Episode 23
EPISODE.12
“Whoa. Whoa.”
After defeating the vice-captain of the Danklique pirates, Russell breathed slowly.
He calmed his rapid breathing.
Although he is quite tired from the difficult battle, he still has work to do.
“The vice-captain, whom you all believed so much, is dead?”
What now?
As I turned my head and said that, the two pirates who were watching the fight between Dan and Russell showed a frightened expression.
“Hee hee hee!”
Right after that, he quickly turned around and ran toward the outside of the prison, probably to get away from Russell.
As soon as Russell was about to fire his magic at the two pirates, it hit them.
With a dull sound, the two pirates fainted on the spot.
Then, someone who had been hiding his presence behind the darkness of the aisle slowly appeared.
“To defeat a sword user despite such an unfavorable environment. Good job. child.”
It was Daria.
“Have you been watching?”
Daria nodded slowly, answering Russell’s question with ‘of course’.
“I was thinking of stepping out and helping you in case of emergency, but looking at the numbers you are aiming for, it doesn’t seem necessary.”
After all, I wasn’t wrong with my eyes looking at people. said Daria and looked around.
He said looking at the shards of flesh and blood on the floor.
“Rather than that…”
“The pirates I knocked out… and the traces of the people who went upstairs before me.”
“Are you concerned?”
Are you a sympathizer?
Do you feel guilty that you blame them for their deaths?
Daria asked, and after thinking for a while, Russell opened his mouth.
“It would be a lie if it didn’t bother me, and if you asked me if I didn’t sympathize with you, that would be a lie too. but.”
“but?”
“I feel no guilt.”
“Why do you think so?”
Russell met Daria’s question with eyes that didn’t even flinch.
“Because I already gave them a chance and they kicked it away with their feet.”
“Did you give me a chance?”
“yes. It was they who ran first without even being warned to follow me.”
Russell’s personality is closer to that of a good person or a good person.
But that doesn’t mean he wasn’t close to being a hero or a protector.
It was for that reason that Russell’s character marked on the green window was limitedly good.
‘Hoo.’
Daria’s eyebrows lifted lightly at Russell’s answer.
‘It’s solid. It’s very hard.’
It would be difficult for normal children of this age to even maintain themselves after facing such a horror.
Not to mention the first murder, and despite witnessing the scene of the slaughter, the subjectivity remains clear.
‘A thing is a thing.’
Daria added a few extra points to her assessment of Russell.
‘Skills and competency In addition to the actual ability to demonstrate it, even a solid mental strength. After all, it would be better to put saliva on this child first.’
Thinking so, I smiled.
In the meantime, Russell went down the stairs and, trembling with anxiety, brought those who were waiting upstairs.
“Yes?”
Daria, who met the eyes of the elves, widened her eyes.
Daria and the elves met eyes.
.
.
Shoot Aaaaa!
The sound of the waves resounded coolly.
Meanwhile, there was a sailboat crossing the night sea.
A sailboat that was broken and scorched in places.
It was the same sailboat that Russell and Daria subdued and captured the pirates.
The waves hitting the bow turn into white foam and scatter.
Despite the fact that more than half of the pirates had been killed and all the rest were captured, the sailboat was idly crossing the sea as if there was no problem.
The wind, which Daria had summoned through her magic, pushed the sails and took the helmsman.
Hwaaak-.
A gust of wind drove the ship into the harbor, and Russell stood at the head of the ship.
I stared at the land that was getting closer.
Daria, approaching Russell, opens her mouth.
“I never thought they were trading elves. For some reason, they must have used the sea route.”
Daria clicked the tip of her tongue as she muttered whether to call this bold or livery.
“I mean.”
As if agreeing with that, Russell shook his head.
To the slave traders, the value of the Elves was nothing short of gold.
However, trading them as slaves was not an easy task.
‘It’s rather risky.’
He could also be targeted by the same slave traders, and also.
‘Depending on the situation, the elven chasing party will follow.’
Knowing that fact well, they also used boats to move along the sea route.
‘In conclusion, that was the worst move.’
The reason was that it was necessary to dock in one of the ports in order to resupply supplies while traveling by ship.
Of course, it was also the port of Maldiva City.
It was then.
There were people approaching behind Russell and Daria, who were talking.
They were a group of elves, led by a silver-haired girl with the appearance of a Hoi’an girl.
“I would like to express my gratitude to the benefactors. My name is Io of the White Ash Tribe.”
It was Daria who was the first to respond to the greeting that came with a quiet step.
“Call me Daria Daria.”
A middle-aged lady and a girl about 16 years old.
On the surface, it seemed like a combination of quite a difference in age, but human time and elves’ time are different.
Daria greeted with some courtesy, and then Russell opened his mouth.
“This is Russell Raymond.”
“Mrs. Daria and… Mrs. Russell. I should have said hello first, but maybe it’s a little late. sorry.”
Seeing her serious expression, Russell shook his head quietly.
“it’s okay. Mr. Io. More than that…”
she said, staring at the elves huddled behind her.
“Is everyone else okay?”
