Talent-Swallowing Magician - Chapter 71
Episode 71:
The Burned Snowfield
Empire boasts the largest territory and power on the continent, to the point where many people do not even remember what the name of the country was.
The lands they reached were all places that could be considered valuable on the continent.
As a result, various races, including sub-humans, were forced to leave their original homelands and be pushed out to outlying areas.
As is commonly known, the fact that the area described as ‘Geumyeok (禁域)’ became the home of sub-races and foreigners was not what they wanted.
And a representative example of this was the beastman tribe.
The ‘Black Snowfield’ where the beastmen currently live is originally a place where the ground rots with poison all year round, the forest gives off a foul odor, and is infested with numerous monsters… or even all kinds of monsters that can be seen below.
Naturally, the northern imperial territory bordering the black snowfields was bound to have a great deal of fear of the beastmen and monsters, each of whom was an outstanding warrior.
The empire had to build a long, huge wall to prevent them from moving south.
That was the ‘barrier’.
“It’s a lot noisy ‘beyond’ these days. “Still, would you like to pass on?”
The wall is often guarded by the Border Guard Force, which, along with the Imperial Guard, has the strictest discipline in the empire.
The guard at Gate 112 also had quite a harsh look in his eyes the whole time he was checking the border crossing permit that Carol had shown him.
“It’s noisy? “May I ask what that means?”
Carol asked a question while receiving the permit back from the guard.
Not much is known about anything outside the wall, so it would have been nice to be able to get a little more information.
“Literally.”
“…?”
“Recently, for reasons unknown, there has been a lot of commotion ‘beyond’. Monster waves occur several times a day… Because of this, some gates and guard posts are on emergency standby.”
“then?”
“It probably means that if you pass now, there is a very high chance that you will be in trouble. Originally, even if you had a permit, the principle was that you would never be allowed to pass, but since it was approved by the Magic Tower and dispatched by the Neresta family, we are just letting it pass.”
“hmm.”
Carol’s eyes sank deeply.
A veteran who faces black snow fields every day says it is dangerous.
In that case, we had to assume that something ‘really’ was happening.
but.
‘Still, he’ll say he’ll go over by himself.’
The problem was that Elric was actually leading this group.
I couldn’t tell because they didn’t really explain what was beyond the barrier, but it was clear that there was something important.
“Still, I guess you should go.”
“That’s right.”
“Then, if a crisis occurs, cling to the tallest wooden pole nearby.”
“hmm? “If you’re in a place like that, are you coming to rescue me?”
“no. “That way it will be easier for us to find the body.”
“….”
Carol looked at him with a strange expression, wondering if this was a joke or serious.
It was impossible to tell what kind of face the guard warden was wearing because he was wearing a wool hat that was pressed down.
* * *
Quaaaa!
The sandworm that broke through the ground opened its mouth wide to swallow the food it had found for the first time in a while.
“【Endless Flame】!”
Puuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
!
As a fireball as large as two or three people’s heads combined exploded, the person struggled while making a bizarre sound.
However, no matter how hard he struggled, the fire that had started could not be extinguished, and it finally quieted down only after he was pushed down.
“How long are you going to show up? “I really shouldn’t be able to go.”
Sean grumbled in exasperation and raised his magic power again.
Monsters appeared one after another without giving me any time to rest, so I had to memorize whenever I could.
Is it because of that?
The whole time he was grumbling, breath was coming out of his mouth.
“And why is it so cold? No matter how northern it is, it has to be hot to be normal. “Does this make sense?”
The group had to experience the bitter cold from the moment they crossed the barrier.
The name ‘Snowfield’ for the black snow field was ultimately a metaphorical expression.
It’s not a real snow field; it’s just called that because the ground is always black and dead from all kinds of poisons. In reality, it was closer to a dry, hard rock desert.
Moreover, it is now June and the heat is slowly approaching. Considering that the Black Snowfield had a strictly continental climate, this was absolutely impossible.
I wonder if it is related to the ‘strange commotion’ that the guard said.
In any case, the situation was such that it was difficult to find a way.
“pup. “What on earth are you looking for in a place like this?”
Sean frowned as he jerked and glared at the carriage behind him.
Looking at Elric, who had put him through such a hard time and still had no intention of getting out of the carriage, made him feel like he was about to burst into anger.
and.
His questions were also being asked by Augustine in the carriage.
“Are the family arrangements you mentioned really here?”
Elric had not slept well for the past few days and had barely skipped meals, and was deeply lost in thought, quietly floating a piece of ice in the air.
At first, Augustine and others supported Elric when he said he was trying to create a new magic system and were considerate, telling him to ask any questions he had.
Right now, I didn’t even care about it or not and just left it alone.
We were talking little by little.
Then Augustine became curious.
No matter how much the empire has tried to explore, it has failed time and time again, and if it goes deep into the interior, even the absolute leader of the 9th Circle may become dangerous in the infamous black snowy field.
How on earth will Elric be able to find what he wants?
however.
“I don’t know.”
“…hmm?”
Elric shrugged, his gaze still firmly focused on the ice sculpture.
For a moment, Augustin wondered if he was having auditory hallucinations due to his age and looked back at Hayes who was next to him.
Hayes sighed briefly, frowned slightly, and scolded in a stern tone.
“The adult is speaking, so why don’t you speak clearly?”
Only then did Elric stop thinking and looked at Augustine, pouting his lips.
