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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Lord Fourth
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“If you want to enter, you have to pay a toll.”
“….”
“Don’t look at me like that. It’s the law of this city. Don’t worry, you don’t have to pay when you leave.”
“I’ve already paid twice.”
“Different jurisdictions.”
A burly, middle-aged man grinned, scratching his dirty foot.
He was a self-proclaimed king of the beggars, extorting money from passersby.
I had encountered three of these lowlifes on my way here. This was something that would never happen in the Holy City.
I inwardly clicked my tongue and rummaged through my pouch. I wanted to beat him up, but there were too many people watching.
“Is this enough?”
I tossed a few copper coins on the ground, and the man scrambled to pick them up. I pulled my hood lower and entered the alley.
“Hey.”
The beggar called out to me. I turned slightly, and he smirked.
“It’s best not to flaunt your wealth in Shadowhold. It’s not a very nice place.”
It wasn’t meant as genuine advice, but I took it to heart.
“Thanks.”
Shadowhold. A city notorious for its high crime rate, even within the Empire.
A maze of alleyways and taverns, with a massive mage tower at its center.
It was said to be the only existing mage tower, and it was indeed impressive, though not as grand as the Papal Office. The chaotic structure of the city, centered around the tower, reminded me of dystopian images from Earth.
There were many ways to describe Shadowhold, but the most common was…
“Welcome to Magetower City, Elliot.”
Owen, the blue-haired man, emerged from a corner of the alley. He had been following me. As expected of a thief, he was skilled at concealing his presence. I turned to face him.
“Magetower City? Crime City seems more fitting.”
“What’s the difference?”
“….”
Owen chuckled. He looked at my attire with a puzzled expression.
“Where’s the Saintess?”
“This is personal business. Ophelia has no reason to be here.”
“So, that’s why you’re not wearing your armor.”
“That’s right. I don’t want to cause trouble for Ophelia by revealing our identities.”
“Did the Saintess give you permission?”
“I informed her.”
It was permission, in a way. I had traveled to Shadowhold on horseback over the past week.
Owen had contacted me less than two days after I returned to the Holy City, claiming he had something to discuss regarding my commission.
So, I had secretly left the Holy City. In other words, I had deserted.
I could already imagine Ophelia’s furious reaction. That’s why I had left a note.
Well, if I finished my business quickly and returned, she wouldn’t be too upset.
Probably.
“So, why did you want to meet here?”
“I told you, this is Magetower City. I wouldn’t have asked to meet in Shadowhold if it wasn’t related to the mage tower.”
“The mage tower?”
“Loren was affected by dark magic. It would be easier to ask for assistance from a magic expert than to investigate myself.”
The disaster in Loren. Was it caused by dark magic? In the game, it was always the Demon King’s dark mages who summoned and controlled monsters.
It made sense to seek help from the mage tower. I nodded in agreement.
“Alright. Let’s go to the mage tower.”
“Before that…”
Owen put his hand in his pocket and gestured with his chin.
“We should deal with the uninvited guests you’ve attracted.”
“….”
I followed Owen’s gaze. Four shady-looking beggars were watching us from a corner of the alley, each holding a dagger.
I had given away more than ten copper coins as “tolls” on my way here.
Word must have spread that a wealthy fool had arrived in the city.
“I’ll have to deal with these beggars when we leave.”
I frowned and drew my sword. A minute later, the beggars’ severed hands lay scattered across the alley.
Considering the city’s chaotic state, I had assumed the mage tower would be similar.
But I was wrong.
The mage tower was clean and well-maintained. Moreover, the master of the mage tower, Archmage Elderian Vallière, treated us as honored guests.
We were led to a lavish reception room. The contrast between the elegant refreshments on the table and the gloomy alleyway outside the window was jarring.
“Owen told me about your request. You want me to track down a dark mage.”
Archmage Elderian Vallière was a well-groomed, middle-aged man.
Slicked-back hair, a navy blue suit, a monocle, and a neatly folded handkerchief in his breast pocket. He looked more like a gentleman than a mage.
Elderian chuckled, as if sensing my thoughts.
“People tend to be intimidated by mages these days. It’s important to dress appropriately for the times.”
So, the days of mages wearing long robes and pointed hats were over? But the mages in the game wore typical mage attire.
Another difference from the original, I suppose.
“I’ve come to ask for your assistance, Archmage.”
“I’ve heard. You want me to investigate the tragedy in Loren.”
He looked at me questioningly, so I shrugged.
Elderian didn’t pry further.
“I would need to visit the site to use tracking magic, but the incident in Loren happened years ago. I doubt I’ll find anything useful.”
“Then…”
“I’ve examined the monster corpse Owen brought me. It’s definitely a monster artificially created by a dark mage.”
Elderian adjusted his monocle.
“However, while I can tell you how it was created, I can’t pinpoint its origin.”
“What can I do to help?”
