Chapter 26

Chapter 26

I stubbornly widen the path.

In this most complex section of the diagram, the most magic power among so far was consumed.

But the remaining magic power was sufficient.

He said come find me when all my magic power is exhausted.

The master wouldn’t have thought that time would come so soon like this.

However my training progressed so quickly, the magic power filled through the elixir the master gave was already exhausted long ago.

The magic power currently in use was filled by sitting in front of the flowing magic power spring and circulating the Magic Root when staying at Berger’s residence, the Spirit Vein Forest near the ducal territory.

Is it done now.

I quietly operated mana instead of magic power and scanned the path inside my body.

And after opening my eyes, I held the Margo diagram stone tablet and flowed mana.

It seems I did well.

The path drawn so far was perfectly the same as I felt.

I got up, chewed a Wall Valley Pill, and drank water to moisten the throat.

Instead of sitting down I held the sword.

Since sitting for a long time, loosen the body once...

The door carefully opened.

“Ah, you were up.”

Morris entered holding a bag.

“Urgent contact came from the Carpenter Viscount family.”

When I glanced at the bag, Morris continued.

“The content to report has also gathered sufficiently, I thought I should convey just in time. And it’s about time you eat properly.”

Probably the meal was the main.

Previously when curious I gave a Wall Valley Pill, and thereafter he was very worried about me only eating Wall Valley Pills while training.

“Urgent contact? What matter?”

“It’s a story about Zygmunt.”

“Why him?”

Since I didn’t step forward and reveal his real name, the Viscount territory and others were still calling him Zygmunt.

Since interrogation hasn’t even started yet, his real name and identity would still be unknown even to the guard corps.

“What, did he escape prison?”

“How did you know? The report came that the thief Zygmunt you caught escaped prison.”

“...Already?”

I checked the date.

A bit earlier than expected.

Like this the Carpenter Viscount would have called me.

“How did he do it, they say?”

“He tore off the mana sealing orbs with his own strength, bent the iron bars, then pushed the wall and collapsed it and rushed out, they say.”

Laughter came out.

A guy one must abandon the thought of restraining for now.

If really wanting to imprison, one would have to research that guy’s Blessing first and prepare handcuffs and a prison exclusive to Hagenbrock.

“And he opened the guard corps warehouse, took his armor, and left holding one axe, they say. How on earth did you catch such a person?”

Morris also seemed sincerely curious.

“Currently in the Carpenter territory, beyond Zygmunt being a monster... Words are coming out about how strong the Equira magic practitioner who captured him alive is.”

“He handled the sword poorly.”

When I smiled, Morris tilted his head.

Why smiling instead of worrying that the thief one caught escaped prison.

“About that guy I’ll tell you calmly in the carriage later. It’s not a story to do here.”

Deciding to explain calmly later when leaving this area, for now I extended my hand to him.

“Is that the Viscount’s letter?”

“Yes.”

Morris handed the letter.

Tearing the wax and opening, the sentences of the Carpenter Viscount written pressing tightly with anger were visible.

[Hello. This is Viscount Carpenter who greeted not long ago.

Zygmunt escaped prison...]

Reading down a bit more, the main point came out soon.

[He still hasn’t shown his appearance at the three-way road. However my mind is not at ease at all.

I’m sorry, but if you catch that vicious thief guy...]

The situation itself was quite funny, but seeing the request compensation written at length, it was also a bit pitiful.

However I had no thought of ignoring the numerous deaths that would happen here around this time and chasing the friend of a future friend I didn’t want to kill.

I had conveyed to the big shots of the Holy See to send high priests and holy knights here around this time.

To welcome them and finish the work, I must not leave the Serjes territory.

Well, no mind to chase Hagenbrock right away either.

It would be good if just satisfied with Hagenbrock withdrawing from the three-way road.

“I need to write a letter.”

When I moved my steps, Morris brightened.

“I’ll bring the meal up to the office.”

“Please.”

“Yes, the brut mash here was very delicious. They say the pigs here are raised in a very special way.”

Coming out of the empty room of the annex, crossing the living room, I entered the office.

Not large, but a space where moderately filled books and generous ink, and a desk made of quality fragrant wood were placed.

Letter paper was placed in front of me.

I lifted the pen and began writing.

[This is Ronan Gradias of Equira.

I received truly regrettable news...]

I wrote that there is a precious guest to welcome here, so I cannot move chasing Zygmunt right now.

Later after the Holy See people visit and having one meal with them will be sufficient proof.

[Later, if he returns to the three-way road and causes the same problem, please contact again. At that time I will put all matters behind and return straight to the Carpenter territory and catch that thief...]

At that time an additional offense of insolence might be added and I might sincerely stand on the Carpenter Viscount’s side, but it didn’t seem Hagenbrock would reveal his appearance near here again.

Putting the finished letter in a clean envelope and taking out the seal.

Morris who was holding the lit red candle dropped candle wax on the closed letter envelope.

I stamped the seal on the candle wax and handed it to Morris.

“Before delivering the letter, I’ll report a few things.”

“Please.”

Morris brought the report and several photos.

“The woman the family head mentioned seems to be this person. Armana Kimaeva. Extremely rare those who meet at a young age, staying in an old plank house in the outer back alley of the territory.”

I looked down at the photo.

A somewhat thin body and thin eyebrows.

I had never seen even a photo, but it seems to match the impression written.

I remembered the name recorded as ‘first victim’ in the report, and fortunately it seems found right away.

“Then this photo?”

