Chapter 49

Chapter 49 (49/324)

49

Inside the magic-powered carriage.

There, my companions and I were seated.

Perhaps due to the old-fashioned interior, Seron was looking around with wide eyes.

"Is this your first time seeing such a carriage?"

"...Yes. The fact that it can move without a driver is amazing..."

"It's called a magic-powered carriage, a concentrated form of magical technology."

"Ah... So it must be expensive, right?"

"One of these costs about seven hundred platinum coins."

Naturally, this was one of the few carriages the family owned. We only had a total of five.

If I weren't the direct descendant of the viscount, I wouldn't even be able to approach it, let alone ride in it.

Seron quietly whistled at my words.

His expression seemed to reflect a newfound appreciation for the viscount family's power, as if the price of a single carriage had driven it home.

Except for Seron, who was admiring the view outside the window, the rest of the group was taking a comfortable rest.

'I thought we would be ambushed before leaving the city.'

Although I had no intention of letting any of them live, life is unpredictable, isn't it?

I wasn't entirely confident that it would happen 100%. I had a plan in case things didn't go as expected.

Fortunately, we managed to leave the city without any issues.

Luck and skill.

Thanks to both, we could travel home so comfortably.

"Everyone, get some good rest. There probably won't be any ambush."

Seron's face showed a hint of doubt at my words.

"Once they check the basement, won't they chase us immediately?"

"This carriage, being expensive, is also fast. They probably won't be able to catch up."

Unless they had some exceptional horses, it was safe to assume there would be no pursuit.

A carriage carrying four people was much faster than horses.

It wasn't just expensive for no reason.

By now, the baron must have received a report.

'It will take time to figure out who the culprit is.'

The remaining traces of magic.

The power of the magic, as inferred from the traces, was at least 3rd Circle, while the baron believed I was only 1st Circle.

Therefore, he was likely to come up with a plausible reason for my escape, such as being frightened by a terrible murder at the place I visited.

He wouldn't know until the gladiators were caught.

And then?

They might chase us, but catching up to the magic-powered carriage would be impossible.

We had already been traveling for about twenty minutes outside the city.

On the main road leading to the Trasden territory.

Inside the soft carriage, I closed my eyes quietly.

* * * * *

The magic-powered carriage continued to move without stopping until we reached the territory governed by the viscount family.

Half a day.

It was a time spent traveling while holding back meals and bathroom breaks.

Once we reached a nearby territory governed by our family, the pursuers wouldn't dare to follow.

Would the baron's army cross into our territory without permission?

It would be giving us a reason to crush them.

The baron, though greedy, is still a noble with some sense. He wouldn't choose to destroy his main base just because one of his business locations was damaged.

As the location of the magic-powered carriage on the map entered our territory, I smiled slightly.

With this, any pursuers who might have been following us were effectively cut off.

'Might they send assassins in the future?'

Given the significant anger this incident might have caused, they might. Assassins, after all, are criminals who adhere to the principle of not revealing their clients.

'I should install alarm magic in various places.'

Since they might be sent, I planned to do so.

The problem is not finding them when they get close, but rather, if I can find them, dealing with assassins is not difficult.

After briefly stopping the carriage to take care of some business,

we continued for another half a day, and Trasden came into view.

"Wow..."

At the window of the magic-powered carriage,

Seron, who was sticking to it, began to gaze at the large city with wide eyes.

"Is this your first time seeing such a large city?"

"...Yes. I don't remember anything... except for the Phrenus I saw yesterday."

"You'll see many more in the future. Not just here, but in various places."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah. I plan to travel a lot. We're also planning to visit Helena soon."

Helena.

As soon as I mentioned it, curiosity appeared in the eyes of my companions. Leonhardt, as the representative, asked the question.

"Helena... Are you planning to participate in the magic tournament?"

"Yeah, that's right."

Helena.

One of the largest magic cities in the Alton Empire.

It was a more prosperous territory than Trasden, governed by the Emden family, one of the three duchies in the empire.

'The magic tournament is about to start there.'

The magic tournament held in Helena every two years.

It could be considered the largest magic tournament in the central continent, with a history and reputation built over several hundred years.

"Have you decided which category you will participate in?"

"I plan to participate in the theoretical category."

