Tentu saja, orang-orang seperti Direth yang menderita kerugian selalu mengatakan hanya kali ini dan hati mereka melembut.
Yi-Han melihat seniornya dengan iba.
"Aku membawa camilan, jadi katakan kapan saja jika kau membutuhkannya."
"Tart cokelat? Di mana kau membelinya?"
"Aku membuatnya sendiri."
"...Eh, um."
—
Para penyihir hitam berkumpul di gerbang utama kota dan naik ke kereta yang telah disewa sebelumnya, lalu berangkat.
Seperti pergi piknik.
Creak creak creak creak-
Jika saja bukan karena kereta tua yang bergerak mengkik seolah-olah akan rusak kapan saja.
"Batuk. Aku harus mengulang mantranya."
"Berhenti sebentar!"
Para senior menghentikan kereta dan bergegas keluar untuk mengucapkan mantra pada roda, gandar, dan pintu secara bergantian.
Melihat itu, Yi-Han merasa firasat buruk seolah-olah dia telah melihat masa depan yang sial dengan mantra ramalan.
'Aku mendengar sihir hitam tidak menerima dukungan, tetapi melihatnya secara langsung seperti ini.'
"Aku pikir ini sudah cukup."
"Masih bergerak mengkik meskipun demikian?"
"Jika kita mengucapkan mantra untuk memperbaikinya sepenuhnya, pemborosan mana akan terlalu parah. Kita tidak punya pilihan selain bertahan."
"Hehe. Jika kita menggali beberapa jamur yang layak di alam undead kali ini, kita juga bisa mengganti kereta. Bukankah kau bersemangat?"
"...Ya!"
Yi-Han bertekad untuk belajar mantra menghilangkan suara bergerak mengkik pertama kali ketika semester kedua dimulai.
Saat mereka mengambil jalan kekaisaran dan bergerak menjauh dari kota, jumlah rumah secara bertahap berkurang, dan hanya hutan dan ladang yang mulai bertambah.
Gainando mengunyah tart sambil melihat keluar dari kereta. Raphael, yang duduk di dekat jendela, dengan mengganggu mendorong kepala Gainando menjauh.
"Berhenti!"
Di akhir jalan yang sunyi, terlihat prajurit bersenjata dan seorang ksatria. Mereka menghentikan kereta, waspada terhadapnya.
"Apa tujuan kedatangan kalian?"
"Batuk. Kami adalah penyihir yang datang untuk mempelajari fenomena ini."
Profesor Mortum mengeluarkan izin dan menyerahkannya kepada prajurit.
Melihat dokumen yang disegel dengan stempel, wajah ksatria itu rileks berkali-kali lipat.
"Jadi kalian adalah penyihir."
Karena wilayah kekaisaran sangat luas, mengendalikan fenomena tidak biasa yang terjadi di berbagai tempat bukanlah tugas yang mudah.
Dalam hal fenomena tumpang tindih alam undead, jika tidak dikendalikan dengan baik, hal itu dapat menyebabkan gelombang undead terjadi ke segala arah.
Meskipun ditemukan lebih dulu dan hampir dikendalikan, mereka masih tidak bisa sepenuhnya lega.
Karena wilayah kekaisaran sangat luas, ada juga banyak orang gila yang akan bergegas masuk untuk mencoba memanfaatkan fenomena itu.
Sudah wajar jika ksatria dan prajurit yang mengendalikan tempat yang jauh dan sunyi ini waspada.
"Batuk. Kalian semua bekerja keras."
"Serius... Aku tidak tahu mengapa alam undead harus tumpang tindih. Keberuntungan kita busuk... Akan lebih baik jika ini adalah alam roh tumbuhan."
"Alam roh tumbuhan juga akan menyebabkan kerusakan yang cukup besar."
"Tetap saja, bukankah itu lebih baik daripada alam undead?"
"Nah..."
"Omong-omong. Sekolah penyihir mana yang kalian pelajari..."
"Batuk batuk batuk."
Profesor Mortum tiba-tiba batuk seolah-olah dia telah tersedak sesuatu.
Murid-muridnya di sampingnya menepuk punggung guru mereka dan berkata.
"Profesor. Ini air!"
"Kesehatannya agak buruk..."
"Oh ya. Aku minta maaf. Aku membuat orang yang tidak sehat menunggu terlalu lama. Hei. Biarkan mereka lewat."
Ketika prajurit mundur, kereta melaju.
Profesor Mortum berhenti batuk dan mengangkat kepalanya.
"Batuk. Apakah mereka sudah pergi?"
"Mereka sudah pergi."
"..."
