[Vol 1] Chapter 3 – The Black Saviour (1/2)

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

3-1

He heard voices.

Voices that were unknown to him.

He only heard voices——

“—— You said a living magic tool?”

The foreign man murmured surprising.

The other man replied enthusiastically

“Yes, you could also say that the magic tool fused with a person…”

He heard a deep sigh.

“… That is a forbidden method which has been confirmed to end up in failure. Give up. I’ve never heard of a successful case, doing so is only a waste of time.”

“No, it won’t be a waste of time. The creation of magic tool should not cause it to become impossible.”

“There is a line between things you can and can’t do. Which pregnant woman are you choosing to be your guinea pig?”

“Don’t use words like “guinea pig” to describe it. The person that really wishes for it is actually my wife.”

There was a long pause.

Both men thought about what they were going to say next.

The first to speak was the older man.

“That foolish girl. I’m not sure who she takes after, but her obsession with new magic tools is surprising —— However, listen up Luffis. Both you and my daughter are excellent sorcerers, and because of this, I cannot forgive you. Your father Zerdonato should also be opposed to this.”

The man’s voice sounded very solemn.

“Do not fuse life and magic tools. Magic tools are just tools, and lives are lives. Fusing these two things together is forbidden —— and will lead to a tragedy.”

The younger man heard the retort, and became even more worked up.

“But, Fandal-sama, using this method can allow the unstable ‘Ring of Backflow’ to enter a realistically stable state…”

“Stop it. Even if you want to do so, I will stop you. Even if —— I have to kill you.”

A serious silence descended.

Some sort of noise rang beside his ears, covering up the following conversation.

Then, he couldn’t hear anything.

Trapped inside darkness, he began to ponder.

(—— When was this memory from——)

He couldn’t think of anything, and deduced it as only a dream.

In the meantime, he could not help but think that it was an image of something that occurred.

(… After that, what happened…?)

In this helpless situation——

His consciousness fall into the depths of darkness once more.

3-2

—— The sound of moving water could be heard beside him.

Selo slowly opened his eyes, his vision was covered with a layer of blue mist.

Dawn had just arrived, so the surrounding was still rather cold.

His shoulders couldn’t help but s.h.i.+ver, and his face touched the soft mattress.

“… En?”

Selo awakened from his slumber and rubbed his eyes.

He felt a sense of warmth from the burning fire that was not far away. It was letting out sparks of fire.

Two sweetfish were hung up beside the fire. It appeared to have only been placed on it recently, and was still raw.

Selo slowly recalled what happened the previous night as he sat up.

In the flower field of Night Weeping Gra.s.s, he was attacked by a strange girl ——

Then, he was tricked by Helmbekt and fell down from a cliff.

“Ahhh….!”

Thinking about last night made Selo open his eyes wide open.

He was sleeping at a river bank that he has never seen before.

This was not beside the cliff.

He couldn’t have walked here on his own two legs, so he thought that someone must have moved him here.

If not —— Then this would probably be “that world”.

Selo stood up unsteadily, and surveyed his surroundings.

The mist was thick, and the Sun had not risen yet, because of this the area around the fire was pitch black.

In the dark, Selo saw a small figure.

He had originally thought that it was a child —— But, that figure was even shorter than a child.

The figure that sat by the river wore a very wide hat, adorned with a feather.

He seemed to be fis.h.i.+ng, as the fis.h.i.+ng rod was slowly vibrating.

Selo worriedly asked.

“Excuse me…”

“Ah, you’re awake. Good morning, boy. How are you feeling?”

It was a clear and proud voice.

The figure let go of the fis.h.i.+ng road and stood up.

Clearly seeing the figure that has turned around —— Selo couldn’t help but doubt his own eyes.

Selo saw a pair of long and beautiful golden irises.

The calm and subtle smile on the corner of the mouth was very elegant one could feel a strong willpower from it.

An air of authority could be sensed from his speech and actions. The sword he was carrying, as well as the hat, the military boots, and so on made his figure seem very majestic.

The only problem was——

“… Cat, the cat talked…?”

