Demon-Hunting Genius Mage

[Translator - Vanilla]

[Proofreader - Kawaii]

Chapter 10

The next morning.

Having somewhat recovered from our fatigue, we immediately began searching through the hideout.

Normally, we would have just left, but we'd heard something interesting.

-Hahaha! It's been so long since we've had such a big haul...!

Hadn't those bastards been rejoicing about their hefty earnings?

We might as well take everything we can.

No guilt in looting from raiders, after all.

"Wow... Is all this really from their raids?"

Kayla exclaimed as she rummaged through a large bundle.

The bundle was filled with various items...

'Regeneration potions and 100 silver coins. ...What's this, even an artifact? Where on earth did they steal this from?'

Perhaps they'd robbed some newly impoverished noble who'd just been exiled to Sector 7.

Even I could see that there were many useful items.

"You can have these."

I kept only the items I found useful and passed the rest to Kayla.

"You're giving me all this?"

Kayla's face showed surprise because she thought that a considerable amount of loot had fallen to her share.

But this distribution was carefully calculated, leaving her with only the things I found useless.

'What use do I have for a Mana Sensitivity Ring? I can't increase my sensitivity any further.'

The same went for the one-time use 'Instant Awakening Potion'.

With my ability to awaken thanks to spirit engraving, I had no need for such items.

What I really needed were things like this...

"Hehehe..."

"What's wrong with this guy?"

I couldn't help but keep laughing.

After all, I never expected to obtain something that was already part of my build so soon.

I looked at the silver bracelet on my wrist.

'Holy Oil Bracelet.'

Its official name was [Bracelet of Holy Oil].

Though it looked ordinary on the outside, this bracelet was infused with holy oil, which had effects similar to holy water.

The wearer of this bracelet gradually increases their Holy Power stat as they absorb the holy oil.

Holy Power is a counter-stat that's extremely effective against demons.

In [Demon Fantasy], it was an essential stat that could never be overlooked.

'My previous character had about 500.'

When the holy oil in this bracelet is fully absorbed, it increased my Holy Power stat by 5 points.

Considering my previous character's Holy Power stat, there's still a long way to go, but for now, this is enough.

Being able to increase Holy Power in the early stages was a tremendous advantage.

Moreover...

'I can imbue magic with Holy Power.'

Unlike other classes where Holy Power protects the body, mages could imbue their magic with Holy Power.

In simple terms, the higher the Holy Power, the higher the attack power.

This is why mages have superior attack power compared to other classes.

'Sigh... Why did I raise a swordsman character? I should have raised a mage from the start...'

If I had, I might have beaten the game and quit long ago.

Then I wouldn't have been dragged into this world.

Although I felt a tinge of regret, I quickly dismissed it.

What's important is what lies ahead.

'Anyway, this is a good haul.'

Besides the Holy Oil Bracelet, I picked up a few other good items.

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First, a circular [Wooden Shield] and [Leather Armor] to supplement my weak defenses.

And while not an item per se, a pair of leather boots that fit perfectly.

This was more than enough for the early stages.

"Hee! Hee hee hee! I'm rich now!"

Beside me, Kayla laughed like a madwoman.

'And she had the nerve to ask why I was laughing earlier.'

Still, I understood.

While useless to me, many of these items would be valuable for Kayla.

'The Mana Sensitivity Ring alone is quite precious for a mage.'

Kayla's 'Mana Sight' isn't perfect yet.

She can't see faint traces of mana with her eyes.

Because of that, when she practiced modified magic, I often had to guide her to the mana she couldn't see.

But with that ring, that wouldn't be necessary anymore.

'She'll be much stronger when I see her next.'

Naturally, it's a positive thing that Kayla, my future companion, will grow stronger.

I felt a sense of anticipation.

Just how much would she have grown?

"This should be enough."

With our looting complete, we stood at the hideout's main entrance.

Kayla suddenly remembering something and asked.

"Hey, what's your name anyway?"

"My name?"

Come to think of it, I hadn't told her my name.

After a moment's thought, I decided to give her my real name.

There was no need to hide it.

"Yuhan."

"Yuhan...? Hm, unusual name."

Kayla responded with a hint of curiosity, but quickly accepted it and said her goodbyes.

"Well then, Yuhan, let's part ways here. I'm heading in this direction."

Kayla pointed in the opposite direction of Sector 6.

I nodded slightly and met her eyes, but something seemed off.

For some reason, her eyes were burning with a competitive spirit...

She spoke with a voice full of determination.

"Look forward to it. Next time we meet, you won't be able to ignore me."

"...When did I ever ignore you?"

"Just remember that."

As if that wasn't important, she turned away with those final words.

Her retreating figure grew smaller.

It was completely different from when we first met in the underground prison.

I couldn't help but chuckle when I saw that.

In a way, what Kayla said could be seen as a challenge to me.

But rather than being anxious… ….

I'm looking forward to it.

“… I’m not that blind.”

A challenge like that was always welcome.

Because people grow more as they experience repeated failures.

I also turned my back, feeling somewhat relieved.

***

It was still broad daylight.

I hurried to survey the surrounding terrain and quickly found the right path.

There was a reason for this urgency.

‘I’d rather not get too comfortable and end up running into a demon. That’d be a pain.’

Demons typically come out at night.

That’s why wandering around during the day like this was relatively safer.

The chances of encountering a demon were lower, and it was easier to see and assess the situation.

‘Not that demons only come out at night, though.’

