Sage

Author: Ryusui
Raw: https://ncode.syosetu.com/n2121hw/24/
Translator: Lilia v4
Editor: Yuriko AYA

“Then I’ll explain the requests. The dragon subjugation: there is a dragon that destroyed a country called Io a year ago. We want to take the initiative and subjugate it before it comes to another country.”
“Ah, yeah…”
“Gathering phoenix tears is, if you can meet the phoenix, you can get them fairly easily. However it lives deep in a volcano, so reaching the nest is difficult.”
“Mm…”
“The Spirit Forest survey is that large mana reactions have been observed frequently of late. It would be investigating the cause. I shouldn’t say this, but I don’t really recommend this one.”

Large mana reactions? Different from magic beasts fighting over territory, right? They say of late, after all. But nothing especially unusual has…

‘Rita-chan Rita-chan’
‘The large mana reactions are Rita-chan’s teleport magic, no?’
‘It’s a transfer from galaxy to galaxy, so it feels like it uses a huge amount of mana too’

“Ah…”

Ahh ahh ahh… That’s right that’s right that’s exactly it. And that magic secures the mana for the return trip in advance too, so the consumption is corresponding. If you use that much mana in one go, of course something might be observed.
I should have expected this… I should think of a way to conceal it.

“Rita, are you listening?”
“Eh.”

When I happen to look up, Mireille and Celis were looking at me with exasperated eyes.

“Mm. Sorry. I wasn’t listening.”
“I thought as much. They are all difficult requests. It cannot be helped that you would worry.”

I’m sorry. It was something completely different.

“I would recommend the dragon subjugation. A single dragon means a stray driven from the herd. If I put my mind to it I could win even alone.”
“I would say the phoenix tears. Exploring a volcano is hard, but because the environment is harsh you are not often attacked by magic beasts. It may take time, though.”

They’re not even putting the Spirit Forest up as a candidate…

“Then the Spirit Forest survey.”
“I refuse!”

Mireille refused immediately. So fast it surprises me.

“Rita! Let us reconsider! Surveying the Spirit Forest is a suicidal act!”
“You’re going that far?”
“I am going that far!”

What am I, living in a forest they talk about like that?

‘A monster’
‘A witch’
‘A Demon King, maybe?’

I’ll actually get angry.

“Rita, it’s odd for me to say this when I put it on the list, but you should stop. Near the entrance is one thing, but the depths of the Spirit Forest are truly dangerous.”
“That’s right! Magic beasts that rival a dragon swarm there! You would not have enough lives!”
“Swarm.”

‘Swarm’
‘Swarm swarm’
‘Kind of gross’

What are they even talking about.
I feel bad for Mireille, who really wants to avoid it, but surveying the forest is easier on me. I know the cause. That there’s a Guardian should be fairly well known, so if I say it’s the Guardian’s experiment they should accept it. Should.

“The forest survey.”
“Eeh… I don’t mind, but…”

Celis looks at Mireille. Mireille was staring at the request form I chose with a stunned expression.
After freezing for a good minute, she shouted.

“I understand! I’ll do it! I just have to do it, don’t I!”

And that was that.

 

“Ahh… I don’t want to… I don’t want to go…”

Currently flying through the sky. Leaving the town and heading north. The destination is of course the Spirit Forest. I’m matching my flying speed to Mireille. Or rather, she’s leading.
But, um… She’s really slow. At this pace, even flying without rest it would take a full day. You couldn’t fly a full day, so maybe she plans to camp somewhere.

“Mireille.”
“Yes yes. What is it?”
“Are we camping somewhere?”
“That will be the case. Ah, you need not worry about preparing for camp. It is in my Item Box.”
“Huh. I see… wait.”

Just now there was a word I absolutely cannot let slide. I lower my voice so only the viewers can hear.

“She definitely said Item Box, right?”

‘She did’
‘Sorry. I only started watching recently, is there something?’
‘Item Box is original magic Rita-chan’s Master devised. The motif is net games as-is’

Of course there’s a possibility someone else newly thought of it, but even then the name wouldn’t overlap. I’ve never heard the words Item Box except for that magic.

“Mireille. Details on that Item Box magic.”
“Oh my. You don’t know, Rita? It is magic devised by Sage Kouta. The difficulty of learning it is among the very highest, but it is a very convenient spell.”

Master’s name is apparently Kouta. First I’ve heard it. But more than that.

“Sage…?”

‘Sa lol ge lol’
‘That guy’s a sage lmao’
‘What’s he even doing after leaving the forest lol’

How do I put it. He’s being called something amazing. Is this an epithet too.
But, yeah. Sage. I think it’s good. It means a wise person, right. Cool.

“As expected of my Master. Whether it fits, set that aside.”

‘Don’t set it aside lol’
‘That’s a follow that has no intention of following lol’

I mean… I respect Master a lot, but I can’t help remembering that peek-a-boo…

“Did you learn it directly from that Kouta?”
“I did. He held a teaching post at the magic academy. He was a very good professor.”

The magic academy. He’s a teacher there, apparently. How do I put it. Even without me, he’s teaching someone something. Very Master, maybe, if you put it that way.

“I want to meet that person.”
“Eh? If it is Item Box I can teach you…”
“I want to meet him.”
“…………”

Mireille went silent. I wonder. Did I ask something hard to say.
I wait in silence for Mireille’s reply, and eventually she opens her mouth.

“He passed away.”

Eh.
…Eh?

“What… did you say…?”
“About a year ago. Protecting a student from a magic beast…”

No. Wait. That’s wrong. Master? A magic beast? Who? Protecting?
That’s not it. Impossible. Because it’s Master. It’s Master. Something like that.
Impossible!

‘Rita-chan!’
‘Wait, calm down!’

“I can’t!”

Ah, right. The Great Spirit. The Great Spirit should know.
I grab Mireille’s arm and raise my speed all at once. Full speed toward the forest.

“Whaaaaaat!?”

I don’t have time to care about Mireille’s scream. I headed in a straight line to the Great Spirit.