Chapter 39. Fate (2)
If you want to know about a village, the most accurate way is to ask the villagers. Especially the employees of a restaurant or an inn, who often encounter many people.
After finishing his meal, Verden called over a staff member who was idly passing the time.
"Yes, sir. Would you like to order anything else?"
"Who is the most outstanding hunter in this village?"
Verden placed a bill worth one hundred thousand Elk on the table.
An amount equal to nearly half a month's wages for the employee, too much to be called a mere tip, but the man's eyes had already gone round.
Quickly slipping the money into his pocket before his employer could notice, he spoke in a low voice.
"There's an old man named Bran who lives on the eastern outskirts, not only is he a skilled hunter, but he's also famous as a drunkard. He especially likes strong liquor."
A drunkard, huh.
Even if he offered money, he might refuse, so it would be better to earn his favor with his favorite indulgence. That was useful information.
Verden once more took out a bill of the same value and placed it before the employee.
"Where can I buy the best liquor here?"
***
Vodka with a touch of fruit flavor.
Quite expensive for something sold in this village, but there was no need to save money on this. Money existed to be spent, especially when it had to be spent.
Money was ultimately a means, it could never be the purpose itself.
Verden, who knew this well, had no miserly tendencies. Not that he squandered wealth like water either.
Either way, this was more than worth the investment.
He generously bought two bottles of vodka and headed for the outskirts.
A shabby house standing apart from the others, with animal hides drying around it. It was definitely a hunter's dwelling.
He approached and knocked on the door.
"...Who is it?"
"I've come to make a request."
"A request?"
When the door opened, the faint smell of alcohol and the stench of beasts brushed his nose.
Bran stuck his face out and scrutinized Verden from head to toe.
"Never seen you before... So, what do you want from me?"
"I'm looking for someone to guide me through the Vard Mountains. I heard you're the best hunter in this village."
"Well, that's true enough. I may not look it, but I was once an adventurer, so catching wild animals is easy work. But guiding through the mountains... not a hard task, but may I ask the reason?"
"I'm searching for something."
Of course, he didn't say what it was. Verden himself didn't know.
Bran stroked his chin in thought, then nodded as if having made up his mind.
"All right. But what about the payment?"
Verden opened a bag and revealed the vodka.
Bran's eyes went wide, fixed on the expensive liquor, and he swallowed hard.
"This is the advance. I'll prepare further payment later."
This was the advance? And there would be more later?
Clutching the vodka, Bran slammed the door shut and hurried inside. After some noise, he emerged fully equipped in leather garments, with bow and arrows.
"Let's leave right away, sir."
Even his tone had changed.
Indeed, money was the best tool for negotiation.
***
Where exactly could the ring be pointing to?
It wouldn't be hidden in some simple spot. If it were, the hunters scouring the mountains would have discovered it long ago.
Yet, according to Bran, who had been hunting here for more than ten years, nothing particularly unusual had ever been found.
'Then we start with caves and cliffs.'
Even hunters wouldn't climb cliffs. And it was possible that something was hidden within a cave.
Bran, carrying a hand-made map, pointed out a few locations. The eager hunter led the way, with Verden following behind.
If his claim of being a former adventurer was true, it showed — even on steep climbs, he hardly seemed tired.
Bran glanced back slightly.
Despite their fast ascent, Verden hadn't fallen behind in the slightest. He floated lightly in the air.
'So he was a Mage. If he can use flight, then he's at least third-tier or higher.'
He had overlooked it before, distracted by the vodka and Verden's mysterious appearance, even though the man carried a staff prominently on his back.
Young, good-looking, and talented on top of that. He didn't exactly feel jealousy, but it was impossible not to feel a twinge of envy.
Just then, the sound of a boar's cry echoed nearby.
Bran immediately drew his bow, but before he could fire, a blade of wind flew forth and cut the boar's throat. As Bran blinked in astonishment, Verden said,
"I'll handle everything around us, you just focus on guiding."
"Ah, yes sir."
Bran nodded and continued forward.
Behind them, cries of goblins and beasts rang out, only to be silenced moments later. The former adventurer's manner toward Verden grew ever more respectful.
***
Verden and Bran's journey continued for several days.
They departed each morning and returned each evening, a grueling march. Most of the caves and cliffs in the Vard Mountains had been inspected, but nothing was found. The seasoned hunter Bran was visibly exhausted.
Nodding off as he trudged, he looked as if he might collapse any moment.
'Should I let him rest for a few days? Or hire another hunter?'
Even when Verden spread his mana detection widely, nothing was caught.
Wearing the ring and moving around brought no response either. There wasn't a single clue.
"Stay here a moment."
Leaving those words with Bran, Verden rose into the sky. Soaring until he nearly touched the clouds, he looked down upon the mountains.
He studied carefully, but all he saw were endless trees.
