by Michael Sisa
“Old man.” Alfonse crouched and stared at him straight in the eyes. “Did someone die here, several days ago?”
Unable to speak, the old man shook his head.
Alfonse looked at Seth. If the inn keeper did not see a corpse, they why did the tracking magic pointed here? It did not make sense.
“He’s probably lying,” said Seth. It was the only possible explanation. “Listen, Gramps. I’m going to remove your gag, but if you shout, I’ll kill you.”
She removed the cloth stuffed inside the old man’s mouth. “Now, I’ll repeat the Leader’s question. Did someone die here?”
She took out a dagger. Upon seeing this, the old man shivered and stuttered, “I r-really d-don’t know! No one died here! I swear to the Gods!”
They were at a dead end. They could clearly see that this old man was not lying.
Seth looked at the sparrow sitting on top of the bed. Why did it lead them to this place?
“Leader, look at this.” One of the assassins came inside the room, holding a logbook. “I looked through the lists of guests in this inn. And look at what I’ve found.”
Alfonse looked at the name his men pointed at. He creased his brows as he read the name out loud, “Lark Marcus.”
He did not expect the name of their target to pop out here, at this place. For a moment, Alfonse stood there, contemplating.
He realized the reason why the sparrow led them to this place. Looking at Seth, it seemed that she also arrived at the same conclusion.
“Zen is dead,” she said.
Alfonse nodded. “Change of plans. We shall go directly to Blackstone Town.”
“Understood,” replied his men.
“Heard that, old man?” Seth giggled. “We no longer need you. Bye bye!”
She covered the mouth of the old man and struck his neck with a dagger. Blood spurted out, the body twitched, and she chuckled.
What kind of man was this so-called Lark Marcus? He killed Zen and even completely concealed the dead body. Just thinking of this made Seth shiver in ecstasy.
She could not wait for that moment when her dagger pierces his flesh.
Chapter Five
Lark played with the pebble-size magic stone he held in his hand. Aside from the small, almost inconspicuous silver dusts flowing inside, the stone looked ordinary, just like the rocks seen on cobbled roads.
Twenty gold coins. The price of this low-grade magic stone was ridiculously high. Although the treasury was close to drying up during that time, Lark decided to buy this to accelerate the growth of his mana pool. This was a decision he came to after learning of the competition for the throne from the assassin.
If people were going to come for his life, he might as well increase the pace of his training. He needed to expand his mana pool soon, at least to a very small percentage of that of his previous life.
Lark locked his door, sat cross-legged on the ground and swallowed the magic stone. According to the merchant he bought the stone from, the method of using magic stones in this world were different. The users do not swallow the stones. Rather, they pulverize it and use it to form magic circles, and by performing incantations, absorb the essence that would flow out of it. Such method was also viable, but to Lark, it would be a waste of such precious resource. Swallowing a magic stone carried the risk of magic overdrive, which could potentially kill the user. According to the merchant, the cases of magic overdrive after swallowing magic stones were so high that it became taboo to even attempt it.
Lark could feel the magic stone disintegrating inside his body. Although the grade of this stone was low, the magic essence contained inside was still large enough for his current shell. After all, his new body have the mana pool of an average individual.
He closed his eyes and breathed slowly. Using his own mana, he suppressed the magic essence from flowing out haphazardly to random directions.
Suppress it. Condense it. Make it all flow to the five cardinal points. This was the basic teaching in the Magic Empire.
Although the method used in this world was feasible, the absorption rate was really low. The essence absorbed by the user would only be a small portion of what was really contained in the mana stone.
This thing’s worth 20 gold coins. Might as well consume everything, till the last drop.
After several hours, Lark finally finished absorbing the essence inside the Mana Stone. It was gradual, but he could already feel that his mana pool had expanded somewhat.
He looked out the window. It was already noon.
“Time for body training.” After stretching, Lark took a couple of body weights he crafted himself and wrapped it around his abdomen, wrists, and feet.
Although magic would greatly determine the outcome of every battle, Lark firmly believed in the necessity of training the physical body. A strong body would be able to endure fiercer rebounds of using large amounts of mana, enabling the caster to perform consecutive spells without worrying greatly about the after effects.
“Going out again to train?” said Gaston after seeing the Young Master at the hall.
Lark nodded. “I’m going to check the Mines while I’m at it.”
“Then, please take this with you, Young Master.” The butler handed him a packed lunch wrapped in cloth. “Roasted boar meat and dried fish.”
Lark smiled. This had been the routine ever since he started his body training. “Thank you.”
After leaving the Mansion, Lark started jogging towards the Eastern part of the Endless Forest, the area where the Mine was located. Along the way, he was greeted by the locals.
“Ah, good morning, Young Master!”
“Young Lord! The wheat porridge last night was really great!”
“It’s the Young Master!”
Lark had been popular lately, a stark contrast to his reputation several months ago. He could feel that slowly, he was being accepted by the citizens as their Lord.
As expected of the Umami Salt. It made even the commoners wheat delicious.
