Demon-Hunting Genius Mage

[Translator - Prøks]

[Proofreader - Prøks]

Chapter 31

That evening, we had two conversations.

One was about what would happen in the next three days, and the other was to gauge each other's growth.

Simply put, we had a physical conversation.

Bzzt!

My magic crackled.

Clang!

Lightning clashed against his hammer.

It was a battle where one wrong move could be fatal, but perhaps because we had been through so much, I didn't feel as much tension as I expected.

It seemed the same for Barundel.

"You said the elders of Aldeon were all arrested by the Security Bureau?"

"By now, they've probably been investigated and transferred to a detention center."

"Even though they're the elders of a big magic tower, they're in a detention center... They're certainly efficient."

"It was a big enough incident to turn the inner district upside down, so they wouldn't have had any other choice."

With that, Barundel ended our standoff.

Suddenly, Barundel's figure enlarged in my vision.

Whoosh!

He swung his hammer again.

Did he train in the meantime? Somehow, he was much faster than before.

However...

Boom!

A pillar of fire erupted from the training ground floor, blocking Barundel's charge.

Failing his surprise attack, Barundel frowned and brushed off the soot from his body.

"I've never seen that magic before... When did you learn such a trick?"

"Who would teach me something like this? I just studied hard."

"...Alone? Ha, are you some kind of monster?"

"Isn't that a bit rich coming from someone who's perfectly fine after taking a direct hit?"

"Anyone can do it if they have a proper body. That's why they say the best armor is your own flesh."

This wasn't new information to me.

I had already experienced how much a strong body could accomplish through my zombie swordsman character in the game.

However, that was just a game.

Seeing a dwarf who was perfectly fine after being hit by a pillar of fire in person filled me with admiration.

It was also a bit disheartening.

Honestly, I had set it up hoping for at least a minor burn...

'Just how high is this guy's fire resistance?'

My evaluation of Barundel was rising day by day.

"So, is this all I need to know?"

"Ah, I almost forgot. That impertinent silver-haired knight had a message for you."

"...Silver-haired?"

There was only one person with silver hair around.

Shuharn Philedia.

Only then did I remember him and reflexively looked at my chest, but thankfully, my heart was intact.

"...What did he want you to tell me?"

"'There won't be a next time' is what he said... I don't know what he meant either. He just said you'd understand."

"Ah."

It seemed Shuharn had decided not to kill me for the time being.

I didn't know what kind of change of heart that guy, who used to lick his lips whenever he saw me, had gone through.

...Well, maybe it was some kind of reward for closing the rift. Or maybe it was to uphold a knight's honor.

Of course, he doesn't seem like the type to care about honor.

"Ah, he also told me to tell you that you won't be chased by bounty hunters anymore. Were you a wanted man?"

To even lift the bounty... It was certainly good for me, but it made me even more suspicious.

There's no way that bastard would be kind for no reason.

Something was fishy.

I decided to think about the reason later and opened my mouth.

"Yes, somehow I ended up... It wasn't a big deal. Asternon is a place where they issue wanted posters for anything, you know."

"That's true. I was once falsely accused. It was when I went hunting like any other day..."

Was he bored for the past few months?

Barundel went on and on about what he had been through.

I kept him company for a while and then decided to end the conversation.

"Anyway, shall we stop here for today? I think you've grasped my physical abilities by now."

"Of course."

Barundel nodded with a serious look on his face.

"Be prepared from tomorrow. The second stage of training will be really tough. Potions won't help either."

Potions won't work...?

"That's good news."

I didn't know how the training I had only experienced in games would proceed, but I wasn't afraid.

Growth always comes with pain.

Then, greater pain would bring greater growth.

"...The more I see you, the more I think you're a strange person."

"Is that so?"

I smiled and started to gather my things.

I didn't have much to pack.

A small amount of gold coins I earned from quests before entering Aldeon, the [Holy Staff], the basic light magic book I received from the magic tower.

And the now shattered [Hard Leather Armor] set.

It had served its purpose by withstanding the attacks of the Magic Tower Master, but I couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness.

"Are you leaving now?"

"I have to. I need to find a new place to stay, and there are many places I need to visit."

"You're a busy man. I was hoping to have that drink we missed out on last time."

"Haha... Don't be too disappointed. There might be something more valuable than a drink."

"...Something more valuable?"

"I'll tell you when it's confirmed."

"Hmm, alright."

"Then I'll be going."

With that, I left the training ground.

The fresh air, which couldn't be replicated by the clean magic cast on the magic tower, welcomed me.

A unique and refreshing grassy scent that I couldn't smell on Earth.

"I love the outdoors."

Breathing in the fresh air, I quickly planned my next steps.

'After finding a place to stay... then the information center. Ah, I should meet Lena on the way. It's time to find out about Kayla. I wonder if she's arrived in Sector 6 by now?'

