Chapter 7 – Return!

Correo holds up an urn as he tries to read the flow of its power. This is a special magic item, capable of enslaving specific kinds of people—like demons or aljinni—by binding their essence into it. The essence of his servant oni is bound to this urn and while he can just call for his servant at any time needed, he doesn't know the exact situation.

After finding her trace, he uses his Seven-League Boots to cross a large distance at once, looking at a cliff. Then he uses his boots again to circumvent the cliff and stop at the base of the forest. While his boots can make him travel vast distances, there are several limitations to them, so he has to walk the rest on foot.

Of course, a pathless forest isn't much of a trouble for someone, who has seen many places no other merchant ever dared to approach.

The trees around him are moving unnaturally, and for a second, he expected the elf to attack, but instead he saw the spotted squirrels who are the henchmen of his servant, though they don't show any servitude towards him.

Correo is wary of them, but they seem to accept him as someone who has the right to go past them. He hears the grunting voice of a girl close by and he walks towards it, only to see her sorry remains. “Stupid Lynxy! Ah, Master!” Her almost-human smile betrays her wickedness and brutality. As she's already lying on the floor, she just presses her face in the dirt. “I've done as you told me!”

“Apparently.” He speaks the chant to summon his servant now, and as her essence is bound by the urn, she begins to contract and disappear, only to jump out of the urn as a liquid to turn into her wholesome form.

She skips on her feet while cackling like a madwoman, spitting fire into the air, and changing her form into a bunny for a second, then into her giant form, and finally to her least offensive form, where she takes the same complexion as Correo. “Finally whole again! I will tear your enemies apart, Master! Show them to me! Kakakakaka!”

“Report,” he immediately orders.

“I tried my best to slow down that group with the old men, but was quickly dismembered. Then Lynxy—erm, I mean the elf—came and I thought I'd subdued her, but she dropped me down the cliff.”

Aside from the last bit, everything seems to be moving as he wanted. Asking an oracle was the right choice after all. Delaying Sir Gottfried as much as possible, as this is the only chance for Princess Katarine to not return home. While Correo doesn't know what is the endgoal of the delays he set up—the monster attacks, the bandits, and even his trusted slave—he has some ideas. Like how it was necessary for the elf to get to this particular forest.

However, he also knows that this comes with a price. Several even, and that pursuing the princess too much would only waste more and more of it. Time to return some favors: “I promised your services to the White Mare. I'll drop you off there and will remain a while in Déjuma, attending some businesses.” Of course he will also see some of his side-projects through, but if his slave needs to contact him for whatever reason, this will be the best address. “He may ask you some questions about the operation here. Tell him whatever you want.”

“So I'll lie to him?” she wonders.

“You're a terrible liar. If you want to share, just share. I have no secrets. If not, don't.” Correo is sure that Oleau Garcon is thinking about whether he wants to capture the princess or try his best to keep her away from him. If the White Mare decides to claim her, Correo will make use of it. That crafty bastard is certainly one of the factors Correo wants to be gone in the long run, though in the short term he's incredibly useful.

Then there are the two groups of heroes, the one led by Inoue Masahiko and the one led by Lent Wood. Both factors he wishes to groom, one manipulable by their emotions and gullibility, the other by their mistrust and his connection to the Lady.

Too bad that asking the oracle once again won't work for a while, as Correo has already intervened with the fate within his reach, and therefore even the best diviners can't read what lies ahead of the merchant until it has stabilized again.

However, Correo knows that he has put too much time and effort into the princess and it’d threaten his other endeavors if he keeps doing so. Of course, the Lady asked for her, but he needs some time for other affairs and to rethink how to best capture her.

Until then, he will watch how this all will work out from afar.

―○●○―

“Good, Momokawa-dono. Now let it flow like a wave, going back and forth...” I've never felt like this before. I feel power rushing through me, and this so-called 'wave' is about to flush me away with it: It's a gruesome experience. I'm like a grain of sand that's trying not to be swept away by the ocean of a mysterious power that I took for granted until now. This is entirely different from the [Heal]-spell, especially as I learned that one with the hero-system and therefore don't even need to think about what I'm doing with it, contrary to this experience, where I have to do everything basically blind.

By the way, I treat the pontiff's sore feet.

“That's enough. Now let it move back.” I try to imagine myself opening to that spiritual space called the Vastness and eject all of this power back to it. This leaves me exhausted and out of breath. “Take a break.”

