Chapter 14: Magic (1)
I went down to the basement, but unfortunately, I didn't get to witness the grand spectacle of my arm fighting the arrow. Leila had sealed both the arm and the arrow inside a sphere made of countless layers of defensive magic.
"<Anti-Erosion>!" After casting a spell to grant the barrier resistance to erosion, Leila leaned against the wall, exhausted, and let out a sigh. "What a mess..."
The seal, composed of layers upon layers of barriers, was very thorough. She seemed to have taken additional magic measures between the multiple layers. "This should hold for a while."
At my words, Leila shot a resentful look toward me. "Right. A week at most. But how do you know that?"
"I have a great interest in magic." I shrugged, and Leila sighed again.
"You’re going to take responsibility for this, aren't you?"
"For what?"
"Your arm over there! All this mess started because the arrow reacted with your arm! All the enchanted tools I had sealed separately have vanished too. The damage is massive, you know?"
Oh ho... look at this one. She’s trying to play me.
"Why don't you stop the cheap tricks? It’s clear you’re the one who should compensate me."
"...How did you reach that?"
"Simple. That arrow is imbued with an Outer God’s power. Even if I hadn't come here, it would have caused a bigger problem eventually." Leila didn't react strongly. So she knew all along and was just testing me. In «Systems», mages often used cunning tricks to maximize their gains. I guess it was a trait that started from trying to backstab demons for profit when making contracts.
"It was a time bomb that happened to go off now. Especially considering it devoured other enchanted tools, it could have happened at any moment—"
"Fine! I get it! Give me a break! I’m in a position where I have to provide results or money to the brotherhood, and then this massive mess happens! Just help me!"
She should have asked for help from the start. I clicked my tongue and got to the point. "How much gold do you have?"
"...What?"
"Gold. I’m talking about gold. Bullion, jewelry, any form."
"Ah... not much. Do I really have to pay in gold? I can give you one of the useful tools I own..."
I shook my head. I wasn't asking for money. "I need it, but you’ll need it in the future too. it’s a material used for special enchantments."
"What? Gold is a material for magic?" Leila realized that what she was hearing was a piece of the knowledge she had been seeking through all her failed experiments. "Are you going to teach me?!"
"Yes. The whole process. And the advanced technique for forging composite tools."
"How... how do you know all that!"
How do I know? I learned it all trying to make a magic sword. ‘It was really good, too.’ I once built a character by forging and relying on ultra-performance tools. it was very satisfying.
"The kid upstairs said you’re just a man who lost his memory... how in the hell do you remember magic methods?"
"No need to know that." The day before I met Do-wol. I had searched my house and found the notebook I used for «Systems» in middle school, and sank into nostalgia. Seeing that I had recorded all the magic methods and materials in the notebook, I must have been really obsessed with it. ‘Though I never dreamed I’d use it like this.’
"Does... it have to be gold?"
Again, I shook my head. "Gold is best when using dangerous materials for magic. Silver has some power, but for materials that contain an Outer God’s aura, you need gold."
"Wait... don't tell me?"
I nodded. "That’s right. I’m going to melt down my arm and that arrow and use them as materials to create a tool. For that, I need your help."
"Are you crazy? You want to mix two dangerous Outer God powers to create a tool? Absolutely impossible!"
"Don't worry. Doing this will be much safer than that seal." Leila looked like she wanted to say something, but she apparently couldn't come up with a proper counter-argument. "And of course, I’ll take the tool. Consider it the price for teaching you how to enchant."
Leila looked troubled and sank into thought. Well, regardless of how she thought, the answer was already decided. She couldn't leave that thing in her basement, and she had no other way to deal with it.
"Sigh, I don't know. At this rate, I’ll probably be caught and killed by the Luminaries anyway. But I don't have much gold."
"Hmm... in that case, I have a plan." I grinned and continued my explanation, and the color drained from Leila’s face.
"I was wondering what you were talking about, appearing suddenly like this..." Unbelief was laced in his coarse, deep voice. "...You want to borrow more money?"
The leader of the Brotherhood of the Bloody Bear, Ander Wolfkin. The man who led the mercenary company received me at their headquarters.
"This bastard, he’s definitely the one who was at that crazy witch's house!" A hostile atmosphere, with many of his men pointing their weapons at me. But the most hostile among them all was Ander, sitting in the seat of honor.
‘Looks like he’s twice my size.’ Wearing sturdy armor made of monster hide, the man had a rough, hardened appearance befitting a mercenary company leader. ‘That sword, too... he’s no ordinary man.’ The sword Ander was carrying was an enchanted tool I recognized, one with a bit of a reputation. it wasn't just his weapon; his presence was clearly something I couldn't handle in my current state.
