Limit Breaking Genius Mage Chapter 39

Episode 39 Fate (2)

If you want to know about a town, the best way to know is to ask the townspeople. This is especially true for employees at restaurants and inns where you often encounter many people.

After finishing his meal, Verden called over to an employee who was killing time.

“Yes, sir. Would you like to order anything else?”

“Who is the best hunter in this village?”

Verden placed a 100,000 elk note on the table.

It was a huge sum of money, equivalent to half a month's salary for an employee. It was too much to be considered a tip, but the employee had already turned a blind eye to it.

He said in a small voice, putting the money in his pocket so that he wouldn't be caught by his employer.

“There’s a man named Bran on the eastern outskirts. He’s not only a great hunter, but he’s also known for being a drinker. He especially likes strong drinks.”

Because I'm a drinker.

Since he might refuse even if you offer him money, it would be better to buy his favor with a food item. This was useful information.

Verden took out the same bill again and showed it to the clerk.

“Where can I get the best alcohol?”

* * *

Vodka with added fruit flavor.

It was quite expensive for something sold in the town, but there was no need to save money on something like this. Money is meant to be spent, especially when it absolutely had to be spent.

Money is ultimately a means, not an end.

Since Verden knew that very well, he didn't have a miserly side. But he wasn't the type to waste money like water.

Anyway, this was well worth the investment.

I bought two generous bottles of vodka and headed out of town.

An old house, separate from the other buildings. It was definitely a hunter's house, judging by the animal skins drying around it.

He approached and knocked on the door.

“……Who are you?”

“I have come to make a request.”

"request?"

As the door opened, a faint smell of alcohol and a distinctive animal smell wafted past my nose.

Brand suddenly popped his face out and looked Verden up and down carefully.

“It’s my first time seeing you… So what do you want from me?”

“I’m looking for someone to guide me through the Bard Mountains. I heard you’re the best hunter in this village.”

“Well, that’s true. I was once an adventurer, so catching wild animals is easy for me. But I want you to guide me through the mountains… It’s not that hard, but may I ask why?”

“There is something to find.”

Of course, I didn't say what I was looking for. Verden didn't know either.

Bran rubbed his chin in thought, then nodded as if he had made up his mind.

“Okay, I understand. But what will you pay me in compensation?”

Verden opened the envelope and showed the vodka.

Bran, his eyes wide open, stopped staring at the expensive liquor and swallowed hard.

“It’s a deposit. And I’ll pay you a separate compensation later.”

Is this the deposit? And you're saying you'll get more compensation too?

Bran, who had received the vodka, slammed the door and went inside. There was a loud noise, and after a while, Bran came out fully armed, starting with leather clothes and carrying a bow and arrows.

“Let’s go right now, sir.”

Even the way of speaking has changed.

After all, money was the best tool in negotiation.

* * *

Where on earth is the place the ring is pointing to?

It can't be hidden in an easy place. If it were, the hunters roaming the mountains would have found it long ago.

But according to Bran, he's been hunting here for over ten years and hasn't found anything particularly special.

'Then let's check the caves and cliffs first.'

Even if you're a hunter, you wouldn't climb a cliff. There was a possibility that there was some kind of device hidden inside the cave.

Bran, who had brought a map of his own making, pointed out a few specific locations. The eager hunters were in front, followed by Verden.

It was true that he was an adventurer, as he didn't seem too tired even after climbing the steep slope.

Bran looked back slightly.

Despite climbing the mountain at a fast pace, Verden didn't lag behind at all. He was floating in the air.

'You're a wizard? If you can use flight, you must be at least 3rd tier or higher?'

He was wearing a staff member's uniform, but I didn't recognize him because I was distracted by his mysterious appearance and the vodka.

Young, good-looking, and talented. I wasn't particularly jealous or anything, but I couldn't help but feel envious.

At that moment, the cry of a wild boar was heard nearby.

He aimed his arrow straight to the side, and the blade of wind flew past and cut off the boar's neck. Verden spoke to Bran, who blinked.

“I’ll take care of the surroundings, so just focus on giving directions.”

“Oh, okay.”

Bran nodded and stepped forward.

Behind him, the screams of goblins and beasts could be heard intermittently and soon disappeared. Bran, a former Dong-class adventurer, became more and more polite.

* * *

Verden and Brand's companionship continued for several days.

A forced march that leaves in the morning and returns in the evening. Most of the caves and cliffs in the Bard Mountains were checked, but nothing was found. Bran, a seasoned hunter, had a tired look on his face.

I was nodding off every now and then, and I thought I was going to die.

'Should I take a few days off? Or hire another hunter?'

Even if I spread my magic detection wide, I can't catch anything, so…

I tried putting on the ring and moving it around, but there was no response at all. There were no clues to find.

“Please stay here for a moment.”

Verden, who had left a word for Bran, rose into the air. He was so high that he could almost touch the clouds and looked down at the mountain range.

I looked closely, but as expected, there were only trees.