“Hfff... yes...” I'm not even sweating, this is not the strain of exercise, this exhaustion feels cold and impersonal. This [Rejuvenate]-spell sure takes its toll from the caster.

On the other hand, the pontiff seems to be fine. “Hm... I still feel them stinging, but this was a good first try. You're talented.” I have to say that it makes me somewhat happy that he compliments me. Even a bit proud. Even though his blisters only look minimally better.

This is usually something [Heal] can fix well enough, but Pontiff Kassus thinks it's better to start with small injuries first, as the risk is neglectable.

What I still need to get my head around is how to judge how hurt someone is to use that spell on them. The weaker the patient, the riskier for them and myself, though maybe my other [Skills] may tell me when I can use this spell as treatment. It's very potent, I saw how this spell closed a hole in Arako's chest, but that was the only real injury she had... Remembering Gottfried-san almost gutting her makes me want to hurl.

Speaking of Gottfried-san and [Rejuvenate], this spell is also cast on his back by the pontiff. My [Check-up]-skill told me that Gottfried-san had severe backpain due to too much exercise, however, this isn't something he shows so easily. While [Rejuvenate] healed the injury, his back still seems to be in a strained condition.

Which spawns a new question: “The spell is called [Rejuvenate]. So does it make the skin and flesh younger again? I'm asking because of Gottfried-san...”

Pontiff Kassus smiles while shaking his head: “Yes and no. It sure has a rejuvenating effect, as skin, flesh, and everything else is restored from anew, but every person has limited time in this world. It can't combat old age for long. The gods decided to not artificially extend anyone's youth when they made [Divine Magic]. Even valiant warriors like Sir Gottfried will find their flesh withering.”

“It's not like I planned to live so long, it's just that nobody was capable enough to snuff out my life,” groans Gottfried-san, who used the break so far to consult with Meldorn-san about the route. “Seems like we have to face some more monsters if we want to retrieve our goods. Any plans to partake, girl?”

“Oh, am I not your prisoner? Why should I help you with your battles?” I use a sickeningly sweet voice to underline my contempt and rebelliousness.

“Heh, fair enough. What about you, Stupid Disciple #1?” He turns to Rine-chan, who silently sits by herself.

“I have a question.”

“What is it?”

“Why #1?” This is a good question, and while I have a hunch, I have nothing to back it up.

“Because I took another disciple. He sucks even harder than you, but giving him a bit of a polish wasn't a total waste of time. I actually hoped to pitch the two of you against each other, but then he ran off for even more training.”

“Oh...” She sounds hurt. While I want to use [Empathy] to know what exactly she feels, I'm rather mindful of it, as I still have not mastered this spell enough to keep strong emotions under control. If I suddenly feel the same as Rine-chan right now, who knows what will happen with me, and how it will affect my goal here.

“Rine-chan,” I take her hand with both of mine, pressing it to confer sincerity and comfort: “Maybe you should go with your instructor. Maybe reconnect a bit with him.”

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

“I-”

“You heard her,” Gottfried-san says as insensitive as a certain someone I know: “Now that I learned that you didn't ruin your body with skills after all, I can at least shape you up again, so that I won't feel the urge to vomit whenever I’m watching you fight. You've seriously been slacking off, and calling you my disciple hurts my pride right now.” This is neither quirky nor cranky, but just plain abusive.

“Yes, sir!” Rine-chan stands straight and waits for the knight to lead the way.

This went well. Now I need to work on another. After some observations and conversations, I have more or less figured their party dynamic out. Not that it was difficult, as it's as plain as day.

'Sir' Gottfried-san is the undisputed leader of the group. He knows it, they know it. He's the strongest individual I've ever had the misfortune to meet, and he's basically a jerk who is strong enough to back up that behavior. Not even particularly ill-meaning, but the way he talks, the way he treats others, all of it gives the 'I can do whatever I want'-attitude. He has probably some good traits as well, but I'm only looking at the potential for conflicts.

Meldorn-san and Pontiff Reiner Kassus fall into the same category: Both are fine with how this party works and if they're discontent, they do a good job of not showing it. The only thing they provide are their services and advice, while Gottfried-san decides based on them.

Entering Wizard August von Rotfeld, just the way he looked at Gottfried-san now speaks volumes, and I know why he's that upset: Gottfried-san asked me and Rine-chan to accompany him, not Rotfeld-san. This is of course, because I transformed this rather open offer to an instructor-disciple activity, but he doesn't know I did it deliberately.

