Only My Magic Levels Up - Chapter 188



Only Noblemtl

Episode 188: The Land of Martyrs (7)

Theodore’s gaze was indifferent as he looked down at the middle-aged man who appeared as soon as he passed through the gates of Chiselin.

Galen, who couldn’t see his eyes directly because he was following him, but could guess the mood well enough, took that reaction for granted.

After spending a few days with him, I realized that Theodore was surprisingly uninterested when he wasn’t interested.

For example, in the case of the guide, the number of times Theodore spoke to him during the four days they moved together was truly countable. The guide, who was still afraid of Theodore, actually considered it fortunate.

Rather than ignoring them in a bad way, I would say it’s the extreme of the mindset of thinking, “Why bother talking when you’re meeting someone for the first time and have nothing to talk about?”

On the other hand, Galen and Lilia were so perfectly on Theodore’s level that they spoke to him naturally as if they had been friends for ten years.

To be honest, the two of them were still able to get along without any problems, as Theodore, or to be exact, his muscles, were a bit of a burden, but other than that, there was nothing particularly bothersome.

It’s true that he’s crazy about fighting, but he’s not the kind of person who would create a storm, disrupt the peace, and create a battle. If he were a villain of that level, his friend, Nabal, and Julian would have stepped in and taken care of him long ago.

In any case, Theodore’s attitude toward people he met for the first time could not help but be indifferent. Just like his reaction when he first met the two people, before they had even revealed their identities.

“What is it?”

“Excuse me. I am the head of the House of Alaba—”

“He asked what business you had.”

Theodore cut her off mercilessly, not hiding his lack of interest.

The general hesitated, but he had the wisdom not to show his momentary discomfort. Even if he hadn’t, it would have come automatically in front of Theodore’s muscles.

“There is nothing else, and we would like to welcome Sir Theodore to your presence and extend our family invitation.”

“Just accept my heart. I’m a bit busy right now.”

“Is it because of the ruins?”

At the governor’s subtle words, Theodore finally looked straight at him.

“It seems like you know something.”

“How could we not know that this is happening in our own front yard? That is why we invited Sir Theodore in the first place.”

“Then I guess it’s okay to listen to the story.”

The general’s face brightened at Theodore’s reaction, which showed a little more interest than before.

But, at that time.

“Wait a minute! Wait a minute! Wait! Please!”

I heard someone’s voice, panting and out of breath, screaming.

The expression on the general’s face, which had been successful in management until then, cracked. He frowned and turned his head.

“Haak, haak, haak.”

The woman who had been running hard in front of them was out of breath. Theodore looked down at her with a look that seemed to ask, “What is this?”

“Theodore, your Majesty, hello.”

“There are many people looking for me. This wasn’t even a planned visit.”

“You are such a famous person, how could I not recognize you? It is an honor to meet you. I am Davia, a gold-rank mercenary from Bohedma.”

“hmm.”

When her breathing finally stabilized, the woman quickly introduced herself. Theodore didn’t show much of a reaction, but he still seemed a little more gentle than when he was talking to the governor.

“Isn’t that him? The strongest in the desert?”

“Maybe.”

Leaning close to Galen, Lilia covered her mouth and whispered in his ear. Galen nodded slightly.

Although we do not have accurate information about the ‘current’ situation, we have already figured out information about the desert that was ‘previously’ known.

The Great Desert was so large that it covered one-third of the Western Archdiocese, but most of it, except for a few areas around oases, was useless land.

It was a place where even the most prestigious families had no desire to go, so only a few people of decent standing were making a name for themselves.

The Alaba family was called the rulers of the desert and held sway over the entire desert, but their actual power was that of a mediocre warrior family from a mediocre city. They didn’t even have a single golden power in the current generation.

Davia was called the best wizard in the desert, but her skills were just average gold. It was such a desolate area that even silver wizards had a hard time finding it, so I don’t know what gold would eat and why it would stay there, but in any case, her reputation and skills were the best in the desert.

As the two men hid behind Theodore’s massive body and whispered, Davia glared at the General and growled.

