Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 68 Unlike mages, who could master a vast array of spells, magical beasts were typically restricted to the innate powers they manifested at the moment of their awakening.
This had been the case with the Shadow Leopard and the Killer Rabbit Turan had encountered in the past.
Various hypotheses existed as to why this was. Some suggested that the intellectual capacity and imagination of magical beasts were too meager, while others argued it followed the same principle as physical-combat-specialized bloodlines, where mana could not easily be projected outside the body.
Because of this, Turan had spent a great deal of time trying to teach Bije the nuances and sensations of casting magic.
He believed that if the only thing stopping magical beasts from using magic was a lack of intellect, Bije would surely overcome that hurdle. After all, wouldn't it be incredibly convenient if the bird could use even simple telekinesis or ignition magic?
However, despite the passage of time, there had been little progress, and Turan had half-given up. He couldn't help but be shocked when Bije suddenly showcased such terrifying wind magic.
How?
After the initial surprise, Turan sensed something shifting within himself and focused his consciousness.
Through the Soul Tether linking them, he felt something flowing from his core into the bird. It wasn't a consumable resource like mana or mental energy; it felt more like pure "information."
Is he tapping into my Storm Bloodline?
As if to confirm this, the flickering sensation in the Soul Tether vanished the moment Bije stopped the whirlwind.
Turan calmed himself and stroked Bije as the bird landed, analyzing the new ability his companion had acquired.
"So, you're saying you can do this now just because you've grown stronger?"
[Yeah!]
"What about the things I taught you before?"
[I can't do those! I still can't start fires or move things!]
"Then, can you try hiding yourself to become invisible?"
Bije tried for a moment, then tilted his head as if it wasn't working.
This meant that out of all the powers Turan possessed, Bije could only borrow the Storm Bloodline ability—specifically, the wind-related power Turan had developed so far.
Is this why they said only Meisa and I were a perfect match for him?
Perhaps because Bije's latent talent was for wind—or the power of wind and lightning—he had only responded to nobles with bloodlines compatible with those elements.
If that were the case, it wasn't surprising that a "perfect" match hadn't appeared for him until now. Common sense dictated that an Arabion noble would have no reason to go to the Enril Desert to buy a magical beast.
After a bit more experimentation, Turan concluded that the wind magic Bije used was closer to the innate magic typical of magical beasts. His precision was lower than that of a human mage, but his pure output and efficiency were far superior.
Solif, who had been watching silently from the side, clicked his tongue in amazement.
"Whatever you do, don't ever let that bird go rogue. If he ever develops a taste for human flesh, it would take a subjugation squad from a Great House to bring him down."
Indeed, a Golden Eagle with high-ranking noble-level mana who could also manipulate wind was a literal disaster. How could anyone chase and attack a creature that flew at incredible speeds and could summon winds strong enough to blow away a log cabin from a distance?
At Solif's words, Bije hopped onto his head and began pecking at him with his beak.
"Ow! What are you doing? That hurts! Hey, tell him to stop!"
[I don't eat people! Turan told me not to!]
After pecking him a few more times, Bije landed on the ground, scratched out his message, and then huffed as he climbed onto the perch at Turan's side.
Turan let out a short laugh at the bird's childish behavior before turning to Solif, who was rubbing his head.
"Have you ever heard of a case like this? A magical beast awakening to magic later in life?"
"Hmm, I've never heard of such a thing..."
Even for Solif, the heir of a Great House who had received a tailored education, this was clearly not a common occurrence. Then again, there had been no mention of it in the magical beast encyclopedias either.
Turan thought it might be worth asking someone knowledgeable about magical beasts if he ever met one. Or perhaps a Librarian.
Having finished their analysis of the unexpected situation, they began cleaning up the battlefield.
First, Solif incinerated the corpses with his flames, while Bije used his gales to scatter the ashes across the ruins of the fortress. It was a massive, makeshift cremation.
Meanwhile, Turan used tracking magic to search for any usable treasures within the burnt fortress.
Unfortunately, the flames that had swept through the entire structure seemed to have reached the treasury as well; the gold coins, silver coins, and jewelry were all melted together in a single, jagged clump.
Since Turan's High-Capacity Pouch was running low on space, the loot went into the high-capacity backpack Solif carried. It was much larger than Turan's pouch but had a lower expansion ratio, making their total capacities similar. However, since the Baraha nobles had discarded all the junk inside, there was plenty of room.
Solif took a moment to mourn the loss of his cherished sugarcane liquor.
After finishing the harvest, they used tracking magic to find and remove every stray hair, drop of blood, or feather they had left behind. This was a necessary precaution, as a skilled Zahar noble or someone with a detection magic device could use such traces to track them.
