Chapter 62: Arrival

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Translator: Soafp

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After the orc attack a day ago, everything continued without any particular incidents.

“Do you have any concerns from yesterday’s orc incident?”

I speak to Noel inside the carriage.

“I don’t have any particular ones, but I’ve been inside the carriage since yesterday. Wouldn’t Aldo’s group know more?”

“Well, that might be the case… but there don’t seem to be any suspicious signs.”

“Hmm, excessively staying on alert can lead to fatigue. I think a moderate level of vigilance is good.”

“Second level combat configuration?”

“What?”

“No, it’s about this situation. I need to think about it.”

Ignoring Noel’s sidelong glance, I pondered tactics and command.

If things continue smoothly, we should arrive in the city of Blue Ring by tomorrow evening. Once we reach Blue Ring, it shouldn’t be easy for an attack to occur.

It would be best to maintain this posture while being moderately relaxed.

The cavalry is positioned to protect the carriage.

El’s horse is right behind me.

I bring the horse closer to El to talk.

“El, feeling nervous?”

“I have just the right amount of tension now.”

“I see. Don’t get too nervous; it won’t last until the real deal. It’s better to stay relaxed just enough.”

“Yes, I’ll relax a little more.”

“That’s good.”

I talk to El and return to my original position. I thought about whether there was a scouting magic I could use, and indeed, it’s useful in such situations.

As an experiment, I attempted to cast magic similar to sonar, thinly spreading my magical power over a wide area.

The surrounding horses were startled by my magical power and became alert. The knights and coachmen tried to calm them.

“Danger, enemy attack! Assume battle formation!”

Noel shouts from inside the carriage.

“Sorry! It’s me. I used magic to sense surroundings!”

“It’s a bit early, but everyone, prepare for a break! Bring the horses and carriage to the side!”

Noel commands.

The troops slowly come to a stop at the side, preparing for a break.

I was interrogated in front of everyone by Noel, El, Olivia, Louis, Nero… in short, all of them.

“Sorry. I spread my magical power thinly to sense the surroundings.”

“Why did the horses get scared then?”

“I think it was a reaction to my magical power.”

“Are the horses tied up?”

“Yes. They’re fine.”

The knights respond to Noel’s question.

“Try it again.”

“Understood.”

I cast sonar magic again.

Again, the horses were scared, birds and animals started fleeing.

“I didn’t feel anything.”

“I felt a momentary sensation.”

“I felt it too.”

“I noticed something strange.”

“I felt it too.”

“I didn’t sense anything.” ×8 Knights (unable to use magic, only body reinforcement)

“Something felt odd…” ×3 Knights (able to use magic)

“I didn’t sense anything in particular.” ×6 Maids

“I felt a bit strange.”

“I felt it strongly.”

From these results, it seems that among humans, magic users can be detected. Also, especially noticeable to beastfolk.

Considering the horses’ reactions, birds, and animals’ behaviors, it’s safe to assume that it’s noticed by animals in general.

“I see. So what’s the distance and accuracy?”

“200-meter radius. The accuracy is enough to determine the size of the magic. There are no demons or people within a 200-meter radius.”

“Well, does it work on a regular basis?”

“This range sonar uses a lot of magic, so I can’t use it more than once a day.”

“So we can’t incorporate it into the search?”

“I’m sorry.”

“No, that’s all right. Just when there is a suspicious presence. Can you do that?”

“Understood.”

“Thank you.”

Thus, I had another defective magic.

It consumes a lot of magic, its accuracy is rough (there is room for improvement here with training), and there is a big chance that the enemy will notice it.

However, it is fascinating that it ignores obstacles and knows the number, size, distance, and location of the magic.

It is a useful magic, though its use is limited.

(Next time, I’ll cover it with cloth and shoot it from the sky. Even if found in the sky, it wouldn’t be thought of as a person. If I had optical camouflage, it would be perfect…)

“El, let’s resonate magic.”

“Understood.”

