Limit Breaking Genius Mage Chapter 276

Episode 276: To the Autonomous Territory (2)

Giant carriages race down the street, kicking up clouds of dust.

It is quite large and heavy because it was privately modified to maximize its load capacity. It is so large that it needs at least three horses to be pulled smoothly.

By using special breeds with developed endurance, you can move a little longer and for a little longer.

On the other hand, the horses that the escort troops rode were selected to be capable of explosive speed in preparation for sudden situations.

It was a necessary expense, even though it required a lot of maintenance costs.

The more luggage you can carry in a single move, the more digits of money you will receive in return.

A transport unit of several dozen people.

In this neighborhood, Padreld was like a representative store of the smuggling industry.

But in the end, he was just one of those active in the underworld.

'If I had known this would happen, I would have bought a carriage for entertaining.'

The smell of metal and wood tickles my nose.

The narrow interior of the carriage was filled with a gloomy atmosphere like dark clouds. I tried to secure as much space as possible and clean it, but I couldn't get beyond the limitations of the carriage.

To be honest, why would you need a fancy carriage to run a smuggling business? It's a hassle to manage and it's useless.

At best, transporting outsiders involves taking illegal immigrants into towns and cities for a fee based on the cigar.

Although nobles would occasionally visit, there was no particular significance to their status. Coming to the Smuggler's Valley itself meant that they were either in decline or about to fall.

Among them, Padreld had never met an influential guest who he should have personally treated as his superior.

So, you can see the difference.

Padreld, who had been quietly rolling his eyes, coughed slightly.

“Oh, this is so shabby, I’m sorry. There’s no better carriage in the valley…….”

“It doesn’t matter.”

Verden leaned his back against the wall as if he was used to it.

He spent his childhood working at an orphanage and at a rooftop.

Now, he had no intention of making a fuss about a single carriage, calling himself the King of the Underworld or an Honorary Count.

Status is just a means.

Verden asked, looking out through the gap in the carriage at the scenery outside.

“I have some idea about the Midloth Autonomy. However, it would be more accurate to hear it from you, who has worked there. What is the overall atmosphere like?”

“Public security wasn’t that great to begin with, but it’s pretty serious now. Locally, it’s comparable to or even worse than the southern part of the Kingdom of Estyria, where the undead outbreak occurred.”

The voice quieted down.

“Because the Mamentus Trading Company is being eaten by the Ain race from outside, the merchants heading to or leaving the Dominion are discouraged. Because of this, the price of food has gone up several times, and the economy is in shambles. It’s so bad that the moment you step off the main road, a group of people will approach you to try to steal your money.”

“What about the guards?”

“They take bribes and pretend not to see them. They can’t survive on their salaries alone, so they just fill their back pockets with money. Well, this isn’t a big deal….”

Padreld scratched his temple.

“I don’t know if you know, but a while ago, the most expensive Rainbow Inn in the Dominion burned down. It was a place with tight security as it was mainly used by wealthy people. Because of that, the guests who used to stay at the inn dispersed, and I heard that there are some guys who specialize in targeting people with deep pockets.

The Rainbow Inn burns down, and the Mamentus Chamber of Commerce dies.

Both are related to the Bohemian Tower, and are incidents that Verden is paying attention to.

“The fire at the inn. You see it as an incident, not an accident.”

“Accident? Haha, I’ve stayed at the Rainbow Inn before, so I know that it’s absolutely impossible. There’s almost nothing that could spark a fire, and even if there was a fire by chance, it would have been dealt with quickly.”

Of course, if it is operating normally.

“The current situation in the Dominion. The absence of security when the inn caught fire, the people who had no choice but to move to the inn in a relatively unsafe location, and the guys who attacked them. At least from my perspective, I don’t think it was an accident.”

Of course, we'll have to wait and see.

Since it was only a feeling, I added something briefly.