In front of Selo was a cat.

The dark blue fur that was closer to black was the color of the night sky, and it looked very smooth and soft. Although he was standing up on two feets, his height was not up to Selo’s waist, and the sword being carried was about the length of a short sword.

The cat that was fis.h.i.+ng just now retained his posture of standing on two feets, and gleamed with his smiling eyes.

“Ohya, did you not know? The cats in the city know how to speak. It’s only because the cats in the countryside have too heavy of an accent that they don’t speak the human language.”

“Ahh!? … R-really?”

The cat said calmly. Selo couldn’t help but give this kind of reply.

The black cat’s shoulders trembled and laughed.

“Is that so. You thought ‘really’? This makes me very happy.”

“Ah, no, I didn’t mean it like that…”

The black cat calmed down and picked up the black cloak.

At that moment, a smile surfaced on the black cat’s face, as logical as a sage, and as pure as a pranking child.

The cloak suddenly flew up gracefully and fluttered like a wave as it covered his body.

“First of all, as a talking cat, I should make a self introduction ——“

Just like an actor, the black cat stood up with his chest up high.

“My name is Alcain·Darkferido·Lomnalius —— The disciple of Majin Fandal and also the sorcerer t.i.tled ‘Dark Words’.”

—— At this moment, wind started blowing.

Matching his movements with the wind, he took off his hat and placed it in front of his chest, the black cat then respectfully bowed towards Selo.

Majin Fandal —— The name Selo had heard last night.

That person was the leader of the Six Sages, the Sorcerer Supreme who protects the staff of Magic G.o.d Orlaido ——

He possesses a name that overshadows any king, and with the combined forces of his disciples, they could easily wipe out an entire country.

The black cat, who lifted his black cloak, that appeared in front of Selo seemed to also be one of Fandal’s disciples.

Selo couldn’t help but be speechless, at the corner of his vision, the fis.h.i.+ng rod suddenly shook.

“… Ah, got one.”

The black cat calling himself Alcain went towards the fis.h.i.+ng rod, and using the pad and claws, he nimbly picked up the fis.h.i.+ng rod.

Looking in detail, there was a trout about the size of a carp hanging on the fis.h.i.+ng hook.

“Hey ~ yo!”

The moment after he raised the fis.h.i.+ng rod, the large trout flew towards Selo.

Selo hurriedly caught the fish with both hands, he desperately tried to restrain the large trout, and thus fell onto the floor.

Seeing such a large fish was a rare sight in town.

Turning his head, he saw Alcain laughing out loud while raising the fis.h.i.+ng rod with one hand.

“That’s a nice reaction. Now, we have enough for a breakfast for two.”

Hearing his cheerful tone, Selo also returned a smile.

A talking cat was surprising, but he didn’t look like a bad cat. Apparently there are other wild beasts that can understand human speech, furthermore he is also Selo’s savior.

Placing the large trout on a boulder, Alcain unsheathed his sword.

Selo couldn’t help but blink several times.

What he a.s.sumed to be a normal short sword had a wave-shaped edge, and the blade itself was unnaturally thin.

Selo pointed to the seemingly familiar blade and asked.

“Ah? That sword…?”

“This isn’t a sword. As you can see, it is a pastry knife. The sharpness makes it very useful.”

The pastry knife held by the pads danced in the wind.

The trout on the boulder was quickly dissected into eight chunks. The pastry knife originally wasn’t a blade for cutting fish, but with Alcain’s techniques, it could be described as an art.

Selo opened his eyes widely, while Alcain already used this time to place the trout on the metal net and started barbecuing it.

The sweetfish beside the fireplace was nearly ready.

The black cat took one and handed it to Selo.

“One for you.”

“… Thank you.”

Receiving the roasted barbecued fish, Selo stared at Alcain blankly.

“… Excuse me.”

“What is it?”

“You saved me?”

Hearing his question, Alcain lightly closed his golden eyes.

It seemed like he was smiling, while it also seemed like he was thinking.

He reached out a paw and raised three fingers.

“I helped you for three reasons.