By the time they finished the cleanup, the sun was rising, signaling the end of the long night.
Solif raised a hand to block the sunlight and asked, "I'm dying of exhaustion after staying up all night... So, what's the plan, Captain?"
Captain. It was a title Turan hadn't expected, especially coming from a high-ranking noble nearly forty years his senior.
Turan didn't let his feelings show and pointed to Solif's left arm.
"First, we need to fix that."
"Ah."
Solif looked down at his left arm, severed at the elbow, as if he had forgotten about it.
While the recovery potion artifact known as the 'Fountain of Life' couldn't reattach a severed limb, a noble of a Healer bloodline could manifest a missing arm from scratch. Using telekinesis magic would allow him to function in daily life, but having an actual arm was certainly better.
"I know a place where you can be treated discreetly. We've looted enough to cover the costs, so don't worry about the gold."
"Where is it?"
"Arabion."
Initially, Turan had considered asking Lida of the Lavitas family for help, but he didn't know where she usually resided. She surely didn't stay by the hot springs all the time, and if she were at the Lavitas main house, he would have to reveal his identity and draw attention to summon her.
Considering the high probability that the Baraha family would search the Siraf Wetlands near the Southern Sea, it was better to avoid exposing their movements. Instead, it was safer to head to the distant Dakein Plains and secretly seek a Healer bloodline noble through the Berk family's connections.
"Ah, the northwest? No wonder you were flying. Are you an Arabion noble? And did you steal that stealth magic by killing a Zahar noble?"
"No, that's an innate ability... I'm a half-blood, if I had to put it that way."
Solif's face stiffened at the mention of being a half-blood. Usually, the term just meant being born between two families, but Turan had already demonstrated the abilities of two different houses.
"Don't tell me... a bloodline fusion?"
"That's right."
Solif was speechless for a moment before whispering, "Three?"
Guessing he was referring to the number of bloodline abilities, Turan nodded and replied, "For now."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"I have four bloodlines, and they unlock one by one as my mana grows stronger. I'm on my third now. I can't use the lightning side yet."
Solif's jaw hit the floor. He looked up at the sky and sighed. Four bloodline abilities? This was a monster that wouldn't even appear in history books.
"The world really is damn unfair, isn't it?"
"Being born as the heir to a Great House is a blessed enough life in most people's eyes."
It wasn't a wrong statement, but hearing it from a monster born with four bloodline abilities made it incredibly irritating. Turan ignored Solif's look of pure frustration and focused on his task.
He was making a tool to ride Bije.
"Will this be enough?"
"Well, it looks a bit precarious, but it's not like we'll die if it breaks..."
They fashioned a crude swing out of rope and wooden planks. It was a precarious contraption that only the most reckless would dare ride, but since neither of them would be seriously injured by a fall from the sky, it didn't matter.
A moment later, as the two of them perched awkwardly on the swing, Bije took flight with the ropes tied to his legs.
With a creaking sound, the swing lifted off the ground.
"Whoa..."
Solif, flying for the first time, let out a cry of wonder as the ground shrank into the distance. Turan didn't mock him; he remembered feeling the same way when he first flew in the Enril Desert.
As they soared through the sky, Turan looked back. Vinatu Island, where so many had died the night before, looked peaceful, as if nothing had happened.
*
As if to prove that absorbing a massive amount of mana was worth it, Bije flew faster than before, even with an extra person and a swing. He could even increase his speed further by using wind magic to create air currents, but he had to moderate his pace because the swing would groan under the wind resistance.
Despite its clunkiness, the swing had the advantage of leaving their hands free. They could do things like eat meals of hardtack and dried fish.
While eating in the sky, Turan fulfilled his promise and told Solif about the end of the god he had witnessed.
"The North Sea..."
"Yeah. The mirror that supposedly connects the two seas might be somewhere near there. Since they were divine beings, they might have fought for a long time after leaving the mirror before meeting their end."
When Turan added that the Mimic Relic was what that god had left behind, Solif's expression became very complicated. He didn't look like someone who was happy to have uncovered the truth he had been seeking for so long.
"I thought you'd be happy to know this."
"Ah... how should I put it? It's like the mystery I was so curious about was solved too easily. It's not that I'm not happy, but..."
Turan thought he understood. Solif hadn't been searching for this for some grand purpose; he simply enjoyed the process of the adventure itself. Having the answer handed to him like this made him feel more hollow than joyful.
"Everything hasn't been revealed yet. There's the question of why that god had to fight alone instead of cooperating with the other Frea Divine Clan members, and why there are no proper traces left in history. Most of all, you should at least find out his name."
