Yuric awoke.
He was grateful that the ceiling he saw was covered in cobwebs rather than stars in the sky.
Having departed Elders洛za with a band of mercenaries tasked to escort a caravan, Yuric spent nearly ten days braving wind and rain on a plain sparsely dotted with trees. Thankfully, encountering monsters during those ten days was rare, but spending three of those nights soaked in the rain was truly a horrific experience. At least they avoided disaster by traveling on paved roads and not getting stranded in the rain.
After enduring such hardships, he had finally arrived here, the southern city of Rheinburg.
This city, bisected by the Rhein River, was one of the frequent settings in ancient history as a cradle of civilization. The area around the city boasted numerous ancient ruins, and dungeons were discovered in quantities that could be counted among the top three in the continent. Moreover, it was said that on average, two or three new dungeons were still being discovered each year.
Therefore, this place attracted an unusually high number of adventurers, many of whom were supported by nobles in their quest to explore the unknown. After all, discovering just one dungeon could set someone up for life in wealth.
Yuric rinsed his mouth with saltwater and opened a tiny window no larger than his face. Through it, faint sunlight filtered in.
He wiped away the sleep from his eyes with a few drops of water on his fingertips, slung a sack over his shoulder, and stepped out. It was early dawn, yet the inn’s common room was bustling with mercenaries.
Truthfully, Yuric had earned a substantial reward from the southern branch of the Mage Tower, but after purchasing a high-quality sleeping bag, blankets, drawing paper, three spellbooks, and an expensive mana crystal, his purse was almost empty. The high cost of the mana crystal had been especially burdensome.
Still, his pockets weren’t so empty that he couldn’t afford a decent inn. But throwing silver coins at a place where he would only spend one night and then leave as broke as a beggar wasn’t wise.
‘Better to save that money and use it for travel expenses.’
Yuric ordered a hearty breakfast, wrapped his scarf tightly around his neck, and stepped outside. The ground, still damp, caused mud to stick stubbornly to his shoes with every step.
The city was lively even at dawn. Farmers pulling carts, treasure hunters seeking instant riches, mercenaries heading south—Yuric joined their ranks as he walked down the main road.
Rheinburg itself was home to many historical sites worth visiting. Referencing history books, sketching pictures, and taking rubbings of inscriptions, Yuric delved into the heart of history.
In particular, his favorite period was the Heroic Age two hundred years ago—a time when countless heroes arose to battle demons and ultimately drove them completely from this land.
And Rheinburg was the birthplace of many of these heroes. Yuric wandered around, meticulously sketching the statues erected in their honor.
With his notebook filled with records, rubbings, and sketches, he looked up at the sky and noticed the sun already high above.
Walking along the vast Rhein River, Yuric spotted a procession of knights. He joined the crowd of onlookers cheering and clapping to watch it pass.
“What’s this about?”
Yuric asked a portly middle-aged man who seemed knowledgeable.
“It’s the Lord’s inspection tour. See the gentleman in the middle? That’s him.”
Among the heavily armed knights, a middle-aged man dressed splendidly stood out—and beside him was a younger man taller than the knights by a head.
…!
The moment Yuric saw him, cold sweat trickled down his spine, and he swallowed hard.
This individual possessed a mana density comparable to the Great Mother herself. His entire body seemed to consist of nothing but mana.
“And who is that beside him?”
“That’s the Head Court Mage.”
But clearly, the person had pointed ears.
As Yuric narrowed his eyes, the middle-aged man chuckled softly.
“And he’s a demon. Surprised?”
“A demon? If it’s a demon…”
“One of the very few demons allied with humanity. To my knowledge, he has protected this land for over a hundred and fifty years. Thanks to him, the city enjoys peace.”
Yuric hadn’t known this fact—it wasn’t recorded in any history book he’d read.
Just then, the gaze of the Head Court Mage shifted slightly, locking onto Yuric’s eyes before moving past.
The procession continued onward, and the gathered spectators quickly dispersed.
For a long while, Yuric remained standing, watching the retreating procession before slowly resuming his walk.
Walking further along the riverbank eventually led him to the Mercenaries Guild.
For another long journey, money was always necessary. As Yuric took care of all his living expenses himself, he realized firsthand how exorbitant the costs could be. The saying “money disappears as soon as you turn around” felt truer than ever.
In front of the three-story building overlooking the clear Rhein River, groups of rugged-looking mercenaries had gathered. Some were already red-faced from drinking, loudly laughing and shouting, while others flirted with female mercenaries in secluded corners. The floor was littered with vomit, requiring careful steps.
Inside the building, it was chaos as mercenaries jostled to find work. They were willing to venture into the most dangerous places if the pay was right.
Yuric waited patiently amidst the pungent-smelling mercenaries. Though he had a gentle appearance, his tall stature and muscular build deterred any troublemakers.
