Chapter 59

"Damn it, damn it."

Miguel, who had been advancing along the winding road, abruptly stopped the carriage.

Beyond the nearly leafless trees, the landscape atop the hill was revealed.

He jumped down from the driver's seat and cautiously approached to survey the hilltop.

Soldiers were encamped there.

A makeshift checkpoint.

At a glance, there were more than ten soldiers. They stood in a line between the wooden barriers, and a commander, who appeared to be a knight, was leaning against one of them.

"It seems they're waiting for us."

Miguel, returning to the driver's seat, said with a grimace.

Ian's voice followed.

"Did they figure out our position?"

"Not yet. But if we continue forward, we'll be discovered no matter which way we go."

"Then there's no choice. Wait for it."

The sound of rustling continued.

Miguel turned around.

The cart they were riding in had changed somewhat over the past few days.

The partitions on the sides and back had been raised.

They had dismantled an abandoned cart they found and added it as a protective barrier.

It was to prevent any projectiles and to ensure the interior couldn't be seen.

As a result, it had become more noticeable, but they assumed that all the soldiers and mercenaries in the area would recognize them, so it didn't matter.

"Hmm…"

Ian finished his preparations.

A gray robe pulled down to cover his face, the lining of his cloak turned inside out, and he was gripping a magic wand in his hand.

"Even if someone who knows you sees you, they won't recognize you as the same person."

Miguel said matter-of-factly.

Ian shrugged as he climbed back onto the driver's seat.

"You don't have much to do, Miguel."

He added, sitting on the backrest of the driver's seat.

"Just keep driving no matter what happens."

"Can't you at least give me a hint of what you're going to do?"

"It won't help. Just don't panic and keep driving. If you hesitate and the cart overturns, we're all dead."

A magic stone was already in Ian's left hand.

It was much smaller than the one he used before, rolling between his fingers.

Miguel didn't know, but it was something he had to use.

The commander's wand, which greatly increased skill damage, also had a significant drawback, tripling the mana consumption.

The conditional penalty would disappear only when a magic stone was attached to the end.

Of course, the drawback wasn't the only issue, but...

"Alright, I understand."

Ian, gripping the magic stone tightly, nodded.

"Then, let's go."

"What did I do to deserve this... Damn it...!"

Miguel whipped the reins as if he didn't care what happened.

Clack, clack, clatter—clatter—

The sound of the horses' hooves climbing the hill grew faster.

A speed that made the incline imperceptible.

The light from the magic stones embedded in the armor became more vivid.

"Ah, no, what the hell...?"

The soldiers, who had noticed the approaching cart, became agitated.

The commander, who had been leaning back, hurriedly ran forward.

"Stop the cart immediately! We'll shoot if you don't stop!"

Soldiers with crossbows aimed at the cart.

Miguel closed his eyes tightly, thinking, 'Don't pull the reins. Don't panic. Don't... Damn it!'

The thought of how they ended up in this situation crossed his mind again.

It was all because of those damn Agelran knights.

If they had just followed quietly, they wouldn't be in this dog-like situation.

"Keep the speed up. Keep driving."

Ian's voice pierced his ears.

A rumbling voice, evidence of the mana it contained.

"I'm saying this again! Stop the cart immediately!"

The commander's urgent cry continued.

Ian stood up at that moment.

He spread his arms wide, his robe and cloak fluttering unnaturally, and a mist-like wave of mana spread from his entire body.

He was clearly emitting mana intentionally.

At least, it was very effective in drawing attention.

"A, a mage...? I didn't hear anything about a mage..."

A panicked voice carried on the wind to Miguel's ears.

Ian extended his magic wand immediately after.

Rumble—!

"......!"

As a massive wall of fire soared up the hill, Miguel's mouth gaped open in shock.

***

Rumble—

"Uwaaah—!"

"Oh, Mother...!"

The checkpoint became a scene of chaos.

Soldiers rolled on the ground, pushed back by the intense heat.

