Wandering Mercenary in an Open World

Chapter 24:

If you were to recount the countless histories intertwined with the majestic Clarensis Mountain Range, it would take non-stop chatter from dawn till the inn’s lights go out. To put it concisely, it was a spectacle of endless white ridges dividing the north and south.

Somewhere in this mountain range, within its long and magnificent landscapes, there existed a small village where hardly anyone’s footsteps could be found.

People referred to this serene village, reigning under the unchallenged sovereignty of the unconquered mountains before it, as the Last Village.

The reason for such a name was actually quite simple; there was no other village beyond it. 

Of course, if one were to cross the mountain range, they could enter the territory of the Northerners, but since no one dared to attempt such a foolish endeavor, no one contested the village’s name.

However, despite its symbolic significance, the Last Village was no more than a small, rustic village. Due to its remote location, it had been a long time since the village witnessed any outsider’s presence.

Kyle muttered in amazement at the fact that they had entered such a place.

“There are even people in a place like this, huh?”

Ruon, who was thinking the same as Kyle, glanced at Amella walking ahead of them. If she hadn’t been their guide, they probably wouldn’t have known of this village’s existence at all.

The journey had been far from smooth, and the horses that had been with them for a considerable time were released into nature, their saddles and reins set free.

“We’re here.”

Amella said as they stopped in front of the inn in the center of the sleepy village, and Ruon wordlessly scanned the exterior of the inn.

Despite being in the small village, the size of the log-built inn was comparable to those in big cities.

“Quite big, isn’t it?”

“It is.”

Amella gave a faint smile as she pushed open the inn’s door.

Inside the inn, they were greeted by a man of large stature dozing off.

“Rick, wake up.”

“Huh? Uh, guests? Amella?”

The man, still half-asleep, blinked his eyes as he confirmed Amella’s face and quickly got up from his seat.

“Amella!”

He opened his arms wide and embraced Amella, his large frame surprisingly even bigger than Ruon’s.

Wrapped in the man’s massive embrace, which seemed to easily exceed 2 meters in height, Amella gasped for breath and gently patted the man’s huge shoulders with her palms.

“Rick!”

“Oh, sorry.”

As Rick released Amella with a cool expression, he spoke.

“Six months… no, almost ten months now?”

“Yes, it’s already been that long.”

“What about Salvator?”

“He’s dead. By this man’s hands.”

Ruon, who had been silently observing the two, shrugged his shoulders wordlessly as Rick’s gaze fell upon him.

“This friend killed Salvator? Come to think of it, that’s two faces I don’t recognize. Maybe you met them on your travels?”

“Rick, I know you must be curious about a lot of things, but we don’t have much time.”

Upon Amella’s words, Rick scratched his head with his massive hand.

“Right, I guess there’s not much we can do. Should we leave right away?”

“Please prepare as quickly as possible.”

“Alright. Wait here.”

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Kyle murmured as he watched Rick walking towards the inn’s side gate.

“I’ve never seen someone outclass Ruon in terms of size.”

“It’s only natural. Rick’s great-grandmother was a giant.”

“A giant? A giant and that… is that even possible?”

Amella chuckled.

“It’s possible, and that’s why Rick exists.”

“Unbelievable…”

At that moment, Ruon asked a question.

“Is he also a wizard?”

“No, Rick isn’t a wizard.”

“Then?”

“Well, it’s more accurate to call him an animal handler.”

‘Animal handler?’

Just then, a loud voice came from a distance.

“Amella! We’re ready!”

Amella nodded in response.

“Let’s go.”

Ruon, who had exited through the back door, widened his eyes in astonishment at the sight before him.

In the center of a vast courtyard stood a massive beast.

It had an overall appearance similar to a horse, but with a beak and talons of a bird of prey. The giant winged thing was purring and chirping, seemingly enjoying Rick’s touch as he stroked its head.

Amella spoke, turning towards the two men standing there in a daze.

“It’s a hippogriff, a crossbreed between a griffin and a horse. Considering that a griffin’s diet consists of horses–it’s a miracle it exists at all.”

Finally, it felt like they were close to getting to the Tower of Magi. 

Not only was Rick a descendant of real giants, but the appearance of a crossbreed between a horse and a griffin had Ruon grinning.

Meanwhile, Kyle, who had noticed the saddle placed on the massive back of the Hippogriff, stammered.

“N-No way? Seriously?”

“That’s right, Kyle. We’re going to fly on that thing.”

“—shit.”

Amella confidently approached the hippogriff.

“It’s been a while. Could you lend me your back?”

As if understanding her calm voice, the hippogriff folded its legs, lowering its posture and spreading its giant wings towards the ground.

“Thank you.”

Using the wings as a foothold, Amella climbed up and shouted.

