Chapter 8

This is my second post for today.

The vegetation changes to mostly conifers as we move further. We are approaching the area where the demonic tree Elbir resides.

Jacob and the soldiers have become more cautious in their advance. Mistaking a regular tree for a demonic tree can be fatal.

The bushes ahead rustled.

The soldiers reacted and readied their weapons. What appeared was a large spotted boar. It was a boar two meters long, covered in a fur patterned like a leopard, brown and yellow.

Once a boar becomes a class of magical beast like a large spotted boar, it becomes difficult to defeat with swords or spears. Normally, they are trapped and then finished off when they can no longer move, but this time we encountered it without any preparation.

The soldiers' faces showed fear.

"We can't do it with just the soldiers. I will fight too."

Flavio took out his catalyst and a longer rod and got ready. The apprentices, including Ricardo, also took out their catalysts and prepared. The catalyst Ricardo held was an Earth catalyst.

The large boar scratched the ground with its hooves and growled, probably telling us to leave its territory.

Suddenly, the large boar charged at the soldiers. The boar's hide is as tough as the leather armor used, and it can deflect weak slashes and arrows.

The soldiers, terrified by the boar's massive body, fled.

"Fools!"

Jacob's angry voice rose. Behind the soldiers were the apprentice mages Ivan and Benito.

The two hastily cast their spells. Ivan used "Flowing Water Blade," and Benito used "Wind Slash." It was a close call. The water blade from "Flowing Water Blade" cut the boar's shoulder, but only shallowly, and the air blade from "Wind Slash" was blocked by the hide on its back and disappeared without causing damage.

Benito, who failed to intercept, threw himself to the side to avoid the boar's charge, but Ivan was hit and thrown. Ivan rolled on the ground and stopped when he hit a tree.

Ricardo watched from behind Flavio but was terrified by the sight of the boar. A boar as big as a cow charging at incredible speed. It was natural to be afraid.

However, the mage in front of him was different.

"You beast!"

Flavio channeled magic power into the rod in his hand and scattered the catalyst in his other hand. As the catalyst began to swirl around the rod, he began to chant the spell "Heavy Wind Hammer."

"Shena Durubudel Darwib"

As the mage began to chant, the air above began to swirl and compress. The moment Flavio raised and swung his rod, the compressed air formed a large, solid mass and was slammed into the boar.

The massive air hammer crushed the boar, dealing significant damage.

Thinking it was a chance, Jacob ran up with his sword and thrust it into the boar's side, aiming for the heart. The momentum of his run and the weight of his body drove the sword through the boar's hide and into its heart.

The boar let out a weak cry and staggered a few steps before collapsing.

Ricardo let out a sigh of relief.

Looking at his left hand, he realized he had been gripping the catalyst tightly without realizing it.

He had heard from Old Marta that Flavio was a combat mage, and it seemed there was no lie in her words. Honestly, he thought it was amazing.

"Ivan!"

Patrick ran to his junior apprentice Ivan and helped him up. Ivan was suffering from a concussion and was unsteady, but he didn't seem to have any serious injuries.

He had bruises and contusions, but there was no abnormality in his bones, and he could walk.

That day, they decided to stop the hunt for the demonic tree and camp there. To treat Ivan and to skin and butcher the boar for its hide and meat.

Jacob instructed his subordinates to find a suitable place for the camp and then checked on Ivan.

"Do you need a healing potion?"

Ivan rubbed his leg and frowned.

"Just bruises. I'm fine."

"Alright."

The healing potion is made from several herbs and the tree liver oil of the demonic tree Trill. It can heal minor wounds in a few minutes, but a bottle costs two silver coins, so it's not something to be used casually.

A suitable campsite was found, and they began to move.

At the campsite, the soldiers had already started a fire and were waiting. By the time they arrived, the sun was setting on the mountain ridge, and the sky was beginning to turn red.

"Hey, cook the boar meat."

The soldiers who had butchered the boar brought the internal organs, mainly the liver, heart, and spleen. The liver, in particular, was about six kilograms and was said to be delicious when eaten fresh.

Of course, they also brought the more appetizing cuts like the loin, fillet, and belly, but they could only carry about thirty percent of the total.

The rest was skinned for the valuable hide.

The soldiers started cooking, mainly the fresh liver.

The cooking method was simple: they cut it into bite-sized pieces and stir-fried it with wild herbs they had gathered. The seasoning was just salt and herbs, but it was enough.

Patrick and Ivan sat down and started eating. After putting a piece in their mouths, they began to eat enthusiastically.

"This is exquisite."

"Really delicious. We should thank Lord Flavio and Captain Jacob."

Ricardo had never thought the internal organs of a magical beast could be so delicious.

After the meal, Ricardo sat by the fire and reflected on the events of the day.

He realized that mages were more vulnerable than he had initially thought. Mages dislike iron weapons and don't carry much in the way of weapons.

Moreover, they lack physical strength and don't carry shields or similar items, and their equipment is just cloth clothing. Fighting a magical beast head-on with such equipment would be fatal.

Wearing leather armor like a magical beast hunter might be an option, but it would make them seem less like mages.

"What are you thinking about?"

Patrick asked, seeing Ricardo deep in thought, staring at the flames.

"About the mage's armor."

Ivan seemed to think that Ricardo was troubled because Ivan had been injured.

"I made a mistake today and got hurt, but that's rare. I understand you're worried since you're a new apprentice, but the way mages fight is to cast spells from a distance... that's the only way. Close combat, where armor is needed, is not something mages expect."

Ricardo thought that was odd. There is a possibility of being caught off guard and forced into close combat. Or perhaps there are techniques among mages to avoid close combat.