Murid-murid tahun pertama yang menonton di dalam kereta melihat Direth dengan mata terkejut.
"...Izin itu benar-benar diperoleh dengan tepat, kan?"
"Aku sudah mengatakan kami mendapatkannya!? Junior! Tentu saja, apa yang baru saja terjadi sedikit tidak pantas, tetapi kami tidak cukup ceroboh untuk menangani ini tanpa izin atau pemalsuan!"
Direth mulai menjelaskan.
Ketika fenomena tidak biasa seperti itu terjadi, jalanan di dekatnya ditempatkan di bawah kontrol dengan mengerahkan pasukan untuk memblokir orang-orang gila agar tidak mendekat.
Ada kemungkinan tinggi bahwa mereka membentuk pengepungan menggunakan kamp militer terdekat atau beberapa desa kecil untuk mencegah akses.
"Apa hubungannya dengan apa yang baru saja kau lakukan...?"
"Dengarkan sampai akhir."
Dengan kata lain, tidak hanya prajurit yang baru saja mereka lihat, tetapi cukup banyak orang yang tinggal di area ini!
Bukan hanya prajurit yang berdiri jaga, tetapi sejenis ekosistem telah terbentuk di area ini, dengan orang-orang membantu mereka tinggal di desa, orang-orang membawa mereka makanan dan minuman, dan orang-orang membeli kartu mage untuk mereka lakukan sambil diam.
"??"
Tentu saja, Yi-Han tidak mengerti.
Apa hubungannya dengan 'aku adalah penyihir hitam' tadi?
"Jika diketahui bahwa kami adalah penyihir hitam dalam situasi ini, kami akan menjadi yang pertama dicurigai ketika insiden terjadi. Itulah mengapa aku menghindari menjawab sedikit."
"..."
"..."
Ketika murid-murid tahun pertama tidak merespons, para senior bertanya dengan suara yang cemas.
"Kami tidak berbohong. Profesor hanya batuk sedikit, itu saja."
"Benar. Aku mengatakan kami dengan benar memperoleh izin."
"Juniors, kalian tidak berpikir untuk pindah sekolah karena ini, kan??"
'Aku harus berkeliling mengatakan aku adalah penyihir elemen tumbuhan.'
Yi-Han melirik tongkatnya.
Siapa yang tahu tongkat roh pohon akan membantu pada saat-saat seperti ini!
—
Murid-murid sekolah sihir hitam yang turun dari kereta dibagi-bagikan ke penginapan yang telah disewa sebelumnya.
Seperti yang dikatakan Direth, penduduk desa tidak terkejut bahkan ketika sekelompok pelancong berkunjung. Rupanya, beberapa orang sudah berkeliaran di sekitar desa.
Ada orang-orang penasaran yang mendengar rumor dan datang untuk langsung memastikan kebenarannya, tentara bayaran yang tampaknya datang untuk menyelesaikan misi yang mencurigakan, dan penyihir berpakaian seperti penyihir elemen api untuk siapa saja melihat.
"Batuk. Kerja bagus, semua orang. Mari istirahat dengan baik hari ini dan mulai bekerja di dalam dari besok. Berkeliaran di sekitar desa dengan wajar. Bisakah aku mendapatkan teh hijau panas?"
"Ya. Penyihir."
Berkat menyewa seluruh penginapan, hanya murid-murid di lantai pertama. Pemilik memberikan Profesor Mortum secangkir teh hijau yang mengepul.
Rasa hormat yang biasanya ditunjukkan orang-orang kekaisaran kepada penyihir bisa dilihat dalam gestur itu.
"Bagaimana rasanya?"
"Lumayan."
"Itu pengertian. Aku menggunakan daun teh hijau yang cukup bagus. Aku senang itu bukan tamu lain tetapi penyihir yang meminumnya. Bagaimanapun, para pria yang datang ke desa karena insiden ini semua mencurigakan dan tidak menyenangkan... Kekaisaran mengatakan mereka akan mengkompensasi kami ketika semuanya selesai, tetapi seberapa suram suasana desa akan menjadi sementara itu? Akan bagus jika hanya orang-orang seperti kamu penyihir yang datang."
"...Batuk batuk."
Ketika Profesor Mortum batuk, siswa-siswanya dengan cepat melemparkan tas bagasi mereka dan berlari keluar dari penginapan.
Ini akan merepotkan kedua belah pihak jika mereka tinggal dan ditanya mantra apa yang mereka gunakan.
"Mungkin tidak banyak yang bisa dilihat di desa seperti ini, tetapi jangan berkeliaran terlalu banyak."
