Chapter 127

I Quit Being a Court Magician Apprentice to Become a Magical Item Craftsman

I am Albertina, the advisory mage of the Knight Order of the Duchy of Fen. Our Duchy of Fen is constantly targeted by the neighboring military state of Tranchell, and we also possess dangerous lands known for breeding dragons—rocky mountains and dragon lairs.

Therefore, the Knight Order has a magical defense team to protect against magic and breath attacks. One of my duties as the advisory mage is to provide magical instruction to the defense team and the medics using healing magic.

A few days ago, a report came in from the sentinels that the dragons in the rocky area were unusually restless. We increased patrols, stationed the knights and magical units in nearby towns, and prepared for any eventuality.

The cause seems to be a being summoned by Tranchell—a vicious demon, apparently. A scout who had been lurking in the area barely escaped with their life after the town was attacked. Now, we must be cautious of both the demon and the dragons… This is a truly troublesome situation.

Then, yesterday, an emergency alert came in: the dragons had begun descending from the mountains in groups. They were in an agitated state. We couldn’t allow them to enter the town, and a strict defense perimeter was immediately set up. The defense battle is still ongoing.

I took to the air to monitor the situation and spotted one of the dragons heading not immediately down the mountain but toward Chenkasler. It was moving at high speed, so I flew there to inform them.

I had prepared myself to be scolded, but I never expected Iriya , the so-called Renant magic item craftsman, to say everything would be fine if they were all intermediate-level items! She used two types of area-of-effect attack magic and was definitely not just a mere craftsman. She also possessed an item box and is likely someone serving the kingdom in some capacity.

It’s reassuring to have her on our side.

That said, I still don’t know her true position, and the fact that a high-level demon has been summoned by Tranchell should remain secret for now. If we need to notify anyone, it should be a formal messenger to Chenkasler, and it’s not something I should decide on my own.

Right now, I’m traveling with Ekvar, who’s on patrol. He’s genuinely frightening, especially after he previously pointed his sword at me. It feels like I’m working with a very difficult superior… Why is he riding a wyvern!?

Iriya , Belial, and Sevillino didn’t hesitate to head toward the high, brown rocky mountains where the dragons were heading. The terrain was mostly devoid of plant life, with jagged rocks exposed. Two intermediate-level dragons and two lower-level dragons were walking separately at a distance.

“Sevillino!! Let’s go all at once!”

“Yes, leave it to me!”

Belial, who was likely a contracted demon, was wearing a dark blue robe that wasn’t there before. It looks like the mage is going to use magic first.

“Fire river that crosses the earth’s depths, bestow upon me the droplets of flame. Come swiftly like a torrent, fiercer than a waterfall! Stand tall like an ancient tree, thick and powerful, rise like a dragon. Curl your tail and show your presence. Grant a thousand years of life here! Roar and howl wildly! Whip-like, let the flames engulf everything in its path, merging with the fire and the dragon itself! Oriflamme, Factis, Dragon!!”

As the man began his chant, fire rose suddenly as if a tree had sprouted from the ground, forming a dragon-like shape with a snake-like tail. It was on the verge of roaring.

The visualization was solid, and the magical power was vast. He must be a well-trained mage.

But why this particular magic? It’s flashy and strong in attack, but it consumes a huge amount of magical energy, and moving it will only require more. It almost feels like a bluff.

It will serve as a defense line, but it can only be sustained for a short time.

“Well, not bad at all. Are you planning to use the dragon you’ve woven with magic against the actual dragons?”

“No, there’s an additional chant.”

Additional chant? If he wasn’t planning to cooperate, does he have some sort of trump card!? Iriya , pouring even more magical energy into the dragon Sevillino created, began chanting again.

“Breathe forth, shine brightly in red. What lies before me is an offering—burn it and offer it to the heavens!”

What is this additional chant doing!? Flames burst forth like a dragon’s breath, resembling a real dragon! It will likely deal considerable damage to even the intermediate-level dragons. Of course, the lower-level dragons don’t stand a chance!

