Chapter 112

Leaving the Tower of the Sky behind, I leave the transparent orb given to me by the woman in an empty settlement.

It was just supposed to be something to kill time, but it turned into quite the intense experience.

“Where are we headed next?”

“Let’s see…”

I ponder Mastema’s question. My plans for several years in the Magic Nation have fallen apart, after all.

For now, we’re heading toward the nearest village, but we’ll need to decide on our next destination soon.

“I’ll decide later.”

“Hm, then let’s do this.”

With that, Mastema pulls out a set of cards. It seems she’s been gathering intellectual games during our time in the Magic Nation.

She suggested we play with the five of us.

It would be a good way to pass the time.

We started playing cards, and although Sepia won at first, Mastema soon caught up.

Sepia understood the rules but hadn’t played much before.

Then Noel and Arnella began to seriously compete against each other.

Right, these two are highly educated and very sharp-minded.

I’ve got the rules down and understand the winning strategies, but it’s tough to beat these two in this kind of game.

Even when I try to outwit them, they find a way to counter. They know I don’t like holding back, so I’m giving it my all.

In the end, Noel barely won, but it was a close match.

Well, it was a good way to pass the time.

I step outside. It’s already dusk.

As I gaze at the red horizon, a single bird approaches us.

Mastema raises her hand to shoot it down, but I stop her. It’s a familiar.

The blue bird familiar has a piece of paper tied to its right talon.

A letter for me, perhaps.

I take the letter, and the familiar flies away.

Mastema, don’t drool over the bird. I’ve been feeding you enough, haven’t I?

Arnella hands Mastema a sweet she made from goat’s milk and sugar, and Mastema becomes engrossed in it. Sepia gets a share as well.

“Would you like one, Master?”

“I’ll take one.”

It’s very sweet, but it’s nice once in a while.

When I open the letter, the sender turns out to be someone unexpected. I thought it might be from the princess again, but it’s from Princess Rafa.

Since the kingdom’s debt payments have been sent through the guild, it’s not about that. So, what could it be about…?

The first half of the letter is all greetings, while the latter half states her request. From the initial greetings, I gather news about the princess and the kingdom.

As for her request… I see. She heard from the princess that we’re currently free.

She’s asking if we could help with the kingdom’s restoration efforts. Despite the progress, they’re still short-handed.

Apparently, the kingdom would directly hire us for this. Considering the financially strained royal treasury due to the ongoing reconstruction, the terms are quite generous.

“A direct letter from a princess… you really are a big deal.”

“Well, we happen to have a connection. You were the head of the academy yourself, weren’t you?”

“I was, but since the academy’s been disbanded, I can’t really brag about it anymore,” Sepia says, feeling a bit down.

Don’t let yourself get down over your own words.

“What will you do?” Arnella asks.

“Well, we’re not in a rush, so staying to help with the restoration might not be a bad idea. Magic can make a lot of things easier.”

Indeed, a mage’s value isn’t solely in combat. One could say their true worth lies beyond fighting.

For instance, creating golems provides tireless workers with great strength; controlling water allows for flood management; wind mages can spin windmills without any breeze, and fire has countless uses.

Mages are highly useful. Though Kasugal wasn’t very practical…

The kingdom likely recalled the nobles who had studied at the magic academy for such reasons. They’re in need of every available hand.

Our party consists of mages of intermediate level or higher.

Although Mastema has lost interest in human magic, she still has her thorned staff.

Sepia is an advanced mage, and a versatile one at that.

Ah, I see now. Even without adventuring, she could get by quite well with her skills.

The other three of us are intermediate mages, but we’re competent enough.

As I think about this, I glance at Noel and Arnella. Noticing me looking, they smile back without knowing the reason.

I direct the magic carriage to change course.

We have plenty of food, and water won’t be an issue.

Our destination is the Kingdom of Alderis.

Helping with the restoration will also serve as practical testing for the magic we learned at the academy in the Magic Nation and from Sepia.

And there might be some monster extermination involved too, given that the kingdom lost much of its military force.

The imperial army under the princess’s command should still have a small contingent stationed there.

Though they’re likely being reformed, they’re still shorthanded. Restoration also requires people.

Thinking about it, restoring a kingdom is no easy task, even from an outsider’s perspective.

Yet it’s the duty of royalty to get it done.

A contrast to my own free-spirited way of living.

Perhaps that’s why I feel inclined to lend a hand.

Mastema leans on my back, reading the letter over my shoulder. She must have learned Imperial language from all her reading.

She’s a bundle of curiosity. Whether the kingdom will satisfy that or not, helping with the restoration should keep her occupied.

Even with the magic carriage, it will take some time to reach the kingdom.

“Humans seem to enjoy fixing broken things,” she remarks.

“Humans fix what they can and use it again. That’s how we are.”

“Is that so,” she says, stepping away and once more laying out the cards.

Well, guess I’ll join her for another round.