Volume 18 Chapter 9 Male
There was some movement at what looked like a metal smelting site just before noon, 2 days later. Al was at the mountain peak overlooking the smelting site, practicing spells alone since early morning while keeping watch.
Recently, the number of spells had increased, so the time he could spend practicing each one had decreased, and his skill level was rising quite slowly.
With nothing else to do but watch from the mountain, it was a good time to improve his skills.
'Ally, someone is flying in!'
"Huh? Flying?"
Al hurriedly used a spell to enhance his vision and looked around the area near Lamia's hut. But there was no one there.
"Huh? Where?"
'It looks like they landed about 100 meters (328ft) to the right of the hut. They came from the north.'
There was a person in a dark robe with Lamia. A thin man, around 40 years old. He was about 170 centimeters (5'7") tall. He had a similar vibe to Lord Veil, but it wasn't him.
Lamia seemed to be bowing her head in front of the man. How could humans be with Barbarians? Is there really a way for Barbarians and humans to coexist?
Confused, Al started recording the scene with the 'Record & Play' spell.
The man seemed to be waving his hands and giving instructions to Lamia. Then a goblin approached.
The area where the man and Lamia were was a bit away from the small towers made of stones for smelting metal, and there were no goblins nearby, but it seemed like the goblin noticed the man and came closer.
He couldn't hear any sounds, and the distance made it hard to understand the situation, but it looked like the goblin was about to attack the man.
However, just as the goblin was about to pounce, something like a pale blue arrow shot from the man's palm. The goblin was sent flying onto its back. It looked like a "Magic Missile."
But from Al's perspective, that spell was activated much faster than a normal 'Magic Missile' spell. The goblin was hit by the man's spell attack and fell back, not moving at all.
"Wasn't that fast? Kind of like the 'Spasm' spell?"
'It was quick. I mean, he reached out his hand right after trying to attack. But not as fast as the 'Spasm' spell.'
Just like there's a Quick Shield spell for the 'Shield' spell, maybe there's a faster version of the 'Magic Missile' spell too.
Well, that's interesting, but Al is also curious about the goblin's actions. The man seems to be talking to the Lamia, but the goblin tried to attack him, and the man mercilessly shot magic at the goblin, taking it down.
So, he can talk to the Lamia but not to the goblin? What's the difference?
'Lamia can use spells, so she must be smart. That's why strong humans don't get attacked. But goblins are dumb, so they'll attack even if the human is strong.'
Maybe Glee heard Al's mumbling.
"Even dogs and cats can tell if someone is stronger or weaker than them... Can goblins not even do that?"
'Yeah, maybe the goblin just didn't understand the situation, or it can't remember that the opponent is strong... I'm not sure. Attacking humans might just be instinct for them.'
That could be true. So, it seems that Al can talk to some intelligent Barbarians, but not to the less intelligent ones. He wonders if this man can speak the language of the Barbarians.
The man started pulling out a barrel near him. It's one of those barrels often used for storing grains. So, it might be packed with grains inside.
Seeing him pull out a barrel from nowhere, he wonders if this man has a magic bag. Or maybe he has learned the 'Transport' spell like Al.
And that guy, did he also lead the goblins and Lamia here? Or is he just providing food to the Barbarians' settlement?
There are many questions, and he wants to ask him what his purpose is, but approaching the guy is definitely dangerous.
Al watched the guy and the Lamia interact for a while. The guy lined up ten barrels and then floated back up into the air. This time, he seemed to be flying off to the northwest.
'Floating Eye.'
Al quickly started tracking the guy with the "Floating Eye." The speed of the "Fly" spell is not much different from the speed of the eye's "Fly."
And since it's transparent, it should be fine as long as it doesn't enter the detection spell's range.
The guy flew northwest for a while and then arrived at another settlement that looked like it belonged to the Barbarians. It was a large settlement with about a hundred hobgoblins and goblins. There was also a goblin mage present. The guy landed at the edge of the settlement.
There was a Lamia here too, and she came over to the guy. This Lamia had a voluptuous upper body like a woman. The goblins here didn't approach the Lamia or the guy.
Just like in the previous settlement, the guy explained something to the Lamia with gestures, then lined up the wooden barrels and flew off again.
"Another Lamia here... Even with a goblin mage around, it's still a Lamia. Only the Lamia can negotiate with humans...? No, it was the goblin mage who was in contact with the guy to increase the Barbarians in the frontier village beyond city Lester. The assistant device taken from the goblin mage suggested that the counterpart was someone like Lord Veil, but it can't be this guy, right? What could be the difference?"
'Hmm, I really don't get it. I need to investigate the language more closely.'
Al's tracking of the guy with the "Floating Eye" continued. The guy flew northeast for a while. Then, when he reached a slightly open area next to a narrow street, he descended there.
There was a carriage parked there. Next to it, about 4 men were sitting around a campfire. Al recognized that carriage. It was a black, unadorned 4-horse carriage.
