After being informed by Aldo junior that Aldo would be the one to take care of the mission this time, none of them complained as they all knew that in terms of contribution to the prosperity of the city, Aldo would be ranked one.
"Father, I apologize for taking too long. The other lords wanted me to take all of these with our venture to the north"
Aldo junior and Luca showed a few bags packed with essentials for long distance travels.
"It is alright. You did a good job, now we shoul get going to ensure that it would be easy apprehending the vampire. If we give her time to drink more blood, it would become irritating to deal with her"
Aldo's wand glowed as the spell stored inside the gem was activated.
"...!"
The ground moved by itself and begun to move towards north with the hut and everyone else on top of it.
"Master, is this perhaps a stored spell?"
"Yes. As you know gems are generally divided into two types which are 'store' and 'flow' types.
My wand has a 'store' type gem that allows me to store a magic formula to cast it anytime I want with the mana I put in advance"
"May I ask, what is the level of this spell?"
"Hmmm... about fourth stage"
"I see!"
"Luca"
"Yes, master?"
Luca sat down in a lotus position in front of Aldo.
"You did informed Tony you are going with me, right?"
"I did. I do not want milord to worry about where I am while we venture somewhere"
While Aldo answered Luca's questions, the gorgons sat in silence.
".....!"
"Roman, take over from now"
"Understood"
After an hour of travel, the mana imbued into the gem on the wand ran out, making Roman take over and provide his own mana as fuel to keep the spell running.
"Master, I have been meaning to ask you... how many staffs and wands do you have?"
"I only have one staff and three wands. Each of them have their own uses.
As I have told you before, a gem's function is base in their color. Bright and vibrant colored gems are 'flow' types that enhances and empower spells. For this reason, my staff has a ruby on it.
Meanwhile, dark and cool colored gems are store 'types' and base on their color and purity, one can store different types of spells"
"I understand!" Luca happily replied.
For the next two days, except for breaks, the three magicians would take turns using their own energy as fuel to keep the hut going while the gorgons gave directions.
Approximately a kilometer away from the gorgons' nest.
"Master... haa... you only have one circle so how come... your recovery rate... is much faster than ours?"
Both Luca and Roman were mentally and physically tired having to use their energy. The constant mana draining made the two lethargic and dull.
"You are only feeling that way because you keep pouring your energy thoughtlessly. There are parts and times where you have to consider the output of your energy to maximize efficiency.
Once we get back, you will be doing the knight's physical training"
Luca's eyes grew upon hearing his master's words.
"But... I am a magician! Why would I need to train my body?"
Luca asked with an exhausted expression.
"You need a good and healthy body so that the physical toll of using magic consecutively will not affect you. What's more, if you have a well built body you will be able to move your energy within your body in a more productive way"
Aldo said as he showed his muscular body.
"Then... how come sir Roman doesn't train?"
Aldo looked at Luca and gestured him to look at Roman.
"....Wha..."
After seeing that Roman is actually a skeleton, an undead, Luca realize the meaning behind Aldo's words and that his opinion did not matter at all.
"So? What will you do once we get back?"
"... Train..... with the knights....."
Luca reluctantly said as he was about to cry.
Aldo and co. then took a break on the spot where they landed before confronting the vampire.
And in less than two hours of their rest,
"Magicians. How deligthful~"
The vampire hiding in the gorgons' nest came out herself.
"I can smell a wondrous scent. Especially from you~"
The vampire looked at Aldo with eyes filled with excitement as she imagined just how exquisite the taste of his blood would be like.
"Seeing as how you came out of your own volition, you must thought that you won't stand a chance against us once we recovered"
"Well, it is your fault for being too arrogant, thinking that I will not notice you all from a far. Do not worry, I will make sure to keep you alive for a long time to enjoy your body and blood"
The vampire then glared at the gorgons who were on the side.
"As for you traitorous vermins, I will deal with you lot later"
Terrified, the gorgons trembled and were paralyzed in place.
"I have a question. Do all vampires act the same as you?"
"Since you all will be dying a meaningful death anyways, I will be generous enough to answer your question. And the answer to that is of course they do! We love nothing more than blood after all"
Aldo then wrote down the information he got.
"Thank you. This will be a worthwhile experiment"
After saying those words, the usual aloof and gloom Aldo smiled for the first time.
".....?!"
The vampire who felt an eeriee sensation from Aldo tried to attack but was distracted by the talisman he three upwards.
[The
A golden dome appeared and surrounded them.
[For the next ten minutes nothing and no one will be able to go in or out without the consent of the caster]
A dozen of tiny golden balls sparkled around Luca and Roman. Meanwhile, the gorgons felt warmth that washed away their fear.
[Those who are
"You... bastard...! What did you do...?!"
[Those who are
"Nothing much. I am just here to get a new lab rat. Don't worry, I will make sure that you will live long. Long enough until I am able to make use of everything your body possess"
The vampire felt a heavy pressure weighing down on every part of her body.
"Your organs, bones, muscles, nerves, and even the blood that you leeches are so proud of"
The vampire gripped onto the ground as she clenched her fists and glared at Aldo with every hated she could possibly bear.
"Since you will be dying a meaningful death, I will be generous enough to ensure to numb your senses.
Now... shall we begin?"