Wizard of the Deep Sea Chapter 50: Knight (2)

TL/ED – Miso

First, after buying everything I needed, I headed to the Orphanage.

It was very quiet, perhaps because it was a holiday morning and everyone was still asleep. As I looked at the snown built in the playground and the half-broken snow wall that had clearly been used in a snowball fight, I saw the Director who had been sweeping the path.

“Oh, Jern! It’s been a while…?”

The Director of the Orphanage looked at , the boxes floating around , and the fancy robe I was wearing, and let out a sigh.

“…Hmm, you’re casually using magic that even most nobles I’ve seen couldn’t handle.”

“Well, it’s closer to a curse than actual magic. Is it alright if we talk inside?”

“There’s no reason why not. These boxes are-”

“I brought snacks, and a few other things as well.”

“Oh, really? May I take a look?”

“Of course.”

I set the boxes down in the playground.

At first, the Director opened the boxes with a big smile, but soon turned pale.

“Snacks, clothes, notebooks, shoes, a stove…? Wait a second… this is Trita product! This, this is incredibly expensive…!”

“I figured you’d refuse if I gave money, so I bought it like this instead. I hope you like it.”

“A, ah, of course I like it and it’s all things we need, but I can’t even begin to guess how many thousands of silver this all adds up to… Just where did you earn that kind of money?”

Instead of answering, I held out a key.

I wondered if the Director, being a regular person, wouldn’t recognize it, but perhaps due to past experience as a scribe, he covered her mouth and stared at the key in disbelief.

“Jern, did you beco an apprentice at the Black Magic Tower? My goodness…”

“Yes. Is it a famous Tower?”

“It’s the most historic and prestigious elite Magic Tower there is. So much so that people give up managent positions at other Towers just to beco apprentices there… Joining the Black Magic Tower at age ten, I’ve never heard anything like it in my life.”

So it really was an incredible place.

Dersia had told to just think of the key as sothing like a bank card that pays for things, but just from its reputation alone, it seed to be far more than that.

The Director, seeming to snap back to his senses, quickly set the broom down nearby.

“Oh dear, let’s head inside first. You’ll catch a cold like this.”

“Ah, is it cold right now?”

“? Of course it is. What are you talking about?”

“It’s nothing.”

I an, I’m always cold, but it doesn’t feel any colder just because it’s winter.

It’s more like a consistent, manageable chill maintained by the Burden.

…I guess I can’t keep ignoring this. If I die from hypothermia while withstanding pressure, it won’t even be sothing to joke about.

In the Director’s office, he brewed tea with water that had been prepared in advance.

“So, what have you been up to this ti?”

“Well-”

Drinking the warm tea the Director had made, I had a long chat for the first ti in a while with no particular purpose.

Even without ntioning the terrorists who tortured and killed people for no reason, there was still plenty to talk about.

After so ti had passed, the conversation shifted to listening to the Director’s stories.

“So Dolph decided he wanted to beco a knight too, and he released a bunch of rats into a pit and jumped in.”

“…That’s a rather unique training thod.”

“He must’ve done it after hearing Linl talk about how she trained by catching animals in the back mountain. But really, where on earth did he get that many rats…”

“Ah.”

Right. I’d actually forgotten to ask sothing.

I furrowed my brow and shifted the topic slightly.

“By the way, has Linl… ever co back?”

“Hmm.”

The Director’s expression turned slightly ambiguous.

“Looks like you saw her too. Well, it’s not like the girl has changed.”

The Director let out a sigh, picked up the cooled teacup, and explained the situation.

“Have you ever heard of a Heaven’s Judgent Knight?”

“No. What’s that?”

“Hmm, then do you know much about knights?”

“Yes.”

Although the Crimson Circle easily sliced them apart, one can’t not know how monstrous knights really are.

They learn Body Reinforcent Art, so magic doesn’t work well on them, and a single swing of the sword can cut down more than ten people. If compared to Earth, they would be called walking tanks or strategic weapons.

If you’re a Knight Commander, you’re basically a fighter jet. It’s just that what Crimson Circle uses isn’t magic, but a World itself, it’s a matter of compatibility, so getting massacred is inevitable.

“They say a real knight can take down a dragon on their own. Not sure if dragons even exist, though.”

“Then what do you think happens when a knight like that goes rogue?”

“Hmm…”

That’s true.

Sending a Wizard to deal with soone trained in Body Reinforcent Art is too dangerous. But sending in the army would cost too much.

“They’d send a stronger knight, I suppose?”

“Exactly. Knights tasked with those executions are called Heaven’s Judgent Knights.”

“What? Wait, they made Linl do sothing like that?”

