Book 14 Chapter 18

Platinum Mercenary Corps,

In the Northern Empire (6)

Anyone could tell those six looked suspicious.

Their builds varied, cloaked in hooded capes, but they were equally steeped in the abyss.

This was not a symbol of corruption, but it meant they were originally elite mercenaries operating in Trident Point.

“IDs?”

Then the woman who appeared to be their leader scoffed.

“We don’t need such a thing, do we?”

Screeeech… From the hand extended from beneath the cloak, a terrible high-frequency sound flowed out, like scratching iron with fingernails.

“Right?”

Then the guards’ bodies began to move stiffly, as if of their own accord. They put away their crossed halberds and painfully turned around.

“Because you need to arrest those two people who just passed by here. And we’ll help you with that.”

As it was the entrance to the north, a fairly elite force was stationed here.

Two mages and three knights emerged. Including the number of apprentices, squires, and attendants, it was more than ten people.

However, they were subdued far too easily by the absurd movements shown by the other five mercenaries. And like the guards, their bodies began to move with a creaking sound.

“Alright, let’s go.”

* * *

The length and width of the Eleonore River are directly proportional to the time it takes to cross this great bridge.

Thanks to that, various roadside stalls lined both sides of the bridge.

The hawking to attract the bustling crowd was also intense.

“Tax-free if you buy here! A chance to buy a bison-tendon bow incredibly cheap!”

Huh.

Isn't it tax evasion, not tax-exempt?

“A chance to become a wizard even without being chosen by the magic tower! Lots of spellbooks here!”

Ooh!

My interest was piqued.

However, all of them were just basic textbooks on the level of arithmetic.

“Hey, young man, aren’t you hungry? Have a bowl of noodles with freshly caught herring before you go!”

In the northern sea, the Ice Sea, herring was one of the main seafoods, and thus the north was even called the home of herring cuisine.

“Oh, is it delicious?”

Lysta reacted to this.

Is this guy an animal, reacting to anything edible?

“Of course! To carry such a heavy sword and cross the bridge, you’d have to eat at least three bowls!”

“Let’s go quickly, noodles, my foot.”

“Oh, why, I’m hungry.”

“Hey, young master in the hanbok, my place also has assorted fish eyeball skewers.”

“!”

I dislike wild animal or bird eyeballs, but I like fish eyeballs.

The taste is one thing, but the Dean would buy dried fish whenever he went out, saying it was good for eyesight, and would specifically pick out the eyeballs for me.

—Lyn, you read a lot at night, don’t you? To become the strongest mage, you can’t get presbyopia, can you?

In short, fish eyeballs held such memories. That’s why I ended up sitting across from Lysta at a table in front of this stall.

“Is this right? I’m asking if this is right.”

Lysta stared with sad eyes at the assorted eyeball skewers, skewered in small groups, which were served on a plate.

“Yes, it is.”

“But I wanted herring noodles…”

“That statement just now, blah blah blah… basically, something like a regionally discriminatory remark unsuitable for a hero.”

“Gyugyugyu!”

Sbal ate it without a word of complaint.

“Sob.”

Lysta swallowed her tears and began to chew the skewer with a crunching sound. I was already eating.

Oh~ The crispy texture and salty taste made the taste buds on my tongue create a happy harmony.

Some eyeballs seemed to be from steamed dishes, and some from grilled dishes; the contrasting flavors created by the difference in texture were truly exquisite. Good sense, eh?

Screeeech…

Then suddenly, there was a high-frequency sound (高周波) that unpleasantly stimulated my hearing. A sound like iron being ground long and thinly.

The shop owner, who was taking an order from another traveler, flinched for a moment.

Then suddenly, with stiff, puppet-like movements, he threw a kitchen knife at Lysta! Of course, it was a meaningless attack to Lysta, but…

“Huh?”

Lysta, who merely reached out a hand behind her to catch the kitchen knife without even looking back, had a scratch appear on the wrist part of her light armor.

The confusion didn’t end there.

People who had been bustling across the bridge, each holding their own weapon, were now surrounding us. Their movements were oddly creaking.

“Don’t move, Lyn.”

