Chapter : 84

“What should we do, Magician Agpiel? Would it be better to just strike her head off?”

“Hiccup.”

I brought the blade to the captured magician’s neck and asked Agpiel.

“Well, depending on the situation, that might be for the best. Magic can be a very dangerous thing.”

“Hmm, then I suppose I must kill her.”

It was said that a magician should be killed on sight. Because once they start talking, things get out of hand.

As someone who knew well the power of mystery that magic called forth through Magician Agpiel, I had no desire to let this magician run her mouth.

‘Besides, I’ve already captured those who seem to be the Emperor’s knights.’

I could get the information from them anyway. As Magician Agpiel said, a magician who could control monsters was bound to be quite evil.

“I-I am a court magician trusted by the Emperor, so I should receive j-just treatment…!”

As if sensing my thoughts, the magician shouted urgently.

“What? The Emperor’s court magician?”

-Sleung!

“Kyaaaak. No. I’m just a magician who sometimes runs menial errands. Please spare me. I am sincere to anyone who provides a just price. The Emperor is just one of them!”

“Hmm….”

At that, Magician Agpiel, who had been watching silently, tilted his head.

“Well, I don’t feel any particularly evil mystery. I thought it would be an otherworldly method to control an ogre.”

“Th-that’s right. The magic I’ve awakened is the mystery of herbs and healing. I’ve never learned any evil mysteries.”

“Really?”

But I was even more suspicious.

If so, why did she run away?

Wasn’t it because she was an evil magician who handled monsters like ogres that she fled?

“W-wait a minute! Just a moment. Please.”

But, as befitting a magician, she was quick-witted.

As I subtly tightened my grip on the sword hilt, the magician turned pale and began to speak.

“I-I didn’t control the ogre, I just lured it by tempting three or four goblins. It’s true. It’s a trivial mystery, nothing special.”

“Can you swear it on the mystery you follow?”

A dangerous oath that could make one lose all the magic one had learned and even be cursed by the mystery! But it seemed this magician valued her life more.

“Yes, yes! That’s right. So please, tell him to take this sword away.”

The magician screamed in terror.

Only then did Magician Agpiel let out a hearty laugh and stroke his magnificent beard.

“Hahaha. Seeing as she speaks with her mystery on the line, it must be true. At that level…. well, there probably won’t be any problems.”

“Is that so? Hmmm….”

I still looked at the magician with suspicious eyes. It wasn’t an ogre, but goblins. Weren’t they monsters too? In my eyes, it seemed just as evil.

But surprisingly, Magician Agpiel’s thoughts were a little different.

“Small monsters like goblins are nothing. You could even handle them by luring them with food, frankly. At that level, they aren’t much of a threat…. Besides, what is your name?”

“I-It’s Azella! Sage.”

“Right, Azella. A magician whose name I’ve never even heard. A magician’s name spreads far and wide if they have skill. Even more so for a magician working in the Emperor’s court.

Therefore, it means you are such a trivial magician that you don’t need to worry about her….”

As Magician Agpiel’s words continued, Azella’s expression changed in a rather peculiar way.

He seemed to be speaking in her defense… but didn’t it sound like he was calling her pathetic-!

No matter what, she had her pride as a magician.

“I-I can still bind and command goblins with the mystery of herbs….”

“Oh, really? Binding a monster. As expected, she’s dangerous. Agpiel, wouldn’t it be right to just kill her?”

-Sreureung.

“Kiyaaaak. No. It’s just goblins. They’re trivial, just like the magician said.”

“……”

Though it didn’t last for even a second.

* * *

“Hmm, so you’re saying the Emperor ordered all of this?”

“Y-yes! That’s right, Your Excellency.”

The magician’s words, that she would be sincere to anyone who paid a just price, were true.

When I ‘justly’(?) placed a sword on her neck and demanded the price of her life, she spilled everything.

To the point where I wondered how she would handle the aftermath if the Emperor found out later.

‘Well, if you don’t want to die right now, you don’t have a choice.’

With that thought, I organized the information I heard from this magician.

First.

The Emperor knew the Prince-elector of Bohemia’s objective.

I didn’t know where the information had leaked, but the Emperor knew that the target of this southern heretic subjugation force was the Kingdom of Aragon.

That was why he had supported the band of thieves to cut off the subjugation force’s supplies.

And second.

The band of thieves in the City of Tulung was not just composed of defeated soldiers.

According to the magician (though it was hard to trust), a mercenary company hired by the Emperor was hiding in the forest, waiting.

It was thanks to them that the subjugation forces of Tulung City had been crushed so far.

And that meant….

“The main force is in danger.”

“Captain Konrad is not the type to be careless, so he should be holding them off well.

Weren’t there people from the knightly order as well?”

“Still, it could be dangerous if they’re suddenly struck from the side, Magician Agpiel.”

After all, battles in the pre-modern era were ultimately decided by morale. No matter how much you were winning, if you mistakenly thought you were losing, you would collapse rapidly in the era of [Pangea Universalise].

Therefore, I had to quickly gather the elf knights and head to the main force led by Captain Konrad.

Fortunately, the elf knights agreed to my instructions without any argument.

“That cowardly Emperor bastard-!”

“Your Excellency. Is there any reason to wait? Let us go support them at once.”

“Just give the order!”

“Those bastards will be shattered to pieces when Your Excellency and we elves charge in-!”

These were the elf knights who had already witnessed the miracle(?) of me strangling an ogre to death.

As elf knights who revered glorious battle, they were ready to jump into fire happily if I commanded it.

“Um, but Your Excellency.”

Just then, one of the elf knights suddenly tilted his head and spoke up.

