Only the Party Members Returned, Not the Hero

11. A wizard who does not know how to handle mana (2)

11.

After twists and turns.

Even though I haven’t heard any confession from Elish.

I felt refreshed after beating a few chestnuts, so I guess it’s okay as it is.

It didn’t take long to reach the hemp tower.

As I rode around in a wagon, I came across a wide and tall tower-shaped structure in an empty lot in the middle of the forest.

It looks just like a hemp tower.

Me and Elish got off the wagon and held out the warrior party permits to the wizard-like people guarding the entrance of the Mage Tower.

I looked at Elish, who had a red forehead, and narrowed her eyes, but she didn’t ask me any other questions.

After examining the documents, the wizard nodded and tapped the floor a couple of times with a wooden stick placed next to him, and the magic circle formed under our feet moved us all at once to the tower of the archmage.

“… Woo-wook.”

I don’t know anything else, but I’m really not used to movement magic.

It feels like my intestines have gone out and come back, I get motion sickness.

On the other hand, Elish, who looked fine except for the forehead, was stroking my back with a worried expression.

“Are you okay? You really…. You can’t adapt even after such a long time….”

“Yes, I think I am particularly sensitive. Go sit down.”

It’s not just once or twice, but it’s always like that.

Tapruu was a huge room, nothing unusual compared to its grandiose name, with a rectangular table in the center that could seat about twenty people.

At the far end was a large chair that looked like a seat reserved for archmages.

The rest of the chairs were relatively modest in design, so Elish and I roughly selected one and sat down while waiting for the old man.

After a while, the old archmage who couldn’t stand being bored would pop out of nowhere after opening a tangled warp in the air.

Warp magic with a really poor design no matter how many times you look at it.

It was a tasteless magic only for practicality, without any sense of aesthetics.

“Master, I told you that it would be better to add a little light source to give it a magical feeling….”

“This is my heart.”

“Yeah, but…. Magic must be dignified….”

“Am I not dignified by myself?”

Elish is troubled.

It’s okay to say no, and if you say yes, it seems like you’re going to keep using that stupid magic circle.

Elish was like that.

Those who try to catch the aesthetic and practical parts at the same time even if they use one kind of magic.

In one word, I liked to use magic in a magical way.

“Hello, Archmage.”

I bowed my head to be polite. Still, he was one of the few people who were kind to me, so I wanted to show him sincerity.

Elish and the Archmage, who had been bickering with her, held out her hand to quiet her, bowed her head, and then lifted her head, staring at her in silence.

The archmage’s eyes go one step further than the penetrating eyes of a wizard.

It was a look that looked like it could really dig deep into my head and even read a story deep in my heart that even I wasn’t aware of.

It’s a gaze that I can’t adapt to even if I look at it.

“Nia Rishkarte.”

“Yes?”

“Call me by name. Nia Rishkarte.”

I stared blankly at her for a moment, then reached out and cupped her chin with one of her hands through the sleeve of her comfy-looking but not cheap-looking gray cloth dress. Nia smiled her eyes at me. .

Why are you doing that, that man? Are you testing?

Let’s eat right here, my friend! And call it by name.

Would you throw me out the window, shouting, “This blasphemous one?”

“No, how dare I name the Archmage….”

“I’m really fine. Should I ask my pretty first disciple? Elish, do you get upset when the hero calls me by name?”

A soft voice with more breath than usual goes to Elish.

Then the situation is tipping in my favor.

Elish is a woman with great pride as a wizard.

Of course, she has great pride in her teacher, and she hates calling her teacher’s name carelessly more than anyone else.

So, of course I’ll refuse.

Calling the archmage by name is such a burdensome suggestion.

I looked at Elish with anticipation.

“I’m fine. If that’s Master’s will, I’ll also tell the hero…. To Ellen, I want permission to call Master by name.”

Elish, when she called my name in the middle, she noticed and said that.

I forgot for a while. He’s back now

“Ellen… Also, it would be nice if you could call Master’s name comfortably without hesitation. I would be happy to have that kind of relationship with Ellen.”