Iriya  is in charge of the breath attack, while the man named Sevillino is adjusting the position by moving its head.

They’re high-level mages, and their coordination is perfect. I had no idea Chenkasler had such outstanding spellcasters! To use a dragon’s breath made from magic to wipe out dragons that were scattered outside of the attack range—it’s an insane idea.

It’s happening right in front of me, but if I report this back to the kingdom, they’ll just laugh at me for being too extreme…

I thought they had taken out everything, but then another intermediate dragon, of the snake variety, attacked from the air. The fire dragon vanished in a flow of sand.

What do we do!?

I turned to Ekvar, flying on his wyvern next to me, but he just watched calmly with a strong gaze.

“My prey is mine!”

Belial, who had been watching, stepped forward, raising a red-black sword in hand.

He distracted the dragon by striking its face with fire, then swung his sword fiercely. The intermediate dragon was easily sliced, its scream echoing. He continued his attacks with both fire and sword, seemingly intent on finishing it off himself.

“Seems like this side is no problem.”

The man who was faintly smiling wasn’t observing for concern but to assess the battle tactics. He’s an ally, yet… what an unpleasant type.

He scanned the area, then noticed the dragons heading toward the town without making contact with Iriya  and the others. He casually checked around before heading back to the town. There were two dragons—one intermediate and one lower level—but since we didn’t know each other’s capabilities, it would be best not to take any unnecessary risks.

“An intermediate and a lower-level dragon are coming! Be on guard!”

I descended next to the mage from Chenkasler, Edith. She nodded with a tense expression.

“Albertina, leave this to me. I’ll deal with the lower-level one first.”

Ekvar said this, then rode his wyvern westward toward the lower-level dragon. The two dragons were moving separately, and the intermediate one would likely reach the town first.

It seems he can handle the lower-level one by himself. Even B-rank adventurers can do that, but the way he said it so lightly means he must be at least A-rank level.

“Now, who will defend against the breath?”

Anyway, we quickly decide on a plan.

“Leave that to me.”

A man named Shemihaza stepped forward. He is probably not a human. He said he would protect Annika, and she’s the contractor.

She’s nervously standing in the back. Her reaction is typical for a regular craftsman! Somehow, it’s reassuring…

“What’s the dragon’s attribute?”

“It’s a Storm Dragon. I’d like to attack with either fire or earth.”

Edith, who asked about the attribute, clenched her hands strongly in front of her chest.

“Then I’ll attack with fire magic! I’m good with fire attributes!”

“…You’re not going to create a fire dragon, right…?”

“I won’t, that kind of magic!! It just uses up too much mana!”

I’m so glad, really. If I were involved with people like that, my sense of reality might warp! Common sense would be corrupted! This is normal!!

Before long, Shemihaza easily defends against the dragon’s first breath. If this is the case, even an advanced dragon will be no problem. As expected.

For some reason, this feels easier than the defense battle in the Fen Duchy… Even though there are fewer dragons, we don’t even have the military here. Iriya  and the others are too strange.

Edith fires a magic ball of flame at the charging Storm Dragon.

“Flame, swell up, round and round, like the sun’s halo! Become a sphere, bounce and move forward, Fireball!”

Fireball is a low-level spell, but it consumes little mana and has high attack power, so it’s useful. However, if it doesn’t hit, it’s meaningless. It’s just a magic that launches a fireball, but the chant finishes quickly and it’s good for stalling.

While the fireball hits the dragon’s face and it falters, I start chanting my next spell.

“Blazing flames dance on the board. Even iron flows as a river. The fire prospers, the sins of man sink.”

I clap my hands together in front of my body, making a loud sound. I can feel the heat of the magic spreading.

“Heat of destruction, become the pillar of the sun and show the way! Lava Flare!”

“Ggaaahhhh!!”

It hits the Storm Dragon squarely, and the dragon struggles and tries to flee. As expected, it’s a mid-tier dragon, so it’s not defeated just yet.

But with this, it’ll be soon…

Just as I thought that, I get a bad feeling running up my spine.

Something’s there, danger is approaching. I feel that and turn around. A small figure is visible in the distance. That is… a dragon!