First, I dislike the methods of the ‘Magic Race’.

Second, you are the grandson of Zerdonato-san.

Thirdly —— You needed help. If I say it like that, you can understand right?”

At that moment, Selo’s body became stiff.

The words ‘Magic Race’ and his grandfather’s name came out of the black cat’s mouth, he couldn’t help but become vigilant.

But, Alcain smiled in a way that made it seem like he had seen through Selo’s vigilance.

“Don’t worry, don’t be so stiff. I have no intention of harming you. I saved you yesterday partly due to a coincidence. Ever since Helmbekt and his men disappeared from the mansion, I followed the smell —— Then I saw you fall down the cliff. En, I was pretty surprised then.”

Alcain said like it wasn’t a big deal, but Selo didn’t give up asking.

“Yes, I fell down the cliff. Although you easily said that you saved me, but how did you do it… I fell down from such a high place.”

“That is a secret. I can’t reveal too much about magic tools.”

Alcain replied as he took the cooked sweetfish away from the fire.

Understanding that he couldn’t get any information about the magic tools, Selo changed the topic.

“… Are you not eating that sweetfish?”

“No, I am. But with a cat’s tongue, I’ll have to wait a bit till it is cooler.”

Hearing an answer that he didn’t expect, Selo stared at him blankly.

Judging from the fur, he definitely seemed like a genuine “cat”. Although his fur was slightly too long, and he looked a bit short and stout from the outside, but this created a rather unique style.

He wore a leather belt with the pastry knife’s sheath hanging on it, on its feet were military boots made from soft cloths. This combination allowed movement when all four feet were on the ground, and made him seem rather unrestricted.

Alcain sat by the fire, and casually barbecued the trout pieces.

“… Can’t you eat it raw like normal cats?”

“I’m scared of parasites that the fish from the river may have.”

Although he was a cat, his reply was one full of a human’s common sense.

Selo stared at this unique black cat and tilted his head.

“…Come to think of it, I haven’t told you my name. I’m Selo.”

“En, I know. I heard from Marill.”

That was the name of the girl living in town.

Selo couldn’t help but be surprised. Alcain revealed a happy expression.

He was like a real cat, using a paw to comb the hair on his face.

“Yesterday, I met with her in the forest. Didn’t I send her off to where you guys were beside the fountain?”

The things that happened yesterday, Selo couldn’t forget it.

,Marill, who appeared from the forest at that time did not mention the name of her savior, so Selo had a.s.sumed it was someone in the town ——

“Then, the one that told Marill not to say anything —— !”

“If that girl said ‘there’s a talking cat in the forest’ out loud, she will definitely be treated as a liar. On the other hand, if someone believed her and started a commotion, I’ll be in a difficult position.”

Alcain chuckled and pointed at the sweetfish in Selo’s hands.

“Not eating? It will get cold.”

Hearing his words, Selo started to chew on the barbecued sweetfish.

Yesterday’s dinner was also the sweetfish that he had received from the reclusive old man from the bird house. But, perhaps due to a psychological effect, the sweetfish this morning seemed to taste different.

Selo began to recall what happened last night as he ate.

Until now, he hasn’t thought through everything that happened, whether or not Helmbekt was speaking the truth, he still couldn’t make a judgement.

He, who has only been an apprentice pharmacist and has been living a normal life until now —— was nearly killed for no reason.

Looking at Selo’s serious expression from the side, Alcain lightly smiled.

“Did you get scared recalling the events from last night? Was it your first time experiencing what it was like to have your life targeted by someone?”

Selo nodded.

Alcain used his golden eyes to softly look at Selo.

“You are already used to a life of happiness, this is inevitable. Happiness is the lack of concern for what is guaranteed, only in the balance of danger would it seem important. In this world, there are a lot more tragedies. It is because of this that you must value every little ounce of happiness.”

Alcain lectured him like a philosopher, and used the metal net to barbecue the trout while taking the cooled sweetfish into his hand.

Seeing his movements, Selo hurriedly took the metal net from Alcain.

