Embracing Magic - E.M Chapter 81 (Part 2)
“Phew.”
“Thank you. Thanks to you, we’ve won.”
“If that ship had been destroyed, it would’ve been a problem for me too.”
The battle was over. Everywhere, wounded lay on the ground, groaning in pain.
“Regardless, thank you.”
“You’re injured. Recovery.”
Rodin cast a 5th-circle healing spell on the man who had guarded him. Fortunately, since the injury was recent, it healed considerably with just one spell.
“Ah! You can use healing magic as well.”
“Yes. But I’m a bit tired. I think I’ll head in now.”
“Ah, was I holding you up? Please, go ahead. Thank you again.”
With an exhausted expression, Rodin returned to the ship. He walked slowly across the deck and descended to his cabin.
* * *
It had been a long time since he had been in a real battle. It had been months since his fight with Elrov.
Although he hadn’t used much mana, he felt mentally drained. He wanted to drop everything and go relax at a resort.
But it was important not to relax too much in times like this. As with physical training, pushing past your perceived limits often led to the greatest gains.
Rodin suppressed his mental fatigue and forced himself to attend the Frouval’s illusion class.
The next morning, a sailor came to him early. The sailor delivered a message from the captain and a few guests, inviting Rodin and his companions.
“Larry, Bianca. Want to go have something nice to eat?”
“No more jerky?”
“Seems like we’ve been invited somewhere.”
Breakfast wasn’t supposed to be provided on the ship today. The first formal meal would be lunch.
Rodin had been prepared to chew on some jerky for breakfast, but fortunately, they had received an invitation.
“Where are we going?”
“Get dressed. We’re heading out.”
Larry and Bianca changed into the clothes Rodin had bought for them before. Rodin instructed Undine to wash the two of them, and then they left the cabin.
The invitation was to a room next to the captain’s quarters on the uppermost floor.
The ship’s layout was complicated, so it was difficult to find the way, but luckily a sailor guided them.
Knock knock!
“I’ve brought the guests.”
Click!
The door opened, revealing the man whose arm had been injured the day before. Rodin smiled and nodded politely, and Larry and Bianca greeted him as they had been taught at home.
“Hello. I’m the daughter of Marie from upstairs… Oh, wait, that’s not right.”
“Hahaha. They must be your little siblings, Mage?”
“Yes. They’re twelve and ten years old.”
“Oh, they’re at such a cute age. Ah, I’m blocking the way. Please, come in.”
The man moved aside to let them in.
Rodin entered with his siblings and sat down at an empty seat.
“Thank you for inviting us. I was worried we’d have to chew on jerky again today.”
“After the help you gave us yesterday, this is the least we can do. Let’s eat before the food gets cold.”
The meal began.
No one spoke during the meal. Aside from the clatter of dishes, the dining room was quiet for about 30 minutes.
When the meal ended, the sailors came in to clear the empty plates. A dark liquid, which appeared to be tea from the central continent, was placed on the table.
“Please try it. This is the most popular tea on the central continent these days. I’m quite fond of it myself.”
“Ugh! It’s bitter.”
Before the explanation was finished, Bianca took a sip of the tea and spat it out immediately.
“Oh dear, it must’ve been too bitter for our little lady.”
“It’s bitter.”
“How adorable.”
Sylvia, a guest of the Hedges Trading Guild, patted Bianca’s head. Bianca closed her eyes contentedly, enjoying the gesture.
“Hehe.”
“Our little lady, be sure to listen to your older sister and grow up well, okay?”
“Huh?”
“Erm.”
At the word “sister,” Rodin’s face scrunched up.
More than Bianca’s expression when she tasted the tea, Rodin’s face wrinkled as he pulled up the hood of his robe, which he had removed for the meal.
“I’m her brother.”
“What?”
“I’m a man. My name is Rodin and I’m a guy.”
“Ah!”
The hosts’ faces grew awkward. Sylvia looked embarrassed, unsure of what to do.
Rodin’s good mood, which had been lifted by the delicious food, plummeted. He suddenly remembered something Hedler had said earlier this year.
‘Our Rodin. The older you get, the more your beauty blossoms. You’re going to be the most beautiful woman in the Riyaz Kingdom at this rate.’
Although it had been said in jest, Rodin had been quite shocked.
For days afterward, he practiced making manly expressions using Mirror Image magic.
“I’m… sorry.”
“It’s fine. I understand.”
Although Rodin was quite displeased, he didn’t want to lose his temper in this setting. He knew his face didn’t exactly look manly.
Being called feminine wasn’t a huge problem, but his looks went beyond that. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that even among women, his face would rank among the most beautiful.
‘I just need my voice to deepen quickly. At least then I’ll be treated like a man.’
He was worried because a deeper voice wasn’t necessarily beneficial for a mage.
When your voice suddenly deepens, it often interferes with Rune chanting. He had read about this in books and heard it from Instructor Serion.
“We’ve been eating for a while without even introducing ourselves. I’m Krondel, the captain of this ship. I’ve trained in swordsmanship a bit, but I’m not very skilled. Just think of me as an old man who’s worked for the Hedges Trading Guild for a long time.”
“I’m Darren, a guest of the Hedges Trading Guild.”
“And I’m…”
Rodin was introduced to Captain Krondel, Darren, Jefferson, and Sylvia, all guests of the Hedges Trading Guild. Rodin also introduced himself as a mage, and his siblings introduced themselves by name.
“Thank you again for yesterday. We could have been in real danger without you, Mage Rodin.”
“That’s right. Especially for healing Darren’s arm. If it had been delayed even a little longer, it could have been serious.”
The swordsman whose arm had been injured yesterday was Darren. It was the same name as the one who had challenged Rodin back in the Special Forces Training Institute.
Darren had been in a precarious state yesterday. He had been severely injured by the 6th-circle mage’s spell, and if the healing had been delayed any further, he might have lost the use of his arm.
“No, I was just doing my duty. It seemed like the damage was quite significant yesterday.”
“Luckily, we only lost three mercenaries. Twenty-one are injured, but we’re treating them little by little with potions.”
“I can help with the treatment of the wounded. I’m proficient in healing magic.”
“Oh! We were wondering how to ask for your help, but you offered it so readily. Thank you.”
Thus, the breakfast concluded.
Although they had introduced themselves, there wasn’t much interest in further conversation.