The Magic City of Vasastre—situated above the nations of the Central Lands, an important Northern branch of the Continental Magic Association, and at the same time a region bordering multiple parties, somewhat akin to the Kinton domain. However, under Serie's covert management, this place had already become the Northern holy land of the Northern Mages.
"Are you sure you've been following the route on the map?"
"Of course, miss—after all, we're headed the same way." The honest coachman scratched his head and handed the map back to Nanoda.
"Could it have been back then...? Let's part ways right here. I've already received your repayment in full."
Nanoda tightened her hood and waved the coachman goodbye.
"Well then, until we meet again, mysterious miss."
The carriage drove slowly into the city, blending in among the lanes of traffic, leaving Nanoda there alone.
"Did I miss it while I was asleep...? Oh well, now that I'm here, let me first ask around for information about Yuna."
Without channeling any Mana, all she needed was to take care to conceal her broken horn, and she wouldn't expose her Demon Race identity within the crowd.
Walking right under Serie's nose... this seems to be the second time now, doesn't it.
"Um... excuse me."
A tall man in splendid attire called out to the hooded, somewhat suspicious Nanoda.
His voice was resonant, and somehow a touch familiar.
"Denken?"
Nanoda had always had a good memory. Although they'd met only a few times, when it came to certain rather special, important figures, she still remembered them quite clearly.
"Eh?" Hearing his name called out, Denken was startled for a moment, then relaxed. "So we really must have met somewhere before."
A bard hummed softly, a classical harp playing a melodious tune; the fragrance of freshly baked bread mingled with the rich aroma of coffee, wrapping all around; the occasional clink of cups and plates and the murmur of conversation made time itself seem to slow as one sat here, and that creeping languor and drowsiness would vanish like smoke after a single sip of mellow coffee—a rather stylish little corner café.
Having a meal of afternoon tea here counted as none too cheap, but luckily this time Denken was treating.
"Allow me to thank you once more—thank you for saving my homeland."
Denken was remarkably well-informed; he had already learned the news that the Golden Land had been liberated.
A high-ranking court mage bowing in thanks—if any of those apprentice Mages had seen it, their eyeballs would surely have popped right out in shock.
"I only did it because of my own plans, going along with the flow. There's no need to be so polite."
"No, no, no—whether it was your liberating the Golden Land recently, or the time you helped cure the illness of my beloved Lektire, I already owe you a great deal."
Perhaps because of his age, Denken seemed like a sincere, honest young man—he didn't appear to be the kind of seasoned, world-weary old hand.
"You seem to be doing quite well at court? Why didn't you inherit the domain—why did you go to the court instead?"
Having a promising Human helper like this in the future didn't seem so bad, either.
Nanoda pulled off her hood, a few strands of white hair slipping out, a large hairband covering the spot where her horn was broken; she picked up the silver fork on the table and, somewhat roughly, speared a small square cake and popped it straight into her mouth to chew. "Mm, the taste really is quite good."
"She told me to go do what I wanted to do, that she didn't want to tie me down to the domain. I figured that since I'd already decided to go out and make my way in the world, I'd naturally have to achieve something, so I could come back and let her know she had a fine husband—only I never imagined Teacher Macht, no, that Macht, would do that thing!" Denken answered.
Truly a warrior of pure love—true love is unbeatable.
If not for his lack of strength, Denken would probably have long since charged straight to Weise to take Macht's head off his shoulders.
"So then, do you know the whereabouts of my disciple, Yuna? She came here not long ago to take the exam for First-Class Mage."
Hearing this question, Denken stroked his chin and pondered for a while.
"Miss Yuna, you say... I'm very sorry. Ever since I last investigated the forbidden zone, I've been staying at the court the whole time, so I haven't seen her in a long while either. I only rushed over from the court after hearing the news, hoping to reconfirm matters about my homeland with Lady Serie—however, it seems Lady Serie is currently away and not here.
Ah, that's right—you could go ask Lerne. He's in charge of the Mages' examinations and has stayed at the Association longer than I have, so he should have had contact with Miss Yuna. In a little while I can take you to find him."
"Mm-hmm."
"You don't seem the least bit anxious?"
"Sou nanoda." Nanoda continued eating her dessert, then took another sip of her coffee with four sugar cubes added.
"Hahaha, after learning of Macht's deeds, I was already nearly going mad from holding myself back. It seems I still can't be as composed as you."
"No, it's intuition. Ever since I came back, I've felt that something was off, but my intuition is telling me that Yuna shouldn't have run into any trouble." Tossing another sugar cube into her coffee, Nanoda pointed her fork at him across the table and declared with utter conviction.
"Denken, you'll definitely become a remarkable fellow in the future."
"Ahahaha, then I'll take that as a good-luck blessing from you."
She had meant to say, "That sounds a bit far-fetched," but somehow Denken chose to believe her.
"Speaking of which, a lot of things really have happened lately."
"Hm?"
"Gaderia must be facing trouble from the Northern Empire—they've been transferring all their intelligence over to the Empire. Lady Nanoda probably hasn't heard about it yet?"
"Well, I only just got back recently myself."
Denken didn't quite understand the meaning behind Nanoda's words, so he continued: "What I mentioned just now, the Golden Land, was the first matter. Next is this: a year ago, the king of Ohaly stirred up a war, beginning at the border between the Northern and Central Lands and destroying many nations. By now, reckoning it up, their army will reach the Southern Lands before long.
There's one more thing, a recent occurrence—you should find this one even more interesting. Also located in a border region, the once-worst area, the Kinton domain, after a sudden rise and development, was then inexplicably destroyed—and it wasn't the doing of Ohaly.
The most fascinating part is that the name of the new lord who developed Kinton is the same as that of the renowned Great Demon Aura—one of the Seven Sages of Destruction from back during the Human-Demon War! However, the people there all call her Aura the Forgiving."
"Ngh!" Upon hearing that familiar name, Nanoda nearly spat out a mouthful of coffee.
Could that really be the Aura who went missing several years ago? Developing a Human domain—was she imitating me? And what's the deal with it suddenly being destroyed?
"Could it have been that lord's doing?" Nanoda voiced her own question. If it were the Demon Race's Aura, then it was indeed possible she would do such a thing—but the Magic of Obedience forbidding harm to Humans should still be in effect, unless Aura had found a new helper and "climbed over the wall" of the Magic of Obedience.
"No, it seems not. They say the Kinton domain has already become a city of the dead—as the name implies, a great horde of corpses wanders about within the domain. Following the Golden Land, Lerne is probably going to be run off his feet again, I'd guess."
"..." Nanoda drained her coffee. She still decided to put finding the clue to Yuna's whereabouts first; in the back of her mind, Nanoda felt an indescribable sense of unease.
____
👻🔥Seek: Walnut-chan🔥👻
🔥 New history: A Martial Arts Master Will Never Be Humiliated
Let's hit these goals:
🎯 100 Powerstones = 1 extra chapter for the public!