274

Chapter 274: Tell Me (4)

“Um…….”

The Archmage had hurriedly drawn a firm line to prevent prejudice from spreading, and Meister had begun to look slightly displeased at the very act itself.

Daniel cautiously raised a hand.

“Um, are there different fields within magic as well? I thought it dealt purely with the discipline of magic itself…….”

The question that came out was about mages.

It was also a perfectly understandable doubt for an ordinary person who rarely had occasion to encounter one.

“Hah. You might as well tell me a single physician treats both external injuries and internal illnesses.”

Naturally, however, Meister showed no understanding whatsoever toward Daniel's ignorance.

The fact that this was knowledge even worldly people could easily fail to know seemed to mean absolutely nothing.

Under Meister's gaze, laden with contempt, Daniel's eyes shifted awkwardly.

“…They don't?”

“Are you really someone affiliated with the Temple?”

“…I've never been assigned to treatment.”

“You've worked there and received treatment before, haven't you?”

“Um, well…….”

Deathbringer did not come to Daniel's rescue.

He himself had only learned things like this after joining the group, but that and this were separate matters.

“Is that head of yours just decoration?”

…Though Deathbringer did think it was a little pitiful how Daniel got bullied like this every single time.

Still, separate matters were separate matters.

“Don't be too harsh. These are fields one wouldn't necessarily know much about without direct experience.”

“Tch.”

Only when the Archmage finally intervened did Meister's mouth close.

“I'll explain this exactly once, so clean out your ears and listen carefully. If you ask me again, I'll dig those earholes out myself.”

No.

Unable to tolerate someone else's stupidity, Meister opened their mouth again in order to hammer the knowledge directly into Daniel's head.

“Magic has fields too. For example, Essence Magic explores the fundamental nature of matter, while Nature Magic seeks to understand the flow of nature and imitate it…….”

Fortunately or unfortunately, Meister apparently had no intention of imparting truly advanced knowledge, because the entire explanation remained at the conceptual level.

Daniel and Deathbringer, who had unexpectedly found themselves attending a lecture while eating, wore subtly twisted expressions.

The Inquisitor was still silently eating her meal.

“…And finally, there is Life Magic, which analyzes and intervenes in life itself.”

“……?”

Wait.

Deathbringer's ears twitched at the subtle lowering of Meister's voice.

Even the Inquisitor, who had seemed not to be listening at all, clenched one fist tightly, but for the moment this was more important.

Did Meister dislike Life Magic?

Deathbringer's dark green eyes stared intently at Meister's face.

“Wait… you said it analyzes and intervenes in life? That's almost like…….”

“Like trespassing into God's domain? Yes. There are mages like that.”

“That is blasphemy!”

Ah, damn, he's loud.

Deathbringer reflexively frowned at Daniel's shout.

The idea of interfering with life made him uncomfortable too, but Life Magic was far removed from him, while Daniel was very much nearby.

His lips pushed out slightly.

“The Magic Tower knows that and simply allows it?”

“Listen, you stiff-necked priest. You seem to be misunderstanding something—”

But now was not the time to focus on Daniel.

Half out of habit and half out of professional instinct, Deathbringer carefully observed Meister.

The subdued voice.

The eyes that had grown slightly deeper.

The arms crossed defensively.

“When I say analysis and intervention, I'm talking about things like regenerating severed limbs or studying demons' bodily structures to identify weaknesses. Things like creating entirely new life-forms were restricted by mages themselves before the Temple ever got involved. What, do you think we're idiots?”

And meanwhile, the hand rubbing at the back of Meister's own neck.

“Besides, Life Magic wasn't originally born for the sake of creation. The field began with healing magic developed by a mage who had lost family and wanted to overcome the limitations of medicine.”

No.

Was it really the neck being touched?

“…That's all it is. Just as some priests become corrupt, some mages cross the line. That's what I'm saying.”

Deathbringer's dark green eyes examined the fingertips of the gloved hand.

