Chapter 28 - CHAPTER 28 – WITCH’S FOREST (1) (1/2)
Terms used in this chapter:
Mutually assured destruction – a military strategy in which two opposing military forces are powerful enough to completely destroy each other. The attacker must think that he will be destroyed with his victim if he attacks. The theory is that no state would start an attack if attacking its enemy means its own destruction. Jude uses this term to refer to Yellow Storm’s destructive storm-like attacks, which could backfire on her (remember that she bled from her nose and fainted in the last chapters).
A day before leaving Langesthei, Jude and Cordelia came to the balcony to have their ‘tête-à-tête,’ which had become a regular event now, and the two immediately began their operational meeting.
“Let’s begin with checking our harvest.”
Jude wasn’t just talking about the things that Count Chase gave them. The two had made their own preparations in their short stay at Langesthei.
“I got a couple of potions. These are D-rank potions. Physical strength, mana recovery, detoxification…and stimulants just in case.”
As a commercial city, Langesthei had an abundance of magic items.
Cordelia did not spare in spending money to secure supplies, as evidenced by the fact that she wasn’t called the ‘biggest hunting king’ in Legend of Heroes 2 for no reason.
“So I’m almost out of money.”
“Do you not care much about saving money?”
“Hmph, my father gave me money though. You saw it all, right?”
She was right.
Before Count Chase left, he gave us a bag of gold coins, saying it was to add to our travel expenses.
‘Thank you, father.’
Jude, who was grateful to Count Chase, changed the topic before Cordelia talks about proper division of money (N빵, n-ppang) again.
“I got some equipment. Fortunately, the blacksmiths in Langesthei were very good.”
“Oh, knuckles. You completely bought something exclusive for you. You’ve gone the martial arts route and not the swordsman route?”
Until now, Jude had been fighting by holding the Sun’s Necklace like knuckles whenever necessary, but it was too much to properly call it knuckles. There were also concerns that the Sun’s Necklace might be damaged.
Therefore, Jude had a blacksmith forge some kind of specialized knuckles that can fit the Sun’s Necklace, so that he could fully utilize its divine power.
“Well, if you consider your equipment and so on, your combat power is higher on the martial arts side right now.”
“Hmm, I have Cheonmujiche, so it’ll be okay.”
Jude won’t lose that much even if he changed routes on the way.
Cordelia was convinced, and soon looked at the other items that Jude had taken out.
Most of the items were protective gear.
“This is usually worn outside the clothes. Isn’t it good because it’s thin?”
“That’s a very thin chain mail. Wouldn’t it hardly increase your defense?”
“But this is reality. It would be much better than nothing. You wear it so that you can avoid directly getting hurt when you get stabbed or cut by a sword in the first place.”
“Well…sure.”
Cordelia nodded as she looked at the chain mail made of thin chains and shaped like a T-shirt.
“Now, let’s move on to today’s highlight.”
It was the items given by Count Chase.
Jude pointed to the black bracelet he wore on his right wrist.
“You’ve known this bracelet once, right? Magic Defense – This is a C-rank bracelet that is especially useful in blocking dark magic.”
“Che, give me one too.”
“I’ll use it reasonably instead.”
Jude had a wily smile as he next raised his left hand.
“Next is the ring.”
“Are you wearing it already?”
“Huh? Yes. Why?”
“I-it’s nothing. Just…”
Cordelia mumbled at the end of her words, before she took out a handkerchief from her pocket and carefully unfolded it.
Inside it was a ring that looked exactly like Jude’s.
“Put it on your left hand’s ring finger. It’s a couple ring to begin with.”
“I-I know that, okay?”
Cordelia took a deep breath and swallowed deeply.
And as soon as she was about to pick up the ring…
“Give me your hand.”
“Huh?”
“Give me your hand.”
“Oh.”
When Cordelia held out her hand reflexively, Jude immediately picked up the ring and naturally put it on her left ring finger.
“Well, good. Is it because your hands are pretty? Uh…Cordelia?”
“Huh? Ah, yes. O-of course. Cordelia’s pretty.”
Cordelia snorted and quickly pulled her hand back, pretending to be calm, and Jude laughed at the sight.
“Why…why…”
“No, just.”
Jude shrugged once and turned the topic around for Cordelia.
“Before your father left, he gave me the instructions.”
“About the ring?”
As Cordelia asked while fiddling with her left ring finger, Jude nodded and answered.
“First off, there are two effects.”
“What effects?”
“The first is that the magical effect of the rings become stronger if it’s worn by two people.”
“By how much?”
“1.1 to 1.2 times.”
“Oh…is that good? Does that make attack or curse magic stronger?”
Both were generally magic, whether it’s attack or curse.
At the idea that was truly Yellow Storm’s, Jude showed the rings’ magic circle as he said.
“Let’s refrain from talking about mutually assured destruction. Okay?”
“Che, you’re not even a wizard.”
He was a martial arts fighter by profession, but if Jude could use magic like an ordinary wizard, it would be a slap to the cheek for Cordelia.
“What is the second effect?”
“When the rings are close together, the built-in magic becomes stronger. Mine is recovery magic, and yours is defense magic. When we are close to each other, it overlaps with the first effect, which greatly enhances its power.”
Cordelia looked at the ring and found the built-in <Shield> magic in the ring.
“What do you think? It’s faithful to the concept of rings, right?”
“Yeah.”
The effect is stronger when it’s worn by each other and its performance improves when we’re together.
These strangely cute magic effects were precisely made by Count Chase himself…
“Hmm, hmm.”
“Why?”
“No, I just had a little rude thought.”
In front of Cordelia who tilted her head while wondering what he was talking about, Jude recalled Count Chase’s stern face, and after taking several deep breaths, he was able to regain his calmness.