Chapter 40: Return

At the edge of the deep forest created by the natural labyrinth, in the dark woods filled with sheltering trees.

Some would call this place the Demonic Realm, and others would call it the Eternal Sea of Trees.

A woman who had arrived first in this place where no being dared to set foot greeted the visitor.

“You’re late?”

“Something came up.”

“Something? What is it?”

“Agni was taken down.”

“So it ended up like that? Anyway, the contractors of blazing fire are too reckless. Can’t they exercise some self-restraint?”

“It’s something like destiny.”

“Hmph. Destiny, my foot.”

The woman, Beatrice, laughed with a snort.

“So, who killed Agni? Did an army march out somewhere?”

“No, I was told it was a group of less than five.”

“……What?”

Beatrice knew well who the Mage of Blazing Fire, Agni, was.

Although their personalities didn't match well, she acknowledged the skill that Agni, who had reached the state of Demonic Transformation, possessed.

But to think that such an Agni was killed by a group of less than five?

It was a little difficult for her common sense to comprehend.

“Who are they, those five?”

“Three, to be exact. It seems they were a special task force dispatched from Winter Castle.”

“A special task force? What’s that? Was there such a formidable unit in Winter Castle?”

Beatrice’s brow furrowed.

The power to kill a mage of Demonic Transformation with just three people, and the potential of Winter Castle to operate such a unit.

This had a high probability of becoming an obstacle to the troupe’s plans in the future.

“To think Winter Castle was at that level……. Shouldn’t we change our priorities?”

“Not all of Winter Castle's special task forces are like that. That special task force was special. I heard there's a mage who wields lightning there.”

“Lightning? Are you saying there’s a Contractor of Thunder?”

Contractors of Thunder are extremely rare.

To the extent that even Beatrice, who had roamed all over the world, had seen only a few.

In addition to that, the Contractors of Thunder who had appeared until now were all special individuals, so Beatrice couldn't help but be interested.

“What will you do if it’s really a Contractor of Thunder?”

“I’ll have to meet them once first.”

“For you to move personally, that’s unusual. That Contractor of Thunder must be on your mind quite a bit, huh?”

Beatrice couldn't hide her surprise.

The man before her, Demian, was a man whose intentions Beatrice could not fathom at all, even though they had been together for a not-so-short time.

For such a person to say he would move personally…….

It seemed that Demian, too, was considerably concerned about the Contractor of Thunder who had appeared this time.

“Because I need to make a judgment.”

“What kind of judgment?”

The shadow in the darkness flickered.

“Whether they are worth keeping alive.”

***

After the subjugation of the Mage of Blazing Fire had ended.

The first thing I did after returning to Winter Castle was, as expected, to turn on the Anonymous Bulletin Board.

It was in hopes of getting any information about the Mage of Blazing Fire we had faced this time.

Fortunately, I was able to find information about the Mage of Blazing Fire we had subjugated on the Anonymous Bulletin Board without much difficulty.

It was probably because, due to the nature of the existence known as the Mage of Blazing Fire, his activities were bound to be spectacular.

A mage who lives by constantly burning everything that exists in this world.

That was what a Mage of Blazing Fire was.

-WanderingWanderer : Why are blazing fire contractors so rampant these days? Isn't there an extermination order or something?

WanderingWanderer was a user I was seeing for the first time, but perhaps because they were a user who had been active on the Anonymous Bulletin Board before, quite a few comments were attached.

-EasyLife : Oh Wanderer, you were alive.

-Magician114 : ? Are the blazing fire guys acting up again these days?

-Gusada : Right, they have been pretty quiet lately. It’s about time for them to act up again.

-Anonymous54 : Ugh, damn Blazing Fire scum.

-KimSubak : I knew it was too quiet these days lol

-Anonymous64 : Is the Commander here? Shouldn't we do something about the blazing fire guys?

-Jiha : The parties involved will take care of it themselves.

I looked for the latest post written by WanderingWanderer.

And soon, I was able to find a post that caught my eye.

-WanderingWanderer : Sharing info about the Mage of Blazing Fire that appeared this time.txt

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I heard a Mage of Blazing Fire has been active recently, so I did some research on my own.

1. Seems to be a mage who was originally active in the southern desert. His tracks start around there. Not certain, so if anyone knows, please report.

2. A considerable number of subjugation teams were formed a few times, but they were all killed. Seems to be at least a Demonic Transformation-level or higher mage. Might even be Demonic Star-level, so if you're nearby, please be careful.

3. And most importantly, it seems he’s from the Hall of Subjugation.

──────────────

There wasn't much information in the post itself, but nevertheless, it was sufficiently meaningful information.

The information that he was a Demonic Transformation-level or higher mage not only cross-verified the fact that the mage I had faced was the same person mentioned in this post, but it also threw out the information that he might be from the Hall of Subjugation.

