Chapter 23 (2/2)

“What do you mean by ‘what to do next’?” (Sedam)

As usual, Sedam and Claura are both with me. Sedam did say that after all this, he plans on returning to Lelis with his party.

“You will be coming with me to turn yourself in…… I mean, make a call at the Lelis Magician Guild.” (Claura)

I guess it’s already been decided in her mind that I’ll be taken to the Lelis Magician Guild. More like, she already told me from the start that she’s here to keep an eye on me. Well, I myself also have a need to know more about magic.

“There are other options.” (Gio)

“Such as?” (Sedam)

I also have a pressing need to do more research on anki. And before even that, I need to make a copy of my spellbook. I am tired of constantly worrying about losing the one and only copy that is currently in my sling bag. And if possible, I also want to find a house where I can just live out a comfortable retirement.

As I fold my fingers counting off the paths of action that I can take, Sedam is ready with advice as usual.

“If you want to research anki, there are several options there too. Firstly, there is the Great Library in Shulendal. You could also try the Magician Guild Headquarters. If I pull a few of my connections in the Adventurer and Merchant guilds, we could get some amount of information from various places. Lastly, and this might be a bit out there, but it might also be a good idea to investigate the Rastland Great Fortress.” (Sedam)

“Rastland Great Fortress? Isn’t that currently a citadel filled with undead!” (Claura)

The citadel that Baron Gilrand, the man who invited me to dinner last night, tried and failed to recapture. If I remember correctly, it was constructed for the sake of fighting against anki, so there might be doc.u.ments inside containing information or research. Hmm, the exploration of a citadel that has turned into a haunt for undead, huh. What a Dungeons & Braves set up.

“I think I’ll leave the dungeons for a future time.”

I mean, even the name makes it sound like the last dungeon in a game. It wouldn't be too late to get to it only after exhausting all my other choices. At the very least, I’ve got to a.s.semble a party of allies stronger than this time’s. Anyways, I don’t want to go someplace like that all by myself.

“Incidentally, what did you mean by ‘comfortable retirement’? After all you’ve done, do you seriously think that you can ever withdraw from the world?” (Claura)

Oh my G.o.d, is it really too late……?

♥♦♣♠

While talking about all this, I received a summons from the Grand Cross.

While feeling a wave of deja vu wash over me, I am once again sitting across from his solemn face in his private quarters.

“Once again, allow me to offer you thanks for your a.s.sistance.”

“Mind it not. My actions were only natural, both for an ally and for a wizard.”

As before, I am enjoying s.h.i.+l tea brewed by the Grand Cross’ own hand while we exchange inoffensive pleasantries.

“I heard that Gillion and Lioria also had some share of the action. Incidentally, hasn’t Gillion changed a bit after accompanying you on this mission?”

“...... A bit, perhaps.”

This might not be a welcome thing to hear for the man hoping to make his own son succeed his own position, but still.

“Under his father’s influence, his personality is to take everything by force. But after bearing witness to your almost absurd amount of power it seems that his thinking has changed at least a little. At this rate, he just might gain the calmness that he needs to become a proper knight.”

“Is that not a good thing for the Order?”

“Undoubtedly. I wish for Arnogia to win the seat of Grand Cross fair and square, after all.”

In other words, if the current Gillion is to fight against Arnogia, internal strife might set in. As I fixedly stare at the face of the knight with decades behind him, I cannot help but to sigh in admiration. Rather than chasing away Gillion, who is more like a beast than a knight, helping him mature in order to prevent infighting, and only then having the two of them compete. I see, this man is not just a schemer or a doting parent…… he is a true ‘knight.’

“If you had only agreed to support Arnogia at the start, I wouldn’t have to take such roundabout measures, you know.”

The old knight’s tone seems to be implying that my interpretation is still too shallow. This grandpa, he's definitely going to live a very long life.

“By the way.”

The Grand Cross puts down his cup. Are we getting to the main topic now?

“Actually, I have one more request to ask of you. It’s about that fort……”

“......”

I nod knowledgeably, but I haven’t the faintest idea what he’s getting at.

“As you already well know, that place used to be the base of some bandits. In actuality, we were the ones who built that fort several decades ago, for peacekeeping purposes.”

The decrease in anki sightings and dwindling of the Order’s numbers eventually caused the fort to be abandoned. Right now, Vice-Commander Gunnah and a few knights are stationed there due to recent circ.u.mstances, but the Order is struggling to meet the extra costs incurred by maintaining this arrangement.

Mumu. Is he about to say what I think he is about to say?

“Of course, this is only after we have become absolutely certain that there are no more leftover anki. But well, in short, we wish to offer you the fort to become your residence.”

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