Embracing Magic - E.M Chapter 38 (Part 2)

The time taken for one cycle of cultivation depended on mana talent. The better the talent, the faster the cycle was completed even with the same cultivation method.

However, having double the talent score didn’t mean the cultivation time was halved.

Rodin’s cycle time was about 30 minutes. When in poor condition, it took longer, but it rarely exceeded 40 minutes.

Cory, with a mana talent of 17, usually took about 90 minutes for one cycle.

Today, he had been so tense and his body was in poor condition, wasting more time than usual.

“Whew, Selist.”

Pop!

Selist reappeared, breaking through the air. It took the form of a bird with a blazing body.

“Burn that corpse to ashes.”

Nod.

Selist increased its flame and set Hoppen’s body on fire. The small fire gradually grew, using Cory’s mana as fuel.

It would take quite some time to completely burn it.

Cory checked the belongings he had taken from Hoppen.

“Oh, money.”

The operational expense Commissioner Elrov had given him was 10 gold. It was enough for a commoner family of four to live on for a month.

But the money found on Hoppen amounted to over 100 gold. There were also silver and copper coins, making it convenient for immediate use in the city.

“The rest are meaningless. Equipment… well, it doesn’t suit me.”

The swordsman’s equipment was all heavy.

Not wanting to carry heavy loads, Cory decided to dispose of all of Hoppen’s equipment.

“Still, I have to take the equipment with me.”

Leaving the equipment here would allow someone investigating Hoppen’s disappearance to trace the battle. There was a risk of being identified as a spirit master.

Spirit masters left different traces compared to swordsmen or mages.

He needed to dispose of the equipment far from here, somewhere unrelated to the battle.

“Sigh.”

He slung the sword over his shoulder and awkwardly hoisted the large shield onto his back. He had no strength left to carry more.

Reluctantly, he left the remaining equipment to Silafe.

“I need to conserve mana.”

Even after over two hours of mana cultivation, his mana was not fully restored. It would take 2-3 more cycles to be in full condition.

* * *

Cory disposed of the equipment in a deep river midway between the place he killed Hoppen and the capital. He made sure to drop it in the deep part to make it unrecoverable.

Cory arrived in the capital around noon. He had walked all night.

After a fight and several hours carrying equipment, his body was exhausted.

“Ah, I’m tired.”

He paid for a night’s stay at a suitable inn and rested for a day. He was so tired his eyes closed on their own.

Fortunately, he had plenty of time. The deadline given by Commissioner Elrov was one month. He had ample time to rest and then move.

After resting for a day,

Cory wandered around the capital. He walked through the busy streets and listened to others’ conversations in restaurants.

‘Oh no, he’s no ordinary person.’

The target of the mission was Marquis Stain. Though he only knew the name until yesterday, today he learned what kind of noble he was.

He was the Chancellor.

The moment he learned this, Cory felt his mind go blank.

Assassinating the Chancellor. If it was revealed that he did it, the entire kingdom would surely hunt him down.

‘But I already know his movements. I can kill him. He’s not particularly strong.’

Marquis Stain was neither a swordsman nor a mage. His individual combat ability was no different from a common person’s.

Moreover, his movements were already known. The information given by Commissioner Elrov was accurate.

Marquis Stain had three mistresses in the capital. While it wasn’t widely known, Commissioner Elrov had identified all three.

Cory had received that information and confirmed it today. The details matched perfectly.

‘Killing him is easy, but escaping will be hard.’ (T/N: Why would he want to kill the target while he could be free????)

Marquis Stain always had two bodyguards, both 4th level knights. He could never win a direct confrontation.

‘I need to observe the situation further.’

Cory wandered the capital. Though his mind was troubled, he appeared to be just another countryside youth.

“Oh?”

A sign in front of a general store caught his eye.

—Buying unlimited healing potions for 30 gold each—

The sign reminded him of something Rodin had said.

The original price of a healing potion was 10 gold. It must have risen due to the war.

“30 gold is triple the price. Wow, it’s really gone up.”

Cory entered the store. Instead of selling potions right away, he inquired about the price of mana stones.

“Low-grade mana stones? Just give me 10 gold.”

“You’re not scamming me, right?”

“Scam? This is the capital, my friend. If you get caught cheating here, you have to close up shop.”

“Ahaha, I see.”

Rodin had mentioned needing low-grade mana stones. After saving his life with Rodin’s advice last night, buying some mana stones seemed like the least he could do.

Fortunately, the price was affordable. The operational expenses and the money found on Hoppen were sufficient.

‘Not sure when I’ll see Rodin, but I should buy them just in case.’

He bought ten low-grade mana stones with his own money first. Then he sold two potions to fund his stay in the capital.

Hyung_Otaku2

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