Celestan Le Nan… Leader of the adventurers deceived by the count into coming to defeat Lord Belial. Appears starting in Episode 65.
Pavari … A companion at the time, wielding a mace and using light-element magic.
“Could it really be… Amrita? I mean, something that amazing, and you’re giving it away for free…?”
“That said, Celestan, weren’t your injuries so severe that you could barely walk? And on top of that, those were old wounds that potions couldn’t even heal anymore, right? In that case, it must indeed be Amrita properly blended with Sheev Issahil Amel. No other medicine could completely heal old wounds like that. The effects speak for themselves.”
I am Celestan Le Nan, an S-rank swordsman. Together with Pavari , an A-rank mage equipped with a mace, I’m returning to the Wastent Republic. The reason for this is that my sword master summoned me through the adventurer’s guild.
By the way, Pavari came along simply because we hit it off, though he mentioned his hometown is somewhere near the sea.
When we returned, I found my master, who had once struggled even to walk, practicing swordsmanship again after so long.
I worried he might overdo it and become unable to walk again, but to my surprise, his old wounds were nearly gone, and he claimed there was no pain left. My master showed me the medicine he received from a young woman. The ointment, nearly used up, was contained in a white jar. He wished to find this woman, who had given him such an extraordinary remedy, to express his gratitude.
These injuries were from a war about ten years ago. Back then, when both magic and medicine were in short supply, my master concealed his own injuries to prioritize healing others. That selflessness was typical of him, but no one expected those wounds to eventually force him into retirement.
“I’m too old to return to active duty now, but being free of pain is a blessing.”
He stroked his beard, looking genuinely happy. I hadn’t seen him this content in ages. If possible, I’d like to thank that woman myself as well.
Sitting around the small table in my master’s house, located in the town of Koare in the southern part of the Wastent Republic, I brewed tea for three people and took a seat.
“Understood, Master! We’ll make sure to find her. Please tell us everything you can about the situation.”
This house, situated on the outskirts of town, is a small, secondhand wooden home near the Dead Sea. Koare is a popular tourist destination, but my master, a former general, lives here as if he has renounced the world.
For the record, I’m not a soldier; I’m an adventurer. Still, I begged him to teach me the sword.
“Let me see… She was a lovely woman with light purple hair, accompanied by a demon with red hair… I remember the demon calling her name. What was it again…?”
“…Could it be Illya…?”
“Oh, that’s it! Do you know her?”
No way—it’s her! The woman with exceptional magic skills, a contract with a demon king, and the ability to create medicine like this? Her talent is unbelievable for someone so young.
This… I definitely can’t let it slip that I was tricked into fighting her…!
“Y-Yes, we’re acquainted. I know where she lives, so we can go thank her right away!”
“That’s great to hear! But then, what should we offer as thanks…?”
For us two rugged individuals, it’s hard to imagine what kind of gift would delight a woman. Jewelry? Flowers?
…That doesn’t seem right.
While we were at a loss, Pavari spoke up with a suggestion.
“Well, if someone who creates magical items came to this town, they were probably looking for Dead Sea water. She seemed to enjoy magic-related things, so perhaps she’d appreciate rare materials?”
“The Dead Sea…? She didn’t go there. She arrived while the area was sealed off due to monsters and left before the closure was lifted.”
Pavari and I exchanged glances. That woman was pretty combative, wasn’t she? She eagerly engaged in magic battles.
“…Uh… Could it be that the monsters were already defeated?”
“You’re sharp. I heard that someone sliced the giant snake in the forest clean in half and took out the sea serpent in the Dead Sea with magic.”
“It’s probably her and her companions. Even with the area sealed, they could bypass it with flight magic. Their magical prowess was beyond S-rank.”
My master looked astonished. He had met her in town, where she came across as gentle and nothing like someone who would fight monsters.
It’s true—she doesn’t seem like the type to recklessly use dangerous, forbidden magic just to test it…
“Anyway, if we’re going to give her rare materials, what should we offer? How about Sheev…something?“
“Sheev Issahil Amel. It’s known as the rejuvenation herb. Without it, you can’t create Amrita with the ability to heal old wounds. In fact, some argue that any Amrita lacking this herb isn’t real. However, since it only grows in pristine water, it’s perpetually in short supply.”
Pavari ’s explanation was overly technical… In short, it’s hard to obtain, right? As I hesitated, he continued his explanation.
