Chapter 41

Chapter 41

41. Magical Entity (1)

“Let’s quit.”

On the fourth day of accompanying, Gerik declared. He made the judgment that he cannot continue accompanying like this.

“This is not even like having a picnic.” “I agree. If we go like this there will be no end.”

Benrik also agreed with the two people’s opinions. Compared to four days ago there was no progress at all in the pursuit.

As said one has to come up with some method.

Drenor succeeded in wrapping up the mana, but the scale of the colony had already grown considerably.

Even while moving it preyed indiscriminately on wild animals and magical beasts and such, and swelled the body. Naturally the density of the colony became even more solid, and the mobility according to that also strengthened.

The method was one.

To split.

However here there was one problem.

Without Gerik one cannot grasp the movement path of the blood-sucking rat colony, and if continuing together one cannot attach speed to the pursuit.

At a suddenly occurring thought Benrik asked.

“Come to think of it, where is that guy moving?” “It is going to find something to eat up.”

If something to eat then living things?

For having searched for something indiscriminately the movement path was simple. Clearly did he not say that until Gerik chased it was moving straight south.

As if it has a clear goal.

“It is chasing mana. If it is the same then it chases the more delicious and higher quality one.” “That was so. So···.”

At Gerik’s words Drenor nodded as if there is something that catches.

“In the guy’s movement direction there was the Viscount Delmar family. Viscount Delmar himself, and his children are all mana users.”

Then there is one doubtful thing.

“Did you not say that it runs away because it feels Sir Vinter’s mana?”

Isn’t this side more appetizing. When Benrik asked Gerik chuckled.

“It distinguishes what can be eaten and what cannot. Because it is not a heron cub that puts anything into the mouth and sees.”

At the staring gaze Benrik somehow felt bad.

In short it reacts to mana.

When Benrik was thinking Gerik urged Drenor.

“After boasting so much, is there no other method?” “I have not boasted at all from beginning to end, the one who always rushed without distinguishing front and back like a wild boar that received prepayment was always you.”

“Will you try being rammed once by the wild boar that received prepayment? At that age the bones will not stick well.”

Almost every time eyes meet it is like this, so one even thinks whether they are enjoying it.

‘It seems they match quite well.’

Benrik who was thinking declared while cutting the two people’s words exchanging rough words.

“Let’s split.” “Don’t step forward carelessly with something only the size of a rat teat.”

Ignoring the threat he continued steadfastly.

“Although not as much as father, I can also sense magical energy. I will go first with Sir Vinter.”

From around this morning something unpleasant started mixing in the breath one inhales. If one can narrow the distance a bit more grasping the direction would not be difficult.

“Do you think I have been staying still until now because I did not know that?”

When Gerik finished the words, Drenor nodded with a troubled expression.

“It is too dangerous.”

Because the scale of the colony grew much larger than when he last saw it one might not have the leisure to fight while protecting Benrik.

“But as time goes the guy will become stronger, and faster. The damage will increase more. Father also said so, that it will not be able to pierce this armor. I can also catch a few guys that fly in.”

What is scary is the guys rushing in a group, one already confirmed that the combat power of each one is poor.

Did one not see the traces of the slave merchants gripping with hands and killing at the campsite.

“······Hmm.” “Kuuung···.”

Even after saying this much the two people’s reactions were not good, so Benrik became stuffy inside.

Even if Drenor is so why is that gentleman suddenly like that? When at home he threw well in front of the magical beast’s snout.

Since Crisis Sense is quiet, one cannot even say that it seems there will be no particular matter.

It was then that one thought suddenly occurred.

···Come to think of it.

‘I have never used it even once.’

<​Lucian's Empty Grandeur (C)>

─The young noble Lucian grew wearing the dignity, poise, majesty, and momentum of a noble like armor.

[Technique: Empty Grandeur (C)]

‘···Will it work?’

The new privilege Lucian left behind.

‘Since it is a technique, if one just sets one’s mind to use it···.’

At that moment, as if pressing a button somewhere in the brain the world became one layer clearer.

“···!”

At the same time groundless confidence surged from deep in the chest. No rather than confidence···.

‘Sense of omnipotence···!’

As if everything in the world is under my feet···!

“······.”

Benrik straightened his waist tightly and pulled his chin tightly and looked at Gerik with quiet eyes.

“···?”

Gerik who met eyes with Benrik narrowed his eyes thinly. He noticed that the atmosphere changed.

“Do you think I will die? I will not die.”

Gerik had the words ‘what are you becoming?’ rising to the tip of his throat but swallowed them.

‘Did you get hit hard on the head by that guy called Giles or whatever? If I hit once more will it return?’

Well. Rather than acting without motivation like a star gazer in front of a typhoon saying ‘no dream, no future, no strength’ like an old man who received the day of death this is better─

“······.”

The appearance of just the liver being swollen and the appearance of the liver being swollen with strength.

‘Which is better?’

When Gerik was conflicted Benrik said once more as if affirming.

“I guarantee I will not die. Because I am used to being bait.”

Gerik could not endure and slapped the back of the child’s head.

***

As a result Benrik’s bluff worked.

He split with Gerik and came to pursue the blood-sucking rats first.

Since he clearly remembers the precautions he informed with a displeased expression, perhaps one could process the guy before Gerik joins.

‘Then one could boast a bit.’

At this point one is a bit curious.

On earth what kind of guys those things called magical entities or whatever are born as that Gerik who hates troublesome things more than anyone steps forward himself.