"This is ridiculous. After taking all that investment money from us, you come asking for as much gold as possible. How much do you think you’re underestimating us?"
"I’m not underestimating you," I said politely, looking at Ander. Ander didn't seem truly angry either. ‘He’s testing me. He wants to see how much I’ve figured out, and why I have the gall to act this way.’
My hand moved toward my waist, and his men tensed, but Ander raised his hand to stop them. With my only remaining arm, I presented the sword I was carrying at my hip.
"This...?" Ander took the sword, drew the blade from its scabbard, and let out a sound of admiration. it looked like an ordinary longsword, but it radiated an extraordinary aura.
"This is the first piece Leila Eldinwillo made." An enchanted tool. The sword, made using the method I taught her, was imbued with magic strong enough to pique Ander’s interest.
"I can feel the flame aura. A spell that summons a pillar of fire with a single strike, maybe."
"You can tell just by holding it?"
"Yes. And there’s more than one spell here." At his words, Ander's men, who were skeptical that it was Leila’s work, stared at the sword in amazement.
"Increased strength, erosion resistance, damage resistance... and a mental stability spell."
"I-Is that true, Boss? That woman managed to make something ridiculous like that?"
Ander nodded. "They’re basic-level spells, but... it’s certain. to think she’s capable of composite enchanting."
An enchanted tool can normally carry only one spell. But by mixing enchanted tools, one can imbue a single tool with multiple effects. That is composite enchanting. Composite enchanted tools were highly valued because of their varied effects, and above all... ‘they’re extremely expensive to make.’ You had to use gems as materials, and on top of that, you had to grind up already expensive enchanted tools, which made Leila want to cry. The longsword in Ander's hand was the result of grinding up half the gems I gave her and five enchanted tools.
"That useless woman can do this?" While the fairly fair, if a bit harsh, assessments of Leila continued, I remained silent.
"Impressive." Ander gave his honest assessment and returned the sword to its scabbard. "Excellent result. I’ll consider the investment repaid. But taking gold from us is another matter entirely. You one-armed fellow."
"I can pay that price by solving your problem." Ander's gaze narrowed.
"Everyone, out. I’ll talk with him alone."
"Boss?"
"Get out and start working. If we’re going to order enchanted tools, we’re going to need a lot of money." At Ander’s command, his men left, and Ander sighed, pressing his hand to his forehead.
"Did she tell you?"
"To some extent. But even if she hadn't, I would have noticed immediately."
"How?"
I first pointed to the sword Ander was carrying. "'Silent Starlight'. A sword that calms the mind and protects it from such damage. An artifact, the pinnacle of enchanted tools."
"...So?"
"It’s not as noticeable, but the gloves you’re wearing are 'Craftsman’s Focus'. They’re expensive enchanted tools originally used by blacksmiths and artists. Their effect is also to calm the mind and body, and—"
"Enough. I see you aren't just rattling off." Ander raised his hand, cutting me off. The man had a rough and threatening appearance, but he looked utterly exhausted. "As a follower of the Church of Life, I’ve tried to live without shame. I’ve prayed sincerely and followed the doctrine." Around his neck hung a symbol of the Church of Life, clearly old but well-maintained.
"Yet, the raging storm of anger within me sometimes tries to explode on its own. It’s a madness... one that isn't satisfied until I destroy everything around me." Ander sighed. "So I’ve tried various tools and even drank potions, but the effects were minimal." Then Ander glanced at the longsword Leila had made and clicked his tongue. "It’s a decent piece, but it couldn't bring me the inner peace I crave. Something of this level has no effect on me at all."
"It probably never will."
"...What did you say?" Ander glared at me fiercely, but I paid him no mind.
"That was one of the reasons you invested in Leila, wasn't it? Creating an enchanted tool with a calming effect stronger than Silent Starlight. But it’s meaningless." At my words, Ander gave an impression of 'let's see what nonsense he spews now'. I could even feel a killing intent from him, as if he’d beat me to death with his bare hands if I said one wrong word.
"There is another way to deal with your madness."
"...Another way?"
"Yes. Had things continued as they were, it's a way you would have never found, let alone tried. But I know it for certain."
"So in exchange for that, you want gold?"
"Exactly." Ander stared at me silently, then gestured for me to speak. I could only hope he wouldn't hit me the moment I said it.
"Lord Life’s blessings aren't enough at all. You need the faith of an ancient god. Either you get a sacred artifact containing the miracle of 'Dionysus'... or you convert."
Ander went silent. As a devout believer, he must have been wondering what he just heard. "......The Father of Liberty?"
"Yes."
"The Master of Festivals, the Giver of Wine?"
"You know him well." Ander let out a hollow laugh.
"The God of Madmen, you mean? To mention a god who has already departed this world... are you mocking me!"
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