63 - 71

The Second Mission #3

"Do you know him?" Vince asked as he noticed Theo's reaction.

Theodore nodded unconsciously. He remembered that face too clearly. In a sense, it was one of the people who had helped him in this city. The person was the black market trader he had visited in order to fill up his insufficient magic power.

Theo clearly recalled his name, "Canis?"

"…Thanks for remembering," the black market trader, Canis, replied with a resigned expression. He had tried to withdraw but had been suppressed helplessly. His stealth had been noticed, and he couldn't resist even once. One mistake was enough to bind him on the ground.

Vince grasped the situation and asked, "Is this perhaps the black market trader that you dealt with?"

"Yes, it certain is."

Theo and Vince had talked briefly about the black market trader. He was a human from the dark side of the world who couldn't be trusted, and they had caught him in an unexpected place. Since that day, Theo hadn't gone to find the black market trader. He could obtain artifacts with Vince's help, so there was no reason to take the risk.

The quietly listening Canis interrupted, "Excuse me, can you just let me go?"

The two people were talking, but the magic binding him hadn't been lifted. No, the power continued increasing, so sweat flowed down Canis' forehead. Theo's magic power had become stronger after completing the 5th Circle, to an extent where he could suppress some aura users.

Theo heard the request and looked at Vince, who shook his head with a resolute expression.

"No, we need to hear why he is following us," Vince said. Then grabbed Canis' neck and threatened, "But keep this in mind. I know lowlives like you very well. If you lie even once, I will pull out an eyeball and repeat this until you stop lying. You know that this isn't just a threat, right?"

"…Damn, you're an executor?" Canis gulped as he determined Vince's identity.

Vince's killing intent was different from rookies. He was an expert at hunting humans and wasn't the type of opponent who Canis could go against. The executives of the Red Tower would tear people into pieces without raising an eyebrow. They were natural enemies of those who lived in the lawless zone.

"Keok, I understand. So, let me go. At this rate—kek—I can't speak."

"You only have one chance." Vince let Canis go after one final eerie warning, and Canis hurriedly took in deep breaths.

The grip of the magician was so strong that finger marks still remained on his neck. It was also a warning that Canis' life could be taken at any time. Canis opened his mouth and spoke in a slightly hoarse voice, "So, you must be wondering why I was following you?"

"Today was pretty much a coincidence. Young Master hasn't come to visit me for almost two months already. I just thought of it as extra income until I coincidentally passed by you today."

"Coincidence? It seems like you want to lose an eyeball."

"W-Wait a minute! Please listen a bit more!" Canis screamed hurriedly as a flame emerged from Vince's fingertip. It was a conventional threat, but it was extra scary since it came from an executive of the Red Tower.

"I'm going to leave this area! I thought I would find Young Master and do one last deal!"

Vince turned off the flames and asked, "Leave? A black market trader?"

It was hard to leave an organization, especially one in the dark side of the world. Cutting off fingers, arms, or legs would be considered a moderately severe ritual required before a person could leave.

Why would a black market trader, who was treated as a senior executive, want to leave? His unrecognizable body might be found after a few days.

However, Canis' thoughts were a little different. "Things have gone wrong in this territory. The guild idiots don't know what they are doing and are digging their graves. I never expected slavery in Meltor, and I don't want to be burned along with those idiots."

"…Slavery?"

"I'm not lying! A week ago, people from Austen secretly crossed the wall! It will eventually come out!"

The two magicians looked at each other, ignoring Canis' urgent voice. Maybe the organization that the black market trader belonged to was directly connected to this case. Indeed, an organization without any connections to Bergen couldn't have done something as large as slave trading here. It made sense to join hands with the local organization.

Then it was worth using the black market trader. The two people exchanged glances a few times before coming to a mutual understanding.

In the end, Theodore released the spell binding Canis.

"The story, tell us in a little more detail." Vince's voice grabbed Canis before he could enjoy the sensation of freedom.

***

As soon as the three people left the alley, they started walking toward a specific destination.

The location was somewhere out of the reach of outside gazes, so it was a good location to share a secret story. It was the black market trader's store.

Kkiiik… The rundown door hinges creaked as the door opened. Canis entered the store first. Then Theodore followed him inside and looked around the store.

'It has been around two months… Quite a long time.'

Things hadn't changed too much. Items were jumbled together and covered in dust, while there were a few items at his feet. Canis haphazardly made a seat by kicking all these things. It took around five minutes to clean the area, so that there was enough room for three people to sit down.

"Come on, sit down. There is no where else to entertain you."

It was pretty ridiculous for three big men to sit down on small desk chairs, but the atmosphere got a little lighter.

"Forget the small talk, and tell us the story. I will decide your treatment depending on the value of your information."

"Hoo, how bloodthirsty." Canis had managed to regain some composure from being in a familiar place, but that went away again with Vince's words.

Neither did Theodore show Canis a bit of softness at all. Theo just looked away at every joke.

Canis had a hunch and quickly opened his mouth, "Do you want information related to slavery? Like the locations of the people from Austen and the transaction dates."

"Didn't I say to tell me what you know?"

"I'll be honest, I don't know a lot of the details."

The atmosphere inside the room subsided. This was the result of the increased pressure from the surrounding mana as the two people's circles rotated. Canis knew there would be this reaction, but he couldn't tell them things he didn't know.

"My cardinal rule is to never set foot in dangerous places. My life is at risk in such incidents. So, I was preparing to flee from this area."

Canis was the careful type who didn't accept a favourable deal until there was a strong pledge. If he were a person directly involved in slavery, Vince would've cut off his legs without any hesitation and chosen torture instead. In a sense, that prudence was the same as Canis'.

"So, I am suggesting a deal." Sweat flowed down his back as he spoke the words he'd prepared in his head, "I will bring you the information you need. In return for that cooperation, I would like your help."

"Do you think you are in the position to ask for funds?"

"I'm sorry, but my life is also at stake. Anyway, I don't know anything worth torturing out of me. Think of it as a good story for a bit of money."

Canis' words weren't wrong. The slavers hadn't been revealed yet, so it was highly unlikely they would be found tonight. Using an insider to obtain information was an opportunity. It was good business for Canis if he could get a new identity and a bit of money.

The question was whether or not to trust him. Vince glared at Canis with cold eyes. It was because he had learned from experience not to trust the words of a criminal. This person was related to his disciple, so his guard was thicker than usual.

"How can I believe you? You might betray us as soon as you meet the organization. Do you have any guarantees that you won't go back on your words?"

"The same goes for you as well. I don't think an executor will keep his promise to a person like me." Canis looked at Theodore after he spoke.

Theo knew how to fix this situation as he recalled the past. Theirs had also been a relationship where neither of them trusted each other. The appraiser had proposed a trade where the black market trader would gain money, but the black market trader was worried about the suspicious proposal.

The two people had built a trusting relationship through one method.

"Do you want to use the Geass Scroll?"

"Well, there is that method." Canis smiled as the intended words were spoken.

The Geass Scroll was a means of binding each other, and the effect was applied, regardless of whether they were a criminal or executor. After all, artifacts couldn't distinguish between a person's status or position. In any case, verbal promises could never be trusted. The Geass Scroll was a means for an equal negotiation.

Vince belatedly grasped Canis' intentions and laughed. "…One of the skills of a mouse is escaping through holes."

"I'll take that as a compliment. If I didn't dig holes like this, then my life would be different."

"But don't be mistaken. You understand it isn't enough, right?" Vince laughed again.

At first glance, it seemed like a favourable condition, but Canis had a hidden loophole in his proposal. If he failed, there would be more negative consequences for the two people. Therefore, Canis needed to get rid of that risk.

Canis didn't miss this and eventually said, "Dammit, I'll pay an advance."

He got up and sighed as he looked around.

There were genuine, defective, and cursed items displayed in a confusing array. Among them were many things Theo had appraised, as well as those he hadn't. He didn't know about the quality, but the amount was enormous.

The owner of the store, Canis pointed to the items with a grim look. "Take what you want."

"Huh?" Theodore was unable to understand the words.

However, he hadn't heard wrongly as Canis repeated again in a regretful voice, "I'll give it all to you, so take as much as you want."

Slavers Raiding Mission #1

As a result, the deal was successful.

Vince carried a disgruntled expression until the end, but he wrote down on the scroll that he would help Canis move and give him a new identity. When considering that the power of a Superior magician was equal to that of a superior noble, Canis had an unquestionably strong backer.

After each of them signed the contract, Canis got up with a satisfied expression. "Okay, wait here a bit. It will take some time, so I'll probably be back when the sun goes down."

"Do you intend to start immediately?"

"Isn't time running out? From now on, your work is my job. If I fail, then I won't gain anything either. You can be confident that I will return after working diligently."

After telling them to wait, Canis ran out of the store. His movements were full of a vitality which couldn't be seen until now. He must feel good that he had managed to save his life. The two men left behind in the store without its owner were stunned for a moment, but they soon looked around.

Everything around them was an artifact.

"Take as much as you want. He made a mistake to say that." Vince laughed as he repeated Canis' words.

Canis would never have thought that Theodore could take all the things in the store. There were so many things that they wouldn't fit in his dimension pocket, but they were sufficient as meals for Gluttony.

The quality wasn't high, but the amount of magic power which could be absorbed from this amount of artifacts was considerable.

First of all, Theo approached the shelf containing the defective goods and raised his left hand.

"Then I will start."

Unlike genuine products which might have a hidden value, a defective product was useless. Their own value was to be eaten and converted into magic power. With a single command of 'Eat,' the tongue emerged from Theo's left hand and started sweeping through the store.

Woorururu… With a blunt sound, the various objects disappeared into Gluttony's mouth. Regardless of size, it swallowed everything into its mouth. The dozens of defective products disappeared, and the floor was quickly exposed.

Dozens of voices were heard until they were cut off after a few minutes.