Ekvar, riding a wyvern, quickly flies towards us and circles around.

“An advanced dragon is heading this way! Finish up here quickly and be on alert!”

This is no longer a mid-tier opponent!

Seeing that Lava Flare’s heat was weakening, I moved toward the dragon.

“Can you boost attack power?!”

“I… I can!”

When I loudly ask, Annika, who had been trembling earlier, answers with all the strength she can muster.

“Raise the flag to the sky, raise the dust, stomp on the earth. I will sing, a song to praise the brave warriors who fear no army, a thousand times, ten thousand times! Exaltation!”

The effect is decent. My sword already has attack enhancement and water attribute magic enhancement, so this will work!!

I charge toward the Storm Dragon and slash at its neck. The wound freezes due to the magic, and no blood flows, freezing in place. The water attribute makes it so that I don’t get splattered with blood.

I stab my sword into the side of the dragon that falls, and pour magic into it to freeze it. I hear cracking sounds, so I think I’ve taken it down.

“What’s the attribute of the advanced dragon?!”

“It’s a dragon I’ve never seen before, and it was breathing fire. But it doesn’t seem like a fire dragon.”

“But it’s breathing fire, right? Then its attribute should be fire, right?”

Edith answers Ekvar, who is carefully transmitting the information.

Normally, dragons breathe fire that matches their own attribute. But, I too am concerned about his words. We should be cautious.

“I’ve taken the defense. If the second breath comes, Albertina, I’ll leave it to you. I don’t know how much we can defeat it, but I want to alternate.”

“Understood! Let me replenish mana with a potion now, and I’ll make the first attack. Edith, I’m counting on you.”

I nod at Shemihaza and look at Edith. It seems like she’s encountering a mid-tier dragon for the first time. Now it’s an advanced dragon, and she’s clearly feeling fear.

The dragon roars as if to intimidate us, and it keeps getting closer. Red heat leaks from the gaps in its brown scales. It leaves trails of flickering fire sparks, so it’s definitely fire attribute?

Adventurers and town soldiers are also coming, but they don’t seem like they’ll be very reliable.

Ekvar looks around at the gathered people and gives commands from atop his wyvern.

“We can defend against the breath, so don’t worry. Archers, to the front. When I give the signal, shoot for the neck and jaw all at once. Mages, focus on attacks with water or wind attributes, and assist. The swordsmen won’t be needed this time, but come forward to defend the mages!”

It’s rare to see someone riding a wyvern, so everyone watches with curious expressions. However, they quickly straighten up and nod quietly.

An advanced dragon is a monster that could mobilize an entire country. To have it defended by a single town is quite a tough request. I believe the messenger has already been sent, but it will be too late to make a difference.

As soon as the dragon approached, it released a powerful fire breath, which was completely blocked by Shemihaza’s expanded defense wall. Everyone watched in awe, gazing vaguely at the flames flowing beyond the wall.

“Cold blade raised from the primordial darkness. The blue of the dark, frozen things that lie in the snowy void. Shine and fall, like a shooting star! Stalactite de Glass!”

I cast a water attribute attack spell. This spell, which summons giant ice pillars, is powerful and deals massive damage to fire attribute creatures.

“GIGOOOAAAAAAA!!”

The four pillars impaled the dragon, and it roared in a sound that resembled a scream. However, they didn’t pierce as deeply as I expected. This dragon’s skin is quite tough! It’s definitely an advanced dragon.

“Breath, solidify, become frozen! Load and give me the trigger! Hailstones of hard ice, rain down like a torrential downpour. Create a barrage! Glass Loon!”

Next, Edith cast a mid-tier water attribute spell. Considering her proficiency in fire attribute magic and the power behind this spell, it’s quite effective.

“Archers, prepare! …Fire!”

At Ekvar’s signal, arrows flew toward the dragon’s face. This is an effective method for defending against a breath attack. He must have fought against intermediate dragons before.

Without hesitation, the mages cast their own water and wind attribute spells. The dragon seemed frustrated, unable to approach us. This is a dangerous sign. We need to cast stronger magic before the attacks stop.

