The Master of Language - T.M.L Chapter 13 (Part 2):

Hmm, but wait a moment.

I immediately asked the thought that came to mind.

“Then Chief Legless Monkey, you watched that battle?”

“I did. How could I miss it? Yura people fighting on our land – what could be more enjoyable to watch?”

“Wow! So you’ve been leading this army out since then?”

Legless Monkey’s eyes narrowed slightly.

I hope I didn’t push too hard.

“Why do you think that? I could have been alone.”

I glanced at Master.

Master still had a relaxed expression.

Hmm, I’m not sure.

“Come on. Would someone as important as a chief come out alone? That doesn’t make sense! If it was just reconnaissance, you could have sent a few fast people, right?”

“…”

“Leading such a large group of people to quietly watch that battle, it must have been hard to hold back, right? Don’t you think? Didn’t you want to jump in and fight too? Right? You just started trading with Count Furst, it would have been a good chance to build a deeper relationship. There’s nothing like the camaraderie of battle to quickly become close, right?”

“You speak as if you know war?”

“I can read, you know. When I had some kind masters, I managed to read in my spare time. There were many books about war among them. Many people tried to put me in charge of household management because I was clever.”

“How unfortunate for them. Actually, it’s unfortunate for you too. That you happened to have the talent for magic and became a mage. If you had lived quietly as an ordinary human, you could have had quite a comfortable life. What a shame, really.”

“Nah. My personality isn’t suited to living quietly under someone else. Even if I didn’t have the talent for magic, I probably wouldn’t have lived a comfortable life. And I have a goal I must achieve. But it’s not something I can do while living quietly.”

“Oh? What is it? Revenge?”

She must not be an ordinary person after all.

That’s why she’s the chief at that age, despite being a woman.

“You see well.”

“Desire for revenge is hard to hide originally. I thought you were a monster, but I guess you’re acting your age after all.”

Strange.

Why does the phrase “acting your age” feel so unpleasant?

At that moment, Master Abana spoke.

“If you’re done testing each other, make a decision.”

“About what?”

“Whether to attack or not.”

“What do you mean? I was just having a conversation…”

“Sorry, but I recovered earlier. So I’m not sure if I can get out of here alive, but I can at least take you with me.”

“…”

“So decide. Whether to gamble or not.”

It seems it wouldn’t be an easy win.

If it was, I wouldn’t have interfered. But why did Master make such a relaxed expression?

“Don’t worry, Ran. Trust me.”

That gentle voice held firm strength.

The most important thing for a mage.

It is confidence.

It is dignity.

I puffed out my chest as Master had taught me.

“Don’t misunderstand. I have no intention of fighting, Senior Abana.”

Calling her “senior” suggests Master is at a higher level.

But speaking informally suggests it’s not overwhelmingly so.

I quickly said:

“Don’t worry too much. I’m not the type to go around blabbing. I won’t mention the Chief’s dark intentions. But if Count Furst asks directly, I won’t lie. Just that much. I can promise that.”

Master Abana chuckled.

Legless Monkey shrugged.

“Alright. If it’s just that much. Let’s maintain a friendly relationship in the future.”

Legless Monkey stretched out her hand and waved it around.

Then the native warriors surrounding us from behind made way.

Master Abana turned her body abruptly and started walking away.

Legless Monkey glared at me until the end.

I stared back at her for a while before running to catch up with Master.

“It’ll be okay, right?”

“Hmm? Probably?”

“…”

Then I felt Master’s hand running through my hair.

“Never lose your composure in any situation, Ran. And straighten your shoulders.”

Why does this kid keep hunching over?

“It’s not because I’m not confident. It’s a habit. My muscles just grew that way.”

“I know. But if you stay in that posture for long, your mind tends to shrink with it. That’s why I’m telling you to straighten up.”

I glared at Master while imitating her confident stride.

As we entered the forest, Master started walking while holding my hand.

“If things had gone differently, they probably would have attacked Count Furst during the day, right? It seemed like they didn’t act because the battle ended too one-sidedly thanks to you, Master.”

“That’s true. But losing a good trading partner like Count Furst wouldn’t be good for her either. She might have just been trying to help Count Furst.”

“If that was the case, she could have just said so. It was strange how she was flustered when we mentioned observing the battle. And when she heard we had a relationship with Count Furst…”

“She was probably still deliberating. Whether to attack or not. Watch out in front. There’s a rather large rock.”

I looked at the ground and avoided the rock while walking, then said:

“Exactly. So, doesn’t she seem more likely to harm Count Furst than bring him benefits… Master?”

Master’s face, which had stopped abruptly in front of me, was hardened.

“Someone set fire to my castle.”

Master’s pace suddenly quickened, forcing me to rush with my relatively short legs.

Set fire to the castle?

To the cabin?

“Could it be Senior Kalasta?”

“No. If Kalasta were here, I would have sensed his presence.”

We quickly arrived at the cabin.

The wood forming the cabin was blazing brightly, illuminating the surroundings as if it were broad daylight.

And far away at the boundary was a girl who looked to be in her late teens.

Her robe was entirely red, but turned black towards the bottom. Her hair color was also a burning red, and the staff in her right hand was a bright gold color.

It was as if I was looking at a single flame itself.

The red-haired mage turned to look at me and Master Abana, then smiled, creating dimples on both cheeks.

“Oh my? You’re here now? I thought you had run away, abandoning your disciple. Hehehe.”

For a moment, I felt my heart skip a beat.

“P-Psyche!”

Psyche was nowhere to be seen in the clearing.

Given how she said “abandoning your disciple”, it seems Psyche is here somewhere.

Then that means Psyche must be inside that blazing cabin.

Grit.

I gritted my teeth so hard my jaw felt like it might fall off, but I felt no pain.

I stretched both hands forward.

Then the spark that Kalasta had given me flew from one side.

That spark responded to my psychokinesis and was immediately shot towards the face of that red-haired mage.

Whoosh!

As the spark touched the face of that red-haired mage, it suddenly turned into a large flame and engulfed her head.

Dangun

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