Embracing Magic - E.M Chapter 171 (Part 2)

Rodin found himself intrigued by the request.

He had no particular interest in queens or princesses, but he liked the destination.

And doing this as a mercenary gave him a new, fresh feeling he hadn’t experienced before.

“But, Big Brother Rodin.”

“Hm? When did you get here?”

“Big Brother Rodin! I’ve been here the whole time.”

“Really? Hmm… Now that you mention it, Larry’s gotten so tall. With him in front, I couldn’t even see you.”

It was something he had said as a joke. Rodin had known from the beginning that Bianca was there.

However, the comment about Larry growing much taller wasn’t an empty one.

Rodin was as well-built as most knights. His body had grown slightly larger each time he restructured it, and now he was taller than Marquis Richmond.

Yet, Larry’s head was nearly up to just below Rodin’s eyes. At this rate, just a little more growth and he’d be around the average height of knights.

“Really? I wish I were as tall as you, Brother.”

“You’ll be taller.”

“Tch. I’ll be tall too.”

Bianca rose onto her tiptoes and straightened her shoulders. But even so, her short height didn’t magically disappear.

“But Larry, you know what it means to hire both Platinum Badge and Iron Badge mercenaries together, right?”

“Yes. It means I’ll be an errand boy.”

“You’re still okay with that?”

“I was told a mercenary should also know when to swallow their pride. This request gives six assignment points. I can endure it.”

An Iron Badge can earn six assignment points from a single request. At first glance, it seemed like generous compensation.

However, considering the time it took for the request, it was hard to call it generous.

From here to the Kingdom of Luvain, even if rushed, it would take over a month. If they moved at the usual leisurely pace, it could take over three months.

If it was six points over three months, then that was essentially a two-point request per month.

Considering that an Iron Badge mercenary typically spent around ten days to earn one point, it was, rather, a loss.

“You specifically chose this request because it’s going to the Kingdom of Luvain, didn’t you?”

“Yes. Since I’m going there anyway, I might as well earn some points from it.”

“Wouldn’t it be faster to accumulate points some other way?”

“I don’t think I’m ready to wear the Copper Badge yet. When I become a Second-Class Swordsman, I’d like to receive the Copper Badge then.”

Rodin agreed with Larry’s thinking.

For a First-Class Swordsman or a First-Circle Mage, the Copper Badge was too soon.

Receiving a rank higher than one’s skills increased income, but it also meant being forced into dangerous requests beyond one’s means.

“Yes. That seems like a reasonable pace.”

“I think so too.”

Originally, Larry’s growth had been slower than Bianca’s, but that was no longer the case. After learning swordsmanship from The Frouval, Larry’s growth rate had caught up.

When Bianca became a Second-Circle Mage, Larry would likely be right on the verge of becoming a Second-Class Swordsman.

And Bianca wasn’t far from reaching Second Circle. At the earliest, within a few months, and at the latest, within a year, she was expected to become a Second-Circle Mage.

Since Larry was growing at a similar pace as Bianca, he would reach Second Class before long. Considering their age, even receiving the Copper Badge after that would still be fast progress.

*

The meeting with Princess—no, now Queen—Regina Hesword happened immediately.

Even on their side, they seemed quite surprised upon hearing that a Platinum Badge holder and Archmage was interested in the request.

Regina Hesword was a woman in her twenties with a greenish hue to her complexion and a gaunt face. She looked so ill, it wouldn’t have been strange if she died at any moment.

“An Archmage… is it really true that he’ll escort my daughter?”

“Judging by the Mercenary Guild’s response, it seems to be true.”

The one who responded to Queen Regina’s question was Alfonso Lientas, the lord of Lientas.

Originally, the two had no personal connection. Until just a few years ago, they had never even seen each other’s faces.

When civil war broke out in the Kingdom of Luvain, Regina had fled west with her daughter in desperation. The ones targeting the crown prince chased her relentlessly, and she had to ride nonstop for over a month, staking her life on the run.

In the process, all ten of her escort knights died. Two maids died, and two others had to be left behind.

They barely arrived in Lientas.

But even then, the pursuers had followed them all the way here.

The one who stepped in at that point was Duke Alfonso Lientas.

He captured and imprisoned all the pursuers who had entered his territory and safely protected Regina Hesword and her daughter, who had fled.

“There was… an Archmage here… in Lientas?”

“He entered Lientas just yesterday. Fortunately, he seems to be interested in the request. You’ll be able to meet him soon.”

The appointment had already been made. In twenty minutes, the much-rumored Platinum Badge Archmage would appear here.

“Thanks to Your Grace, my daughter and I are alive.”

“Not at all. I received payment for it, so please don’t be burdened.”

The reward Duke Alfonso Lientas received was a small artifact.

Last year, while protecting Regina Hesword, he received the artifact through a transport request from mercenaries, and he now wore it on the ring finger of his left hand.

“How could the grace of saving one’s life be compared to a mere item…?”

“Please don’t strain yourself. I worry it may affect your health. And this isn’t a small artifact. It will surely save my life at least once someday.”

Ring of Protection.

That was the compensation Duke Alfonso Lientas had received. It was an artifact said to automatically activate when the wearer was in danger, and could block any kind of attack.

However, once used, it was said to take years before it could be reactivated.

In other words, it meant that once every few years, it could save its wearer from a mortal crisis.

“My daughter… my daughter… will she be able to return safely?”

“If my official duties weren’t so pressing, I’d go myself.”

“No… How could I send Your Grace all the way to distant Luvain…?”

“With an Archmage personally undertaking the request, Princess Aria will surely return safely to her homeland.”

Regina Hesword’s daughter, Aria Hesword, was currently asleep in a small bed beside them. The sleeping girl’s breathing was uneven.

Lately, Queen Regina hadn’t been able to sleep well, worrying about her daughter. Like herself, the girl frequently fell asleep, and sometimes collapsed without cause.

She worried her daughter might be suffering the same condition as she was.

“Your Grace, a guest has arrived.”

“A mercenary?”

“Yes. Three individuals, including a Platinum Badge mercenary.”

“Let them in.”

The door opened, and three people entered. One wore a hood pulled deep over their head, hiding everything but below the chin, and the other two were young mercenaries in their early to mid-teens.

That person… is the Archmage?

Duke Alfonso Lientas had heard descriptions of the Platinum Badge Mage’s appearance.

They always went about with their face covered, giving off a gloomy impression. They had rarely taken any requests, so it was even unclear if they could be trusted.

However, there were also rumors that they had taken down a Giant Minotaur and a Giant Wyvern.

If the rumors were true, then at least their skill could be trusted.

The question is whether they can be trusted.

Hyung_Otaku2

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