“For that reason, in addition to the adventurers who came to subjugate the Ainz race, many mercenaries are flowing into the territory. They must be trying to make a profit by escorting carriages or providing personal protection. They are ferocious men, so if there is a real fight, there is a high chance of them wielding a knife, so the atmosphere is tense.”

Padreld shrugged.

“Meanwhile, the Dominion and the nobles are just watching and taking care of their own interests. This is the situation with the Dominion of Midloth. It’s the worst, so much so that it’s absolutely not recommended as a travel destination.”

It was an honest assessment as a smuggler.

“Then the size of the organization operating in the shadows must have also grown.”

“That’s right. Even I, who has been in this industry for a long time, find it unusual.”

“It’s unusual…….”

Verden recalled his original purpose.

The reason for heading to the Midloth Dominion is to make contact with a group on the Eastern Continent that is hostile to the Bohemirn Tower.

You have to see for yourself and decide whether it is worth using as a base for your power.

'But to find them, we need information.'

Here, Verden planned to use his status as ruler of Loafra.

The weight of that notoriety spread not only throughout the kingdom, but also throughout the underworld of the Eastern Continent.

According to what Robert had heard, the organizations of the Dominion would never ignore Verden's orders or requests.

In other words, it will become your resource to gather all kinds of information.

'Without me having to run around myself.'

In that respect, Padreld was a suitable person to be a guide.

The reputation the smugglers had built up gave them credibility as proof of Verden's identity. It would also be easy to bring together the scattered organizations.

It would be more efficient than moving alone.

In many ways, it was worth the investment of time and money.

* * *

The road to the Midloth Dominion was smooth.

It seems that the rumors about the subhumans are not false. Although several groups of subhumans have appeared in the forests where adventurers have subdued them several times, they have not attacked.

Because the size of Padreld's transport fleet was large.

Those who sensed danger based on their instincts quietly disappeared into the forest.

Three days passed like that.

Kururururung.

A rumble of thunder is heard from the cloudy sky.

Heavy raindrops soaked the dirt and trees. The carriage slowed down due to the sudden winter rain.

I didn't know what would happen if I ran down the dark street.

Padreld, wrapped in a blanket, glanced outside.

“We will soon reach the Dominion city. Fortunately, we won’t have to camp in this weather.”

Sleeping in bad weather is never a pleasant experience.

He breathed a sigh of relief at the thought of soon recovering from his travel fatigue at a hotel in the city.

At that moment, Verden, who had been meditating quietly, opened his eyes.

“Paderold.”

“Please speak.”

“Are there any thieves around here?”

A thief?

Padreld shook his head.

“It might have been different in the past, but it’s not like that now. If you stay outside and commit theft in the current situation, you’ll get caught by the Ainz race. And you’ll be quickly discovered by the adventurers who come to subdue periodically.”

“Then you’re saying he’s not a thief?”

“?”

Verden raised his body.

He went out to the stables and looked around.

Even without using <Magic Detection>, you can clearly feel the hostility and murderous intent that is subtly felt.

'And even magic power.'

Verden's gaze turned forward.

Kukukukukuku… … !

Suddenly, a <stone wall> rose up above the road.

The startled coachman pulled the reins, but there wasn't enough distance to stop the horse completely.

“Oh, oh, oh!”

The convoy veered off the road and avoided collision.

However, it was inevitable that the carriage in front would crash into the wall. The carriages behind would also become entangled with each other and create a mess.

It was the moment when Padreld's pupils dilated as he stuck his head out.

<Terrain Manipulation>

Verden's eyes flickered.

The wall blocking the road split vertically and opened wide on both sides.

The carriage, which narrowly avoided a collision, stopped shortly afterwards. The line was disrupted, but there was no major problem.

Excited horses neigh and babble.

Padreld shouted, drawing his dagger.

“It’s an attack! Be careful, there’s a wizard!”

The escorts glared at the sudden situation and looked around cautiously.

The smugglers were attached to the wagons and guarded by the boxes containing the contraband. It was an organized movement.