“Don’t worry too much. For the past few decades, there hasn’t been a case where a knight plotted rebellion or was branded an enemy. Heaven’s Judgent Knights are always selected from those with exceptional talent. It’s not a lifelong role either, and when they later establish their own knight order, having been a Heaven’s Judgent Knight is a huge advantage.”

So it’s more like a prestigious, elite path than sothing you actually end up doing.

The Director continued, wearing a face that said he had plenty he wanted to say but couldn’t bring himself to say aloud.

“The training of Heaven’s Judgent Knights is, of course, different from that of ordinary knights. In that environnt, where even other cadets treat them like royalty… Linl, hmm. She’s veered off a bit, but in a cute way.”

“Dark Night Lightning Judgent Knight.”

“Isn’t that… cute?”

“It is cute. But still, I think I should see her for myself.”

The girl who used to be so pure now seed to be tainted by sothing, perhaps even being tortured under the guise of training.

I needed to confirm how she was really living. I handed the Director a sheet of paper and a pen.

“Could you write down where Gwallan-nim is currently staying?”

I’d just peek a little.

*

The Director ended up telling exactly where Linl usually trained at the Academy.

“She’s probably out there running hard even now.”

That’s what he said.

And the mont I arrived at the Training Ground, I knew he hadn’t been lying in the slightest.

“Run faster! The chant!”

“Le, left foot, right foot, left foot!”

“?

Though, she wasn’t running alone.

Linl, clad in armor, was sprinting across the Training Ground while driving other kids holding swords to run with her.

Her face was completely expressionless, cold to the extre, nothing like the Linl I knew.

Her charisma was off the charts. Even though the cadets only had a single sword each, they were way slower than the fully armored Linl.

Mid-run, Linl glanced back and scolded them in a tone full of disappointnt.

“You can’t even do forty laps with just one sword in hand? At this rate, forget becoming knights, you couldn’t even beat a wild boar!”

“S-sorry, ma’am!”

“I told you to build your stamina, didn’t I- huh?”

Mid-sentence, Linl’s sharp gaze landed on .

I raised a hand and gave a small wave.

“…Take a break!”

“Y-yes ma’am…”

The cadets looked like they didn’t even have the strength to respond and collapsed.

And then, in a flash, Linl ran over, and hugged .

“Jern!! Where have you been all this ti!!”

“Ku, kuhk… Good to see you.”

Her strength was no joke. She was so fast I couldn’t even dodge, and even when I patted her back trying to tap out, Linl only hugged tighter.

No joke, if I hadn’t been training, I might’ve actually broken sothing from the pressure.

“H-hey, seriously…”

“Ah, right!”

Linl finally let go of and looked at with a sowhat indignant expression before pouring out her words in a rush.

“When I went to the Orphanage last ti, where the heck were you?? The Director didn’t know either, just said you’d be safe. I went there just to see you… You could’ve at least left a ssage!”

“Sorry, sorry. I was learning so stuff from my master. What about you… have you been alright?”

“Yup!”

I held Linl’s shoulders and looked her over from top to bottom.

Aside from dyeing her hair black, and wearing that bizarre, downright insane armor and sword.

That bright smile of hers was exactly the Linl I knew.

So she hasn’t been abused, and it’s not like puberty has turned into so edgy phase either. I let out a sigh of relief and led Linl out of the Training Ground.

“I heard you won sothing called the Golden Bell Tournant. Congrats.”

“Ehhehe, it was nothing. Everyone else was below standard. No being with that level of physical body could defeat , the Dark Knight who brings divine punishnt.”

“What?”

“What have you been up to, Jern?”

“I-”

I saved so kids, won a tournant too, and beca an apprentice at the Black Magic Tower.

Rumors about that mysterious commoner Wizard probably had spread outside the noble society by now, but it didn’t seem like Linl had caught wind of them yet.

I shrugged and replied.

“I just studied magic hard. Didn’t really do anything special.”

“Really? Well, Jern, you’re smart! Just study a little more and you’ll be the world’s greatest Wizard!”

“Thanks for saying that. But um… your way of speaking, and even your appearance, they’ve changed?”

When I cautiously brought that up.

Linl suddenly grew serious and looked up at the sky.

“Yeah. I’ve changed.”

“Why so.”

“I’ve been given a mission.”

She fiddled with the sword, which had sothing inscribed on it in runes, and murmured with a sorrowful look in her eyes.

“There are too many bad people in the world. I have to stop them. My talents were given to for that purpose.”

“What? What kind of people?”

“People who hurt Wizards.”

“?

What is she even talking about? I thought, and then.

Linl took a step. But not just a step.

“Uh.”

The distance of several paces between us was erased, literally.

Her nose was almost touching mine, and without any hesitation, Linl stared straight into my eyes.

I couldn’t even breathe, but I froze. Then, as if it was nothing, Linl turned her head and gazed back up at the blue sky with a faint wistfulness.