Last night, he asked the chefs to add some Umami Salt to the free porridge given out to the locals. This instantly created an uproar after the citizens tasted the previously bland food. There were several remarks of how they never tasted something so delicious before.
Wait. They’re not going to expect the free porridge to be that delicious every time, right?
Umami Salt was a limited resource right now, since there were not much Loi plants to produce them.
I’ll just tell Gaston to announce that that was a one-time thing only. They will have to make do with the commoner’s wheat until we the harvest.
Once harvest season came, this town’s food supply would reach a surplus. He was sure of it. Lark even planned on exporting wheat to the other cities.
As Lark was passing through the Eastern Border, a man with gold hair stood right in middle of the road, stopping Lark in his tracks.
“Anandra.” Lark recalled the name of the man in front of him. The bandages were no longer there, and his skin glowed as though the injuries from the basilisk were a lie. This was probably the effect of being healed, fed and clothed, Lark thought.
Anandra bowed his head. “I hope you’ll forgive my insolence. But if this is a good time, can you test my skills now?” Anandra peeked at him. “The butler told me that you wish for me to train the soldiers. There’s no job more fitting than that for me. Furthermore, my master will be you, our village’s savior.”
This was one of the things he liked the most from the guys from Gahelpa Village. These men valued honor above all.
The other villagers currently living in the Eastern Border curiously looked at them. They probably knew what the conversation was about, considering their expressions.
“Some of my fellow villagers have already found jobs in this town. I can’t live in their hospitality forever,” said Anandra.
Lark sighed then smiled. “If you’re that eager, come over here.”
He led Anandra towards a plac
e with a large clearing. A few weeks from now, houses would also be built in this area. Several locals and villagers from Gahelpa curiously followed.
“The rules are simple,” said Lark. “Come at me with everything you have. Show me the extent of your skills.”
Anandra seemed a bit hesitant at first, since he might hurt his master, but he nodded eventually. “Then, allow me to use a weapon.” He unsheathed his short sword.
“H-Hey, Anandra!” shouted one of the villagers. “Why are you using a weapon against the unarmed Young Master?”
Lark waved a hand. “It’s fine. I’ve told him to come at me with everything he got. This much is natural.”
There was clearly discontent from the onlookers. The locals, specially, were looking at Anandra with a hint of contempt. These guys took away some of the houses, and now, he was going to use weapons against the unarmed Young Master. They secretly wished that the Young Master would beat the man to a pulp.
“Young Master?” said Anandra.
“What is it?”
“Please remove those things before we start.”
Lark was amused. This was the first time someone noticed that he was wearing weights as he ran around the town. He made sure to craft these things in a way that would make them inconspicuous in the eyes of other people. The ones wrapped around his wrists and legs looked nothing but thick garments.
Lark removed the weights and threw them to the ground, creating loud thud sounds.
“Come at me any time,” said Lark. Somehow, he was excited to see the skills of the man who drove away the basilisk.
“Then, forgive me.” Anandra leaned forward, stomped a foot on the ground, then shot his body forward.
Lark frowned. Although the speed of his opponent was definitely fast, there was no killing intent behind it. It seemed that Anandra was trying his best not to hurt the Young Master.
Lark amplified the strength of his body using magic. With swift reflexes, he dodged the slash from Anandra then quickly retaliated with a fist at the abdomen. Anandra blocked the strike using his left hand. Lark quickly followed up with a kick at the face, which was easily dodged by the warrior by leaping backward.
With that simple exchange, they both gauged the strength of their opponents.
“You’ve realized it, right?” said Lark. “You won’t win if you’re not going to come at me with the intent of taking my life.”
“But you said that you’re merely testing my skills.” He was still hesitating. “There’s no need to go that far.”
“What a pain,” spat Lark. “Let’s change the rules. If you’re unable to land a single attack on me, I’ll find someone else for the job.”
It was a gamble, but Lark knew that Anandra would take it. He was a man who valued honor above all, after all. He wouldn’t let himself slack off while his fellow villagers worked.
“If you’re not going to come.” Lark pointed a finger at him. “Then, I will.”
From his fingertips, lightning shot towards Anandra. The warrior swiftly ran towards the side, all the while Lark fired off lightning strikes one after another. This was clearly an inefficient way of using his mana, but Lark deemed that this much was needed to make Anandra take him seriously.
Lark flicked a finger and vines sprouted out of the ground, ensnaring Anandra’s legs. With quick reflexes, he cut it off one after another. Lark used this opening. His figure disappeared then reappeared right in front of Anandra. He amplified the strength of his fist using magic, then struck the warrior’s abdomen. Anandra’s pupils dilated from pain, he flinched, then swung his sword back in retaliation.
Lark sidestepped and dodged the strike. He clenched his fists again and struck the face this time. Anandra’s head turned the opposite direction, his body conceding a split second after. His body flew and struck the ground, bouncing several times before hitting a pile of logs nearby.
Clouds of dust flew as splintered wood scattered about.
The onlookers looked at the scenario with wide eyes, their jaws slacked in wonder. Although they heard from the villagers of Gahelpa that the Young Master was strong, they did not expect him to be this strong.