Finally, it was Yuric’s turn. The staff member, worn out from dealing with unruly mercenaries all day, looked utterly exhausted.
“I’m looking for work.”
While saying this, Yuric brought his thumb and index finger together and apart, creating a thread of mana to prove he was a mage.
The staff member, who had been pondering where to assign yet another common mercenary, brightened slightly upon seeing this. Even an average mage had their uses.
“I want the job that pays the most.”
“That’ll be tough.”
Yuric nodded, indicating he didn’t mind.
At this, a staff member sitting nearby flipped through a stack of papers quickly.
“There’s one paying two gold coins. Interested?”
Hearing this, the mercenaries nearby erupted in complaints.
“Some people risk their lives for just a few silver coins, but this kid gets two gold coins just because he’s a mage!”
Of course, Yuric paid no attention to their grumbling.
“I’ll take it.”
Yuric handed over two silver coins as a fee. The staff member scribbled something on a tattered yellow piece of paper and handed it to him. For illiterate mercenaries, they might explain verbally where to go, but there was no need for a mage. Though, illiterate mages did exist, in which case they would have asked for directions.
Interpreting the crude handwriting and map, Yuric walked toward the designated location.
Arriving at a secluded back alley, Yuric double-checked the map before knocking on a shabby wooden door. After waiting for some time, the door creaked open after a few shaky attempts.
Through the crack, a brown-skinned bald man peered out, scrutinizing Yuric up and down before rudely asking why he was there.
“The guild sent me here.”
Upon seeing the crumpled paper Yuric held up, the bald man groaned and ran a thick hand over his face.
“They told me not to send anyone random!”
“I can do magic.”
“Sure, sure.”
Though unenthusiastic, the bald man eventually opened the door wider.
“Well, you’re here now, so we’ll show you to the captain. We’ll tell the guild about this guy.”
“…Come in.”
Yuric crumpled the paper in his palm and slipped it into his pocket before stepping inside.
The interior resembled a household, though it was mostly empty except for furniture. In front of a round table in the living room sat another man, contrasting sharply with the bald man—his hair, sideburns, and beard were all unkempt, and his exposed skin was covered in scars.
“So, we’ve got a young’un this time. Is this legit?”
“Who knows? He’s here now, so let’s bring him to the captain.”
“This makes what, the fifth time? I’m gonna get yelled at again.”
At that moment, Yuric glanced at the ceiling.
‘There’s another mage here… Is this the captain?’
Clearly, this individual was no wandering mage. He must have been practicing a specific school of magic for over a decade. Judging by the intensity of the mana flow, he seemed to specialize in combat magic. Of course, what else would a mage in a mercenary group study?
“There aren’t any proper candidates left at the guild anyway.”
When Yuric stared intently, the bald man added,
“Yeah, that’s right, listen up, kid. You’re clueless.”
They ascended to the second floor. Yuric detected a protective magical barrier.
‘Some kind of test?’
It was simple enough—not even close to the difficulty of the barriers on the southern front.
Yuric subtly channeled a bit of mana into a weak point in the circuitry. The barrier immediately collapsed.
Honestly, anyone who studied basic circuitry or barrier magic could have done this. …Of course, most wandering mages would struggle.
The bald man, unable to sense mana, seemed unaware of what had just happened. As he prepared to knock on the door at the end of the hallway, a voice came from inside.
“Enter.”
The bald man’s eyes widened slightly. Usually, he was turned away at the door, so it was unusual for permission to be granted so easily.
Upon entering, they found a man seated at a desk. Sharp-featured, he appeared to be in his mid-thirties.
“Captain, the guild sent a mage.”
The bald man awaited the captain’s inevitable reprimand.
However, the captain simply stared at Yuric for an extended period without speaking. Hands folded neatly on the desk, he remained like this for quite some time.
“…The guild sent you?”
The captain gazed at Yuric as if he were some sort of monstrosity.
He saw it.
The intricate circuits etched into the fabric of Yuric’s very being, ceaselessly refining mana.
A mage capable of reading such things could discern another’s talent.
No, this bordered on madness. A madness born of sheer talent.
“I requested the job that paid the most.”
No verification was needed.
In fact, this was more than sufficient.
Without hesitation, the captain opened a drawer, retrieved a contract, and slid it across the desk.
“On the contrary, I feel like I should be asking for your help.”
…Huh?
The bald man blurted out in surprise, unsure of what was happening. Had the captain ever rushed into a contract so quickly, especially with a mage?
Of course, with the captain offering the contract so readily, Yuric had no reason to refuse.
With his purse already thin, two gold coins were too good to pass up.
The handsome mage signed his name on the contract.
Upon confirming this, the captain promptly revealed the nature of the agreement.
“A dungeon was recently discovered. We are going there.”
An ancient mage’s dungeon.
Yuric felt a thrill of excitement.
