Chapter 170, What One Can Handle (4)

Translator: Hedge

Editor: Lizzz

 

‘Do not provoke the Mages and return to the nest.’

 

Among the guidelines given to Secritia’s spies, there is such a saying. Whether it be a fight, an argument, or simple conversation, the instruction was to stay away from Cyries’ Mages first and think later.

 

If one were to ask why specifically only Cyries’ Mages should not be dealt with, the reason could be found in the unique tendencies of Cyries Mages.

 

The Magic powerhouse Liberen, and Secritia where there were many Knights but the treatment of Mages was not particularly bad. What they have in common was that their Mages were surprisingly normal.

 

Just look at Allan, who was from another country.

 

He has a relatively free way of thinking, but his mind was not crazy. His mouth was crazy though.

 

Cyries’ Mages on the other hand, overflowed with curiosity, do not avoid fights, and love alcohol. And as everyone knows, they were all a little crazy. For reasons unknown, they were extremely different somehow.

 

The leader of such Cyries Mages. That was, the top priority Mage who must be avoided at all costs no matter what, spoke.

 

“You chirping birds over there.”

 

At these words, the three spies kneeling in a row all glared at one spot in unison. There sat a purple-haired Mage perched on a rock in a nonchalant pose as if nothing had happened.

 

“Yes, you three.”

 

When the spies looked at her, Euria smiled slightly with a satisfied expression. Seeing that smile, the spies felt chills creeping up inside their collars without realizing it.

 

[We’re all going to die.]

 

That morning.

 

No sooner had Euria’s words to the spies ended than three water masses were created. Those water masses, just the size of a person’s head, moved as if alive and engulfed the spies’ faces as if swallowing them. It happened so quickly that they did not even realize what had happened, let alone avoid it.

 

Water so dense that one might mistake it for thick jelly flowed forcefully into the spies’ noses and mouths. It was impossible to breathe, let alone chew and swallow poison.

 

Unable to resist anything, the three birds lost consciousness one by one. When they regained consciousness, they found themselves bound side by side like this.

 

“Deputy Commander Hertz told me to keep you alive, so I didn’t kill you. So, when you meet him later, say thanks, you chirping birds.”

 

At these words, the spies’ brows furrowed. They now realized that this Mage was looking at them as if they were three sparrows.

 

“Euria. Watch your mouth.”

 

The ‘Yellow Warbler,’ who was the leader of the three, spat out these words through gritted teeth. He felt that he would rather die than be treated like that.

 

No matter what, these were spies who had been following an unidentified group.

 

Moreover, they were individuals with enough loyalty and military strength to earn the trust to carry out Crown Prince Chase’s direct orders.

 

Except for the minor problem that their excessive loyalty had caused this trouble, and that their military strength was useless in front of Euria, they were excellent talents.

 

“They seem to be the Crown Prince’s birds, not the King’s, so I kept them alive. I’m being patient already, so I’ll just leave their mouths alone.”

 

Euria, who glanced at Yellow Warbler while speaking, turned her eyes back to the bundle of papers in her hand and continued in a very leisurely voice.

 

“I’ve removed all the poison you were carrying, so bear with it, and since there’s nothing to ask, don’t think about biting your tongue. I’ll release you tomorrow.”

 

It was a complete disregard of them.

 

The spies glared at Euria with fierce eyes. Regardless, Euria began to carefully examine the papers in her hand one by one while sitting perched on the rock.

 

When some time had passed like this, Yellow Warbler opened his mouth again.

 

For reasons unknown, he knew very well how important Chase considered this matter to be. So, he had even disobeyed orders out of greed to confirm that information and deliver it to Chase. It was a decision made knowing that he might die before he returned to Chase.

 

The three spies with really useless and wrongly applied loyalty, especially Yellow Warbler, thought that since things had come to this, he should learn at least one more thing.

 

“What time is it now. If I don’t report to His Highness, there will be a pursuit.”

 

“It’s night. Everyone’s sleeping well. If you’re hungry, tell me. There’s leftover pork.”

 

Euria answered like this, paying no attention to the lie about Chase’s pursuit. She also did not mention that she had cast Sleep on the unconscious spies.

 

“Where is this place? Who used to stay here.”

 

“A cave. Dead people.”

 

[Why are you asking me about what you guys already know?] Euria thought, her gaze still remaining on the papers.

 

Still, feeling that the conversation was continuing somewhat, Yellow Warbler pressed his lips together once before speaking.