"Wouldn't the practical category be easier for you?"

"But the prize is smaller in the theoretical category."

At this, the knight seemed to realize something and asked,

"Could it be... Are you aiming for the championship?"

"Yeah."

The categories in the magic tournament are broadly divided into theoretical and practical. I decided to participate in the former.

It's a category where participants showcase various new or modified magic spells, competing to see who can create the best magic.

The prize for the theoretical category is better than that for the practical category.

'Because it grants the qualification to become a Magic Tower Master.'

Magic Tower Master.

Literally, the master of a magic tower.

A magic tower is a force built by gathering magicians. To establish a magic tower, numerous prerequisites are required.

Just as various conditions are needed to list a company in modern society,

if there were no such conditions, anyone could claim to establish a magic tower.

There are several prerequisites.

For example, achieving merit on the battlefield,

discovering groundbreaking magic formulas,

or steadily building a reputation.

These prerequisites must be met for the empire to grant permission to form a magic tower.

However, if I win the magic tournament in Helena,

such troublesome prerequisites would be unnecessary.

This could be considered the most valuable prize in the magic tournament.

Once a magic tower is established, numerous benefits can be enjoyed.

The biggest benefit is that

'the magic tower is treated as a group similar to a noble family.'

In modern terms, it's like being treated as a mid-level company rather than an individual.

Naturally, the range of activities would be much broader once a magic tower is established.

Things that cannot be done as an individual can be easily accomplished with the power of a group.

Leonhardt nodded heavily at my words.

"Are you planning to become independent, young master?"

"Yeah. The next successor is already half-decided. If I continue to stay within the family, I will inevitably reach my limits."

"Limits...?"

"Our family is known for swordsmanship, not magic like the Emden duchy. I don't want to end my life as just a family magician."

If I had possessed the body of this troublemaker when he was young, I might have entered the succession struggle, but unfortunately, the successor is already half-decided.

The best choice would have been to become the next head of the viscount family, but since that option is no longer available,

the second-best choice is the right one.

The second-best choice I am considering is to become a Magic Tower Master.

The viscount family.

The family that has been my background, but I don't plan to stay here forever.

After blocking Adolph, I plan to become independent soon.

"Is that so?"

"To rise higher, I think it's better to build my own force."

I will maintain a good relationship with Abel and use him as an excellent assistant.

Isn't that the power of blood ties?

Ersiel, who had been listening quietly, looked at me.

"Young master, but Helena... It takes more than a month to get there even by magic-powered carriage. I know the tournament is about to start..."

"It's fine. We can use the teleportation gate."

Until now, the magic-powered carriage has been our main means of transportation, but this time, it's not necessary.

The teleportation gate, which can be considered the pinnacle of magical technology.

I plan to use it to travel to Helena in one go.

Nobles of the baron rank and above can install teleportation gates in their families, but to use them, the destination must also have a gate.

Naturally, Helena is one of the large cities with a gate.

"Young master, have you thought about how to cover the mana stones? I know that even to activate the gate, high-grade mana stones are required..."

"I plan to ask my father."

"The head of the family?"

"Yeah. Where would I get mana stones?"

The reason I couldn't use the gate until now was the lack of mana stones.

One high-grade mana stone to activate it,

and additional mana stones based on the distance. Even for a relatively close location like the Neiron baron family,

'At least ten mid-grade mana stones would be needed.'

It's a massive consumption.

That's why I used the magic-powered carriage.

If I said I wanted to use the gate, permission would be denied.

'But this time is different.'

To travel to Helena, two high-grade mana stones and about twenty mid-grade mana stones would be consumed.

The amount of mana stones required increases with the number of people traveling, so even if only Leonhardt and I were to travel, the minimum would be that much.

The usage fee is exorbitantly expensive, but if I can win the tournament,

it wouldn't be a loss.

The largest magic tournament in the empire.

Magicians from the five kingdoms near the empire and even from the Holy Empire come to participate.

Raising the family's name in such a tournament is worth more than dozens of high-grade mana stones.

The mixed activation method of 1st Circle magic.

If I show the viscount a few of these, he will realize that my chances of winning are not low, and even the golden network will understand.

Magic, as a field, is one where discovering a new 3rd Circle