Embracing Magic - E.M Chapter 44 (Part 2)
Seeing Lant’s injuries late, Cory looked around hastily, trying to take out a potion.
“I have a potion too.”
“Then why didn’t you treat your wounds?”
“We were in a hurry.”
Lant took out a potion and applied it to his wounds. Hedler helped him with the wounds on his back.
“The potion works well.”
“Yeah, the pain is subsiding quickly.”
“But Cory, how long are you going to stay here?”
“Until the Empire soldiers disperse a bit. Even as a spirit summoner, if I get caught, there’s no way out.”
A spirit summoner contracted with the Wind Spirit had excellent skills in moving stealthily. They could scout with spirits and hide or flee accordingly. If necessary, they could even fly away.
However, it was different if the enemy knew about the existence of a spirit summoner.
A spirit was invisible to the eye but existed for sure. Finding the presence of a spirit and tracing the magic connected to the spirit would lead to the summoner.
“Central Continent… I want to go too.”
“But we can’t because of the slave rod. If we don’t return in time, we’re dead.”
“So, we can go if we retrieve the slave rod.”
“We have to hope Rodin finds it.”
* * *
The committee of the Special Forces Training Center originally had six members: one chairman and five members.
However, Chairman Kreate died of old age, and Member Keline left the training center with the first batch. A month ago, Member Albrecht also left the training center with Hedler, Lant, and three others.
Now, only Members Kser, Elrov, and Habinon remained.
Rodin stood on the roof of the accommodation building under the Invisibility spell. His gaze was fixed on the central building.
‘It should be Habinon today. Why isn’t he coming?’
Currently, Member Kser was staying at the Special Forces Training Center. Rodin was waiting for Kser to leave and for Habinon to arrive.
‘The shift is every ten days. Once Habinon arrives, I can investigate freely during that time.’
At least one member must stay at the Special Forces Training Center at all times. Instructors were not in positions of responsibility, so having a member present to take responsibility in case of an incident was essential.
About ten days ago, Member Kser arrived, and Member Elrov, who had been guarding the training center for several days, left.
According to the shift cycle, Member Habinon should arrive today, and Member Kser should leave.
‘Kser and Elrov, who are mages, are not easy to deal with.’
The slave rod were likely hidden in the central building using magical means. To find them, Rodin had to use magic as well.
Mages were sensitive to magic. Using magic in the same building would likely be detected.
That’s why Rodin was waiting for a day when Member Habinon, a swordsman, was left at the training center. Even as a high-ranking knight of the 5th Tier, he wasn’t as sensitive to magic as mages were. Rodin could search the central building without being caught.
‘He’s here.’
At that moment, the sound of hooves came from the entrance of the training center. Soon, a carriage pulled by two horses appeared.
‘Coming at almost midnight. Their working hours are a mess.’
Since Chairman Kreate’s death, the discipline within the Special Forces Training Center had collapsed. There were many cases where the instructors reeked of alcohol, and the committee members acted arbitrarily.
‘As expected.’
A faint argument was heard from the central building. The quiet night made the sound louder.
They were likely arguing about why Habinon was so late.
‘It’ll be over soon.’
Although their discipline was lax, they were very polite to each other. They were obviously cautious, afraid of making a mistake in their words.
‘He’s out.’
Member Kser, dressed in thick clothes, appeared through the central building.
He headed toward the stable without looking in Rodin’s direction.
The Invisibility spell wasn’t perfect. A mage of the same level could easily detect it from close range.
However, Rodin was watching from dozens of meters away. Plus, it was nighttime. Even without the Invisibility spell, it would have been hard to spot Rodin.
Member Kser soon got on the carriage and left. The carriage was different from the one Habinon had arrived in. It was much more luxurious and elegant.
‘Time to move.’
Maintaining his invisibility, Rodin slowly approached the central building.
Four instructors were on guard, but they didn’t notice the 5th-circle mage Rodin.
Rodin carefully searched the first floor, looking for a way down.
Before long, he found a place where magic was pooled and moving in a specific pattern.
‘Found it easily.’
He closed his eyes and read the magic. There were three magical locks and one physical lock.
‘Was this added recently?’
Originally, there were two physical locks and one magical lock here.
However, the committee members enhanced security by adding two magical locks. In the process, one of the physical locks disappeared to make room for the magic circle.
This actually helped Rodin.
Unlocking the magical locks was easy for Rodin. The reduction of troublesome physical locks made entry easier.
‘It’s a simple method. Not the committee’s style. Is there a company that provides such services?’
Rodin read the magic patterns and disarmed them one by one. It took less than ten minutes to disable the three magical locks.
‘Only one left.’
With the magical locks gone, only one physical lock remained. It was a simple keyhole lock.
‘Simple things can be tricky. Should I cut it?’
He dismissed the thought immediately.
Even a single detection device would trigger an alarm if the door was cut. If caught, there would be a fight.
It didn’t matter to him. He had resolved the slave mark issue long ago. If necessary, he could escape.
But his failure would endanger his comrades.
Especially Hedler and Lant, who shared his room, would undoubtedly suffer retaliation because of him.
‘Undine.’
Rodin summoned the water spirit.
Although Undine always sat on his shoulder, Rodin rarely used its power. At most, it shielded him from rain.
Being a lower-class spirit, its power was weak, and most things it could do were solvable by magic.
‘Go inside the keyhole and remember its shape.’
Nod!
Undine entered the keyhole. Its face puffed up as if it was trying to expand inside.
‘Your face will burst. Just remember the shape. You don’t need to unlock it.’
Nod!