I had so many things to do that I felt like I needed two bodies.

Of course, there was one thing that took priority over everything else.

'...I should go to the detention center first.'

I had to visit the elder of Aldeon.

Not only to grasp the whole story of the incident, but above all...

Woooong!

"Ha, really... What is this?"

I had to hear the reason why my light magic had become so perfect.

The magic I couldn't use during my training with Barundel.

I extinguished the radiant light, now so flawless that no weakness could be found, and took a heavy step forward.

***

A massive stone building stood near the Security Bureau in Sector 6.

Guards in iron armor were stationed around it.

As expected, security was tight, as it was a place that housed various criminals.

However, now that I was no longer a wanted man,

There was no need for me to be intimidated.

"Aidan Tyron. Is he there?"

"Your business?"

"I'd like to request a visit."

"Scan your ID card first."

Beep.

The warden, dressed in a black uniform, manually recorded the information that appeared on the device and gestured for me to follow.

I felt it was lax that the procedure ended with just scanning the ID card, but that thought disappeared as soon as I entered.

'...How many people have they deployed?'

Security was airtight, not only outside but also inside.

There were at least two guards stationed at every corner.

Even their posture and aura... all seemed to be at least semi-knights.

It meant that it would be nearly impossible to try anything foolish.

'It wasn't lax, they were just confident.'

"Wait here."

I was led to the visiting room by the warden.

After waiting for a while, a familiar figure appeared beyond the transparent glass wall.

Long gray hair and a similarly long beard. A thin body with wrinkles and dull skin.

It was Aidan Tyron, the Vice-Tower Head of Aldeon and the 2nd elder.

'He certainly looks the same as before...'

But for some reason, the authority I felt when I first saw him was gone.

Maybe it was because he was wearing a prison uniform.

"...Yuhan."

"Have a seat."

The 2nd elder nodded slightly and sat down.

"..."

A brief silence followed.

I stared at him through the transparent glass wall, somehow looking frail, and then opened my mouth.

"Don't you have anything to say?"

The 2nd elder seemed to be contemplating something before speaking with a determined look.

"...You were right. I was the foolish one."

The 2nd elder said so and lowered his head.

His slightly trembling voice and pale face showed how much guilt he was feeling.

It was somewhat comical.

Despite having countless chances to change his choice, he only truly regretted it after being imprisoned.

Honestly, considering I was 'watched' because of these guys, I felt like running over and punching him right now...

"...Well, that's not important."

It was water under the bridge. There was no point in dwelling on it now.

Instead, I decided to use the limited visiting time more efficiently.

"Rather than that, please explain in detail now. What motivated Aldeon, why did they do such a thing, and how did the process unfold?"

"Don't you already know?"

"Well, I do, but hearing it from the person involved is different."

"...Alright."

The 2nd elder didn't refuse and began to explain the details of the incident.

Most of it was what I already knew, but some of it was completely new information.

"So, you're saying that the 'revelation' the Magic Tower Head mentioned was the work of a demon?"

"It's shameless of me to realize it now... but yes."

"Why do you think so?"

"There's no other explanation, is there? The God of Light wouldn't collude with a demon. This must be the work of some demon who can manipulate people's dreams."

"If that's the case..."

"You're right. It must be a demon legion commander. Or at least someone on par with them."

"...Damn it."

I wanted to dismiss it as nonsense, but I couldn't.

Because I remembered a demon legion commander who was more than capable of doing such a thing.

'If it's a demon related to dreams, it can only be that guy.'

Asmodeus, the demon of desire.

He was the one who forcibly amplified the desires inherent in people.

That ability could also manifest in the form of dreams.

By showing the target what they crave through dreams, and even how to obtain it, he maximized their desire.

More importantly,

'...What Asmodeus shows is not an illusion.'

The way to fulfill the desire he showed was not a false illusion or fantasy.

If you followed his instructions, you could realize that desire in some way.

Although the result wouldn't be good.

Like Dercion, who was dragged into the abyss of evil.

Anyway,

'Then the change in my light magic...'

It meant that Dercion's desire was realized.

By summoning Baal, through the medium of 'me'.

Simply put, it meant that the 'true light' was in my hands.

The problem was, what did the true light mean...?

"According to the records... Once every 1,000 years, a being who conveys stories through light appears."

I asked the 2nd elder about it, and-

"And the power that transcends that level... we call it the 'true light'."

A shocking answer came back.

A being who conveys stories. And the power that transcends it.

It was the moment I realized why the light I emitted was so perfect.

"...Huh."

It seems that my legendary tier trait obtained from [Essence of Light]...

'...has grown into a 'mythic tier trait.'

[Translator - Prøks]

[Proofreader - Prøks]