“For mages, items like Gao Kelena or Ambrosia are well-received. For making elixirs, Ambrosia is essential. Soma sap is also hard to come by in some regions. Normally, Dragon Tears would be a fantastic gift, but I bet she’d hunt them herself.”
“…Hunt? A dragon!? Dragon Tears require at least a mid-tier dragon to obtain!”
My master had a point. I took a sip of my tea—it was a little strong.
“Well, she’s contracted to a demon, after all. Even without that, I’m sure she could handle it alone.”
“If that’s true, she’s like Egdualum’s court mage—the one rumored to hunt dragons singlehandedly.”
“You mean the author of that magic tome, Sevillino Osa Arens?”
Pavari is well-versed in magical matters, which is always helpful. He can craft advanced potions and has extensive knowledge of magical items—enough to make a comfortable living as an artisan.
Yet, despite all this, we couldn’t decide on an appropriate gift. Maybe it would be best to ask her directly what she wants and then go find it.
Pavari seemed lost in thought and fell silent, so I turned to my master to ask about his life since retiring and his plans now that he’s pain-free.
He said he intended to stay here, quietly living while training to regain his physical condition, which had deteriorated during his years of immobility.
“Well, if the country ever calls on me, I wouldn’t mind helping out.”
“It seems like your motivation has returned! Then, may I request a sparring match after so long?”
“Haha, do you think you can beat me now?”
My master stood up straight, showing no signs of favoring his legs.
He’s truly healed…! The vigor I hadn’t seen in years was back. His spirit had returned!
We loosened up a bit and had our first sparring session in about ten years. Although his movements lacked sharpness, the techniques ingrained in his body through years of training hadn’t faded. It was an exhilarating experience for me as well.
After promising to report back once we’d conveyed our thanks to her, Pavari and I left the Wastent Republic.
Pavari wore a serious expression for a while, but as we crossed into the Kingdom of Chenkaslar, he muttered something unexpectedly.
“…Celestan. I became certain after our conversation with your teacher. Iriya is probably a court magician or something of that sort from the kingdom of Egdualum.”
“…Huh? What’s with the sudden statement?”
The content was truly sudden. Why bring up the magic powerhouse, Egdualum, out of nowhere?
“She said that she restored a forbidden magic from Egdualum’s restricted library, and that’s what made me curious. The people who can enter such a place are limited. And that man, Ekvar… He seemed to be quite experienced in negotiations with nobles, and not at all like a D-rank adventurer. In fact, he looked more like a noble.”
“Now that you mention it, you’re right. You’re thinking about this in a complicated way.”
I didn’t really mind. I just thought, “Well, that’s interesting.”
Rather, I was still in shock from the overwhelming power of that magic… Even though I had reached S-rank as an adventurer, I’d never encountered magic with such destructive power. It was so amazing I couldn’t even comprehend it.
“…I’m not thinking too deeply. He seemed to be lamenting that it might be his responsibility. He could be part of an organization that protects secrets like that. Also, I heard that court magicians in Egdualum are required to be able to create Elixirs. It’s understandable that someone who can make top-tier magical items would be part of that group.”
“Another tough condition…”
“There are rumors that bribes are effective too. Maybe, for some reason, she left her position and the country, and now Ekvar is chasing after her…?”
Pavari continued to speak to himself as if contemplating. The border was a forest, and as we passed through it, we saw the high walls of the defense city, Zadol Toshe, of the Chenkaslar Kingdom.
“Why don’t you just ask her?”
“Celestan… Are you really okay? You shouldn’t ask about things that involve the nation’s secrets…”
If a court magician were to quit, it would imply something significant had happened, and I was scolded for my lack of caution.
Upon visiting Iriya ’s house, it was Ekvar who greeted us. She was apparently out delivering potions. This worked out well.
If you can’t ask with words, ask with actions. That’s the best way.
“My teacher was really happy that the potion she gave him healed an old injury and removed the pain. I came to thank her…”
“…An old injury…?”
It seemed that Ekvar hadn’t known about this. I explained the whole situation and expressed my wish to send a token of gratitude to her.
“My teacher is feeling better now, and I want to get back to training with the sword. Ekvar, if you have time, would you like to spar with me?”
“…Celestan!”
Pavari scolded me, but Ekvar just smiled with a grin.
“That… sounds fun. I’d love to.”
As expected, his demeanor wasn’t that of a D-rank adventurer. No D-rank would casually accept a challenge from an S-rank adventurer.
