Embracing Magic - E.M Chapter 41 (Part 1)
Looking around the empty barracks, Rodin clicked his tongue lightly.
The barracks felt awkward when he was alone. The quiet barracks in the evening felt too unfamiliar.
“Sigh, another repetitive day.”
Today’s task was potion-making as usual. However, it didn’t matter if he took it easy reading a book since he had delivered potions yesterday.
The speed of potion-making had significantly increased. Now, he could use about half the month freely and still meet the production schedule.
‘Did Cory manage to escape well?’
The one-month mission period given to Cory had not yet ended. The committee hadn’t shown any reaction yet either.
Rodin left the barracks and walked to the back of the building. It was the path to the Advanced Library 3 by the lakeside, where he spent more time than in the barracks.
He paused for a moment before resuming his steps as if he had never stopped.
‘Who is it?’
While moving, he received a signal from Jito. It was a warning that someone was hiding behind a large rock not far away.
Even without Jito, he would have noticed someone hiding. His unique keen senses told him there was someone behind the rock.
Looking closely, he saw a bit of hair roding out from the top of the rock.
‘How did Jito find that?’
Rodin was more amazed by Jito finding such a small clue than curious about the person hiding behind the rock.
Finding such a small trace wasn’t just about having good eyes. One had to remember the exact appearance of the rock to notice the subtle differences.
Tak!
As he approached the rock, a small stone rolled over. Rodin noticed a faint trace of mana on the small stone.
‘A mana stone? Ah, this guy.’
Pretending to adjust his shoe, Rodin naturally picked up the rolled stone. It was indeed a lower-grade mana stone.
“You could just run away. Why did you come here?”
He leaned against the rock and casually spoke to the person hiding behind it.
“Did you notice?”
“Yes. The mission?”
“It was an assassination mission to kill Marquis Stain. I killed him and escaped. I was lucky enough not to get caught.”
Rodin flinched at the mention of Marquis Stain.
Marquis Stain was the chancellor of the Riyaz Kingdom. Cory found out later, but Rodin already knew who Marquis Stain was.
“That’s crazy. Did the committee give a mission to kill the chancellor? Are they looking for a fight?”
“I thought so too, but it was the opposite. It’s like the committee has made the special forces independent.”
“True. From the moment they summoned the first generation, it was clear they were walking a different path from the military.”
“There was a lot of talk in the palace. They were debating whether to attack here now or later.”
At the time when the special forces training center blocked the first generation’s dispatch, there were fierce debates in the palace every day.
Dozens of nobles insisted on mobilizing the army to erase the special forces training center. The military was also willing to send troops.
“Of course. The organization they created with support funds was swallowed up by the committee. The royal family must have been furious.”
“No, it was the opposite. Although they were angry, the war was already ongoing. The royal family persuaded the other nobles to wait and see for now. As the war situation worsened, the other nobles had no choice but to follow the king’s words.”
“Oh, the king of the Riyaz Kingdom is quite magnanimous.”
“Whether it was magnanimity or foolishness, that’s what happened. But it changed when Marquis Stain became the chancellor. He insisted on internal consolidation first and quickly eliminating the special forces training center. He also incited the nobles.”
Marquis Stain was a leader of the noble faction and a symbol of aristocracy. He couldn’t tolerate slaves becoming knights or mages.
So, he not only advocated for the closure of the special forces training center but also demanded that all trainees trained there be sent back to their original positions.
The original positions Marquis Stain referred to were places where slaves worked – hard labor sites.
“The committee couldn’t just leave Marquis Stain alone.”
“Right. If they did, they would have to fight the royal capital’s knights right in front of them.”
“I understand the situation. But why did you come here? I told you to run away after finishing the mission.”
“Heh, I was going to do that. I plan to go to the central continent. I should be safe from the war there.”
The Western Continent was at war in all countries except the Kingdom of Talereh. Whether it was the Ingram Empire or the Alliance of 13 Nations, there was no safe place.
Going to the Kingdom of Talereh was also risky due to the demon beasts. It was a country adjacent to the demonic forest and just as dangerous as those at war.
“Are you going by boat?”
“No, I’ll go through the Ingram Empire to the north.”
“You’re crossing the continental ridge? Well, you’re a wind spirit mage. You can fly.”
In the northern part of the Western Continent, there was a huge mountain range known as the continent’s ridge. The entire mountain was made of rocks, with only a few flying demon beasts living there.
“I’m going to Maven. If you ever look for me, come there.”
“Hey! Do you think the Kingdom of Maven is as small as your hand? How will I find you there?”
“You can find me. I will become the continent’s greatest spirit mage. Oh, take this.”
Cory handed Rodin a bunch of lower-grade mana stones. There were ten in total, including the one he rolled earlier.
“Why did you buy so many?”
“Potions sell for a lot. I didn’t sell many, but I had enough to buy these and still have money left. Thanks for saving me. I will repay you.”
“That’s good to hear. Oh, about repaying. Can you do it now? If you’re busy, I understand.”
“Why? Do you need something? I can stay a few days.”
Cory wanted to repay Rodin anyway. He had received help on this mission and learned a lot from Rodin during their nine years together.
“Did you hide your slave rod well?”
“Here it is.”
Rodin took the slave rod Cory handed him and examined it closely.
He memorized the length, thickness, the number 107 engraved inside, and even the shape of the numbers.
“Take it back. Don’t carry it around anymore. Hide it somewhere. Bury it in the ground if you must.”
“I’m a spirit mage. I won’t get caught.”
Cory’s confidence was well-founded. The wind spirit was excellent at reconnaissance. Even now, it was constantly circling around, checking for any strangers approaching.
If he detected someone first and hid, he wouldn’t get caught easily.
“Be careful anyway. Hmm, I’d like you to find some slave rods.”
“Slave rods? Like this one?”
“Not yours. Hedler, Lant, and the other trainees. I’m sure they hid them somewhere in the training center. I can’t find them.”
“They said they were stored in the palace… Oh! That doesn’t make sense. If the slave rods were in the palace, the committee wouldn’t be able to do this.”
Cory realized belatedly that it didn’t make sense.