CH 49

[The Seething Magic Sword]

I asked Noelia about the magic used by the mage in full-body armor, but she only replied, ‘I have never seen or heard of such a magic.’

In regard to magic research, if she, who should have been exposed to considerable amount of information as Linus’s disciple, doesn’t know, it is highly likely that it is an extremely unique magic with few inheritors.

I neither know the name nor the face of the mage, but they headed toward our destination, Inbahanes.

So, I decided after a discussion with Noelia, if we met them again along the way or in the city, I will ask them to teach me that magic.

For the next few days, our journey toward Inbahanes went on without any problems.

If I have to say what has changed, then it is that the adventurers party who we passed by on the way are often mixed with beastmen.

“Come to think of it, I rarely saw beastmen in the Royal Capital, so I wonder why there were so many beastmen gathered in the city of Inbahanes.”

In the swaying wagon, I saw the beastman adventurers who we passed by and said what was in my mind.

“I have heard that the city of Inbahanes has many beastmen because it was originally their independent country.”

Suzana sitting next to me replied while holding the reins.

“Independent country?”

“Yes, the Kingdom of Hartford conquered Inbahanes, which was originally an independent country, and eventually annexed it. In the book that describes the history of the founding of the country, it was written that they resisted until the end and the only thing left of them was their name.”

“So it was a country of beastmen, huh… It is the story of hundreds of years ago, right?”

“That’s right. It’s been about 300 years since the Kingdom of Hartford was founded. During that 300 years, the beastmen had done armed uprising many times in Inbahanes, so the Kingdon is also sensitive to the security there.”

Suzana, who I thought was just a talented maid, was surprisingly very knowledgeable about the Kingdom of Hartford.

Although I was an adventurer, as I’ve only been active around the Royal Capital, I didn’t know anything about Inbahanes other than it was a frontier city.

“You said that it is city where armed uprising occurred many times, does that mean that it is treated under the direct control of the Kingdom without a lord governing it?”

“Yes, until recently, the Kingdom stationed the army there, but two years ago, the King suddenly give it to the heir of the Radcliffe family, Gile-dono. It seems that since then, the Royal Guard Knight Order was stationed there.”

The name of a man who I didn’t want to hear about came out of Suzana’s mouth.

It is the name of the commander of the Royal Guard Knight, Gile.

The perpetrator who made us to recklessly subjugate the demonic dragon, urging Alfine to become a Sword Master, and recommended her to be a noble.

Two years ago, it was around the same time as when we subjugated the demonic dragon…

He took away the horn of the subjugated demonic dragon and presented it to the King on his own accord, so he received the territory as a reward for it, huh.

Even when Alfine became a noble, I was still an adventurer, so I continued my adventurer life without worrying about the trends of the nobles at all.

To think there was such a circumstance…

Certainly, if he got a territory and a lot of profit, it is understandable that he treated Alfine well.

“In that case, is that mean that the city is now owned by the Radcliffe family?”

“Yes, to be exact, Gile-dono, the heir of the Radcliffe family, is the lord of the city. Well, but he’s always in the Royal Capital as the commander of the Royal Guard Knight, I think that a magistrate is in charge of the city.”

While he is the commander of the Royal Guard Knight, Gile, who according to Alfine is the one with the worst skill among the cowardly Royal Guard, is unlikely to come to the frontier even though he became the lord.

As Suzana said, he should be having one of his vassals acting as his substitute, and live a luxurious life with the tax revenue.

Still, Lloyd, who hated the Radcliffe family, didn’t say anything about our destination this time.

“Speaking of the Radcliffe family, it seems that they are not on good terms with the Frontier Count-sama… It is too late to ask this, but is it okay for us to go to the city of Inbahanes?”

“Lloyd-sama also has a responsibility as a great noble, so he has some interaction with the Radcliffe family. So please rest assured. Moreover, we also have a letter of introduction from Linus-sama, so we shouldn’t face any obstruction.”

“I see… so there’s already a measure in place, right?”

“Yes, since I can’t fight, I’ll lay the groundwork in the various fields that doesn’t involve fighting so that the two of you can have a smooth journey.”

No matter how I see it, Suzana is not just a normal maid, but it might be a good idea to rely on her, who seems to be familiar with the circumstances of various places, in things that is not related to magic.

While I was having a talk with Suzana like that, Noelia, who was talking in whisper with the magic sword, came out to the coachman’s seat.

The magic sword occasionally talks with and get a lecture from Noelia in order to learn new magic.

Not only Fire Arrow and Flame Sword that was used to defeat the Demon Beast Cerberus, it was able to master some magic such as Wind Barrier, Healing Light, and Gale Wind.

“Frick-sama, I’ve finished lecturing magic to the magic sword. Talking to this child made me think that I have to do my best as well.”

“Is that so? Is it not noisy during the lecture?”

“No, it is a very hard-working student you know.”

That said, Noelia handed out the magic sword, so I received it.

Then, the magic sword immediately started talking.

[Masteeeer, I did my best to learn magic! However, I want new factor soon. Can I cut the monsters in the surrounding area!?]

“If I don’t swing you, you can’t cut monster, right? And you can’t absorb factor with magic.”

[T-that’s right. Nooo but, I’m like, very motivated right now, like, I want factor, like, I want blood――]

“I always told you not to say that kind of thing. Your position as an authorized magic sword will be jeopardized.”

[Au, that’s right. Then, what should I do with this throbbing feeling――]

“Then, I’ll maintain you now, so be patient.”

[Eh!? Really! Yay~! Maintenance~!]

The magic sword is quiet when sleeping, but when it wakes up, it is noisy like this.

Well, Noelia and I are taciturn, and Suzana did not talk much either, so the noisy magic sword makes everyone harmonized.

“Noelia, sorry but, can you get the tools?”

“Please wait a moment.”

I turned my body toward the luggage compartment in order to have Noelia get the tools to start maintenance in order to appease the factor-hungry magic sword.

At that time, Suzana, who holds the reins, informs us of a danger with an urgent voice.

“Frick-sama, a large amount of dust cloud is rising ahead! That is, a monster rampage!? They are coming this way!”

When I looked toward the highway in a hurry at that voice, a large amount of dust cloud rose in the distance, and monsters or somethings were heading our way.

And, in front of the monsters, I saw several adventurers who seemed to be beastmen running desperately.