Chapter 128 : The Days Toward the Rostingia Marcher Lordship (12)
Chapter 128: The Days Toward the Rostingia Marcher Lordship (12)
“Oh!”
“How is it?”
“It certainly seems to be effective? Mage Agpiel.”
-Woooooong.
Shatien spoke thus while looking at the forest charm, which vibrated as it faintly emitted mystery.
He had just drawn up the mystery of his bloodline, but unlike before, he didn't feel his stamina being drained.
“It was made by me after all. Of course it works. It’s very precious, so use it carefully for a long time.”
“Ah, yes....”
Shatien replied dubiously.
He wondered if it was truly that precious, considering he received it instead of being called father.
Of course, our Mage Agpiel had long since cast such thoughts aside.
“How is it now? Does the balance seem right? Can you draw up the mystery of your bloodline a little more?”
“Hm, I’ll give it a try.”
Shatien focused for a moment and began to draw up the mystery of his bloodline.
Mage Agpiel continued to speak while feeling the flow of that mystery.
-Woooooong.
“More, more.”
-Woooooooong.
“A little more. Good. Yes. That’s it.”
-Woooooooooooong-!
“Stop!”
At Mage Agpiel's shout, Shatien immediately stopped drawing up the mystery of the bloodline.
The balance was then exquisitely struck.
The forest charm was precariously, but steadily, assisting the mystery of the bloodline that gnawed away at Shatien.
“It seems this is the limit. Remember that gap well. It won't be very fun if you cross the limit.”
'Woah....'
The delicate adjustment naturally drew admiration. He was truly the Sage of the Forest. Then, feeling uneasy about the latter words, Shatien asked back.
“What happens if I cross it?”
“What happens? What a foolish question. Think of a dam that’s precariously balanced. If more rain falls and the water rises to the limit and overflows, what happens?”
“Uh.... The dam will collapse?”
“Exactly. That’s your situation now. Remember that gap well. If you cross the limit, you’ll consume life force even more violently than before.”
“…….”
Shatien was left speechless after hearing those words. The level of the penalty was quite serious.
“Still, don't worry too much. Is the level of mystery you’ve already drawn up not quite impressive? Cases where you cross the limit will likely be situations where your life’s in danger, so it’s better to overcome the crisis and exhaust your life force than to die.”
“Well, that’s true.”
Seeing him speak so calmly since it wasn't his own business made Shatien feel quite skeptical.
Then, as if reading Shatien's thoughts, Mage Agpiel clicked his tongue.
“As expected of a young friend, you’re too greedy and hasty. Isn't that a fairly decent level of control? Of course, would I, Agpiel the Sage of the Forest, stop at just that much advice? Naturally, I’ve prepared ways to solve the problem.”
“Oh!”
Shatien let out another exclamation of admiration. It was different from the lament of a moment ago.
“The forest is a great nature overflowing with life force, but even so, it cannot fill lost life force. For such things, one must seek holiness.”
“Aha? You mean I should stay on good terms with the Order. Indeed, if I use blessed holy relics, things like life force....”
“What nonsense are you saying?”
Mage Agpiel cut the words short.
“As if that stingy Order would ever give you a holy relic. The Order doesn't make sense in terms of profit and loss.”
“…….”
Shatien was momentarily sickened by the sight of Mage Agpiel, who was so tenaciously calculating gains and losses. At this point, his character was truly established.
Whether that was the case or not, Mage Agpiel didn't care at all and continued speaking nonchalantly.
“By nature, people like you and me must do work that makes sense in terms of profit and loss. Like this subjugation battle.”
With that, Mage Agpiel whispered slightly lowly. He seemed to care about his reputation in the surroundings.
Of course, those words were....
“The pagan temple is a treasury of various mysteries and relics from the days of the ancient empire. It’s a very good business in many ways.”
“…….”
“Hmm? What’s that expression? Hmm... surely you aren't saying it’s unnecessary? Hahaha. Well, it doesn't matter to me, but you mustn't throw a tantrum asking for it later. Do you understand?”
“…….”
As expected.... This eccentric mage was not easy for Shatien.
* * *
The subjugation team was able to march toward their destination quite comfortably.
As mentioned before, many villages welcomed the subjugation team as a reward for the medical treatment. They voluntarily slaughtered the livestock they were raising to treat them and brought out salted meats that’d been stockpiled somewhere for a long time.
They even provided vacant houses within the villages, so there was no need to camp outdoors while suffering from the cold dew.
Thanks to this, everyone from the knights to the lowest mercenaries was in high spirits and good condition.
Except for one person.
-Clack!
-Clang!
“Hmm. What kind of training is that?”
“Well. From what I overheard, is it training to heighten senses? Or so they say.”
“Is that the source of strength?”
“Hey. Isn't it training ordered by a mage. What would a mage who just swings a staff know about knights that would be helpful. It's probably just... something else.”
“Right? It does seem likely. Sir.”
The Count's knights who followed were whispering to each other while watching Shatien's training.
Watching the training scene of a famous knight like Shatien was a rare opportunity.
Of course, the training he was doing looked a bit...
-Claaaang!
It looked like nothing much.
Parrying another suddenly flying stone, Shatien let out a sigh.