Rotfeld-san is an achiever. The kind of person that identifies himself by the results he brings. He's capable, he's a genius, but it doesn't seem like he has earned Gottfried-san's trust or even acknowledgement. He doesn't contribute nearly enough for his own standards in this party, and the fact that he messed up with the [Elemental Vortex] before feeds into it. So if there is a crack to rip open, he's the one.

This will take some delicacy though. I'm confident in that, and they don't know my greatest weapon yet: [Persusasion]. This [Attribute] allows me to be more persuasive whenever non-heroes are concerned. My word carries a bit more weight, that bit of weight that will convince Gottfried-san to head to the monsters only with Rine-chan. That bit of weight, that will feed the dissatisfaction of a certain wizard.

“Rotfeld-san? I have a question about [Arcana].” Yes, this strokes your ego. A young, beautiful girl asking you for advice on the one thing you excel at more than anyone else. “I'm trying to figure out a way to redirect the feedback [Rejuvenate] will put on my body, and I have the feeling, that maybe you may find a way to do it?” Give a competent person an actual problem, and see how they will wreck their brain, trying to show off their merits.

“I'm not that well-versed in [Divine Magic], as the church doesn't research it like we wizards do with other kinds of magic...” Despite his not-so-subtle accusation of the church and in extension the pontiff, the old man just gives a small smile, as if he's used to something like that, “I assume that the usual rules of magic apply and therefore linking spellcasters won't work.”

“Linking?”

“I've heard of specific kinds of magic that allow multiple spellcasters to cast the same spell. While you may usually overlay spells, you can't a---” He stops for a second, as he notices that he's about to lose me: “Erm, I mean: Imagine, I cast a spell that creates fire. Then someone else casts a spell that creates a gust of air. If my fire is strong enough, it will be fanned by the spell, we call this an overlay. While you can't directly merge your spell with that of another, you can put two spells with some synergy onto each other to create bigger effects. This is different from simulcasting, but--- Wait, I'm getting carried away. Linking means empowering a spell by including more spellcasters, and it can also lessen the load. However, I have never seen any priests doing it before, that's why I assume that [Divine Magic] isn't linkable.”

This is certainly a Ken/Arako-type, who prefers a wholesome explanation instead of an essential one. So there are different ways to combine spells from different users, and some are only possible by specific types of magic. Which absolutely doesn't answer my question at all, which is why I keep smiling and just repeat my question with a bit more emphasis: “So how 'can' I lessen the burden? Is there an [Arcana]-application?”

“None that comes to mind. Maybe if you use [Rune Magic] or some advanced applications of [Alteration] you may be able to do so. Maybe even [Black Magic], if it's possible to make the cost a curse instead, though... There are several angles to this particular problem, but give me some days to think about it, and I may be able to figure it out.”

“Oh, thank you!” I put some extra fake-gratitude into it. Rotfeld-san blushes slightly. It's like these people totally forgot by now that I'm their prisoner and in some capacity enemy. “There is another matter I’d like to ask you about... you see, Rine-chan has started to learn [Elemental Magic] and I think that maybe you could teach her a bit, to distract her from the whole situation? Sorry, I know I'm asking for much, but Rine-chan had so much fun, and Arako—our alfr companion—called her a genius, and I think when she's just training with Gottfried-san, all that magical potential is going to waste.”

First, Arako never called Rine-chan a genius, yet it was clear as day that Arako wasn't able to teach her properly in fire magic, as Rine-chan is much more gifted in this element than her.

Second, while Rine-chan may have declined my proposal yesterday, it would really be a waste to not use that time we have with these capable, knowledgeable people.

Third, this gives Rotfeld-san a battlefield to compete with Gottfried-san in a non-violent, seemingly harmless manner. I can see how he is now imagining it, teaching Rine-chan to show off to Gottfried-san how gifted that student is in magic, and how well Rotfeld-san has taught her.

Gosh, why am I the one who has to do all this work anyway!?

“Well,” Rotfeld-san says while in thought: “I guess, I could do that much.”

―○●○―

One, two, three steps back, turn, kick, use it to jump off the shoulder, and make a spin with my outstretched sword. It's just a usual routine, nothing special, yet I feel how Instructor is watching me, and he sighs.

I also want to sigh, I'm really not in the mood. I mean, I used to like the thrill of battle, to see what I can do and to test myself on every second, but today everything feels off and while I should feel grateful to Instructor for looking at my performance, I feel just sad.

