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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Simzy
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“Welcome, heroes.”
Kerry, expecting something grand from the Sage, activated the Eyes of the Goddess.
However, the Sage’s stats weren’t visible at all.
In heat? Is this guy crazy?
Outwardly, he looked like a typical archmage from a fantasy story. But why was his status like that? The title of “Sage” was weeping.
Beside the Sage stood a woman who appeared to be his assistant. Her face was flushed.
After the initial shock from the Sage, Kerry, feeling uneasy, used the Eyes of the Goddess on the assistant as well. His uneasy premonitions were never wrong.
Birds of a feather. A perfect pair of perverts. The assistant looked so demure, too.
“Now, don’t hesitate and have a seat here.”
“Then, excuse us.”
They sat around a circular table. The assistant remained standing behind the Sage.
That’s when it happened. Kerry felt a strange energy emanating from the Sage. Not just a perverted aura, but something truly alien.
It felt like a small ball of yarn unraveling. Was this mana?
With a little focus, it became clear. It was mana. Thin strands of mana were being generated around the Sage.
Those mana strands were intruding into the assistant’s clothes, caressing her.
The mana strands slipped inside her clothes, touching her breasts, and down her skirt, teasing her clitoris.
Judging by the assistant’s crimson face, she seemed quite aroused. She looked like she was trying hard to restrain herself.
To think he’d be so bold in front of the hero.
The Sage before him was the ‘real deal’.
The Sage continued the conversation as if nothing was happening, still toying with the assistant’s body.
“Dear, could you bring us something to drink?”
“Yes, Sage-nim.”
“I heard the Hero and her companions were coming, but meeting you in person, your presence is truly extraordinary.”
“You flatter us.”
The Sage was sincere. Each and every one of them was remarkable. Lina went without saying, but Natasha and the old woman were also extraordinary individuals. Victoria, too.
‘His name was Kerry, wasn’t it? That man…hmm.’
Meanwhile, there was an ordinary-looking man who didn’t exude any particular aura.
However, the Sage had already received a report about him. The Hero was about to refuse the tower’s invitation, but this man convinced her to accept.
But Kerry’s gaze was a bit strange. He was looking at the Sage with immense admiration. Even though they were meeting for the first time.
Of course, countless trainees had looked at the Sage with admiration, but this peculiar longing was different from the trainees’ pure gazes.
The Sage pretended not to notice Kerry’s strange gaze and continued his conversation with the Hero.
“Now, now. Let’s talk slowly over some tea.”
Just then, the assistant beside him moaned loudly.
“Haaah!”
“Oh my? Dear? What’s wrong?”
The Sage feigned ignorance.
But Kerry knew. That sound was caused by the mana strands.
“I, I apologize. I suddenly felt a chill… I’m truly sorry.”
“Oh dear… It happens. It’s alright as long as you’re not sick.”
The assistant kept bowing her head.
Kerry was shocked as he watched the Sage.
The preconceived notions ingrained in his mind shattered in an instant.
‘To think someone would use magic like this!’
The shock was so great that he felt ashamed of himself for only thinking of using the romantic art of magic for combat.
He had been so satisfied with the romantic notion of simply being able to use magic that he hadn’t even imagined a better way.
Kerry began to look at the Sage with reverence.
“First, I would like to thank you all for accepting this old man’s invitation and visiting the magic tower. And also, for your hard work for the sake of the continent…”
The Sage welcomed the Hero’s party with a boring and monotonous speech, like a headmaster’s address.
To summarize the Sage’s words, he would gladly help them with anything they needed on their journey.
The Sage droned on for over an hour with this tedious speech.
Even the exemplary Lina occasionally nodded off! Even when she was dozing off, Lina was beautiful.
“Outside, you will find gifts I have prepared. May Elena’s blessings be with you.”
The party members, as if finally liberated, stood up and bid their farewells.
They seemed eager to escape, lest the headmaster’s speech resume.
But Kerry didn’t move.
“Husband? Aren’t you coming?”
