Episode 46.22 (1/2)

Noon on the second day, they were given the spectacle treatment.

The group stood on the veranda of the townlord's mansion and waved at the populace below.

Lecan didn't wave. He loathed evem having to stand there. But he couldn't back down as it was a request from Jiza. Lecan would have hated it even more if him declining Jiza would put her on a tough spot.

Arios didn't skimp on his smiles which were answered back by huge cheers from the women.

There was another reason Lecan couldn't refuse Jiza.

Jiza handed over a particular object to Lecan just before the banquet.

It's the magic stone of <Chaotic Magic Wolf>.

”Oy oy. Aren't the institute bunch gonna ask for this?”

”Indeed, I am sure they are. But I would like to present this to a certain someone instead.”

”Certain someone?”

”Shira-sama.”

”Shira went away somewhere.”

”I am aware. But it's not like she has passed away, is she.”

”Well, I suppose.”

”That means you might some day meet Shira-sama once again. Am I wrong?”

”No telling when's that day.”

”It can be any time. That is a gift from me to Shira-sama. It would please me if you could deliver it.”

It would be weird if Lecan told Jiza that he will never see Shira again. Hence his only choice was to accept the magic stone. Feels like Jiza has seen through him.

But still, is this person really the same one as that sprightly mage from before. It's as if she's completely withered down. To the point that a touch could easily crush her.

That was when it hit Lecan. Doesn't that apply to Shira as well.

Shira may have an enormous amount of mana as well as being a grand mage capable of high level magic.

But she's also an elderly. She might not have the stamina and energy to keep up with protracted and large-scale combats. She's fashioned herself as someone with unprecedented level of power, but perhaps that's just one facet of her, and in reality, Lecan has the upper hands in combative ability.

It's not that Lecan has a plan to fight Shira or anything. He just realized that Shira might have more weak sides to her than he initially assumed. Shira is a mighty existence, but that enormity may also be the very reason she has multitudes of weaknesses.

(At the end of the day, she's still an elderly lady.)

(She might be weary from living such a long life.)

(Must have aching joints somewhere, and she might feel helpless at times.)

(Guess I gotta treat her more gently.)

(Maybe I oughta get some gift.)

(Ah, wait I got <Chaotic Magic Wolf> magic stone already, nevermind.)

On the tenth of month eight, Lecan and Eda left Palcimo.

Arios and Julius also left that day, they parted ways at the gate.

Julius was headed for their village to train there for a while, after that he's going to train under Lecan again, so Lecan told him to go to Vouka later.

Lecan and Eda took it easy on their trip back to Vouka. He's got some things to ask Shira, but there's no rush.

He's learned many things during their expedition at Palcimo.

The issues that arises from a long term usage of

was unknown at the capital, yet Palcimo had been researching on it for years. That fact in itself is no surprise as the Magic Research Institute can't exactly publicize their research results. But, a sage-level mage like Jiza had no idea how to cast anti-physical <Barrier> and virtually no knowledge about Grace Gear that can generate physical barriers. Yet such a Grace Gear was dropped in Dungeon Golbul. Hard to believe something similar doesn't get dropped at all in other dungeons. During his fight against Vangard's party at Dungeon Tsubolt, it looked as if they had some experience fighting opponents equipped with physical barriers. Grace Gear that can generate physical barriers may be rare, but there must be quite a few of them out in the wild.