“You weren’t planning on inviting Sir Theodore to your house or anything like that, were you?”

“How harsh! How dare you say such a thing! Don’t you think you should have asked permission to invite me?”

“In a delicate situation like this? A passing dog would laugh.”

The General’s face turned red at Davia’s mockery. But before he could raise his voice, Theodore’s irritated reaction came first.

“Both of you stop doing useless things and speak straight.”

“Let’s move from the seat!”

Davia quickly struck the player.

“Isn’t it because of the rumors about the ruins that Sir Theodore came to visit here?”

“But?”

“If you’re going to listen to the tangled story, wouldn’t it be better to listen from a neutral position? If you go to the Alaba family, it might seem like you’re taking their side. I guess that’s what I was aiming for when I approached you―”

“Misunderstand. I meant to invite you as a guest of the family, not to ask you to visit my home in person.”

The director’s response was quite plausible, so it was hard to tell whether it had been like that from the beginning or if he had quickly changed his tune.

“Then the obvious place to invite you would be the inn. Do you agree?”

“I told you that was what I was thinking.”

Anyway, the two men came to the same conclusion. This time, the general spoke first.

“I don’t know if you’ve heard the rumor, but there are several jewels who are interested in this matter. They are staying at the same inn.”

“Hoo.”

“It is also the best inn in Chiselin. Would you mind taking me there?”

“So be it.”

Theodore nodded.

There was no reason to argue over directions, so the General and Davia, who were walking side by side in front, were somewhat quiet. Of course, they kept their distance from each other so that they didn’t look close at all.

“Thank you for guiding me. Please stop here.”

“Thank you! Please come back again!”

Meanwhile, Galen and Lilia sent off the guide who had accompanied them up to this point. Originally, they had only contracted a one-way trip to Cicerin. They didn’t know how long the exploration of the ruins would take.

The guide was overjoyed when he was given a generous bonus on top of the promised salary.

After wrapping up the contract in such a warm manner, I quickly followed Theodore and explored the city.

It was larger than I thought, as it was surrounded by the largest oasis in the desert. Compared to the scenery where there was only a sea of ​​sand all day, it was definitely an exotic place to enjoy.

After a while, they arrived at a large inn building.

Unlike Davia, who seemed to be alone, the general quickly conversed with those who appeared to be his subordinates.

A few people ran out here and there, and the general returned and cautiously asked their intentions.

“Would you mind giving me a separate room? It would be spacious enough for three people to each have their own room.”

“Okay.”

“We’ll bring your luggage. And it looks like there’s going to be a dinner party right now. Would you like to attend right away?”

“Are the jewels coming too?”

“This place is just for them.”

“Shall we go then?”

All three of them handed their luggage over to the hotel staff.

And then I was about to head straight to the restaurant.

“Hey… those two people in the back?”

The governor called Galen and Lilia.

“The attendants cannot attend.”

“Oh, I see.”

Galen nodded and escorted Lilia as he continued walking.

As the panicked man tried to grab them, Theodore’s head jerked back.

“Who is whose attendant?”

“Yes, yes?”

“If you don’t have any insight, you should at least have some sense. Tsk.”

Theodore clicked his tongue in displeasure and lightly apologized to Galen and Lilia.

“I’m sorry. I made you hear things like that.”

“Wouldn’t it be scarier to know someone’s identity just by looking at their eyes?”

“are you okay!”

Galen responded nonchalantly and Lilia spoke brightly.

The general no longer had the courage to stop the three people who were walking without paying any attention.

Just looking into Theodore’s cold gaze a moment ago had already made his legs half-weak.

Likewise, Davia, who had not recognized Galen and Lilia, but had benefited from the saying that if you stay still, you will get somewhere, her eyes lit up as she watched their backs.

* * *

When the three entered the elegant yet luxurious restaurant, there were only two people inside.

Interestingly enough, the two did not sit at the same table. It seemed clear that they had no intention of being humble.

“Is each statue a desert tradition?”

Theodore nodded as he sat down at the empty table.

