Chapter 100 – -99- Archmage Doesn’t Believe in Words (1)

The closer we got to the Devil Castle, the higher and tougher adversity we had to face.

The resurrected demon king of this generation did not get tired and sent new subordinates every time.

The monsters that the demon lords of the past had been commanded were resurrected in a more sophisticated form to attack us.

It was never, ever pleasant to come face-to-face with the monsters you only read about in the history books.

Of course, it was a little fun at first. As a mage seeking the truth, it was interesting to analyze the never-reported demons.

It was a great pleasure to be able to analyze valuable samples and write a new thesis.

But each time I ventured into the depths of the Blasted Lands, the growing stronger monster… Gave me a feeling of unease for the first time.

It was the first time I thought that if I was alone, I could die.

If it wasn’t for the strong like us, there were only monsters that were so strong that it was difficult to deal with.

But it seemed like I was the only one feeling this anxiety. Everyone united like one body and moved forward without wavering.

Somehow, the atmosphere at the party seemed to have changed drastically in the few days I was gone. The current fight was showing that unity well.

“This way! Prince Leon!”

“Huh!”

The two fists of the monster, whose upper body is much more developed than its lower body, collide with Amelie’s long sword and Elahe’s fist and lose their strength.

The monster, shining like a bronze mirror, let out an unpleasant scream.

“Kkeek?!”

Overcoming their physical disadvantage with their skills, the two tied their feet to prevent the monster from escaping.

“Crush”

Young master Leon strengthens his attacks with his words and swings his long sword diagonally. The greatsword, which he swung with great motion with his weight on it, pierced his shiny skin with precision.

“Ohhh!”

Its bronze-like skin, which deflects all magic while lightly absorbing moderate physical damage, crumbles like hard-pressed clay.

The so-called [Magic Mirror], A monster that was like a nightmare for wizards, was handled skillfully by three people specializing in close combat.

“Krrrr…”

Another monster, seeing an opportunity to float by changing forms, rushed to help his friend.

That fog-like form… It must be “The Grave of the Swordsman”. It’s not good for three people who engage in close combat!

Well, inevitably. It’s my turn as a genius wizard. As the blue mage lord of the runia mage tower, the way to deal with that monster is already…

“Get away from Leon right now…!”

Oh, and there was another genius wizard in our party.

The spell cast by my senior, Bella Souders, reaches the monster.

As if it contained the coldness of the north, when the blue magic touched it, the monster’s skin froze and cracked from the point it touched.

Great, it was the image of a senior who solved problems by approaching them in a different way than I did.

The monster twists and tries to resist the chill, but her magic won’t allow it.

While “The Grave of the Swordsman” Was tied up, Leon cut the Bronze Monster’s head in two to finish it off. She smashed the frozen monster with her fist.

“…Ah”

I couldn’t do anything, but the battle was over. Before I had time to act, I defeated the monster with the perfect combination of four people.

“That, congratulations. Leon ball…My a..”

“Leon!”
“Young master!”
“Leon Souders!”

Bella, Amelie, and Elahé quickly gather around him. Blocked by the curtain of people, I couldn’t even properly congratulate them.

And, there was a fact that I couldn’t see until I watched it one step away.

The fact that everyone except me seems very friendly to each other.

The arrogant desert princess and the selfish knight who only knew their own country were talking with friendly smiles as to when they became so close.

“…” I looked at the scenery and became silent as usual.

‘When… Did everyone become so close…?’

A shocking fact crossed my mind.

I, the hero of the Mage Tower in Runia, Irina Belnova, the blue Mage Tower owner…Maybe I’m a loner in the hero’s party.

***

After confirming that there were no witches around, the warrior party went into reorganization again.

At that time, Irina, the master of the magic tower, who returned to her inn, was overcome with regret.

“Haa…Don’t do that…”

She recalled her words that her mage tower lord had sent her and asked for her trust.

“Okay? Irina, go and try to become friends. No matter how interesting the monsters you see for the first time are, let’s build trust with the heroes who will save the continent first. Hide your cheeky attitude a little bit!”

‘You should listen to her advice…’ Irina didn’t follow any of her advice as she held her in her wrinkled hands.

At that time, she asked who she knew as a baby, and she told her not to worry, but after arriving in the cursed land, she neglected her social activities, distracted by her mysterious natural environment and new monster specimens.

Is that all? Her overconfidence in her own magic was not hidden, and her demeanor, such as reading her books during her battles, was not hidden. It was a difficult act to win the favor of those around him.

‘Come to think of it, it wasn’t that I didn’t have a chance to get to know you…’

Her memories of Princess Ellahe’s request for couples, Leon Sodus’s invitation to a magic exchange meeting, and Amelie Grace’s request to connect with the Magic Tower flashed by.

She was the one who missed the various social activities that she passed on belatedly, but what could she do? That she is a train that has already passed.

She thought that getting acquainted with the warrior party members was a very easy thing that could be done at any time.