"Jangan minum alkohol. Ini mempengaruhi sihirmu besok."
"Jangan berbicara dengan orang-orang mencurigakan terlalu lama."
"Sebenarnya, kami terlihat paling mencurigakan. Hindari berbicara tentang sihir sebanyak mungkin. Rumor menyebar dengan cepat di desa kecil."
Para senior memberikan instruksi ketat seolah-olah mereka telah mengalaminya beberapa kali.
Meskipun berpakaian seperti petani, selama mereka memegang tongkat, orang-orang tidak bisa tidak penasaran tentang jenis penyihir apa mereka.
"Kemana kau pergi, senior?"
"Aku akan bertemu dengan pedagang untuk memeriksa bahan apa yang dibutuhkan dan harga pasar."
"Aku akan bertemu dengan ksatria. Jika kita bertanya kepada ksatria, mereka bisa mengusir orang-orang mencurigakan."
Yi-Han mengagumi para senior yang mengejutkan kompeten.
"Kau bisa pergi dan berkeliaran sedikit."
"Tidak. Aku akan membantu juga."
Di kata-kata Yi-Han, Gainando menarik ujung pakaiannya dengan tampilan muak.
Dia ingin berkeliaran dan bermain.
"Ini benar-benar baik-baik saja..."
"Kau mengatakan semuanya baik-baik saja. Yi-Han."
"Apa yang bisa dilakukan?"
"Ada banyak yang bisa dilakukan. Yi-Han."
"Kau pergi ke sana dan berkeliaran."
Setelah mengusir Gainando, Yi-Han mengikuti Direth dan mendekati para pedagang terdekat.
"Ini tidak begitu sulit. Ada pedagang di sini untuk menjual barang, tetapi ada juga pedagang yang datang untuk memperoleh bahan."
Pedagang juga tahu bahwa bahan akan keluar ketika fenomena tumpang tindih terjadi.
Seperti itu, pedagang cerdas dengan cepat bergegas dan menunggu di depan.
Petualang yang lelah tidak membawa semua bahan keluar dengan mereka.
"Ini baik untuk mengetahui sebelumnya bahan mana yang mahal atau memiliki hadiah di atasnya sekarang."
"Akankah pedagang dengan senang hati memberitahu kami?"
"Mereka biasanya memberitahu penyihir dengan baik. Mereka sering membutuhkan bantuan."
Ada peribahasa kekaisaran yang mengatakan, 'Jika kamu bukan orang bodoh, jangan membuat musuh penyihir.'
Ini berarti ada banyak kesempatan ketika seseorang akan berhutang budi kepada penyihir.
Pedagang juga tidak punya alasan untuk berkelahi dengan penyihir karena mereka datang ke sini untuk berbisnis...
"Aku minta maaf. Aku tidak bisa memberitahu kamu."
"...Huh?"
Direth terkejut.
Apakah mereka menemukan bahwa mereka adalah penyihir hitam?
"Apa alasannya?"
"Hmm. Penyihir. Aku memberitahu kamu ini dari rasa hormat untuk kamu. Di sana... Ada petualang yang membuat kontrak lebih dulu. Pedagang lain mungkin mirip dengan aku."
'Oh tidak.'
Direth menggeratkan gigi secara internal.
Jika ada petualang yang menerima misi dari pedagang, ceritanya akan berbeda.
Ini akan merepotkan jika mereka lalai mengungkapkan bahan yang mahal sekarang dan orang lain mengambilnya...
"Apak
Chapter 370
Of course, people like Direth who suffered losses always said it was just this once and their hearts softened.
Yi-Han looked at his senior pitifully.
"I brought snacks, so tell me anytime if you need them."
"Chocolate tart? Where did you buy it?"
"I made it myself."
"...Uh, uhm."
—
The dark mages gathered at the city's main gate boarded the pre-rented carriage and departed.
It was like going on a picnic.
Creak creak creak creak-
If only it weren't for the old carriage that creaked as if it would break down at any moment.
"Cough. I'll have to recast the magic."
"Stop for a moment!"
The seniors stopped the carriage and rushed out to cast magic on the wheels, axles, and doors in turn.
Seeing that, Yi-Han felt ominous as if he had glimpsed an unfortunate future with divination magic.
'I heard that dark magic doesn't receive support, but to see it directly like this.'
"I think this should do it."
"It's still creaking though?"
"If we cast magic to the point of completely fixing it, the mana waste would be too severe. We have no choice but to endure this much."
"Hehe. If we dig up some decent mushrooms in the undead realm this time, we can change the carriage too. Aren't you excited?"
"...Yes!"
