Only My Magic Levels Up - Chapter 189



Only Noblemtl

Episode 189: The Land of the Martyrs (8)

“Are you two planning to do some pre-meal exercise?”

The war of nerves that was about to break out between the two jewel wizards was shattered by Theodore’s thoughtless words before it could even fully blossom.

“You’re not even a kid, so why are you trying to fight over something so trivial?”

“… … .”

“… … .”

For this moment, Galen and Ivan’s thoughts coincided. They shared the impression that it was truly a terrifying outburst.

“Dear Kyung… I didn’t expect to hear something like that.”

Ivan was so dumbfounded by the words, “Don’t fight, you’re not even a kid,” from someone who was rumored to be crazy about fighting and who actually was.

“I don’t think that’s something that someone who really enjoys ‘exercising’ before and after meals should say.”

Galen grumbled without any ill intentions. Even though he had tried to control it within the limits of not pushing himself too hard, Theodore, who had demanded training from Lilia under the pretext of exercise whenever he had the chance, was saying something like that.

Of course, Theodore had his own reasons. Surprisingly, they were plausible.

“Well, you guys don’t seem to be ending this ‘movement’. You’re not planning on destroying the inn, are you?”

“…I hope you don’t think of me as a violent person like you.”

Although he reluctantly responded, Ivan completely withdrew his magic power, as if he really hated being associated with Theodore as an equal.

Even clapping hands makes a sound. If Galen were to make more noise while Ivan was out there, he’d just be called ill-mannered.

‘No, why are you suddenly speaking normally?’

Of course, unless the other person suddenly turns around, there’s no way a fight will break out right away, but I thought it might be worth a try.

Although it was a little disappointing, Galen gathered his thoughts at that point.

I have a rough idea of ​​how long it takes to steal magic from a Gem Wizard. From my experience stealing Death Mist from an Orc Wizard.

It was impossible to reach 100% progress by simply hitting the enemy a few times. It took a process of holding each enemy and exchanging attacks and defenses to some extent.

Unless Ivan suddenly becomes kind and readily agrees to a duel, it would be impossible to dismiss that level of conflict as ‘light’. If they start fighting right after meeting, they’ll be treated as strangers than Theodore. That was a no-no.

Deckard shook his head as the two wizards became quiet for similar reasons.

“I have enough of a headache now, let’s not make it any more of a headache.”

“Why the hair again?”

“It’s because of you!”

Deckard raised his voice at Theodore’s attitude, which seemed to be asking because he really didn’t know.

Just then, a cautious knock was heard. The employees who had come in cautiously placed their plates in front of each person.

“From the next plate onwards, bring me five times more. Do you think I’ll be full after eating this?”

“Yes, yes!”

The food was excellent, except for a few minor issues that didn’t take Theodore’s appetite into account. If the food we had eaten in the towns we passed through was more like home cooking, this was a proper full course meal.

After emptying one plate, Theodore resumed the story where he had left off for a moment.

“First of all, let me say this: I know nothing about the circumstances surrounding this ruin. I don’t even know why you came.”

“Really?”

“I’m telling you, I’m not even from the West. Do you think I would be interested in a place like this in the middle of a sandy place?”

“Hmm.”

“We too.”

Galen added as Deckard let out a soft groan.

“I came here out of curiosity because I heard all sorts of rumors going around, but I don’t know which of the rumors are true.”

“…Then why did you come?”

“You said you came to play? Does that sound too light? Then I’ll say you came to broaden your horizons.”

“It’s a matter of experience.”

“Wouldn’t it be a great part of exploring the ruins?”

Galen was too young to argue that he had gained so much knowledge by becoming a jewel. In terms of age alone, he was at the peak of his career.

While Deckard, who was at a loss for words, closed his mouth for a moment, Theodore calmly ordered.

“Can’t you at least tell me what the circumstances are? Can’t you do that for someone who came all this way?”

“If someone heard me, they would think I invited them as a guest and treated them poorly. What do you mean, you came without permission?”

