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Episode 461 Night Price (1)
Melconi Bloud, who lost the magic battle with Junia, opened his eyes after about 13 days due to physical injuries and damage to his magical circuits.
‘This is… … a solitary cell in some fortress.’
It's an unfamiliar ceiling.
The bed and pillows are soft.
It looks like they treat high-ranking prisoners well since it's not an underground prison.
However, Melconi was a little dazed and could only move his eyes, unable to move straight away.
Although wizards become stronger as they gain knowledge over time, there is no way to avoid the aging of the body itself.
Like other people, it's all about extending the end of your lifespan according to your level.
Even taking that into account, Melconi was quite old.
After waking up, I was able to get up only after repeated treatment and rest, and only when the competition was almost over.
Well… … Well… … .
Melconi regularly ate the porridge prepared by the northern forces. As an elder of the Tower, he never caused a disturbance.
After finishing my meal, I would just spend time staring out the window or lost in thought.
“You’re more docile than I thought.”
Adrian had a private meeting with Melconi.
A metal mask covering the lower part of the face and a dark blue sword worn on the waist.
Upon seeing the rumored figure, Melconi realized that he was the nameless prosecutor who was the closest associate of the divine, and at the same time, he realized that he was the watcher who had been watching him from an unseen place.
Melconi moistened his throat with lukewarm water.
“I thought so. If you hadn’t kept quiet, would you have tried to kill me?”
“If necessary.”
It's not a lie.
A sharp tingle of murderous intent passed through the back of my neck for a moment.
“Hmm, you said you were weakened by the saint’s miracle, but you killed the skeletal dragon. It wasn’t an empty reputation. Well, there’s no need to worry too much about it. I have no intention of escaping anyway.”
“…….”
“I’m going to live my life in such shame if I lose to a young wizard in a head-on confrontation and then run away. If I’m a hostage, I should behave like one. But…….”
Melconi gazed east.
“The Tower of Magic won’t be like that. We always prioritize the prestige of the group over individual honor and dignity.”
* * *
Melconi's warning soon became reality.
A magician from the Magic Tower of Volcano Island, ranked 6th in the Magic Tower Comprehensive Rank, suddenly and noisily stormed into the northern fortress.
“Where is Melconi!!!”
A loud voice.
An impression with no compromise, even the eyes and wrinkles look fierce.
A glimpse of his blunt personality can be seen from him.
'Firanje Pyras', a member of the Andranov Elder Council of the Volcanic Island's Magic Tower, along with Melconi, breathed out hot breath.
As her anger grows, the temperature in all directions gradually rises.
In an atmosphere of such inaccessible fervor, the valiant fugitive mercenaries guarding the fortress could not even approach.
The only exception is Adrian.
“You have no manners as an uninvited guest.”
A while ago, an unidentified flying object… … Judging from the elders of the Magic Tower on Volcanic Island, was heading towards this fortress, and this was reported through a communication device from the Society that was on alert.
The confinement place of Melconi, who was completely disarmed, was moved to another place. In case he changes his mind and runs wild with the other elders, it will be a problem.
'But I had no fighting spirit at all.'
Nevertheless, Adrian took steps to reduce the variables as much as possible.
“Melconi Bloud is not here, but we are treating him as a prisoner. If you have come to negotiate the hostage, let us hear it first.”
“Hostage? Negotiation? Oh… Okay. If you really want to hear my business, then tell me.”
Sparks flew from the refugee's eyes.
“I, Piranje Pyras, speak. Release all the magicians belonging to the Magic Tower on Volcanic Island, including Melconi Bloud, immediately. Hand over everything you have taken.”
“What’s the price?”
“I will show special leniency.”
A hot wave burst from her, leaving soot on the ground.
“You tried to harm the leader of the Magic Tower without even knowing the subject, but I will accept a small favor instead.”
So, it was a one-sided demand, without any conditions or ransom, to pay the hostages and the price that made them uncomfortable.
If they did not accept, they threatened to burn down the fortress.