[...]

[It will take approximately 31 minutes and 14 seconds to fully digest.]

With the release of the 3rd seal, Gluttony's abilities had improved. The previous digestion time which had been over an hour was now reduced to only 30 minutes. However, this meant it wasn't difficult to absorb all the things piled up in the store.

Vince let out a cry of admiration as Theo stood before an empty shelf. "…It is amazing when I think about it. Converting the artifact into the user's magic power is a really amazing feature."

"I don't know what the principle behind it is."

"If you find out, then the magic prowess of humanity will advance a few steps."

It was as Vince said. The grimoire was a foreign object to modern humans. How it worked and the reason why it existed was a mystery. This wasn't a problem for the two of them to worry about.

Theodore walked past the empty shelf to another corner filled with objects. This was just the beginning of Gluttony's meal time.

***

It was around four hours after Canis left the store when he returned. Like he'd said, he returned just as the sun was about to set.

As Canis entered with an exhausted expression, he was shocked to see that the interior of the store was different from how it had been just a few hours ago. To put it in a nicely, the store was tidy, but the bad thing was that it was bare.

Canis looked around the empty store several times before clicking his tongue. "Huh… I told you to take what you wanted, but I didn't think you would sweep them all away. How terrible."

"I wasn't allowed to?"

"No, you just followed my words. In any case, I can't carry any of this with me when I leave Bergen. They aren't my things, so consider this as a big advance payment."

Canis pretended to grumble, but Theo wasn't deceived by his appearance. Theo had seen how clever Canis was through his exchange with Vince.

There were probably goods which Canis had concealed for the purpose of converting into cash. It was likely that he had already abandoned all the things left behind in the store. So, Theo didn't feel any remorse about sweeping it all up.

As the two people stayed still, Canis shrugged and sat down on the chair. Then he took something out and laid it down on the table. It was a cloth much like a handkerchief, but there were strange pictures on the surface.

There were curved lines and straight lines, kind of like…

"A map?" Theo asked Canis, who smiled and nodded.

"I can't read it, but you should be different. Now that you've looked at the picture, what do you think? Can you understand it?"

"Yes, this much is enough."

There was a slight feeling of roughness, but there was no problem in reading it. As Vince and Theo checked the condition of the map, Canis dipped a pen into a jar of red ink. Then he started to write something in the square marking on the map.

"I'm sorry, but I couldn't personally confirm the slaves. They are working with my organization, but the guys from Austen are thorough. The boss and some executives offered a few slaves, but they didn't bite."

"You couldn't dig deeper?"

"…I stroked their ego, so yes. The patrols are at a level that can be dismissed, but the guards are the real deal. I don't see any gaps in their abilities and the security they set up."

Theodore's and Vince's expressions turned grim at Canis' words.

Canis had been spotted quickly by the two people, but Vince and Theo were special cases. If they hadn't been vigilant, they might not have noticed Canis following them as it was also hard to spot him.

However, the security was at a level where Canis had been noticed? There was something strange.

"Now, it was roughly like this." Canis pointed to the map and explained, "There are two barracks installed on the outskirts of the camp, with guards around the prison barracks containing a total of four slaves. Their positions don't change, and they don't leave. As I said before, the four guards standing at the entrance to the barracks are at a higher level than the patrols. In particular, there are 10 people surrounding the large barracks."

"Do you know the interval and number of patrols?"

"I drew it on the map. The interval is one to one and a half hours, and they patrol in pairs, with an average of five patrols running at one time."

Vince looked at Canis with new eyes. He had thought Canis was just a rat, but with this level of information collecting ability, it was enough to work as an intelligence agent within the military. Maybe he was a human who had left such a world.

If all the information was correct, it was worth the price he'd paid in advance.

Vince asked his disciple who was closely gazing at the map, "Theo, what do you think?"

"…We should strike from two directions. If we don't surround them, then they may escape with the slaves. So Master, I should save the four slaves on the outskirts first."

"That is true. Should we strike tonight?"

"Yes, I think so as well."

The information collected by Canis might change after today. The possibility of a fluctuation tomorrow was high, so it was better to chase the chickens tonight. Since they'd received a breakthrough, they should strike at full speed. They had enough power, so breaking through the front was the most efficient method.

At that time, Canis, who had been listening to them talk, interrupted, "Wait a minute, my story still isn't over yet."

"There is still more?" Vince looked at him with a strange expression.

The patrol route, guards, slave positions, and number of enemies… that was all they had asked Canis to find out. Vince hadn't expected that a thief from the dark side of the world would do more than that.

However, Canis soaked his thumb in red ink and stamped a point on the cloth.

***

Hwiyuooong…

Night in the Nadun Mountain Ranges was as cold as ever, while strong winds blew in the densely populated city of Bergen. At first glance, it sounded like the wind was whistling above Theo's head. He was hiding among bushes, so grass and twigs tickled his skin.

Rustle! He looked down at the cloth in his hand and recalled the decision he'd made after discussing it with Vince.

Theo would free the four slaves from the two barracks on the outskirts and leave with them. It was possible to enter quickly and discreetly. Meanwhile, Canis had been sent away with Veronica's certificate to gather the lord's army.

A strange feeling emerged in Theo's settled heart. 'Is this my first time killing a person?'

The boat might have already sailed as Theodore had cut down hundreds of monsters and undead before. However, he had never killed a living human. Therefore, this battle would involve his first murder.

Theodore didn't have any exhilaration about such a thing. He looked down at his own hands and arms with a qualitative eye.

"…Murder."

His hands weren't shaking at all. Rather, his fingers were wriggling toward the target. Alfred's experiences and memories naturally sharpened his nerves. Theo could shoot and kill at any time. It was no different from being a living weapon.

'A person who killed one thousand people was considered a hero.' As the saying went, every hero was forced to become insensitive to murder or be accustomed to carrying the weight of the blood. Alfred was no exception, and Theo, who had received his experience instead of just knowledge, was no different.

Additionally, his opponents were trash who considered living beings as commodities, so they deserved to die. The fact that there was no hesitation in Theo's fingers might be natural.

At that moment, a red light shone from far away. 'The signal.'

It was a magic light which only someone who was using View Mana Force could see, and it was the signal agreed on by Vince and Theodore. Simultaneously, two men on patrol appeared near the bush where Theo was hiding.

"¥CGGÅC?"

"ÅÅ¥℃£!"

Their skin was dark, and they spoke a language which Theo couldn't understand. At their waists, they carried strangely curved swords. These were swords which Vince had explained were shamshirs, which were used by warriors of Austen. The two men were the trash from [Shackler].

Their balanced gait and firm arm muscles revealed underneath folded sleeves showed that they were warriors. Then the moment they passed by Theo's bush…

Piing-

Light emerged from his index finger pointing out from the bush. Magic Bullet passed through the back of the warrior walking on the right and out of him without making a noise. A hole was formed in the flesh within seconds.

"¥…Ȼ£˚C."

The other warrior walked walked two steps ahead before realizing his colleague wasn't following, but Theodore's hand then moved in a flash and struck his neck.

Bakak. The blow was as hard as granite due to Battle Song. The warrior's trachea and neck bones were broken, and his body collapsed just like his colleague had done.

The two patrolling warriors were wiped out in an instant. Theo buried the two bodies roughly and looked at his hands. They weren't shaking at all.

'…Go.'

Theo ignored the fact that he didn't feel anything and headed for the barracks without any hesitation.

Slavers Raiding Mission #2

The slums of Bergen, where [Shackler] were hiding, were as complex as an ant cave. If a stranger, who didn't know this, travelled about recklessly, then they would disappear into the shadows of the city.

The air weighed heavily on Theodore's shoulders. There were wine bottles rolling on the ground as well as stains which could be blood. Whatever it was, Theo ignored it and focused on the situation calmly. 'On the right, 25 meters away, there are three at the back.'

This precise sensing ability didn't just depend on physical detection. It was a possible feature because he shared the feelings of the elemental, Mitra, who had assimilated with the ground. The mole-like ability to grasp the movements and physique of others through vibrations was extremely useful to the present Theodore. He could see things he couldn't see with Hawkeye.

Indeed, there were three thieves whispering beyond the wall. Theo took a few steps until sound entered his ears.

"I saw it! It was definitely an elf!"

"You're crazy, Hans. Did you take medication during the day?"

"You are probably hallucinating from not seeing a prostitute for a few days. Do you want me to lend you some money? The interest rate is 2% per day."

"Hey, this son of a bitch!"

Somehow, one of them had seen a captive elf, and his colleagues didn't believe him. The thief became angry at this treatment and stormed away from his spot. He moved beyond the corner and came face to face with Theodore. The man opened his mouth with surprise when he saw Theo, but…

Piing—

A hole was formed in the middle of his forehead before he could speak. Even the strongest magician, Veronica, had no way to completely avoid Magic Bullet at this distance. The fate of the thief ended the moment he met Theo.

'There are two left… I will handle it.'

Theo pointed his index fingers over the wall and fired at the heads of the two remaining thieves. The light of death pierced them, and they were smiling as their brains scattered. This was the last of the three common thieves.

Not long after that…

In a guerilla warfare, the level difference meant nothing before the Magic Bullet.

"Eek."

"Kuack…"

Theo killed anyone he met. He moved thoroughly according to this principle, burying dozens of bodies along his route until he met a second patrol. It might be a coincidence or skills, but a warrior had managed to make a shallow scratch on Theo's forearm.

'Che, I'm still inexperienced. It was an attack I could've avoided if I had fully digested Lee Yoonsung's experience.'

He healed the wound slightly with magic. It was just a few drops of blood, but it couldn't hurt to be careful. Theo then concealed his body and realized he had reached the barracks. It was a barrack where two elves were trapped. Just as he was worrying about which of the two barracks to attack first…

Shouts rang out from the barrack on the right. "No? Why not?!"