Her genius sorceress was in her arrogance that, with her own abilities, she could be friends with them at any time.

What shocked her was the change in Ella He and Amelie Grace.

She felt a strange sense of defeat when she saw the two of them, whom she considered less social than herself, making friends with everyone else.

‘I thought it was slightly better than those two…!’

This sense of defeat now motivates her to give up her seclusion and establish social relations with other warriors.

‘On my future journey, I hate being alone’

…One of the reasons was that he started to feel a little lonely being alone, far away from the Magic Tower.

“…If there’s still a way to get close… I have it.”

Every time she sparred, remembering Ella He, she knocked on her door.

‘Because the princess likes sparring. If she sparred… Wouldn’t it be possible to get close?’

She went to the arena, but the princess was nowhere to be seen.

“…Huh? It seems like you’ve been training hard every time around this time…?”

I wanted to pretend it was her chance meeting, but she trembled and walked to Ellahe’s quarters and cautiously knocked on her door.

“Hey, princess~? Are you there…?”

The door opened, and a brown-skinned beauty greeted her guest.

“Oh, the blue mage tower master. It’s no big deal that you’re coming.

“Yes, Your Majesty. By any chance…Would you like to sparr with me?”

‘Hmm, that combat maniac, he’ll like it and engage in sparring… If he loses after dealing with it appropriately, maybe we’ll be able to become friends right away?’

“Whoops, that sounds like it would be a bit difficult.” What followed was a quick refusal.

“Yes, then see you at the arena… Noeh…? Eh, why?” At the unexpected and resolute refusal, she couldn’t help but let out a dazed sound.

“These days…I’m focusing on the ‘other sparring’ with Leon. I think sparring with you is going to be difficult.”

“Another…Match? Ho, by chance I’m also watching…”

“Cha…Cha, observer?! What kind of stupid things are you talking about!

She fanned her face with her hands, feeling ashamed.

“It’s a little too much for you to see, but it’s still a little so… Then I have something to open.”

It was a short celebration followed by a refusal.

‘Because we’re not close, are we keeping our distance?’ I heard a strange sadness. Still, he is a colleague who has to catch the demon king together, but isn’t he rejecting it too resolutely? Thought Irina.

‘But somehow, the princess I just saw seems to be a little more erotic than usual… Her outfit is also a bit more than before…’ Her useless thoughts filled her head, and she shook her head. I shook my mind off her cup.

“Then…Is Amelie next?”

She had been asked to help export goods to the kingdom several times. If she suggested that we continue her detailed discussion of it, would she not be able to establish her acquaintance with her?

“I’m a bit reluctant to borrow the authority of the Mage Tower, not mine… But what do you think?”

As before, she knocked on her door and called for Amelie.

It was all the more shocking that she was rejected for the same reason, because she never thought of failure.

“I’m sorry, today… I have business with Prince Leon.”

“Yes…? That, the interaction with the Mage Tower will be of great help to the kingdom, right?”

“Oh, you mean that? It’s fine now,” She replied with a sullen expression.

‘I’m fine now’? What does that mean…? Has the kingdom overcome civil war?

“You may find it difficult to understand you now. If I have nothing more to say, I will go.”

Staring blankly at the slammed door. She stared blankly at the closed door.

After standing around for a while, she chewed over the name of one person who was commonly mentioned.

“Leon… Sodders…”

***

I don’t know what’s so charming about that tall, rather smooth-looking blonde aristocrat… But he seems to be very friendly with everyone else in the party.

Then, isn’t it enough to buy him a little crush?

Well, because I am beautiful. It’s not difficult to earn a man’s favor.

Wouldn’t it be a simple thing to give a moderately friendly response and build up your self-esteem?

It’s just a matter of making friends with other party members by using the goodwill you’ve gained.

After thinking about it, this might be the simplest and most convenient way.

I only know the information about Leon Sodus, a magic swordsman and an angelic wizard, but I think this is enough.

I know the temptations that any magician might be tempted by.

After taking out the “Invitation to Magic Exchange Meeting” He sent, I knocked on his door.

“Ah, blue mage tower lord, hello. What’s going on?”

He opened the door and greeted me.

After a brief chat, I got to the point.

“Um, there… Among the records in the book about the spirits, there are some things I don’t quite understand… Could you tell me a little bit?”

As a mage, you cannot give up the joy of imparting ‘teachings’ to other mages.

For arrogant and proud wizards, it is an honor for other wizards to bow their heads and seek instruction.

Perhaps he was a wizard too, and he invited me inside, saying that if he could help, he would be happy to help.

‘Huh, sorcerers…’

In order to gain goodwill, a brief delay is enough.

“Then, excuse me for a moment~”

After all, is he half a wizard? His room was full of magic books, it was like looking at my room.

I looked at Prince Leon as he prepared tea with a confident smile and a humming song.

‘Hmm~ Might be a little fun?’

Surely, what could go wrong with such a simple thing as winning the favor of such a man?