It is truly a magic tower.
Well, if the power of the Magic Tower of the Volcanic Island, which is ranked 6th in the overall ranking, is so great, most people would be scared and follow it obediently.
'Should I just throw it away?'
Adrian, who was getting irritated, inwardly pulled out his magic sword, Cadence.
With this gap, we should be able to gain the upper hand and push forward.
If it were my old personality, I would have already made that move, but… … At least for now, I had to think it over carefully.
There are more than one or two things to consider, such as the damage that will be inflicted on the surrounding area, as well as the relationship with the Magic Tower on the volcanic island being strained.
'Still, I think two hostages are better than one.'
Not a bad choice if you ever find yourself at odds with the Volcano Island's Magic Tower.
Even if he is the leader of the Matapju, he won't be able to make an easy decision since the lives of two important veterans are at stake.
It was at that time.
“!”
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Adrian, who had calmed down immediately, knelt on one knee and bowed his head. Directly facing the back of Piranje Pyras.
“What are you doing now…….”
“Welcome, my lord.”
My lord?
The refugee quickly looked back.
A man dressed in luxurious black robes was reflected in her eyes.
Asher, the deity of the Eastern Continent.
The clothes were different from what I had heard, but the famous gray hair and blue eyes were still the same. The overall appearance was also the same as the information I had gathered.
'You said you left the ownerless land for some reason and didn't participate in the competition, but it seems you recently returned. But… … When did you get so close?'
I don't feel any magic.
Of course, if the levels of wizards are similar, they cannot clearly understand each other's realms.
If you use a magical item with excellent or top-tier magical power manipulation ability, it is also possible to completely conceal your magical power.
Even the refugees were not suited to the nature, magic, color, and detection.
He himself was convinced that he had not noticed the approach of a wizard of the same level who was considered to have reached the level of magic and had completely hidden his magical powers.
If there was one thing I couldn't understand… … it was this strange feeling. I couldn't express it clearly in words, but something was off.
If anything, it's ominous.
As Piranje kept his mouth shut at the unfamiliar sensation he had never felt before in his life, Verden, who had raised Adrian with a gesture, spoke.
“I heard the story. They wanted to apologize for disrupting the event at the Magic Tower with the wizards including Melconi Bloud.”
While the competition was in full swing, Interis was in production.
Verden, who had been unable to leave the Black Volcano, connected the space with the <Gate> and occasionally contacted Adrian and Isabella using a communication device made by Alpha.
About how the rivalry between them is progressing, or how a dwarven village is planning to move into a large mine in the disputed area.
I didn't ask in detail because I didn't want to bother you as much as possible, but I still have a general idea of the competitive match.
I am aware of the information that Junia defeated Melconi one-on-one. I just heard the conversation between Adrian and Piranje.
“……Did you overhear me? Well, it’s nice not having to repeat what I said.”
The Piranje activated the magic circuit, clearing his thoughts and filling him with heat.
“I would especially advise you not to refuse, unless you want to see the unclaimed lands of the North reduced to ashes.”
The Land of No Owners was created out of necessity in the world, and Matap is one of the groups that demanded that necessity.
Of course, it is not right to intervene privately, but it is perfectly legal to support other forces and start a war.
Verden calmly responded to the threat posed by the refugees.
“How coercive. Is that the will of the Magic Tower Master who leads the Magic Tower of Volcanic Island?”
“Of course…….”
“Before I hear your answer, I have some special advice for you.”
He came closer.
“Melconi Bloud was ultimately defeated and subdued by a single man. And as you know, there are more than a few men with that kind of power in the North. This fortress is one of them.”
Verden and Adrian.
Even if we only look at his status as revealed to the world, not his actual skills, he is by no means below the elders of the Magic Tower.
“And the Midloth Dominion must have figured out that I’m not afraid of the Tower. What gave you the confidence to come here alone?”
“……!”
“I’ve heard that since the magic tower on Volcanic Island mainly uses fire magic, the personality of the magician who immerses himself in that heat can sometimes become rough.”
