Embracing Magic - E.M Chapter 94 (Part 1)

Rodin couldn’t sense any magic emanating from his opponent’s body. Yet, if they were using magic, there was only one possible answer.

“They’re using an artifact.”

Rodin followed the path of the killer into the alley. He sensed a faint trace of magic slipping into a nearby house.

“Who could they be?”

If he wanted to save someone, now would be the time to rush in. But Rodin had no intention of doing that. He hadn’t come out in the middle of the night to save lives.

“I need to know who they are first.”

Rodin had always been curious by nature. His disposition was more like that of a mage from the Magic Tower than a soldier from the Magic Corps.

“Anti-Magic Field.”

Rodin cast a 5th-circle Anti-Magic Field at the entrance of the alley. The spell would cancel any magic that came into contact with it.

If the opponent’s artifact was of a high enough grade, it might not be completely nullified, but it would at least be temporarily disrupted. That would buy enough time for Rodin to identify their identity.

“That should do it.”

Rodin stood back, maintaining a safe distance from the Anti-Magic Field and waited. Soon, he could feel the magic approaching from a distance, getting closer.

“Did they already finish the job?”

The opponent walked through the alley without any suspicion, passing right over the Anti-Magic Field that Rodin had set.

“Oh, their artifact is quite high-level, huh?”

For a brief moment, the Anti-Magic Field revealed a glimpse of their form, but as soon as they moved past the field, they became invisible again.

The artifact they were using was above the level of a 5th-circle spell, indicating that it wasn’t something crafted in modern times.

“It’s an ancient relic, after all.”

Invisibility was a 4th-circle spell, a type of magic that current mages couldn’t embed into items. And if it only paused momentarily even under the effect of a 5th-circle Anti-Magic Field, it meant the artifact was more exceptional than Rodin had initially thought.

“But who is that person?”

Rodin tried to recall the fleeting image he had seen.

It was an unfamiliar face, certainly not someone who lived in this neighborhood.

However, the clothes they wore were luxurious, and their appearance was neat. Most notably, the sword at their waist was no ordinary weapon.

“Definitely a knight, and a high-ranking one at that. But they’re not very skilled.”

Rodin’s quick assessment of the killer was that of a knight with high status but mediocre ability.

“And they were empty-handed.”

It seemed that the killer had entered someone’s home with a purpose but had left empty-handed. They were now heading towards another house.

“I wonder how it’ll go this time?”

Rodin kept his distance and trailed the killer. The killer paused briefly in front of a newly built house.

“That place belongs to a mercenary too.”

Rodin had heard from Margaret about homes in the area owned by former mercenaries. This particular house belonged to a resident named Glenn, also a former mercenary.

“The others must be preparing for this too.”

Seven people had been killed just the previous night. It was hard to believe that the other former mercenaries wouldn’t have taken any precautions.

Yet, the first house hadn’t shown any signs of struggle. The killer possessed a means to eliminate their target quietly.

“They’re moving in.”

Rodin sensed the killer, still invisible, slipping inside the house.

He quickly set up another Anti-Magic Field at the entrance.

It was a short window, but Rodin was determined to confirm the opponent’s appearance, to see if they had taken anything.

Less than three minutes after setting the Anti-Magic Field, he sensed the faint magical presence returning towards the door.

“The target couldn’t even resist? What did they use?”

But Rodin’s curiosity was fleeting. He prioritized confirming the opponent’s identity.

A brief moment. The figure appeared—a man in his mid-twenties, clutching something in his left hand.

“Is that… a horse? No, maybe not?”

The object the man held was a small statue of a four-legged creature. Its body was a deep blue, reminiscent of the autumn sky, and it was about the size of a child’s fist.

“Was that his goal? Whatever it is…”

Rodin felt an impulse not to let it go. So, he stuck close behind the man, who was walking away invisibly.

Although the opponent possessed a special artifact, their sensitivity to magic was lacking. Their skills weren’t impressive either.

“For a knight, they’re awfully dull.”

Rodin crept so close that he worried his breath might give him away.

Yet the opponent remained completely oblivious. It wasn’t just a lack of sensitivity—it was outright dullness.

“Shall I try it?”

From directly behind, Rodin cast a 3rd-circle spell, Grease.

Grease reduced friction, causing the ground to become slippery. The opponent slipped and fell flat on their back.

“Ugh!”

In the moment when the opponent hit the ground, Rodin snatched up the fallen statue and discreetly hid it. He quickly moved away, putting distance between himself and the man.

Beep beep!

“Who’s there?!”

“Damn it!”

“There he is!”

Had something gone wrong when the opponent fell? The invisibility magic from the ancient artifact dissipated.

The young man in his twenties was now fully visible, shouting as he fell, catching the attention of the patrolling guards.

“Hmm?”

The guards, who had rushed in to apprehend the killer, suddenly slowed down. Then, they helped the young man to his feet, bowing their heads deeply.

“We greet you, young master.”

“Were you on patrol?”

“Yes, sir. We intensified our patrols after a murder occurred last night. But what brings you here, young master?”

“I heard about the murder last night as well. I couldn’t tolerate such a heinous criminal in our territory, so I came out personally to catch them.”

Listening from a safe distance, Rodin overheard the conversation between the guards and the man they addressed as “young master.” The deference of the guards gave him a good idea of the man’s status.

“Is he the Duke of Richmond’s son? No, judging by his age, he must be a grandson.”

Now that Rodin had confirmed the opponent’s identity, he found the situation almost absurd.

A marquis’s grandson had committed murders to acquire a statue in the dead of night. If this became known, both the perpetrator and the Duke of Richmond would face serious consequences.

“The noble Richmond marquis’s reputation would be ruined.”

Silently, Rodin slipped away. With the guards nearby, he needed to be even more careful than before.

—

Hyung_Otaku2

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