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Episode 13
Richie’s Hideout (2)
As you work to break through obstacle barriers and spells, your magical power and mana affinity will increase.
It was said that finding Richie was also part of the training.
Because of this, I did not help my disciples no matter how hard they struggled.
I just stood by and waited until they found their own way.
I remember it took about two years on average to find Rich.
My disciples worked hard every day, going back and forth between this forest and the nearby village.
Was the shortest record 4 months?
Anyway, even that was a record set by a magician who had reached the intermediate level of “Advanced” .
But Riley broke through the barrier in less than ten minutes.
And then we easily reached Richie’s hideout.
-… … .
“… … .”
A robe as dark as pitch.
In between, the skeleton’s sinister eyes flash.
Richie was still looking down at Riley with a puzzled look.
Flowing silence.
Finally, Richie, who had been standing there blankly, spoke first.
-No! What! How did it happen already… … . Kekeke, kekeke!
Richie suddenly grabbed his own neck and started to whine.
“Kolok! No, wait a minute, Kehek, I was trying to let out a cool voice after such a long time, but my throat got sore.”
“… … .”
“Ah, ah, uh, um, yeah. I’m okay now. Ahem!”
The oppressive voice that had been echoing throughout the forest just a moment ago was nowhere to be found.
All that could be heard from Richie’s mouth was a hollow, whining voice.
The guy who had been clearing his throat several times finally opened his mouth with an awkward expression after about a minute.
“No, wait. By the way, how did you really find me?”
“… … .”
“You really did reverse-trace my sabotage spells? Really?”
“yes.”
Richie let out a breath of pure admiration as Riley nodded in response.
Well, actually, I think Riley’s talent was incredible.
Using the “Pathfinding” I taught him, he was able to reverse-track the lich. Even I was surprised by this growth.
“It’s a monster… … .”
[It’s a monster.]
I couldn’t help but agree with Richie.
* * *
Richie’s hideout.
Inside a giant cave.
To be honest, I wondered if this place could really be called a ‘hideout’.
There were at least 100 large and small rooms inside the cave, and various servants and monsters were living inside them.
Basilisk, Cerberus, Manticore, Bone Dragon, etc. The ones that would reign as bosses in the highest level dungeons were here acting as mere soldiers.
“Come this way!”
Richie led me and Riley through those rooms somewhere.
Finally we arrived at Richie’s cozy bedroom.
Dalgrak─.
Richie, who had disappeared for a moment with the sound of bones latching onto each other, reappeared.
The man who brought the mug of warm tea took a seat across from Riley across the campfire.
“… … .”
“… … .”
Richie and Riley’s eyes met in midair. Riley, who was drinking tea, began to carefully observe Richie in front of her.
‘It looks a little scary.’
[The original Liches looked a little scary.]
It’s certainly scary to see a skeleton about three meters tall walking around wearing a black robe.
Especially if the skeleton keeps making an eerie rattling sound.
[Still, it’s fortunate that Richie didn’t use his magic on me the moment I saw him. There was a disciple who was so surprised that he used his magic on me in the past.]
‘Really?’
[uh.]
This is also a story from almost hundreds of years ago… … .
There was one disciple who was so surprised by the sight of Richie that he immediately cast lightning magic.
The magic was reflected by the automatic shield that was always deployed around Richie, and the disciple who was hit by the magic he had fired with all his might fell into a coma for almost two weeks.
Well, it’s just a funny memory now, but at the time it was a really dire situation.
Suddenly recalling the past, I looked around and saw Riley still wary of Richie.
Of course, it wasn’t a conscious action. It was just a situation where the body responded to its survival instinct without even realizing it.
An oppressive and evil aura was flowing out from Richie.
[hey.]
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“yes?”
[Please hide that energy. My disciple is uncomfortable.]
“Ah! I’m sorry. It’s been a long time since I’ve met people, so I’m having a hard time adjusting.”
After hearing what I said, Richie clapped his hands twice with an apologetic expression.
Hard─.
The ominous aura surrounding the guy disappeared with the sound of bones crashing.
“Are you okay now?”
[Yeah. It’s a little better.]
Anyway, Richie is a being who defied death.
Having betrayed the laws of heaven, they are cursed by the gods and are inevitably forced to harbor the power of black magic, the demonic energy.
[Now you understand? Why I left Richie alone to raise a new disciple.]
‘Yes, I think I understand.’
