Chapter 23
.
Among illusion spells, this was the most basic one.
It created a convincing environment so that the target would weave their own hallucinations.
That’s why Hog had been sent to the canyon.
He struck the cliff with his hammer, sending snowflakes scattering, and set the stage.
Then, using a magic circle that had previously been installed as a trap to catch a Snow Worm, he invoked .
In reality, no avalanche had occurred, nor had a Snow Worm appeared.
It was all just a figment projected into Marken’s terrified mind.
“So, it’s no wonder he ran off with his tail between his legs.”
“R–really? But it was just a bit of snow scattering, wasn’t it…?”
“That’s all it took. That guy was famous as a coward, even back in the mercenary band.”
At Hog’s question, Gardener chuckled.
“You knew him from before?”
“Same mercenary company. When there were no jobs, we raided villages. That’s when he got caught by the Ice Maker’s soldiers and was dragged here to Icelock.”
“A–ah, I’m sorry…”
“No need to be sorry. It wasn’t exactly anything to be proud of, anyway.”
Gardener turned to Ronan, who looked uneasy.
“You’ve got your own circumstances too, don’t you? Prince impostor.”
“H–how did you…?”
“I’m still a captain, after all. I should at least know what rumors go around among the troops.”
“That’s…”
“You don’t have to say anything.”
Gardener lightly patted Ronan’s shoulder.
“Everyone’s got their own story.”
Just as their conversation wound down—
“They’re gone!”
Hagen came running, panting heavily.
“The inspector and all his attendants have left the fortress!”
“You’ve been running around all day. You’ve done well.”
I gave Hagen a thumbs-up as he caught his breath.
Leaving him scratching his head awkwardly, we crossed to the far side of the fortress.
By the time we arrived, the eight carriages they had brought were long gone, leaving only wheel tracks.
From beyond the gates, we could barely make out their silhouettes in the distance.
“They sure are fast.”
“Guess we can put out the smoke now.”
Gardener glanced at the pit, from which black smoke still poured.
That too had been conjured with magic.
We had dug a pit, filled it with wood and rotten meat, then set it alight.
With magic, we enriched the stench and made the smoke thicker and longer-lasting.
Thanks to that, Marken never dared come to check the inside.
“Let’s leave it burning a little longer. It’s visible from far away.”
“Agreed.”
Thus the inspection ended.
The supply goods turned out to be plentiful—especially food. Siruella, thinking of her weary troops, even brought out several casks of liquor that evening.
Not from this supply run, but reserves that had been stockpiled.
The liquor wasn’t particularly good, but not a single soldier complained.
With flushed faces, they clinked cups and spent a raucous night together.
The next morning.
“Now, let’s see…”
I rubbed my hands together as I looked at the wagon parked before the magic unit.
“Time to check what little treasures they tried to sneak in their back pocket.”
These were items Marken had set aside specifically for the magic unit—or more precisely, for Barnard.
I pulled off the tarp covering the wagon and climbed inside.
Piles of dust-covered books.
Chainmail that looked utterly useless.
A few cheap wooden staves, barely holding any mana.
“Hmph, nothing much—huh?!”
Just as I was turning away in disappointment, my eyes caught a bundle tucked away in the corner.
Wrapped tightly in cloth.
Quickly, I unwrapped it, revealing an elegant wooden box.
“Now that’s more like it.”
Grinning, I slowly opened the lid.
“…!”
The moment I saw what was inside—
“Holy hell!”
The curse of joy burst out of me before I could stop it.
“F–faster!”
Perched on an empty carriage, Marken screamed at the driver.
He had failed to find words in the end and had boarded without anything to show for it.
“Drive faster, if you don’t want to die!”
“Y–yes, sir!”
The driver whipped the reins hard, forcing the horses into a gallop.
Several times they nearly slipped on the snowy path, but each time the driver jerked the reins and kept balance.
Only after they had run so far that the black smoke was no longer visible did Marken breathe a sigh of relief.
“Damn it… to think those vermin would crawl out from there…”
He chewed his nails furiously, cursing under his breath.
In the end, he had gained nothing.
How exactly Barnard had died.
Why that expelled brat from the Academy was now captain of the magic unit.
“Ughh…”
Marken clawed at his own hair, groaning.
Now he had to scrape together something to report to Cedric.
“Hey!”
“Y–yes?”
“Slow down now. Slower…”
“Ah, yes, sir. Right away.”
He hadn’t taken much in supplies, so they couldn’t stall for long.
At best, one night.
Marken groaned again, yanking at his hair.
Originally, Barnard should have been the one to report on the flood.
On Siruella’s condition, on the unit’s movements—such things too.
But all Marken had learned was that Barnard was dead, and that the number of Snow Worms seemed to be increasing… utterly useless, uncertain information.
And then—
“…Ah.”
He remembered the item meant for Barnard.