“Is that all?” Lark was not amused. He did not expect Anandra to be this weak. “I might as well train the soldiers myself if you’re like this.”
He meant it.
Anandra slowly stood up then dusted off his clothes. He spat the blood that clung inside his mouth.
The previously docile eyes of the warrior turned predatory. He finally realized that even at full strength, there was no assurance of victory against the Young Master.
“What’s so funny?” said Lark.
“Ah, I didn’t realize that I’m chuckling. Forgive me.” Anandra bowed his head. “It’s just that the thought that I’ll be serving the Young Master from now on gives me great joy. I didn’t know that the Young Master is this strong.”
“Enough with the pleasantries.”
“Of course.”
Without warning, Anandra shot towards the Young Master. His speed this time was absurd, incomparable to before. Without time to dodge, Lark decided to take the blow with his hands. He covered his fists with a thin layer of mana shield then blocked the sword strike.
Anandra seemed to have expected this. After his attack was repelled, he quickly followed with several more strikes. The figure of the two blurred as they exchanged blows one after another.
There’s something wrong here.
Lark realized that although he was blocking the strikes of the sword using a thin layer of mana shield, the shield had no signs if breaking at all. Constantly supplying a small amount of mana into it was enough to maintain it.
It meant one thing: There was not enough strength behind Anandra’s strikes.
He was fast, that’s all.
Was this a bluff? Was this warrior trying to catch him off guard?
As Lark blocked the attacks one after another, he realized the truth of the matter.
He doesn’t know how to use mana.
This was the conclusion he came to after the numerous exchanges. It was no bluff. This was simply the extent of this man’s prowess.
The ability to amplify his speed using mana was probably something Anandra learned from hunting in the forest, or maybe it was sheer talent. But, the concept of properly using mana was not known to the warrior at all.
Lark decided that it was time to end this.
He grabbed the sword barehanded, a feat which made Anandra momentarily freeze in panic. Lightning flowed through the sword and struck Anandra’s body. Lark immediately followed up with a fist at the abdomen, chest, and the face.
Once again, Anandra’s body flew and bounced off the ground.
The reason why Anandra was gravely injured by the Basilisk despite his talent in the battlefield was this. Even if Anandra have enough speed to confront the giant serpent, his attacks simply did not have the prowess to pierce through its thick armor.
Anandra coughed out blood and stood up.
“You passed,” said Lark.
Anandra stared at him for a moment, before a relieved smile surfaced on his face.
“I’m glad,” he mumbled. Some of his old wounds started opening up after those blows. His body ached all over.
“Hey,” said Lark. He finally decided to ask the thing he was really curious about. “Who taught you how to use mana?”
Anandra was puzzled. “Mana? I’m no magician, Young Master.”
Lark’s conjecture was confirmed. This man was simply talented. He did not even know that he was using mana to boost his agility back then.
If he was this strong without proper guidance, then how strong would he be, if Lark were to train him? It wouldn’t be bad for the future commander of his Army to become proficient in body strengthening magic.
“What weapons are you able to use?” said Lark.
Anandra immediately replied, “Any. Bows, swords, spears, axes. They’re all basically the same.”
A r
eply befitting a genius.
If he took this guy under his wing and personally taught him magic, would that count him among his disciples? Lark pondered.
He realized that it wouldn’t be so bad, after all.
Lark smiled. “From now on, I want you to train the soldiers. Payment’s one gold and fifteen silvers a month. You’ll receive a raise depending on your performance.”
Anandra was momentarily stunned. The payment was an absurd amount.
“What? You don’t like it?” Lark chuckled.
“N-No,” stuttered Anandra. “Of course not!”
“Then, let’s not waste time. I originally plan on visiting the Mines, but that will have to wait for now.” Lark’s eyes glimmered. “I’ll introduce you to the soldiers of Blackstone Town.”
Chapter Six
For several weeks, Stone and his men relentlessly made their way towards the town near the Endless Forest. This was the task entrusted to them by General Urkawi himself. Their job was to survey the town and its surrounding regions and report everything to the vanguard via animal messengers.
A lot of his men were unsatisfied with the order, since they knew that this was a strategy proposed by a Rabbit. Those weaklings knew nothing about the battlefield. They have no right to take part in this war. These were the thoughts that ran through the minds of his men as they made their way towards Blackstone Town.
But Stone was different.
After hearing of the strategy from General Urkawi himself, he could not help but be in awe of Fior, the Rabbit Beastman who proposed this plan. If they took the orders of the Beast King into consideration, the Rabbit was right. Their goal was not to kill Alexander, nor was it to occupy the Valley of Witches. The real goal was to conquer the Eastern Region of the Kingdom of Lukas.
With this proposed plan, there was no real need to confront the damnable Mercenary Guild Master that thwarted their advances over and over again. Although they wouldn’t be able to kill Alexander, they would be able to accomplish their goal of conquering the Western Region. Their target this time, after all, was a town located in a strategic location. Once they managed to occupy that area and convert it into a stronghold, they would be pointing a knife at the neck of the Western Region.