“yes. Everyone’s magic hasn’t returned yet, but thanks to someone protecting them, there are no injuries.”
Io, who was talking, makes eye contact with Russell and smiles.
The elf laughed, saying that there is no one who is not beautiful.
It was then that Russell realized for the first time that a simple smile could change the atmosphere around him.
“I’m glad.”
Watching the two people talking, Daria smiles.
Right after that, he explained to Io about what happened afterwards.
“There was a great uproar on the sea, so the port must have been crowded with guards. Once docked in the harbor, everyone should wear hoods from then on.”
Even if it is not, the city of Maldiva is a city with many tourists.
There was no guarantee what kind of trouble would arise if even a rumor that an elf had appeared in such a city spread.
“I will.”
Io nodded as if he had the same thought, and secretly wrapped the jacket he was wearing like a hood.
“If necessary, I will escort you with a few trusted wizards until you return to the forest, so stay at my mansion until they arrive.”
There are plenty of rooms left anyway.
As I finished with an additional comment, Io lowered his head, saying, ‘I will never forget this favor’.
Right after that, he looked up and looked at Russell.
“Better than that. I would like to give you an answer to the question you asked earlier. Would it be okay?”
“If it’s a question…”
“The benefactor smells strongly of spirits.”
“Hoo.”
At the word spirit, Daria put on an interesting expression.
She has lived as a wizard for a long time and has seen quite a few wizards until she reigned as the owner of the Tower of Flames.
However, among them, the existence of wizards who commanded spirits was rare enough to be counted on one hand.
The number of people who made a pact with the spirits was as rare as that.
Even she, a powerful 8th Circle wizard, did not sign a contract with the spirit.
By the way…
‘I can’t believe the elf felt the scent of the spirit from this child.’
If it doesn’t interest you, it’s probably a lie.
Meanwhile, Io grabbed Russell’s hand. He closed his eyes and pricked the tip of his nose lightly.
“The smell of burning firewood in the forest during the trip, the smell of the early morning sunlight rises strongly from the benefactor.”
Quite a poetic metaphor, but no one here is stupid enough not to understand its meaning.
“The benefactor’s smell must have been the sign of the fire spirits.”
“Fire…”
The word fire made Russell pause.
Mission completed at Pompeo Volcano before coming to Maldiva City.
The mission’s reward was crazy.
‘At that time, after obtaining the Horn of Purification of Fire, my understanding of fire property magic increased significantly.’
maybe it has something to do with it
I thought so.
“Then can I make a pact with the spirits?”
“Of course. Would you like to try it now?”
“Is it still possible?”
Right now without any preparation?
Russell asked in response, and the mission window came to mind.
[Mission]
A contract with the spirits.
Summon a spirit according to the explanation of Io, a half-blood elf, and make a contract with the spirit.
[Reward]
Lowest grade magic stone (edible) x1
Slight increase in understanding of the corresponding attribute.
Daria also helped out.
“A ritual to summon a spirit. I’ve only heard of it, but it’s the first time I’ve seen it. If it’s okay, would you like to try it?”
At this point, there was no reason not to do it.
No, rather, it was something Russell wanted to do.
Of course, as a magician, he was also interested in the existence of spirits.
‘Spirit magic is a bit different from general magic.’
-Depending on the situation, there was also the possibility of being a trump card.
“Can you tell me how? Mr. Io.”
Io opened his mouth at the words of Russell, who had made up his mind.
“Slowly close your eyes and calm your mind and body.”
Spirits are very sensitive beings.
Excitement was absolutely forbidden in the first communication with them.
“Think of it as you breathe in and assimilate the magic you have with nature…”
Following Io’s guidance, Russell slowly turned his magic power.
The magic that was confined within the wall of the body was released so that it naturally blended with the magic outside.
Hwaaak.
Russell’s unique chaste magic flows into the world.
“It’s amazing. How can a human body have such pure mana?”
Io murmured as if surprised by that mana. Soon, the explanation continued.
“The existence of the spirit that I can feel from Mr. Russell is fire. Thinking of communicating with the world, slowly imagine something related to fire. The morning or noon sunlight I mentioned earlier, or burning firewood. Anything is fine.”
Io’s advice to memorize the most comfortable and familiar images rather than forcibly recalling things related to him flows into my ears.
Of course, not everyone can succeed in a contract by doing such an act.
This was just a basic ritual to attempt a contract.
If you lack the affinity to open the door to the spirit realm and summon them to the real world, it would be futile to try a hundred times.
‘Fire…’
There will be many things.
However, the first existence of fire that came to Russell’s mind was, ironically, ‘father’.
‘Father…’
For Russell, the life of his father, Earl Raymond, was literally a spark itself.
When he was quite young, he was faithful as a good father.
Also, as the head of a family, he did his best to revive the dying family.
Wouldn’t that life be called a flame?
It’s scary to think about him.
A spark suddenly appeared around Russell.
One two three four
.
As if it were a storm, it raged around Russell.
Tadak tadak hwaaaaaagh!
Then, a circle in the shape of a flame appeared.
Using that as a door, something poked its head out into the present world.
“Kareuk-?”
dragon-swallowed wizard