One of the reasons I raise new disciples.
That’s because the basis of the Lich guy’s magic is black magic.
Black magic is strictly forbidden in the Empire. Anything related to evil is punishable.
Demon worshipper.
Necromancer.
Warlock.
… .
And there are even members of the thieves’ guild who provide these guys with illegal materials.
There is even a separate national organization called the “Inquisitors” to punish them.
If I were to be with Richie, I would be unable to engage in any external activities. Since my “authority and bond” with him would also be cut off, I would not be able to continue my research with him.
That’s why I had no choice but to put Richie forward as an assistant teacher for my new disciple.
anyhow.
That’s not the important thing.
Now it’s time to say hello to my old disciple whom I haven’t seen in 300 years.
[Hey, how have you been?]
“I’ve been doing well. What about you, Master? I was worried because you haven’t come for almost 300 years and I thought something big had happened.”
[Um, well… … .]
There was a big problem.
Because it had been locked away in the Academy’s library for nearly 300 years.
[So, you’re okay?]
“Me? What could be wrong with me? I haven’t left this cave in two thousand years since I became a lich.”
[… … 2 thousand years?]
300 years were hard for me, what? 2000 years?
And that too in this musty cave?
If it were me, I definitely wouldn’t have been able to endure it.
You’re probably crazy.
But the skeleton guy seemed to have a different opinion than me. He shook his head and continued talking with a big smile.
“What’s so hard about it? Studying necromancy, studying black magic, studying curses, and occasionally meeting disciples brought by the master. Time flies by so quickly, doesn’t it? Oh, that’s right!”
“Rich said, snapping his fingers.
“And five years ago, I even beat up adventurers who somehow managed to invade my hideout!”
[… …Adventurers came in?]
“yes.”
I had a question.
Will adventurers be able to discover this hideout? A hideout hidden in the forest with all sorts of barriers and illusions?
No, even if you found a hideout, you can still get through all those monsters and minions to reach Lich’s abode?
[Explain in a little more detail.]
“wait a minute.”
Richie took a sip of tea.
Gulp─.
The tea flowed down between the guy’s ribs.
Seeing that absurd sight, I muttered in a disbelieving voice.
[… … If that’s the case, then why are you drinking tea?]
“I just wanted to feel better.”
Richie laughed heartily and continued his story excitedly.
“Anyway, to continue the explanation… … . There were adventurers who managed to find my hideout. I don’t know how they found it. Hmm, I guess I was just lucky.”
[… … .]
“Anyway, those guys mistook this place for a dungeon because of my magic. As soon as they saw me, they rushed at me, so I had no choice but to fight them.”
Fighting against Richie.
You have no fear.
If you run away without looking back, you’ll end up with your hat in the yard.
“If only I had greeted him kindly, he would have given me a lot of expensive artifacts and escorted me to the exit of the hideout… … But he drew his sword and rushed at me, so I couldn’t do anything about it.”
[You, who had expected to be greeted kindly, are also surprised. Where in the world would an adventurer greet a Richie… … .]
“I did it.”
Riley interrupted. I tried to ignore her and spoke to Richie again.
[Ha, so what happened to the adventurers?]
“I took you as my slave because I was short on manpower. Oh, you’re right over there.”
Richie pointed to one end of the cave.
Dalgrak─.
There was a skeleton there, carrying some junk and heading somewhere.
“Hello. This is Jeremy. My right-hand man.”
Dalgrak─!
The skeleton named Jeremy began to wave his hands with a bright smile. A crunching sound could be heard between the joints of his bones.
And when I saw that sight, I couldn’t help but let out a voice of absurdity once again.
[Hey, that.]
“yes?”
[That’s a death knight, you idiot.]
He said he was just an ordinary adventurer.
So he made them his slaves.
But how did Death Knight come out?
“……uh?”
It was just then.
Riley, who had been silently listening to our conversation, muttered with a shocked expression on her face.
“That person… … .”
[Why, do you know me?]
“There’s no way I wouldn’t know. He’s the leader of the “Inquisitors.” He’s a fearsome figure to the Thieves’ Guild.”
[No, wait, what? What did you say?]
Did I hear wrong?
[Head of the Inquisition?]
“Yes. I understand that you went missing during a mission five years ago and are still being searched for. So you’re here?”
[… … ?]
Are you kidding?
“Master Magus, can’t you see that? The treasured sword hanging from Mr. Jerimy’s waist?”
