Episode 93
093: Overlooked Things
The first-place reward. The Scroll of the Divine Whistle. Having seen that, even golden hand couldn’t back down.
‘That, I will definitely take for myself.’
The ‘Scroll of the Divine Whistle’ that granted golden hand the Sun’s Right Hand. He couldn’t miss this. Even if it meant competing with Kang Moo-jin.
Golden Hand’s declaration for first place. A spirited answer was good, but no matter how skilled golden hand was, he was an ‘individual’. In contrast, Kang Moo-jin was the leader of a massive guild. It was natural for a gap to form when calculating contribution points. To Roentes, it seemed realistically impossible. Even if he was the disciple of Astrid, whom he respected immensely.
“Listen without misunderstanding. Even as the Successor of the Stars, first place seems a bit… unreasonable, no?”
But Geumson’s thoughts seemed different. No, he had a reason he couldn’t back down.
“I’ll still do it. I can let other things go, but I can’t have the Scroll of the Divine Whistle taken from me.”
“Oh ho, you seem to know what that is. Did Lady Astrid tell you?”
“That can’t be. Lady Astrid…”
Just as Golden Hand was about to say something, Roentes’s magic moved. Simultaneously, a message appeared.
[A sound-blocking barrier has been created.]
[Conversations held within the barrier will not leak outside.]
“From here on, it wouldn’t be good for others to hear…”
A sound-blocking barrier. A transparent membrane instantly enveloped golden hand and Roentes. Inside the barrier, Roentes spoke.
“Quite a few eyes are watching you. Seeing the ‘Shadow Hawks’ of the Laurel Leaf faction flying around… and even a forgotten ancient existence is watching you. Keuk, truly the Successor of the Stars.”
“Shadow Hawks of the Laurel Leaf? An ancient… what?”
“Ah, you didn’t know? Oh dear, a slip of the tongue. Well, it’s fine. They probably won’t harm you. Might just be a bit… unsettling.”
His mention of a ‘slip of the tongue’ made golden-handed eyes gleam. Tower Lord Roentes making a mistake? Impossible. Someone who makes verbal slips couldn’t become the master of the Magic Tower. It was a warning disguised as a slip. A small consideration for the Successor of the Stars, Astrid’s disciple.
‘Laurel Leaf… the Kingdom of Arcadia? Shadow Hawks? What’s that?’
A kingdom using the laurel leaf as its symbol. It clearly pointed to the Kingdom of Arcadia, of Prince Callise the Collector. But there was no reason for Callise to be watching him. He had already raised his favorability with him to ‘Maximum’. Moreover, the keyword ‘Shadow Hawk’ was a term he was hearing for the first time, even including memories from his previous life. And besides.
‘A forgotten ancient existence?’
This was also an unfamiliar keyword. But at that moment, a suspicious memory flashed by.
‘Don’t tell me… that shadow kid?’
The peculiar kid who carried around a strange book called the ‘Tome of Oblivion’. The unique fellow with small horns sprouting on his forehead. Perhaps it was related to that kid.
But it was a situation where he couldn’t be sure of anything. He wanted to ask about it. But Roentes seemed unable to say more. As if merely mentioning their existence was enough. Instead, Roentes asked golden hand.
“How is… she?”
His expression darkened. His cautious question contained multiple meanings. It seemed Roentes was aware of Astrid’s condition.
“If you mean my Master, she is recovering.”
Roentes’s eyes widened at golden hand’s words. It was an answer he hadn’t expected at all.
“Recovering? What did you say? Did you say recovering just now!”
Roentes, his voice unconsciously rising, grabbed Geumson’s shoulders with trembling hands. As if asking him to say it again.
“Truly… did you truly say she is recovering?”
“If she doesn’t overuse her magic, daily life should be possible without difficulty.”
“That’s enough, that’s enough! That’s all we need! Ah, great magic… thank you!”
Roentes’s eyes grew moist. Then, as if finally understanding, he said to Geumson.
“So she has recovered… Now I understand why you aim for first place. Yes, with her magic, it’s certainly possible.”
Roentes seemed to be misunderstanding something. He seemed to think Golden Hand had learned some formidable offensive magic from Astrid. But Astrid hadn’t even mentioned offensive or large-scale destructive magic. She was someone who initially disapproved of players using magic against monsters.