A piece of ice fell onto my hand.
『Anyway, I’m a guy who can’t find politeness even if I wash my eyes.』
[But like anyone else, I’ve never been dumped by my first love and whined for over a thousand years. Do you know that’s incredibly rude? Wouldn’t the other person be shocked if they found out?]
『So even if it’s definitely not what you think!』
[Ah, boo.]
『Aaaah! How long on earth will King Bon have to suffer this humiliation from this bastard?”
Elric said, clenching his temples and ignoring Mephisto, who was running rampant all the time.
“Actually… I tried not to tell you as much as possible. “But I’ll tell you because it’s strange that they keep hiding it even after coming all the way here.”
Augustine nodded.
In fact, he only heard that he was going to the north, but he never thought he would actually cross the wall in the first place.
Everyone was so shocked when Elric first said that his destination was the Black Snowfield.
“I plan to find the ‘Temple of Flowers.’”
“…huh? “I guess that’s not what this old man knows?”
“I guess it’s right?”
“her!”
Augustine laughed for a moment.
Hayes, who was listening next to me at that time, spoke in a calm tone.
“grandfather.”
“Yes baby.”
“I’m sorry, but is it okay if I break your grandfather’s precious disciple’s earthen pot right here?”
“What is a disciple? “The one I just disowned.”
“Yes?”
Hayes smiled brightly and jumped up from his seat. In his right hand was a huge hammer.
Elric only felt alert after his sister’s shadow covered his face.
“…wait for a sec. sister?”
“Put your head down next to me and I’ll put it down.”
“That means you’re going to blow my head off!”
“Oh my, you got caught?”
“Is it really scary every time my sister does that?”
Elric said it indifferently.
In fact, it was only natural that Augustine and Hayes would react so strongly.
The ‘Temple of Flowers’ was originally something out of a fairy tale!
A long time ago, long ago, before the empire was even established, the black snowy field, now full of rotten stench and poison, was originally a flower garden with numerous flowers in full bloom.
The fairy tale says that there were numerous flower gods who lived together with people.
And the place where those flower gods were said to have lived was the ‘Temple of Flowers.’
Even though Augustine and Hayes asked so seriously, it was natural for Elric to still think he was out of his mind and joking.
“Really. “It’s not a lie.”
Only after Elric cried out as if pleading did Hayes stop walking.
“Tell me in detail.”
“I was going to do it anyway.”
Elric sighed lightly. Then I glanced back at Augustine.
In fact, the question of where and how much I can tell people around me about my family’s arrangements was a concern that I was not aware of yet.
Still, I felt like I could talk about this much.
“The Temple of Flowers is really real. “I checked all of the family records and even completed cross-verification of materials in the Imperial Library.”
“her! I can’t believe it’s true. “If this is true, the academic community will wake up and make a fuss.”
Augustine stroked his beard with an appetizing look on his face.
He’s also a wizard. I had a great desire to explore new knowledge.
“I don’t know if the Temple of Flowers really houses real divine beings as they appear in traditional fairy tales. But I think there is a place related to the arrangement there, so I’m going to look for it.”
It was only after Elric saw Hayes sitting quietly in his seat again that he could sigh in relief.
“sister.”
“why?”
“Aren’t you thinking of going back to your hometown right now? “My sister said she quit her job midway and left…!”
Sigh!
“…But still, I feel at ease when I have a sister. Please help me until this is over. ha ha ha.”
Elric thought.
What is forming around his eyes right now is not tears, but sweat.
Then, I found Mephisto staring intently at Hayes.
I just wanted to start a fight for no reason.
[Why does someone else’s sister look at you so intently?]
『If I continue to study your sister, I think that someday even the king will be able to get into trouble with you by arguing.』 I can’t believe that the
noblest of noble families would say something like that in a serious tone.
For the first time in a while, Elric felt the need to organize his ranking.
[I haven’t been very careful so far, have I?]
『Hmph! Are you trying to make me go through a charm hell or silent practice? There’s still one more month left until it’s lifted…!』
[【Stand on your head】 【Dance】.]
『What? “Ahhhh!”
Mephisto suddenly turned over and began to tap dance, letting out a loud scream.
‘I feel a bit more at ease now.’
Augustine asked while Elric nodded in satisfaction.
“Then where is the Temple of Flowers? “It would be almost impossible to find it simply by looking at the records.”
Geumyeok was not called Geumyeok for nothing.
There were many cases of people getting lost and disappearing because their location was impossible to guess.
“I want to find the beastman tribe.”
“Beast people?”
“yes. There is also a record that they are protecting the Flower Temple. I’d like to check it out. “Even if it’s wrong, I think it knows something since it’s the only intelligent being that lives in this place.”
“But they have a very deep grudge against humans. “Are you okay?”
There are very few people in the world of magic who do not know the story of the beast people who lost their home to humans and fled to the black snowy fields.
“Well, the beast people are not all the same race, so wouldn’t there be divisions within them? And there is something to entice them.”
“Huh? Something to tempt you with?”
Augustine’s eyes twinkled as if he were dying of curiosity.
Elric grinned instead of answering.
The beast people will never be able to ostracize themselves.
Elric believed so.
That’s because he had the ‘power’ that they had been hoping to regain for over a hundred years.
A strong body technique that was the art of King Ho, the king of the ancient beastmen.
You know that?
Wizard who swallowed talent