“Ahh, thank you. Don’t get too close to the fire.”

Alcain used the pads on both hands to press the fish skewer from both side, and chewed on the stomach of the sweetfish.

He munched on the delicious skin and soft meat, then said honestly.

“Take an example, human happiness is like fis.h.i.+ng.”

Selo tilted his head.

Alcain smiled and closed one eye.

“Firstly, the fish you catch is the most delicious.

Secondly, the fish you failed to catch will appear much larger.

Thirdly, even by catching a lot of small fish, you will feel happy.

It can’t be helped that you can’t catch a lot of big fish, people can’t be too greedy.”

Selo nodded, using one hand to hold the skewer and chewed on the sweetfish in his mouth.

Alcain smiled kindly towards Selo and asked.

“Delicious?”

“—— En, very delicious.”

“That’s good.”

A man and a cat sat on the misty river bank, and leisurely ate the roasted fish.

Finally, the trout had been roasted, and Alcain gave half to Selo.

Sprinkling a pinch of salt on it, the faint saltiness made the roasted fish all the more tasty.

Selo ate, and stared at the unbelievable black cat.

The cat who called himself Alcain, he had a lot that he wanted to ask. Including himself, Helmbekt and his companion, the Magic Race, the magic tools that the Magic Race was looking for, and so on ——

But, staying by his side like this, seeing his leisure att.i.tude, Selo also felt a remote sense of relaxation.

Although he shouldn’t have been in such a calm situation, he still naturally wanted to treasure this time.

The weird sorcerer who appeared as a cat, Alcain.

Apprentice pharmacist teenager, Selo ——

It was like this, that the two people met here and now.

3-3

This morning, Fino, who couldn’t sleep for the entire night, welcomed the dawn.

—— Selo still hasn’t returned.

When Fino had gone to the flower field of Night Weeping Gra.s.s to get Selo, the scene that she saw was unsightly.

Unnaturally dug up soil were everywhere, and there were a lot of burnt flowers.

She couldn’t comprehend the situation, but without a doubt “something happened”.

Fino searched through the flower field in confusion, and found a basket that belonged to Selo next to a soil mound.

There were still Night Weeping Gra.s.s leaves inside, so she concluded that Selo faced an incident during the harvesting process.

After that, Selo rode her Celestial Wooden Horse, and searched within the mountains. She occasionally went back to the mansion, to check if Selo had returned, before going back into the mountains.

The result ——

Until this morning, Selo had still not returned.

Having the situation develop to this stage, even Fino’s servant Kardena begun to worry. She didn’t scold Fino, and only stayed by her side.

The intruder the previous night hadn’t been caught either.

Fino gazed at the front gate without uttering a single word, and Kardena cautiously said to her.

“Ah, ojou-sama —— You haven’t rested yet right? When Selo returns, I’ll wake you up, so please take a rest ——“

Fino didn’t reply.

In her current state, Kardena’s voice was unable to reach her.

Selo knew the mountains very well, he couldn’t have gotten lost. Moreover, giant wild beasts wouldn’t appear at the place where the Night Weeping Gra.s.s grows either.

Where exactly is he ——

Thinking to that point, Fino’s thoughts came to a halt.

She couldn’t imagine what was next.

“… I’m going out.”

Fino murmured, then took out the Celestial Wooden Horse once again.

Kardena grabbed her hand from the side.

“Please, you should take a rest. We will look for Selo instead ——“

“… I’m sorry, Kardena. Let me look for him. If something happened to Selo, then I…”

Fino slipped, and Kardena immediately caught her.

Since she had gone all over the place controlling the Celestial Wooden horse the previous night, she had used up her stamina and mana. Although she was still young, the usage of magic tools required concentration, and couldn’t be used continuously.

Just at this moment, the adoptive father Ordoba appeared in the mansion.

Last night, he also waited till very late for the report of the intruder. Perhaps due to the lack of sleep, his expressions looked very tired.

He casted a strict glance towards Fino and Kardena.

“What, Fino? Did Selo not return…?”

Fino nodded her head. Ordoba placed his hand on his chin and asked lightly.