El and I resonate our magical powers, enabling El to also use this area sonar.

“May I try using it once?”

El asked, looking at Noel’s face.

“Please do, Elphus-sama.”

At Noel’s words, El activated the area sonar once.

Oh, so this is how it feels when the area sonar is used. I can definitely sense a kind of magic.

Even though he is using the same area sonar, the reactions around them seem puzzled.

“What’s wrong?”

I asked, noticing that apparently, El’s and my area sonars evoke different reactions.

As evidence, when it’s El’s area sonar, the horses don’t get scared and the birds don’t fly away.

“It seems better if Elphus-sama uses this.”

Noel said seriously, making such a cruel remark. Even though I’m the original… I feel like crying.

While looking at me like that, Marl began to speak.

“It must be that Aldo’s magical power is frightening.”

“What do you mean?”

“I think it’s because, just like in fighting, Aldo’s specialization in killing doesn’t leave much room for playfulness. So maybe wild animals feel even more fear?”

“El seems to show consideration even when using sonar, right?”

“Well, yeah.”

I ended up agreeing. Even I would be scared if someone I didn’t know suddenly stared at me like, “I’m going to kill you!”

(However, if the effects are different… Did El manage to alter my area sonar in his own way in such a short time… they’re all geniuses like Ashera.)

“El, could you resonate our magical powers again?”

“Yes.”

We resonated our magical powers, and I understood El’s modifications.

“Noel, can I try it once more?”

“Do as you please. But this isn’t a magical research lab, you know.”

Despite Noel’s sarcastic comment, I used the area sonar again. This time, it seemed that neither horses nor birds nor other animals were frightened.

I see, even if one tries to hide it, traces of magic linger slightly. It’s not about concealing but rather accepting and assimilating with the surroundings through magic. Truly a handsome guy, with a nature different from mine.

“Noel, sorry for the delay. It’s all good now.”

“Good. With this, safety is assured for the time being.”

From then on, El and I took turns using the area sonar regularly. It’s worse to be detected by enemies than to ambush them. We gathered all the knights during the next break and unanimously decided on this.

In the end, we reached the town without any issues that day.

The room assignments remained the same.

El and I, Marl and Olivia, Faristea and Anna-Sensei, Lewis and Nero. I have no idea about the maids. The knights are still a mystery.

Entering the room and removing the equipment, just to be safe, I kept two short daggers equipped and concealed two knives on my right calf and left thigh. I noticed El had tucked one self-defense knife into his pocket.

“El, can you create a shield using magic alterations?”

“A shield?”

“Well, it’s just something that crossed my mind.”

“Ah, I see. A shield. If I have an item as a focal point…”

“El?”

“Ah, I’m sorry. I’ll try it next time. If even Nii-sama could create a shield with magic, it would add depth to his movements.”

“That’s right. Interesting…”

“Yes, it is. Let’s try it when we return to the Blue Ring.”

“Yeah, that sounds exciting.”

Somehow, the door was open, and Marl and Olivia were standing at the entrance.

“We knocked, but there was no response, so we opened it.”

“Aldo and Elphus-sama, I thought you two were different except for your faces…”

“What do you mean?”

Our words harmonized.

Marl and Olivia seemed to have come to call us for dinner.

Regaining composure, the four of us headed down to the tavern on the first floor.

The knights guarded our table, while the maids arranged for our meals.

Other customers glanced at us, but they averted their gazes under the silent pressure of the knights.

Perhaps feeling uncomfortable, the other patrons finished their meals quickly and left the establishment.

I entered deeper into the kitchen from the entrance and approached someone who seemed like the proprietor.

“Are you the owner?”

“Y-yes. Is there some issue…”

The owner seemed terribly frightened. A sense of remorse surged within me.

“We’ve been enjoying our stay here. Thank you.”

“No, it’s an honor to have noble guests like yourselves.”

I chuckled awkwardly and asked the proprietor:

“How much do you usually make in sales here in a month?”