The place they kept brushing over wasn't the neck.

It was the ring-shaped tattoo etched around it.

“…I apologize. It seems I reacted too strongly without understanding. I hadn't realized it was such a meaningful discipline.”

“Forget it. That's only how it started. It's also true that these days it's the field with the greatest number of lunatics.”

“Uh, um… is that so?”

“It… does tend to be that way. Especially because the heartland of Life Magic is in the north. The fiercest front exists there… and consequently, disregard for life is also more severe. There are many who become willing to use any means necessary.”

“Any means necessary…….”

“I'm telling you this just in case. Even if we do go north, avoid the Magic Towers whenever possible. Those places are… not pleasant sights.”

Read only on MUGEX

Deathbringer watched the hand that had been stroking the ring-shaped tattoo drift down beneath the forearm and scratch at another tattoo there.

It did not look like a conscious action.

“I agree. A rigid priest like you would probably become a criminal the instant you went there.”

“…Why would I become a criminal?”

“Because you'd start swinging your sword around shouting that you couldn't allow people committing such madness to remain beneath the heavens, and then the guards would arrest you.”

But was it really common to scratch precisely where the tattoos were without even looking?

To do so unconsciously?

…For someone who had never once shown that habit before?

“…Is it really that bad?”

“Setting aside dissecting demons alive, some Magic Towers even conduct human experimentation using volunteers under Temple supervision. That might be a little stimulating for a stiff-neck like you, wouldn't it?”

“H-human experimentation…….”

“Ah, naturally, abducting people for research without permission is illegal. If you find one of those places, you can smash it to pieces immediately without getting arrested, so don't worry too much.”

“I wasn't worried about that……! More importantly, there are people who abduct others at will?”

“Criminals don't stop existing just because laws do. Of course there are.”

“What in the world……!!”

Deathbringer cursed his professional instincts while Meister chuckled.

Damn it.

He hadn't particularly wanted to uncover the ink-stained bastard's past.

Now his stomach felt unsettled for no reason.

* * *

“What exactly happened?”

It wasn't a situation where I could take a proper bath, so I followed the villagers to the well and merely washed off some of the blood.

Thank goodness my wig was fixed securely.

Even when I splashed water over my head while washing my face, it didn't shift.

“They apparently sent some soldiers out to determine how many demons had occupied the highway. But there were far more than expected…….”

“The demons got all of them……?”

“I only heard their incoherent rambling, so I'm not certain. But considering they all have black veins showing beneath their skin, it seems clear demons attacked them.”

“Damn…….”

In the process, I also heard an explanation of how this entire situation had begun.

In other words, why those three had returned with grievous wounds covering their bodies.

“They were lucky.”

Were they really?

Could you honestly describe that as lucky?

One had nearly lost an entire shoulder, one had almost had their guts spill out through a torn-open abdomen, and another had lost a wrist entirely.

“…What about the others?”

“No idea. But they're probably all dead, aren't they? If the dispatched soldiers were wiped out without being able to resist, it must mean there are that many demons outside.”

But I couldn't completely deny that statement either.

Just as the Village Chief said, there must also have been people who never even got the chance to run.

“Hmm. More importantly, I've taken far too long to ask. Who are you?”

For a moment, I wondered how many people might still be left beyond those walls.

And whether, if I left right now, I could save them.

“…I'm a traveler.”

But if I did save them—

if I broke through enough demons to wipe out dozens of soldiers and brought those people back—

what happened afterward?

Could I put an end to the inevitable questions?

Could I get through it without anyone suspecting my identity?

“A traveler who knows a little magic.”

Yet despite all those anxieties, those were still the words that came spilling out of my mouth.

“Please tell me where they came from. If anyone is still alive, I want to bring them back.”

“What?!”

Something that couldn't even quite be called laughter escaped between my lips.

“Are you insane?! You just heard what the Village Chief said! Even soldiers were completely overwhelmed!!”