 

“We were tracking ‘Zeon.’ If we cooperate, it could be mutually beneficial.”

 

Euria’s eyes flashed very briefly, so briefly that the spies could not have noticed.

 

‘Zeon.’

 

She understood it was the name of the group that had attacked Kalian.

 

Right now, Yellow Warbler was proposing an invisible deal to Euria. Subtly leaking information that Euria might be curious about, but not its secrets, to draw Euria’s interest. So that they could exchange what they each knew to some extent.

 

After all, was she not a curious Mage? He thought she would definitely rush in if something made her curious.

 

“Why bother. Never mind.”

 

If Euria had been a typical Mage, she might have, but right now Euria was sitting not as the Head of the Arcane Enclave but as the capable boss of an intelligence organization.

 

“Is what you’re reading material related to them?”

 

“Yeah, probably.”

 

So instead, she subtly leaked information that Yellow Warbler would be curious about. Even though she could not read it.

 

Had not all the other furnishings been broken but only the papers remained intact? They must be important materials. Therefore, Yellow Warbler thought he had to somehow take those away.

 

“As I said, Euria. Those we were tracking and those you were investigating must have a connection. So that thing…”

 

“Mages are cowardly, so they don’t join hands with anyone.”

 

Perhaps if Arsene had heard this, one wonders what expression he would have made, but for now the spies looked distrustful. Yellow Warbler understood the words he had just heard as merely an expression of refusal and asked about something else.

 

A strange scene unfolded of a bound spy questioning Euria who was monitoring him.

 

“Where is Valkan’s Deputy Commander?”

 

“The papers seemed like they would disappear if they were left here, so he went on an errand.”

 

When the spies were asleep, she had taken those scraps of paper outside the cave just in case. Then, she saw it all turn to powder and scatter as soon as it left the cave’s boundary. The same thing happened even if put into Euria or Arsene’s Sub-Space. It was because such an action was no different from leaving the cave’s domain.

 

“It seems the entire cave has a Preservation Barrier for the ‘paper.'”

 

Preservation Magic was not within the realm of Magic that the two Mages could use. Therefore, Arsene had gone to seek help from the Mages staying near the Teleportation Magic Circle. While worrying more about the three spies who were with Euria than about Euria who was with the three spies.

 

In any case, it served to confirm once again that these were extraordinary materials. Soon, Yellow Warbler opened his mouth again.

 

“I’m hungry. You said there was food?”

 

“Yeah, wait a moment.”

 

Euria, who answered lightly, stood up from her seat.

 

And at that moment.

 

*Kwaaaaang!*

 

A thunderous roar came from outside the cave.

 

A tremendous sound that made the cave rumble and the floor vibrate. The impact was so great that stone dust fell from the ceiling for a while.

 

Euria’s eyes had turned fierce as she deployed a Water Barrier to block the falling stone dust and debris.

 

[The kid Arsene is still outside. Something must have happened.]

 

* * *

 

Three people.

 

There were three people.

 

*Zzzzik!*

 

The sound of sharp ice tips cracking echoed through the forest. The ends of the shattered ice stretched like dozens, hundreds of thin threads, covering the opponent’s red barrier.

 

The rapidly shape-changing ice intertwined with each other and wrapped around the red defensive barrier. Soon, following Arsene’s hand, Mana moved once more. The ice pressed together, pressuring the entire barrier from all sides. Four Ice Spears pierced into the weakened barrier all at once.

 

*Kwajik!*

*Kwajijik!*

 

Two Ice Spears failed to penetrate the barrier, but two did.

 

A Warrior who had been pierced through both neck and heart simultaneously lost his life and fell to his knees on the ground. The sword he had been holding fell powerlessly to the earth.

 

*Kuung!*

 

Soon, the dull sound of his head hitting the ground resonated.

 

Arsene recognized his death but could not see him slowly falling. At the same time as shooting the Ice Spears, Arsene’s figure that had disappeared from in front of him appeared again at a slightly distant location.

 

[Now two people. Only two people left!]

 

“Deputy Commander of Valkan, was it Arsene Hertz?”

 

One Warrior who remembered the words Arsene had given when facing him earlier spoke slowly. The tip of her sword, which seemed to burn red, pointed toward the ground, and her face looking at Arsene was calm.

 

“I am Tamira. And that one over there is Marsita. The one you just put to eternal rest is Yurka.”

 

[Not interested.]

