Chapter. 22. Last Parade (5)
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Slap-
slap-
slap
-slap-
When you climb up the hill, the vast rocky valley that spreads out becomes a low, round basin and a salt lake.
The dry wind became a salty sea breeze, and Storm Hill, which was no longer a hill, was called ‘Eye of the Wind’.
“When you look down from this high up, it really resembles snow. Doesn’t the blue saltwater lake lapping at the center of the round, smooth, sunken basin look like an eye on the ground looking into the sky?”
“…You know the stories of wizards quite well. “Such old stories may have a slightly different texture from the ‘money-making stories’ preferred by newsboys.”
“Yeah, well. “The only news people pay money to buy is what kind of goods were on board the ship that arrived this time and who among the precious people are wandering around the back alleys.”
Keuungcha –
Han Sen climbed down the texture of his shoulders and arms as if he was climbing a rock wall, then picked up a sharp piece of stone and started rubbing it on a nearby rock.
“Instead, these mysterious and useless stories are very useful to a newsboy who lives at home with younger siblings who are too scared to sleep every night.”
“So you knew this well.”
“That’s true~ Also, if you sell news on a street where there are a lot of unaffiliated newsboys like me, it’s easy to get beaten up by other full-time newsboys. “Naturally, I ended up doing business in a place that everyone avoided, and as a result, I ended up talking to wizards who were the weirdest of all weirdos.”
Squeak squeak-
“Uh um… Shall I continue talking about this? Or should we stop talking about this and move on to something else?”
“Go ahead. “Interesting enough.”
“Yep then.”
From the moment he climbed the hill, the newsboy was neither trembling nor afraid. You probably instinctively felt my sense of loss or helplessness. Children are good at reading adults’ moods, and my current mood doesn’t seem at all suitable for a man-eating monster.
Han Sen, whose tension was completely gone and his natural eloquence began to come back to life, was literally at a loss.
Swipe, swipe!
“braided! I drew it roughly, but this is what this area originally looked like. Oh, you said you came here a few hundred years ago?”
“….okay. “You drew it well.”
I sat down and wondered what he was doing, and it seemed like he was drawing a picture by scratching a rock with a piece of stone.
A hemispherical building made of overlapping curved columns that look like large ribs.
Looking at the empty basin beyond the Felix groove carved into the rock, the empty space of what had disappeared felt even bigger.
From the mouth of the boy sitting on the rock, the story of Archmage Felix Drixiel and his daughter, his death, the birth of Home, the legend of the saint of the Letter Magic Empire, and the story afterward flowed one after another.
The point at which the story, which I don’t know, came about was when a water bag was taken out of subspace for the boy who was constantly talking.
“Do I really have to drink here?”
“…I’ll prepare water separately for my younger siblings.”
“Thank you. “Clean water is so precious.”
Gulp, gulp, gulp.
“Let’s see… The two great imperial wars ended together in a big explosion, and Astrad, who was already exhausted from trying to block the airship bombings pouring down on his home, was faced with a huge explosion that tore the world apart. The wizards say it feels like something has gone very wrong since then.”
Han Sen, who was talking softly while clearing his throat, glanced at me and suddenly changed his posture and sat down.
He was indeed a guy who could chat with even eccentric wizards. He noticed that I was concentrating on the story just now and wanted to elaborate a little more.
“Just a moment before the story. Teacher Mute, do you know how wind wizards are treated outside?”
“….Returner or pilgrim.”
“Kya~ Teacher, you really know a lot about humans, don’t you?”
I know. Among the wizards of this era, the type that rode the magic train the most were wind wizards.
Even if times change, the nature of mana does not change.
This means that even in this era, wind wizards wandered around following the wanderlust they embraced along with mana.
However, unlike in the past, now the mana in the air has been greatly reduced due to the explosion of the dragon vein, the power of magic has decreased, and wind wizards are no longer able to fly and move like in the past.
Traveling through a land infested with mutes and marauders is suicidal, and Wind Wizards are cursed wizards who must repeat that suicide for the rest of their lives.
For that reason, it is considered [Wind Mana = an incurable disease that leads to death], and moreover, Wind Wizards have a custom of making one disciple and carrying him around instead of being unable to start a family. In regular cities, when a wind wizard appeared, people were busy locking doors and hiding children, as if a serial child kidnapper had appeared.
So back to back. It is a reverse ghost driven by the mana of the wind that leaves the safe fortress city and wanders the desolate land of death.
So pilgrims. A magical pilgrim traveling towards Felix Home, the only sanctuary, the only home designated for them in the world.
In this era, Felix Home became the only place where wind wizards could rest, not only magically but also socially.
“Is that why a wizard of Astrad’s caliber was so obsessed with maintaining the home?”
“That’s why he is so respected by wind wizards. Before he disappeared, his level was as high as 8th level. 8th level. “If you’re ranked 8th, you’re on the same level as the Archmage Felix Drixiel, right?”
