Embracing Magic - E.M Chapter 136 (Part 2)

“Brother, what’s wrong?”

“There’s an epidemic in the Richmond Marquisate. The marquis seems to believe it’s caused by poison.”

“Ah, so that’s why they’re buying detox potions. But why does it bother you?”

As Rodin and Larry talked, Bianca climbed over to their carriage. The two carriages were moving so closely together that she could hear their conversation clearly.

“Big Brother Rodin, how long has the epidemic been going on in Richmond?”

“For a while now. It’s been over two months. I think it started not long after we left the city.”

“Then, Brother! Has the situation not improved all this time?”

Bianca didn’t have many acquaintances in the Richmond Marquisate. For almost two years, she had stayed home and rarely interacted with others.

However, Larry had several connections in the commercial district there. He was worried about whether they might have fallen victim to the epidemic.

“That’s the problem. Wouldn’t the marquis have already tried sourcing detox potions in the past two months?”

“They probably did… right?”

“But what does it mean that we received this request?”

“Either the antidote potion can’t cure the epidemic, or they couldn’t procure any antidote potions. It must be one of the two, right?”

As it became apparent that someone they knew was affected, Larry’s expression turned serious. Bianca, too, perked up her ears and focused on the conversation.

“Exactly. But if it’s the first case, there would be no reason to ask us to procure antidote potions. It wouldn’t help cure the epidemic anyway.”

“So, they haven’t been able to acquire the antidote potion yet.”

Whether it was an inability to obtain it or a shortage, it was clear there was an issue with the supply of potions.

That explained why the request had been assigned to novice mercenaries like those carrying iron and wooden plaques. Otherwise, they would have turned to merchant guilds for the potions.

“But why?”

“Pardon?”

“Why haven’t they been able to get it? Antidote potions aren’t in high demand, but if you put effort into it, you can easily secure hundreds of bottles within a month. So why couldn’t they?”

“Oh! Someone’s interfering!”

This was the crux of the matter. Someone was deliberately blocking the supply of potions to the Marquis of Richmond. It was highly likely this same party would attack the current shipment as well.

“That’s what I think.”

“Then we might get attacked.”

“Exactly. But what bothers me more is that we seem to be the bait.”

This was what truly irked Rodin.

The thought of novice mercenaries with iron and wooden plaques being used as expendable bait disgusted him.

Even if the victims had been strangers, it would have made him frown. But the victims in this case were none other than his siblings. There was no way he could be okay with that.

“Bait?”

“Think about the people who received this request. One iron-plaque mercenary and three wooden-plaque mercenaries. Does it make sense to entrust a critical potion delivery to such people?”

“Ah! We’re not the real deal.”

“Exactly. While we’re being attacked, the real shipment will slip away unnoticed.”

Finally, Larry grasped the situation. Bianca, too, understood and puffed up her cheeks in anger.

“That’s so mean. They tricked Bianca. Those bad men.”

“We were just foolish.”

“No, this is something you might encounter often as mercenaries. Think of it as an early lesson. Besides, you’re not in any real danger now, are you?”

“…That’s true.”

After all, their group included a 7th Circle Archmage and two swordmasters. Unless an entire country was intent on sabotaging them, Larry and Bianca wouldn’t face any real risk.

—

Two days passed. Fortunately, nothing unexpected occurred during that time.

‘Hmm.’

On the second night, when everyone was asleep, Rodin was taking his frouval lessons.

During the day, he spent time in the carriage reading books from the Magical Empire. There were still many words in the Magical Empire’s language that he didn’t know, so he often relied on Karis or Jena for help.

At night, however, he attended the Frouval lessons. Nighttime, when everyone—especially the noisy and talkative Bianca—was asleep, was the perfect time to study.

“Hmm?”

Having recently completed the 3 AM lesson, Rodin had been expecting another lecture on runic language at 4 AM. Instead, the topic abruptly switched to a cultivation technique lesson.

Just as Rodin was thinking the flow of lessons was incoherent, The frouval began teaching a cultivation method that he apparently used.

‘What is this?’

Regardless of the reason, Rodin learned what was being taught. Or rather, he had no choice but to learn.

Unlike reading a book, the lecture repeated itself until the student fully understood the material.

With The Frouval drilling the cultivation technique into him repeatedly, Rodin couldn’t help but absorb it.

‘Is it okay for me to use this?’

The cultivation method he learned that night was of an exceptionally high level. It was undoubtedly superior to any cultivation method he had learned before and might even surpass the one supposedly used by the Magical Empire’s royal family.

However, The Frouval was not human. Rodin wasn’t sure if it was safe for a human to practice The Frouval’s cultivation technique as it was.

‘If only I knew the cultivation method the Magical Empire’s royal family used, I wouldn’t even have to consider this.’

None of the books Rodin had retrieved from the underground ruins contained any cultivation techniques, which he thought made sense.

The entry requirements for the underground ruins made it clear.

To access the door leading to the underground labyrinth, one had to be a 7th Circle Archmage and possess a specific mana pattern—two conditions.

The specific mana pattern indicated mastery of a particular cultivation method. In other words, the cultivation method had to be learned elsewhere before arriving at the underground ruins.

‘The underground ruins were designed for those who had already mastered a cultivation technique and reached the rank of Archmage.’

Thus, the books from the ruins didn’t contain any cultivation methods. Instead, they were filled with knowledge on understanding mana and the world after reaching the 7th Circle.

‘Frouval… I wonder how different they are from humans.’

The Frouval’s front looked entirely human. His eyes, nose, mouth, and limbs were no different from those of a human. But his back revealed the differences.

The Frouval had a short tail, and his back was covered with palm-sized scales running from the back of his head to the tip of his tail.

‘I probably can’t use this cultivation method as it is.’

Although Rodin felt uneasy, he couldn’t give up without at least trying.

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