A photo of one who seems a young lady of a noble family came out.

A face I was seeing for the first time.

“Armana Lobia. The young lady’s name of a baron family based in the Serjes territory is also coincidentally the same. Doesn’t match the conditions but... She sometimes secretly slips out of the lord’s mansion and enjoys looking around the market, they say. It bothered me so I brought it.”

Lobia. I don’t even know the surname well.

“This person doesn’t seem to be it, but attach mercenaries to both and guard secretly. For the young lady side it seems enough to watch from afar only when going around the market, and for Kimaeva attach a skilled person. Must not be caught by anyone that surveillance is ongoing.”

“Understood.”

“Even if someone takes or kidnaps, convey not to approach rashly. I’ll chase from that location.”

“Understood. Then... The photos of animals inside the territory you requested. I had several people take them.”

Morris opened the bag and showed photos of birds and cats, rats.

“Whether because this area is on the clean side, rats weren’t found much. There is a person who took them near the city outskirts sewer.”

Examining the photos, even the photos taken were only dark gray not black.

No need to look at rats more.

I checked the birds.

“Crows aren’t seen well near here, and black birds are all this black-beaked mountain hawk, they say.”

A sleek and stylish-looking bird.

Light seems to come from the eyes.

“It flies in the sky but doesn’t come down to the ground well, usually goes back and forth around that mountain and briefly rests on roofs or railings in the middle and leaves, they say.”

After examining all the photos and putting them down, I checked the cat photos.

There were particularly many cat photos.

“The lord is generous to cats, so there are many cats around here, they say.”

Looking at cats of each different appearance and flipping one by one, I discovered a photo of a particularly dazed-looking black cat.

“It’s here.”

Setting that photo aside and flipping a few more, I discovered one photo of a strangely square-looking cat with angularly grown fur on a very lazily looking face.

“This one too.”

Setting aside one more photo of a similarly stupid-looking fat cat, I organized the remaining photos.

“What is this?”

“Demons.”

“Yes?”

Morris looked down at the photos I selected, and lifted and examined the photos of other cats.

He extended a photo of a particularly well-built and sleek-looking black cat.

It looked like a guy who would act as the boss near where it lives.

“Rather this guy looks dangerous.”

“Not all demons are dangerous.”

No, I should correct.

There was also a girl who kept a stupid-looking fat bird by the side saying it was cute and became demon-humanized under the influence of demonic energy.

“Dangerous, but not all are strong.”

That is the lowest-rank demon, scholars classify as the slime of the Demon Realm.

Since the form is not fixed, it could change appearance into a small animal according to the will of the serving owner.

Growing only by eating demonic energy, it never steps forward and attacks any target, and flees if attacked.

Holding considerable demonic energy in the core possessed in the body so it can live for a long time even in places without demonic energy, and when all demonic energy is exhausted it vaporizes into black fog and disappears, they say.

The appearance they change into is not perfect.

That unique clumsiness remains in the exterior, so those who know can recognize.

There might be those who find them cute according to taste...

Guys who hid among people and became the eyes and ears, hands and feet of demons and conspired for the Demon King’s descent, strictly dangerous guys.

***

In front of the wall illuminated by the torch of magic power, a giant rock named path seed revealed its appearance.

Finally drawing the diagram of Margo, reaching in front of the path seed.

But just connecting the path does nothing.

Only after that solid rock becomes a giant vessel that receives magic power and returns it will I be able to know whether my diagram was drawn correctly.

I know the solution.

Infusing magic power until that path seed awakens.

But even infusing the possessed magic power and infusing again, no change was visible.

Will it open if a bit more.

Infusing with that thought, before one knew it not much magic power remained in the Magic Root.

Do I have to go find the Spirit Vein Forest after finishing the work.

Whether to stop around here, or believe it will work with my remaining magic power and push more.

While contemplating like that, someone’s voice was faintly heard.

Opening my eyes, Morris opened his mouth.

“Family head, the mercenary I entrusted the work to lost his life.”

“He rushed in.”

“Yes. Seems he stepped forward trying to stop the kidnapping and met a mishap.”

I said not to step forward oneself.

Seeing the surveillance wasn’t caught, he’s not a mercenary without skill.

Becoming a mercenary, no need to step forward and do even work not ordered.

A regrettable matter.

“Guide.”

I went to the scene where the mercenary was gruesomely murdered.

When the guard tried to stop me, I looked around and found the highest one.

Approaching the one who seemed the guard team leader and presenting the token received from the Serjes lord in front of the eyes.

Hammer emblem inside a round ring. Two palms stamped below it.

“Excuse me but may I confirm directly?”

Handing it over, he slightly stroked that surface, wiped the handprint with his own clothes, and returned it.

“Why has the lord’s precious guest come all the way here...”

“Just confirm briefly. You can tell the lord that I did this. Keep it secret from others besides that.”

Whispering small, he nodded and gestured to the guards to open the way.

The guards all stepped aside.

I examined the surroundings.

“Gruesome.”

I scattered mana.

“What are you doing now...”

The guard standing beside was flustered.

“My traces don’t remain so don’t worry.”

I was just trying to confirm whether it was a mage’s doing.

Strangely, there were no traces of magic used.

I examined the corpse that seemed the whole body pierced by dozens of spears.

...That isn’t magic?

Kneeling and examining the wounds.

“...This is.”

I pulled up the Magic Root.

Traces of magic power remained in the area.

That means, before the guy I’m trying to catch is a demon-human, he is a magic practitioner.

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