-ImABabyNewbie : At least Demonic Transformation-level? Crazy.

-KimSubak : Then isn't that really dangerous? At Demonic Transformation-level, most guys can't even get close and will just melt.

-Anonymous394 : Aren't there a few people from the Hall of Subjugation here? They might know.

└Sparrow : As if someone from the Hall of Subjugation would reveal their nickname...

└MyFaceIsAllBurnt : fr lol

-Anonymous55 : People in Winter Castle should probably run? Or if you're confident, go and slice him up yourself.

Mage of Demonic Transformation.

Hall of Subjugation.

It was just that much information, but as the meanings those names held were significant, the users of the Anonymous Bulletin Board were stirred up.

It was because the symbolism carried by the names Mage of Demonic Transformation and Hall of Subjugation was that great.

‘The Hall of Subjugation, huh…….’

Why?

Why was the Twilight Troupe coming to mind now?

Of course, among the numerous factions in the Hall of Subjugation, the Twilight Troupe had a particularly deep, ill-fated connection with me, but it wasn't just that; I knew the danger the Twilight Troupe possessed.

Their ideology, their purpose, and even their ability to execute it.

All of it.

Do they know?

That if the Twilight Troupe had gone even one step further beyond me, what would have disappeared now might not have been the Destruction Dragon.

‘For now, I should be satisfied with having obtained information about the Mage of Blazing Fire.’

Just as I was about to close the Anonymous Bulletin Board, a post that instantly caught my attention appeared.

-AutumnManChu : F**k, this neighborhood is in an uproar. Baron Blake is dead.

──────────────

I stopped by the Blake territory for some business and got stuck here.

They're checking identities and everything right now, what do I do, I'm an outsider? This just sucks.

──────────────

-Kkyareureu : ?

-Knight Commander : Hmm...

-Anonymous651 : fr? A nobleman is dead?

-AutumnManChu : yeah, so everything's on lockdown and it's crazy... F**k, I should've run when the atmosphere got weird.

-Anonymous651 : Why did he die?

-AutumnManChu : Dunno. Judging by the chaos, it seems like someone killed him... Anyway, I'm busy, so I'll comment later.

The death of Baron Blake.

It was the news that a nobleman had been murdered by someone.

Edric had said.

That the subjugation request for the Mage of Blazing Fire was a request made by Blake Barony.

So what could it mean that Baron Blake had died at this point in time?

‘And by murder, no less…….’

I didn't think this was a coincidence.

No, rather, it was stranger to think that there was no connection between the Mage of Blazing Fire and Baron Blake.

‘Something is happening.’

For some reason, I felt that Edric would know more information about the death of Baron Blake as well as the Mage of Blazing Fire we had faced this time, but I had no intention of asking.

To be honest, my own position was already suspicious enough, and I couldn't add any more suspicion to it.

Above all, I didn't want to let it be known that I was digging into Baron Blake or the Mage of Blazing Fire.

Although we were currently in the same 4th Special Task Force, Edric was a suspicious man.

‘Then…….’

For now, I had obtained all the information I could from the Anonymous Bulletin Board.

All that was left was to do what needed to be done.

‘First, I need to get stronger.’

Get stronger.

Because only with a minimum amount of strength could I deal with any situation that might arise.

***

In the daily life that had started once again, a few small changes occurred.

The first was that the way people in Winter Castle looked at me had changed a little.

“Is that the man, the one who caught the Mage of Blazing Fire this time?”

“Seems so. I heard his skills are incredible……. As expected of the unit led by Sir Edric.”

“I heard he wields lightning?”

“They say he's called the Mage of Thunder.”

“Indeed…….”

I didn't know where the rumors had started, but the number of people who recognized me within Winter Castle had increased noticeably.

“……Hoh, is that the rumored Mage of Thunder.”

“Captain, how about we invite him to our unit?”

“You must not know Sir Edric. Be careful what you say wherever you go.”

……It seemed I had gained a strange nickname as well.

That wasn't all.

I didn't know exactly when it had started, but Alicia had begun to stick by my side more often.

“……Why?”

“Pardon?”

“No…… you came too close. Do you have some business with me?”

“Is there a problem with that?”

Alicia, looking up at me and saying that, looked like a rain-soaked puppy.

Perhaps because of that, for the first time since coming to this world, I made a judgment based on emotion rather than reason.

“……There’s no problem.”

It was probably from that moment.

“Where are you going?”

“Let’s go together!”

“Me, me too!”

It wasn't a bad feeling to receive the attention of a beauty like Alicia, but since she followed me around so much, to be honest, there were times when it was a little bothersome.

Because of the situation, it had even become a daily routine to discreetly lose Alicia whenever I was looking at the Anonymous Bulletin Board.