It was the kind of carriage often used by Tempest's spies. That means this man is likely a magician serving the Marquis Prentis family from the Tempest Kingdom.
The 4 men greeted the man respectfully. They put out the campfire and all climbed into the carriage.
"It's too far to see clearly. Glee, is there a mark on the roof of the carriage?"
Previously, in the ruins of the northern Magic Bag, Al had carved stars and numbers into a carriage that was inside a warehouse assigned to the Magic Bag. The barrels of food must have come from the Magic Bag.
So, could this carriage also be one that was sleeping in that warehouse?
'I see it! But the number below is a bit far, so I'm not sure. I think it's a 2 or a 3...'
Al was surprised that something he had been wondering about would be useful here.
However, this meant that the man was using a Magic Bag, and the chances of him being a magician serving the Marquis Prentis family were quite high. It was almost certain.
Are the magicians of the Marquis Prentis family up to something like this again? But even though he figured out who they were, it would be a bit tough for Al to attack the carriage alone. The carriage started heading north on the town street.
It was probably heading towards Marlow's town. He needed to stop the 'Floating Eye' spell soon, or his head would start hurting again. Reluctantly, Al canceled the spell.
"For now, should I go to Marlow's town and tell the guards? But will they believe me... I have no evidence to show."
He hardly knew any guards in Marlow's town. If he brought his father or Brother Jasper, would they help detain them? It felt like it could get complicated.
Just when he thought heI was already causing trouble for Big Brother Gustave with the iron mine issue, he can't just leave it alone. Maybe he should consult Ozbert instead.
* * *
Al hurried back to Channing Village. As soon as he got home, Mary noticed and asked how it went. Al wanted to report a lot of things but asked if everyone was around.
His mother Pamela was home, but his father Nelson, big brother Jasper, and sister Lucy were working in the fields, and Ozbert was probably at his place. Neville and his father, Myron, were unknowns.
"I think I found a magician from the Tempest Kingdom, probably from the Marquis Prentis family, at what looks like a Barbarians' smelting site. Can you call Father and the others? But don't say it too loud. I don't have proof yet. I'll talk to Mr. Ozbert first."
When Al said this, Mary's eyes widened, and she rushed off to do just that. Al headed to Ozbert's house.
He found Ozbert at home, working on a report for Al's brother Gustave and Baron Marlowe.
"Mr. Ozbert. I found out something serious."
After being shown into the living room by his wife, Al hurriedly said this upon seeing Ozbert's face.
"What did you find out?"
"Take a look at this."
Al showed Ozbert the recorded footage.
It showed a man talking to a Lamia, defeating goblins, talking to the Lamia again in another location, and then returning to a carriage to meet up with some men who seemed to be his subordinates.
"Who is this man?"
"This carriage is often used by the magician from the Marquis Prentis family when they do infiltration work. Oh, and in the Tempest Kingdom, magic is thriving, and highly skilled magicians are treated on par with knights. I think this man is probably a magician from the Tempest Kingdom, from the Marquis Prentis family."
"What?..."
Ozbert jumped up with a bang. The chair rolled with a clatter.
"Is magic really that active?"
Ozbert leaned on the table, bowing his head deep in thought.
"I really want to stop this guy from being tied up and fed to the Barbarians."
Al leaned in to look at Ozbert's face. Ozbert slowly shook his head.
"But we won't be able to catch him with the guards from Baron Marlow. Our 4 subordinates are probably just squires. We might manage something with sacrifices on our side, but if this magician flies away, the guards have no way to chase him. In fact, very few magicians in the Margrave Knights can even use the 'Fly' spell. Plus, if we try to capture him and he uses a group attack spell, there will be many casualties."
Al felt disheartened. He thought there were plenty of magicians serving the Baron Marlow family and the Margrave Knights, just like Eric.
So, he figured that capturing this guy would be tough for the guards, but easy if the Baron Marlow's knights got involved.
Lord Duran's comment about how it would be easier if there were someone as skilled in magic as his grandfather wasn't just flattery; it was the truth.
"Really... no way? Then what should we do?"
Ozbert shook his head slowly again at Al's words.
"If Sir Gustave were here, you could talk directly to the newly appointed Knight Commander, His Excellency Viscount Eugene... Well, there is a Lord Duran Ferdinand in the Margrave Knights. He might listen to you."
Lord Duran?
"Is that guy quite old?"
Ozbert looked at him with a face that asked how he knew.
"Well, you see, I met him somewhere else before. At first, I didn't know he was a knight, so we chatted casually, but later I found out he was a knight. I was really surprised at that time. He said he knows Grandpa, so it seems like he could listen to me, but is he a big deal even among the Margrave knights?"
"Right now, he's serving as the vice captain of the Fourth Squad. Only His Excellency Viscount or His Excellency Baron, or their direct heirs can become the captain of the knight order or each squad, so he's pretty much at the top rank as a knight."
"Got it. Then, I'll consult with Lord Duran in the capital."
But, is there really nothing he can do about what's happening right now...?
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