The wall flickered.
“Choose the location.”
Verden stopped walking and faced Piranje Pyras three steps away.
Then he asked again.
“Then I will ask again. Is this demand the will of Matapju? Or is it the will of an individual named Piranje Piras, a member of Andranov?”
Silence falls.
It had to be that way.
Because the meaning of the previous words contained an implicit meaning that could not be ignored, such as that depending on the answer, he would even go to war with the Magic Tower of Volcanic Island.
“…….”
The refugee did not answer hastily.
As expected of a famous magician, he suppressed his anger that threatened to explode and thought rationally.
This is a profit and loss calculation.
About the national power of the North revealed in the competition and the damage that Matap might suffer if they were to immediately confront them.
'this.'
It's definitely a disaster.
Even in 'these times', if you antagonize the divine power, things will go wrong.
I never thought my opponent would come out this strong… … Piranje realized that he had been hasty and calmed down his magic power and rolled his eyes.
“You probably know what happened to those who stood in opposition to the Magic Tower until now, right?”
“I don’t need advice.”
Verden passed the refugee camp.
“I’ll give you time, so next time, come up with better negotiation terms. You only get one chance.”
“You bastard……!”
The refugee was momentarily enraged by the threat posed to the volcanic island's magic tower, but as expected, he ended up just gnashing his teeth.
Because it was disadvantageous in many ways.
Even though he is a very emotional person, he made a judgment on a grand scale. There must be a good reason why he has survived for so long.
“You will definitely regret it.”
Still, perhaps because he had to maintain a minimum of self-respect, Piranje chewed on the last piece of advice and left the fortress.
* * *
Verden stared at the sky where the refugees had disappeared.
“You seem to be naturally impatient, but you left more quietly than I expected. Does that mean you’ll still be one of the elders of the Magic Tower even after you die?”
Focusing on losses and gains silences your emotions and cools your head.
It is more about the results.
It was a way of thinking that a magician belonging to the Magic Tower would naturally possess.
“It is thanks to your presence, my lord. By the way, I did not know that upon your return you would first visit a fortress in a conflict zone rather than Arane.”
“I came here because I sensed considerable magical power on my way to Arane. It was a good thing I came. By the way, how did the competition go?”
“Yes, I will explain it now.”
Adrian briefly summarized the course of the war.
From the Eastern hired warrior killing the great lord Ceolph, to Cain's surrender to the mercenary king and his victory in the competition.
“……It seems like some kind of force is plotting something behind the scenes. That’s why we’re forming a surveillance system as wide as possible to watch over the borders of the territory.”
“What about Liam?”
“To confirm the victory of the current competition, Liam has gone to Medillon, the arbitration zone, and has been assigned Cain, Junia, and Isabella as his escorts. Also, at the request of the East for negotiations, the hostage, Lord Kadrick, is being transported to Medillon in another carriage.”
There are three sixth-rank magicians.
It's unlikely that a life-threatening situation will arise… … but that doesn't mean we can just sit back and watch.
'If the power behind the secret plan is determined, things could get complicated.'
Verden put a hand on Adrian's shoulder.
“You worked hard while I was away. Now, take a rest.”
“Are you thinking of going to Medillon?”
“The competition I left to you is over, so the rest is mine. Alpha, you wait with Adrian.”
[check.]
Alpha jumped up from Verden's nape and climbed onto Adrian's shoulder.
[Have a safe trip, Your Majesty.]
Alpha waved his hand.
Although it was now in a <transparent> state, it was clearly visible to Verden.
"okay."
Verden turned his back.
“I’ll go and tidy up a bit.”
* * *
Medillon, the place where the agreement for the competition was decided and where it will be concluded today.
“No, we won according to the rules they proposed, but it feels really bad. Should we just throw it away?”
“If you want to get scolded by the wise men and seniors later, then do so.”
Junia complained, and Cain stopped her and showed up outside.
Soon, Isabella and Liam also got off the carriage.
A representative from the North arrived at the mediation area.