“… Fino, tell me the truth. The intruder you saw last night, was he similar to Selo——“

Fino almost lost all her strength to reply, and only sighed.

“… Although Selo is still a child, it’s impossible for him to be that small. Perhaps it was about the size of a dog, cat or maybe even a rabbit. However, it looked like it carried a weapon…”

Ordoba snorted.

“Is that so. The amount of food stolen last night has been counted already, only a few pieces of bread and cheese were missing, those were just food meant to be used for breakfast.”

Hearing this, Fino finally understood her adoptive father’s thought process. Selo had been scolded due to his relations.h.i.+p with Fino, and couldn’t bear it anymore, thus stole some food and left the mansion —— It seemed like the adoptive father was considering this possibility.

But, Fino clearly knew that Selo wasn’t that type of person.

“Please don’t say things like that carelessly. That is impossible. The flower field of Night Weeping Gra.s.s was all messed up. Selo’s basket also fell there. Selo must have encountered something —— “

Ordoba snorted once more.

“Then what do you think Selo encountered? What other reason could there be for his disappearance ——“

“—— No, I think he was in some kind of incident. For example —— hurting his foot somewhere.”

That voice suddenly rang out from Fino’s back.

Fino didn’t notice the person approaching, so she got scared and grabbed Kardena’s arm.

The one who entered the conversation was the Captain of the Magic Knight Squadron Helmbekt.

He was wearing a neat military uniform early in the morning and worriedly looked at Fino.

Following behind Helmbekt was lieutenant Elsie. She silently nodded. Those red pupils were very empty this morning.

The handsome youth knight suddenly grabbed Fino’s hand.

“Firiano-sama, I can understand your feelings. You must be worried about that youth ——“

“… En.”

Hearing his words, Fino nodded, but still did not let down her guard.

The youthful military commander with a terrifying expression continued.

“Even if I say that, I don’t agree with letting someone with a status such as yours go and search by yourself. No matter what happened last night, if something happened to Fino-sama, that pharmacist boy would also feel grief.”

Hearing this, Ordoba also nodded.

“Helmbekt-san is right, Fino. The flower field of Night Weeping Gra.s.s is deep in the mountains right? Also, it is barely within the effective range of the ‘Belfry of Beast Avoidance’, so it is not a place where a young girl like you should be wandering around at in the middle of the night.”

Although her adoptive father wasn’t wrong, Fino still bit her lips.

“Didn’t Selo, who just turned fourteen, also go alone there? If I knew things were going to turn out like this, then I should have followed from the start…”

While Fino was feeling repentance, Helmbekt placed his hands on her shoulders.

—— Fino’s body shuddered in disgust.

Helmbekt didn’t seem to have noticed Fino’s reaction, as he just revealed a worried expression, and said with an admiring tone.

“Fino-sama is very caring —— How about this? About the search for him, why not leave it to us? Encountering this incident while we’re staying here could also be said as fate. It’s better to have more people for the search.”

Calmly thinking, this was a thankful suggestion.

But, Fino was still hesitant on whether she should nod her head or not.

(This person’s eyes —— feels weird…)

It was hard for her to describe how Helmbekt was “actually different” to others, she just felt that his figure bore an ill omen.

Fino lightly ma.s.saged her eyes.

Fino’s “eyes” aren’t normal eyes, but magic tools that Majin Fandal installed for her to save the blind Fino, which resulted in directly influencing her sight.

Fandal called the magic tool the “Seed of Ortaff”. It was said that Spirit Ortaff who ruled over light was a very pure existence, as soon as it felt the human’s malice or bad intention, it would immediately change color.

Fino poured power into her eyes.

Since this pair of eyes were a magic tool, they would react to everyone’s mana.

She used this pair of eyes to look into Helmbekt’s eyes ——

Deteriorated.

Fino replied with an uncertain smile.

“No —— Although I appreciate your goodwill, it is unneeded. I will find Selo.”

As if her rejection was very surprising, Helmbekt revealed a confused expression.

“But, with more people ——“