Chapter 409: Shocking Intervention.

Chapter 409: Shocking Intervention.

‘This place is a bit crowded. I guess this is as far as second-hand connections can get me.’

Roland pondered as he leaned back against the uncomfortable bench in the large room reserved for hired adventurers and guards on the middle deck of the airship. Despite being allowed to keep their weapons, the bodyguards couldn't leave the area. After arriving at the ship, the main guards instructed him to wait there, considering him nothing more than backup and not presentable on the upper decks.

The airship, quite large, even boasted a ballroom where music played, attracting nobles who mingled with influential merchants. It was a place for the rich and powerful. Roland couldn't complain, though, as he was getting a free ride to the Institute. Others in the room appeared to be resting, seemingly unconcerned as the airship of this caliber was considered relatively safe.

‘Something is blocking my signal. I won't be able to call Elodia until we arrive at the destination.’

As Roland's mind drifted back to the home he already missed, he couldn't deny that he had changed since arriving in Albrook. Initially, survival and peace were his sole concerns, but now he found himself worrying about others. During his absence, he hoped that nothing unexpected would happen. Elodia had taken on the role of the new leader in his absence, but there was still the unpredictable Alchemist to contend with. Despite having a conversation with him, Roland could only hope that the Gnome wouldn't cause any disasters in his absence.

‘I’ve been through a lot in these eleven years or so... or has it been twelve now?’

With not much to do, Roland found himself trapped in his own thoughts, a rare occurrence for him. Usually preoccupied with various tasks, he seldom dwelled on the past or pondered the nature of the world he found himself in. Even to this day, he had no idea how he ended up here or why. Yet, amidst the uncertainty, he was beginning to feel a sense of belonging. As events unfolded in Albrook, Roland realized that he was not alone and that life in this world was not as undesirable as he once thought.

Roland had a challenging start, marked by his ostracization from his family. In those difficult years, books and the dream of becoming a wizard were his solace. However, that dream was shattered during his first ascension trial when he discovered his lack of elemental affinities. To this day, he remained uncertain about the reasons behind this anomaly. Various theories crossed his mind, such as his body being special or his mind replacing the original Roland's. He even questioned if he was the same person from Earth, contemplating whether his memories were merely copied over or if he existed within a vast dream while lying in a hospital bed.

‘I should probably stop thinking about theories like that, this world is too real to be an illusion or a dying man’s dream. What I need to focus on, is the right research papers, if I’m not careful, it could take a lot longer that it should.’ Thê source of this content n/o/v/(el)bi((n))

Though Roland had never attended a formal magical academy, he delved into research papers produced by magicians. It was a challenging experience, as magicians often approached their work with chaos and lacked standardized note-taking. Each individual had their own cryptic methods, making it difficult to decipher their papers. Decoding the essence of the research consumed more than half of the task, and Roland found himself in danger of losing months in the pursuit of knowledge within the labyrinthine libraries of magical academia.

“Hey watch it, do you know how much this robe cost?”

“I... I’m sorry...”

“You’re sorry? I don’t think that’s good enough, you even got it dirty.”

As he was thinking about a quick way to get all his research done, he overheard a commotion. A group of three adventurers were smirking and cackling while looking at a somewhat ordinary-looking girl. Her ears gave her away for someone from the rabbit race and her clothes were certainly common. At a glance, she looked like one of the porters that was coming on the trip with them. Just like some of the adventurers they were forced into a different section of this airship.

“I didn’t...”

“You didn’t what? Look here girly, these things are expensive, look at this hole, you tore right through it, and now the enchantment won’t work! But I’m a generous man. I’ll let you off, if you pay for the damages you caused?”

“B-but you’re the one that bumped into me...”

“Hah? Are you talking back? My friend has been nothing but nice, but you’re trying to run after tarnishing his one and only magical robe?”

Roland attempted to disregard the disturbance and concentrate on his research, but the loud shouts of the adventurers made it challenging to ignore. It appeared that the group had set their sights on the girl. Roland had observed them earlier, recognizing specific emblems on their clothing signifying their affiliation with a mercenary group. These symbols suggested that they were likely hired by another merchant. The Adventurers' Guild was not the sole entity that enlisted the services of adventurers; smaller mercenary groups were also engaged for larger security needs.

“A bit of fun? I see, then how about I have some fun with you instead?”