“Uh... Mage Agpiel. I’m telling you, I’ve trained this quite a lot already.”
Wasn't this the training he’d done incessantly under Master Joachim? To think he’d undergo this again with Mage Agpiel. It was simply absurd.
“Hahaha. Wow. Your master certainly seems like a great person. I’d like to meet him sometime. To think he already had you perform such effective training without handling mystery....”
Mage Agpiel said so as if his interest was piqued.
Did he say he’d overcome the wall?
Certainly, the paths toward the summit were various. For the first time in a while, Mage Agpiel was in high spirits.
“Since you’re handling it quite well.... Then I’ll change the method a bit.”
“What do you mean change the method.... Mmph?!”
Before he could finish speaking, Shatien flinched and twisted his body in surprise.
The mystery of the bloodline had suddenly seethed and warned him.
“My, my. You react appropriately to physical things, but you cannot control mystery and magic? Hahaha.”
“I nearly fell off my horse! Mage Agpiel!”
“Can a knight afford to fall off a horse over just that much. Now then, stay tense. I’ll continue to proceed using mystery from now on.”
Mage Agpiel didn't listen to a word Shatien said.
Shatien let out a sigh inwardly. It felt as if every day since getting involved with this mage had been a chaotic mess.
'Well.... Still. It is helpful, though.'
* * *
“Here. Why don't you wipe some sweat while you're at it?”
“Ah. Branch Manager Marhen. Thank you.”
Shatien received a towel.
Suffering from attacks that felt more like bullying than training, Shatien was already drenched in sweat.
Of course, since he was facing a battle soon, he hadn't drained his stamina significantly, but had merely heated his body up.
“By the way, how is the village where the pagan temple was discovered?”
Shatien asked while wiping away the sweat.
“It’s a fairly large and prosperous village. It was a key village connecting Count Joberham's city and the nearby Bishopric of Bramen. Of course, it’s currently desolate as most residents have left.”
“Huh....”
It was almost surprising that there were residents stubbornly remaining in the village in such a situation.
He’d clearly heard that a curse originating from the pagan temple and a pack of goblins had set up camp there.
At that, Branch Manager Marhen smiled bitterly and spoke.
“Sometimes, people who lack the means to move end up staying in a village despite the danger.”
“I suppose. That’s true.”
He nodded as his past suddenly came to mind.
In the old days, how many elderly people had refused to leave their villages even when they were being plundered by mercenaries?
According to them, since they’d die if they left anyway, it was easier to stay and die even if it was painful.
“Captain Shatien! We seem to be arriving at the village soon. What shall we do?”
Just then, a scout sent ahead returned and shouted. It seemed they’d reached the target village before they knew it.
“What shall we do? Shall we enter the village or stay in the nearby plains?”
“It’d be better to stay in a place a bit far off. Young knight. The sun is setting soon.”
“Hmm. That’s true. There’s no need to enter a village where monsters are coming and going for no reason.”
If the knights in the back had heard, they’d have shouted that it was an un-knightly decision, but what could be done. Safety came first.
“We set up camp here! The whole unit, align yourselves and work on the camp quickly!”
Shatien gave the order and immediately sent the scout back to the village.
One never knew.
Exactly how many goblins there were in or near the village. It would be a disaster if they took advantage of the dark night to crawl here and attack.
It was necessary to prepare in advance. Since a merchant caravan had also come along, there were quite a few items that goblins would like.
“By the way, it’s not very good. I made an excuse to Isabella, but it really seems like a curse’s started at the pagan temple.”
Mage Agpiel muttered thus while looking at the hill behind the village beyond the ridge.
A sinister mystery was wriggling there.
An intensely damp mystery was felt even without drawing up his abilities.
“Could the swarming of goblins also be an influence of that?”
“Hm, well. Such creatures tend to breed and increase on their own. Usually, when such an impertinent mystery seethes, beings of darkness tend to wriggle. For example, friends like the undead.”
“Mmm....”
Shatien furrowed his brow at those words. If there were undead besides goblins at the pagan temple, it was certain that the battle would be more difficult than expected.
“This is quite a case the Order would like.”
A pagan temple, a curse, suffering commoners, and even an intensely damp mystery.
It was a situation where it would be strange if the Order didn't send Knights of the Order.
Well, of course.
“Would they really?”
“That’s right. As far as I know, the relationship between Bishop Bramen and Count Joberham isn't good.”
“I suppose sending Knights of the Order recklessly would lead to a dispute.”
Then, Mage Agpiel nodded with a face full of conviction.
“Exactly. Unless they’re mad, there's no way. When one becomes a high noble of that caliber, they naturally acquire political sense even if they were originally from the clergy. Such soft emotions have long since vanished.”
“...Still, you never know, do you?”
“Young knight. Why are you being like this. If they send Knights of the Order? Hahaha. I’ll call you father.”
Somehow, this felt like a similar situation.
And that feeling,
“C-Captain Shatien!!”
“A battle’s broken out in the village.”
“A battle?”
“Yes!! The Order sent Knights of the Order. What shall we do?”
Somehow, it matched perfectly.
“…….”
“…….”
“...I’ll say it again, but you really don't have to call me father.”