Watashi wa Teki ni Narimasen! - Chapter 28

Chapter 28

Capture A Magician

After that, the magical beasts became more active, as if my predictions had become true .

“Fire!”

Alan, who had come out to kill the beasts, shouted the order and a volley of arrows was unleashed from the line of archers at his back .

He and his men were hiding among the trees, their fiery arrows created streaks of light as they flew . They were headed straight for the mass of sky jellyfish that were floating above the prairie .

There were at least ten of the creatures, their long, semi-transparent legs reached up to swat the arrows out of the sky, but at least a third of the fiery arrows found their targets, and brought them down in a cloud of steam .

Alan and his men were about an hours ride from the castle .

Monster slaying such as this had now become a routine that occurred at least twice a week . This was because the nearby towns and villages had started to report sightings of magical beasts .

Before the monsters were completely destroyed, I turned my gaze to a different direction and started to run through the grove on horseback .

Cain followed close behind me .

That night, one month ago . I had told him that I would search for a magician, and he had asked, ‘Would that help in protecting the Margrave and his family?’ I nodded, and he then agreed to help me .

But there was one thing that puzzled me .

Cain had heard what I’d said to Alan, then persuaded Alan that I was not an enemy . Cain said that he would believe in me, but did he not think the story of my past life was absurd?

I asked him this, and he replied:

“My parents were killed in the last war with Ruain . At the time, we were not able to see Ruain’s devious traps . They were ambushed while sending reinforcements to Landor in the south . Back then, everyone had heard the number of troops Ruain had dispatched to Landor and assumed that they would not be able to touch the Margrave’s lands . We had even heard that heavy rainfall had caused landslides, which blocked the roads connecting to Ruain . If that were the case, then it was unthinkable for an army to pass through . But in fact, Ruain had been hiding its troops there, under the guise of workers clearing the roads . But no one had realized this . ”

He smiled grimly .

“Because of this negligence, citizens who were close to the border and people who were out in their fields were also killed . And so I endeavor to never ignore any information, no matter how small it may seem . In the present, things that have never happened before are starting to happen . Considering all of that, I decided that your warnings should not be ignored . ”

He had decided that given the circumstances, there was a ‘slim chance . ’

I was quite relieved to hear this determined explanation, instead of just blind belief . And so I was happy to accept his offer to cooperate with me .

I dashed through the forest on a horse that was covered in dark black spots . From behind, Cain followed after me on a gray horse .

This was something I had to do in order to find one–A magician .

A month since that night, we’ve repeated this . I’ve been able to feel the sensation from the stone that the Princess of Thorns gave me, even when I was moving .

But every time, as if detecting me, the presence that I believed was a magician would run away .

Furthermore, there were usually monsters near the magician . And as I had no combat abilities, and had only Cain to accompany me, it was always difficult to get closer .

‘Perhaps the magician is controlling the monsters . ’ That was Cain’s theory .

And it appeared to be the case, for when the monsters began to appear regularly and attack the towns, I would sense the presence of the magician close by .

Cain reported this finding to the Margrave and Margravine . He suggested that if this magician were defeated, then the harm from the monsters would also decrease . Thanks to this, Cain was assigned to assist me and I was given permission to search for the magician .

Even so, we were not to spread the knowledge that I was able to see where the magician was .

The Margravine was very worried that people may be disappointed if I failed, they might mistake me for a failed magician and persecute me . She was worried about such things and demanded that only the two us go on the search to avoid these dangers .

Alan… For now, he remained silent about it .

I’m sure that he too had a lot to think about . He would occasionally look at me as if he wanted to say something, but he never did . I didn’t feel any hostility in his gaze, but we would rarely exchange words anymore .

Regardless, the quickest way to prove my innocence was to become a magician . Until then, no matter what explanations I gave Alan, I would still have nothing that would satisfy him . It would be fruitless .

Because I needed proof .

Of course, if we waited, then my words would prove to be true . But then it would be too late .

So I could only hope that he would wait as I rushed to make contact with the magician .

