chapter 91

“Mm…”

Ivan opened his eyes with a groan.

He’d finally managed to get that goddamn mana under control.

He stood up with a grimace.

He had been sitting in place for a long time, so his muscles were so sore he felt like he wanted to die.

He hadn’t even been able to wash himself, so he smelled quite bad at that moment.

In simple words, he was in the worst condition.

“You’re finally awake.”

Ivan turned around and saw Frey standing there. He stared at him with wide eyes.

“How long has it been?”

“One week and two days.”

His sense of time was a mess. He’d felt like only four or five days had passed.

Ivan stretched his sore muscles while looking at Frey. Unlike him, he was dressed in a neat and clean outfit.

“I guess the fruit’s mana wasn’t much of a problem for you.”

“I didn’t eat it.”

“Huh?”

When Frey took out the fruit and showed it to him, his expression became strange.

“Weren’t you also sitting here with me? I’m sure I felt it.”

“You’re right, but I took something other than the fruit.”

“…”

Ivan looked at Frey with the same strange expression.

While Frey’s words were a bit strange, it was Frey himself that he was paying more attention to.

The aura around him was completely different to what he’d felt a week ago.

‘This… why does it feel like he’s a normal person?’

From his aura, one would think that he was a normal person who had never studied magic rather than a powerful Archmage.

In fact, Ivan couldn’t feel any mana from him at all. Just like his teacher.

And that made the way he looked at Frey even weirder.

Finally, he couldn’t help but ask.

“You… did you advance?”

Frey laughed at his question.

“Right.”

“You were 7 stars, so now…”

“I’m 8 stars.”

Ivan was dumbfounded. Even he, a Magic Warrior, knew the significance of an 8 star Wizard.

“You… how old are you?”

“I’m twenty.”

Or was it twenty-one?

Frey tilted his head as he muttered to himself.

However, Ivan, who saw this, was lost for words.

He’d grown up hearing he was talented, but Frey was on a completely different level.

‘…no.’

Could Frey even be described by the word ‘talented’ anymore?

As though he didn’t notice Ivan’s emotional turmoil, Frey spoke calmly.

“So what are you going to do now?”

“Huh?”

“Although we didn’t really achieve our goal, we still killed Oydin as Riki requested. We have completed our mission.”

“Hmm…”

Frey was right.

Oydin was dead, and he’d even managed to obtain a fruit from Hruhiral.

Lilund was an amazing village, but it was the worst place for someone like Ivan.

“I’ll continue doing what I was doing before.”

“What you were doing before?”

“Right. I’m looking for Kasajin’s relics.”

“By relics…”

“The Tiger King’s Gloves, the Giant’s Belt and the Gale Necklace. Kasajin’s three artifacts.”

Ivan clicked his tongue lightly.

“Master has the Gale Necklace, but even he doesn’t know where the Tiger King’s Gloves and the Giant’s Belt are. I don’t like relying on magic items, but Master told me that I needed to find them if I ever wanted to surpass Kasajin.”

“Master?”

“The former Magic Warrior King’s Successor. He’s dirty and strong… but mostly dirty.”

Ivan made an expression of disgust.

This reaction made Frey curious about the identity of Ivan’s master.

“Where is he now?”

“No idea. He suddenly disappeared three years ago and left nothing but a letter telling me to find the Tiger King’s Gloves and Giant’s Belt. I had nothing better to do, so I’ve been doing that ever since.”

Frey nodded.

Finding the three artifacts was the best thing for Ivan to do.

“If you want to surpass Kasajin, you’ll need to find the three artifacts.”

“Huh? What for?”

“Only then will you be able to see the true form of the Warrior King’s Fist.”

“Really? No, more importantly… how do you know all of that?”

Come to think of it, he still hadn’t asked how this guy knew the Warrior King’s Fist.

He’d forgotten to after the whole series of crazy events recently.

Frey didn’t even pretend to find an excuse and simply shrugged.

“Somehow.”

“So you won’t tell me. Hmm. Well, I’m not that curious anyway.”

Ivan’s reaction to that, however, was surprisingly cool. It was clear that he wasn’t pretending when he said that – he truly wasn’t curious.

And even more than that, he felt that if Frey didn’t want to tell him about it, then there must have been a reason.

However, he still felt a bit strange.

That was because he’d only ever felt this kind of trust with his teacher before.

‘Is this normal?’

The important thing that he kept in mind was that Frey was strong and trustworthy.

“So what are you going to do, Frey?”

“I’m going to attend the Demigod meeting with Riki.”

“Huh? Why are you going there?”

“That…”

Frey briefly explained what he’d heard from Riki. He also told him some of the things he’d learned about the Blake family.

This was because Frey was certain that Ivan’s attitude wouldn’t change after he learned where he was from.

“Ooh. So you’re a hybrid who can use both mana and divine power?”

“…”

His reaction was just as he’d expected, but it did not feel good being called a hybrid.

Frey nodded stiffly.

“I see. Nevertheless, it will be dangerous.”

“It’s dangerous, but I don’t intend to die. And Ivan, after that.”

When Frey’s tone became serious, Ivan tilted his head curiously.

“Huh?”

“The biennial Circle meeting will be held in about a year and a half. It is said to be an important meeting that all the important members of the Circle will attend.”

“Right. I’ve heard about it.”

He’d heard about it from his master a few times.

Of course, Ivan had never attended it, and his master also stopped attending it after an unpleasant event.

“I’m going to overturn it.”