Yi-Han resolved to learn magic to eliminate the creaking sound first when the second semester began.
As they took the imperial road and moved away from the city, the number of houses gradually decreased, and only forests and fields began to increase.
Gainando munched on a tart while looking outside the carriage. Raphael, who was sitting by the window, annoyingly pushed Gainando's head away.
"Stop!"
At the end of the quiet road, armed soldiers and a knight were seen. They stopped the carriage, wary of it.
"What is your purpose for coming?"
"Cough. We are mages who have come to study this phenomenon."
Professor Mortum took out a permit and handed it to the soldiers.
Seeing the document stamped with a seal, the knight's face relaxed considerably.
"So you were mages."
As the empire's territory was so vast, controlling the unusual phenomena occurring in various places was no easy task.
In the case of the undead realm overlapping phenomenon, if not properly controlled, it could lead to a situation where undead waves occurred in all directions.
Even if it was discovered first and barely controlled, they still couldn't be completely relieved.
As the empire's territory was so vast, there were also many crazy people who would rush in to try to take advantage of that phenomenon.
It was natural for the knights and soldiers controlling this remote and quiet place to be on edge.
"Cough. You're all working hard."
"Seriously... I don't know why the undead realm had to overlap. Our luck is rotten... It would have been better if it were the plant spirit realm."
"The plant spirit realm would have caused quite a bit of damage too."
"Still, wouldn't it be better than the undead realm?"
"Well..."
"By the way. Which school are you mages from..."
"Cough cough cough."
Professor Mortum suddenly coughed as if he had choked on something.
The disciples beside him patted their teacher's back and said.
"Professor. Here's some water!"
"His health is quite poor..."
"Oh dear. I apologize. I kept an unwell person for too long. Hey. Let them pass."
As the soldiers stepped aside, the carriage sped off.
Professor Mortum stopped coughing and raised his head.
"Cough. Are they gone?"
"They're gone."
"..."
The first-year students watching inside the carriage looked at Direth with shocked eyes.
"...The permit was properly obtained, right?"
"I told you we got it!? Junior! Of course, what just happened was a bit unsightly, but we're not reckless enough to handle this without permission or forgery!"
Direth began to explain.
When such unusual phenomena occurred, the nearby passages were placed under control by deploying troops to block crazy people from approaching.
There was a high possibility that they were forming a siege using the nearby military camps or a few small villages to prevent access.
"What does that have to do with what you just did...?"
"Listen till the end."
In other words, not only the soldiers they just saw, but quite a few people were staying in this area!
It wasn't just soldiers standing guard, but an ecosystem of sorts had formed in this area, with people helping them stay in the village, people bringing them food and drink, and people buying mage cards for them to do while staying still.
"??"
Of course, Yi-Han didn't understand.
What does that have to do with 'I'm a dark mage' just now?
"If it becomes known that we're dark mages in this situation, we'll be the first to be suspected when an incident occurs. That's why I avoided answering a bit."
"..."
"..."
When the first-year students didn't respond, the seniors asked in an anxious voice.
"We didn't deceive them. The professor just coughed a little, that's all."
"That's right. I told you we properly obtained the permit."
"Juniors, you're not thinking of changing schools because of this, are you??"
'I should go around saying I'm a plant element mage.'
Yi-Han glanced at his staff.
Who knew the staff of the tree spirit would be helpful at times like this!
—
The dark magic school students who got off the carriage were divided into the pre-rented inn.
As Direth had said, the villagers weren't surprised even when a group of travelers visited. Apparently, some people were already wandering around the village.
There were curious people who heard the rumors and came to directly confirm the truth, mercenaries who seemed to have come to solve suspicious missions, and mages dressed like flame element mages for anyone to see.
"Cough. Good work, everyone. Let's rest well today and start working inside from tomorrow. Wander around the village moderately. Can I have some hot green tea?"
"Yes. Mage."
Thanks to renting the entire inn, only the students were on the first floor. The owner handed Professor Mortum a steaming cup of green tea.
The respect that imperial people usually showed to mages could be seen in that gesture.
"How does it taste?"
"It's alright."
"That's a relief. I used quite good green tea leaves. I'm glad it's not another guest but a mage drinking it. Anyway, the guys who came to the village because of this incident are all suspicious and unpleasant... The empire says they'll compensate us when it's over, but how gloomy will the village atmosphere become in the meantime? It would be nice if only people like you mages came."
"...Cough cough."
As Professor Mortum coughed, the students quickly threw down their luggage and scurried out of the inn.
It would be troublesome for both sides if they stayed and were asked what magic they used.
