Book 13 Chapter 19

Mercenary Request (2)

Hanbok (寒服) was a high-quality garment handled only by specialty stores. The material of the clothes itself was different from ordinary attire.

Naturally, the price was also expensive.

They demanded 80 silver coins for a suit for a youth like me, but since there would be no other place to spend it anyway and I received it for this purpose, I bought it generously.

What would be good?

Since the North is cold, it seemed that a practical black base that absorbs sunlight well would be good.

And I also bought a half-durumagi. A half-durumagi is a half-length outer garment, worn as if draped from the left shoulder down to under the right armpit.

The fact that it could store personal belongings inside seemed very practical. As for the color, purple, which gave a noble feeling, looked good.

"I will tailor it to fit your body well."

Gizella has a similar body size to mine, so it should roughly fit well.

After taking measurements and finishing the tailoring, when I returned to the examination hall, the Dean and the Eldest Disciple were waiting for Gizella in their designated seats.

As soon as she saw me, the Dean chuckled.

"Oh my, is your runaway over already?"

"No, someone suddenly gave me these clothes, but they're so uncomfortable I can't wear them. If anyone needs them, please take them."

When I handed over the bundle containing the Hanbok, the Eldest Disciple, who looked inside, widened her eyes.

"Rin, this is a Hanbok! Who on earth gave you something so expensive?"

"Don't know. I'm running away from home, so don't talk to me."

"What?"

The Dean clapped her hands and laughed.

"Rin, come here."

"I can't, I'm running away from home. I'm leaving now."

"Hmm~ Shall I let all the mages here hear 'that' just once? The school creed, 'The Osarius School is…?'"

"Yes, I'm here now."

Though I aim to be the [Strongest Mage], I haven't abandoned all human emotions.

If I were to repeat "Osarius is a school that will become a great school" here, I would kick my blankets in embarrassment for the rest of my life until my hip joint ruptured.

I decided it would be good to take care of my health from a young age if I wanted to aim for [The Strongest].

"Every day has been so joyful since I met Rin."

As I approached, the Dean held both my cheeks and, pressing her forehead against mine, said so.

"It's as scary as it is joyful. Because what I can give Rin is disappearing too quickly day by day…"

The Dean had already given everything in the name of magic, so that was a very unreasonable statement.

However, I decided that if I could make the Dean feel she owed me, I would be less likely to be blackmailed with 'that' in the future.

Even an aspiring [Strongest Mage] still has a minimum level of dignity.

"If you know that, then behave yourself well in the future."

"Alright."

"I'm running away from home, so I'll be going now."

Again, after leaving the examination hall and heading towards the mercenary guild, strangely, my steps were so light and nimble that it felt like I could fly into that clear sky.

Why did my condition improve?

Did the Dean cast some magic on me? When I circulated my magic power throughout my body, there was no significant change from the morning, which was strange.

"Ah, you're here now."

"Link, Link, Link."

Since quite a bit of time had passed, 'The Genius Tinkerer and…' who had already finished their meal—ah, their name is ridiculously long, it's such a pain—

Nils, Link, and their lackeys, in short, were piling supplies on the sled and finishing preparations for the expedition.

As soon as they saw me arrive, emotions were divided among the mercenaries, and money exchanged hands. It seems they had bet money on one of two outcomes: "runs away" or "returns."

Ignorant fools.

The [Strongest Mage] never runs away.

If they run, they are not [The Strongest].

[The Strongest] neither runs nor compromises.

"Welcome back, Rin. Judging by your face, it seems you spent the advance payment well. So now, let's go earn a fortune, one that will make that advance payment seem like pocket change."

* * *

The main road in the North is famous by the nickname of Seollo (雪路, Snowy Road).

This is because the wind blows, causing the snow piled on both sides of the road to flutter white.

There were three men and women who casually moved through that white mist. Their dark blue robes explained their identities.

The Second Pillar of the Black Church. Under their command, the Ten Toes of the Second Pillar.

They, the direct unit of the Second Pillar of the Black Church, were scattered throughout the North, carrying out various missions of plunder, arson, and disruption.

"Where's Number 1?"

A woman, small and delicate in stature but with sharp features, spoke. Her number was 3; numbers were a measure of strength.