“…We’re close!”

I said . Cain then advised that we continue on foot to be cautious .

In order to surprise the magician, I took the tool that had been tied to the horse and slowly moved forward . Cain had a bundle of yarn . I had two water flasks .

It was just the two of us . I was practically baggage when it came to combat, so we had talked and decided together on how to capture the magician .

After walking for about twenty meters, I could see the back of a lone elderly figure sitting on a fallen tree . The elderly figure resembled a hermit, wearing a sand-colored robe of sackcloth that reached the ankles and a dark, hooded cape, likely to hide in the shadows . There was a cane leaning nearby . It was made of a straight tree branch with a T-shaped handle that suggested it was for walking .

The elder’s gaze went in the direction of a clearing in the trees . There was a clear view of the raging sky jellyfish in the and the rain of fiery arrows that fell on them .

I mentally did a fist pump in the air .

There was no doubt that this person was the magician I had searched for this whole month . We had chased with only a sensation to guide me, we fled from attacking monsters, and we had encountered this elder three times in all .

But now there were no monsters nearby . Perhaps the magician had thought it would be safe, given the distance, and because Alan was concentrated on fighting them .

Another advantage for us was that the magician seemed to be preoccupied with controlling the beasts, and had not noticed us yet .

I and Cain nod at each other .

A moment later, Cain threw the net .

“Whaoa?!”

The magician was startled . While the net may have been meant to catch fish, it easily covered the magician’s whole body . But that would not be enough . As the elder immediately tried to break the net with magic, I stepped forward and poured water all over the magician’s body with the extra large flask .

“That’s cold!”

A scream came from the old man, which I ignored .

As a finishing touch, I grabbed what was in the second flash and threw it at the magician .

The leaves shone between the sunlight that poured between the cracks in the trees . Below was a body and head that looked like a bulb . It’s roots thrashed happily around .

The thundergrass had been trapped in a dark space for so long, that it was now so happy to be free in the sunlight again, that it discharged electricity as it fell .

And then it his its target .

“Gyaaaaahhh!!”

While not visible, it seemed that the electricity had run through the water covering the magician’s body .

After that final scream, the old man’s body went limp on the ground .

This was the only method to attack that I could think of, as someone who couldn’t use magic . And surely, one thundergrass would not be enough to kill . I assumed it would be just enough to prevent the magician from moving .

“…He’s not, dead…right?”

I asked, but Cain looked a little worried .

For the present, I picked up the stunned thundergrass with a stick and threw it far away . Then we tied up the magician with the net .

As we did this, the magician was groaning, so we knew he was alive .

Once we had him completely bound up, Cain held a sword at the magician’s neck as I started to shake him to wake him up .

“Waake uuuuuup . Riiisse aaand shiiiine Miiiister Magician . ”

I had no idea of what I should say, which resulted in such nonsense . But it was effective, as his eyes opened wide .

“Who are you bastards!”

“We’re the ones who have captured you . ”

To the side, Cain was mumbling ‘that’s a…rude way to put it . ’

On the other hand, the magician seemed to have recognized my face .

“Hmph, aren’t you the fools who interfered with my beasts recently? I remember you, that was three days ago . Hehe . ”

The magician, who resembled a dead tree branch let out an eerie laugh .

“I suppose you think you’re going to catch this old man and stop me from inciting the monsters, eh? Heheeheee . ”

“No . I want to know how to become a magician . Can you answer me that?”

Apparently, my answer was unexpected because the old magician’s eyes widened for a second .

“Ohh, do you wish to die young and in a burst of sand? Hehehe…”

What, you die and become sand for just trying to become a magician!?

He seemed to sense my wavering, as he now had a devilish smile as he laughed .

“There are not many out there who can become a magician, you know . Even though a master might lead them, half will still turn into sand . It all comes down to whether you can bear the contract of the stone… Eh hee hee he . A lady like you with a long future does not have a chance . Everyone who attempts to become a magician does so, because they have no other way to live . He heee…”