The morning of the day we head to the northern town, Tenatite. We’re to gather at sunrise.
I walked with Belial to the northern gate where we had arranged to meet.
Several merchant caravans were lined up there, with a crowd of people gathered around them. What a massive convoy!
I was unsure who to approach and looked around nervously. A young man, a little younger than Binal, was speaking to some familiar faces nearby.
“I think they’ll arrive soon. Apparently, some merchants we’re acquainted with asked us to escort two young travelers—a man and a woman. They’re our guests, so let’s be sure to treat them with proper courtesy.”
Wait, is that us!? Guests? How had Binal described us? I’d thought we were just tagging along like extras.
“Oh, Iriya ?”
The person who recognized me was part of a five-member D-rank adventurer group known as the Great Tree of Isasim. They often bought my potions from my stall.
They had just returned to town two days ago but had volunteered for this escort job as well. I waved lightly before bowing deeply to the man who was speaking with them.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Iriya . I am truly grateful to be accompanying you on this journey. I anticipate I’ll be in your care along the way, and I humbly ask for your guidance.”
“Oh, how very polite. I’m Valen. It’s a pleasure to meet you as well… and thank you,” Valen replied, hurriedly bowing his head in return.
The five members of Isasim’s group watched our exchange with warm smiles.
“First, please accept this,” I said.
I handed over five each of regular potions, intermediate potions, and mana potions that I had been holding. Since it wasn’t a good idea to take items out of my item box in plain view, I’d prepared them in advance.
“What? No, this is too much!” Valen protested, waving his hands.
“It’s a token of gratitude for letting us ride in your carriage. Please don’t hesitate to accept them. I hope they prove useful.”
After some hesitation, Valen finally accepted the potions. Even though Binal had introduced us, I still felt uneasy about using the carriage for free.
“It’s reassuring to have Iriya here,” the mage Esume said, standing next to me once things settled down.
“This is going to be a fun journey!”
“Looking forward to it, Iriya ,” added Laures , the archer, and Leon, the leader and swordsman. Both were clad in solid gear today, noticeably improved from what they had worn in the past.
“Wait, you know her?” Valen asked, puzzled. “I was told she’s a magical item artisan, but I didn’t expect her to give us potions.”
“We always buy Iriya ’s potions—they work wonders! Plus, she’s an amazing mage,” Reeni chimed in, praising me.
Valen’s eyes widened in surprise. “Wait, she’s not just an artisan? A mage too!?”
“A mage, an artisan, and a summoner,” Esume said, glancing at Belial.
It seemed like this journey was going to be quite safe. At least, that’s what I thought—until…
“You… that demon from before!”
Oh no, it was Urbano, a B-rank adventurer, and the angel Casiel, who had clashed with Belial before. Are we really going to travel together? Will this be okay?
“Aha… looking forward to traveling with you,” I said awkwardly.
Casiel looked ready to confront Belial, but Valen stepped in with a firm reminder, “They’re our guests. Treat them respectfully.”
Thanks to Valen, we departed without incident.
We rode in a spacious, well-equipped carriage with comfortable seats. Valen, an elderly secretary-like figure, Belial, myself, as well as Reeni and Esume, shared the ride. Normally, the adventurers would walk or ride in separate carriages, but I had asked for their company. Valen, ever accommodating, had agreed without a hint of displeasure.
The caravan included dedicated guards, additional carriages for other passengers, and wagons for materials to be purchased in town. It was my first time traveling this way, and I couldn’t help but feel excited. My usual travel involved either flying or blending into a knightly procession.
“I was saving up to buy a grimoire, but our leader went and upgraded his weapon instead!” Esume pouted.
“What kind of magic were you hoping to learn?”
The members of Isasim encouraged me to drop the formalities and use casual speech. They insisted we were friends now. My circle of friends was growing—how wonderful! Talking magic with friends in a carriage? Perfection!
“I couldn’t decide, so I wanted your opinion, Iriya ,” Esume said.
“Now that you mention it, I’ve never actually seen your magic. What should I teach you? Maybe something like Storm Cutter?”
Esume looked disappointed about missing out on a new spell this time but was eager for advice on what to get next. I was happy to share what I knew.
“Storm Cutter is like an enhanced version of Wind Cutter. Its slicing power is much greater. The biggest difference is the specific hand gesture—you form a triangle with your thumb and index finger like this.”
I demonstrated the gesture, and Esume mimicked it, concentrating so hard her fingertips turned red.
There are three main ways to learn magic:
- Being taught by someone directly. Large towns have magic academies, though none exist in Renant.
- Purchasing grimoires.
- Learning at national or military facilities, though these are highly selective.
Most adventurers opt to buy grimoires. Esume was no exception, though even low-tier spells aren’t cheap. I was fortunate to have learned from demons like Belial.