“Jern, do you know what they call people like you?”

“A Wizard?”

“You’re a Natural-born Wizard.” (TL: Harry)

That’s an old term.

And frankly, I could hardly be called a typical Natural-born Wizard. As I studied Linl’s movents, I saw her returning the sword to its sheath.

That was the only result I saw, I hadn’t seen her sheath it.

I narrowed my brow and realized, so this is what it is.

So of Linl’s actions were so fast that the process itself was practically erased.

“Natural-born Wizards live really tragic lives. They don’t even know they’re Wizards, so they get kidnapped, treated like expensive slaves, sold here, sold there… and live like pets.”

Unless it’s Current sense in Deep Fusion state – it’s not easy to catch with normal Current sense. With the naked eye? Preposterous.

Now I was starting to understand why knights are the natural enemies of Wizards.

To close the distance this way and execute a beheading in a process that’s almost erased, and magic doesn’t even work on them?

Unless you’ve anticipated combat and made preparations, by the ti the knight steps onto the battlefield and chooses your death as their goal, everything’s already over.

“But don’t worry, Jern!”

-Crrrack.

“Keugh… kuhk…”

Before I knew it, Linl had erased her movents again and was hugging tightly with teary eyes.

“I’ll protect you no matter what!”

“Th-thanks.”

Even with my trained body, I could feel the pressure.

As I looked at Linl smiling brightly, I felt that maybe she was actually doing okay, more than I expected.

Except for one thing.

“…Co to think of it, Linl. That ‘Dark Night Lightning Sothing Knight’-”

“Ah!!”

Linl stepped back with a sparkle in her eyes and cleared her throat.

“Isn’t it cool? I ca up with it myself!”

“R-really…?”

“Yup!”

…Well, I guess I can consider it cute.

I gave a bitter smile and patted her shoulder.

“Still, it’s good seeing you again. I ca in such a rush today I didn’t even bring a gift, but next ti-”

“I don’t need gifts, let’s go to my house!”

“…Huh?”

Now that I knew there weren’t any serious problems, I was about to head off to check in with Elysia when Linl shook her head and gripped my hand tightly.

“I’ll make dinner for you! You have to see Dad too!”

“Gwallan-nim? No, it’s not really necessary…”

“You have to see him!”

Sothing was burning in Linl’s eyes as she stared up at so forcefully.

…This girl, she really uses that distance-erasing technique way too casually. I knew she ant no harm, but from a Wizard’s perspective, it was terrifying.

“Alright, I’ll eat before I go. But what about your classes?”

“Wait just a second!”

-Ping!

With a sound that made it clear how fast she moved, Linl vanished and returned exactly 30 seconds later.

“All done for today! I told them all to disperse! Everyone listens to anyway, so it’s fine! Let’s go now!”

“…”

There was no room to escape.

When we arrived at Gwallan’s house, which was simpler than I’d expected.

Linl went up to her room and ca back down with an armful of books.

“Jern! These are magic books I wanted to give you!”

“Oh, wow, thanks.”

In reality, they’re things not very useful to .

But I accepted them with a thankful smile. Linl was counting the books, then clapped her hands like she just rembered sothing.

“…Ah! Right, there was a Magic To at that bookstore too, but I didn’t buy it!”

“Wait, but Magic Tos are super expensive, isn’t it a bit-”

“I still have plenty of prize money left! Tons left, so don’t worry. You just stay here and eat with Dad, I’ll be right back!”

And like a storm, Linl swept through the room and vanished.

Now it was just and Gwallan, Linl’s father, left alone awkwardly.

It really was awkward. I’m not exactly the most sociable person, so while I was wondering how to start a conversation, he cleared his throat first.

“…Ahem, you’re Jern, right? This is the first ti I’ve seen her listen to soone else so well.”

“Ah, yes. Does she not even listen to you, Gwallan-nim?”

“She… does listen. But there’s not much for to say.”

Gwallan brought out a pot with hands the size of cauldrons and served a bowl of stew.

“She never skips training, she has excellent leadership, she never causes trouble, and even by historic standards, her talent is overwhelming. What more could I ask for? I’m completely content.”

But as he said that, Gwallan wore a slightly complicated expression.

“Everything’s so good… almost too good. That’s why, no matter what I say- hah. There’s no justification for it. For example, have you seen Linl training the other kids?”

“Yes. She’s like a demon instructor.”

“That’s the thing… among them are children of nobles, so I tried telling her to go easy on them, but she insisted her thods were correct. I couldn’t stop her. For now, the trainees seem satisfied, so I guess it’s fine, but later on it might blow up into so issue…”

Once the floodgates opened, it seed like he had a lot to say.

Gwallan drank his stew like it was water and let out a deep sigh.