“Go ahead. I have something to ask the Sage.”
Even the Sage was puzzled, but Kerry just told them to go on ahead. Finally, only Kerry and the Sage remained.
“Do you have something to say to this old man?”
“You’re amazing, Sage. Is that the power of the ring?”
The Sage’s smug expression, present since their first meeting, hardened for the first time.
He seemed to be contemplating what to do, but seeing Kerry’s confident gaze, he seemed to give up on making excuses.
“Hmm… You’re the first person besides myself to be able to sense this.”
The Sage pretended to be calm, but he was greatly surprised.
To think there was someone else besides himself who could sense the extremely faint mana strands. Even the Hero hadn’t noticed.
This wasn’t a matter of skill level. It was an innate sensitivity to mana. A natural talent.
Perhaps the man before him was his equal in terms of talent.
“To think you’d use a magic item in such a way. It seems the title of ‘Sage’ isn’t just for show.”
The Sage smiled at Kerry’s favorable attitude. It seemed nothing troublesome would happen.
“It’s merely this old man’s secret hobby. I am truly impressed by Kerry’s talent in noticing this. You are indeed worthy of being the Hero’s companion.”
Exchanging compliments. The two of them sensed it.
The scent of kindred spirits.
Finally, both men burst into laughter.
“Hehehehehe.”
“Hahahaha.”
Then they shook hands.
“I’ve lived a long life, but this is the first time I’ve met someone with a similar aura.”
“Likewise. I never imagined there would be someone who uses their talent and magic in such a magnificent way.”
“Now, now. This won’t do. I’d like to have a more in-depth conversation with Kerry.”
Kerry had a feeling he had just met his role model.
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After Kerry finished talking with the Sage, he emerged from the Sage’s room with a ring on his finger.
To think he would generously gift a Hero-ranked item.
The Sage had readily given the ring to Kerry when he saw how much he liked it.
As he gave him the ring, the Sage said to Kerry:
[Brother, if you ever need my help, just ask. I’ll gladly assist you. And as for the other things you desired… I need them myself, so I can’t give them to you right now. I could lend them to a brother like you…but get used to the ring first and enjoy it gradually.]
The Sage was a truly good person.
The Sage’s secret vault was full of magic tools, and every time Kerry heard about their lewd uses, he couldn’t help but admire him.
[The same magic tool can have vastly different effects depending on the user. The Arachne’s Ring is the same. If a mage with ordinary talent uses it, they can only use telekinesis….but when someone with special talent like you or me uses it, it becomes a supreme treasure.]
Kerry was able to replicate the Sage’s method with the Arachne’s Ring. He managed to draw out thin mana threads just like the Sage.
[Excellent talent! To think you could replicate it so quickly. I almost regret that you didn’t learn magic sooner, brother! You would have become a magnificent mage. I guarantee it.]
‘…Thank you for your teachings, Sage.’
Kerry descended to the first floor of the tower and stepped outside. A cool breeze blew.
The weather was nice.
He had sent his companions back to the inn, telling them that his conversation with the Sage would likely take a while.
When Kerry arrived at the inn alone, he was met with grim faces. What was with the atmosphere?
“Husband, you’re back.”
“What happened? Why do you all look so down?”
“Well…”
Kerry listened to his companions’ story. They were attacked while traveling in the carriage provided by the magic tower.
Fortunately, none of his companions were injured, but a few of the tower mages who were protecting them had been hurt.
“…You must have been very frightened.”
“Hing. It was really scary when the magic suddenly went pa-pat and exploded.”
Natasha clung to Kerry and acted spoilt. Someone like Natasha wouldn’t be affected by most magic.
Lina had an expression that suggested this was to be expected.
An attack. Who would hold a grudge against them and attack them?
As if answering his question, Lina began to speak.
“I’ve been hesitant to say this until now…but it might be a bit dangerous to blindly trust the magic tower.”
“Could you elaborate on what you mean by ‘hard to trust’…”
“I think there’s a spy from the organization we’re after within the magic tower. And they wouldn’t be pleased with us.”
