Book Eater

Chapter 232: Elsid’s Gifts (4)

Two days later, as per Orta’s orders, the magic circle that would return the expedition army was completed. He may be the greatest space magic expert and a 7th Circle magician, but it had still taken a few days to prepare a hundred meter wide magic circle and gather all the magic power.

The recoil will be insane, even if he is the Tower Master. Will he be okay?

After all, it was a big burden to move hundreds of people from the Central Continent to the Northern Continent. Theo wasn’t even sure if he could do it at the 8th Circle. Perhaps White Tower Master Orta had a Sorcery that made this possible.

Theo’s chest throbbed. “Ugh.”

This was Circle overload, the pain that filled his abused body in exchange for completing the great spell Abraxas. Despite the Magic Society’s best efforts, they hadn’t found another treatment other than time.

Theo had consumed two elixirs, but he hadn’t felt the slightest improvement.

Well, I didn’t think it would recover in just two days. … It’ll take at least a month.

Theo’s silent diagnosis was interrupted by the man approaching him. He had never once seen his face.

“You’re leaving for Kargas,” the White Tower Master, Orta’s, voice was as dry as usual.

“Yes, I will return via Sipoto.”

“The border city. Are you perhaps trying to attend the underground auction? It isn’t held at this time.” Orta was the head of Meltor’s intelligence network, so he was well aware of the underground auction house associated with Sipoto. He may even know more than the local information guild.

Theo absentmindedly mused that he should find out who knew more, but replied, “No. I have a person I want to meet. I will come home as soon as I finish with him.”

“Give me the name of the person, just in case.”

“Heinrich, he’s better known in Sipoto as the Old Books Maniac.”

“The Old Books Maniac Heinrich… I understand. Then I’ll be going.” Orta nodded and headed for the center of the magic circle. He still had some final adjustments to make.

Vince and the Clovis siblings came up after Orta. They were worried about Theo’s condition.

“In the end, you’ll be alone,” Vince said with a bitter smile. He couldn’t do anything, despite being Theo’s teacher.

Theo said comfortingly, “Nothing will happen in a day or two.”

Vince nodded. “Then take care of yourself. There is no need to rush, but don’t be too late.”

“I will keep that in mind, Master.”

With one last look, Vince left to join Orta.

Randolph scratched the back of his head uneasily, “… Are you sure I shouldn’t stay by your side? It doesn’t make sense to leave without you.”

“Randolph, I appreciate your concern, but there is no need.” Theo shook his head with a light sigh. “Don’t worry about me. Wait in Manavil with Rebecca.”

Of course, he knew he always had an option to ask Randolph to stay. A swordmaster would be the greatest escort. However, Theo didn’t choose that option. It wasn’t because he didn’t want to lean on Randolph but because he wanted to avoid the risk. He couldn’t tell if there was a benefit to Randolph accompanying him.

The Empire’s been collecting artifacts for centuries. They might have some kind of tracking device. It is wiser to leave Randolph in Manavil in case his position is exposed to Andras.

When they took Rebecca hostage, Andras had probably been expecting their betrayal. They wouldn’t have ruled out the possibility of one of the Clovis siblings escaping. That was why it was safer to have them head for Meltor through Orta’s space magic.

Randolph thought it was unfortunate, but Rebecca bowed to Theo and followed his words. “I will wait until you return, My Lord.”

“… Yes, I’ll see you later.” It was the best answer for Theo, who still wasn’t familiar with her.

She was both a knight he had competed with once and the sister of his friend. Now, she had sworn a pledge of loyalty to him. There would be a chance to sort out this complicated relationship, but now was not the time.

Almost a thousand people stood on the magic circle. The preparations were complete. Orta stood in the center and closed his eyes. The magic circle flashed a brilliant white.

Wuuuong…

The huge amount of magic power caused a gust of wind to blow, and an unknown pressure to build up. There was enough power that even a non magician could feel it.

In the midst of that vortex, Orta’s mouth opened, “「――――」”

Unfortunately, Theo couldn’t hear him. The space around Orta started to distort like a mirage, but anything that touched it disappeared without a trace. Space magic was dangerous and difficult magic. However, unlike the scale of the magic circle, the invocation was instant.

Flash!?

Everyone had to look away from the light, and eight hundred people vanished without a trace.

Baek Jongmyung murmured, “… This is amazing. It is hard to believe that a person can cast such a spell.”

“It’s ridiculous to us too.” Theo shrugged with a smile. If just anyone could use this kind of magic, the entire continent would be under Meltor’s heels. Theo spoke to Baek Jongmyung until his transportation arrived.