“What kind of bastards dare……”

Padreld, who had stopped, turned around.

“Oh, thank you, Asher. I almost lost the carriage right before my eyes. Thanks to you, I was able to avoid disaster.”

I don't know how on earth you did it.

Padreld suppressed his rising curiosity.

Verden said.

“I think what they’re after is your cargo.”

“I guess that’s what it looks like. There’s no other reason. Stay in the carriage. We’ll take care of them.”

Padreld expressed his confidence.

I guess this isn't the first or second time you've been in this situation.

But I didn't intend to waste time.

“Is there a need to capture him?”

“Yes? Oh, yes. If possible, about five or six people…….”

I started up Raindia.

He took the Orient out of the subspace and held it in his hand, activating the magic circuit.

<Magic Sensing>

Basic magic with minimal disadvantages using the Dark Lord's Arcane.

No one noticed even though a subtle wave of magical power covered the area. In other words, there were no magicians who had reached a certain level.

It was a group of several low-ranking wizards, armed with light armor, crossbows, bows, and swords.

'Did you plan on shooting arrows after overturning the carriage?'

The numbers are quite a lot.

It doesn't matter anyway.

Verden stretched his staff toward the sky.

Tiny lightning bolts created by magical power split the raindrops and pierced through the dark clouds.

* * *

Break the line of carriages with a <stone wall> and send a signal.

A simple and clear operation to immediately create a hive of Padreld's smugglers on both sides of the road and attack them, stealing the entire cargo.

And if there were any nobles that Padreld had brought, he planned to capture them alive, take all their valuables, use them as entertainment, and then kill them.

Because I rarely had the opportunity to play with those born with wealth and power as my toys in life.

The force was sufficient as several smugglers and criminals joined forces.

“But why is it so quiet?”

Oel, hiding in the grass, muttered softly.

Judging by the commotion heard nearby, the carriage seems to have stopped as scheduled… …but the wizard does not send a signal.

My colleagues also tilted their heads, saying they didn't understand English.

“Is there a problem? What should I do?”

"well……."

Oel fiddled with the slingshot and pondered.

A dark forest with rain falling.

Although the weather was perfect for an attack, it was difficult to secure a clear view, just like our opponents.

Oel, who had been chewing on his lips, exhaled and raised his head.

"……huh?"

Suddenly something flashed and shot upward from below.

The moment it disappeared between the gray clouds, a blue electric current flashed. For a moment, my eyes were drawn to the light that drove away the darkness.

To those without a deep knowledge of magic, it was just a spectacle.

Quadra casting.

<Lightning>

Four lightning bolts striking the ground.

At the same time, a wave of lightning struck the rain-soaked attackers.

There was no scream.

* * *

4th tier lightning magic, <Thunderbolt>.

The power and range are enhanced by magical items such as Orient.

Those who were close to the impact point were killed instantly, but those who were relatively far away and caught in the residual lightning survived.

Verden, who had easily eliminated his enemies, turned his back on Orient and took him into his own hands.

Padreld asked cautiously.

“Uh, is it over?”

“If you go to the right, there will be six people passed out in the grass. Retrieve them as you see fit.”

Verden entered the carriage.

Padreld, who was left behind, opened his mouth.

Other people who were looking at him had similar reactions. Padreld took a deep breath and gave instructions.

The escorts immediately entered the forest.

'Asher, the wizard who killed Grond.'

To be honest, I was nervous, but I didn't take it seriously.

A beautiful appearance that is far from being evil.

Although manipulating the rapids and using magic circles in Smuggler's Canyon was impressive, the great power did not directly affect my skin.

But not anymore.

The ability to accurately determine the position of an opponent from where they are.

I have never seen such lethal force as annihilating the attackers with as many as four lightning bolts.

‘… … Now it’s starting to feel real.’

Who is the person you are traveling with?

Swaaa …

Heavy rain hits my head.

The winter chill seeped in even more deeply.