Theo naturally moved toward the right barrack in response to the sound. His two golden eyes looked over the fence and examined the situation inside. There was a large group of thieves arguing with four warriors standing in front of the barrack with grim expressions.

Theo tensed as he grasped their level at one glance.

'There are five aura users… Maybe the intelligence agent from the White Tower missed something. Isn't it better to watch the situation before entering?'

Theo was tense enough to move at any time, but he decided to listen to their argument first.

"This is against the agreement! Didn't you agree to turn over two elves to me? You don't know how risky a position our guild is in because of you!"

"Wait a little longer, Boss Rakon."

"It has already been over a week! We don't know when those rascals will come!"

Theo narrowed his eyes at Boss Rakon. He was the boss of the guild which Canis belonged to. Perhaps he had decided to take a few elves in exchange for mediating this slave trade. That was why Rakon had agreed to a deal which normally wouldn't have been accepted, even for a few hundred gold coins. The thought of possessing an elf beauty had made him forget the fear of execution for a while.

Yet as time passed, he had begun to feel uneasy. Rakon wanted to get the elves out of the city as soon as possible. It had been a few days, so he was sick at the thought of an executioner coming.

However, the members of [Shackler] shook their heads with resolute expressions. They seemed to think the thieves would stab them in the back if they handed over the elves, but doing this was annoying since the thieves came several times a day to ask.

"Dammit, just let me see them once!" Rakon tried to shake their cold attitude, but there was nothing he could do. These people couldn't even be bribed. The subordinates of Shackler were different from his own.

Wuuong~ The wind cooled his inflamed head.

Rakon exhaled and then inhaled with surprise as his eyebrows twitched when he smelled the faint scent of blood from the wind. The blood wasn't coming from anyone near him. The extraordinary smell of the thief boss had detected an enemy.

Clink. Rakon flicked his wrist, and six daggers appeared almost simultaneously. The series of actions were really quick. The warriors winced at his sudden action, but he threw the daggers in the direction where he smelled the blood. Amazingly, it was aimed toward Theodore's location!

'How?!' Theo questioned reflexively. He had completely erased his presence, but Rakon had attacked him accurately. They hit the fence around the height of his thighs.

Pyupok! Pyok Pyupok! There was the sound of something flying through their wind, and holes appeared in the wood.

As the fence collapsed in the aftermath, the hiding Theodore was revealed. It was then that the guards finally realized his presence and pulled out their shamshirs. A red radiance lit up in the eyes of the aura users.

Theo was confronted with five aura users before him. "Hoo, then it can't be helped."

Instead of retreating, he stepped forward. It wasn't difficult to escape, but if he left, it would add to the burden of Vince, who was on the other side. Above all, the experiences of the two people inside him were talking. This was a situation where he could win.

"It is a young man. Hey, kid! Did you get lost from your mommy?"

Theodore's cheekbones twitched at Rakon's taunt. It was a sensitive response to the strange provocation.

'…Uh, it feels worse than I thought?' It was a single word which touched on his nerves.

The same word felt different depending on whose mouth it came out of. Veronica and the bearded robber had both called him 'kid' but the difference was like night and day.

However, Theo's head cooled off thanks to that thought. This was too different compared to facing Veronica. There were five people and four in the nearby barracks, making for a total of nine people. However, they weren't stronger than her.

Theodore's right hand calmly moved. 'Open Inventory. Equipment #3.'

Meanwhile, his left hand pulled out a red robe. Veronica had given it to him personally. It contained the emblem of the Red Tower and five circles. The robe was a symbol of honour and force in the Meltor Kingdom.

As the red cloth fluttered over Theo's upper body, Rakon's eyes widened as he realized the identity of the person in front of him. "Damn, executors have already been sent!"

The villains in Meltor were sensitive to this clothing. Containing defensive and secondary magic, the robes were exclusive possessions of the envoys of the battlefield. It wasn't an artifact which an ordinary kid could obtain.

Finally, Theodore checked his Memorize slots before raising both hands.

'Battle Song.

'Sonata of Speed.

'Allegretto.'

Then he ran at a fearsome pace through the darkness.

***

At that time, Vince Haidel was leaping between buildings on the other side of Theo's location.

After reaching the 6th Circle, Vince's physical abilities had increased. His movements were just like when Theodore used 'Battle Song.'

Paak!

Vince used Battle Song in midair and secured his body with magic. The numerous warriors on the ground couldn't discover Vince in the sky. It was a reason why magicians were capable of playing an active role on the battlefield. Magicians could wipe out patrolling scouts, so a veteran war mage was the most efficient person on any battlefield.

Among the Superior ranked magicians, Vince was one of the best.

'Here.' From the sky, he looked at the point which Canis had marked and landed without a sound.

Vince couldn't feel it. He used 'Detect Evil' as he gazed at the grey tent in front of him. The quarters here felt like the warriors had been living here for several years. As Vince recalled Canis' information, he felt a sense of discomfort.

That's why it wasn't easy to avoid the blow.

Kiiing! It was faster than sound. As the blade tore through the air, the sound emerged one beat late with the scattering of red aura. The tip of the shamshir cut Vince's neck, scattering drops of blood in the air. However, it didn't hit the artery. It was due to the increased reflexes of Battle Song.

However, rather than being surprised by the unexpected attack, Vince muttered as if he realized something, "Hah, so that is what happened."

A man walked out of the darkness near the tent. The black turban decorated with gold was quite distinct. It was a feature of the men from the Austen Kingdom on the northern part of the continent.

The man had long arms, and red aura shone around his shamshirs like a haze. He looked Vince up and down and precisely guessed Vince's identity.

"Meltor, war mage."

"That's right. Janissary of Austen," Vince responded while putting on his robe.

The man was more shaken by Vince's words than his red robe as Vince's tone expressed that Vince was completely confident he was correct.

While the Janissary protecting his identity closed his mouth, Vince wiped at his wound. "What crime organization would do this so fearlessly? Even if they succeed in selling the elves, they would only lose money. There aren't many idiots who would try to buy slaves in this country. You aren't using Meltor as an intermediary. Instead, you're just passing through."

"…Why do you think that?" It was a crude version of the official language, but the meaning was still clear. Vince had no intention of letting the man survive, but the man was tenacious. As the man stepped backward, Vince stepped forward, gesturing with a nod toward the tent before him.

He was already convinced that his guess was the right answer. "The elf held in there… No, isn't it a 'high elf?'"

The eyes of the Janissary shook.

Slavers Raiding Mission #3

High elves were the most secretive of the elven species who were covered in mysticism. Those who didn't know would think they were an upper tier of the species, but that wasn't entirely correct.

A long time ago, Arv's blood experienced atavism and the elf became a high elf.

Their natural strength was the reason why all kingdoms coveted high elves and secretly detained them.

A low voice emerged from Vince's mouth, "…Three months ago. I heard that the Pilar River, the lifeline of Austen, started to dry up."

In the heart of the Austen Kingdom, an incredible river flowed through the desert. Pilar River was the driving force behind the Austen Kingdom functioning as a nation. It was literally the lifeline which allowed the inhabitants of the desert to thrive.

However, the river had dried up. Every 60 to 100 years, a drought would arrive and kill the kingdom. It was a disaster which couldn't be predicted through magic. It was the reason why the national strength of Austen didn't increase over a certain level. There was always a limitation since they had to gather food and water to prepare for the drought.

However, things would change if they had a high elf.

It is a reasonable conclusion. High elves were a species that enriched nature just by being there. Their power turned poisoned swamps back into clear lakes and caused blades of grass to grow in rocky mountains. Even if they couldn't completely resolve the drought, the situation in the Austen Kingdom would improve.

As descendants of Arv, the high elves' inborn strength was truly wonderful. As natural elementals, they were able to cause miracles just by breathing. They cleansed poison and grew vegetation, and could moisten dry land and grow any crop. That was difficult even for the great elementalist, Myrdal.

Above all, the Austen Kingdom needed a justification to kidnap a high elf since they risked Elvenheim's wrath.

"I don't know how much power is in this convoy, but I know how desperate you must be to disguise it as slavery."

"You will still block me despite knowing this?" The Janissary's sword trembled.

He wasn't part of the [Shackler] organization. A Janissary despised sins and assisted the rulers with their accumulated knowledge. For the sake of Austen, they were servants who obeyed their ruler loyally. So, he hid in this kingdom in disguise under the belief that he would eventually solve the disaster. The mission had to be accomplished, even if he threw away his life.

As Vince kept that determination in mind, he nodded. "I don't know your situation. It would be a few times better for me to save the abducted high elf and gain favour from Elvenheim."

"If you just close your eyes, the Sultan will repay the favour."

"How funny. Are you asking me to become an accomplice?"

It was Meltor's loss, no matter how he thought about it. Elvenheim was different from the distant Austen. For a kingdom which was antagonistic to the Andras Empire, the emergence of a new adversary was fatal.

On the contrary, what if Vince rescued the high elf and brought them back to Elvenheim? It might led to a strong ally in this tug of war. In short, Austen didn't have anything to offer Meltor for negotiation.

"…I understand, I'll have to take care of you here." The Janissary understood this fact and suddenly lifted something into the air. Vince tried to stop it, but the action was too sudden.

Piing… peeng! The Janissary sent up a signal flare.

He couldn't allow this magician to live even if it meant making enemies of the Meltor Kingdom. A kingdom facing the Andras Empire would have to avoid an all-out war with Austen. As long as the high elf was transferred to Austen, it wouldn't matter if his head was taken.

'He is willing to die. These guys are annoying.' Vince clicked his tongue as red flames appeared in his hands.

It wasn't difficult to deal with the Janissary in front of him, but the reinforcements would come thanks to the signal flare. So, it would be annoying if Vince didn't kill him before that. He had to use 'it', even though it was still incomplete. His six circles spun as he realized there was no other way.