“You guys, sit comfortably. I’ll be more comfortable if I eat alone.”

“yes.”

Of course, it’s not really a desert tradition to sit side by side. Galen and Lilia naturally sat together.

As a result, five people were seated at four tables.

I wondered what this was, but since the inn itself was leased by the Alaba family in the first place, there were no other guests coming, so it didn’t really matter.

“Are you still barging in all of a sudden?”

An old man with a solid build, no less than that of a young man, perhaps as strong as Michael, spoke bluntly.

“I’m sure no one called.”

“Why, if I don’t call you, you won’t come?”

“They don’t usually come.”

It wasn’t hard to guess its identity, as there was even a sword leaning askew on the table.

Deckerd Mashrik, former head of one of the most prominent warrior families in the West.

“You shouldn’t have dragged it out like that. An intruder came in.”

A skinny old man sitting in the corner across from him muttered irritably. He was definitely not talking to himself, as even Galen, who had average hearing, could hear it quite clearly.

Ivan Murad. Despite his retirement from the front lines, he is still considered the strongest wizard in the West.

“Why did you bring the young ones here? Didn’t you say outside that you wanted to have a quiet meal?”

From Galen and Lilia’s perspective, they were the same old people, but Theodore was a contemporary of Pope Julian. To put it simply, he was an old man among old monsters, over a hundred years old.

He was almost a generation older than Deckard and Ivan, who were ‘ordinary’ old people. However, unlike Deckard, who raised the end of his words, Ivan didn’t do that. It was a part that gave a rough idea of ​​their personalities.

Of course, Theodore, being the man he is, didn’t care about ‘trivial’ remarks at all. He responded calmly.

“They said to only let the jewels in, leaving out the attendants. So you came in?”

“…what?”

Ivan wiggled his eyebrows and Deckard’s eyes narrowed.

Meanwhile, Galen and Lilia were just taking off the cloth that covered their faces like masks to protect their respiratory organs and also taking off the hoods they were wearing on their heads.

I couldn’t even recognize Galen’s face right away.

Lilia’s appearance, with her blonde hair rolled up inside her hood and flowing down like a waterfall, and her sparkling golden eyes, was very impactful.

It was impossible for them to recognize the portrait of the new archbishop that was distributed throughout the world by the church.

“Archbishop Lilia!”

“Hello! Nice to meet you both!”

As always, Lilia greeted them with a bright smile. The atmosphere in the restaurant seemed to brighten up, but Deckard and Ivan’s faces hardened.

“I don’t think this is something that even the church should interfere with?”

“yes?”

“It is a well-known fact that Sir Theodore is on friendly terms with the Pope, and now the Archbishop is coming. What else could this mean if not interference from the Church?”

“When have I ever done what Julian told me to do? It’s disgusting that he sees me as some kind of church servant.”

Theodore made a face of disagreement, and then Lilia spoke innocently.

“I just came to play with my brother?”

It was truly so, and her eyes were so innocent that they did not show a single trace of falsehood. Even Deckerd, who was from a prestigious family and instinctively felt resistance to the word church, was almost convinced.

“You’re coming to play! What nonsense—”

“It’s not like it won’t work.”

Ivan interrupted Deckard, spitting out:

“Isn’t he an archbishop who hasn’t even been appointed yet?”

“That’s right. I’m still on a pilgrimage!”

“But I heard there’s a magician on a pilgrimage with you. He’s a very young man, and he’s a jewel.”

As he said that, Ivan’s gaze turned to Galen. Galen nodded and said.

“My name is Galen.”

“Yeah, I think that was the name… … .”

The old man’s speech became increasingly blurred, but his eyes became clearer.

In his eyes, which had become cloudy with age, a blue sparkle flew as if he had returned to his youth.

Dismissed!

It wasn’t a metaphor. It really popped. It was lightning.

“It must be true, right?”

Ivan Murad.

Those who fear his power call him the Thunder Emperor.

Galen smiled heartily, feeling the threatening magic slowly blossoming from the lightning-wielding wizard.

“Shall I confirm for you?”