Chapter 89 - The Fox Mask

THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!

The Egg of agony kept pounding violently. Each beat sent a surge of intense fear through Galahad.

The cause was that fox mask.

The egg feared the figure wearing it, more fiercely than it had ever feared anything before.

In contrast, Galahad felt an intense fascination, all because of the magic the fox-masked figure had just used.

The figure had appeared by warping empty space.

There was no mistaking it.

'Spatial magic.'

The four Mage Towers established by the first human Mage, now long gone, were known as the Fallen Four Great Mage Towers.

Their story was passed down among Mages like a legend.

Galahad knew it was more than mere legend.

Just then, the fox-masked figure abruptly stopped and tilted their head ninety degrees.

"Don't tell me you recognized it?"

The space around the figure rippled faintly. There was no doubt. It was spatial magic.

"Did you really just recognize it?"

The question made Galahad realize it had been a trap.

But it was a trap he could not avoid.

This was magic from the Fallen Four Great Mage Towers. How could he possibly look away?

"I never imagined the Void Mage Tower still existed."

"You really did recognize it! Wow! To think there was a human who could!"

"How could I not, when you're using it so openly?"

"Most people can't."

Then the fox-masked figure moved forward.

"You have an egg."

The voice came from right beside him. Somehow, the figure was already on Galahad's left.

THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!

The Egg of agony kept trembling, screaming at him to flee immediately. Galahad blithely ignored it.

"You have the blessing of a forgotten being..."

The voice came from his right. He turned to find the fox-masked figure standing upside down on that side.

'So this is spatial magic.'

Galahad was utterly fascinated. His mouth watered.

"And on top of that, you recognize this magic?"

The voice came from behind him. Something poked the back of his head. Galahad narrowed his eyes and turned.

The fox-masked figure was already far away.

"Tell me honestly. Are you really the first human Mage's disciple?"

The figure tilted their head from side to side, looking for all the world like a child at play.

The attitude was casual, but that only made them more dangerous.

'They know the first human Mage. Is he still alive? They're considering the possibility that I'm his disciple.'

Galahad's mind raced.

"No, that can't be right. You're an Intelligence Bureau agent, aren't you?"

Galahad narrowed his eyes at the next words. The figure knew who he was.

"Would you please answer me? Who are you?"

The figure took a bold step forward and was suddenly right in front of him.

Where the eyes should have been behind the fox mask, there was only deep darkness, as though nothing lay beyond—or something that must not be seen.

That hollow darkness stared at Galahad.

In response, he straightened his back and stood tall.

"Galahad, commander of the Special Operations Unit."

The fox-masked figure froze.

"Aha. I see."

The figure looked at Galahad.

Then a searing pain flared in his left earlobe.

'My left earlobe is gone.'

Galahad narrowed his eyes at the cool sensation running down his neck.

'So this is spatial magic.'

Focusing on the pain, he retraced what had just happened.

He had not even felt mana flow. His earlobe had simply vanished, as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

Magic consisted of three broad stages.

Gathering, calculation, and release.

Gathering meant collecting mana, calculation meant executing the spell formulas and equations, and release was the final act of casting the magic.

Release required a specific movement to serve as a trigger, such as Galahad snapping his fingers.

That was not something one could omit by compressing the process.

The fox-masked figure had not moved at all.

Galahad could not have missed even the slightest gesture.

Which meant...

'The gaze.'

There had to be something in that gaze concealed behind the mask.

'Is that even possible? The eyes act as the trigger?'

The fox-masked figure gave a small nod.

"Now, let me ask again. Are you the first human Mage's disciple?"

The voice remained unhurried.

"Who knows?"

Instead of answering, Galahad twisted his lips into a provocative smile.

"Oh dear."

The figure's head turned a fraction. It was a tiny movement, but Galahad saw it clearly.

He followed the gaze from the angle of the mask. His right foot. The instant he identified the target, he moved it. A deep hole appeared where his foot had just been, its edges as clean as if the spot had been erased.

The gaze really was the release action. Galahad was genuinely impressed.

"Wow. You figured that out?"

The fox-masked figure voiced admiration too, though there was only mild interest in the voice.

'Space itself disappeared.'

Galahad murmured those delicious words.

Erasing space was an entirely different matter from burning or freezing something with magic.

'How is that possible?'

He could not understand it through the concepts he possessed.

Of course he couldn't.

That was a stroke lost along with the fallen Mage Tower.

'At last, I've found it.'

The corners of Galahad's mouth rose.

* * *

'... What the hell is this man?'

The fox-masked figure narrowed their eyes at Galahad.

They had erased his earlobe as a warning. Blood dripped down his ear, yet he was smiling.

"This is starting to annoy me."

Grumbling, the figure fixed their gaze on him again.

This time, the warning would be unmistakable. He had two shoulders; surely he could do without one.