"I suppose that's worth looking into. I'd like to visit the place where the remains are later. Can you guide me?"
"If I have time."
After that, they chatted about the various adventures Turan had experienced. Throughout the conversation, Solif never asked about Turan's birth. Even though Turan said he was from the distant Baraha of the East, Solif knew how hostile the relationship between Arabion and Zahar was, and he guessed the circumstances of Turan's origin weren't exactly peaceful.
Turan sensed the misunderstanding but didn't bother to correct it. He himself didn't yet know the full truth about his father's identity. There would be opportunities to talk about it later when he investigated further.
Still, he felt he should clarify his current situation and standing, so Turan explained that he didn't have a particularly deep connection with the Arabion family. He was simply a friend of the next head, Meisa, and a benefactor to the Berk family, their vassals.
After several hours of flying northwest while chatting, land finally came into view. Judging by the dense forest stretching inland from the coast, it was clearly the Western Forest Zone where the Dark Elves had once thrived.
"Good, looks like we skipped the Enril Desert."
Based on the conversation during the previous battle, there must have been some sort of agreement between the Zahar and Baraha families to capture Solif. It was best to avoid contact with the Enril Desert if possible.
As he climbed down from the saddle for a rest, Solif lamented, "You really travel the easy way, don't you?"
It was a natural comment, considering they had covered a distance in an instant that would have taken at least a week or two by boat.
Turan stroked Bije's head and replied, "I was walking and taking boats myself until not long ago. You could just get a companion like Bije too."
"As if that's easy. If only someone hadn't snatched him away."
"I don't think I was the one who had the first chance to be chosen."
"Ugh."
Magical beasts from avian species were common, but those as small and convenient to carry as Bije, who were well-tamed and powerful, were rare. Turan had bought him cheaply only because of the bird's pickiness regarding masters; his original price was said to be much higher.
After having dinner on the beach and sleeping, they traveled north on the swing again the next day. As they went, they saw the road Turan had taken west from Kalamaf and the path he had traveled with Asiz.
"We're almost there."
"Really? I'm saved! I was starting to think this swing was a bit precarious—waaaaah!"
Halfway through the journey, the swing finally succumbed to the wind pressure and snapped, sending Solif plummeting. Fortunately, it was a minor accident that ended with only a slightly sprained ankle.
Taking a lesson from their past mistake, they made a slightly better swing and flew for another half-day until the Dakein Plains finally appeared.
"We've really arrived now."
"Please, let's land gently this time."
Unlike the past when golden wheat swayed in the wind, the plains were now green with spring barley. Turan and Solif landed in a secluded spot, stowed the saddle, and began walking.
"This is so different from the Enril Desert."
"It's a bit desolate over there, after all."
"True. I heard that in the old days, Arabion's crops used to be sent through there..."
Normally, land trade was inferior to sea trade in terms of volume, but for mage families, land trade was actually much more advantageous. This was because they could use tamed giant magical beasts to pull enormous wagons. It was said there was a time when such Great Caravans traveled between Arabion and Zahar via the Old Empire's roads every few years.
Now that a war of slaughter was raging between the two families, such stories were nothing more than a dream.
Remembering the path he had taken under Asiz's guidance, Turan walked for about half a day and arrived at Jabilin, the fief of the Berk family.
Coincidentally, the face of the knight stationed at the city wall was familiar.
"Wait, Lord Turan?"
"It's been a while, Bin. Is Asiz doing well?"
"Of course! The young master will be delighted. And who might this be next to you?"
"A friend I made during my travels."
Upon hearing that, Bin, the Berk knight, didn't even bother to ask for Solif's identity before letting them in. After all, Turan was the benefactor and friend of Young Master Asiz, and had been treated as an honored guest for the past month. As for the Golden Eagle tucked under his arm, he probably assumed it was just a pet.
Entering Jabilin without a hitch, Turan felt a strange sense of stability as he looked at the familiar city scenery. Seeing the restaurants and theaters where he had roamed and eaten delicious food with Asiz brought back memories of those good times.
As they made their way to the Berk family palace in the center of the city, Asiz, who had rushed out after hearing the news, welcomed him with open arms.
"Turan, my friend! I knew life out there wouldn't be all sunshine and roses! I told you you'd be back soon!"
"Yeah, it really wasn't easy."
Imagining what kind of face Asiz would make if he knew all the adventures he had been through, Turan shared a hug with his old friend.
He had only stayed here for about a month and had been away for a few, yet it felt as if he had returned home after a very long journey.
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