And that’s what people say when they come close to me.

Whispering, tickling.

I got up from my seat with a stiff face and put Elish away.

“I will, Archmage Nia. Rather, I have an official schedule today….”

“Ah, it would be nice if I could say the old-fashioned things later. Today, I got to see a familiar face, so I want to escape from the heavy workload. Eat some rice too.”

Tak, Archmage Nia snapped one finger, and the rectangular table, which seemed at least ten meters away, was compressed in an instant to become a round table, and the chairs moved arbitrarily, bringing three people together in front of the round table.

Woe.

Bubbling.

The dull room instantly brightens and warms up.

Soon after, wizards with food from one side of the door stepped out and began filling the round table with delicious-looking food.

“… ….”

This could delay the schedule a bit.

I sat back in my seat with an awkward posture and looked at the archmage.

Even if Archmage Nia says she’s good to me, I’m still a commoner-born warrior.

He was a person of a high class that was incomparable to me both in terms of status and human values.

My vigilance, trained by my delusion of persecution, is sharpened even more.

Why do you treat me so well?

“I will eat well. Archmage.”

A favor for no reason.

Kindness for no reason.

I’ve already spent too much time in the back alleys to believe in such things.

And most of the people in power I’ve seen so far didn’t have much different attitudes from the back alleys.

“You can listen as much as you like. Elish too.”

“Yes, Master.”

I ate without knowing whether the rice went into my mouth or my nose.

***

It is night.

Tea time after dinner.

I liked the smell of sweet burnt black tea.

hahahahahoho Nia and Elish chatting. Let alone a trap, the mana inside the tower did not move even an inch after the food was served.

It was so peaceful.

Maybe Nia just wanted to do me a favor.

Maybe I’m on my guard because I’m soaked in victim mentality.

“Come on, Elish. My first disciple. Come here.”

“Yes, Master.”

Elish also went to the master with open arms, with a relaxed expression, and was comfortably held in his arms.

I sipped my tea with a shy expression.

“Let’s see, your face doesn’t look damaged. Is this the first time we’ve seen each other since joining the expedition from the academy of the brave?”

“If you look at the timing, it will be like that, Master.”

“Yes, a lot must have happened in the meantime.”

“I don’t know if that happened that much. I was out of my mind.”

Nia patted Elish’s cheeks, stroked her hair, and massaged her shoulders.

Like servicing magic tools.

Similar to my habit of touching things to understand the flow of mana.

“No, no…” .”

I was looking at it, wondering if it was an occupational disease.

I had to make exact eye contact with Nia, whose voice had become hoarse.

“You are right, a lot has happened.”

“… Master?”

“… ….”

Why did you say that while looking at me?

It’s truly sophisticated mana control, so you can’t even admire it.

Of course, the black tea that was in her mouth at that time was all good.

“Hero, please forgive me for not being as patient as I used to be because I am getting older…. Isn’t it about time you explained it?”

Nia Rishi Karte slowly lowered one of her hands, resting on Elish’s shoulder.

The hand that passed through Elish’s ribs and belly until it touched her lower abdomen.

Nia’s fingers draw a circle.

“Why do you think I told you to call me by my first name? For fun? Do you want to eat friends?”

I tried my best, but I couldn’t figure out what the hell I was trying to explain.

I don’t know what Elish’s stomach has to do with me.

Did I eat something wrong?

Even when I looked at Elish to ask for her help, she just looked at me with her bewildered face.

Even that bewildered look began to give way to resignation.

Nia, who enjoyed watching the eyes of the two children who had caused her accident, open her mouth again.

“Why are you here, hero… Is the scent of mana vibrating like that?”

Mana?

What mana?

Where?

Jurruk.

I had to helplessly pour the tea I had in my mouth down my pants.

I don’t think so.

Maybe that’s not the case.

Ellen you motherf*cker, Elish you crazy b*tch.

“I thought my son-in-law was here?”

I felt.

If I can’t give her an answer that pleases her, I won’t be able to leave this hemp tower alive.