But then Galahad snapped his fingers first.

The figure clicked their tongue. They knew Galahad's magic was fast. Probably the fastest of any Mage.

But however fast he might be, he was still a Mage of the revised system.

'I'll have to make the difference clear before we talk.'

The figure leisurely waited for Galahad to act. Then something struck them as odd.

Galahad had not attacked.

The magic he cast was...

'Chilling Mist?'

Chilling Mist was one of the basic spells. Its cold fog served to slow enemies within its range.

It was more a support spell than an offensive one.

"Wow. You really are something."

The figure was genuinely impressed. Chilling Mist was quite troublesome to deal with.

"Was that the right answer?"

At the voice from beyond the mist, the figure readily nodded.

"Among the things you can do, yes?"

Mist was a sound, direct counter to the fox-masked figure. It was quite troublesome.

But that was all.

The figure erased a deep stretch of space ahead. A small void formed in midair, its depths greedily sucking in everything around it.

The mist filling the area vanished in an instant.

Chilling Mist had been a clever choice. Its low temperature made it difficult to clear away.

The gap between them was simply too great.

How would he react to such an overwhelming disparity?

'He'll despair, won't he? How sweet that will be.'

The figure could not hide their excitement.

But Galahad's reaction was not what they had expected.

"Oh, so that's how you clear it away. Fascinating."

He was beaming as though he could barely contain his delight.

The fox-masked figure narrowed their eyes.

'He can't be the first human Mage's disciple.'

The first human Mage hated people whose brains had melted. Yet this man's brain was more thoroughly melted than anyone the figure had ever met.

No, magic had not merely melted his brain; it had pickled it. The first human Mage would never have accepted someone like that.

That was an even bigger problem.

It meant someone who was not his disciple had discovered the figure's identity.

'He's far too big a variable.'

He was a variable, and a glaring one at that. Every clue screamed that he had to be removed.

The solution was simple: deliver him to the ruler. That had been the reason for tracking him down in the first place.

But...

'This is fun.'

Galahad had piqued the figure's interest, and powerfully so.

The way his brain seemed not merely pickled in magic but melted by it, his recognition of the figure's authority, and his use of the egg as a staff were all fascinating.

Most of all...

'A Mage carrying an egg is engaged to that Adrianna.'

That fact had truly captured the figure's interest.

Normally, the figure would have battered Galahad a little, handed him over to the ruler, and put the matter to rest.

That was the quickest, simplest solution.

Now, that had changed.

'This is more fun.'

The figure let out a low groan.

It was entertaining, but not enough to justify the trouble of disposing of the ruler.

Then the man put a cigarette between his lips. A rich lemon scent spread through the air. That scent... The figure tilted their head.

"Is the ruler looking for me?"

Galahad spoke first, giving the figure a small surprise.

That question meant he had noticed their presence even when he was with the ruler.

The balance tipped a little further toward this more entertaining option.

*'Just a little more...'

If things grew just a little more interesting, the decision would be clear.

"I'm rather busy at the moment."

Galahad was the one acting at ease.

The figure gave a small snort.

"I'm afraid your wishes have nothing to do with it. Well, I understand your confidence, being the Academy's youngest graduate and all, but you're still only a Mage, aren't you?"

"You speak as though you aren't one yourself."

"I was a Mage once too. But—"

Just then, a very faint sound reached the figure's ears.

'He still doesn't know his place.'

Clicking their tongue softly, the figure focused their eyes.

The sharp piece of ice that had already reached them vanished on the spot.

His speed was certainly astonishing. It was hard to believe he was a Mage.

"That really is impressive speed. No wonder you were such a successful agent. But however fast you are, can you be faster than my eyes?"

The figure had kindly explained, but the answer was an Ice Spike.

They narrowed their eyes. The Ice Spikes flying toward them in succession were erased all at once.

"You're quite stubborn."

"Resolute."

His answer was as relaxed as ever. Then the space around the figure's waist wavered slightly.

Looking down, they saw a large Ice Spike embedded there.

'When?'

The figure narrowed their eyes.

The only time their vision had been obscured was when he laid down the mist. Had he prepared another spell in that brief instant?

More importantly...

'He planned this far ahead when he cast the mist?'

The figure felt a flicker of admiration. He certainly had the skill to justify his confidence.

He had simply chosen the wrong opponent.

The figure gave a light shake, and the embedded Ice Spike scattered.

"See? It won't work anyway. Just wait quietly. I'm deciding what to do with you."

"Oh, did you use spatial magic defensively?"

His carefully prepared strike had failed to leave even a scratch. He ought to have despaired, yet his smile had only widened.

'Should I just deal with him now?'

The figure seriously considered it.

Then Galahad slowly opened his mouth.

The figure narrowed their eyes. Surely he was about to beg for his life or something of the sort. However melted his brain, survival was a human instinct.