So that’s why she tried to refuse the tower’s invitation at first.
Indeed, the only thing they had done to warrant resentment was interfering with that organization.
Barickmeteo had threatened them, telling them not to interfere if they valued their lives. Was it his doing? It was infuriating.
“Lina, do you have any idea who the traitor in the magic tower might be?”
Kerry was certain it wasn’t the Sage. From their conversation, he seemed like a pervert, but not a malicious person.
Lina shook her head. She didn’t know who the traitor was.
Lina was really bad at lying.
When she lied, she would unconsciously look away or stutter.
This time, she seemed genuinely unaware.
So even in her past life, she hadn’t known who the traitor in the magic tower was?
Being a regressor didn’t mean she knew everything.
Then, it was up to him to find out who the traitor was here. He just happened to have a useful information network.
“Then, let’s keep our distance from the magic tower until we at least uncover the mastermind hiding within.”
“Yes. That would be best.”
Kerry excused himself from the group, claiming he had some business to attend to.
Given the risk of attack, he didn’t go out alone. Even if he wanted to, Natasha wouldn’t let him.
“Husband, where are you going?”
“I’m going to see if there are any useful magic tools that can protect us.”
“I see.”
It was a lie. Such convenient items wouldn’t be common in this world, and even if they existed, they would be incredibly expensive.
More than anything, Kerry had the advantage of a regressor. And he had Natasha.
He could guarantee that it would be extremely difficult to find anyone capable of breaching their defenses.
Yet, there was a reason why Kerry ventured out with Natasha.
It was to make contact with Madam’s information network, the Black Rose. She had said he could use it when he needed help.
Madam had told him that the Black Rose’s contacts were beggars scattered throughout the continent.
Beggars with a black rose tattoo somewhere on their body.
Kerry walked through the slums of the magic city. Even the glamorous magic city had its dark underbelly.
“Spare some change, please. I haven’t eaten in two days.”
“Kind sir, please help me.”
Beggars approached Kerry as he walked around in his relatively decent clothes.
Natasha had threatened them to keep their distance, though.
‘A beggar with a black rose tattoo…a beggar with a black rose tattoo…Found him!’
Kerry spotted a middle-aged man with a black rose tattoo below his ear. He approached the beggar.
“Buy yourself some bread with this. I hear barley bread is delicious these days.”
When Kerry mentioned barley bread, the beggar’s eyes narrowed slightly. It was the contact code. The beggar casually accepted the money.
“Oh, thank you, kind sir.”
“Natasha, there’s no way there’s a decent magic tool shop here. Let’s look elsewhere.”
“I told you. Husband, let’s go somewhere else quickly. This place is too unpleasant.”
Kerry and Natasha moved away from the beggar. Then, the beggar who received the money from Kerry opened his hand.
In his hand were the coins and a folded note. The beggar unfolded the note.
[Tell Madam that Kerry wants to know if there’s a heretic in the magic tower who performs human sacrifices.]
Not long after,
Madam quickly received Kerry’s message.
She laughed as she sat on the sofa after receiving Kerry’s message.
“Hehehe. Is our cute hero who saved our village now trying to save the magic tower?”
Shortly after Madam’s monologue, Ellie, who had been looking out the window at the sky, ran to Madam.
“Did Kerry contact you? Really? Did Kerry contact you saying he missed me? I knew it.”
Ellie asked Madam with sparkling eyes. Madam couldn’t bring herself to say no to that gaze.
“Y-yes. He said he misses Ellie, and he has a favor to ask.”
“Ah, Kerry hasn’t forgotten me. Madam, I miss Kerry too, it’s been so long.”
“Me too. Shall we go together?”
“Yes! Please, Madam.”
Madam was relieved, as she had been worried about Ellie, who had been glued to the window all day, saying she missed Kerry.
But there was another reason why Madam was going herself. She couldn’t forget the memories she shared with Kerry.
Madam licked her lips, imagining Kerry’s penis.
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This is the first time I read about such a p*rvert sage…