“……You’ve managed to figure it out. It wasn’t easy to notice.”
“I guess it’s a matter of habit… I apologize for examining you too openly, Director.”
“There’s no need to apologize. Mages are usually like that, aren’t they? Aren’t I the same?”
Cecilia once again confirmed the accuracy of her judgment. The young man before her was indeed an exceptionally skilled mage.
“Yes, it’s mana blockage disease. I’ve only noticed it about a year ago. In fact, I didn’t even know what this condition was until then. Whenever I used mana excessively, there would be a reflux phenomenon. At first, I thought it was just that.”
“People often make that mistake at first. I’ve heard that if the disease progresses, it can become serious. Besides, the disease itself is quite rare.”
“Well, it’s not a fatal illness right away. I have at least five years left.”
“It could be shorter than that. Mana Blockage Disease tends to progress faster over time. Once discovered, it requires immediate treatment.”
At that, Cecilia let out a self-deprecating laugh.
“I’ve already done my research. They advised me to live a peaceful life without using magic and take medicine for the rest of my days. …Live like an open-eyed corpse? I’d rather live authentically for a year and go. That’s me, Cecil, the leader of the Golden Dragon Mercenary Corps.”
She lightly tapped the table with her palm, signaling that the conversation had veered off course.
“Will you take the Earth Dragon extermination mission? I won’t push you if you don’t want to.”
“Director…”
Their gazes met in the air for a long moment.
“There’s a method worth trying that involves circuits and medication.”
“The conversation has shifted again.”
“Please hear me out until here.”
“Alright, go ahead.”
Cecilia slightly tilted her chin as if inviting him to continue.
“It’ll be challenging, but it certainly has value to try.”
“I’ve heard it’s incurable.”
“Before conquering any disease, they’re all considered incurable. Isn’t a mage someone who gradually turns the impossible into the possible?”
Cecilia chuckled.
“Are you going to use me as a research subject?”
“If that’s how it sounds, I apologize. But it’s a challenge with considerable potential.”
“Then fine. You can use me as a research subject. If it helps future generations, it’s an honor for me, a dying person.”
She was both a mage and the leader of a mercenary group.
There’s always give and take.
“In return, will you participate in the Earth Dragon extermination mission? How does that sound?”
“I was already planning to join.”
She thought it was a great deal, but the other party accepted far more easily than she expected.
“…Is that so?”
“Because the powder of dragon scales is needed for the medicine I intend to use. It has significant effects on restoring the original form. It will greatly assist in restoring the mana pathways… It seems like an opportunity given by the universe.”
The detailed explanation made Cecilia feel a sudden sense of trust.
“To set aside the talk of treatment for now… So, am I right to interpret your intention as joining the Earth Dragon extermination mission?”
“With Lord’s permission, I will proceed accordingly. For now, I’m employed as a private tutor.”
“I’ll request his approval. He’ll likely agree. It won’t take long—ten days should suffice.”
“Understood. Thank you.”
As the conversation wrapped up, Cecilia stood up.
“Good. We’ll depart at dawn three days from now at the eastern gate of Noblevento Fortress. The usual fee is five gold coins, but since I’ve specially requested you, I’ll offer six. We’ll write the contract then. Does that work?”
“Understood. Three days from now at dawn at the eastern gate… noted.”
“Then we’ll see each other then.”
“Yes, Director.”
Cecilia liked Yuric’s spirit. She gave him a nod of acknowledgment and left the reception room.
“…He’s a naïve one. If things go wrong, he might end up carrying the entire burden alone.”
Still, it was a goodwill gesture she hadn’t seen in a long time. Perhaps such kindness still existed in the world.
After leaving the reception room, she immediately visited Knight Lombardo’s office, explained the situation, and obtained his consent.
Of course, this matter wouldn’t harm Lombardo either. The Golden Dragon Mercenary Corps was a very famous group among mercenaries on the continent. Maintaining good relations with them would greatly benefit the operation of the trade company.
After finishing all the tasks, Cecilia boarded the carriage waiting outside the mansion. As she arrived, one of her subordinates asked if everything went well.
“It went smoothly. He’s decided to join. He’s a capable mage. His practical skills might be uncertain, but he’s definitely better than average.”
“That’s fortunate.”
She rested her elbow on the window frame and leaned her chin on her hand.
…Though she thought it wouldn’t work, his words kept echoing in her ears.
*
On the day of departure at dawn.