'That wouldn't be any fun...'

Contrary to the figure's concern, Galahad did not beg.

Far from it.

"Would you tell me about the Void Mage Tower's magic?"

He made his request with perfect confidence.

*'Ha...'

The figure felt a small surge of amazement. He should have been begging for his life, yet he was asking to learn spatial magic. His madness had gone beyond all bounds.

That, instead, cooled their interest.

Great resolve was entertaining, but someone who simply dug in his heels without knowing his place was not.

"So you're an idiot who doesn't even understand its value."

"When did I ask for it for free?"

The unexpected response made the figure narrow their eyes.

Whatever he offered would be useless. Their authority was beyond price.

Then he crooked a finger.

"I'm proposing an exchange."

"Ha!"

It was so absurd that laughter escaped unbidden. An exchange! Even everything he owned would amount to a mere handful to the figure.

"I only played along for my own amusement—"

"I haven't finished speaking."

He abruptly cut the figure off. Even after being shown the gulf between them, he still had that attitude.

Just as the figure was about to focus their eyes, dense mana emanated from him. The magic circle inscribed on his wrist radiated a brilliant light.

'He's linking the original magic circle to the egg? Does that mean he modified the circle?'

The ingenious flow drew the figure's admiration. It was truly astonishing. They had to admit it: he was so clever it was hard to believe he was a Mage.

'How did his brain end up melting...? No, did he get this far because his brain melted?'

Then...

"Hellfire."

A ball of fire rose before him.

It was tiny, so small that at first glance it looked like a low-tier spell.

The figure rarely lost their composure, but this time they could not help stumbling over their words.

Because the Hellfire he had cast...

"You! How do you know the Inferno Mage Tower's magic?!"

...was magic from a fallen Mage Tower.

"Are you willing to trade now?"

Galahad's smile broadened.

* * *

"Pumpkin, do you know about the Fallen Four Great Mage Towers?"

Pumpkin narrowed her eyes at First's out-of-the-blue remark.

"Magic was originally divided into four major elements. Fire, water, earth, and air."

"I'm not interested."

"The first human Mage established a Mage Tower for each, but at some point they all vanished. Those are what we call the Fallen Four Great Mage Towers."

"I said I'm not interested."

First continued undeterred.

"Magic originated with Demons, didn't it? Apparently, early magic had considerable side effects. That's why the first human Mage divided it among four Mage Towers. They say the moment the elements mixed, humans couldn't handle it."

Letting his words go in one ear and out the other, Pumpkin studied the scene ahead. Figures in sinister-looking hoods were bustling about.

"Unlike today's magic, which has been developed to suit humans, primitive magic was apparently on an entirely different level of power."

"You're being noisy."

"Which means that if I could obtain the Inferno Mage Tower's magic, said to be the fire of hell, I could beat Galahad at magic."

First's voice was brimming with excitement.

In the end, he was fantasizing about beating Galahad in a wager again.

He spouted quite a lot of pointless nonsense like that.

"Disgusting. Hold your breath, will you?"

Pumpkin grumbled, but First did not even pretend to hear her.

"Of course, I'm going to win this wager."

First held a thick sheet of parchment.

It compiled the intelligence Galahad had given him with what he had obtained from the Intelligence Bureau.

Whenever Galahad was involved, First became a brainless idiot, but at the same time, his efficiency multiplied severalfold.

That was how he had managed to stay right on Galahad's heels.

It had produced this beautifully organized map. Even Pumpkin was impressed.

It was so neatly drawn that she doubted First had made it.

*'With this, he might actually win...'

They had, in fact, already captured several Mages. Galahad had set out later than they had. Adrianna had even headed for the front.

"This time will be different."

First sounded quite firm. It was a weighty declaration, but one he made every single time.

Rising with him, Pumpkin felt something was off. She soon realized what it was.

There were fewer Mages than expected.

"Excuse me, aren't there too few of them?"

"Within the margin of error."

"But there have been too few every time. Hey, you!"

First was already charging out.

'Nah, surely not.'

She and First had been working without even sleeping.

Even Galahad could not beat them this time.

Pumpkin shook her head and drew her sword.

*'Ah, my traps...'

Muttering a curse, she relaxed her shoulders.

* * *

"More of them?"

Number Eight, wearing a crow mask, scrunched up their eyes.

A Black Mage stood before them with head bowed deeply.

"Yes. This time, they're disciples of a Class Two wanted criminal."

"What the—"

Crow hurriedly rose and went outside.

In the distance, figures with gloomy hoods pulled low were approaching.

They strode confidently, apparently full of high spirits.

That confidence did not last long.

For there was already a gathering of people in gloomy hoods.

'... Is this really how it's supposed to work?'

Mages...

No, miners were gathering of their own accord.

'Do we have spare pickaxes?'

The unexpected boom was keeping Number Eight busy.