When the caravan stopped for a break, I offered to demonstrate. Valen and several others gathered to watch as I began my chant:
“Gather, oh winds, into a vortex and strike down my enemies! Form blades from needles of air, and cleave as I command—Storm Cutter!”
Blades of wind formed into circular shapes, slicing through the forest. Several trees were cut and felled as the magic created a clear path in its wake.
“Whoa, that’s… intense power,” Reeni said, shrugging her shoulders in amazement. The incantation was similar to Wind Cutter, so it should be relatively easy to learn for someone familiar with it.
Esume followed up by chanting the spell, but her attempt only achieved about half the original’s power.
“Were you nervous? Your control over prana is lacking. You need to memorize the incantation properly and cast it with confidence; otherwise, you won’t unleash its full potential. Your magic conversion rate is still subpar as well,” I pointed out.
“Ugh… Yes, I understand,” Esume replied, looking disheartened.
“A magic item artisan teaching a D-rank adventurer mage about magic and its usage… huh,” Valen said with a wry smile as he watched our interaction.
After the break, the caravan resumed its rattling journey.
“Hey, Iriya , what are you writing?” Reeni asked as I began jotting notes inside the moving wagon.
“I’m writing down the incantation and key pointers for Esume about the spell we just practiced. Her spell still lacked sufficient power,” I explained.
“Wait, for me? But… isn’t that kind of information valuable? I can’t just take it so easily…”
“It’s fine; we’re friends, aren’t we?” I said with a smile.
Esume, usually aloof, looked unusually meek today. It seems magic really does bring people closer together.
“Master Valen, this Iriya lady is a knowledgeable and elegant individual, not to mention remarkably kind,” one of Valen’s aides remarked.
“Yes, indeed… I thought I couldn’t refuse Binal’s recommendation, but now I see why he holds her in such high regard. She’s truly impressive,” Valen replied.
As such conversations unfolded, the sudden cry of alarm broke the tranquility.
“Enemy attack! It’s a horde of Lizardmen! Prepare for battle!”
The monsters emerged from the forest, flanking us from the front and rear. Clearly outnumbering the caravan guards, the Lizardmen had effectively trapped the convoy. Horses neighed in panic as the line of carriages came to a halt.
“Let’s go, Reeni!”
“Right!”
Reeni and Esume leapt out of the wagon. Almost immediately, two caravan guards appeared to address Valen.
“President! Lizardmen have engaged us; we’re already in combat! We’ll protect this wagon—please remain calm!”
“Yes, our esteemed guests are aboard this wagon. I trust you to handle this,” Valen responded firmly.
In this tense atmosphere, I hesitated to speak but decided to make a bold request.
“Um… I’ve actually never seen a Lizardman before. Would it be all right if I stepped outside for a moment?”
“…What? But it’s dangerous—oh, right, you’re a mage.”
“In that case, may I observe from above? Belial, what about you?”
“I shall accompany you. Let’s see how that annoying angel performs in combat,” Belial remarked with a smirk.
“Rise into the air like the clouds, float upon the water like a branch. Grant me the wings of a phoenix! Open the path to the skies! Ascend, Flight!”
Leaping from the wagon, I cast my flying magic and swiftly soared into the air. Belial followed, ascending effortlessly in a dignified manner.
From above, I surveyed the scene. The Lizardmen were formidable, with high attack and defense capabilities. The caravan guards were struggling against the overwhelming numbers.
The Lizardmen were green-scaled, armored creatures with tough hides and powerful muscles. They stood roughly as tall as humans and displayed intelligence, making them difficult adversaries.
Casiel, the angel, was scouting from the air to locate the Lizardmen leader. If their command structure broke, the battle could turn in our favor.
Meanwhile, injuries were beginning to mount among our allies. Urbano, the B-rank adventurer, was fighting at the vanguard, cutting down enemies with each swing of his weapon. The Isasim team was holding the middle, protecting the wagons.
The rear guard was struggling the most, as the Lizardmen had surged to cut off any retreat.
“…I’d like to cast a buff spell to enhance attack power,” I mentioned.
In the chaotic battlefield, targeting only allies with a spell was challenging.
Suddenly, Belial stepped closer and placed his large hand over my eyes, pulling me gently toward him.
“B-Belial?”
“Relax. I’ll assist you. Focus and cast as you need.”
With Belial’s help, I chanted:
“Raise the banner to the skies and let the dust rise upon the earth. Tremble the ground with your steps. I sing the song of warriors, brave and unwavering, multiplied by thousands and tens of thousands. Exaltation!”
The tide began to turn in our favor. Casiel declared that the Lizardman leader had been defeated, breaking the enemy’s formation. With renewed strength and determination, our forces drove the Lizardmen to retreat.