“That’s amazing.”
“You’re not just amazing! Even though he was stuck in his hometown and unable to travel around the world and share his knowledge with other magicians in the world, he reached that level through self-study! As a person with the mana of wind, which symbolizes ‘freedom,’ it is a miracle that he stayed in one place for such a long time and became one of only two 8th-rank wind wizards in history. A miracle!”
“That’s why everyone calls him ‘Goyim Wind Wizard’ out of respect. Unlike other winds that exist everywhere in the world and flow everywhere, this wind hovers in one place. Nevertheless, he has become a wind that is vaster than any other wind in the world. It is as if he already had the world at his feet from where he sits. If there is a beginning to a wind that has no beginning or end, this is where he is. Wizard Astrad Dillon Delhast is the only wind wizard who has reached the end of his wanderings. That means something like that.”
“….is it.”
It seemed like he had been living quite hard in a place I didn’t know.
The cute and sad Astraro, who became a mainstay of the home team at a young age.
In his youth, he was already a trustworthy wizard who oversaw the great and small affairs of Wuthering Heights and the Wind Wizards, and became a leader who protected his hometown, which was caught up in foreign exchange, with force.
In his later years, he became someone who always remained unchanged.
A wind wizard born into the life of a wanderer cannot form a proper family.
That’s why they consider the people they meet at Home, the place they stayed the longest in their lives as wind wizards, like family.
The wizards who stay at Felix Home for as little as a few weeks or as long as several years fill their lacking hearts and wander the world.
“Isn’t it fascinating? Other wizards say that no matter how hard they try, they get wanderlust again and leave the home after 5 years. Astrad is said to have lived in the home until he was 135 years old. How did you do it? Is it because of the qualities of an archmage?”
“…Or it might be because of a gift I received from someone.”
For example, a certain wizard’s teacher or father who turned all his dreams into simple miracles at the moment of his death.
guy. Thanks to that, I was able to maintain my hometown, which I wanted so much to protect, for 120 years, so should I say I was lucky, or should I say I was unlucky, because I lived my whole life protecting the hill because I was able to remain like that, and ended up not leaving even a grave behind.
‘I guess I should think of it as a good thing, right?’
Because he lived and died so hard, countless ‘adopted children’ are making a fuss, trying to find their missing ‘father’.
Even though the buildings built in a row in the basin that embraces the salt lake look messy, they are all places for studying and investigating magic. This means that each and every facility was built with a lot of money poured into it, and too much money was spent to build it for wind wizards who cannot accumulate wealth.
‘Now that I think about it, the wizard Gora who was with the Hyla priest also said that he was in the capital to make money after the disappearance of Felix Holm.’
Now that the entire home has disappeared, the wind wizards who are already wandering around without anything have become completely destitute. Instead of selling things like necklaces, rings, and pendants, we sell items that contain memories that we have attached to our hearts. I got a job as a mercenary, a court wizard, and a noble family’s magic advisor, and as if that wasn’t enough, I even sold products like [Introduction to Wind Magic] [4-hole wand carved by a 4th-rank wind wizard], and equipped myself with the facilities and manpower to find the missing Home and Astrad. I did it.
To find the home and people who became their only home.
In their words, ‘It’s disappearance, not death!’ ‘There’s no mana left, but there’s still wind! I feel it!’ They claim this, but it has been over 60 years since Wuthering Heights disappeared, so they probably don’t even think that Astrad is alive. It’s just that 60 years weren’t enough to organize my mind.
****
This is the end of my old thoughts. Because I had more of a past than others, there was no end to thinking about the past.
I have to organize what needs to be done, do what needs to be done, and move forward.
Rustle-
“Ah, are you leaving already?”
“I’m thinking of going down for a bit before then.”
At the word of going down, things like fear, anxiety, joy, liberation, regret, and a bit of greed appeared on the boy’s face. Well, be colorful.
“Uh… From what I heard earlier, Master Mutt said that if even a single hair touches Astrad-sama’s legacy, he will grind it up and sprinkle it on the ground….”
“The lord gave permission under my name. “It’s a transaction, not a favor, so I should enjoy what I deserve.”
“If I wasn’t able to fully explain just how obsessed and crazy the wind wizards are with that vacant lot, just give me three minutes and I will tell you a selection of wind wizard ghost stories. They’re wizards, but they’re just crazy people! “If you turn a blind eye, you are not a lord, but a person who will not listen even if the emperor comes and headbutts you!”
“Okay. If they rush in and say they’ll grind it out, they’ll just grind it out without any hesitation. “There might be a commotion, so wait here.”
“Uh oh! Ah, teacher! “Mr. Mute!”
Sigh!
There was a naturally weathered staircase next to me, but it didn’t fit my stride so I just launched myself towards the steep basin.
“It was crazy when I saw this from a distance… but when I saw it up close, it was quite spectacular.”