While he wasn't the sole tier 3 class holder in the room, those not affiliated with this mercenary company wouldn't assist or assail him. Among the ten individuals he needed to watch, only two posed real threats. Realizing the need for quick and decisive action, Roland, without waiting for a response, let his mana surge toward the man.

There were various ways that he could tackle this situation but handling it without producing residual damage to this large cabin was important. If he caused too much of a ruckus he could be even thrown out mid-flight, thus a binding spell would be what he decided to go with. To onlookers, it appeared as a peculiar surge of bluish energy assaulting their comrade, while only Roland perceived the intricate web of shackles within.

The scar-faced man couldn't even draw his weapon before his arms were tightly bound to his body. Despite his size and muscular build, akin to the Albrook Guild Master, he strained in vain to break free. Before long, he found himself floating in mid-air, contorting in a worm-like way. Helpless, he squirmed until he appeared in front of his captor, who presented him with an electrified digit.

Most occupants of the chamber hurriedly distanced themselves as the crackling sound resonated with thunderous intensity. The prevailing consensus was evident - they faced an irate mage exuding an astonishing surge of magical energy. A ball of lightning energy materialized from Roland's finger, expanding menacingly before the scar-faced man's face.

"Now, we can do this the easy way, or the hard way... I'll give you that choice."

"W-what are you..."

"And you, in the back, don't think I can't see you. Before you notch that arrow, I'll incinerate your friend's face."

The other tier 3 class holder, belonging to the mercenary company, shivered as he was instantly spotted and singled out from the large group. Despite attempting to hide behind his comrades, his opponent discerned his intentions instantly.

“Now, you and your friends can either shut up for the remainder of this trip, or we will have a problem... So, do we have a problem?”

Roland made sure to bring the ball of lightning close to the man’s face, some of the smaller bolts even landed onto his body, electrifying him in the process. The scar-faced man quickly realized that he was over his head and started nodding.

“Y-yes... I mean, W-what about the enchantments...”“Enchantments? That rag has long lost all of its charges and can’t be used anymore, it's worthless at this point. So, let me ask you again, do we have a problem?”

“No, we don’t...”

“Good, then fuck off.”

Satisfied with the response, Roland dispelled the crackling ball of lightning but still sent the man flying. The scar-faced man collided with the two people harassing the rabbit girl, taking them down with him, and shattering a few wooden boxes along the way. The entire room fell silent, tension lingering in the air. Roland's gaze swept across the other adventurers and mercenaries, his glowing eyes exuding an imposing aura.

It was over and the result was obvious. The once loud men had quieted down and dared not to raise their voices. Even the three perpetrators didn’t dare to speak out, it was clear that they were afraid to lose their heads. Roland took a side glance at everyone in this area with his gaze finally landing on the girl that he rescued. His eyes were still glowing which gave her the jitters and caused him to momentarily drop the tough guy act.

“T-thank you...”

“Mmm.”

He didn't reply and simply nodded, maintaining the facade that his actions were not solely for the girl's sake but for maintaining silence. By portraying himself as an eccentric mage disliking loud noises and excessive chatter, he aimed to ensure everyone here would behave for the remainder of the sky voyage. In a way, he was safeguarding all the other porters below from getting caught in the crossfire, much like the current predicament of the rabbit girl.

The girl continued to bow in gratitude and only departed after Roland waved her off. She swiftly disappeared towards the area where the rest of the porters were stationed, marking the end of that particular incident. Consequently, a very uncomfortable and tension-filled journey commenced for the other adventurers. Roland made it challenging for them to get any sleep, instilling fear that even their snoring might irritate the formidable mage. Some resorted to slapping awake their friends to ensure everyone stayed alert. The air remained thick with unease throughout the trip.

After enduring a day of tension and discomfort, they finally arrived at their destination. Roland felt a tinge of dissatisfaction with how he spent his time on the ship. He couldn't peer through any windows to witness the kingdom from a bird's-eye view, nor could he explore the ship with a craftsman's eye. He yearned to inspect the engine room and acquire magical schematics for future use. Perhaps, then, constructing such a large vessel would become a possibility.

The airship smoothly landed in a bustling city, and the adventurers and guards commenced disembarking. Roland rejoined his temporary entourage near the gangplank. Although his immediate task was coming to an end, his true journey into the institute was just beginning. With purpose, he took a step forward, his mind racing at the possibilities that this journey might bring to elevate his runic magic to the next level.