We made our way to the town’s Adventurers’ Guild. The guild had a building where members practiced swordsmanship and magic, and in the basement, there was a special training area only accessible to adventurers of a certain rank or higher, hidden from public view.
“I’m Celestan Le Nan, an S-rank adventurer. If you have a basement training facility here, I would like to rent it.”
When I showed my rank badge at the reception, the receptionist was confused by Ekvar’s presence.
Right, an S-rank challenging a D-rank… This felt odd.
“Um, with that person…?”
“Well, yes…”
“My employer provided some healing items, and in return, he’s going to train me. It’s a good opportunity, after all.”
Ekvar answered smoothly, and the receptionist smiled, saying it was nice to hear.
This was quite different from the skeptical attitude she had earlier. It was clear that Ekvar was genuinely here for training. As I had thought before, he was a hard person to pin down.
“I didn’t know this. This is convenient.”
Ekvar descended the stairs leading to the basement with a light step.
“…You sure come up with excuses quickly.”
“Well, you should always be prepared with answers for questions you expect to be asked.”
“Yeah, I guess it makes sense to be suspicious.”
Pavari nodded, probably agreeing with me. Maybe I wasn’t thinking this through…
The training room was spacious, with barriers set up for both weapon and magic training. As adventurers rank up, it’s common for them to use both. There were wooden swords and staffs available for use in the room.
“Pavari , do you also engage in close combat?”
“No, I only carry a mace for protection and mostly use magic.”
“I see.”
Magicians are weak if someone gets too close, so they need to be able to defend themselves to support their allies. Pavari had magical runes inscribed on his mace, also making it act as a staff. Made of a special alloy of Mythril, it was light yet tough.
Ekvar and I stood facing each other in the center of the room, while Pavari stood against the wall to avoid getting caught in the fight.
“…Begin!”
With Pavari ’s signal, Ekvar charged forward with great force. Despite his usual carefree appearance, his eyes were sharp and aggressive, like a predator. His movements were quick, and his attacks were heavy, far surpassing what I had expected. I had to focus.
I slowly exhaled, subtly adjusting my grip on the sword and stepped forward slightly to test his reaction, but he didn’t flinch.
He wasn’t going to fall for a weak feint.
I closed the distance quickly and swung my sword from the right, but Ekvar easily backed up and evaded. His body never wavered. He shifted his shoulder and countered with an upward strike.
I quickly blocked with my sword and immediately counterattacked from the left, but Ekvar redirected my blade, gliding across it and attempting to strike. I deflected his blade upwards and swung down at him from above.
As my sword cut through the air, he used his right foot to step forward and smoothly slid past me with his left foot.
His footwork was exquisite!
Moreover, as his left foot landed, he quickly pivoted with his right foot, facing me directly. This wasn’t the work of a self-taught adventurer. This was someone who had undergone serious training.
“…I think I understand the questions you want to ask. Why are you so curious about this?”
After creating some distance, Ekvar suddenly asked. At this point, it seemed we were moving toward a more direct confrontation.
“The one who gave her the Amrita, that special elixir, is my teacher, a former general of the Wastent Republic. He wants to thank her, and if there is any danger, I think we can offer protection in the Republic.”
“…Well, this has become quite a grand story. Fine, I’ll respond to your sincerity.”
With that, Ekvar bent his elbow, holding his sword in front of his face with both hands. He tapped his right heel to his left foot and stood straight, performing a knightly gesture I had seen before, though I couldn’t remember exactly where.
“The Kingdom of Egdualum, Prince of the Royal Guard, Ekvar Kroas Karlsroa. From this moment, I will fight you with all my strength!”
“…What!?”
He hadn’t been serious until now…? And he’s a member of the Royal Guard!?
Wait, what happened to the story about her!?
Pavari looked just as surprised as he stared at him.
Without caring about the situation here, Ekvar smoothly thrusts his sword forward and squints his eyes.
“…Here I go.”
The position of the sword and the height of his head hardly change as he charges forward.
I can’t read his range or aim!
I block the strike he delivers to the left, then immediately reverse and swing my sword, not missing the small step he takes back, and I try to strike him back with a thrust.
His speed is faster than before, and the slight preliminary movements I had noticed before have almost vanished.
I can’t even track the occasional glint of his gaze.
What kind of guy is this? Was he testing me just now…!?