"Blaze Burst!"

"Å℃CE!"

The curtains of the grand finale rose in conjunction with the pillar of fire.

***

On the other hand, Theodore's fight was reaching the end.

'…It feels like this. I understand.'

Indeed, this experience was different from fighting monsters and undead. It was a fight which required precise timing and techniques. His body quickly absorbed the techniques it received from Lee Yoonsung. The techniques were based on the six concepts of the eastern continent.

Swaeeek.

Theo leaned back gently, and a blade passed right in front of his nose. He barely avoided the damage. Theo's fist struck the guard's chest, and the guard flew back while coughing up blood. Then Theo's speed and power accelerated thanks to Sonata of Speed and Rhapsody of Power.

"ÅCÅCG!?"

"C¥Ȼ£!"

'Maintain the gap!' After shouting to each other, the guards were more vigilant. Two people had already died because of the magician. The five aura users had been reduced to three, so they became increasingly desperate.

Rakon also realized the reality. 'I'm screwed. This young bastard is so strong…!'

Theo was fast and strong. If the aura users maintained the distance between them and Theo, they would be attacked by powerful magic. However, going into close range would cause them to be hit by strange techniques.

The daggers Rakon was so proud of were meaningless if he couldn't even use them. Despite being surrounded, the brat had dealt with the situation like he had eyes in the back of his head. The most Rakon could do was cut off a few strands of hair.

Goosebumps ran all over Rakon's body as he sensed he would die here.

'Run away while they buy time-' Rakon's judgement told him that he should run away to avoid death. As he prepared daggers for a diversion, horrific bolts of lighting emerged from Theodore's hands.

It was the 4th Circle magic, Chain Lightning! Chain Lightning, which was amplified by three times due to Memorize, drove away the darkness of the night. It was a magic lightning bolt which could turn a person to ashes just by touching it.

The two warrior guards close to Theo instantly stopped breathing, while Rakon, who had retreated a few steps, was hit in the right leg.

"Kuaaack!" As he rolled to the ground, he experienced terrible pain. Rakon could endure stab wounds, but it was the first time he was hit by lightning.

Was this the most excruciating pain the human body could feel? The pain burning through his nervous system was no different from professional torture. Even drinking expensive healing potions wouldn't cure the wound easily.

In the end, gaps like these were fatal to those unfamiliar with fighting war mages.

'It is over.' Theodore thought as he wiped away the blood on his fists. This was more boring a fight than Theo had expected. It wasn't magic but the feeling of cutting of life with his own hands and feet. He couldn't help feeling a little uncomfortable, even if it was inevitable. As such, in the middle of the fight, Lee Yoonsung's and Alfred's styles had mixed together slightly.

Then Theo pointed his index finger at Rakon.

Piing! It was the end of the boss who reigned behind Bergen. However, the moment Theo tried to bury the body, something dark emerged from Rakon. Before Theo could react, the ominous shadow was sucked into his body.

[A powerful curse has infiltrated your body.]

[Gluttony scoffs at the poor curse.]

[Gluttony's owner isn't affected by the curse. The curse has been neutralized.]

Nothing happened. It seemed like Rakon had tried to curse him. This was the effect of the infamous black magic artifact, 'Companion of Death,' but to Theo, it was as harmless as drinking sour milk.

Rakon couldn't achieve what he desired, and even his revenge failed. In a sense, it was the proper ending for his bad karma.

Theo buried the unseemly corpse. It didn't take long for all the guards of the second barracks to collapse.

***

The process was rapid and successful.

The eight guards defending the two barracks as well as Rakon's men had been defeated, and the elves were freed. Fortunately, there were no elves who were too injured or exhausted to move. The slaves had value, so they had been handled carefully.

The problem was why did the elves, who had been caught by humans, follow Theo?

'What is this?' Theodore looked back with a bemused expression.

There were four elves following him like a chick following the mother bird. It was different from the elves who treated other species coldly. These elves followed Theo's instructions like he was their superior.

Theo was curious. So, naturally, he asked about it.

–We can feel the aroma of dirt from you.

–We love the earth.

-Please lead us to that person.

…Those were the answers he heard.

'The scent of dirt, loving the earth.' He could guess only one thing from those words.

Theo stepped on the ground and felt the presence of the earth elemental, Mitra.

Did it mean her presence was so great that Myrdal's contract gained an unexpected application? It was said that it was difficult to become close to elves even with an elemental, but their attitudes seemed to be of holding Theodore in great honor.

However, Theo also didn't know who 'that person' was. Theo's curiosity eventually got the best of him, and he asked the blonde female elf at the front of all the elves, "Excuse me, who is that person?"

"Delphinas of the Blue Evergreen Tribe will reply. That person is the blessing born to our tribe, the light of all life. The prophet saw it, and the sky danced."

Theo still didn't know what Delphinas was talking about. "Can you tell me in an easier manner?"

"Perhaps you know of that person under the name of 'high elf'."

"Ah, I see… Ah?!" Theodore was intrigued by the sudden conversation and heard a word which couldn't be missed.

��High elf?' He only had a smattering of knowledge from the books in the library, but he was well aware of the value of their existence. An elf born with such a mutation was an astronomical probability. As soon as they became adults, they were moved to Elvenheim and protected by their own people.

If they were ever caught by other species, Elvenheim's elite warriors would move immediately.

'For a high elf to be held in this place…!'

If the situation were less tense, Theo would like to talk a bit more. However, it seemed like there was no time.

Kukukukukung…

A fearsome fire pillar rose in the distance. It was a powerful magic event which caused the ground to shake and the mana in the atmosphere to struggle. The firepower of a 6th Circle magician dyed the black sky red. The elves shook as they were more sensitive to mana than humans, while Theodore was worried about his teacher.

The battle on the other side was also reaching a turning point.

High Elf Ellenoa #1

Theo felt the waves of mana and hastened his pace.

None of the elves lagged behind because they were in a good condition despite their imprisonment. The elves had regained their vitality as soon as they were released from their restraints, so it wasn't difficult for them to follow him. Thanks to that, the movement speed of the party was quick, and they soon reached the large barracks.

Theo searched the empty surroundings several times using magic and Mitra, before muttering with an absurd expression on his face, "They didn't leave any guards?"

Perhaps Vince's fight had caught their attention. Even so, it was weird that there would be no guards. It was common sense to leave a minimum number of troops in case there were still enemies remaining.

Theodore questioned it since he hadn't seen the Janissary's flare signal while rescuing the four elves.

He ended up rescuing all eight elves. As the four new elves stared at him with strange eyes like the first four had done, Theo struggled to make a decision. Should he step back from this mission or join Vince?

The plan they had established was based on the assumption that there were eight captured elves. Of course, the presence of the high elf wasn't within the calculations. Vince was supposed to have attacked the large barracks, yet he had been distracted in another place.

It was time for Theo to be more flexible instead of insisting on sticking to the mission plan.

"A little bit further." Instead of stepping back, Theodore decided to move forward.

There was an eerie silence, but he couldn't sense anything. It meant there weren't any elements threatening him at the moment. Theo started to walk again with the eight elves.

This place wasn't on Canis' map, but fortunately, there was no need to get lost. The many footsteps scattered in different directions were all heading toward the same place. Soon, the party reached the spot where the fire pillar had occurred.

"This…!" Theo's eyes widened as he witnessed the devastation from the front of the group.

It was horrible enough to make his stomach nauseous, while the elves turned pale as they subsequently saw the scene. This was the answer to his earlier question about the guards.

The humans, who had been burned alive, were scattered everywhere. Even their eyeballs were melted down from the high heat. The burnt skin of the corpses stuck to the ground, and the bitter scent filled their noses.

"Urgh!" In the end, the elves couldn't stand it and took a few steps back. Otherwise, they would've probably puked. At this moment, they resented their sensitive sense of smell. Unlike humans, the noses of the elves, who lived in the forest, weren't used to bad smells.

However, Theo was relatively less affected and jumped toward the source of the odor without hesitation. It was because he saw a familiar person. "Master!"

"Geez, you came first." Vince, the middle-aged man wearing tattered robes, smiled as he looked at the elves behind Theo.

There were exactly eight elves. Vince realized that Theo had rescued the elves in the large barracks. This was something Vince was supposed to have done. It was like Veronica had said; it wouldn't have been enough if he came here alone. Vince flinched as he felt a throbbing pain.

"Master, your injuries…?!"

"I took a blow. They are inconsequential wounds, so don't worry."

Of course, the wound wasn't really inconsequential. The Austen Janissary hadn't missed the chance to wound Vince with his sword while half of his body was burning in the fire storm. As soon as the almost dead Janissary realized there was no chance of winning, he had struck Vince.

Vince had narrowly avoided a fatal injury, but he was still wounded. He endured the pain and said, "Well, it looks like both of us encountered trouble."

The two people recovered their strength while talking about what had happened. They were able to breathe better after removing the bad smell with magic. Then the elves unconsciously turned toward the grey tent which contained the high elf.

"High elf… I read the name in a few books, but I never thought I would see them in person."

"It is the same for me. Usually, they never leave Elvenheim. Only four people at most would've met them in this kingdom."

"Four people…?"

Vince grinned as he folded his fingers. "His Majesty, Tower Master Blundell… and now, us."

"They are really rare."

Some self-proclaimed elf scholars doubted the existence of the high elves as within the Meltor Kingdom, the closest kingdom to Elvenheim, only two people had seen a high elf. Theodore and Vince might never have seen one if it wasn't for today.

At this moment, the entrance of the grey tent fluttered like a wind was blowing past.

"Ah." No one could be blamed for unconsciously let out a sound.

The existence which appeared from behind the tent cloth was perfect enough that no embellishments could describe it properly.

They had light green hair with a gentle shine and pale limbs which were white even in the darkness. There was a strange sense of androgyneity since it was hard to tell what their sex was just by looking at their appearance. Their hazy eyes looked at Theo, Vince, and the elves.

