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[Translator - Prøks]
[Proofreader - Prøks]
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Chapter 88
Barus' pupils trembled as if he had heard a name that shouldn't be spoken.
Seeing him, I cautiously asked,
"Do you know someone named Ani Persson?"
Barus opened and closed his mouth as if unsure how to answer, then said,
"...Of course I do. You may not know, but Ani Persson is quite famous in Sector 3."
"Famous, you say? For what reason?"
"If I had to pick a reason, it would be because of his magical knowledge."
Magical knowledge.
It was an unexpected answer.
"Is he that great?"
"He is. There's no one more knowledgeable about magic than him in all of Asternon. Even I, who have no knowledge of magic, know that."
"I see."
It seemed that Ani Persson's magical knowledge was indeed outstanding.
But at the same time, I had a question.
Could someone become this famous just by possessing magical knowledge?
He wasn't actually using magic; he was simply well-versed in theory.
Even if that were possible, it didn't explain the fear that Barus briefly displayed.
I felt that there must be another reason.
When I asked about that...
"That's right. Ani Persson's fame isn't solely due to that. But..."
"Please tell me. I beg you."
As I bowed my head politely, Barus continued his explanation with a reluctant look.
"There was an accident."
"An accident?"
"Yes. It was a big accident that caused a stir throughout Asternon."
"Could you explain what kind of accident it was?"
Barus seemed to ponder for a moment, then asked me instead,
"Before that, may I ask why you're curious about him? This is very important."
It wasn't a difficult question to answer.
"I heard that Ani Persson has been researching light magic for over 20 years. Light is the attribute I mainly handle."
"So?"
"I'm thinking of visiting him to learn about light magic."
Thud.
Barus' hand, which was reaching for his teacup, froze.
His eyes trembled again.
"...You're going to learn light magic from him?"
"Yes. Is there a problem?"
"Absolutely not!"
Bang!
Barus suddenly slammed his hand on the table.
I flinched and, after calming my surprised heart, asked,
"Why are you doing this?"
"You absolutely must not learn magic from him!"
Barus repeated the same words with a firm expression.
"Tell me why. Only then can I decide whether to learn from him or not."
"Sigh, how can I..."
Barus hesitated for a long time, as if struggling with something, before finally speaking.
"Alright, I'll tell you, but promise me one thing. That you'll never breathe a word of what I'm about to say."
"Yes, I promise."
Keeping a secret wasn't difficult.
As I nodded in agreement, Barus finally began to talk about the accident.
"It happened about 5 years ago. It was a time when Ani Persson was being talked about as having outstanding magical knowledge. The story became so famous that the rumors spread not only throughout Sector 3 but the entire Asternon."
"And so?"
"Then one day, a mage went to see Ani Persson. For the same reason as you."
"To learn light magic?"
"That's right. His name was Rodveny Ashitan. A 7th Circle mage working for the royal family."
"A Royal Mage?"
"That's right."
"Huh."
Honestly, I was a bit surprised.
A mage who had reached the 7th Circle went to Ani Persson to learn magic.
Moreover, this Rodveny wasn't just any mage, but a Royal Mage.
That meant Ani Persson's knowledge was outstanding.
Even more so than I had thought.
"Rodveny's purpose was to learn light magic from him and also to recruit Ani Persson to the royal family."
"Learning magic must have been a way to confirm Ani Persson's skills."
"Probably. At first, anyway."
"At first?"
Barus stroked his beard.
"Rodveny's purpose changed. After he visited Ani Persson, for some reason, Rodveny didn't return to the royal family for a long time. Even though a return order must have been issued."
"Why?"
"I can tell you exactly why. I met Rodveny a few times back then. And..."
Barus continued with a serious expression.
"Rodveny's eyes at that time looked as if he was obsessed with something. No, I'm sure of it! It was the same look as the fanatics I had arrested before."
"...Fanatics."
In life, there are sometimes people who are obsessed with something.
Such people definitely have a different look in their eyes, and it seemed like Barus sensed that in Rodveny.
The question here was what Rodveny was obsessed with.
And it was surely...
"Related to Ani Persson."
"That's right. That's the most likely."
"Hmm."
After a brief silence, Barus continued.
"Anyway, in that situation, the incident happened. A very sudden incident. Rodveny suddenly disappeared."
"Disappeared?"
"In broad daylight, in the middle of the Sector 3 plaza! There were many witnesses. Dozens of people said that Rodveny suddenly disappeared in the middle of the plaza. After that, no trace of Rodveny could be found anywhere."
A 7th Circle mage belonging to the royal family disappeared without a trace?
And in front of many people?
What on earth happened?
"According to testimonies, Rodveny said he would prove Ani Persson's last teaching. Right before he disappeared."