The sword thrust directly toward my chest is narrowly avoided as I retreat diagonally to the rear, and I try to strike back by slipping my sword under his, but he immediately moves his blade downward, pressing it down from above to stop me. Then, without losing track of my blade, he quickly closes in on me.
Is he still attacking!?
I too move forward, using my left hand to push his arm and stop his sword. I can’t manage to block it with my sword in time. In that instant, I think I saw a grin on his lips.
I quickly step back and adjust my posture. At almost the same time, Ekvar sinks his body slightly.
“Oh, did you predict that? No, maybe it was just intuition? Sharp, aren’t you?”
What was he aiming for? A shiver runs down my spine.
Swallowing hard, I watch him closely. Strangely enough, he starts walking normally.
One step, two steps…
What is this?
The moment I blinked, Ekvar closed the distance and made a low upward strike. My reaction was just a split second too late. I’m forced to retreat as our swords clash.
“Damn…!”
I desperately try to match his incoming strike head-on and bring it to a sword lock.
If it’s about strength, I can win. But as his force weakens, my center of gravity instinctively shifts forward. Ekvar’s sword spins around mine and rises above it.
At the same time, he shifts his weight forward and diagonally with his right foot, and in an instant, his sword is pressed against my neck. Even his back foot is perfectly aligned.
“You see, when unexpected actions happen, your focus shifts and your response slows down.”
So why would he try walking normally during a serious fight? This situation was highly tense…
“You… you were testing me at first.”
I speak as I sit down on the floor, out of breath, and he takes a deep breath, calming himself.
“Not quite. I didn’t think I needed to be serious in a fight where it’s okay to lose. You’re adventurers, right? You never know when someone will hire you and turn against you.”
“…So you thought that much ahead?”
“Revealing your hand to a strong opponent is too dangerous. But you didn’t seem like a threat, so I thought I could return the favor for your sincerity, offering to protect you.”
Return the favor… I would have preferred a more peaceful one. I was the one who tried to test your arm in the beginning, just to confirm if you were just an adventurer.
“…It’s too early for me to understand any of this.”
Pavari approaches with a wry smile. Even though she specializes in magic, it seems this speed was beyond her sight as well. Honestly, I didn’t catch all his movements either. Some parts I blocked through reflex or just gut instinct.
Anyone who meets this man on the battlefield will be unlucky.
“Oh, by the way, you wanted a thank you? I think you mentioned wanting Gao Kerenna or Soma sap. And you were lamenting not knowing any jewelers because you wanted to make a talisman. Also, Ambrosia. It’s an elixir ingredient. And I’m sure you would appreciate ingredients for high-grade potions too. I supply those to stores, so it seems like no matter how much there is, it’s never enough.”
The man explaining this to me no longer has the oppressive aura from when we fought. He’s back to his usual lighthearted demeanor.
“…I appreciate it, but this quick change of attitude, really…”
He just laughs.
“By the way, it seems like you really enjoy your current life. I think you’d turn down any offer of protection.”
“I see. Well, it did seem like you were enjoying yourself… If you ever run into trouble, don’t hesitate to reach out. You can contact me through the Adventurers’ Guild.”
You seem to be enjoying your life, traveling to your favorite places, making items as you like. You’ve even bought a house, so I guess you wouldn’t want to leave that town easily.
“Thanks, I’ll pass it on.”
“By the way, I imagined you’d be in a position managing secret techniques… but you’re in the Imperial Guard?”
Once the conversation ended, Pavari asked Ekvar the question.
“Ah, that. The prince is also the head of the management department, so within the Imperial Guard, the five of us closest aides are being used in various ways. We were added to the mission without choice. I didn’t plan to study in this way, so I’ve been forced to learn quite a lot…”
Five closest aides!? Did he really just say that!?
That must be the rumored Imperial Guard of Egdualum’s Crown Prince, the “Pentagram of the Crown Prince,” known for handling dangerous secret missions!
“…Eh? What’s with the Pentagram? Who came up with that…?”
It seems they didn’t know about this nickname. However, they didn’t deny it.
Looks like I’ve really been fighting against some dangerous people. They’re fiercely loyal and said to be willing to die for the prince, even killing their own parents if necessary. I don’t know how true that is…
Their skill level is above top-tier. So why are they D-rank adventurers…?
This is a scam!
For the reward, I decided to give him the materials I had found among the suggested items. I’ll leave with Pavari for now. Maybe I’ll look for Soma sap or Ambrosia ingredients.