'Man… No, woman?' The person looked like both a male or female.

The dreamlike face smiled at them before speaking.

"Daughter of the Blue Evergreen Tribe, the tribe's sixth dancer, Ellenoa, thanks my benefactors." The calm voice sounded like a bell through the darkness.

Just like her appearance, her voice was gender neutral, but she referred to herself with a definite gender. Theo and Vince accepted the greeting belatedly and introduced themselves.

"I am Vince Haidel."

"I am Theodore Miller."

However, Theo saw a strange sight as he bowed his head.

In the place where the ground had turned black from the large-scale fire magic, a small bud was rising from the ground. The soil around Ellenoa's bare feet was regaining its vitality. A miraculous scene was unfolding right before his very eyes!

Theo realized why the existences of the high elves were concealed so thoroughly.

'They have the power to revive nature itself. This is the identity of the high elves…!' Theo lifted his head with an admiring expression and came into contact with Ellenoa's silver eyes.

It was at this moment that…

[Hoing!] Mitra sprang out unexpectedly from the ground where the bud was sprouting.

Ellenoa's eyes widened with surprise. Meanwhile, Theo held the small body in his palm. "Ah, what a surprise. Why did you jump out all of a sudden?"

[Horororong!] Mitra made strange motions on the palm of Theo's hand. It seemed like a dance, but her short legs and arms waving about was just a funny sight.

Thanks to the contract, Theo could share Mitra's feelings to some extent. The feeling which came from her was of pure joy and excitement. The elemental was excited due to the presence of the high elf.

"…You are accompanied by a precious person." Ellenoa's response was surprising. She stared at Mitra dancing on Theo's palm and smiled gently. If she was within reach, she would've stretched out and stroked Mitra's head.

Maybe Ellenoa knew some secrets about Mitra that he didn't know. Just as Theodore opened his mouth to respond…

"I'm sorry but we'll have to delay the story for a while, Theodore."

"Huh?"

"Guests are coming." Her words were scary and ominous. Then there was the sudden sound of horseshoes against the ground, and armour and weapons rubbing against each other as the Bergen guards arrived in the area.

Lee Yoonsung's five senses, rather than Alfred's sensory perception, quickly noticed their approach. He nodded to the high elf and backed off. They would be able to talk later.

"…Hoo, I can rest a little bit." Theo finally realized the fatigue which had accumulated in his body as he looked at the group approaching from afar.

Pain was lingering all over his body. The pain, which had been dulled by the excitement of battle, was slowly returning, so he naturally sat down.

Thus, the disturbance in the night came to an end.

***

The effectiveness of the order which Veronica had written was amazing. She was the great mage who reigned at the top of Meltor along with Blundell. As the Red Tower Master, her name was almost the same as the king's.

When Earl Bergen saw the order from the Red Tower Master, he immediately treated the Theo and Vince with great care. From the huge baths to the ingredients used in their dinners, nothing was spared. In Theo's case, he had to struggle to chase away a maid who had entered his room secretly.

The same was true for the nine elves, including Ellenoa.

"They are being served separately in the annex. They are being given fruits from the city streets. Earl Bergen is truly a resourceful person."

After having a busy night and sleeping nearly all day, Vince and Theodore walked side by side along the corridor. Unlike their shabby clothes from last night, their clothes looked quite luxurious today. The finest clothing from the mansion were wrapped naturally around both bodies.

Theo tried to ignore his feeling of awkwardness as he replied, "Is the Earl of Bergen that resourceful?"

"At least, I think so. He is good at keeping favour with other people without going out of line. Didn't you suffer from this last night?"

"Master!"

"He did the same when I first arrived at the academy. He hasn't changed."

Theo's face turned red as he thought about the naked maid in his room last night, but Vince nodded as if he understood. Vince had experienced many things in life, so it wasn't a big deal for him. They followed a guide and soon arrived in front of a large door. Then the guide politely said goodbye to them.

"So, shall we enter?" Vince glanced at Theodore before entering.

After waking up, the two people had received an invitation from Earl Bergen stating he wanted to dine with the people who had stopped the slave trade. Despite meeting senior magicians previously, this was Theo's first experience having dinner with a nobleman.

Vince was hoping that Theo wouldn't be burdened, but…

"Master?"

Vince smiled at Theo's calm expression.

Indeed, Theodore had already met Kurt III twice. He had also exchanged fists with Veronica and conversed with Blundell. It wasn't burdensome to meet a noble after already encountering such huge figures.

If Vince had to use an analogy, those huge figures were like dragons, while Earl Bergen was an ogre.

"No, it is nothing. Let's go straight in," as Vince replied, he pulled the door knob.

The big door spread to the left and right, and a bright light entered their eyes. As the two people passed through the dazzling light from the chandelier, a loud shout rang out, "Honoured guests, Vince Haidel and Theodore Miller, from the Magic Tower are entering!"

Chapter 68 – High Elf Ellenoa #2

Simultaneously, a spectacular banquet room appeared before both of them.

There were silver and gold decorations, and a jeweled chandelier, as well as marble states which seemed like the work of a master craftsman. The wooden dining table was made from the trees of the Northern Great Forest, and they held dishes which were difficult to find even if someone offered dozens of gold coins. It was luxurious but not vulgar; this was a space which was hard to find in other noble homes.

Earl Bergen, the man sitting at the dinner table, greeted Vince and Theodore with open arms. "Ohh, the heroes of Bergen have arrived!"

He had a fairly handsome appearance. His clothing were slightly wrinkled, but it wasn't enough to make someone frown. Rather, it softened the impression of the rather bulky man. Above all, the bright smile on his face contained a true sincerity.

It was because slave trading was a national felony. If the two people hadn't come or if they failed the mission, he would've had to take responsibility for allowing slavery to exist in his territory. For Earl Bergen who didn't know anything, it would've been like a lightning bolt striking from the sky.

The two people arrived in front of his chair and bowed.

"I am Red Tower's Superior magician, Vince Haidel."

"I am Red Tower's Average magician, Theodore Miller."

Earl Bergen received their greetings with a smile and gestured for them to sit down. Despite being in a higher position, the two magicians weren't people he could easily trifle with. Additionally, he already had a relationship with Vince.

"Hahaha! It has been a long time, Professor Vince. I didn't know that I would see you again like this."

"Yes, it is the same for me as well. I quit my position as a professor, only to come back here in a few months. I didn't know I would deal with such a big event like elf slave trading."

"This was a really big incident. Why in my territory…"

Despite the Earl talking like he knew about everything, Vince hadn't told him a few facts.

It was kept from the Earl that a high elf was present among the kidnapped elves and that the slave organization [Shackler] was just a front for the secret unit of the Austen Kingdom. This was because it could develop into a huge political issue.

'I don't know if news has reached the capital yet, but it is still early at the moment.' Vince calmly distinguished between what information could and couldn't be told.

Setting aside from Earl Bergen's personality, the hidden facts of this case were too big. They couldn't be allowed to rise to the surface of the water. If it was known that the high elf was present in Bergen, there existed the possibility that other kingdoms would start interfering. However, there were only two magicians here, and Vince wouldn't be able to cope with the situation in his injured condition.

It was why he turned Earl Bergen toward another topic. There was one thing bothering him.

"Earl."

"Oh, feel free to speak! I will help you with anything you need."

"The things you have given us so far is enough. I just wanted to ask something."

Both Theodore and his teacher turned their attention to someone sitting beside Earl Bergen. The person was a girl was long blonde hair who looked to be around the same age as Theo. Her skin had the distinctive unblemished fairness of a noble, and she had a beauty which wasn't easily seen on the streets.

Then Earl Bergen introduced her like he had been waiting for this cue. "She is my dear child whom I gained in my later years. Sweetie, what are you doing? Come and say hello."

"…I-I am Fiona Bergen."

"Huhu, isn't she cute? She hasn't made her debut yet, so she is still unsure about how to treat people!"

It was too obvious! The two people saw what Earl Bergen was thinking and exchanged looks.

At the age of 20, Theo was already an Average of the Red Tower and had great talent. It wasn't uncommon to desire for a daughter to get together with such talent. His intention was to make Theo his son-in-law.

Unsurprisingly, he started to talk more shamelessly. "Isn't being greeted by a young lady instead of an old man better for the young Baron Miller? I'm not just saying this because she is my daughter, but she is a pretty cute kid."

"…Thank you for your consideration."

Fiona was swiftly moved to the seat next to Theodore. She wasn't wearing perfume or cosmetics, but out of nowhere, a sweet scent seemed to tickle his nose. Due to the uninvited guest, Theo couldn't enjoy the food.

He looked at Fiona and inwardly sighed, 'Hoo, she is pretty though…'

Any male would dream of having a romance with a noble lady when they were young. Fiona was the epitome of such a romance with blonde hair, big breasts, and immaculate skin. If Theo was a common youth, he wouldn't be able to keep his eyes from her.

The problem was that he had met females prettier than her.

–Theo, this is how to finish the spell.

For example, Sylvia was a silver-haired girl overflowing with innocence. The mysterious atmosphere around her wasn't something a sheltered noblewoman could compete with.

–What, Kid. Are you tired already?

The next one to pop up was Veronica. Not only was she beautiful and mature, every hug and touch left Theodore's head blank.

Theo had met incomparably beautiful women, so he had become strangely resistant to beauty, let alone a young noblewoman like Fiona who didn't know how to tempt men. Theo ignored her squirming and ate his food quietly. He was similar to an iron wall.

'Well, I don't have to worry.' Vince laughed at the sight of Theo before concentrating on his conversation with Earl Bergen.

"Someone from the Magic Society will probably come in three, maybe four days. Until then, I would appreciate your hospitality, Earl."

"Of course. It is for the kingdom. It is okay even if you stay for three or four years."

