and swallowed a sigh.
Anything I said now would just give him more ammo.
"Suspicious."
I chewed on a piece of hardtack.
The rock-hard bread was tough, but dunked in warm meat soup, it was decent.
"They seemed skilled enough."
Shuren, sitting across from me, shoved a chunk of well-roasted pork into his mouth.
A few tables over, Lambert and Tasha sat among the knights, chowing down heartily.
The two in black leather blended in like old comrades, laughing shamelessly. Impressively brazen charisma.
"See it? Five concentric rings on his right arm? Mark of a senior Kalbart mercenary."
"That's impressive...?"
Now Shuren eyed me suspiciously. I cleared my throat and stared into my bowl.
I knew mercenaries were organized into guilds with ranks based on skill—book knowledge from school, not super real.
"Anyway, their creds check out. You can trust that much."
"...Got it."
Maybe I'm just on edge from the new surroundings.
I nodded meekly and finished my meal.
As dinner wrapped up.
Gazing at the darkening camp, Wedin staggered over to us.
His face was ghostly pale as he dragged a chair and flopped face-first onto the table.
"Feels like someone's wringing out my heart."
"You okay...?"
Damn. Can't even imagine.
"Nope. Gonna puke. First time using this much holy magic..."
"Real combat's always brutal."
Shuren chuckled and stood.
"Hang on. I'll grab you some food."
Wedin stayed out of it for a while, but when Shuren and Clemence returned with a tray, he finally lifted his head.
He nibbled bread bits while muttering about how amazing Grain was, how he couldn't even touch the man's shadow.
"The merchant leader... Hopf, right? Anyway.
Teacher Grain nearly fixed his gut wound, but once he woke up, he wouldn't let anyone touch him. Had to finish the rest myself."
"Wouldn't let him?"
"...Arbat."
Wedin, getting heated, mashed crumbled bread into his soup.
"Makes sense, right? Teacher Grain's a Water Arbat, says don't touch. Insisted on Denan holy mage healing.
Was delirious from painkillers and holy power, but I'd never heard crap like that before."
"Whoa. Real race purist, huh."
Shuren sneered, while Clemence, who had just sat to eat, looked shocked.
I let out a small sigh.
"No manners for the guy who saved his life."
"Yeah... Wasn't even asking for thanks."
Clemence barely swallowed some warm water amid her dismay.
In Prion, countless races live freely together, so discriminatory ideas rarely take root.
Appearances aside, their lives aren't so different.
But reality bites.
Step out of Prion, and you run into brazen types like that.
Denan, Luar, Loran, Arbat—each race has lived clustered together for ages, so tribalism runs deep.
Hell, in the Denan Troyan Empire, they didn't even count other races as people.
As an imperial mage back then, I knew the era well.
Sad that such mindsets still lingered.