“Sales?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“W-Well, around 30 gold coins, I suppose…”

(Around 300,000 yen in sales. Seems reasonable.)

“Understood.”

I left the kitchen and headed towards Noel.

“Noel, how much did we pay for this inn altogether?”

“The payment for the inn?”

“Yeah.”

“I believe it was 30 gold coins.”

“Does that include the lodging fees?”

“Yes.”

“Pay three times that.”

“Three times?”

“Pay three times the amount.”

“But why?”

“Listen, we’ve got 26 people, a carriage, and horses.”

“Ah, it’s more than just regular lodging.”

“This tavern makes 30 gold coins a month.”

“We’re paying for the tavern’s sales too?”

“Of course. Can knights really drink in a place where they exert pressure? It’s only natural to compensate.”

“We haven’t done this before.”

“Even if you were the owner of this establishment, would you say the same thing? You’re actually losing money, you know?”

“That’s… true, but…”

“Moreover, this is already within the Blue Ring territory. It’s good for the citizens to have money circulating.”

“… Understood. It’s 90 coins, three times the amount.””… Understood. It’s 90 coins, three times the amount.”

“Yeah, if anyone complains, make sure they address it directly with me. Don’t you dare try to stop it. This is an order.”

“Why so strict?”

“I won’t explain, but it’s crucial. People resenting nobles and the economy stagnating, both are equally concerning.”

“I get it. If Aldo says so, then it must be true.”

“Noel, you’re always a great help. Thank you.”

“Stop it. I’m just fulfilling my duties.”

“Even so…”

“…”

After that, we all had our meal together. Following my suggestion of eating together as much as possible, the knights and maids took turns eating.

Observing this, Olivia approached me.

“Aldo, you’ve changed.”

“Sorry if that’s bothersome. I’m not particularly fond of hierarchies.”

“No, it’s not bothersome. I can see the faces of the maids and knights whom I usually didn’t pay much attention to. It’s a valuable experience.”

“It’s reassuring to hear that from you. Honestly, if anyone were to say something, I thought it’d be you, Olivia.”

“In the S-Class of the academy, there are commoners too. Even in the Dukes of Mild House, there might be such cases.”

“The Dukes of Mild House?”

“It’s a house of absolute aristocracy. They treat anyone who’s not noble as less than human… It’s almost an enemy to families like mine and Aldo’s.”

“I see…”

By the way, during the meal, Marl used air conditioning magic. Just that made everyone’s faces light up with smiles.

The next day, the inn’s staff saw us off with a grand farewell, surely thanks to the gold coins.

The journey from there was smooth.

At this pace, we might arrive before evening, maybe around mid-afternoon.

As the town of Blue Ring approached, thoughts of Ashera started flashing in my mind. I admit, it’s quite severe.

After finishing lunch and setting off, as the group advanced, it was nearing the time for the area sonar.

As planned, I activated the area sonar, and there was one significant magical presence. It emanated from the top of a huge tree about 200 meters ahead.

I stared at the top of the tree, about 30 meters high.

Noel quickly noticed that something was off with me.

“What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

“…”

I heard Noel’s words, I think, but it didn’t register in my mind.

Just as the carriage moved beneath the huge tree, a significant magical force descended from its peak.

In just a few seconds… right before the intense magic crashed onto the ground, it decelerated and flew toward us.

“Ashera!”

My voice echoed, and simultaneously, a silver-haired girl leaped out.

Involuntarily, I leaped out from atop the horse, grabbing her in mid-air.

Even though it’s only been a few months.

I slightly released Ashera from the embrace to look at her face properly.

It’s Ashera. My Ashera.

Overwhelmed with joy, I hugged her tightly again.

“Aldo… isn’t this enough already?”

Olivia’s voice echoed around us.

I created a platform in the air, hugging Ashera without minding the depletion of magical energy.

“Aldo, I’m happy but embarrassed…”

Seeing Ashera’s blushing face, internally I screamed, “I messed up.”

And that’s how I returned to the town of Blue Ring.