Honestly speaking there was also a bit of hurt pride not none.

‘I am still me.’

Born in the Golden Mountains where magical beasts teem, wearing clothes woven from magical beast leather, playing with magical beast byproducts as toys, grown using magical beast nests as beds.

That there is a magical beast, no magical entity I do not know.

‘Isn’t it the end that they are guys composed of magical energy instead of blood?’

Such a thought entered on one hand while unbearable curiosity surged.

Hmm, well. It was curiosity that would be resolved soon.

─Pabababababa!

Benrik while being carried on Drenor’s back that now feels quite comfortable even tried moving the mana in the heart.

‘Hmm.’

Compared to when first drinking the tear it had swelled about twice.

If exerting imagination it is a feeling like precariously waving in a soy sauce cup of about the depth of one finger joint?

Thinking that not a little time has passed since leaving the Great Forest it was a slow speed enough to make one yawn, but Benrik felt uncontrollable elation every time he moved the mana.

‘If only a bit, a bit more gathers it seems it will overflow.’

Benrik immersed himself in moving the mana in the heart without yielding even to the old knight’s short cape slapping the face.

If one circulates this in the body how strong can one become.

Fortunately there was a good teaching material.

‘Since Yerik is the third strongest in strength among the siblings.’

It would be perfect if testing.

I hope one becomes able to move by the time arriving at Bromwood.

‘Is it the heart···.’

At a suddenly occurring thought Benrik opened his mouth.

“Sir Vinter there is something I want to ask.”

When the child who he thought was dejected from being hit by Gerik first spoke the old knight brightened.

“Yes yes, speak.” “How did our father’s heart become like that? Can only the mana heart be damaged without trauma?”

Gerik only said that there was an accident when at the northern Ironblood Fortress and did not explain the circumstances in detail.

“Hmm, well. One might have ingested poison, or collided with one who handles stronger aura, there are various possibilities. But if it is your father······.”

The old knight who was hesitating while lengthening the end of the words as if there is something that catches did not finish the words.

However he added one more word.

“Well···. When the time comes one will naturally know.”

It was not difficult to grasp that inner meaning.

It means wait until Gerik himself tells.

But if resolving this matter and the count’s debt problem the possibility that the two people will not meet again for a very long time, perhaps for life was high.

When Benrik said Drenor said in a kind voice.

“The bond between parent and child is not something that cuts so easily. In the beginning Luminas made it so.”

Hmm, it is a correct word.

Even himself three months ago could not even dream of the thought that he would meet Gerik again.

“Then is there no method to treat the damaged mana heart? With something like the Tear of the Mother Tree I drank.” “It does not seem there is no room to think positively. Since your constitution was also improved.”

···Hmm, Baan won’t run away again right?

When Benrik was immersed in such thoughts.

At the question where the thinking is clearly visible Drenor swallowed laughter secretly from the child.

─Putting aside personal feelings I am thinking gratefully. If it was not you I would have been kicking empty until a person comes from the society. ─Do not misunderstand, knight gentleman, the reason I chased that guy is not for the empire. And even less for the count.

Last night, the conversation the two people exchanged when Benrik left the place.

─Because that guy is in Bromwood, and the head has not yet grown large enough to oppose the magical entity. ─Is that so. ─···So if you have a grateful heart please look after that guy a bit well. As you can see, the kid has a bit no fear.

Like father like son is truly correct. Father and son both were not honest.

***

From around when a full day had passed since parting with Gerik Benrik started feeling high-density magical energy.

Looking only at the amount of sticky magical energy that sticks it was more overwhelming than any magical beast Benrik had seen in his life.

‘Minimum grade 4 or higher···.’

With a slightly tense mood he informed Drenor of the direction where the magical energy is felt.

And not long after,

─Pasusut···!

He heard a faint sound.

The same strange noise heard in Lucian’s memory.

─Pasusususut···!

Such sounds overlapped countless times and rang the eardrums.

“···Hmm”

He chased the gaze of the old knight who let out a short groan.

Below the horizon dyed reddish, a black wave was undulating.

At first he thought it was the shadow of the forest.

As the distance approached he knew that it is moving, and that what constitutes it is a rat swarm that cannot be counted.

A colony moving while drawing a huge inequality sign shape.

Each one winged rat was only palm-sized, but the clump gathered like that was a scale that seemed it would cover even one small village and remain.

‘Crazy···.’

No matter how weak the strength of the individual there is a degree. Even mere ants if the number is this overwhelmingly dominant it is dangerous.

Moreover that is a magical beast.

‘···How do I catch that?’

The picture of a person facing that countless number of rat swarm alone could not be drawn at all.

But,

“Wait here.”

Drenor said casually and disappeared.

Literally disappeared in front of the eyes.

And the time the old man revealed his appearance was in the middle of the black wave.

─Pasasasasak!

Along with his appearance the colony started boiling.

The wing beats became even fiercer, and the rat swarms that were clustering in unison started running madly.

Only the old man standing in the midst of that frenzy was quiet like the eye of a typhoon.

And the old knight drew the sword.

“···!”

Deep blue aura condensed on the pitch-black blade like the night sky.

And,

Saak···.

A deep blue trajectory lightly drawn in the empty air.

At that moment, Benrik keenly realized why mana is called the source of magic.

─Saaaa···!

Rats were swept away in clumps. Even the guys brushed by the aura, no even the guys not brushed became ash without filtering and scattered.

“······.”

Scattering ash, blue trajectory, dancing old man.

The old man’s sword was literally drawing a miracle.

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