"Hahaha, that is too much."

Two hours passed slowly. There were facts which weren't revealed to each other, but the atmosphere of the dinner wasn't bad.

Theo continued eating quietly, but he occasionally talked to Fiona since a strange atmosphere would be bad for relations with Earl Bergen. Leaving a good impression was one way to make a connection.

As the food on the table gradually disappeared,

"Ah, that reminds me of something, Baron Miller."

"Yes?"

Earl Bergen suddenly said to Theo,"Baron Miller is from our academy right?"

"Yes, that's right."

"I heard that you won a tournament in the capital and graduated. So, I prepared something for you."

The earl received a scroll from a servant and passed it to Theodore. Theo received the scroll and pulled the red string tied at the center. He had an idea of what this scroll meant. Indeed, it was as he expected.

"I wanted to invite the dean of the academy, but he had no time to spare. Still, he gladly gave me the certificate of graduation."

"..."

"Ah, I don't know if I did something bad or not."

Theodore read the contents several times with blank eyes.

It was a senior diploma from the Bergen Academy. The item he hadn't been able to dream about in the past was now in his hands. Seeing the name 'Theodore Miller' at the top didn't feel like reality as he was someone who had never even met the dean.

Why, just a few months ago, it had been something he desired, but now he just felt strange.

"No. Thank you for your care, Earl."Theo hid his emotions and smiled.

He now realized that the academy wasn't worth anything as he put down his knife and formed fists.

* * *

The dinner party was over soon.

Parting from the reluctant Fiona and Earl Bergen, the two people left their seats. The sound of the dinner party was cut off as the doors closed behind them, leaving a deafening silence. Maybe it was because the corridor of the mansion was so much quieter than the dinner party.

After declining a guide, they walked for a while before Theo spoke in a low voice, "Master."

"Huh?"

Theo pulled out the scroll. "What does this diploma mean to me now?"

Vince pondered for a moment before replying with a serious face, "… Frankly, it isn't a valuable item. Your graduation is irrelevant because you have already reached a level where that doesn't matter."

As Vince said, the academy diploma was just to prove the identity of a first-time magician. It was useless for Theo who had already crossed the 'wall' of the 5th Circle. Proving that he was a magician was no longer important as his circles were proof of superiority.

Theo knew this. He just couldn't accept that the five poisonous years he'd endured had ended with a single piece of paper.

"But Theodore…" Vince's words weren't over yet. "Your five years aren't in that scroll. Just like magic isn't ink written in books, the proof of Theodore Miller is contained in here."

Vince's finger poked Theo's chest.

'…Ah.'

It wasn't that strong, but it felt like a blade cutting off a sick piece of Theo's heart. Vince Haidel, who had worried over his identity as a war mage for years, cut off the bud of uncertainty growing inside Theodore.

"Be aware that certificates are given because they exist, but the certificate itself isn't a qualification. Theodore Miller, you yourself will prove that you aren't a scribble or stamp on a piece of paper."

"…Yes, Master."

"So, what will you do with the diploma?"

Theo playfully smiled at the question.

The discomfort, confusion, and dizziness he just felt had disappeared somewhere. The diploma in his hand wasn't heavy like he had been thinking. It was just a common piece of paper, and everyone knew that paper was a good burning material.

Hwaruruk~ Theo used the 1st Circle Magic, Ignite. Fire emerged from his fingertips, and the diploma was turned to grey ashes and scattered onto the floor. Theo invoked the wind to sweep away any traces.

It felt like the worry eating at Theo's heart was also blown away, and the pain which had accumulated for five years was now gone. While Theo was caught up in his memories…

[Theodore.] Suddenly, someone's voice was speaking in Theo's ears.

It wasn't surprising. At first, he thought it was Gluttony, but then he realized that it wasn't. It was a voice he had heard just yesterday.

High elf Ellenoa… It was her voice.

[I'm sorry, but can you come to where I am? I would like to continue the conversation from last time.]

Today's second invitation had arrived.

Chapter 69 – High Elf Ellenoa #3

It was a bit late due to the dinner party with Earl Bergen, but the moon was still in the middle of the sky. Perhaps there was still some time until midnight. It wouldn't be a problem to have a quick conversation in the room where Ellenoa was staying.

Theodore asked for Vince's understanding before turning around.

"Then, guide me."

To anyone looking at Theo right now, it would seem like he was speaking to no one. However, he had the ability to see what ordinary people couldn't see. This was a power which elves were born with—eyes which could see elementals. It was a translucent bird-shaped elemental which conveyed Ellenoa's voice to him.

The bird-shaped elemental was the low class elemental, Sylph, seen in [Introduction to Elemental Magic]. The wind attribute was convenient for conveying 'sound', so sylphs were often used as messengers.

Porong.

The sylph might not have a clear ego like Mitra, but the sparrow like elemental nodded and sped off. It flew a few steps ahead of Theodore. Unlike ordinary birds, it didn't need to flap its wings to prevent themselves from falling. This was because the body of the sylph was closer to a spirit body.

'By the way, this mansion is really wide.'

It would never run out of room for guests. Theo realized this fact directly as the sylph only led him around five corners and yet the number of rooms he passed was already in the double digits. He walked for almost 10 minutes before arriving at the annex where Ellenoa was located.

If an earl's house was like this, he didn't want to know what type of maze the house of a marquis or duke would be.

Theodore stopped in front of the door and stroked the sylph. "Thanks for guiding me."

Pororong. Perhaps due to its mood, the sylph let out a pleasant sound before disappearing into the air.

Originally, elementals were invisible to human eyes. Once the supply of magic power was cut off, it would melt back into nature. Lower class elementals were different from the higher class elementals who had independent existences and were nothing like breezes in fields.

At that moment, a clear voice rang out from beyond the door, "Come in."

Theodore turned the doorknob and was hit with a thick, sweet scent. It was the smell of ripe fruit. He had only eaten it a few times, but the fragrance still remained in his memories. Theodore's expression was a stunned one as he saw the sight beyond the door. Ellenoa's room completely defied common sense.

"…Grapevines?" He spoke in a bemused voice as he touched the grapevines covering the wall.

It was a thick vine which was hard to see even in proper orchards. What about the grapes hanging from the vines? Each one was as big as a walnut. Even though he didn't eat the grapes, he could already feel the sweetness of the juice contained within them. This was a sight which was impossible to imagine existing in the room of a nobleman's mansion.

Ellenoa sat in the center of the green room. "Good evening Theodore."

She was like a flower or leaf which blended perfectly in with this far-fetched landscape. There were a few potted plants at her feet and grapevines surrounding her. Theo was observing the strange sight and replied belatedly, "Ah, good evening."

"Are you curious? I planted the seeds of the grapes that I had for dinner. Would you like to try one?"

'These vines grew from a grape seed planted in the evening?' The stunned Theo picked a grape and ate it.

As expected, the juices were sweet and rich, moistening the inside of his mouth with the flavour. Even for those who drank wine, the taste exceeded that of wine made from grapes. If the high elves set up an orchard, then other orchards would be ruined.

Theo sat on the chair opposite Ellenoa and ate a few more grapes. "…I'm sorry."

"No. Rather, it feels good. I was worried about whether it would suit the palate of a human."

"That's impossible. Anyone would welcome such fruit."

Was the atmosphere good due to the delicious food? It was surprising the conversation between the two people didn't start out awkwardly.

At first, Ellenoa thanked him for the rescue, then they talked about the power of the high elves before moving on to Ellenoa's neutral appearance.

She told Theo the reason, "It is natural for people like Theodore to feel uncomfortable at the sight of my appearance."

According to Ellenoa, high elves were more like elementals than elves. They didn't need to eat often, they wouldn't die of starvation, and they wouldn't feel tired even if they didn't sleep. Thanks to the atavism of their ancestors, their gender fell upon a vague boundary.

"So, Ellenoa has no gender?"

"Um… It is a little different. The term 'neutral' may be a closer match."

"Neutral?"

Yes, Ellenoa nodded with a slightly flushed face.

"We are born female instead of male, but once we have decided on our mate, this will change according to their gender. If the partner is a male, I will become a female. If they are a female, I will be a male."

"Ah, then…"

"Yes, I still haven't met a mate."

Well, it made sense. He glanced unconsciously at Ellenoa before looking away.

Theo had the memories of Lee Yoonsung, the descendant of an eastern warrior, so his knowledge of the human body had increased greatly. He could easily recognize a male and female body. Despite that, he couldn't distinguish Ellenoa's gender. It was because her gender hadn't been decided yet.

As he listened quietly, he suddenly had a thought, 'Haven't I learned a lot about high elves?'

It was as he thought. Right now, Theodore probably had more knowledge about high elves than anyone else in the kingdom. If he wrote a book, then it was obvious that the elf scholars would come running. He would be able to sweep up a few hundred gold in one go.

However, such worldly desires seemed meaningless when he gazed into Ellenoa's clear eyes.

"Now, Theodore."

It was time for the reason why she called him here.

"Can you summon the one who signed the contract with Theodore?"

* * *

There was an answer as soon as he pulled the cord of the contract.

[Hoing!] As always, Mitra appeared with a loud sound as her head popped out of a pot planted with a grape seed. Looking just like a mole, she looked around and leaped out with a smile the moment she saw Ellenoa.

"Oh, my god." Ellenoa was confused when Mitra suddenly jumped onto the palm of her hand.

Mitra hugged the index finger like it was warm. Theo wasn't very sensitive, but he couldn't help the thump of his heart. This was despite the fact that Ellenoa was gender neutral.

"…I only heard the stories, but I didn't know you were so cute." Ellenoa smiled sweetly at Mitra before turning to face Theodore again. "How much does Theodore know about this?"

"I just know that she is an ancient elemental and is an exception to the ranks of the Elemental World."