Because this world was so vicious that it can be described as being swarming with demons, you cannot let your guard down anywhere or in any situation.

Especially the lower-level servants like red-haired man. They didn’t care whether it was day or night.

Still, I’d learned enough magic that most encounters wouldn’t pose too much of a problem.

It never hurts to be cautious, though.

“But… doesn’t the terrain look a little different from what I remember?”

I have memorized all the geography and most of the terrain features of Sector 7.

Yet something felt off. There were subtle differences from the maps in my memory.

For instance, new side streets I didn’t recognize had popped up, and buildings that had been relatively clean were now dilapidated and abandoned.

“Come to think of it, the raiders’ hideout too…”

If my memory was correct, there hadn’t been a hideout of that size in Sector 7.

Moreover, the place had been enhanced with spatial expansion magic.

There was no way I would have forgotten about something like that.

Every time I noticed a difference, I felt uneasy, but no matter how much I thought about it, I couldn't pinpoint it.

“Well, I guess I’ll figure it out later.”

Because of this, I just roughly remembered it in my head and kept walking.

About two hours passed.

“Huff, huff…”

I was completely out of stamina.

“At this rate, I’m really going to die…”

My body was so weak that it wouldn't even allow me to walk for two hours without resting.

I was out of breath and my legs were shaking.

Of course, it wasn’t just the walking that had exhausted me.

“Sector 7 lives up to its reputation…”

Sector 7 was infamous for being filled with endless suspicion, betrayal, and conspiracies.

True to its reputation, a few beggars had noticed my exhaustion and attempted to rob me of my belongings.

Apparently, there were quite a few raiders organized in groups, like the ones back at the hideout.

Because of them, I’d often have to enhance my body with electricity-based magic to fend off the attacks.

Channeling magic into my body not only required adding elemental attributes, but also wrapping it around myself, which drained even more stamina.

“Well, at least I made it.”

I barely managed to calm my breathing and checked the area ahead.

A massive wall stretched endlessly in front of me.

It reminded me of the Great Wall of China.

My gaze fixed on a large opening in the middle of the wall and beyond it.

It was hard to believe that just one wall separated such a clean and developed area.

"…Sector 6."

It had only been about ten days, but it felt like much longer. I guess that just meant I'd gone through a lot during that time.

Time is always relative, after all.

"Let's go."

I confidently took a step forward after pushing aside those lingering thoughts.

There were large guards wearing iron armor standing guard beneath the walls built like the Great Wall of China, but it was not a problem.

I had a hefty pouch of gold coins dangling at my waist that I looted from the raiders' vault.

One of the guards scowled as he spotted me.

"Hey, what the—? A beggar? Do you even know where you are?"

Clank!

The heavy sound of his armor was menacing as he stepped toward me.

I quickly pulled out the pouch hanging from my waist.

"Mind letting me through?"

As I spoke, I gently shook the pouch.

Jingle, jingle.

The pleasant sound of coins filled the air.

The guard’s eyes narrowed as he glanced at the pouch.

"What, you’ve got coins in there?"

"Of course."

Quite a hefty sum, too.

More than enough to be irresistible to a lowly Sector 6 guard.

"…Really?"

"Yes."

He took the pouch of coins, and I gave him a confident smile.

"May I go through now?"

But instead of the welcoming grin I expected, the guard's face twisted into an angry sneer.

Jingle!

He tossed the coin pouch back at me as he was clearly uninterested.

"You think that old trick is going to work? Pulling a stunt like this as if we're still living a hundred years ago? Beggars… I swear."

"…What?"

For a moment, I couldn’t hide my confusion. A flood of questions filled my head.

‘A hundred years ago…?’

What was that supposed to mean?

‘It can’t be because I didn’t offer enough, right…?’

Did he mean bribing had become some outdated practice from a century ago?

In the game I used to play, this sort of thing happened all the time.

Even so, with this much gold, shouldn’t I get a free pass?

I couldn’t wrap my head around what was happening, but the guard wasn’t waiting for me to figure it out.

“Arrest this bastard immediately!”

Clink! Clink! Clink!

The well-trained soldiers sprang into action at his command. About a dozen guards quickly formed a circle around me and trapped me.

In that instant, I sensed danger.

Frustration welled up inside me.

"…Ugh, nothing ever goes right, does it?"

Whoooosh!

Mana that was inside me was condensed in an instant.

[Magical computation has been maximized.]

My thoughts accelerated and quickly formulated a spell.

The image that came to mind was a crisp electric current.

Then, I made some changes and wrapped it around my body to strengthen my body.

Crackle! Crack!

A yellow current emanates from the tips of the feet.

Electric current modified magic.

Only then did the guards who had been looking at me like I was a wandering rat change their gaze.

“M-Magic…?”

“Is this beggar really a mage…?”

"Yeah, I’m a mage."

Even while answering, I quickly looked around to find a loophole.

The plan was to kick the ground like this and break through their encirclement.

“Draw your swords, everyone!”

"R-Reinforcements! We need more reinforcements!"

Shing! Shing! Shing!

Guards unsheathed their swords in perfect unison.

I couldn’t help but feel irritated.

Geez, don’t you guys get it?

"I said I’m a mage."

What do you think your swords are going to do?

This cruel world doesn’t give you the luxury of time to stand by idly.

But no matter what kind of danger it throws at me, there’s no way it can stop me.

[Translator - Vanilla]

[Proofreader - Kawaii]