Chapter 98: ‘The Magician’
Chapter 98 The Magician
We won.
The railway was littered with remains that barely resembled corpses.
They looked like smashed fruits in a carriage, their flesh and guts spilling out in a grotesque mess.
Phew
Trixie wiped the sweat off her forehead. Becky, who seemed to have rxed after the tension, copsed on the ground.
Ugh I hate heights, I hate gore, I hate everything here
Not everything, right?
Louis looked at me. Beckys eyes also followed his gaze.
She blushed and fiddled with her hat.
W-well, not everything. Just most of it.
The representatives sighed deeply.
Their bodies were still trembling slightly.
It was understandable.
They had killed ghosts, but it felt no different from killing humans.
You did well.
I muttered a low praise.
They had defeated the ghosts with their own power, without any help.
And they had shown less hesitation against enemies that looked like humans.
Then I heard some murmurs from somewhere else.
I saw a mercenary in armor receiving greetings from the reporters.
Thank you, boss!
A purple-haired woman with a strong aura.
It was Elysis, the leader of the Mystic Canyon.
She had personally brought the reporters down from the tail of the train.
They didnt care that I was next to them and continued their conversation.
Was it amazing?
Yes. Oh, I dont mean the scale of the ghosts I mean, the magic department representatives were amazing.
Arine, one of the reporters, answered.
She nced at the ghost remains around her, and Elysis nodded slightly.
What did you do up there?
We captured the representatives actions with the crystal ball.
Hmm.
But, Im also a magician before a reporter. This level of maniption is unbelievable. Its a really amazing level of
Yeah. I know. I know too.
Elysis cut off Arines words and looked at the tail of the train.
The VIP car that was pointing to the sky.
The next moment, she asked me.
Hey, long time no see. Did you really do this?
The leader punched the train roof with a thud.
I nodded quietly.
Youre an amazing guy.
Elysis muttered and smirked. It was a smile full of satisfaction.
Thanks to you, the magic department representatives are fine
She asked Arine.
What about the reporters? No casualties, right?
No. Not a single one.
Arine nced at me a few times.
We were caught in the explosion and couldnt move But thanks to n, he lifted the train and we were safe.
Good. No deaths.
The leader pointed to Arines crystal ball with her chin.
That thing, are you recording us right now?
No? No. Its a device that needs periodic mana replenishment It ran out of power in the middle. But we got everything until the ghosts were defeated
Stop. Just answer what I asked.
Oh, yes.
Silence fell, and Elysiss eyes returned to the train. She stared at it for a long time.
Hmm.
Elysis looked at me and the train alternately.
She had a lot to say, but she seemed to be struggling with something.
In the end, it was Arine who broke the silence first.
She took a step closer to me.
Hey, dont worry. We got the representatives actions clearly.
You might have forgotten something.
I returned the three teleportation stones to her.
Arines eyes widened a beatte.
Oh, my. I forgot about the teleportation stones! I was so distracted
I only cared about capturing the representatives actions.
In other words, I had no interest in the reporters who couldnt do anything.
But Arine was still excited. She seemed to have given up on hiding her identity.
I wish I had recorded the train more clearly Its too precious to see it alone. Oh, if I fill up the mana and record it again
No need.
My mana is not infinite.
The train is not being held in real time.
Its just standing up.
That means, it will soon crash down the cliff.
I asked Elysis.
How much time is left until the main event of the expedition?
Elysis, who was lost in thought, looked at me and burst into a snicker.
Look at you. Have you decided to talk to me casually now? There are about five hours left until the main event.
Five hours, huh.
That was satisfactory.
I should be able to reach the destination without any trouble.
Elysis narrowed her eyes slightly and asked.
n. Are you thinking of entering the Mysterious Canyon? Its a serious matter, even though the ce is like this.
Still not interested.
Is that so.
She smiled for a while, and then pointed at the rail with her chin.
Lets talk while we go back to the station. As you can see, the rail is like this, so we cant go this way anyway.
I nced at the broken rail.
It waspletely shattered, but it wasnt that long if I only considered the distance.
I figured I could fix it if I had the materials.
Ask for the materials to be delivered.
Materials? Why materials all of a sudden.
Elysis blinked.
Dont tell me.
Im thinking of fixing the rail and passing through.
Oh, you.
Elysis shook her head.
Its not that I dont know you have the ability to do that. But this rail gets more dangerous as you go further. Thats why Im saying we should go to another station.
Because its dangerous, I said I would fix it and go.
There was a brief silence.
Huh, youre really something.
She looked at me with faint eyes, and Elysis finally agreed.
She shouted at the mercenaries who were waiting behind her.
Thats it. Dont prepare for the escort. Were not going back.
Yes. Understood!
Instead, bring some materials. To fix the rail.
Yes!
The mercenaries moved swiftly at the leaders words.
Elysis brushed her purple hair with a good mood.
Hey, n.
She called my name again.
One more thing, think about the Mysterious Canyon. Ill make you a good spot.
If its not the leaders spot Leave me alone.
The leaders spot is not possible, you bastard.
Elysis shrugged her shoulders.
Be careful in Verkel. Our guys, theyre rough with people who dont eat from the same pot.
Are you talking about Celestial Blessing?
Yeah.
I sneered as soon as I heard that.
Who the hell was it and what should I be careful of?
You should warn Celestial Blessing, shouldnt you?
Hmm?
Our kids just had a st killing human-shaped monsters, so they might confuse ghosts and humans.
As Elysis swallowed a hollowugh, Becky jumped up like a startled cat next to her.
n, I cant k**l people!
The girl went on with a heated exnation by herself.
Ghosts are monsters in the end, so I killed them How can I k**l people! I cant do that!
You can.