“With her incredible talent, she’ll soon be called to many different places. I’m worried sothing might happen if she acts like she does now in those environnts.”

A bit of a privileged worry, if you ask .

I casually tossed out a suggestion.

“If it ever gets too hard, I could help.”

“You could?”

“Yes. Linl listens to really well, right?”

“Hmm, then I’d appreciate it… but if you’re saying that because you want to adopt you, I’ll have to refuse.”

That one stung a little. I pulled out the key from inside my robe.

“…No, I’m a Wizard. I have a master, and I’ve joined a Magic Tower.”

“What?”

So Gwallan didn’t know?

If so, then Linl must’ve done a great job keeping the secret. I used Current Sense to lift my bowl in the air.

Gwallan stared at and the stew in shock.

“A Natural-born Wizard…! Ah, so that’s why Linl reacted like that when Natural-borns ca up…”

“Huh? What do you an?”

“During ideological training, there was a lecture about how fallen knights made most of their money by hunting Wizards, specifically Natural-borns, and selling them. Thinking back, she started changing after that day.”

So it’s kind of my fault too, huh.

Gwallan nodded with a look of relief.

“Right… a Wizard and a Knight coming out of the sa orphanage. That really is sothing. If I ever need to calm Linl down a bit in the future, I’ll be sure to call you.”

“Thank you.”

With this much, I had secured a reason to et Linl again later.

No need to rush. As I took a spoonful of stew, Gwallan asked with a sowhat expectant expression.

“Oh, and. I’m just asking in case-”

“Yes, feel free to speak.”

“Could you… possibly persuade her about that knight na? When she turns thirteen, she has to decide on a knight title that she’ll use for the rest of her life…”

“…I’ll try my best.”

It wouldn’t be easy.

But Gwallan’s expression was so desperate that I couldn’t give any other answer.

*

“You’re really not staying the night?”

“It’s fine. I’ll definitely see you again. Could you let go of this robe now? If it tears, I’ll be in big trouble…”

“…Alright. But if you ever need my help, promise you’ll ask!”

“Sure.”

The evening darkened.

As expected, it felt like too much of an imposition to stay overnight at Gwallan’s house, so after a short conversation, I left with a proper send-off.

My bag was filled with Magic Tos. Not too heavy thanks to Current Sense, but I didn’t really have any use for them.

Where should I put them?

“I wonder if the library is open…”

I had planned to sleep at the Orphanage tonight, my ho, but since the library was nearby, I could just drop them off there.

It was safe too. I might even sell them later for a good price and trade the money back to Linl.

The guards who used to protect the library had been gone for a while now. That was because Dersia had converted it into private property.

“Master, are you here?”

I called for Dersia as I opened the door, but there was no response.

She must still be in her room, imrsed in research. I turned on the lights in the dim library and slotted the Magic Tos into an empty bookshelf.

-Thud!

“…”

The door had closed.

But it was a bit too loud for just a gust of wind.

I imdiately spread Current Sense throughout the library.

I swept every space between the shelves in detail, but I couldn’t detect any lifeforms.

Instead, I found a strange object sitting atop the library’s return desk.

“What…”

It was a box.

A treasure chest, clearly filled to the brim with top-grade pearls.

“What on earth is this.”

I turned around with a tone of disbelief.

There stood a man wearing a mask.

Even though I could see him with my own eyes, it was hard to tell if he was really there, that’s how faint his presence was.

-Creeaak…

I almost instinctively looked for an escape route but gave up.

The back door, the windows, everything was frozen solid. No matter how hard I pounded on them, they wouldn’t budge.

I clenched my teeth, and that’s when he slowly opened his mouth.

“Don’t be afraid, Jern Aspandil.”

“You can leave off the surna.”

“How far have you fallen?”

His voice was heavy, as if sinking, and at the sa ti, icy cold.

There was no point hiding it. I reached inside my robe and calmly replied.

“I don’t know who you are, but even if you do this, you won’t be able to manipulate my master.”

The enemy: Crimson Circle.

Their objective: Dersia.

The situation was the worst. Clearly, they intended to kidnap to try and shake Dersia.

As I fingered the key Dersia had given and began calculating escape routes, the man said sothing strange.

“No. If that were our goal, we would’ve done the opposite. We’d have shown your severed head to Dersia.”

“I see. Then what is the point of this little stunt?”

“Didn’t I say from the beginning? We’re on your side.”

-Clack!

The man walked forward and threw sothing at my feet.

It was a necklace made of red tal.

A bomb? No, if that were the case, he would’ve shot long ago.

As I puzzled it over, the man approached within the range of the lamplight and reached out his hand.

“You who have fallen into the Abyss, wear it.”

“What-”

“Join us.”

“…What?”

I glanced behind at the chest overflowing with pearls.

This was- probably the most terrible scouting offer in the world.

*

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