“Actually, I didn’t learn any offensive magic. What I learned was magic Engraving Art.”
“Magic Engraving Art? Heh, surprising she passed that on to you. But that’s…”
“Yes, it’s not a combat magic.”
Roentes also seemed to know of Astrid’s magic Engraving Art. While it was Astrid’s magic with immense potential, it wasn’t a magic significantly helpful in combat. That’s why Roentes stared at golden hand.
“And yet… you aim for first place? Without Lady Astrid’s magic?”
“Yes, I have to do it even without.”
“Keuk- Puhahahahat!”
At golden hand unwavering answer, Roentes laughed heartily. However, his laughter wasn’t mocking golden hand. It was a refreshing laugh, as if recalling the youth of someone dear from long ago.
“You resemble her a lot. Even that recklessness.”
“You mean Master? I don’t think so.”
“Well, you haven’t seen Lady Astrid from those days… I suppose you’d think that. Kkeuk.”
Geumson tilted his head. Calm and quiet Astrid. That was the image of her he remembered. But the Astrid Roentes remembered seemed different. However, there was no time to align those different memories. Even at this moment, the players’ battle had already begun.
“Oh dear, I’ve taken too much of your time when you aim for first place. I’ll be watching with anticipation. Successor of the Stars, golden hands.”
The magical barrier dissipated, shaking the air. Roentes, having finished his conversation with golden hand, slowly turned to face the hundreds of mages lined up in the square. The square, chaotic as players dispersed, fell silent as if water had been poured on it with just his movement. The gaze of every mage was fixed on him.
Roentes remained silent for a moment. His eyes scanned the faces of each mage standing before him. The anxiety and confusion in their eyes, even the subtle sense of rivalry towards the Otherworlders. He saw through everything.
“Proud wizards of Airtos, disciples of the stars.”
Finally, he opened his mouth. His voice was low, but the magic-laden resonance echoed throughout the entire city beyond the square. At that single phrase, all the wizards unconsciously straightened their backs.
“Do you see the bravery of the Otherworlders? To protect this place, which isn’t even their home, they willingly risk their lives and charge onto the battlefield.”
His gaze turned towards the players running towards the monsters. And Roentes shouted again.
“But who are we!”
Roentes began to pour strength into his voice. His voice was no longer low. It thundered, shaking the hearts of everyone listening.
“We are the masters of this land! We are the shield and sword of the magical city Airtos! While those Otherworlders shed their blood, were we weaklings hiding behind these walls, worrying about our safety!”
Wizards. Beings who create miracles just by existing. Such beings being compared to Otherworlders. That in itself was a blow to their pride. Yet, Roentes provoked the wizards. Provoked by this, a mage shouted with a voice mixed with indignation.
“No! We are not weak! We will not hide either!”
Starting with that cry, the wizards’ eyes began to change. Shame and anger appeared on their faces. The actions they had ignored simply because they were Otherworlders now returned as shame.
When the Otherworlders stepped up for the city, they had merely stood here. In this moment when a miracle was needed. Instead of painting miracles, they were just holding their positions. Powerlessly watching while engaging in pointless pride battles.
Roentes, holding their yearning in his gaze, raised his staff high towards the sky.
“I have news for you. Our great teacher, the guardian of this city… she has returned!”
The square was engulfed in a breathless silence. The being signified by the word ‘she’ was only one. In everyone’s minds, the name of the star buried in a corner of their hearts surfaced. And the phrase she left behind.
— Magic must paint miracles.
That forgotten phrase began to ignite a fire in the hearts of Airtos’s wizards. Because now, this moment, was when a miracle was most needed.
“Grand Archmage Astrid is watching over us, even at this very moment!”
Roentes’s thunderous declaration. The wizards’ eyes widened in disbelief. Astonishment soon turned to joy, then to overwhelming emotion. Roentes shouted towards those wizards.
“We are those who received the teachings of the stars! We are the great mages of Airtos who inherit the will of the stars! Will you truly entrust our city to those Otherworlders! Show them our power! Show them clearly who the true masters protecting this city are!”