His face went pale.
In his rush to escape, he had completely forgotten it.
“Damn it…”
That thing was worth far more than pocket change. Even if Barnard had paid part of its value, it was still precious.
Should he go back for it?
Marken glanced over at the attendants riding with him and quietly shook his head.
No.
If word leaked to the duke’s son, it would be trouble.
A loss, but unavoidable.
He shut his eyes tight.
“That mana stone was worth a fortune…”
He swallowed his regret alone.
Mana Stone.
A rock that, after long exposure to dense mana, changed in nature to serve as a vessel for storing it.
Its form varied depending on how much mana it held. With vast amounts, it even transformed into a jewel.
Just like the one now before my eyes.
“My, my, isn’t it dazzling?”
I carefully lifted the angular, yellow-hued mana stone.
Each time I turned it, it refracted light brilliantly, blindingly.
『The Contractor casts magic.』
『By the Contractor’s will, Insight is invoked.』
Hum—
The mana within the stone resonated with my spell.
Through that resonance, I could roughly gauge the mana it held.
At this level…
If I absorbed it properly, I could bind my third ring immediately, reaching the 3rd Circle.
Normally, absorbing mana through magic required time.
But the mana in a mana stone could be used all at once.
Which meant, by absorbing it, I could instantly gain a massive surge of mana.
The problem was, under normal circumstances, the mana within a mana stone couldn’t be absorbed.
The proper way to use it was to spend its stored mana while casting spells.
That was likely Barnard’s plan: to boost his mana capacity, thereby strengthening his spells and increasing their frequency.
With that, he could have branded more soldiers, with greater stability and completion.
For Barnard, who couldn’t absorb the stone directly, that was the only option.
But for me, it was no issue.
“What a stroke of luck.”
Because I knew how to absorb the mana within a mana stone.
Icelock Garrison Fortress.
Cedric’s office.
“So…”
Cedric’s eyes pierced Marken like shards of ice.
“You’re saying the Snow Worm numbers are increasing, the walls and watchtowers have been rebuilt… and that’s all?”
“M–my apologies! Because of the Snow Worm attack, I had no choice but to end the inspection ear—urk?!”
Shkk—
A razor-sharp icicle shot from Cedric’s fingertips, grazing Marken’s cheek.
Blood streamed down from the torn flesh.
“Marken.”
Crack, crack—
Beside Cedric, sharp ice formed in midair.
“I asked for a report, not excuses.”
“T–the m–magic unit captain, Barnard, h–has died!”
Terrified he’d be skewered, Marken blurted it out quickly.
“And his position has been taken by Esric!”
“…Esric? You mean the one expelled from the Academy?”
“Y–yes! The very one you told me to look into. And another survived as well!”
“…I see.”
A faint smile crept across Cedric’s face.
Barely a twitch of the lips, but Marken didn’t miss it.
“The recruits—only three survived. Which proves that the Snow Worm numbers really were overwhelming…”
“Enough.”
With a wave of Cedric’s hand, the floating ice shattered into sparkling dust.
“So they had no talent to begin with. To seat someone without even a single brand as captain… absurd.”
“Perhaps an attempt to erase Barnard’s influence, sir…”
“Most likely. The old elf… his days are numbered.”
“And when Captain Siruella dies, what will become of the garrison?”
“Do not worry. Once my father’s research is complete, not even the Calamity of the Snow Mountains will stand against us. Then at last, it will be destroyed.”
“As expected! Glory to the Ice Maker!”
Marken shouted in reverence.
“Good. If they’ve taken such damage, they’ll have no room for foolish thoughts. With only three recruits surviving, there’s no threat.”
“I saw it the same way.”
“But there won’t be a second chance. Next time, return without leaving a single doubt.”
“Yes, sir! I’ll never disappoint again!”
“Go, then.”
“Yes.”
Marken bowed deeply and left the office.
Wiping the blood from his cheek, he let out a shaky sigh of relief.
He had almost died.
“Um… Inspector?”
“Oh, you’re still here?”
A man suddenly stepped into his path in the corridor.
The driver of the carriage he had ridden.
“M–my request…”
“Ah, right.”
Marken puffed up with pride, patting the man’s shoulder.
“You wanted to take charge of the regular transport of recruits, yes?”
“Y–yes, sir. Please…”
“No need to worry. That’s well within my power to arrange, no need to trouble the captain.”
“R–really?!”
The driver’s eyes lit with awe, hands clasped together.
Marken’s nose rose so high it could pierce the sky.
“Of course I’d entrust it to you! With your skill at the reins! The Ice Maker won’t overlook talent like yours.”
“Th–thank you! Glory to the Ice Maker!”
The driver bowed deeply, then extended his hand.
“I won’t forget this kindness, Inspector.”
Marken arrogantly shook his hand.
And on the driver’s wrist—
A dark, burned brand was clearly visible.