 

Arsene had merely offered greetings; he had not spoken because he was curious about the opponent’s name.

 

“Consider it an honor to hear the name of a Great Warrior and die.”

 

Now that the situation was reversed, nothing was more annoying than this. Thinking that perhaps this was why his Master told him to offer greetings first, Arsene chuckled.

 

Along with that, dozens of small spears were created in front of Arsene and shot toward the Warrior of the Great Dunes called Tamira.

 

*Swaaaaek!*

 

Ice crystals reflecting moonlight left blue afterimages as they cut through the air. Then the hand of the mage called Marsita, who had been at a distance, briefly glowed red and created a red barrier in front of Tamira.

 

*Tadang! Tadang!*

 

The stinging pain rising from his numb left arm hurt less than the fact that his recent attack had been neutralized.

 

Arsene moved his hand once more. A massive Ice Spear aimed at Tamira plunged down like a hawk that had spotted a mouse. Red energy swirled from the Mage’s side, casting a second Protective Barrier on Tamira.

 

At the same time, two Ice Spears created behind the Mage fell down aiming for the crown and heart. It was a technique Arsene had used once when dealing with a group of 40 people before.

 

*Saaaek!*

 

A sound like a death sentence rang out.

 

But the sound of bones crumbling was not heard.

 

*Kaang! Kang!*

 

Instead, the sound was heard of two daggers thrown by Tamira deflecting the Ice Spears that had flown toward the Mage.

 

Tamira had blocked Arsene’s spear with a sword lifted in one hand, and deflected the Ice Spears aimed at the Mage with daggers.

 

*Swaaaaek!*

 

The ice that had shattered and fallen behind the Mage all rose up at once and attacked the Mage once more. Sharply honed fragments instantly struck at the Mage.

 

*Kadeudeuk!*

 

Though it was a well-timed attack, a red barrier behind the Mage briefly glowed as if it had been prepared, and the ice fragments fell uselessly to the ground.

 

*Throb.* Pain came once more from his deeply cut left shoulder. The fishy smell rising from the flowing blood was nauseating.

 

Tamira, who had been watching the drops of blood falling from Arsene’s arm to the ground, raised her sword. Arsene, who had no intention of dying quietly, moved his body once more.

 

Arsene’s figure that disappeared in an instant appeared right behind the opposing Mage. Then a dagger full of red energy rushed toward him, cutting through the wind.

 

Quite remarkably, it was an attack wielded by the Mage.

 

*Adeuk!*

 

Blue light flickered briefly in the air and Arsene’s shield wavered.

 

When the tip of Arsene’s right hand moved briefly with a hardened face, the shield was firmly reconstructed. At the same time, Arsene created an Ice Sphere in front of the Mage’s heart. He intended to completely cover the Mage’s body with it.

 

*Shiiik!*

 

Cold air that poured out from the sphere completely enveloped the Mage’s body. Just as he was about to freeze it solid,

 

*Taaang!*

 

Tamira’s great sword, which had rushed over like flying, struck Arsene’s shield hard.

 

[Damn it!]

 

Arsene quickly pulled back his body and poured six Ice Spears toward where Tamira had been standing. The spear tips that seemed capable of piercing anything struck down at the ground.

 

But Tamira was no longer there.

 

*Uuuung!*

 

Toward Arsene who had moved his body with Teleport, Tamira who had already followed close behind raised her great sword. As if she would bisect Arsene’s body immediately, the sword in her hand vibrated and created a dense Aura.

 

He could not dodge.

 

He could not block it.

 

Arsene could see the smile on Tamira’s lips.

 

*Shiiik!*

 

Her sword struck down toward Arsene.

 

The moment he felt the red light in the sword flash.

 

*Kwaaaaang!*

 

A deafening roar shook the forest.

 

And.

 

“Are you alright?”

 

Holding a sword from which dark red energy was dripping.

 

Having blocked the red Aura falling toward Arsene’s neck.

 

The one with eyes redder than Tamira’s crimson Aura, who had made him stand in front of someone twice among those lackeys responsible for the term ‘crazy’ among the Mages, spoke to the Arsene.

 

“I would appreciate it if you only took on tasks you can handle from now on. Lord Hertz.”

 

Looking at Kalian’s back standing in front of him like that, Arsene made a firm resolution.

 

“I apologize.”

 

He would have to make Kalian’s statue out of ice that never melts.

 

A full-body statue.

 

With lots of coolness and handsomeness added.