Because the sight of me checking the Anonymous Bulletin Board would inevitably look very strange to others.

Of course, every time I did that and returned to the barracks, I couldn't help but feel a strange feeling when I saw Alicia's eyes, filled with melancholy, looking at me.

‘……What’s with her?’

One by one.

Gradually, the surrounding environment changes.

There was one more change.

Conlan and Albino, who had been absent from the 4th Special Task Force until now, had finally returned to the barracks after finishing their long stay at the medical unit.

“Yo, have you all been well?”

“This place is the same as ever.”

Especially in Albino's case, I had heard that his condition was very serious, but seeing him like this, he seemed quite fine.

Well…… as is often the case with the price of magic, it was probably just how he looked on the outside, but there was no need to point it out.

“So you’re alive.”

“Haha! Look at the way you talk. Still, it’s good to see you after a long time. The medical unit was so boring.”

“I heard there was a big mission. I heard you met a Mage of Blazing Fire, you were lucky to come back alive.”

It seemed Albino, too, had heard from Edric about the Mage of Blazing Fire subjugation mission that had occurred this time.

“I was lucky.”

“……Hmph, what meaning does luck have for a mage of your caliber? It was the Mage of Blazing Fire who was unlucky, if anything.”

I didn't know how he was evaluating me, but that's what Albino said.

It seemed he rated me quite highly.

‘The reality is that I’m just a level 2 newbie, though.’

Of course, since I had far too many things for a normal level 2 to have, it was difficult to see it simply that way, but it was also a fact that my objective numerical value itself was level 2.

Perhaps if we were to go by simple levels, Conlan or Albino might have a higher level than me.

‘Well, in the World of Justice, level isn't everything.’

In fact, hadn't the Mage of Demonic Transformation, who was rated as level 6 or higher in the World of Justice, also been defeated by me?

No matter how much it was Edric who finished him off, it was as good as me killing him.

Of course, even so, I had no intention of remaining at the level 2 stage forever.

One of the reasons I had deliberately remained in Winter Castle, even though I had a chance to escape, was for what is commonly known as power leveling.

Winter Castle was one of the considerably high-level areas within the World of Justice, and accordingly, there were many platforms for growth.

“But…… I heard the battle with the Mage of Blazing Fire was quite fierce, yet you all look fine.”

Albino said, looking puzzled.

Since not only I but also Alicia had been completely healed by the Orb of Water while returning to Winter Castle, it was, in a way, a natural question.

“I tend to recover quickly.”

“Me too.”

At Alicia's sudden interjection, Conlan and Albino's eyes widened as they looked at her.

“What is it?”

“……No, it's nothing.”

Well, considering the Alicia of the past, it was understandable that the change would feel strange.

Until now, Alicia had always been quietly present within the 4th Special Task Force, as if soaked in darkness.

The strange gazes of Albino and Conlan did not last long.

Because Edric appeared in the barracks, bursting out with the same good-natured laughter as always.

“I’m glad to see you all look healthy. As your commander, I couldn't be happier.”

“Is it a mission?”

Edric shook his head.

“No. No matter what, a mission like that just ended not long ago, would I work you hard again?”

Edric added with a hearty laugh.

“Of course, it's training.”

“……Isn't that the same thing?”

“It’s completely different. What are you all doing? Hurry up and get ready.”

As soon as Albino and Conlan returned to the barracks, the training began again.

***

“One person left in the footrace.”

Edric's brutally simple footrace stamina training had begun again.

There was no need to worry this time.

Because I was now able to run right behind Alicia, surpassing not only Albino but also Conlan.

Meaning there was no way I would be last.

Although my physical abilities themselves had not directly improved through this incident, the seal on the Orb of Water had been relatively weakened as the Salamander's Fang changed into the Fang of Blazing Fire.

The Orb of Water possessed the authority to enhance recovery and endurance, and thanks to that, I was able to maintain a full sprint continuously.

“Hoo, heuk! What the……!”

“Give it up, big guy. Just give up. That guy's a monster. He'll probably catch up to that woman soon too.”

From behind, I could hear Conlan's frustrated voice and Albino's voice, tinged with a sense of resignation.

Ignoring them, I continued to run, staring at Alicia in front of me.

I will become stronger.

I ran and ran, training my stamina with only that single-minded determination.

Perhaps thanks to that, I felt that my body had become incomparably tougher than when I first came to this world.

And it probably was, in reality.

“That’s all for today’s training. You all worked hard. And Vell and Alicia, I need to see you for a moment.”

Edric approached me and Alicia, who were catching our breath for a while.

“Is there something you wish to say?”

Edric said with a grin.

“It's nothing much, the reward for the last subjugation mission has been decided.”