parentshiftbook Chapter 23: The Mage Is Too Strong (1)
Chapter 23: The Mage Is Too Strong (1)
‘An ancient spellbook...’
Not a black magic tome, but a real ancient spellbook.
The message floating in Karl’s mind confirmed it beyond doubt.
Darkan added a bit of explanation.
“It’s believed to be from the Age of Radiance.”
The Age of Radiance—an era in ancient times when magical re
Someone had appeared—holding a bloodstained sword in one hand, the other raised and moving through the air.
It looked almost like the sign of the cross, the kind a priest would make.
“Wh–Who are you...?”
At the ranger’s hesitant question, the robed figure turned.
A woman—her face half-covered by a mask.
The bizarre appearance stunned the rangers into silence once more.
She stared at them for a moment, then spoke.
“Have any of you seen a mage pass through this area recently?”
A... mage?
What the hell was that supposed to mean?
But none of them dared question her. They only shook ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) their heads firmly.
“I see.”
Then be careful on your way back.
With those parting words, the woman turned and began walking deeper into Gwangrim.
One of the rangers flinched and called out.
“W–Wait! It’s almost dark. If you go in too deep, it’s dange—”
But he quickly shut his mouth.
Telling someone who just split a Minotaur in half that it’s “dangerous”? He couldn’t believe he’d even said that.
The woman soon vanished into the trees and underbrush.
The rangers stood in stunned silence for a long while, staring at the spot where she’d disappeared.
“...What the hell was that?”
* * *
Two weeks had passed since Karl had begun riding through the Forest of Gwangrim.
After briefly exiting into the plains, he had now reached a canyon—and was preparing for a night of camping.
“...Damn, this is way farther than I thought.”
Chewing on a piece of jerky in front of his campfire, Karl reviewed his next destination.
The Kingdom of Rubis.
Specifically, the Free City of Kerry on its edge.
He planned to pass through it first, then cut directly across the kingdom.
As he wandered through these idle thoughts—
“......”
He suddenly lifted his head toward the other side of the fire.
Heavy, ragged breathing had started to reach his ears from far off—drawing closer and closer.
Soon, the source stumbled into the firelight.
“Haa... haa...!!”
A man covered in blood from head to toe.
Looking like he could collapse at any second, the man locked eyes with Karl, then staggered toward him.
“P–Please... Take this to the Bawle family... Run...!!”
Thud.
And with those last words, he collapsed.
Karl checked his condition.
“...Dead.”
He then turned his gaze to what the man had been holding.
A gem-like object clutched tightly in his hand.
Karl frowned and slowly looked up again.
“...Oh, for fuck’s sake.”
Why?
Rustle...
As masked assailants emerged silently from the shadows to surround him, Karl muttered grimly.
“...Why the hell does this keep happening?”
The chimeras and black mages. Aranhel. The damn orcs.
Why did his path constantly get blocked by bullshit like this?
The one who looked like their leader stepped forward and curled a finger toward Karl.
“That thing—hand it over.”