Contract (1)
Chapter 56
Mana Vein.
A term that refers to places where mana, unevenly spread across the world, is especially concentrated.
The value of a mana vein varies depending on the size of the area and the concentration of mana accumulated there.
Cities are often built above large mana veins, and this applies to the Imperial Capital as well.
The capital of the Empire, built atop the continent’s largest mana vein, operated numerous powerful defense weapons powered by the vein.
Dungeons also have a close relationship with mana veins.
Dungeons are typically formed when demons dig burrows and settle near mana veins or when facilities are illegally constructed under mana veins without state permission.
In the latter case, reclusive mages often fortify their hideouts beneath mana veins, causing issues.
In reality, most dungeons aren’t very dangerous.
Every few hundred years, a dungeon like Valerius’ might be discovered, one capable of shaking the continent, but such cases are rare.
Completed dungeons are often abandoned depending on the situation.
Though there are countless ways to utilize a mana vein, those too far from cities aren’t profitable enough.
Near the route from Phillip’s County to the Royal Magic Tower, there was such an abandoned dungeon, deemed unprofitable.
On the way to the magic tower, Florya first blew wind into Alesya’s sails.
“There’s a completed dungeon nearby. Want to check it out?”
“Absolutely! I’ve been wanting to visit!”
Alesya, who was naturally curious, nodded vigorously.
Since it had already been fully cleared, it wasn’t particularly dangerous.
There might be a few demons lingering, but they could easily be dealt with by several experts.
However, the escorts of the count’s daughters didn’t want to go searching for trouble unnecessarily.
People from the Osiris family tried to dissuade them, but Florya wouldn’t budge.
Alesya also began pestering Ray and Jenkins with her shining eyes.
Jenkins had no intention of fulfilling Alesya’s request.
But Ray, instead, further fueled Alesya’s enthusiasm.
“The dungeon may be dangerous, but you don’t need to worry. I’ll protect you.”
“Indeed, my knight! You become more trustworthy every day!”
Alesya grinned happily.
Jenkins momentarily stopped the carriage and pulled Ray aside for a private conversation.
“What exactly are you thinking?”
“This dungeon we’re heading to isn’t that dangerous, right? From what I heard, at most there are just a few demons wandering around. Wouldn’t it be fine to grant Lady Alesya’s request? It’s been a while since she’s gone on an outing.”
It sounded reasonable.
But Jenkins already understood Ray’s character clearly.
Narrowing his eyes, Jenkins pressed Ray.
“Don’t play word games with me. Just speak honestly. If you were the Ray I know, you’d try to convince the young miss not to cause unnecessary trouble.”
“Haha.”
Ray smiled lightly before answering.
“Master, where are we headed right now?”
“…To the Royal Magic Tower.”
“Yes, the Magic Tower. The asylum of neurotic cowards.”
After glancing at the carriage for a moment, Ray sighed and continued.
“Let’s take a look beforehand.”
“A look?”
“I mean Florya. Let’s see how she behaves outside of Phillip’s County. We should set up a small stage where we can observe her behavior, something we can control.”
“…”
Jenkins fell into thought.
He had also heard stories about Florya from the count.
Indeed, it would be wise to understand Florya better before reaching the Magic Tower.
Reluctantly, Jenkins nodded in agreement.
*
Two days later.
The carriage carrying Alesya and Florya arrived in front of the dungeon.
Beside a small mountain range, there was a cave-like entrance. The dungeon’s entrance.
A wooden plank warning sign was nailed there, but due to its age, the words were hard to read.
As Ray examined the wooden plank, he recalled the information he had heard about the dungeon along the way.
A dungeon created decades ago by a high-ranking mage.
It had been thoroughly explored long ago, and all the traps laid by the mage were either disabled or destroyed.
It was a rather unremarkable place.
However, the atmosphere was quite convincing, and standing before the dark entrance to the dungeon, Alesya was breaking out in cold sweat.
“Surely this will be fun…”
She seemed slightly scared now.
Ray smiled faintly and took Alesya’s hand.