“I heard that too…….”

“And you're still planning to go out there?!”

Apparently interpreting my expression in some way of his own, Tisha practically jumped in alarm.

We hadn't even known each other long.

I had no idea why he was this worried about me.

I clenched and unclenched my wet hands several times.

“There may still be people alive. I can't simply leave them there.”

“You have to consider the situation even when you're saving people! I told you the place is crawling with demons right now!”

“It's all right. I'm capable of looking after myself.”

“No, demons aren't things you can deal with just because of that……!”

As though words simply couldn't reach me, Tisha pounded his own chest.

The Village Chief, who had stepped back for a moment, spoke with a calm expression.

“…That's suicide.”

It seemed the Village Chief wanted to stop me too.

“Hmm. Perhaps it is.”

Separate from everything else, the Village Chief wasn't wrong.

The demons wandering around outside probably couldn't kill this body, but if this led to my identity being exposed, then that would be a kind of suicide in its own right.

“Still, if I refuse to act for that reason, I won't be able to hold my head high before myself. It would mean I turned away even though I could do something, simply because I didn't want to risk my own safety.”

But ultimately, wasn't that only a problem if I got caught?

As long as I didn't let them see me fighting.

As long as I didn't reveal anything that might remind them of the Demon Knight.

That was all.

“On the other hand, who knows whether something that's merely a gamble for me might be the one and only chance those people ever get?”

So I accepted the rationalization with which I was trying to persuade myself.

“Which means… I can't help it.”

I would go so that I could remain honest with myself.

“You…….”

Tisha's and the Village Chief's eyes grew damp.

Even then, neither immediately pointed out a direction.

I understood how they felt.

From their perspective, I was someone attempting a hopeless act of suicide while asking them to help with it.

No matter how good the intention behind it might be, who would eagerly cooperate with something close to suicide?

Their hesitation was only natural.

I sympathized with it.

“If you don't wish to tell me, I can look for them myself. Would that be all right?”

But I couldn't let them waste too much time hesitating.

I pulled the gloves I'd put in my pocket back out.

They were damnably difficult to put on with my hands still wet, but after forcing my fingers inside, I somehow managed it.

The bloodstained sleeves fell over them, and the cloak I'd removed covered my back, shoulders, and part of my torso once more.

“…This way.”

“Thank you.”

“…But we won't open the gate for you. If demons rush in while it's open, we…….”

“That's fine. I can just jump down.”

“Um, Young Master. Aren't you saying that a little too casually……?”

I merely gave Tisha a faint smile.

“Instead, hmm. If I manage to bring anyone back, please prepare something that can get them inside without opening the gate. I can ask that much, can't I?”

“As long as you aren't asking us to open the gate, that's fine… but how are we supposed to get someone inside without opening it?”

“Ah, um.”

Do they not have mountain-rescue stretchers here?

After thinking for a moment, I took paper and the fountain pen I carried in my inventory and quickly sketched a picture.

Everyone's eyes widened at the objects that suddenly appeared from thin air, but that was no longer my concern.

I'd already lied and said I could use magic.

“Make something shaped like this… while I'm gone. When I return, lower it from the top of the wall. If you lay a person on it and pull them up, you should be able to bring them inside without opening the gate.”

“This… I see.”

“I'll leave the paper with you.”

Good thing my drawing speed had improved so much from working as a web artist.

Otherwise, I would've wasted an absurd amount of time here.

I handed the entire sheet with the drawing to the Village Chief, then followed the directions toward the wall.

If the gate I'd entered through was positioned at six o'clock, this one was around ten.

“I'll be back.”

“…Nobody will blame you even if you can't save them, so make sure you come back alive, Young Master!”

“Yes.”

All right.

It doesn't look like the demons have reached this far yet.

With the disguise skill turned off, I drew in a breath.

The debuff still hadn't completely faded, but…….

“See you later.”

This much was completely fine.

I easily vaulted over the two-story wall.