I looked where Riley’s gaze was directed.
As she said, Jerimi, who was moving the junk, had a sword hanging from his waist.
and…….
[ah.]
The hilt of the sword was engraved with a golden lion. It was the emblem of the head of the “Inquisitors” who had been in power for hundreds of years.
[… … .]
While I was silent, Richie scratched the back of his head awkwardly. The guy who had been looking away bashfully started making ridiculous excuses.
“I didn’t know.”
[Stop talking nonsense.]
“I really didn’t know.”
[Stop talking nonsense, you crazy bastard.]
I continued.
[You haven’t been out of the cave for two thousand years? That’s ridiculous. What on earth have you done while I was gone that the Inquisitors have come all the way here?]
“I don’t know.”
[… … .]
“I really don’t know.”
[… … .]
“It’s unfair! I really didn’t know! I was just defeating adventurers who invaded my hideout! It must have been a coincidence that they were Inquisitors, right?”
[Yeah. I don’t believe it.]
Originally, the liches had slightly strange hair due to the influence of black magic.
In the past, I would visit him often to check on his mental state and reform him… … .
It seems that during the 300 years that I was away, the reins were loosened for a moment. I’m sure something happened during that time.
Otherwise, the “Inquisitor” would not have invaded here.
[ha.]
I guess I’ll have to give this kid a scolding sooner or later.
* * *
Jeremy, who had briefly become everyone’s topic of conversation, volunteered to work as a slave again and disappeared somewhere carrying some odds and ends.
The lively voice of Lich began to echo through the quiet cave.
“Ahem, anyway!”
Hard!
The sound of bones clashing.
Richie livened up the atmosphere by clapping his hands.
“You came very quickly this time, Master? You came to me even though I am only a trainee. Is there some urgent reason?”
[What, is there anything?]
What you can gain from training with Richie is a sense of real-life experience.
However, this feeling is meaningless to disciples who have not yet learned the basics of magic.
That’s why I would lay a solid foundation for my disciples and then come to Richie. Usually, I would raise them to the lower ranks.
But Riley’s case was different.
[I did that because I thought she would be able to train with you even now.]
Riley.
In terms of circle level, her level was still only at the level of Apprentice 1~2 .
But despite that, she had great talent.
Most spirits.
A genius with mana affinity beyond that.
Therefore, if you build up your basics step by step and at the same time develop a sense of practicality, Riley will be able to fully digest this process.
“Well, I agree with that.”
Richie nodded in agreement after hearing what I said.
It seems that Riley’s talent has been somewhat figured out, as she was able to find the hideout by retracing her own magic.
[And there is another reason.]
“What is it?”
[Do you remember the last disciple I brought? Martha Pargerich.]
“Oh! That silver-haired girl?”
[Yeah. I have something to do with him.]
I explained it slowly to Richie.
I’m talking about Jan Lantes and my plan for revenge against him.
After I finished my explanation, Richie slowly began to organize what he had heard as if he was reciting it again.
“So… … there’s a conman who pretends to be Martha Pargerich’s disciple, and he’s still alive?”
[huh.]
“And you want revenge on that swindler, Master, so you’re trying to enter the tower he built?”
[huh.]
Richie asked, scratching the back of his head.
“why?”
[huh?]
“No, why do you insist on going into the Tower of Irantes to seek revenge? Wouldn’t it be better to just go into another Tower and hold it in check?”
You could certainly think that way.
Since the Irantes are a new power that has grown in size in 300 years, there will certainly be forces that oppose them.
For example, the existing “Five Great Towers” that were pushed out by the Irantes.
Entering such a hostile tower and attacking the Irantes one by one with your helpers can be seen as an effective method.
Rather than just blindly entering the Tower of Irantes and planning revenge, that would be much more constructive.
but.
[Then there’s no romance?]
“yes?”
[Wouldn’t it be more satisfying if I slowly destroyed it from the inside, with my own hands?]
I wanted romance.
“No, what, what kind of perverted reason is that… … .”
Richie looked dumbfounded after hearing what I said.
What the heck? A pervert? Is that something a guy who made the head of the Inquisition a Death Knight would say?
“Wait a minute. Riley, what do you think about that? If you do as the Master says, you’ll only be putting yourself in more danger.”
“That’s true, but it’s more thrilling and fun that way.”
“Yeah. Okay. You were a psychopath too.”
