Chapter 31
vin, with his Gold-Veined Bronzesword in hand, left the clearing but didn''t rush back to Mount
Eagle. Instead, he continued to search the forest for Elixir Herbs, while also seeking out Magi-
Monsters to spar with. With ten days remaining before the time of gathering, he didn''t want to waste
the rare opportunity to be out and about. Having dealt with the threat of Nysah, he had no more
concerns to hold him back.
Over the next few days, his efforts were fruitful. He found four Ordinary Elixir Herbs, and three
Ordinary Elixir Fruits, and had skirmished with some Magi-Monsters. vin was working hard to
solidify his realm as a Novice Mage Stage IV, trying to give himself as much room for improvement
as possible.
He encountered many adventuring mercenary bands along the way, but he always left without
making contact.
Today, however, instead of avoiding a band of mercenaries, vin slowly approached them. By the
banks of a stream, a group of mercenaries had just in an Ironhide Bull and were busily dividing
its valuable horns and hide, items that would fetch a good price in the city. Each mercenary carried
a bulging purse, indicating a sessful haul.
vin''s attention was drawn to a middle-aged man among them whose body crackled with electric
energy. His rugged face lit up with the intensity of the arcs. On his right arm coiled a thick
Shockwave Cobra, not a real Magi-Monster but a construct of pure lightning, so lifelike it seemed to
hiss at the sky. The sight was both magnificent and shocking, igniting a spark of desire in vin''s
heart.
It was this middle-aged man who had repelled the Ironhide Bull with a single blow. His body shone
with electric brilliance, and the Shockwave Cobra detached from his arm, coiling around the bull
and, with a thunderous roar, exploded in a violent storm of lightning.
"Indigo Viper, powerful enough to be worth a fortune in gold," the man eximed. His arm was
raised to the sky as the Shockwave Cobra hissed fiercely. He had executed the spell many times,
each time defeating his enemy with a single strike, to astonishing effect.
"Such dominant Combat Magic can only be wielded by you, Sir!" A seductive woman eximed in
admiration.
Another man, cleaning the bull''s sharp horns by the stream, grinned and said, "We''ve made a good
haul this time. We''ll exchange it for gold and get a fitting weapon for you, Sir."
The middle-aged man dismissed the Shockwave Cobra. "No need for weapons; it’s better to find
suitable Combat Magic for you all. The stronger the Combat Magic, the stronger we be, and
the farther we''ll go. In three years, every one of us should master a Tier-2 Novice Combat Magic."
"We''ll follow your lead!" the other mercenariesughed heartily.
"Who''s there? Show yourself!" The man''s gaze suddenly turned icy as he looked towards the ce
where vin was hiding.
Was someone there? The other mercenaries quickly armed themselves, their expressions stern,
ready for battle.
vin, standing in the woods, did not reveal himself. "I mean no harm. I was just passing by and
came to see what the noise was about.”
“Stick to your own path, stranger, and we’ll stick to ours!” They called out.
“Not so fast. I have a fine sword here, and I hope to exchange it for your Indigo Viper Combat
Magic!”
A Tier-2 Novice Combat Magic, particrly of the lightning variety, was perfect for vin.
Cobalt Strike forbade him from learning Combat Magic, at least for a considerable time toe. If
they wouldn’t give it, he would make his own exchange!
He had Ogmundr’s Gold-Veined Bronzesword on hand.
“A sword? Show us,” the middle-aged man whispered, signaling hispanions to be vignt of the
surrounding woods, wary of other potential threats.
vin hesitated, then donned a bark mask and stepped out of the forest, lifting the Gold-Veined
Bronzesword high. The sword vibrated slightly, emitting a pleasing ring. Its surface shimmered with
light, and the gold veins were strikingly conspicuous. It clearly was no ordinary weapon.
The mercenaries’ eyes lit up – what a sword!
“Bring it here for us to see,” the woman, whose own weapon was a sword, couldn’t take her eyes off
the Gold-Veined Bronzesword.
vin backed into the forest. “We’ll trade at a different spot, just up ahead.”
“Would this be a trap?” the wary mercenaries asked.
“Spread out. Let’s check it out,” the cautious middle-aged man said as they followed.
vin stopped at the edge of a nearby cliff, with a roaring river below – a quick escape route if
danger arose. He was deeply wary of these mercenaries and could not fully trust them.
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The middle-aged man and the woman emerged from the forest to the cliff’s edge, while the rest
stayed back, watchful.
“Where did you get this sword? And why trade it?” the man inquired.
“I found it! A few days ago, I saw a band of mercenaries chasing some folk, apparently for this very
sword. They, unfortunately, met a swarm of Vermilion Spiders, which allowed me to pick up the
sword quite opportunistically,” vin lied, prepared to im he had simply found it on the road if
anyer inquired. The demise of Ogmundr and hispanions was due to those mercenaries,
and not his concern.