That's because I'm still a child. I need to grow up quickly.

“You're lacking explosive power. Look,” Instructor says as he repeats the same steps as I, but I can see how he's building up power with each step, concentrating it, and the moment he jumps and spins, his cut doesn't just cleaves the monster in half like mine, but also gives him enough momentum to jump off its corpse, carrying the power of this attack into a brutal charge that chops another monster into half. While I can also do it, I would need to give up kicking the former monster’s halves into other monsters, which Instructor does easily and even uses the second monster's remains as projectiles. “You've picked up a bad habit of thinking during a fight. Those are fractions of seconds you could and should chip off in a fight.”

“...sorry, Sir.” I say while beheading the last monster without even looking at it.

“I expected worse, and considering that you stopped with your lessons because of your idealistic yet idiotic idea of supporting Feuerberg in time of war... You have a gift, Kati. If you want to realize it, I'll help you. At least we'll have more time now, considering that you don't have all that crown-princess nonsense.”

“Huh?” What is he talking about?

“Oh, you didn't know? You've been disowned.” As Instructor goes on, I can't hear a single word, all is muted by a cloud of void in my head.

I'm not the crown-princess anymore?

It makes sense, I just vanished and left the country. I have several able siblings to take over, and as long as I'm the heir, I'd also be a liability.

Yes, it makes sense.

In a sense, I should be grateful. I mean, I always disliked all the lectures, and now I can just join the military, just like my uncle. Sir Gottfried may train me to become Feuerberg's champion, his successor, as while we have several able combatants, Instructor still stands above them. I may take that spot one day, putting all of our enemies and neighboring countries on their toes just because I exist.

It makes sense.

Yes, that's something even someone like me can do. Isn't helping my country all I wanted? Wasn't I just selfish before? Yes, Kenta showed me. No, Lvo showed me, and Kenta explained it to me. He asked me to think for myself.

This is what I want. To be useful for Feuerberg, to uphold the proud name of my forefather Hagen. To protect even the poorest person in the kingdom. To fight against the unjust. Yes, I want that. “Please take care of me once again.” I put my fingers on my forehead and over my heart.

“Just make it worth my time,” he snorts, probably to motivate me to reach the heights he expects me to climb.

We return to the camp and then go to the farmstead where the provisions lie. Some of them have been ransacked by monsters, but most of them are still usable. Kyou suggests saving the almost expired rations by preserving them, so we extend our break.

Kyou asks me to make a fire, so she can cure some meat later. I'm staring at the flames, as it makes me feel calm. I also hum a melody, which makes the fire burn brighter. This is something Ara taught me. Remembering her makes me feel sad, but no, that's wrong, I should be happy that I was able to call her my friend.

“Fire, of course,” Wizard Rotfeld murmurs, as he comes closer to me. Then he takes some of the flames from the fire, as if they are solid. “Hold.” He puts them into my hand.

I feel the heat, and instinctively put some of my magic into it, which causes it to burn brighter and become much warmer. “Why-”

“It'll die out if you just push magic into it. Fire needs something to burn, and it can't burn magic. The mana from the planet hits fire particles in the air, you can burn those. Use your magic to guide the flame and to gather the particles.”

While his words seem familiar, I don't know exactly what he means, yet I somehow manage to keep the flame on a more stable level. There was something about gathering, this helped. “I did it.”

“You certainly did. Most beginners with fire just expels their magic with no sense, but magic is the energy for the fire, not its fuel. Though you can gather it, and then you have all you need: Fuel, energy, air.”

“I have no idea what you're talking about.”

“I see. I can work with it. You just collected, right? To extinguish this flame, just scatter and stop the magic altogether afterward.”

Instead of collapsing, the flame extinguishes by spreading thin. “Ooohh.” This feels somehow more elegant than just letting the fire die. “That's amazing.”

“This is nothing. Just some basics for [Control Fire]. Look.” He points at the fire, and the flames begin to change their shape, it looks like a bird soaring upwards. “Just a small change of shape, but if you can shape, you can reshape, you can repurpose. [Ember Arrows]!“ The bird becomes several smaller ones, no, not birds, rather arrows, that shoot into the sky. “That's where you want to be.”

I can't help but applaud, as Wizard Rotfeld effortlessly uses magic like it's natural to him. His expertise is real, it's just that before against Ara— No, she's fine. She's been healed, and she and Kenta will do the right thing. As I'll stay in Feuerberg, they can just visit me after they break the curse.

Because both of them are smart.