Trixie and Louiss eyes widened as well. Becky pointed at them with her index finger.
I cant! Trixie and Louis must think the same as me, right? Look at their faces. Theyre all simr to me. Guys, right?
There was no answer.
A brief awkward silence fell, and Becky started to feel embarrassed.
You. Did you just say we?
Wow n, thats the first time you said that to me.
The reason why Trixie and Louiss eyes widened was finally revealed.
Becky also eximed, Oh, and made a shocked face.
Tha, tha, thats right? I just said our kids
Shut up.
I dismissed their reactions.
It wasnt that I didnt mean it, but I didnt intend to imply anything by calling them we.
Elysis called Louis this time.
Hey, Louis.
Elysis, maam. Its been a while.
Louis greeted her politely.
Youve been working hard? Grow up ande to the Mystic Valley.
Ah, thats
Louis couldnt finish his answer and nced at me.
?
Soon, Elysiss eyes widened and she burst intoughter as if she couldnt believe it.
Whats with that reaction? Did I lose you to n?
Haha No, its not that, I just learned a lot from n. I want to stay by his side for a while.
Okay. Well talk more after the extermination festival.
The conversation ended like that, and I waited for the supplies to arrive while gathering mana.
Excuse me, excuse me
A reporter came up to me. She had a notebook and a pen in her hand.
Can I get your autograph in advance?
At the reporters words, the magic department representatives who were next to me looked at me with curious eyes.
Wow, n, youre really a celebrity now. Should I get one too? You can get it if you summarize your paper. Geez. Not that.
I quietly took the notebook.
I quickly wrote my signature.
And I was about to give the notebook back to her, but.
Ah, can you please write my name next to it?
My eyebrows twitched.
Annoyance rose from the depths of my heart.
Name.
Ah, Im Lorelia.
I wrote it without difficulty.
The spelling is correct, right?
She nodded.
Yes. Thats right. Youre amazing in person. To be able to show such power as a magician
As. As. As
I drew two lines over the signature.
Youre not qualified.
Oh my! Is that the Knight of the Flickering me?
As soon as he got off the train, an old man greeted Scarlet.
He was the vige chief of Verkel, Keh.
He personally took off his shoes and weed the Knight of the Flickering me.
It was only natural.
Did you have any trouble on your way here?
Scarlet gave him a nce and nothing more.
Not really.
Scarlet had taken a train that was prepared only for her to get here.
The expression the guest of the guests was truly for her.
Haha. Whenever you feel ufortable, please feel free to tell me. What cant I do for the Knight of the Flickering me?
Besides that, the people next to the vige chief bowed their heads politely to Scarlet.
Its an honor to meet the Knight of the Flickering me. The annual extermination festival is a great help to Verkels monster eradication.
The procession continued.
The vige chief, the vige chiefs daughter, someone whose name I didnt even remember Scarlet nodded vaguely to them all.
These people. Enough with the greetings Dont bother the Knight of the Flickering me!
The vige chief stopped them and smiled brightly at Scarlet.
Lets go to the za where the representatives and the vigers are gathered. When they see you, theyll be overjoyed.
Lets go.
Scarlet walked with the vige chief, followed by a line of others.
They arrived at the square, where the representatives and vigers greeted Scarlet with sparkling eyes.
But no, thats not how it should have been. The reality in front of her eyes was too different.
Whats going on?
How did they take down the ghosts so easily?
Their score is already that high.
The vigers and representatives were chatting excitedly. But their interest was not in Scarlet.
They didnt even seem to notice that she had arrived.
?
Scarlet doubted her own sight.
The vige chiefs face turned pale.
He hurriedly looked for the person in charge and asked.
What on earth is going on here?
Ah, I was so focused on watching.
The person in charge was still dragged along with his eyes on the record sheet.
?
He muttered something under his breath, but when he saw Scarlet and the vige chiefs faces, his mouth opened wide.
He stammered as he answered.
Ah Ahhhhh! Vige chief! You came with the Knight of the Flickering me! Ah, no wonder! I felt this tremendous energy~!
Enough, just exin whats going on.
Ah, yes! Of course, we prepared to wee the Knight of the Flickering me. The representatives just arrived and they were still out of it
He gave an irrelevant answer.
Scarlet and the vige chief were not convinced at all, and Scarlet finally stepped forward and asked.
What are you all distracted by?
Hahahaha~!
The person in charge swept his hair back and smiled.
It was the most awkward smile in the world.
Its really nothing, the Knight of the Flickering me doesnt have to worry about it! Yes!
Scarlet frowned.
So, youre saying you treated me like this because of something trivial
No No! Thats not it!
The person in charge was flustered and fumbled with his words and body.
He looked like he would copse at any moment.
Scarlet pushed him aside and approached the record sheet. The person in charge didnt know what to do.
Knight! Wait, wait! Dont do that!
Get off me.
The knight shoved the person in charge away.
Look at the score. They havent even started yet.
At this rate Isnt it dangerous for the Celestial Blessing?
Scarlet pushed through the noisy crowd and made her way to the front.
And finally, she stood in front of the record sheet.
The face of the damn mage who shared her surname.
That was all that was on the record sheet.
The magic department representatives were fighting.
The ghosts were swept away like dust, and the magic was shooting out.
Everyone here was captivated by that sight.
Just, for this kind of thing
Scarlet tore the record sheet off the wall with her hand.
The people around her were about to get angry, but when they saw who it was, they swallowed their breath.
Kn, Knight?
The Knight of the Flickering me?
Scarlets burning eyes were still fixed on the record sheet.
136, 137, 138
The mages who were killing the notorious ghosts.
The score that kept rising.
The square was soon quiet, and Scarlet felt an indescribable emotion rising.
There were less than 30 minutes left until the start of the extermination.