“If you have an object that carries traces of the magic used, it would make tracking much easier. Owen said you might have something.”
An object. I had just the thing. I pulled the pendant out of my pocket.
The hero’s pendant, or rather, the pendant that belonged to the boy who was supposed to be the hero.
“This…”
“Is this enough?”
“More than enough.”
Elderian took the pendant and cast a spell. A mysterious power, different from divine power.
I could understand why the people of the Empire feared magic.
Elderian’s appearance, which had been that of a refined gentleman just moments ago, became strangely distorted.
After a while, the flow of magic subsided, and Elderian let out a soft breath.
“The Great Forest.”
“…The Great Forest?”
“The magical residue points to that location. Specifically, a city called Nua Dhil, in the northern part of the Great Forest.”
“Nua Dhil?”
“A city of dark elves.”
“….”
I frowned. The Great Forest. A location from the game.
The home of the elves.
It bordered the Empire, but the terrain was treacherous, and the monsters there were high-level. And Nua Dhil, a city of dark elves, was one of the highest-level areas within the Great Forest.
“…I have to go all the way to the Great Forest?”
I had left a note saying I would be back in a month, but that seemed unlikely now.
I was wondering how I would explain this to Ophelia when the door to the reception room burst open.
“….”
A woman with ash-gray hair stood there, staring at us. If I hadn’t looked closely, I wouldn’t have recognized her.
She had changed drastically.
Emily Vallière had grown into a young woman, shedding all traces of her childish appearance from a year and a half ago.
“Emily, say hello to our guests.”
Elderian said, and Emily’s gaze shifted from Owen to me. Her face crumpled in a frown when she recognized me.
“…I told you…”
“Emily?”
“I told you not to bring strangers here without my permission! And to tell me beforehand!”
“Emily! What’s the meaning of this?!”
“Shut up!”
Bang! The door slammed shut.
“….”
“…Um.”
Silence filled the room. I looked at Elderian, expecting an explanation.
Emily Vallière.
A year and a half ago, when she visited the Holy City, she was an innocent child. But now, she was behaving like Ophelia.
Or rather, like the Emily from the game. What had happened to cause such a drastic change?
“Well…”
Elderian hesitated, then sighed and said, “It seems… puberty hit her after she returned from the Holy City.”
“…Huh.”
Puberty. A truly versatile word.
—
Ophelia was lost in thought. She had divine magic lessons in the afternoon, but she couldn’t focus after reading that note.
She had excused herself, claiming she was feeling unwell, and returned to her room.
“He must have left after hearing from Owen.”
There was no other reason for Elliot to secretly leave the Holy City.
In Loren, Elliot had asked that mutt from the Intelligence to investigate the disaster. That meant…
“He found out who was behind it? He’s gone to take revenge?”
That was the only explanation she could think of. The Elliot she knew was petty and held grudges.
If he had found out who was responsible for his family’s death, he would definitely go after them.
“What if something happens to him…?”
Ophelia muttered. She knew Elliot wasn’t weak, judging by how easily he had killed that monster. But his opponent was someone who had unleashed hundreds of monsters and destroyed an entire village.
Could even the greatest knight defeat such a villain?
“…No, it’s none of my business.”
Conflict.
Ophelia clutched her head, torn between her thoughts.
What if Elliot didn’t return? Would she feel guilty?
Probably not. She shouldn’t.
“….”
Ophelia hesitated for a moment, then stood up, her resolve hardening.
“If that bastard Elliot dies, I’ll be stuck with a boring knight like Dick. I can’t have that.”
That was something she definitely didn’t want. Elliot was a bastard, but he wasn’t boring. That’s what Ophelia decided to believe.
Her pride wouldn’t allow her to admit that she had grown fond of him.
“I’m going after him.”
She had made up her mind. The problem was that there were several obstacles preventing Ophelia from leaving the Holy City.
She had divine magic lessons tomorrow. And the day after that. If Ophelia, the Saintess of the Holy City, suddenly disappeared without a word, there would be a huge uproar.
Was there a way? Ophelia pondered.
“Wait a minute.”
A brilliant idea struck her.
As Elliot had acknowledged, she was quite cunning.
Ophelia left her room, crossed the plaza, and entered the Papal Office.
“Saintess!”
“Are you feeling better?”
Ignoring the concerned priests, Ophelia descended the stairs leading to the basement.
The Inquisition was located there.
She pushed the door open, and Ured, who was working on some documents, looked up and his eyes widened.
“Saintess? What brings you…”
“I have information.”
Ophelia said abruptly.
“Information?”
“Yes.”
What should she say? Ophelia carefully chose her words.
The Inquisition hated heretics. They despised them. Then…
“I found a heretic. I’m going to kill him. I need your help.”
“….”
Ured’s eyes narrowed.
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Hi Lord Fourth here!
I’m still new to translating as this is my second novel to pick up, so if you find some mistakes or inconsistencies let me know about it on the dedicated channel on discord.