Hii-hihihihing!

It was a carriage pulled by two horses. Although it seemed rough, the body of the carriage was covered in lightweight spells, and the inside of the carriage was four times wider than it seemed due to space magic. It was a carriage for distinguished guests and a gift from King Elsid, who considered the fact that Theo wouldn’t want to be seen by others.

“Then I’ll be going now.” Theo shook Baek Jongmyung’s hand, noticing his appreciation and anxiety. The appreciation was directed to Theo, while the worry was probably…

“Please look after my son, Sir Theo.”

“You don’t need to worry. The person who found his way to me isn’t the same as before.”

“Really? That boy…?” Baek Jongmyung was strangely moved by Theo’s words. Perhaps it was the same thing a parent felt when their kid finally left the nest? Theo never had a child or disciple, so he didn’t know the feeling.

The conversation between the two people ended there. Baek Jongmyung left, and Theo entered the carriage, lying down on the bed.

That was his last memory in Soldun Kingdom.

***

In a place that no one knew, someone spoke. They were hidden in the shadows, but they sounded like a middle-aged man. No, it was like a young man’s voice.

“I just received the news. He has crossed the Soldun Kingdom’s border. He is alone.”

“Hoh.” This time, it was the voice of an old man. “It is a good time to open the jaws of death… Can it be done?”

“No, we can’t be sure of his power in the present.” The third voice was that of a young woman. Her voice alone implied she was a beauty.

But there was no emotion in her voice. “The target dealt with the 4th Sword, Pan Helliones. In addition, based on the level of the destruction left on Babarino Plains, he is a peak level master.”

The old man chuckled. “Ohh… He is terrifying at his age. He deserves to be our enemy.”

“But there is a variable. He doesn’t know we are watching,” Another voice filled with admiration and hatred replied. 𝐞𝗼𝘃𝐞𝐥．𝗰𝐨𝗺

Four people were in the fathomless darkness, their genders, ages, and species unknown. Their meeting came to a short conclusion.

“Use this occasion to remove him,” The fourth voice, which sounded like molten iron, suggested.

“How?” the young man asked.

The old man replied, “There is a strategy called ‘Let the Barbarians Fight Among Themselves’ on the Eastern Continent. How about using it?”

“Let the Barbarians Fight Among Themselves?”

“Barbarians will fight the barbarians. If the enemies take care of each other, we don’t have to move. Isn’t that a suitable method in this situation?”

The other three voices were silent as they considered if it was possible or not.

The beautiful woman complained, “How much of our influence in the Central Continent will we lose if we drag them in?”

“That might not be the case,” the old man cackled. “The loss of the 4th Sword is big. Andras won’t let this go without retaliation. We just need to give them a push.”

“… So you mean to pass them information.”

“Besides, the shadows are easier to deceive than the White Tower.” The old man’s voice turned dark with hatred at the end.

The White Tower Master, Orta… Everything from his birth to his growth was a mystery. It was almost impossible to fool that monster’s attention inside Meltor, although it might be possible outside of it. The old man had tried to penetrate Orta’s surveillance a number of times, but he had never succeeded. It was a source of humiliation for the old man. This time, the old man would break that arrogant man’s nose.

“… Where is the target heading to?” the voice like molten iron asked.

“The target’s carriage is heading for Kargas. It is hard to see it as a trap because the carriage is moving in a straight line.”

“Then he will likely pass through Sipoto.”

“I guess he’s thinking of going to Meltor through Kargas.”

The four voices asked questions and made plans. Despite the four people being of different ages, genders, and species, their discussion was rational and calm.

Kargas’ border city, Sipoto…

The target’s location, distance to the city, and all other variables were considered.

“… It isn’t too late if we hurry.”

“It isn’t good to send anyone weaker than the 4th Sword. If Andras moves on this information, his death will be confirmed.”

“We must find a way to get rid of the bodies and the byproducts.”

“Yes, I will take all necessary measures.”

The group had a reason for doing this. They had lost Charlotte’s Necklace at the underground auction house. Then, the Orcus Company’s headquarters had been devastated by an unidentified battle.

But they had ignored the humiliation and hidden in the shadows. But now, they would vent their resentment, and kill the target, Theodore Miller. The eyes of the four warlocks hiding in the Central Continent’s darkness, no, the crimson eyes of the Four Horsemen glimmered with an eerie light.

Then the four pairs of eyes closed, and nothing remained in the darkness.