“…huh? Overturn it? Overturn what?”

“Everything. As you said. The current Circle is a pigsty filled with livestock.”

Frey let out a short laugh.

“I agree with you. So I’m going to fix that. I’ll remove the smell and organize it properly… think of it as house cleaning.”

“House cleaning!”

Ivan looked excited. Had it been anyone else saying those words, he would have just ignored them. But if it came from Frey’s mouth, then it was different.

This guy was a bit strange, but he was not a fool.

When he thought this, he laughed subconsciously.

“Why are you telling me this.”

“You’ll help…”

“Help…?”

Ivan’s expression became a bit proud, and upon seeing that, Frey decided to change his words a bit.

“…create a chance.”

The grammar became a bit strange, but he didn’t care. It was the meaning that mattered.

As he said that, Frey reached out a hand to Ivan.

“Uhahaha!”

Ivan couldn’t hold it in any longer and burst into happy laughter, his loud voice filling the dark room.

With tears in his eyes, he gripped Frey’s hand tightly.

“After a year and a half.”

“After a year and a half.”

Ivan couldn’t help but think to himself.

‘It will be a mess.’

He was looking forward to it so much that he didn’t know if he would be able to wait patiently.

* * *

Ivan said he was going south.

“Silkid, the Desert Country. According to Master, it was the last place where traces of Kasajin were found.”

“Is it in the Amakan Desert?”

“That’s right.”

He knew it because he’d heard of Kasajin’s demise from Riki. (TL: I’m pretty sure Hruhiral was the one who told him, but it’s cute that the author made a mistake)

“I’ll try to find the traces left there. It shouldn’t be too boring. I heard that the desert is filled with strong warriors.”

Frey nodded.

“I wish you luck.”

“Thanks.”

And with that, Ivan left.

Syax was the one to guide him out of the Great Forest.

It seemed that she had managed to let go off all the bad feelings she had towards Ivan. No, rather, her eyes were clearly filled with respect as she looked at him.

Well, her attitude was understandable since he was one of the heroes who had saved her village.

Thinking that they looked better together than he expected, Frey then spoke softly.

“Snow.”

“While I’m wearing the mask, call me Swordna.”

Snow dropped down from above him. She then turned to look at Frey with confusion visible in her eyes.

“How did you know I was there? I didn’t reveal myself like last time. And I’m quite confident in my ability to hide.”

“It’s because I’m now 8 stars.”

It really was because he became 8 stars.

Snow’s expression changed a little as she remembered the explanation Syax had given her.

“…something like that is really possible at 8 stars?”

“That’s right. But that’s not why I called you.”

“…”

“Can you take me to Riki? I’d like to talk to him.”

“Understood.”

With that, Frey and Snow headed to Riki’s cabin once again.

However, this time, Frey completely skipped the process of drawing the magic circle and just directly cast Warp. It took a bit of time to cast, but the spell felt as light and as a simple Blink spell.

Just as Riki’s hut came into view.

[Don’t come here!]

“…!”

It was Riki’s voice.

Frey and Snow’s expressions changed instantly.

[Hide nearby! Quickly!]

Hearing Riki’s urgent tone for the first time was enough to explain the seriousness of the situation.

Their reactions were swift. Frey and Snow met each other’s eyes for a moment before they immediately scattered to both sides of the clearing and hid in the underbrush.

At the same time, the door to the cabin opened.

“…”

It was a woman with snakes for hair.

Frey shuddered slightly at her bright, yellow eyes.

‘A Demigod.’

The pressure she gave him wasn’t the same as Nozdog or Riki, which meant she wasn’t an Apocalypse.

However, she was still a Demigod, so he had to be vigilant.

Slurp.

She stuck out her long tongue.

“That’s weird~ I’m sure I felt a wave of mana~”

She had a strange, listing tone that made her voice difficult to listen to.

Riki, who was following her, spoke with an expressionless face.

“You must’ve been mistaken, Hydra.”

“Is that so~ Hmm~”

The woman named Hydra tilted her head to the side.

It was then.

“…”

Her gaze turned to the spot where Snow was hiding.

“Hmm.”

Her expression became strange.

Once again, she struck out her tongue and wiggled it a few times.

Then she began to walk to the place where Snow was hidden.

“…”

Frey’s expression hardened.

‘Did she notice my divine power?’

Snow’s expression was even more serious.

With her hand on the hilt of her sword, she watched as Hydra walked towards her with anxiety.

“Where are you going, Hydra?”

However, Riki blocked her at the last minute.

Then Hydra tilted her head again.

“I could sense something over there~”

“…my Apostle is over there.”

“Hmm? Really?”

“That’s right. And I have no intentions of showing anyone what my Apostle looks like until the identity of the traitor is revealed.”

Even though Riki’s tone was quite sharp, Hydra still acted in a carefree manner.

“Hmm. Right. That’s right. Lord said so too. The identities of our Apostles should remain hidden.”

It was then.

Hydra suddenly began to giggle hysterically.

“Hehehe! Hehehe!… but it’s so funny.”

“What is funny?”

“In fact, I saw them already. Because I have a lot of eyes…9 times more than you do. So I didn’t miss it~”

Hydra let out another laugh.

“Riki, your Apostle is an Elf? Huh. Come to think of it, the bait that Nozdog lost not so long ago was also an El-”

It was at that moment, that Riki’s expression which had been only a bit embarrassed, sank like a stone in a river.

Then.

Shik.

Hydra’s head flew into the air, and green blood shot up like a fountain.