NOVEL NEXT Chapter 36.2
36.2. Magician
“Wh-What should I do!?”
Elisio panicked, but Nord asked if the magic could repair the damage.
Hearing this, Elisio managed to calm down and restore the pavement using the same alchemical magic.
In no time, the cracked stone tiles were back to their original state.
Soon after, a pair of patrol knights arrived in response to the residents’ report, narrowly averting a precarious situation.
The patrol knights approached cautiously upon seeing the unconscious rogues bound in chains,
Nord dressed as an adventurer, and Elisio in a magician’s robe.
Anticipating this reaction, Nord showed his identification, explaining he was a knight apprentice.
The patrol knights were stunned upon seeing the identification tag of the Iron Dragon Knights,
exclaiming, “T-The Iron Dragon Knights…!” and easing their guard halfway.
While Nord wasn’t a formally titled knight, his status as an official member of the Iron Dragon Knights was legitimate.
Thus, though still an apprentice, he could reasonably call himself a knight.
(Of course, this was an exceptional case, as joining the knights without attending a military academy was nearly unheard of.)
The patrol knights recognized Nord’s legitimacy through his tag and demeanor, but his atypical appearance as a knight prompted them to ask, “What’s with that outfit?”
To which Nord replied,
“I’m on my way to pick up my armor. This is my old one.”
He wasn’t lying—he was indeed en route to retrieve new armor.
Hearing this, the patrol knights speculated that Nord had likely sent his standard armor for repairs,
and finally, they accepted his explanation.
“And this one here?”
Having also revealed the Ferris family crest on his sword,
the patrol knights shifted their attitude from suspicion to deference toward nobility.
Answering for a visibly nervous Elisio, who was still anxious about damaging the pavement, Nord replied,
“His name is Elisio. A magician— or rather, a magic student at the academy.”
“I see. And these guys?”
Different terms exist for those involved in magic: mages, sorcerers, and wizards.
These titles denote ranks, akin to knightly titles, and misusing them is quite disrespectful.
Sorcerers are akin to mentors—like instructors for Nord—while mages are their students.
The generic term “magic user” is similar to calling knights “combat specialists”, a broad term unsuitable for addressing individuals.
Nord glanced at Elisio as he began to say “magic”, and, seeing no objection, confirmed it.
Though Elisio seemed younger than Nord, geniuses exist everywhere.
A royal sorcerer who once revived a dungeon reportedly earned their title in their early teens.
“Not sure. Just thugs, I assume. They had surrounded Elisio, so I happened to intervene. I had to draw my sword, so I roughed them up a bit…”
“Understood. I appreciate your cooperation.”
In towns or cities, drawing weapons without cause is strictly forbidden.
In the royal capital, such an act is a grave crime.
Nord also mentioned a name overheard during the scuffle, “The Martino Group,”
suggesting they might be a gang causing trouble.
“Ah, those punks stirring up the slums recently. I can’t believe they’d come into the city proper…”
Though the patrol knights’ expressions were hidden behind their helmets, their voices conveyed frustration.
The Martino Group had been left unchecked due to their rare disturbances within the city,
but this incident might have led to their crackdown.
“Be cautious; it gets dark early this time of year.”
With those words, the patrol knights hauled the chained rogues off to their station.
They would likely face severe interrogation, but Nord felt no sympathy for them.
“So, what now?”
“What do you mean?”
“…You might not be attacked again, but I could escort you partway.”
“Oh, no, I couldn’t possibly impose on you!”
Elisio reflexively waved his hands in refusal,
but soon reconsidered, his movements slowing as he thought about Nord’s suggestion.
“Don’t worry about it. I can at least take you to the main street.”
“Ah… Alright. Sorry to trouble you, but I’d appreciate it.”
Nord decided to escort Elisio to the main street.
“Wait here for a moment.”
He said, leaving Elisio by the carriage as he climbed onto the driver’s seat.
He whispered to the creature in the cart, “Stay quiet,” and received a silent nod.
Unfastening a curtain on the driver’s seat, he pulled it down to cover the cart, hiding its contents from view as the fabric swayed in the evening air.
“Alright, hop on.”
“Thank you… Ugh, okay.”
Elisio took Nord’s offered hand and, with a small grunt, climbed up.
Nord firmly grasped Elisio’s slender hand and easily pulled him onto the seat.
“Let’s go.”
With that succinct remark, Nord set off for the main street.
§
Though rescuing Elisio had delayed him slightly, Nord dropped him off at the main street after multiple thanks.
Then, he redirected the carriage toward the armory once more.
On the way, a grumbling sound—possibly hunger or a complaint—came from the cart.
“Hang tight. We’re almost there,” Nord said mercilessly. Arriving at the armory after sundown, the twilight had already given way to darkness.
“Sorry, I’m late.”
“Jeez, I was about to close up! Where’ve you been loitering?”
“Helping someone in need.”
“Well, how about helping me with dinner already?”
Nord emerged not from the shop’s front but from the workshop in the back, where the owner snarked at him. Nord humbly apologized again.
“Whatever. It’s done, as promised.”
“Oh… This is…”
The shopkeeper gestured to a magnificent set of armor.
It was made from spider carapace and tanned spider leather—materials from a general spider monster.
Despite its biological origin, the processed material resembled a full metal suit of armor.
“This is my new armor…”
“Yeah, spider materials are fascinating. If you polish the carapace enough, it hardens like metal.
And the hairy hide becomes tough and smooth.”
“I’d never worked with a general spider before,” the shopkeeper admitted, as Nord admired the armor. Its subdued sheen under the workshop lights made it look like a high-quality full plate. Expecting something more adventurer-like, Nord was surprised by the knightly design and secretly thrilled.
“You said you became a knight, so I made it look the part—on the house.”
The shopkeeper smirked, and Nord could only feel gratitude.
“Thank you. I’ll treasure it.”
“Don’t go wrecking it so easily.”
After receiving detailed instructions, Nord left the shop with his new armor.
When he returned to the cart, his good mood was evident.
The creature in the cart chirped happily, “Kyuu♪.”
Night had fully fallen when Nord and his companion returned home, where his sister Iris greeted them with a loud, “You’re so late!”
But that’s another story.