Deckard’s gaze, which had been laughing in vain, turned to Ivan. The gaze that had met by chance for a moment was soon turned away as if telling him to do whatever he wanted.

“Yeah, you should know that.”

“I guess I should explain it too,” Deckard muttered quietly, then let out a faint sigh and opened his mouth.

“To put it simply, in the end, it’s essentially a dispute over ownership of the relics.”

“Who is the owner?”

“I just told you that we were fighting. The Alaba family and… you know Davia?”

“I met you on the way here.”

“Looks like there was some friction again. Can you guess what their relationship is? It’s a dispute between the two.”

Davia is a self-made gold wizard who started out as a mercenary, and although the Alaba family has no gold, they are a relatively strong family with dozens of silver warriors.

Jewel is a monster that can sweep away even prestigious families on its own, but that’s only possible because Jewel is a power beyond the norm.

Gold alone cannot take on a family as large as Alaba. If you use your wits and try to defeat them one by one like an assassin, it might be possible, but a head-on confrontation is not possible.

Therefore, even though Dabia was the strongest in the desert, he could not act as he pleased, and from the perspective of the Alaba family, if they clashed, the damage would be severe, so they avoided friction with Dabia as much as possible.

“There are several legends handed down among the inhabitants of the Great Desert, the most famous of which is ‘The King’s Tomb.’”

“The King’s Tomb?”

“There’s a common story. Long ago, there was a very powerful kingdom. When one of its kings died, he built a very large tomb and buried a lot of gold and silver treasures in it.”

“It’s really common. Isn’t it a legend that can be found everywhere? But what kind of powerful kingdom is it in the desert? It must have been at the level of Alaba at best.”

“That’s the legend! I’m not claiming it!”

“Oh, that’s right.”

To some it may seem like empty talk, but to others it may be taken seriously.

Dabia, whose hometown was the desert, seemed to want to personally find traces of the old legend after acquiring the power of gold.

“And then you actually found it?”

“exactly.”

“Did you receive any help from the Alaba family during that process? Is that why there was a dispute over ownership?”

“That’s true, but it’s a bit… subtle.”

It seems that the Alaba family also helped out because it was their front yard and they could not ignore the Golden Wizard.

But it’s foolish to truly believe in a piece of legend that may be hundreds or thousands of years old. I never expected that.

But the relics really popped out.

Since there was no thorough planning based on accurate intelligence from the beginning, there was no promise of what to do when the relics were actually discovered.

“The Alaba family claims that they have a stake in the ruins since they excavated them with their help in their own front yard, while Dabia claims that they should stop talking nonsense since she didn’t provide any actual help.”

“It would be easier if we just had a showdown and the winner took it.”

“That’s impossible, in this case.”

“I know that much.”

The case is quite different from the dispute between House Steelwall and the Red Rock Alliance over the ruins of Oklanne.

At that time, humans and elves did not have a cooperative relationship to begin with, and the one who discovered the ruins was clearly an elf.

Above all, both sides had the power to attack the ruins on their own.

Of course, it was a much more difficult ruin than I thought, so if Galen and Lilia weren’t there, a major accident would have occurred, but if it was a normal ruin, I could have broken it without any problems.

On the other hand, even if the Davia and Alaba families were to perfectly combine their powers, it would be a waste to challenge the ruins by paying one hundred dollars for one gold.

Even if we join forces, it’s the same, but since we’re fighting over who owns it, even if it’s decided that the ruins belong to one side, we won’t be able to explore them anyway.

“Is that why you got involved? Because you have to be from a prestigious family to be able to conquer the ruins?”

“How dare you interfere. I clearly received an ‘invitation’ to come.”

Ivan, who had been listening until then, blurted out.

“Davia is the gold of Bohedma.”

“Bohedma… Oh, that’s right. The Murad family’s main home was there. If they were mercenaries who were active there, they would have had a connection to your family, right?”

“Of course. Magicians of different lineages are always useful. Moreover, I can’t just sit back and do nothing since Mashrik is involved.”

“Then Sir Deckard, you too?”

