Chapter 461 - The Price of a Knight (1)
Melconi Blaud, who had been defeated in the magic duel against Unia, opened his eyes after about thirteen days, his body wounded and his mana circuits damaged.
'This place... is it a solitary cell of some fortress?'
An unfamiliar ceiling.
The bed and pillow were soft.
It didn't seem to be an underground prison, so it appeared he was being treated as a high-ranking prisoner.
However, Melconi, still somewhat dazed, could only barely move his eyes, unable to rise or act immediately.
A Mage may grow stronger with the years of accumulated knowledge, but there is no way to avoid the frailty of the body's aging.
Like others, all one could do was extend the limit of lifespan according to one's realm.
Even taking that into account, Melconi was fairly old.
It was only after he repeated cycles of treatment and rest following his awakening, that he could finally rise, around the time the Competition had ended.
Munch... munch...
Melconi quietly ate the porridge that the northern forces provided him. He did not make a fuss, as though he were some elder of the magic tower throwing a tantrum.
After meals, he only stared blankly out the window or sat lost in thought.
"More docile than I thought."
Adrian came alone to face Melconi.
A metal mask covering the lower half of his face, and a deep blue sword at his waist.
At the sight, Melconi immediately recognized him as the nameless swordsman said to be a close aide of the Shinseong, and at the same time, realized he was the Guardian who had been watching over him from the unseen shadows.
Melconi moistened his throat with lukewarm water.
"More docile, you say. Were you going to kill me if I had not been?"
"If necessary."
It was no lie.
A sharp murderous intent brushed past the nape of his neck in that instant.
"Hmph, they say you slew the Bone-Relic Dragon, even if you were weakened by the Saintess' miracle. So your fame is not false. Well, no need to strain yourself. I've no thought of escaping, anyway."
"..."
"To lose in a head-on duel against a Magus far younger than myself, and then to flee as well, how could I live with the shame? As a hostage, I shall behave like one. However..."
Melconi gazed eastward.
"The magic tower will not be the same. We always place the prestige of the entire group above the honor or face of any individual."
***
Melconi's warning soon became reality.
A Magus from the volcanic island's magic tower, ranked 6th overall among the towers, suddenly and noisily stormed into the northern fortress.
"Where is Melconi!!!"
A resounding voice.
Eyes without compromise, a face whose very wrinkles looked fierce.
From her appearance emanated a fiery, boisterous nature.
She was Piranze Phyras, a member of Andranov, the elder council of the volcanic island's magic tower, like Melconi. Hot breath flowed from her lips.
With her anger, the temperature of the surroundings steadily rose.
The mercenaries of the Valiant Fugitives who guarded the fortress could not even approach that overwhelming, fiery presence.
All but Adrian.
"Rude, for an uninvited guest."
Not long ago, through the Society's transmission device, they had received word that an unidentified flying object—judged to be an elder from the volcanic island's magic tower—was headed for the fortress.
Therefore, Melconi, who had been completely disarmed, was moved to another place of confinement. Should he suddenly change his mind and rampage alongside another elder, it would be troublesome.
'Though he truly had no will left to fight.'
Even so, Adrian took measures to reduce potential variables as much as possible.
"Melconi Blaud is not here, but he is treated decently as a prisoner. If you came to negotiate for hostages, I will hear you out."
"Hostage? Negotiation? Ha... fine. If you wish so much to hear my words, then I shall speak."
Sparks flared in Piranze's eyes.
"I, Piranze Phyras, say this. Release at once Melconi Blaud and all Mages belonging to the volcanic island's magic tower. Return everything you have taken."
"In return?"
"I shall show you special mercy."
A burst of hot waves from her body scorched the ground.
"To dare harm a senior of the magic tower, you shall pay for it with a small gesture of sincerity."
In other words, she demanded that they hand over the hostages and pay a price for the offense, without any conditions or ransom.
And if they did not accept, she threatened by action to burn the fortress to the ground.
Truly befitting of the magic tower.
Indeed, with the might of the volcanic island's magic tower, ranked 6th overall, nine times out of ten their foes would cower and obey without protest.
'Should I cut her down.'
Annoyance boiled up, and Adrian half-unsheathed his demonic sword, Cadence.
At this range, he could surely seize the advantage and press her hard.
By his old temperament, he would already have done so without hesitation... but at least for now, he needed to think carefully.
Not only about the damage that would be inflicted around them, but also about the relations with the volcanic island's magic tower that might be broken.
'Still, better two hostages than one.'
If they were to become enemies of the volcanic island's magic tower one day, this would not be a bad move.
Even for a tower master, with two precious elders' lives in captivity, an easy decision would not come.
At that moment.
"!"
Adrian abruptly calmed his fighting spirit, knelt on one knee, and bowed his head. Precisely, toward the rear of Piranze Phyras.
"What are you..."
"You have arrived, my lord."
My lord?
Piranze quickly turned.
In her eyes appeared a man clad in a splendid black robe.
The Shinseong of the eastern continent, Asher.
His attire differed from rumor, but the famed ash-gray hair and blue eyes were the same. His overall appearance matched the gathered information.
'They said he left the Ownerless Land and did not participate in the Competition for some reason, but returned recently. Yet... when did he come so close?'
No magic power could be felt.
Of course, when Mages are of similar level, they cannot clearly gauge each other's realm.
And with superb control of mana, or use of top-tier magical artifacts, one could thoroughly conceal one's magic power.
Moreover, Piranze's temperament and mado were ill-suited for searching and detection.
That she had not noticed the approach of a Magus of equal standing, assessed as a Reacher of Mado, who had completely hidden his power, was something even she could accept.
But there was one thing she could not understand... this strange sense of discord. Hard to put into words, but undeniably odd.