As we approached the central salt lake, all kinds of strange and unknown buildings and devices appeared. A telescope with lenses hanging in all directions, a mobile carriage filled with traditional magician’s experimental equipment, or even something that was clearly magic engineering equipment. Equipment with a lot of fist-sized jewels was covered in dust and rusting, and it was clear that some of it was still in use and had been taken care of.
“monster. “I hate people who don’t take warnings as warnings.”
Sigh!
“I don’t have a hobby of letting people I don’t like into my home.”
While I was looking at the forest of experimental equipment, several blades of wind were hanging around my neck before I knew it.
This is the old wizard who was dragged in front of the castle gate.
“…The house is a mess. “Why don’t you just clean up and live?”
“You can’t do that. “Home is not just my home.”
Snapping –
the blade of the wind cuts into my skin. This human being’s real lord’s request is ignored with one ear.
“Are you planning on killing me?”
“Ah, I know a little bit about you too. A very old monster. Red mute. It has something to do with Wuthering Heights, right? Did you say they attacked this place during the Mute Race War and broke two pillars? You barely escaped with your whole body torn to shreds, but now that you are homeless, have you come to avenge a 200-year-old grudge? Do you think we’ve become weak? If that’s not what coming to say ‘greetings to Astrad’ means, then what does it mean?”
Even for a wind mage who is known for being impulsive, I thought he was a bit too hostile. They must have misunderstood that I came here to avenge an old grudge.
“It’s a grudge.”
If it were like the old days, I would say, ‘This is a huge misunderstanding.’ ‘As for me, as a being of this or that kind, I have admired and envied Astrad for a long time and have come to understand people’s hearts…’ Well, he must have tried to boil the other person by using his tongue in this way.
“then.”
Tdu-duk-duk, turn off, device, device!
“What are you thinking?”
“Oh my gosh. “I used the 4th level cutting magic with my bare body…”
I had the strength now to not have to sweat so much.
“If you don’t want what happened on the wall to happen here, stay quiet.”
“If there is even the slightest problem with his legacy, I guarantee you that all the winds in the world will chase you until you die! Even if you kill me here, the news will travel on the wind-”
“Well said. “I also came to return a piece of wind that I borrowed from my old enemy.”
Palak –
I took out a small letter and showed it to the old wizard, who was worried that I might cause a ruckus.
Judging by the shape of his mouth, the wizard, who was about to say something like ‘bullshit’, saw the letter that fell into my hands from subspace and his eyes widened.
“That…”
“I recognize you. “A letter from Archmage Astrad villain Delhast himself when he was young.”
“Huh!”
In that moment, three things happened simultaneously.
The wizard’s eyes, which were full of evil and venom, widened like those of a startled goldfish, and
the magic staff that had collected a lot of wind for the next attack fell, and with the released wind, it soared into the sky with a pop and shouted,
“Give me the Lord!” give it to me! that!”
The old man who had just been shouting that he was going to kill the monster and grind him to death clung to my arm with a sorrowful voice as if he was asking his family to kidnap him.
“…Isn’t it shameful?”
“I don’t know! All shame was gone 25 years ago when I made a pink tornado for Benison Street’s victory party for 400,000 shillings! Give me away! “I’ll write really well!”
“It is a personally valuable item to me.”
“I’m really sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I didn’t know anyone who was precious! So please lend me it just once, not just for a month or a year! “If that is Astrad’s handwritten letter, and if it was sent using letter magic from a time when magic was still alive, then his wishes will still remain!”
“…Let go.”
“You can’t let go! “I can’t let you go until I give it to you!”
oh my god. Are you saying that Astrad has been coaxing these guys for 120 years and making them look like good members of society?
“I get it. “I’ll hand it over.”
“Really! thank you! You are such a good monster! Hehehehehehe!”
“Not right now. “There is something I want to try.”
“Aaaah….”
Perhaps because the wind had lifted his body, he couldn’t fall no matter how much I waved my arms, so I ended up walking toward the salt lake in the center with the old wizard hanging on my arm.
“I’m thinking of sending a letter.”
“A letter… ah?!”
“okay. I can feel mana too. “I’ll give it a try since I’m here.”
“Oooh…!”
A letter handwritten by Archmage Astrade containing his remaining mana.
Although the building has disappeared, this is a place where wind wizards still feel an inexplicable attraction.
There was no specific goal. I just do it because I want to try it.
“Keep in mind. The spell is ‘Send it to the wind.’ There is a difference in tone and tone between the language of today and 200 years ago, so I raise the ‘carry out’ part a little, as if saying it-” “I am a
being who lived in those times, a wizard.”
He faced the salt water lake and spoke to the letter in his hand.
Seup-
woowoo.
I’m a little nervous.
“I send it to the wind.”
-gulp.
The sound of a nervous wizard swallowing saliva.
The sound of water lapping in a salt lake.
And the wind that gently shakes the corners of the letter.
“Ooh, it’s moving!”
The letter was fluttering in his large hand as if it was about to fly away.
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