"He's next to Ballag."

Number 4, a man whose back was not only hunched but whose entire body was emaciated like a skeleton, spoke.

"How long has it been since all the Toes were gathered in one place?"

In response to Number 3's consecutive question, Number 2, who had a tall and pleasant appearance in contrast to Number 4, replied.

"Isn't this the first time? We've always been scattered across the North."

"Though it's not 'all' of us, since six have died."

"Hmph, there's no place for the weak before the Throne of the Abyss. Survival of the fittest is an eternal truth."

Number 2, who casually dismissed Number 4's remark, turned to Number 3.

"What about Duke Duren's side?"

"They've summoned dangerous individuals. But the scale is small. It seems they want to handle it quietly."

"Duke Duren will be shitting blood due to his ambition to become emperor."

"But isn't it strange? This is essentially picking a fight with the entire North…"

Just as Number 3 was muttering, propping her chin, Number 4 flinched in surprise and pulled out a Spirit Orb (靈珠) from his pocket.

"He is calling."

As the Spirit Orb, which had ripples of murky abyss, emitted light, their minds were connected to another place.

The Abyss (深淵) was the ruler of this land in the BCE era.

Ancient Alvrazm style was a culture that expressed the zeitgeist of the era when the Abyss ruled, and everything related to it was taboo.

An otherworldly stench that warped the entire space flowed thickly like pork fat (豚油), while human figures rose from Alvrazm-style censers.

[What's wrong? Why do you all have such sour expressions? Don't you know the saying that smiles bring good fortune?]

The figure located at the very center of all censers, and who rose from the largest censer, spoke.

The Second Pillar of the Black Church.

Despite clearly being in a spirit form, its form was incredibly clear. The oppressive feeling of magic, capable of engulfing and bursting a target, was also vivid.

[We have not found the person who eliminated Numbers 5 and 6.]

There were a total of 11 censers.

Six of the ten censers were extinguished.

These censers were catalysts that connected the minds of the 'Toes of the Second Pillar'. In other words, Toes Number 5 through Number 10 were already dead.

[So what if you couldn't find them?]

Number 4 bowed his head.

[You told us to definitely find the boy Laguna had with him…]

[Ah, you mean that child.]

I had forgotten.

Certainly, unlike these disposable wastes, he might have been good material.

If he's dead, well, I don't care.

[We couldn't find any peculiarities. There was only a petty school called the Osarius School nearby. Although its dean is young and holds a 3-star rank, she doesn't have a battle mage license. Shilla and Laguna couldn't have lost that easily.]

[Haha, the Osarius School?]

A past ill-fated connection, with cold and hot fury, for the first time in a long time, struck the very core of the Second Pillar.

'That damn old geezer…'

Wiping out such a school was no big deal, but to find the whereabouts of the 『Osarius Bibon』, which was considered semi-legendary, they had only allowed its lineage to continue. All those with potential were made to die of illness.

'Beast-man magic that even surpassed my speed; I wanted to figure out its principles, at least.'

But no matter how long they waited, it was never found.

'Indeed, would that old man, who pretended to be stupid but was more meticulous than anyone, have left it in records?'

He must have tried to monopolize it for himself.

So, from about a hundred years ago, the Second Pillar also simply lost interest in the Osarius School.

Dwelling on the past, that is, on revenge, did not suit his temperament.

[To revive Laguna or Shilla, I would have to go there myself, but right now, I have much more important things to do, so I cannot cross the continent.]

The Second Pillar, by the command of the First Pillar, was orchestrating something on the continent of Adrion, across the sea.

A very great calamity… a tremendous nightmare that had never existed before, they were meticulously refining it and preparing to unleash it upon the world.

[So forget all that and let's go have some fun. First, it would be good to have a magnificent opening. The North will be its beginning. Number 1, how is Ballag?]

[He is recovering rapidly from the backlash of crossing the dimensional gate created by the Pillar.]

[Good. My side is also in its final stage. It's enough if the Imperial Electors are so intimidated by whatever happens here that they can't send their lackeys. Do well, everyone.]

The human figures writhing above the censers, the 'Toes of the Black Church', prostrated themselves simultaneously.

[We obey the will of Zergnix, the Second Pillar of the Black Church.]