“What is it?”

“Didn’t you say this ogre attack was also part of the Emperor’s plan? And you said you captured the magician who carried it out.”

“That’s right. That woman over there is that magician.”

I pointed to the magician tied up with the Emperor’s knights. At that, the elf knights all glared at the magician.

The magician, no, Azella, was currently very busy rolling her eyes back and forth, trying to grasp the situation.

Something…. Something….

The signs were not good.

A magician who deals with mystery would often have omens about their future pop into their heads.

In that sense, the omen that arose this time was an evil omen, itself.

“Uh, hohoho. Why are you all looking at me like that…?”

Azella tried her best to smile and laughed awkwardly, but it had no effect.

“We must kill that evil magician-!”

“That’s right. As a believer in God, to control foul and dirty monsters. She is an apostate herself!”

The elf knights began to denounce her. The very ones who would usually not even glance at the name of a cleric were now seeking God’s name at a time like this.

‘Those savage elf bastards who are believers in name only!’

Azella, who had clearly seen the atrocities of the elf knights in the Emperor’s court, couldn’t help but curse inwardly.

If one were to pick the existence furthest from faith, it would be those very elf knights.

They dueled at the drop of a hat.

They murdered at the drop of a hat.

They pillaged at the drop of a hat.

Weren’t they the ones who acted as if they were still the great warriors of the ancient gods they believed in in ancient times?

But she had to swallow such complaints.

Azella looked at me urgently and shouted.

“I-I was guaranteed treatment as a prisoner by Your Excellency’s custom….”

“What? Custom?”

“Our custom is to repay death with death! My comrades died because of the ogre you commanded, so you will pay the price as well.”

Faced with the grim atmosphere, Azella smiled awkwardly and spoke. She intended to try and lighten the mood as much as possible.

“According to the elves’ customs, it’s a good thing to die in a great battle… so wouldn’t those who died to the ogre have been happy?”

“……”

The problem was that her words seemed to have made the atmosphere even worse.

“Hmm, it seems that magician would be better off not opening her mouth.”

“That’s what I was thinking.”

If bringing misfortune upon oneself was a talent, she possessed a truly great talent. That magician.

But I couldn’t just leave her be. If I did, it seemed she would be killed by the sword of an angry elf knight at any moment.

I was planning to package this magician nicely and get a ransom from the Holy Empire’s Emperor.

‘Considering my future relationship with the Emperor, it’s better not to cross the line.’

If I just killed her outright, it would be the same as declaring complete hostility with the Emperor. And if our relationship soured, it would only benefit the Holy See.

“Enough, both sides, stop talking.”

“B-but Your Excellency….”

“What’s past is past, can’t be undone. Besides, strictly speaking, we fought an ogre, not that magician.”

“Still, how many people were killed and injured by that evil magician’s schemes, Your Excellency. Even now, my comrade next to me is on the verge of death from his severe injuries.”

The elf knights said, panting with anger. At that, Azella, who was reading the room, hurriedly shouted.

“Th-there’s nothing I can do for those who have died, but I can treat the injured. I know how to make a healing potion that can cure even fairly serious injuries. They will be healed completely!”

Normally, she would never make it without a price, but the time called for it.

Unless she showed she was useful, those ignorant elf knights would secretly come and do away with her. Azella was truly desperate.

Of course, everyone who heard her, including myself, wore surprised expressions.

“?!”

“Oho?”

The elf knights had faces that asked what kind of evil magic she would use to make a healing potion, while Magician Agpiel and I were thinking, ‘With your skills?’

‘Ah, shit.’

There was no way Azella didn’t realize it. Azella let out a string of vulgar curses inwardly.

It was humiliating and sad, but what could she do? It was a moment that made her miss the comfortable Emperor’s court, where many people treated her with respect.

“It-it’s true, Your Excellency. Please allow me to treat them.”

“Hmm, well, alright. Go ahead and try.”

I nodded with an indifferent expression.

It’s good if it works, and what if it doesn’t?

She would handle herself one way or another.

With that thought, I placated the elf knights and spurred my horse onward in a hurry.

My destination was the main force where Captain Konrad was. I had delayed, so I had to hurry.

* * *

At the same time.

Captain Konrad was busy in many ways.

“Charge-!”

“Kill them all.”

“Hook Mercenary Company, it’s time to earn the money you were paid. Grind them to dust!”

It was because, when they had crushed about half of the thousand-strong band of thieves, an enemy had suddenly rushed in from the side.

He couldn’t tell their exact numbers, but there were at least several hundred. On top of that, they appeared to be fully heavily armed elites, so it was a situation where he was about to go crazy.

Captain Konrad was repelling them using the Knights of the Holy Order of Saint Maria, which he had held back as a reserve, but the situation was not very positive.

Their solid phalanx had begun to crumble bit by bit. Looking at the situation, Captain Konrad shouted to Bishop Lauren next to him.

“Damn it! Hurry down and request support from Sir Biden!”

“W-will you be able to hold on?”

“We have to hold on as long as we can. Go quickly!”

Captain Konrad suddenly had the thought that if his luck ran out, today would be the day he died.

Just as he was frantically repelling the enemy.

“Waaaaaaah-!”

A cheer was heard from afar.

“Damn it!”

Captain Konrad felt his heart drop.

Enemy reinforcements?

If so, this was truly the end.

But thankfully.

“Kill the Emperor’s dogs-!”

“For the Margrave, Excellency. Kiyoooooot! Charge!”

“Let’s go help the stumpy little dwarves who can’t even fight! Giddy-up! Giddy-up!”

The army that appeared was an ally.

Even if they were really unlucky, distasteful pointy-ears.

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