The commander, who had been looking up at the wall of fire, finally managed to speak.

"Everyone, fall back—uh?!"

Boom—

His cry was cut short.

An earthquake.

He staggered and fell to the ground.

The earth around him was sinking.

No, more accurately, the soil was gathering towards a single point.

The ground in the center of the checkpoint was rising.

Soldiers standing there tumbled, and the barriers fell.

The commander, who had been struggling to speak, finally managed to say:

"Everyone, fall back! Fall back!"

It was a desperate cry, but almost no soldiers were listening to him.

"O Solara... have mercy on us..."

"Please, save us...!"

Most of them were either prostrate on the ground praying or crawling in fear.

Whoosh—!

A gust of wind, and a hole opened in the center of the flames.

The cart, which had passed through the gap, soared over the hill created by the magic.

"We, we have to stop them...!"

The commander's eyes froze as he instinctively chased after the cart.

The massive fireballs that appeared around the fleeing cart.

The sight erased the last bit of his sense of duty.

Boom! Bang! Boom!

The fireballs that rained down turned the hillside into a wasteland.

Behind the commander, who was rolling on the ground with the soldiers, the wall of fire was already fading.

***

"Haha! We did it!"

Miguel finally burst into laughter, his face flushed with excitement.

Good for you, kid.

Ian, muttering to himself, slumped onto the backrest of the driver's seat.

A headache and dizziness washed over him.

The magic stone in his hand was now empty.

'To not kill is harder than to kill. How ridiculous.'

He chuckled and stuffed the commander's wand into a subspace.

The eerie sound in his ears faded.

The curse of the spirit embedded in the wand.

Thanks to his high mental strength and resistance, it had no effect, but it was so loud it made his head throb.

"Amazing, man! You didn't just mimic a high mage; you were a real high mage!"

"Stop shouting. My head hurts."

Ian, removing his hood and stretching his stiff neck, nodded.

"Drive steadily and slow down. The magic stone is wearing out."

"Right, right. Got it."

"High mage...!"

Lucy blurted out at that moment.

Ian turned to look at her, who was staring at him as if entranced.

"Hmm?"

"Just now... you didn't just use red magic, did you?"

"No, that's... "

"Huh? Really?!"

Miguel, who had interjected, widened his eyes and looked at Ian.

"So, are you that legendary mage? Really?"

"Absolutely...! Absolutely sure...!"

"Sure of what? Not at all."

Ian scoffed.

Lucy blinked.

"But you used magic of different colors."

"That's true, but it doesn't mean I'm a high mage. Besides, they weren't particularly impressive spells."

Ian looked at Lucy and Miguel in turn and added:

"This is just a kind of trade secret, a trump card. So don't get the wrong idea."

"...I understand."

Lucy, finally nodding, looked up at Ian.

"I'll keep your secret, Ian."

"I'm the same, man."

Their eyes seemed to disbelieve him completely.

"Ha... Fine. Think what you want. It's not true, though."

If it were true, it wouldn't be so frustrating. I'm just a high-level mage, after all.

Ian clicked his tongue and turned around.

The hill, now enveloped in smoke, was already far behind.

From today, a new legend about a mage would likely spread in the borderlands.

Miguel, regaining some composure, turned to him.

"Thinking about it, we might encounter more checkpoints like that."

"There's no choice. But after this, there won't be any soldiers blocking our path. Of course... "

Ian shrugged.

"Even then, the fight with those who chase us is inevitable."

"Damn... I can already smell the iron in the air."

Miguel muttered.

Ian leaned his head back against the backrest.

He was starting to think it would be better if they all came at once.

A sign of his fatigue.

"Rest when you can. Don't think about unnecessary things. We're almost there."

***

"So, the contents of this report are all true?"

Lord Randis, sitting at his desk, looked up and asked. In front of him, Sir Jamie nodded.

"Two checkpoints were buried and turned into a sea of fire. Everyone was trembling at the sight of the powerful mage. Moreover, the cart they were riding in was quite fast. Blocking them is suicide, and they can't catch up, so there are many requests to withdraw."