"Yes, that is true." Ellenoa smiled and placed Mitra on her shoulder. Mitra was confused by the sudden loss of the finger, but she soon started to climb Ellenoa's green hair like it was a rope. Mitra looked like a cicada on a tree branch.

Ellenoa ignored her and continued the explanation, "Please listen. An ancient elemental isn't necessarily a member of the Elemental World. They are considered to be 'seeds' of a much more mysterious and higher existence."

"See…ds?"

"Yes, this is an example."

As soon as she unfurled her left hand, wind formed the translucent shape of a giant. Horns rose from the giant's head like a crown, and its body was as hard as armour. It seemed to be a giant from the myths.

As Theo gazed at it, Ellenoa nodded and told him its identity, "This is an illusion of Zephyr, the god of the wind who existed a long time ago. According to the myths, he brought a storm to the earth by turning the world around and sighing."

"Old god, Zephyr…"

"He is also the prototype of the ancient spirit, Jeros, who signed a contract with Myrdal Herseim 120 years ago."

'Myrdal Herseim!' Theodore's face stiffened at the unexpected name.

Why had that name emerged? No, he was the greatest elementalist of the century, so it was natural for the elves to know his name. As humans developed, their connection to the forces of nature weakened. Myrdal was the only one who was able to call an elemental king.

Ellenoa noticed his agitation and paused for a few moments. "Not all of the old gods were as divine as Zephyr, but it is certain that they were like him. For some reason, they lost their 'status' and the fragments of their bodies became seeds. The seeds that germinated became those known as ancient elementals."

The two people gazed at someone who might've been a mighty god.

Mitra, who was braiding Ellenoa's hair, looked up as she felt their gazes. She looked much like a mischievous child playing with dirt. It was hard to believe that such a cute earth doll had once been a mighty god.

Ellenoa understood Theo's unasked question and grabbed Mitra. Then she stared into Theodore's eyes and presented him with two choices.

"If you like, I can try to revive some of her strength. It won't be on the same level as the prototype, but she can probably regain the power of a lieutenant level elemental."

"Lieutenant elemen…tal."

Certainly, Mitra wasn't significantly different from other elementals except for the fact that she had an ego. In the absence of Theo's magic power, her abilities were greatly reduced, and she couldn't even appear freely in the earth. If she became lieutenant level, she could cross some of those limits.

However, before deciding, Theodore asked Mitra, "Mitra, what do you want to do?"

Ellenoa smiled secretly at Theo's act of not one-sidedly controlling the elemental. Theo didn't know it, but that was close to how elves behaved. It was why other elves favoured him, despite not knowing about Mitra's presence.

So, what was the reply? Mitra worried for a moment before… [Hoing!]

'I will!' was what she meant. Theodore stroked Mitra's head a few times before handing her to Ellenoa.

"Please do so, Ellenoa."

"Then I will. Just think of it as repaying some of what I owe you." Ellenoa didn't give him a chance to reply as she held Mitra in both hands. "Then I will start."

Wuooooong!

A light filled with vitality covered the room where the two people were located.

Chapter 70 – High Elf Ellenoa #4

It was a force which couldn't be called anything other than the power of life.

The green light spreading from Ellenoa started to encourage life in everything it touched. The unripe grape vine leaves strewn on the ground started growing and small grains of grapes puffed up.

Theodore couldn't escape from the brilliance either. He looked down at his forearms as a tickling sensation went through his body, then he witnessed an amazing sight.

'…The wounds, they're healed…?'

Although Theo hadn't been seriously injured during the course of the mission, that didn't mean there was no damage. There were shallow bruises, cuts, and muscle damage, and some parts of his skin were still stinging. He hadn't wanted to use healing potions for such minor injuries, so he'd left them alone. However, the wounds and scars were now gone without a trace.

It was a recovery similar to the priests who used divine power. Once the light of vitality reached him, the shallow wounds disappeared, and the fatigue in his body became energy. This was the special ability of the high elves, who had inherited the lineage of the ancient species, Arv. The ability of the high elves was to unconsciously amplify the power of nature and accelerate them when used consciously.

This was the reason the Austen Kingdom had sought Ellenoa as a solution to the drought. They thought it really was possible, which is why they came up with a ridiculous kidnapping plan.

'Now, this healing power is the aftermath of waking up Mitra… So, if she concentrates on someone's recovery, she might be able to cure a fatal injury in a flash.' Theo gulped involuntarily.

Would the Cardinal of Aether, a religion known for its healing power, be able to create a miracle like Ellenoa's? Theo had never met a cardinal before, but he couldn't help being inwardly shaken by this amazing sight. Without blinking, he stared at Mitra and Ellenoa who were wrapped in a green light.

At that moment, Ellenoa's voice was conveyed clearly, [Theodore?]

It wasn't a sound that he heard; the voice was being conveyed through his heart. So far, only Gluttony and Mitra had talked to him in this way as it wasn't possible to access the mind of a magician with strong mental defenses.

Yet Ellenoa was talking directly to Theodore's spirit! So, it was natural for Theodore to feel startled.

[Ellenoa?! How?]

[I used your connection with Mitra. It is impossible unless I am touching her like this.]

[S-Something like that is also possible.]

As a magician, it wasn't hard to understand the principle behind it. If Ellenoa had bad intentions, then it would be possible to attack his mind directly. Of course, she would be thrown out by Mitra who would realize her intentions. Mitra wouldn't allow anyone with impure intentions to harm her contractor.

Ellenoa's words calmed Theo down.

[From now on, I will awaken Mitra's essence. I don't know the effect it will have on Theodore due to the contract, so please calm your mind.]

[…I understand.]

Theo closed his eyes under her guidance. His vision closed off first, then his hearing was cut off as he immersed himself in his mind. The tactile sensations touching his skin dimmed as well, and the odours remaining in his mouth and nose were completely dispelled.

After closing all five senses, his sixth sense would naturally sharpen, and the movements of his circles became clearer.

As he admired the stillness, Ellenoa pulled the handle. She opened the door inside of 'Mitra.'

* * *

In the far distant past, there existed a time when humans were just monkeys swinging stone axes.

There were existences who lived beyond the dimensions of a living thing. They were transcendent, breathing in nature naturally and caring for all life. The intelligent beings gave sacrifices to them, calling them by the title of 'god' and praising them.

Deity…

The praising voices called them into new forms.

[□□□□, please come commiserate with us!]

The man shouted in front of the magnificent altar, and my name became □□□□. My 'form' was drawn by them, and my presence, which had been free, became captured by the wind. However, I remember that it was myself who accepted their captivity.

For some reason, I thought that discomfort was lovely.

It was a life which couldn't withstand a few months of drought; they couldn't dispel the origins of those who were weak.

They were like ants compared to my power, yet I was delighted by their calls. The cries of my name enriched me.

No one noticed that it was a corruption.

When did I realize that the power which caused me to be praised as Mother Earth started to decline?

The transcendent gods started to become closer to destruction as they moved away from nature. The powerful strength withstood for a long time. Their destiny, which was now closer to humans than nature, had been fixed.

Funnily enough, the gods realized their own ego due to the humans and self-destructed from that enlightenment.

I, □□□□, couldn't stop my own end either.

...

[…Theodore!] At that time, a sharp voice forced his consciousness away from somewhere.

Theo's mind was dull for a moment, but he soon recalled who the owner of the voice was. It was the high elf who had been talking to him using Mitra's connection.

[Ellenoa?]

[Oh, you've woken up! I'm glad.] Ellenoa was sincerely relieved.

As she woke up Mitra's essence, Theodore's consciousness had been pulled in. Right now, Mitra was just a subordinate spirit, but she had the presence beyond an elemental ruler. The consciousness of a human who remained inside her essence would be melted, like it had fallen into lava.

Fortunately, Theodore had broken away before that happened.

[This happened because Theodore's affinity is too high. Please stay separate like you are now.]

Thanks to her explanation, Theo understood how dangerous the situation had been and took in some deep breaths. Deep breathing didn't do anything to his mind, but it wasn't bad for a self-hypnosis. Theo sank into his breathing.

Then Ellenoa said in a loud voice, [Slow down your mind and look down.]

He immediately dropped his gaze.

[·········.] His eyes widened with surprise.

It was huge. A large mountain of an unknown size was moving below him. The peak pierced through several layers of clouds, and it was impossible to distinguish between the mountain and the plains from a distant.

After several examinations, Theo opened his mouth as he realized what he was looking at. [This is Mitra's prototype?]

[Yes.] Ellenoa answered without any hesitation.

['She' is the essence of the elemental contracted with Theodore. She is the seed of an old deity who existed a few thousand years before the beginning of the present age. The deity was a symbol of abundance and fertility.] Whenever she spoke, several scenes appeared in the flood of memories which Theodore had fallen into.

With the exception of a few scholars, it was a name which nobody remembered anymore. Mother Earth who had a higher status than any other god and who opened the agricultural era…

Her great and divine name was [Mother Earth, Dmitra.]

She was the goddess of earth who was worshipped as Ceres in some countries and Demeter in others.

Dmitra made crops grow and the land fertile. Due to being the source of life and the being which ruled the earth, she had a much higher status than other gods. Theo had never thought that Mitra's identity was this big.

Theo looked down at Mitra unconsciously.

[―――――Ah.]

'She' met his eyes.

* * *

"Owaaaaack!" Theo screamed as he was thrown back into reality.

It was because the gaze of the giant entity shook his consciousness. Despite only being a faint trace, it was impossible to make eye contact. She was a god, a transcendent being, a monster that even the legendary 9th Circle magicians had to revere. Theo's body was still shaking nervously from the gaze.

Theo had fallen off his chair and onto the ground.

"…Wow, that was more amazing than I thought it'd be." Ellenoa's voice sounded somewhat exhausted.

"Ellenoa."