If one could create art with a single knife, this would be it.

As if painting in the air, Lysta slashed the kitchen knife with a single, sweeping stroke, and the death throes of iron resounded.

Along with the sound of snapping wires, the people who had surrounded us began to fall to the ground.

“Hmph, you saw right through my iron wire (分鐵) prison, didn’t you?”

When I looked up, I saw wires strung around like a spiderweb. And a woman standing lightly on that spiderweb.

“But it’s too early to be overconfident; this is just a taste!”

That wasn’t all. Crowds of people moving like puppets from all directions.

“Uh, uhhhhh…”

“M-m-my body…”

“S-someone, someone help me…”

And powerful magic reactions approaching through the gaps. There were more formidable enemies than just that woman.

Th-this can’t be…

At that moment, I was trembling.

My whole body was shaking. My consciousness turned blank, and blood came from my unconsciously bitten lips, even tasting fishy.

I wondered if this was how it felt when barely holding in pee to its absolute limit. If I were to summarize this feeling in three words, it would be this.

Oh.

My.

God.

Ah, this is what 'moving' truly means. Where is this place? It’s Stella Bridge. To attack a place like this, one must be on par with the [Strongest].

Not just the [Strongest], but a madman equipped with the mindset of ‘It’s fine even if I turn the entire nation into an enemy, because I am the strongest’ is required.

To commit such an act! I was genuinely thrilled.

“Lyn, are you nervous? I’m really sorry, but I need you to do something. This one is quite strong.”

It seems that once-in-a-lifetime opportunities come a few times in life.

When was that for you?

For me, it is… now.

A situation unfolded before my eyes where I could complete several items on my [Strongest Mage Bucket List] at once.

“Hmph, you certainly have the skill to have beaten that bitch Gianna. But if that’s all you’ve got, I’d be disappointed, wouldn’t I?”

As the woman swung her hand, countless wires rushed towards us, but Lysta cut them all with her kitchen knife.

“I’ll finish this in 3 minutes. Lyn, protect the people until then.”

Then the woman who had been subdued by Lysta last time came out, tapping her shoulder with a spiked club from which iron spikes protruded.

“3 minutes? This crazy bitch is as arrogant as ever! You’re the ones who’ll be finished in 3 minutes!”

Since my opponent has put in such effort, shouldn't I, too, respond with actions befitting the [Strongest Mage]?

However, because the situation was so sudden, my usual fantasy script didn't come to mind.

But there was no problem.

“Hmph…”

Actually, it means nothing, but when the strongest mage smiles like this, enemies fall into a panic. I learned this last time when I captured the archer.

“W-what are you grinning at?!”

The woman, a flicker of agitation appearing on her face, shoved aside the crowd haphazardly and rushed at us like a flash.

“Then, Lyn. I’m counting on you.”

I grabbed Lysta.

Even when Lysta blocked the club woman’s club with her gauntlet and flicked her forehead with a *ttakbam* that sent her flying, I didn’t let go of her sleeve.

“No…”

I shook my head frantically, conveying my desperate intention.

“I said I don’t want to…!”

Then Lysta gave a somewhat sad smile and whispered like this.

“Are you worried because it seems like I’m making you fight a dangerous battle alone?”

In this urgent situation, I couldn’t think of a way to clearly convey all my heart and intentions.

“That’s not it, I—!”

I could only repeat this gesture and these words.

“—Don’t worry, Lyn. I’m a hero, you know.”

Lysta, with a pitiable yet resolute gesture, shook off my hand and charged towards the ‘Para-whatever’ who was unleashing a powerful attack.

Watching her retreating figure with a sigh close to a scream, I became enraged. I was so genuinely enraged that my vision suddenly turned crimson.

I’m the type who never gives up delicious things to others. But this club woman rushing at me first meant I naturally had to give up the most delicious part to Lysta.

Hmph…

A burly figure stood beside the club woman. Two more closed in from behind me.

Although I was instantly surrounded, if Para-whatever was an assorted eyeball skewer, these guys were like herring noodles.

In other words, they were tasteless.

“I am the Strongest Mage, but right now, I’m extremely pissed off. Can you handle me like this?”