What was certain was that Ani Persson would know the reason.
"...How did the royal family react?"
"Naturally, the royal family investigated Ani Persson, the prime suspect. But even they couldn't find Rodveny's whereabouts. The strange thing is, the royal family didn't hold Ani Persson accountable, but instead kept the incident a secret."
"What?"
"A proclamation was issued to strictly silence the people of Sector 3, and those who violated it and spread rumors were punished."
"Huh."
Now I understood why I knew nothing about this incident.
If the royal family directly intervened and enforced silence, it would be impossible for the Information Guild to know about it.
"I also heard that Ani Persson and the royal family made some kind of deal... but only they know if it's true."
A direct deal with the royal family.
It was a plausible story.
If that were true, it would explain why the royal family hid this incident and why Ani Persson was alive and well without any punishment.
At this point, a thought came to mind.
"Is it okay for you to tell me this?"
Why was Barus telling me this?
It wasn't like Barus, who only saw people as tools, was telling me this out of concern for me.
To that question, Barus replied,
"Wouldn't it be troublesome for me if you disappeared? After all the effort I put into this contract?"
He said it was to keep the contract with Asion Gale.
It was a very Barus-like thought.
"Anyway, don't ever go see that man. He's someone who can erase the existence of a Royal Mage without a second thought, so getting rid of you would be nothing to him."
"But Ani Persson has no reason to be hostile towards me, does he?"
"Well, the same could be said for Rodveny."
He had a point.
Ani Persson, who resided in Sector 3, would have no reason to be hostile to someone from the royal family, especially if they were close.
"So please be careful. At least until the war is over."
Barus said with a pleading tone.
There was also a hint of warning in his eyes.
He was probably telling me not to go see Ani Persson.
I nodded without any resistance.
"Yes, I understand. I can't let anything interfere with the contract."
"Good thinking."
How much time had passed?
After that, I discussed the payment schedule for the other rewards with Barus and left the war command center.
And I stopped at a place a little distance away from there.
My mind was currently complicated.
"...What should I do?"
I told Barus that I wouldn't go see Ani Persson, but well...
There was no need to keep that promise.
The decision of whether to go or not was entirely up to me.
Recalling the story I had heard, I thought about the risks.
The biggest risk was, of course...
'Ending up like Rodveny.'
It meant I would disappear without a trace, just like Rodveny.
Of course, that didn't seem very likely.
As I said before, Ani Persson had no reason to do that to me.
Even if he did have a reason, I didn't think he could do it without me noticing.
It meant I could respond in time.
What I was more concerned about was what Barus had said about Rodveny's state.
'He said he was obsessed.'
Something that could captivate a 7th Circle mage working for the royal family.
Ani Persson had that.
And it was related to 'light'.
Knowing this, it didn't take me long to make up my mind.
"Let's go see him."
Perhaps it would lead to significant progress in my light magic.
***
"This is the place."
Ani Persson's residence, as informed by the Information Guild.
I was currently standing in front of it.
I had come to a rational conclusion and came here, but perhaps because of the strange incident Barus told me about...
I was a little nervous.
"...If it seems dangerous, let's run away immediately."
With that resolve, I knocked on the door.
Knock, knock, knock.
How long did I wait?
The door rattled open, and a smell like medicine wafted out from the gap.
At the same time...
"...Who is it?"
A middle-aged man poked his head out from the gap.
Gray hair tangled together, a fluttering white robe.
Dull eyes filled with fatigue.
He looked more like a scientist worn out from work than someone who researched magic.
Still, it was a relief that he had a more normal image than I had expected.
I put on the brightest face I could and said,
"Are you Mr. Ani Persson?"
"Yes, I am, but..."
"I have a favor to ask."
"...A favor, you say?"
"If it's not too much trouble, I'd like to learn light magic from you, Mr. Ani Persson."
Immediately after saying those words...
I suddenly felt a chill.
"Ahahaha, light magic?"
As soon as he heard that, Ani Persson's eyes curved into crescents.
The dullness in his eyes disappeared completely.
They were clear and sharp, like he had found a good ingredient.
"I'd be delighted! Please come in!"
Ani Persson suddenly opened the door wide and let out a chuckle.
Now that the situation had come to this, I was hesitant.
'...Is it really okay to go in?'
I had thought about it so much...
What was this ominous feeling?
It felt like I was entering a place I shouldn't.
I cautiously placed my hand on my left chest.
Thump, thump, thump...
Fortunately, my heart wasn't racing.
It wasn't a dangerous situation.
Not yet.
"Come in. Heeheehee!"
Seeing Ani Persson laughing openly, I finally took a step forward.
This had to be better than going to a dark mage or a Royal Mage.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Prøks]
[Proofreader - Prøks]
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