“Army of blizzards, harbingers of death, come forth. Kneel before me and show your might.”

The cold air mixed in from somewhere, and I could feel the magical effect. To continue chanting, I performed the necessary movements. My hands, which had been spread out, came together as I faced my palms toward myself.

“Freeze, freeze! Let not a single drop of blood warm! Now, nothing can stop the Legion’s march. Advance! Gross Tourbillon de Neige!”

This wide-area attack spell will deal considerable damage and slow the dragon’s movements. I drank a High Mana Potion as I heard the dragon’s scream. The battle would continue for a while.

Meanwhile, Ekvar directed the archers to fire arrows, and the gathered mages and Annika also cast beginner-level attack spells.

However, the dragon unleashed a second breath attack. This is strange; it should have taken significant damage from the fire, but it’s already attacking again!?

But there’s no time to think about that! Now it’s my turn to defend!

“From the scorching sands, from the glaciers that carry us away, from all calamities, protect us. O atmosphere, grant us a soft membrane, an invisible wall. Souffle Defense!”

An invisible wall formed in an arc, blocking the flames. However, the dragon was still advancing slowly while breathing fire. This defense won’t protect against physical attacks at all!

“Wall, become the encompassing force, round and round… a soft cage, trap the enemy!”

An unfamiliar chant reached my ears, coming from nowhere. It was a woman’s voice.

Suddenly, my defense changed shape, slowly wrapping around the dragon in a circular form. It was just a magic that bends the magic, so it shouldn’t have been that strong. Why is it interfering with my magic!?

The dragon, wrapped in its own flames, groaned.

Suddenly, a mage in a dark blue robe named Sebirino descended beside me.

“Garsendiessa, also known as the Meteor Dragon. A dangerous dragon of the dark attribute that breathes fire.”

I’ve never heard of such a dragon. Where did he get this information!?

Those chants and effects from Iriya … What are they? Who are they really!?

A demon named Belial passed by near the thin defensive membrane. It seemed to be speaking, but I couldn’t hear it. When the membrane vanished, he raised both hands high and looked down at the dragon, laughing.

“Now, become my sacrifice! This was a fun hunt!”

He’s quite a dangerous demon! How did he manage to contract with it?

Somehow, fire had been set on the ground without me noticing, and a crimson line began to burn, quickly encircling Garsendiessa. Within that range, blood-red fire erupted from the ground, instantly engulfing the dragon.

A high-pitched scream echoed, a death-like sound. It was a powerful attack. Despite the dragon being weakened, a dark-attribute dragon was easily dealt a fatal blow.

This might be the most dangerous one I’ve seen so far. Yet, the heat doesn’t leak out to the surroundings.

Once the women arrived, the advanced dragon was swiftly defeated. I see, they used my magic to trap the dragon and immobilize it for Belial’s magic to work.

What a terrifying woman. Indeed, she’s someone you should never make an enemy of.

I thought it was over, but I remained on guard and instructed everyone to stay in the area just in case. Then, I flew off alone.

I don’t want to be with Ekvar!

“Master’s magic is as bold as ever. I’m honored to be your companion in this blissful state!”

“Oh, but this means the mining tour is canceled. I really wanted some mithril.”

Now that I think about it, this guy is Iriya ’s disciple. I thought he was a noble magician. Did he get caught up in this situation after coming to see the mine? What a rare chance.

“No, no, dragon hunting gives way more rewards. Of course, we’ll give you mithril too, and we’ll discuss it with the town mayor.”

The supervisor, who had returned with the soldiers, explained the usual things. I really want to analyze what’s going on in her head.

As I distanced myself, the voices of everyone gradually became inaudible.

By the time I returned, Iriya  and the group had already left. They must have decided there was no danger.

Now I need to explain the situation to Edith, the kingdom’s mage, and the supervisor, the mayor, and the guild master. I never expected this to be easier than the defense of the Fen Principality…

The reinforcements from Fen Principality should still arrive just in case.

Better safe than sorry, I guess!