'...What if I just tore the whole place apart, would it react then?'
He wanted to, but he wasn't so crazed a Mage as to actually do it.
Verden shook his head and sighed, and then—
'Wait.'
Only then did he notice it.
Amidst the light green forest, some trees bore a deeper green, hiding among the others. By itself, not unusual, but the arrangement of their spacing looked familiar.
With threads of magic power, he began connecting the trees in the air, estimating their positions one by one.
"...A concealment magic circle."
One of high level, fully merged with nature itself.
The thought that it would be hidden somewhere had been wrong from the start.
The entire forest nestled between these mountains was the place the ring pointed to.
'Such a massive magic circle.'
He could hardly imagine how much time and effort it must have taken. Even for the tower master of Bohemirn, working alone, this would have taken at least two weeks to complete.
Descending to the ground, Verden said to Bran.
"Found it."
"...Eh?"
"Here is additional payment. I have business to attend to, so you may return first."
Bran received the sum of five hundred thousand Elk.
It felt somewhat unsatisfying, but since the employer said he had found it, that meant this hellish guiding job was over. A smile spread across his face at the thought of going straight home to drink and sleep.
Bidding farewell, Bran disappeared like an arrow, and Verden headed toward the center of the magic circle.
There stood a lone tree with dark green leaves.
"So this is the pivot point."
Certain of it, Verden lightly flexed his hand and drew out threads of magic power.
No matter how confident he was about magic circles, what lay before him was of such a level that even he felt tense.
If he made a mistake in the process, unless he tore up the entire forest, he would never be able to break through the circle.
'Estimated time, one hour.'
A strand of magic pierced into the circle.
Verden began his work.
***
Harkan awoke from sleep and struggled to rise from his worn bed.
His condition was worsening by the day. At times he would lose consciousness and collapse into sleep, only to awaken to searing pain.
Staggering, he moved to his desk. Grabbing a potion of his own making, he downed it in one gulp, and only then did the pain subside.
He looked down at his hands. Even after taking the medicine, the trembling did not stop.
It was proof that his body could endure no longer.
'Endure, Harkan. It means change is drawing near....'
He picked up his staff and slowly stepped out of the room. A wide space without a ceiling. As always, he lay back on the sofa and stared blankly up at the sky.
Waiting for the night when he could read fate, that had been his routine for decades.
But today was different from yesterday.
He suddenly felt a presence behind him. Snapping his head around, he saw a man with ashen hair and clear eyes standing at the entrance.
"W, what?!"
How could there be an intruder! Why had the magic circle not reacted?!
Harkan instinctively drew upon his magic power.
Though his mana circuit was ruined and he could not summon his true power, he could at least drag an unguarded enemy with him to the afterlife.
Harkan twisted his expression and shouted.
"You bastard...! Did you come from the Black Hour?!"
'Black Hour? Why bring up that criminal group all of a sudden?'
Verden tilted his head in puzzlement and showed the ring on his hand.
"I came here following this ring."
"A ring...?"
No, it couldn't be.
Harkan's gaze dropped to Verden's hand. As expected, it bore a ring all too familiar to him. One of the pair he had lost long ago, 'Crescent.'
If he had come carrying this, it could only mean one thing.
"At last...!"
His body slackened, and Harkan vomited blood as he collapsed.
"...?"
For once, Verden was caught off guard by the sudden turn of events.
***
Harkan had lost consciousness only briefly, and rose immediately after.
Not even ten seconds had passed since he fell. With his final fate having arrived, there was no time left to waste on weakness. He leaned on the sofa and forced himself up.
"...Would you not lend me a hand?"
"Explain first, then I'll help you."
He couldn't very well approach someone who had immediately raised magic power upon seeing him. And besides, an old man hidden inside a massive concealment magic circle — it was far too suspicious.
'Caution is necessary.'
Even if the person was dying.
At Verden's firm response, Harkan let out a faint chuckle.
"Cautious, I like that."
Barely lowering himself onto the sofa, Harkan pointed to a chair.
With Telekinesis, Verden pulled the chair toward him and sat.
"That ring, before I answer your questions... let me ask you one. How did you get past the concealment magic circle? There were multiple circles at the entrance as well."
"I dismantled them all."
Though he spoke calmly, Verden had found it troublesome enough.
It had taken him an hour just to bore a small hole through the concealment circle to slip through, only to find lethal magic circles scattered at the entrance.
A grueling four hours. Thanks to that, he had grown far more adept at breaking magic circles.
"You erased them all...?"
To have acquired such knowledge of magic circles at that age?
Ah, Harkan was convinced. This gifted man, this Mage, was the destined one. From the depths of his heart, Harkan gave thanks to the heavens.
"You've answered, so I will too. That ring is fate. The fate that has connected you and me, strangers until now."
Harkan smiled faintly, lifted his head, and met Verden's gaze.
"Will you hear my story?"