"There might not be much to see in a village like this, but don't wander around too much."
"Don't drink alcohol. It affects your magic tomorrow."
"Don't talk to suspicious people for too long."
"Actually, we look the most suspicious. Avoid talking about magic as much as possible. Rumors spread quickly in a small village."
The seniors gave strict instructions as if they had experienced it a few times.
Even if they were dressed like farmers, as long as they were holding staffs, people couldn't help but be curious about what kind of mages they were.
"Where are you going, senior?"
"I'm going to meet the merchants to check what materials are needed and the market price."
"I'm going to meet the knights. If we ask the knights, they can drive away suspicious guys."
Yi-Han admired the surprisingly competent seniors.
"You can go and look around a bit."
"No. I'll help too."
At Yi-Han's words, Gainando pulled on the edge of his clothes with a disgusted look.
He wanted to wander around and play.
"It's really okay..."
"You said it's okay. Yi-Han."
"What's there to do anyway?"
"There's plenty to do. Yi-Han."
"You go over there and look around."
After chasing away Gainando, Yi-Han followed Direth and approached the nearby merchants.
"It's not that difficult. There are merchants here to sell goods, but there are also merchants who have come to obtain materials."
Merchants also knew that materials would come out when an overlap phenomenon occurred.
As such, quick-witted merchants swiftly rushed over and waited in front.
Tired adventurers didn't take all the materials out with them.
"It's good to know in advance which materials are expensive or have bounties on them right now."
"Will the merchants readily tell us?"
"They usually tell mages well. They often need help."
There was an imperial proverb that said, 'If you're not a fool, don't make an enemy of a mage.'
It meant that there were many occasions when one would be indebted to a mage.
Merchants also had no reason to fight with mages as they came here to do business...
"I'm sorry. I can't tell you."
"...Huh?"
Direth was taken aback.
Did they find out they were dark mages?
"What's the reason?"
"Hmm. Mage. I'm telling you this out of respect for you. There... There's an adventurer who made a contract first. Other merchants will probably be similar to me."
'Oh no.'
Direth clicked her tongue inwardly.
If there was an adventurer who received a mission from a merchant, the story would be different.
It would be troublesome if they carelessly revealed the expensive materials now and someone else took them...
"Does this happen often?"
"No. They don't usually hire anyone. There's a higher possibility of not finding them even if you send one or two parties."
From a merchant's perspective, it was more convenient to just buy what anyone brought, rather than hiring a party and sending them in, which was risky in many ways.
If that party returned empty-handed, they would spend silver coins and gain nothing.
"I don't know what material it is, but there must be competition. I didn't know they would invest that much."
"Hmm."
Yi-Han was lost in thought, wanting to help his hardworking senior, but no method came to mind.
If they were knights, it would be possible to deceive them with a single word, but merchants weren't that easy.
'Wait. That pattern...'
Yi-Han realized that the pattern on the merchant's carriage was familiar.
It was the pattern of the Richmond family.
The family of Shyles Richmond from the Black Tortoise Tower, which operated one of the top transportation guilds in the empire.
"Are you perhaps from the Richmond family?"
"Ah. Yes."
"I'm really close with Shyles."
"...Oh, i-is that so? You know Mr. Shyles..."
"Yes. I can say he's my closest friend."
The merchant was flustered and hesitated at the sudden appearance of the close friend of the family's young master.
In the meantime, Yi-Han talked about how close he was with Shyles and the things that happened during the lecture.
"Due to the sudden heavy snowfall, we were all isolated. Shyles shouted at me to leave him behind. I couldn't just leave Shyles, so I threw my cloak to him. I did receive silver coins, but that's not important, and Shyles thanked me with tears in his eyes."
"I... I see."
The listening merchant felt something strange.
Why was there heavy snow at the school?
"Just as I helped Shyles, Shyles also wanted to help me with anything if it was my business."
"..."
"He's such a kind friend, isn't he?"
"..."
"When I go back, I'll tell Shyles that I met a merchant from his family here by chance..."
"...I'll only tell you two. You really can't tell anyone else."
"Thank you."
Seeing that, Direth put her hand on her forehead and shook her head.
The other juniors should have directly witnessed this...
—
"Why is the mountain ring mushroom so popular?"
Direth tilted her head after hearing the list.
In fact, the mountain ring mushroom wasn't a very popular ingredient.
Popular ingredients were usually good for health or versatile ingredients that all mages could use well.
In comparison, the mountain ring mushroom was an ingredient mainly used by dark mages.
It was an ingredient frequently used as a reagent when making curses that reduced or consumed the opponent's mana, or poisons.
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