"Is this your first experience? Your head might be dizzy so take it slowly…"

"No, it's okay." He had already gone through this three times before, and this was actually his fourth time. Theo had become used to it, so he got up without any hesitation.

Ellenoa opened her tired eyes, but before she could speak, something ran toward Theo.

Bam!

"Wah!" Theo was surprised by the sudden impact and looked down at his legs. There was no pain from the impact, but he couldn't help frowning. Mitra had grown more than before, looking like a somewhat awkward earth doll. She had grown to the length of Theo's head.

[Deo!] Additionally, she called his name with a clumsy pronunciation.

"M-Mitra?"

[Yes! Midra!]

The image of Dmitra disappeared, and the little girl returned.

As Theo stroked her with a relieved expression, Ellenoa said, "The ceremony was a success. Now, Mitra can exercise the power of a lieutenant elemental. As you can see, she has the ability to grow more."

"Growth… is it?" He certainly could feel that Mitra's power had doubled.

Previously, he had to limit the use of earth magic to efficient things, but now he could use a few more elemental tricks. However, Theo was happy to see the small and cute Mitra. An elemental of this size wasn't burdensome.

"You shouldn't become bigger than me. Understood?"

[Yes?] Mitra tilted her head with a confused expression, while Ellenoa understood Theo's words and smiled.

Chapter 71 – Convoy from the Capital #1

For the next two days, Theodore stayed at the residence of Earl Bergen and focused on deepening his connection with Mitra. There was a lot of information flowing from her after she evolved to the level of a lieutenant. It wasn't to the extent that Theo couldn't withstand it, but an adjustment period was needed. It was his routine to play with Mitra anyway.

While watching Theo, Vince opened his mouth and said, "Elementalists have trained for more than 10 years to call lieutenant level elementals… The meeting with the high elf is a huge opportunity for you."

As he said, a lieutenant level elemental wasn't something easily gained.

For magicians of the 4th Circle and above, a lieutenant elemental was the exclusive possession of elementalists who had gone beyond the beginner level. An elementalist in contract with a lieutenant elemental would gain the power and resistance of the attribute, and could borrow the power at will without asking the elemental.

That was just like Theodore, who was playing with Mitra.

[Midra?]

"Yes, Mitra."

A little girl-shaped doll sprang from the ground when he pointed. The doll resembled Mitra, causing the real Mitra to tilt her head with curiosity.

Mitra watched the doll with a bewildered expression before laughing and hugging it. [Fwen!]

'Is she asking if it's a friend?'

Mitra liked the doll and locked arms with it.

Theo adjusted the doll to match her timing, which was a form of training for him in controlling the earth. It felt like nature was an extension of his hands and feet. Ordinary magicians couldn't feel it, but it would obviously be a big help down the path.

Maybe this was a chance for him to jump over the 'wall' of the 6th Circle.

'…My magic sensitivity is definitely more than it was a few days ago. Maybe now I can use 5th Circle magic continuously?'

On average, the magic that a magician could use immediately was about half of their current circles. 4th Circle magicians could cast 2nd Circle magic instantly, while depending on their abilities, some 5th Circle magicians could cast 3rd Circle magic immediately. Only a few geniuses born with a lot of sensitivity and great calculating ability could climb to a higher level.

It was limited but Theodore had stepped into that area.

Seeing Theo's growth, Vince had a gentle expression, but he then frowned suddenly. It was because the last blow from he received the Janissary was causing his body to throb with pain again. It took time for a wound from a master-class aura to heal, even if he used expensive healing potions.

"Master, your wounds are still…?"

"Uhh, it is taking longer than I thought. It has improved a lot though."

Theodore smiled bitterly. Vince's injury weighed heavily on his chest, despite not being responsible for it. He had requested for Ellenoa to heal him, but she had shaken her head the moment she saw Vince's wound.

–The perpetrator's willpower contained in it is too strong. My abilities can only cure the wounds of the flesh, meaning I can't heal it before this willpower disappears.

–Then what should he do?

–It will naturally heal over time. Or he can get the blessing of a high priest.

However, it was difficult to find a high priest in Meltor, since it was a kingdom which denied the existence of religion.

It was a wound which would heal in a month, so Vince chose to rest in Bergen. He didn't want to hold his disciple back due to his own mistake. Anyway, he had experienced this type of injury many times.

'The Magic Society knows the value of a high elf. I hope they send at least one person with influence.'

If Blundell or Veronica came in person, then it would be okay if he was injured. Vince looked over his own condition calmly and made a decision.

Then someone rushed over to the two people who were sitting in the garden. "Haidel! Miller!"

It was an attendant of the manor. He came running over with a red face and opened his mouth to speak as soon as he arrived in front of the two of them. It was an attitude which placed priority on telling them the message over restoring his breathing. "E-Earl Bergen said to come to the front door immediately! People from the capital are here…!"

The two people instantly rose from their spots.

On the third day after the mission, the convoy from the capital arrived at Earl Bergen's estate.

* * *

"Master," Theo spoke as he followed Vince who was walking leisurely. It was only a while ago that Theodore realized the meaning of the word 'convoy.'

Why was it necessary to send a convoy when the Magic Society had space magicians?

"Can't they just use Mass Teleport?"

It was a good question, but Vince shook his head.

"Elves are inherently magical, so they have a strong resistance to magic. Since they are born with the blessing of nature, they tend to instinctively invalidate 'magic' used on them."

"…Even space magic?"

"Well, it would be impossible with ordinary elves. Space movement requires a minimum of the 6th Circle, so it isn't something that can be resisted."

However, high elves were a little special. They calmed the surrounding mana just by being present and unconsciously interfered with the activation of magic. It would be a catastrophe if that came into contact with a precise magic like space magic.

This meant they had to use the land route to travel from Bergen to the capital; that was why a convoy was sent. The convinced Theodore and Vince approached the main gate from the mansion's garden.

"Oh, you came!" A loud voice entered their ears.

Unlike Theo who frowned reflexively, Vince's eyes widened at the familiar voice. He never thought that such a person would participate in the convoy. It was a senior magician who had lost his legs more than 10 years ago. He was a Prime rank magician from the Red Tower, who had stepped back from the front lines.

"It is great to see you after a long time, Elder Herman."

"Yes, it has been a while. Have you reached the 6th Circle? You were faster than I expected!"

"Thank you."

Herman sat on a wheelchair and celebrated Vince's accomplishment. The pants flapped loosely where his legs should be, but the hot magic power around his body made up for that. Although he had lost a circle in the war with the Andras Empire, his power was more than a 6th Circle magician.

Theodore gulped as he stared with admiration. 'No, that isn't the only great thing…!'

In addition to Herman, Elder Shugel from the White Tower and other veteran magicians were standing behind him with exhausted faces. The people gathered here could annihilate one or two great estates without a hitch. The convoy for the high elf was actually this great.

Herman chatted with Vince for a while before suddenly turning his gaze to Theo. "Hoh, this is the disciple who caught our Tower Master's eyes?"

"E-Eyes?"

"Kulkulkul, there is no need to be embarrassed. Her temper is bad, but it is hard to find a woman like that. A young person like you won't break your back."

Theodore blushed at the elder's words. It was partly because Veronica's appearance rose in his head after he heard the explicit joke. Herman laughed at the naive response and looked at the approaching elves. He could feel the presence of Ellenoa in the center.

The mana seething around the powerful magician became calm. "Hoh… Is the child in the center the high elf?"

The other magicians looked at Ellenoa with amazed eyes. It was hard to believe when they heard the contents of the mission, but they were now actually seeing a real high elf. For the magicians, today's experience was like an expensive treasure. It was why no one complained despite being sent here with no break after finishing their previous assignment.

Ellenoa approached the convoy and greeted them politely, "It is nice to meet you. I am a daughter of the Blue Evergreen Tribe and the tribe's sixth dancer, Ellenoa."

"I am the representative of the convoy, Herman Alphen. You must understand that this old man is excited about the prospect of meeting you."

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Herman."

Ellenoa smiled sweetly and grabbed Herman's hand. The light touch made him forget his age as his vitality suddenly rose. He shook his head with admiration and amazement. Herman knew the power of the high elf, which is why he wanted this mission. Still, it was truly amazing.

The old magician shook it off and took her hand. "Then I will guide you. Please follow me."

He manipulated his chair with a familiar gesture and it started rolling somewhere. Theodore and Vince followed Ellenoa and the convoy. It was a strange group for anyone who didn't know the details.

Fortunately, the destination wasn't very far away. In the spacious backyard of Earl Bergen's manor, 'it' stood in the middle of an empty space.

"Now, this is the convoy we have prepared for you. I hope you like it."

Theodore, Vince, Ellenoa, and the elves' faces changed as they saw three 'objects.' They were similar to wagons in that their framework and wheels were made of metal. Oddly enough, there weren't any animals in front of the wagons.

Flap… flap…

Theo spoke before anyone else could, "Why are there sails on a wagon…?"

The other people nodded in agreement.

The large wagons looked nice, but there were large sails on the roof and side. It was made so that the sails could be folded and unfolded at any time, but this wasn't a boat made to cross the sea. Why would they be placed on wagons?

What acceleration was possible on the ground that was filled with all sorts of obstacles and ramps? However, the magicians of the convoy just laughed triumphantly and got onto a pedestal at the back of the wagons.

Herman then explained, "This wagon runs on the power of the wind and is called the gust wagon."

There was a limit to the speed of a vehicle, even if the weight of the body was lightened.

At first, the 'speed' crazy White Tower magicians had invented a technique to accelerate the wagons using wind, but that wasn't commercialized after more than a thousand drivers were injured. A new concept magic wagon was later created, which had two to three times the speed of conventional wagons. Theoretically, it could even go up to five times.

"Come on, get in! I'll show you what speed truly is!" Herman called out.

Theo and Ellenoa's faces paled at the thought of passing through the mountains on the carriage before them.

They didn't want to ride in this type of thing…