After resting for another day, a meeting was held at the top floor of the magic tower on Aldo's request.
"I am sure you guys want an explanation as to what happened to me" (A)
"No shit sherlock. We can't possibly let one of the core producers of the city die now, can we?" (M)
Aldo handed out documents of his research to the three.
"Let me explain then...
As you all know magicians and soul aritsts in this world create circles, like the stereotypical fantasy setting. Magicians do it around their heart while soul artists do it on their stomach"
"Did you try to create your own?" (T)
"I did. But it is different from how they do it.
Unlike them, I tried creating an 'organ' that generates mana by absorbing the energy around me. It uses the same principle just as how the altar generates the barrier"
"Like a dragon's heart?" Marco said as he snapped his fingers.
"Yes. While dragons in this world don't have 'dragon hearts' that we know of, the one I created is something similar to that" (A)
"Base on your research... you should be dead with another heart inside you since it continously generates mana. Your body shouldn't be able to withstand it" (C)
Charlie looked at Aldo with a cold shoulder.
"That explains the wounds I have"
Aldo showed them a fountain pen.
"This is a pen I bought from the
"Wait..." Marco's face turned pale as he asked, "Are you saying that you etched a program into your bones?"
Hearing his words, the other two looked at Aldo with a "You're joking, right?" expression.
"I did. While it was rather easy writing commands in my arms and legs, it was hard doing it on my ribs and spine"
Tony laughed as he could not believe Aldo's actions while Charlie wondered how the academically smartest one among them could be so stupid to risk his life just like that.
"Sooo~ You're good now?" (M)
"I am. While it does feel weird, my body feels ligther and easier to move.
Now that I have explained my part, can someone tell me who the fuck barged into my tower?" (A)
Both Marco and Tony went silent as they avoided eye contact.
"We don't know who he is. What we do know is that he is strong enough to kill us whenever he wants, however he wants"
Charlie answered as he scratched his head in annoyance.
"It's that bad?" (A)
"Yes. It is that bad.
On the bright side, he is teaching Tony and Veronica. He is also following our laws to the point that it is weird" (C)
"What's more is that he never went inside the castle. The castle's protection is several times stronger than the one around your tower, if he wanted to get in, we would have gotten a notice from Olad.
What's more, I had to make up a lot of excuses just to be here" (T)
"Okay... then, what about the wine? Olad said that you've been coming up with weird concoctions like a child creating a potion in the bathroom" (A)
The three stared at Marco with a blank expression.
"It is quite simple"
Marco pulled out seeds from his pouch.
"These seeds can be bought from the
In summary, this seeds grow into plants that produce the same taste as merfolk meat" (M)
"If that is the case, how are you able to create three different wines with different taste and effect?"
Tony asked as he inspect the seeds that Marco gave.
"They are like tea leaves. The oxidation, process, as well as ratio are factors to create the three wine.
I'm saying this now... but I won't be telling you guys how I made the wine that can increase the rate of one's energy absorption"
"That is fine with me" (C)
"How stingy" (T)
"While I am curious how you made that, I only wanted to know how you made those three wines. That alone is enough for me" (A)
[A mission has been generated]
"Oh, something is happening!"
[Mission grade: A]
[MIssion difficulty: A]
"I wonder what this is all about"
[Whim]
Mission description: The sister kingdom of Horulas which lies at the northern part, the kingdom of Hazol, has sent their own envoy to seek out the owners of Heaven Blaze city with the objective of finding out their motives in the near future.
Objective: Establish relationship with them.
Reward upon completion:
Outcome A, if
Outcome B, if
Failure to complete the objective: None
+
"Charlie, please handle this matter" (T)
"I know that. It's not like I can let you guys take over this one"
Seeing the difference of reward from the two outcomes, the four immediately thought that something bad will happen if they choose Outcome B.
As their city is still under construction with little numbers, it would be detrimental for them to be in a war with an actual nation.
"Due to the war forty five years ago, many have fallen in the central part of the world, and yet both Hozal and Horulas managed to progress unlike Ghalvhir" (C)
"It is decided then! We just have to look presentable once they arrive"
Their meeting end just like that as they go back to do their own jobs.
...
A certain count of Saileq who has ties the royal family of Ghalvhir sent a well known mercenary unit in their kingdom to investigate what truly happened to Ghalvhir.
The mercenary group that is well known for their reckless behaviour with skills to prove their boasting accepted the request immdeiately after receiving an astronomical downpayment.
"Why are you scared?"
Just as they ventured westward to go to the capital of the fallen kingdom, their journey was rather easy and smooth that it was suspicious.
"Are you perhaps mute?"
After arriving at the capital of the fallen kingdom, they saw a pair of a man and woman looting around.
"Master, you are scaring the child"
After being ignored by the two, the prideful mercenaries was pissed off and charged forward the two with the intent to kill.
"How am I scaring the child when I am speaking in a low and assuring tone?"
Those who charged forward died while those at the back who were casting their spell and readyting their bows were paralyzed with fear.
"Master... you are covered with blood. How is he not suppose to not be afraid of you with you looking like a flesh eating monster?"
The leader of their group step forward who is a third stage soul artist.
"Well... he goes around a bunch of thugs, so I'm sure he is use to seeing people covered with blood"
Just as the leader was about to pull the axe behin him, his body was pinned on the ground by the pressure of pure malice that one of the two released.
The dark and bone chilling pressure forced the leader of the mercenary group in place as the man slit his throat and stabbed his heart with a small knife; his blood slowly ooze out, causing him to die.
"Oh... he fainted"
Leon carried the child and stood up.
"Persephone, from now on, this kid will be with us. As for those people, deal with them however you want"
Leon carried the child to a nearby well so that he can wash themselves as Persephone licked her lips, excited to taste what sort of exquisite flavour will a magician's skin and blood taste like.