When he asked the two about it,

"Mages who are good at magic control are said to train in 'magic sensing.'"

'Magic sensing' is a method of detecting the presence of magic in the surroundings. It is said that skilled practitioners can sense the presence of a magical beast fifty meters away.

Magic sensing can prevent ambushes and make it easier to find prey. However, it requires precise magic control and concentration, and only skilled mages can use practical magic sensing.

Patrick knew how to do it and taught him.

Relax, close your eyes, gather magic power in your forehead, and form a membrane to sense the surrounding magic, focusing on it. At first, he sensed nothing. However, after continuing for about ten minutes, he began to vaguely sense the magic of Patrick and Ivan nearby.

"I did it. I can sense Patrick and Ivan's magic."

Patrick nodded.

"Mages can sense the presence of magic nearby. But sensing magic from a distance is difficult."

It seemed to be true, as he couldn't sense the magic of Flavio and the others, who were a bit further away.

Then he realized that Flavio, a mage, didn't seem to be using magic sensing.

"Lord Flavio doesn't seem to be using magic sensing. Why is that?"

Patrick had a smile on his face.

"Lord Mage is not good at fine magic control."

Sensing nearby magic doesn't require magic control, but sensing distant magic does require strong magic control.

That night, they lay on the ground at the campsite and went to sleep. The ground was hard, so it was hard to fall asleep, but he must have been tired and managed to sleep.

When he woke up to the morning sunlight, his body ached all over. He got up and moved his body to loosen his stiff muscles.

About half the group was already awake. Those still sleeping were covered with something like a cloak.

Ricardo wasn't cold because he was by the fire, but it seemed to be something they usually prepared.

When everyone woke up, they started preparing to leave. They apparently didn't eat breakfast.

Today, they planned to go to the western mountain. The hunting area consists of three connected mountains called the "Ories Three Mountains." The target, the demonic tree Elbir, is said to wander around the three mountains looking for prey.

During the move, Ricardo continued to practice magic sensing. As he continued, he began to understand why magic sensing required fine magic control.

Forming a magic membrane in the forehead requires magic control, and an apprentice mage can only form a membrane about one centimeter in diameter, which can only sense nearby magic.

To sense distant magic, the membrane needs to be larger or more numerous. The method chosen varies from person to person, and the difficulty level is the same.

Ricardo tried to make the magic membrane larger. He could easily form it to about one centimeter, but when he tried to make it larger, the membrane distorted. It seemed difficult to capture magic with a distorted membrane.

To form a clean, disc-shaped magic membrane without distortion, it requires the magic control technique to distribute magic evenly and change it into a membrane.

Magic sensing is a skill that all mages learn, but only a few can use it in combat. Despite this, it seems that mages don't wear proper armor because they want to look good.

Perhaps during the long history of mages, a trend emerged to mock those who, like magical beast hunters, protected themselves with equipment because they couldn't use magic sensing properly.

"I think it's foolish to care about appearances, but I don't want to stand out in the group of mages."

When Ricardo muttered to himself, Ivan, who was walking beside him, asked,

"Hmm, did you say something?"

"No, just talking to myself."

At that moment, a soldier's voice echoed from the front.

"Elbir spotted!"

The demonic tree Elbir was standing still in a place where the trees thinned out and the view was good. It was four meters tall, with a trunk about forty centimeters in diameter at its thickest, supported by wriggling roots like octopus legs.

It had four thick branches, which seemed to be able to move freely.

There was a distance of about twenty meters from where the demonic tree stood to where the trees were dense. It was a perfect opportunity.

Flavio instructed the apprentice mages to spread out.

Ricardo moved to the right and prepared to cast a spell.

Looking at the demonic tree Elbir again, he realized how huge it was. If he were alone, he would have turned and run. It was a formidable presence, and he honestly wondered if humans without significant weapons could defeat such a monster.

Ricardo felt his throat dry and swallowed. His heart was pounding so hard it hurt.

With slightly trembling fingers, he took out the wooden tube containing the Earth catalyst and glared at the demonic tree Elbir. At that moment, the monster, which had been slowly moving, noticed the enemy.

It approached, wriggling its roots, which were divided into about a dozen.

At that moment, the trembling of his fingers stopped, and his heart, which had been pounding painfully, became calm.

It seemed that he had steeled himself at the last moment.

First, the mage Flavio cast the spell "Storm Fang Array." It was a lower intermediate Wind spell, and dozens of wind blades rushed to the enemy, cutting it to pieces.

When the demonic tree noticed the spell, it bent its four branches to protect the tree liver and endured the wind blades. One branch was cut off, and many wounds appeared on the trunk, but the tree liver, a bump on the head, was unharmed.

"Did I miss... Apprentices, buy us some time!"

Flavio's voice was the trigger, and the apprentice mages cast their spells. "Wind Slash" and "Flowing Water Blade" cut through the air and hit the demonic tree's body, dealing damage, but they couldn't finish it off.

Ricardo cast "Flying Spear." A stone spear flew at the demonic tree and hit just below the tree liver, causing a little tree liver oil to drip.

A sigh of regret escaped from the soldiers.

"Stop its legs!"

Jacob ordered his subordinates. The soldiers readied their spears and charged to buy time for the mages and apprentices to cast their next spells.

The demonic tree tried to pin down the surrounding soldiers with its remaining three branches.

Ricardo discarded the empty wooden tube and took out a new catalyst.

While doing so, one of the soldiers was hit by a large branch and flew through the air. Ricardo saw Jacob clench his lips and bleed.