If anything, ominous.
As Piranze held her tongue at this unfamiliar sensation, Verden gestured Adrian to rise and spoke.
"I have heard the story. That you want sincerity for meddling with the tower's affairs, for interfering with the event and detaining Melconi Blaud and other Mages."
At the height of the Competition, Interis had been under construction.
Unable to leave the Black Volcano during that time, Verden had connected space with
About how the Competition was progressing, or how the dwarven village had made plans to migrate to the large mine in the disputed territory.
He did not wish to interfere too much, so he did not ask in detail, but he knew at least the outline of the Competition.
He was already aware of the information that Unia had subdued Melconi in a one-on-one duel. He had also just heard the conversation between Adrian and Piranze.
"...You eavesdropped in that short time. Well, that saves me the trouble of repeating myself."
Piranze, activating her mana circuits, erased all stray thoughts and let heat burst forth.
"As special advice, I suggest you do not refuse. Unless you wish to see the Ownerless Land's regions, where the North's hand reaches, turned to ash."
The Ownerless Land had been created out of the needs of the world, and the magic tower was one of the groups that had demanded that need.
Naturally, private intervention was forbidden, but sponsoring another force to wage war was perfectly legitimate.
To Piranze's threats, Verden calmly replied.
"Coercive, I see. Is that the will of the tower master of the volcanic island's magic tower?"
"Of course..."
"Before I hear the answer, I shall also give you special advice."
He stepped closer.
"Melconi Blaud, in the end, was defeated and subdued by just one person. And as you well know, in the North there is not just one, but more than a few who possess such power. This very fortress is proof."
Verden and Adrian.
Even aside from their true strength, the reputation and standing that had already been revealed to the world were by no means beneath that of the elders of the tower.
"And surely you must have realized in the Midros Dominion that I do not fear the magic tower. With what confidence have you come here alone?"
"...!"
"As the volcanic island's magic tower primarily wields fire-based magic, I have heard that those Mages, steeped in such heat, often develop rough temperaments."
His blue eyes flickered.
"Choose your place."
Halting his steps three paces away, Verden stood face to face with Piranze Phyras.
Then he asked once more.
"Then I ask again. Are those demands the will of the tower master? Or the will of Piranze Phyras, as an individual member of Andranov?"
Silence fell.
It had to, for in those words lay a meaning that could not be dismissed—depending on her answer, he was declaring that war with the volcanic island's magic tower would not be avoided.
"..."
Piranze did not answer rashly.
Like a renowned Magus, she suppressed her exploding anger and thought rationally.
She calculated the profit and loss.
She weighed the national-level power the North had revealed in the Competition, and the potential damage the magic tower might suffer if they clashed immediately.
'Damn.'
It was indeed a blunder.
To oppose the Shinseong's forces in 'times like these' would only spoil matters.
She had not expected the other side to come out so forcefully... Piranze realized her own haste, quelled her magic power, and rolled her eyes.
"You must know what has become of those who set themselves against the magic tower until now."
"I need no warning."
Verden strode past Piranze.
"I shall give you time, but next time bring proper terms for negotiation. You will have only one chance."
"You cur...!"
Daring to threaten the volcanic island's magic tower, Piranze flared with sudden rage, but once more, only ground her teeth.
For in many ways, the situation was unfavorable.
Though she was a deeply emotional person, she made the larger judgment. There is always a reason why one survives long.
"You will, surely, regret this."
Perhaps needing to at least preserve her pride, Piranze spat her last warning and left the fortress.
***
Verden gazed at the sky where Piranze had vanished.
"Her nature seemed lacking in patience, yet she departed more quietly than expected. Still, to the very end, she is one of the tower's elders."
Focusing on losses and gains suppresses emotion and keeps the head cool.
It is to value results above all else.
Such was the natural mindset of any Mage belonging to the magic tower.
"It is thanks to your arrival, my lord. Still, I did not expect you would visit a fortress in the disputed land before returning to Arein."
"On my way to Arein, I sensed considerable magic power, so I came. It was good that I did. More importantly, how went the Competition?"
"Yes, I will explain now."
Adrian briefly summarized the course of the war.
From the eastern-hired great warrior slaying Grand Lord Cheolp, to Cain forcing the Mercenary King's surrender and winning the Competition.
"...It seems some force is plotting from behind. Thus we have extended the surveillance network as far as possible, to guard the borders of our territory."
"And Liam?"
"To confirm victory in the Competition, Liam has gone to the mediation zone, Medilon, accompanied by Cain, Unia, and Isabella as escorts. And at the East's request for negotiation, the hostage, Grand Lord Kardric, is also being transported by another carriage to Medilon."
Three Magi of the 6th-rank.
It was unlikely their lives would be in danger... yet, they could not simply sit idle.
'If the scheming force is determined, the situation could still twist.'
Verden placed his hand on Adrian's shoulder.
"You have done well in my absence. Now, rest."
"Are you intending to go to Medilon?"
"The Competition I entrusted to you has ended, the rest is mine. Alpha, you stay here with Adrian."
[Understood.]
Alpha, leaping from Verden's nape, landed on Adrian's shoulder.
[Safe journey, Your Majesty.]
Alpha waved.
Though in
"Good."
Verden turned his back.
"I shall return once I have settled matters."
***
Medilon, the site where the agreement of the Competition had been set, and the place where it would conclude today.
"No, we won by their proposed rules, but it still feels unpleasant. Should I just overturn it?"
"If you want the Sages and our senior to scold you later, go ahead."
Unia grumbled, Cain restrained him, and then stepped outside.
Soon after, Isabella and Liam also disembarked from the carriage.
The northern delegation had arrived at the mediation zone.
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