“Our family’s territory borders the Great Desert, right? We sometimes cross it, so we maintain friendly relations with the House of Alaba. And I’ve even heard that Murad is on the move, so how can I stay still?”

“I understand now.”

Theodore nodded.

It was essentially a war of nerves between prominent families, a fight between children that escalated into a fight between adults, although it was rarely entangled with relics.

“Looking at the fact that you’re still hesitating, it seems like even if you got involved, the issue of fighting over a share of the ruins hasn’t been agreed upon. Let me know when you’re done.”

“…What are you going to do if I tell you?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

“How shameless. How dare you say you’d join in on the exploration of someone else’s ruins.”

Ivan, who was grumbling, looked towards Galen.

“Are you trying to say the same thing?”

“No way? I just want to experience how the ruins came to be. I’m not interested in the relics at all.”

“Would it be possible for that to happen when the relics are actually discovered?”

“Should we write a contract?”

“That piece of paper, if you decide to ignore it, that’s it. Who will punish you for doing that? Us? You, a church member?”

Ivan laughed bitterly. Galen didn’t bother to argue. It seemed that he had helped the church more times than the church had helped him, but in the first place, when he was considered to be a set with Lilia, it was impossible for him to say that he was not a church person.

“Even if you have no material desires at all, why should I put myself through all the trouble to broaden your horizons? I like the church’s involvement in the exploration of these ruins.”

“What do you think, Sir Deckard?”

“Hmm? Oh, um. If I had a lack of power, I would have seriously considered it… … .”

Decker trailed off. I could already guess what he was going to say.

“I’m sorry to say this, but when I move with people from the church, I feel like I’m being supervised. Just because I came as a private individual doesn’t mean the church background disappears. This time, I’m more inclined to follow Prince Ivan’s opinion. Even if I allow it to the maximum… Sir Theodore is the limit.”

“Is that so?”

I didn’t know the entrance would be cut off at all.

Galen’s expression became slightly awkward.

* * *

“It seemed like he was trying his best not to show it, but I could tell he was secretly feeling a sense of anxiety. I could tell he was feeling something similar.”

After dinner, while Galen and Lilia were resting in the annex, Theodore, who had met Ivan and Deckard alone, said this.

“Feeling anxious?”

“If we all enter the ruins together, wouldn’t there be five jewels?”

“Isn’t that so?”

“You and Archbishop Lilia are naturally in the same group, and if I had to choose a side, I would choose you two over those two. So even if Ivan and Deckard were to join hands against force, it would still be a three-on-two situation.”

“So… are you saying that you’re worried about the three of us holding hands and drowning both of us?”

“It’s just my guess. But if it’s the distrust of the church that’s characteristic of noble families, then I would consider such a worst-case scenario. Otherwise, I don’t see any reason to feel anxious.”

“I’m a little confused.”

Lilia muttered in an absurd tone. It wasn’t something grand enough to be called a secret order from the Pope, but for someone who had been asked to stop an incident if it happened, it was an absurd accusation.

“Of course, that’s not the only reason. I can’t ignore you while I’m exploring, I don’t want to reveal the results of my exploration to the church, and I have to worry about whether I really shouldn’t give you a single penny. There are probably many reasons for this and that. The problem is that I have no reason to think positively.”

“Sir Theodore, you have permission to accompany me.”

“I’m close to Julian, not the church. Even if you involve me, it’s relatively less burdensome. There have been a few times in the past when I’ve interfered in a similar way.”

“You had a career… … .”

“To be exact, since you reluctantly included me, you are saying that you will never be included either.”

That doesn’t mean that I would have readily included the two of them when Theodore didn’t come and only the two of them showed up.

I never thought that the pro-church tendency would hold me back like this.

“I expected you wouldn’t be happy about it… but I didn’t know you’d be so resistant that you wouldn’t even allow me to approach you, let alone enter.”

Galen sighed.

“You say you’re just going to look around, but that’s a bit rude.”

“I guess there’s nothing I can do about it.”

Lilia held Galen’s hand and comforted him.

“I have no choice but to go in secretly.”

“…yes?”