"Cowards... But they're not wrong. According to the report, it sounds like a powerful mage. I don't know where he came from, but it seems he's warning me. He's still showing mercy, but if we keep blocking him, he'll kill everyone."

"Should we withdraw the soldiers?"

"Yes. If I keep sending them, the resentment against me will reach the heavens."

Of course, he didn't mean to just let those arrogant ones go.

Lord Randis added casually.

"Is he waiting?"

"Of course."

"Have him come in."

Sir Jamie opened the door and gestured.

Soon, a sturdy northerner walked in.

His armor and scabbard were polished.

He was Ube, the leader of the Ube Mercenary Group and the most skilled mercenary in Hyram City.

"What's the mood among the mercenaries?"

The lord asked after a brief greeting.

Ube said with a stern face.

"Everyone is grinding their teeth. Many of their comrades have died at the hands of those bastards. Moreover, we've heard that the ones from Naslan are following them at an incredible speed."

"Right. Those damn imperial bastards and Agelran peasants, running around other people's territories like it's their own. I find it annoying too."

The lord's eyes turned cold.

What annoyed him the most was that he couldn't stop them.

If he said anything to those narrow-minded ones, they might stop supplying goods to his territory.

"I want to see them return empty-handed. It would be even better to see them beg to reduce the ransom. I'm sure His Majesty would be pleased."

The kidnappers were already exerting political influence.

Rumors of Agelran preparing for war were widespread.

If they could get the girl first, they would not only get the ransom but also the favor of the king.

"Leave it to me. I've picked out thirty skilled and good riders."

Ube said, his eyes gleaming.

He also wanted to catch and punish the kidnappers.

Of course, there was the reason to avenge his subordinates.

But it was also because of the mercenary group from the neighboring territory that had come with the Agelran knights.

Favored by the lord of Naslan, they had grown in size and were in a subtle rivalry with his mercenary group.

The side that succeeded in this mission would likely have the most influence in Bel Rond.

"Good. Let's get to the main point."

The lord unfolded a map of the territory.

The route of the kidnappers and the trackers from Naslan were meticulously marked.

"From the information we have, it seems the kidnappers are heading to the abandoned land."

"......!"

"Do they want to commit suicide?"

Jamie, of course, and Ube also widened their eyes.

The lord shrugged.

"Perhaps they trust the mage. If he's a master of both magic and swords, he might be able to break through the cursed land and cross into the north."

"Only if the heavens help them."

Jamie muttered.

The lord shrugged.

"I found it hard to believe too, but there's no other way to explain their route. Fortunately, they're taking a detour."

The lord traced a straight line from Hyram City to the north with his finger.

"We can get ahead and wait for them."

The river leading to the abandoned land beyond the border. The end of the valley.

"Try to catch them before they cross the bridge, if possible."

"...I'll prepare immediately."

"I'll leave the command to Sir Jamie. Wait for the signal."

Ube nodded and turned around.

As the door closed, the lord looked at Sir Jamie.

"I'll give you twenty cavalry. Try to minimize the casualties on our side."

The Ube Mercenary Group was useful but also annoying.

As they grew in size, they became a threat, and it was uncertain when they would show their teeth.

This was a good opportunity to reduce their numbers.

It would be even better if Ube died.

"If the kidnappers ultimately cross into the abandoned land... "

The lord tapped the map and added.

"Make sure the cavalry retreats before sunset."

"Should we leave the mercenaries behind?"

"They won't give up. It's a matter of pride. Try to persuade them, but if they don't listen, just let them be. The Sky Scale traders and the peasants won't give up either, so they'll all be dead by then."

"I'll follow your orders."

Sir Jamie bowed and turned around.

Alone, the lord looked down at the map.

In three days at most, the outcome of this turmoil would be clear.

"Either they'll get the money and pride, or they'll all die. It doesn't matter. As long as they don't escape... "

The possibility of the kidnappers escaping alive was not even considered.