Yuric, who had been engrossed in designing circuits late into the night, set out early from the annex. Geoffrey had already risen upon hearing that Yuric was leaving to hunt the Earth Dragon and came to see him off.
“Take care of yourself, teacher. Please tell us the story when you return.”
“I will.”
Yuric walked through the quiet morning streets while being bid farewell by Geoffrey.
Unlike the quiet Bemberg, this place had many people on the streets even at dawn. Yuric stopped by an inn, bought dried meat and fruits, packed them in a leather bag, and placed it in a sack. There were also four bottles of potion in the sack. He had prepared them during the winter spent in the annex.
Yuric planned to rent an alchemy workshop after completing this mission. Given the extreme difficulty of the medicine that could help Cecilia’s condition, optimal conditions and environments were necessary. Especially since dragon scale powder was astronomically expensive, failure was not an option.
There were quite a few people at the eastern gate of Noblevento Fortress, and Yuric spotted a flag with the emblem of the Golden Dragon. Clearly, it symbolized the Golden Dragon Mercenary Corps.
As Yuric approached, someone holding a roster asked who he was.
“I’m Mage Yuric.”
“Ah, Yuric… Go see the director.”
A man pointed somewhere. Yuric saw Cecilia talking with two men and approached them. Recognizing him, she excused herself briefly and moved to another spot.
“Good to see you, Yuric.”
“Nice to meet you, Director.”
“Just a precaution: don’t mention ‘that’ to others. Do you understand? …Go sign the contract with the deputy leader. Hurry up; we’re leaving soon.”
“Understood.”
Yuric returned to where the Golden Dragon Mercenaries were and signed the contract. Including the director and Yuric, there were eighteen members in total. Upon hearing the story, eight additional mercenaries were hired temporarily for the Earth Dragon extermination mission. Adding six knights from the viscount’s family, the total number of participants was twenty-four. Each knight had a retainer, but naturally, they weren’t counted as combatants.
There were five carriages in total. Yuric boarded the third one. Eight people, four on each side, were seated. Judging from the appearance, everyone on this carriage seemed to be temporary hires.
Diverse in their characteristics, as befitting mercenaries, one figure particularly caught Yuric’s attention—a bald mage leaning on a staff. He looked more like a back-alley thug who would beat monsters with his iron staff rather than cast spells.
However, contrary to appearances, his mana was dense and heavy. A seasoned mage, indeed. This level of proficiency suggested he might not even need the staff, implying some underlying reason.
Unable to resist curiosity, Yuric pointed at the staff with his finger and asked why he carried it.
“To beat unruly kids instead of using magic,” the bald mage replied with a meaningful smile.
The mercenaries chuckled. They hadn’t expected him to actually be a mage.
The cold atmosphere melted instantly with that comment. One by one, the mercenaries introduced themselves. When Yuric introduced himself as a mage, a female mercenary who had been observing him closely piped up.
Nili, a female mercenary with slightly gapped front teeth giving her a quirky impression.
“Mr. Mage, do you have a lover? If not, how about me?”
“Mercenaries, whenever they see someone decent-looking, they all go crazy, huh?”
“You should fill it up as quickly as it empties.”
Everyone laughed, agreeing with her comments.
“Hey, Yuric, this guy’s body was chosen by the director, so keep your distance. Unless you want a blow to the head from the director.”
“Really? The director?”
Yuric denied it outright, but it didn’t stick. Instead, the atmosphere grew even livelier.
“As soon as he arrived, he exchanged heated glances with the director. I saw it clearly!”
“Does she have a thing for younger men?”
“When someone’s good-looking, age doesn’t matter. Haven’t you survived long enough in this world?”
Yuric gave up trying to persuade them. He knew it wouldn’t work anyway. Mercenaries were, to put it bluntly, naturally inclined toward such behavior.
Soon, the departure signal sounded, and the carriages began moving through the still chilly morning air across the fields.
The mercenaries, who had been lively moments ago, almost simultaneously yawned and started dozing off. Yuric visualized the circuit he had been pondering for two days on the reddening sky of sunrise.
It was the circuit to save Director Cecilia.
“I’ll try to fix it, Director.”
Of course, Yuric wasn’t unaware of the risks. The chances of failure were much higher, yet he wanted to try.
He wanted to help as much as he could. It wasn’t solely because of Brother Luke or Master Hene’s teachings.
He wanted to know what it truly meant to use magic properly.
– Magic must not be confined.
He wanted to unleash everything he had learned and possessed.
Because magic is magic.