“I’ll protect you, so there’s no need to be afraid, Young Miss.”
“I’ve never been afraid! Still, it’s reassuring!”
“…”
Avencio, a knight of the Osiris family, shook his head while looking at Alesya, who was grinning despite being played by a low-born squire.
It was obvious disdain, but neither Jenkins nor Ray responded.
Hamus and Viktor were merely tense, glancing around nervously.
León spoke up.
“Then let’s organize the escort team like this.”
After a brief meeting, the group exploring the dungeon was decided.
Alesya and Florya, escorted by three knights and three squires.
León, another knight from the Osiris family, stayed outside to guard the carriage and the servants.
Florya raised her finger at the entrance of the dungeon.
“Light.”
A glowing orb floated above her finger, illuminating the dark interior of the dungeon.
They had prepared a few artifacts that emitted light, but there was no need to use them.
Inside the dungeon, mana flowing from the vein illuminated the ceiling softly.
At the sight of this, Alesya clapped her hands joyfully.
“Oh… So this is the dungeon I’ve only seen in books…! Truly beautiful!”
“That’s right.”
Even Ray, who had imagined a gloomy cave, marveled at the glowing ceiling.
Moreover, the dungeon was much larger than Ray had anticipated.
‘This dungeon is definitely multi-leveled… Is there another space like this below?’
While Ray was lost in thought, Alesya’s pace quickened with excitement.
At that moment, Ray caught a glimpse of a magical array carved into the wall at the edge of his vision.
Chijjik!
A small spark pierced through the seams of the array, which someone had once dismantled.
Silence enveloped the array until it was suddenly filled with mana from the vein, erupting with light.
Ray immediately pulled Alesya back.
BOOM!!
“Kyaa!”
Startled by the sudden explosion right before her eyes, Alesya clung to Ray.
Ray waved away the smoke with his hand and gently released Alesya.
“There might still be traps remaining, so please be careful.”
“No, I’m scared!”
Alesya nodded, brushing off her chest.
But even a single magical array couldn’t suppress Alesya’s curiosity.
Alesya and Florya’s dungeon exploration continued.
During the process, previously deactivated trap arrays occasionally activated, and while hunting demons settled within the dungeon, gusts of wind occasionally disrupted Ray’s balance.
Despite these minor incidents, Ray remained unfazed.
Protecting Alesya, they continued forward and soon reached the end of the dungeon.
“This is the last part!”
Facing the wall, Alesya stretched her arms wide, feeling a tinge of regret.
At first glance, it seemed there was no more space left. However, it was a well-known fact that this dungeon had multiple levels.
Just as Ray had heard, when he moved the stone placed at the end of the dungeon, a small tremor occurred, and the floor began to open.
Kuguguung!
As a space about 10 meters deep was revealed, everyone looked down with great interest.
The underground area was quite deep, but there were no stairs arranged for descent.
“How about we stop our tour here today…?”
Just as Jenkins was trying to persuade the count’s daughters to return,
A strong gust of wind blew towards Alesya, who was kneeling with her face tilted downward toward the underground.
“Huh?!?”
Losing her balance instantly, Alesya’s body plunged downwards.
Having anticipated this, Ray quickly leaped and grabbed Alesya, embedding his knife into the wall.
Dangling in mid-air, Alesya sighed in relief.
“Thank goodness Ray is here!”
“You should pay more attention to your safety, Young Miss.”
Jenkins received Alesya as Ray pulled her up and climbed back to the upper level along the wall.
The atmosphere turned icy.
What kind of wind could possibly blow inside a deep cave?
Everyone had long realized why the damaged magical arrays within the dungeon were activating.
However, they chose to overlook it. After all, Alesya wasn’t hurt, and it was just a mischievous prank between friends.
Ray sighed deeply.
Scratching the back of his head, Ray glanced at Jenkins.
“It won’t work. Let’s subdue her.”
“…Do we really have to?”
“Yes.”
Judging by her actions in the dungeon, Florya was bound to cause trouble once they reached the Magic Tower.