‘… … If I just turn it upside down, won’t there be a reaction?’

I would have liked to have done so, but I was not a magician that crazy.

Berden shook his head and sighed… … .

'for a moment.'

It was only then that I noticed it.

The trees, which were dark green and hidden among the lime-green forest, were not strange at all, but the spacing between them was familiar.

I estimated the positions of the trees with a magic thread in the air and connected them one by one.

“……Concealment magic circle.”

It was also of a high grade, completely integrated with nature.

The idea that it would be hidden somewhere was wrong from the start.

The entire forest between the mountain ranges was where the ring pointed.

'This is such a huge magic circle.'

It is impossible to estimate how much time and effort it would have taken. Even if it was the Bohemian Tower, it would have taken at least two weeks to do it alone.

Verden, who had descended to the ground, spoke to Bran.

“Found it.”

"……yes?"

“Here’s some extra compensation. I have something to do, so you should go back first.”

Bran, who received 500,000 elk.

Something didn't feel right, but since my employer had found me, this hellish road guiding was over. I smiled at the thought of going home, having a drink, and getting some sleep.

Bran, who had said goodbye, disappeared quickly, and Verden headed towards the center of the magic circle.

There was a single tree with dark green leaves standing alone.

“Is this the lumbar region?”

Verden, who was confident, lightly released his hand and pulled out the magic thread.

No matter how confident he was about his magic circle, what was in front of him was enough to make even Verden nervous.

If something goes wrong along the way, the magic circle can never be destroyed unless the entire forest is destroyed.

'The estimated time is 1 hour.'

A single ray of magic that penetrates the magic circle.

Verden started working.

* * *

Harkan woke up and struggled to get up from his old bed.

As time goes by, my body gets worse and worse. At some point, I lose consciousness and fall asleep as if I'm fainting, and when I open my eyes, I'm greeted by severe pain.

I staggered towards the desk. I grabbed the potion I had made myself and downed it in one gulp before the pain subsided.

He looked down at his hands. Despite taking the medication, the tremors in his hands did not subside.

It was evidence that his body could no longer endure it.

'Hold on, Harkan. For this means that change is coming… … .'

I slowly left the room, holding my cane. It was a wide space with no ceiling. As always, I lay down on the sofa and stared blankly at the sky.

Waiting for the night to come when he could read his fate was a routine he had repeated for decades.

But today was different from yesterday.

Suddenly, I felt a presence behind me. I turned my head and saw a man with gray hair and clear eyes standing at the entrance.

“Wh, what?!”

How could there be an intruder! Why didn't the magic circle react?!

Harkan reflexively raised his magical power.

Although he couldn't use his original power because his magic circuit was broken, he was able to treat an unsuspecting opponent as his companion on his journey to the afterlife.

Harkan shouted, his expression distorted.

“You…! Did you come from Black Hour?!”

'Black Hour? Why is that group of criminals suddenly showing up?'

Verden tilted his head and showed the ring on his hand.

“I followed this ring.”

"ring……?"

no way.

Harkan's gaze turned to Berden's hand. As expected, there was a very familiar ring on it. It was one of a pair of rings he had lost long ago, the 'Crescent'.

The fact that he came here with this can only be interpreted in one sense.

"at las……!"

Ugh! As the tension released, Harkan collapsed, bleeding profusely.

“……?”

Berden was rarely flustered by the sudden situation.

* * *

Harkan, who had briefly lost consciousness, immediately got up.

It hadn't even been ten seconds since he'd fallen. His final fate had arrived, and there was no time to groan. He struggled to get up onto the sofa.

“……Can you help me support you?”

“If you explain first, I will help you.”

It was impossible to approach the old man who suddenly drew out his magical powers after seeing him. And on top of that, the old man was hiding behind a huge concealment magic circle. It was too suspicious.

'There is a need to be vigilant.'

Even if they are dying.

Harkan chuckled at Verden's firm answer.

“You’re being careful. I really like it.”

Harkan, who had just settled down on the sofa, pointed to the chair.

Verden pulled the chair over to him with his telekinesis and sat down.

“Before I answer your question about that ring… I have a question. How did you get through the concealment magic circle? There were several magic circles at the entrance to the cave.”

“It was all destroyed.”

Although he said it calmly, Verden also had quite a headache.

It took an hour to get through a small hole in the concealment magic circle, and the entrance was littered with magic circles with high lethal power.

Four whole hours. Thanks to that, I'm now better at destroying the damn magic circle than before.

“You got rid of all of that…?”

Are you saying that you have that much knowledge about magic circles at that age?

Ah, Harkan was sure. That talented man, the wizard, was his destiny. Harkan thanked the heavens from the bottom of his heart.

“Now that you’ve answered, let me ask you something. What on earth is this ring?”

“It’s fate. The fate that connected you and me, two people who have never even met before.”

Harkan smiled slightly and raised his head to face Verden.

“Would you please listen to my story?”