The Magic Tower was filled with far more dangerous objects and people than the dungeon.
Right now, Ray alone could handle Florya’s antics, but that wouldn’t be possible in the Magic Tower.
Actually, if Florya caused trouble at the Magic Tower and bore sole responsibility for it, Ray wouldn’t have necessarily intervened.
‘But this study abroad is because Alesya tagged along with Florya.’
From the perspective of the Royal Magic Tower, the two were considered a package deal.
If Florya caused problems, Alesya would bear joint liability.
Perhaps the Duke of Osiris allowed Alesya to accompany Florya to diffuse responsibility or shift blame for his daughter’s actions.
Moreover, Alesya would often meet Florya and spend time close to her.
If Florya kept threatening Alesya, there was a chance Alesya might get seriously hurt someday.
Ray made his decision.
“We need to resolve this issue before we reach the Magic Tower.”
Jenkins furrowed his brow.
Regarding this ‘matter,’ Count Philip had entrusted full authority to Ray.
If Ray said “cut,” Jenkins had to cut.
“…Are you sure you can completely ‘resolve’ this?”
“Shall we find out by trying?”
“Hmph.”
Swish!
With a sigh, Jenkins drew his sword.
The knights of the Osiris family gasped.
“Sir Jenkins!! Calm yourself!!”
“You’re too agitated! Put your sword down!!”
Contrary to their worries, both Ray and Jenkins remained calm.
Jenkins glanced at Florya and asked Ray,
“Wouldn’t it be simpler to just kill her? You can do it, right?”
He was referring to the wind spirit.
However, the knights of the Osiris family misunderstood this as a threat to Florya’s life and angrily drew their swords.
Amidst the escalating tension, Ray shook his head.
Ray didn’t know the details of the contract Florya had made with the spirit.
Although the probability was low, killing the spirit could potentially cost Florya her life.
Besides, Ray intended to experiment with the concept of contracts and spirits during this opportunity.
That was actually his main goal.
With a stern expression, Ray issued the command.
“Jenkins, subdue her.”
Zzzzip!
Jenkins charged toward Florya, unleashing a sword aura.
Mendes blocked Jenkins’ path.
Pakagagak!!
As the sword aura began to swirl, Abencio shouted to the squires.
“Protect the young miss!”
Hamus and Viktor stood beside Florya, channeling mana.
As Ray rushed forward, Abencio swung his sword.
Abencio planned to swiftly cut down Ray and join Mendes to overpower Jenkins.
Their swords clashed.
Ka-gak!!
“This brat…!!”
Ka-gang!! Ka-gak!!
After swinging his sword a few more times, Abencio was bewildered.
Ray’s skill was far superior to what Abencio had expected.
Although Ray hadn’t unleashed any sword aura, he managed to block Abencio’s attacks by infusing mana into his sword.
The battle dragged on.
Ka-gang!! Ka-gak!! Kkaang!!
‘Damn…!’
Looking to the side, Mendes was being pushed back by Jenkins.
There was no time to waste on a mere squire.
Abencio poured mana into his sword to overpower Ray with brute force.
As the enlarged sword aura approached, Ray appeared to tense up and adjusted his stance.
At that moment, a gust of wind disrupted Ray’s balance.
“Ugh…?!”
Unable to regain his footing, Ray stumbled.
Seizing the opportunity, Abencio swung his sword to decapitate Ray.
Ray’s lips curled into a wide grin.
Zzzzip!
Suddenly, a bluish sword aura condensed like silk on Ray’s sword.
A lightning-fast strike shattered Abencio’s sword and crushed his breastplate.
Kwaang!!!!!
Abencio was sent flying and crashed into the wall, losing consciousness.
At the same time, Jenkins slipped behind Mendes and knocked him unconscious with the hilt of his sword.
Ray turned his head.
A wind spirit shaped like a wolf hesitated, unsure of the situation.
Ray grinned with his widely stretched lips.
“Something feels off, doesn’t it?”
The spatial blade swung toward the spirit’s abdomen.
“You’re done for, kid.”
Puuk!!