“Don’t worry; it’s gentle. Just hop up here.”

Thanks to the Hippogriff’s consideration, Ruon and Kyle climbed up behind Amella without much difficulty. Rick directed his words towards the three of them.

“The rope hanging next to the saddle is the lifeline, so tie it securely.”

Hearing his words, Kyle, who had entered deep thought, quickly began to wrap the rope around his waist.

“If you’re ready, off you go!”

With a short shout, Rick lightly tapped the Hippogriff’s hindquarters, and the creature seemed to understand, leaping up and galloping like a horse, its giant wings spread wide.

Eeek!

With a sharp scream, the massive body of the Hippogriff slowly began to rise into the air as it spread its wings fully.

In an instant, the ground below shrank rapidly, and Kyle let out a scream.

“Whoa!”

The sharp wind hit their faces forcefully, pushing them backward.

As the cold air pierced their noses and mouths, Ruon took a deep breath. 

Feeling an exhilarating sensation from the newfound sight and speed, he spread his arms wide, wearing a joyful smile.

“Ruon! Arms! Arms! Arms!”

Suddenly unable to stabilize himself by holding onto Ruon’s arms, Kyle trembled in panic, but Ruon ignored his screams.

Eeek!

At that moment, the hippogriff, which had been speeding along with the wind, suddenly folded its wings and began to glide.

The direction its beak was pointing towards on its rollercoaster-like dive was an astonishingly steep cliff.

“Amella, has this beast suddenly, gone, crazy, or something?”

Shouting to Ruon, who struggled to convey his thoughts amidst the gusting wind, Amella yelled back.

“No!”

At that moment, the Hippogriff’s body passed through the cliff.

As Ruon turned to look back in surprise, he saw ripples in the empty air.

‘Was it an illusion?’

While he entertained such thoughts, the hippogriff flew in an arc, gradually slowing down and landing on the ground.

As if inviting them to get off, it spread its wings towards the ground.

After they all hopped off, including Kyle, who tumbled to the ground, the hippogriff let out a sharp scream, shooting up into the sky before disappearing from sight.

“Whoa!”

As Ruon patted the back of Kyle, who was kneeling on the ground and emptying his stomach, he looked at the massive tower in front of him and spoke softly.

“We’ve arrived.”

***

A mecca for eccentric wizards, a treasure trove of knowledge, an ivory tower of truth, and other such wonders…

Ruon figured that all the rumors and images he had heard about the Tower of Magi were nonsense.

“Indeed, you can’t trust rumors.”

Amella smiled at Ruon’s words.

“Why? Too simple?”

Ruon didn’t bother denying her words. That’s what something called the Tower of Magi should be like! He didn’t have any preconceived notions, but still, the interior of the Tower was excessively plain and boring.

The interior of the Tower was hollow. A spiral staircase attached to the dull gray walls extended endlessly up to a glass ceiling where sunlight filtered in, and wooden doors appeared at regular intervals.

That was all.

“Wait a moment.”

Amella extended her index finger and whispered softly, and a blue light soared into the air from the tip of her finger, entering a certain door.

Shortly after, the door creaked open, and a man with a wild beard stuck his face out of the stairs.

“Amella? Amellanya?”

“It’s been a long time, Eddie.”

“Oh my!”

The man shouted in surprise, then stepped over the railing and leaped into the air.

“Is he f***ing insane?”

Ruon unintentionally cursed, seeing the man who seemed to choose to leap straight to his death.

Contrary to Ruon’s fears, the man, who he thought would be dead in an instant, slowed down in mid-air and landed softly.

“Amella! You’ve returned!”

“Still haven’t bathed, huh?”

“Of course! Water entering my body empties my mind.”

Eddie, giggling like a maniac, suddenly turned his gaze, wide-eyed, and stomped toward Kyle.

“Where did this come from!”

His tiny, grimy fingers pointed at Kyle’s shield.

“Ugh, that smell. Don’t you clean under your fingernails?”

Kyle stepped back in disgust, but Eddie followed him like an undead, reaching out with his arms stretched.

“Give it here. Let me see it just once. Just once.”

Seeing the scene, Amella exclaimed.

“Eddie!”

“Oh, huh? Amella? You’re back!”

‘What a lunatic.’

Looking at Eddie, who had repeated himself, Roon asked Amella:

“Why did you call this nut job?”

Amella, who appeared unsurprised by the situation, replied to Ruon’s question.

“Because this crazy guy is the one who ordered the recovery of the Fragment.”

Eddie, who had been acting like a lunatic, suddenly trembled as if struck by invisible lightning. Then, he abruptly turned serious and asked in a lower voice than before.

“Amella, where is the Fragment?”

Ignoring the drastic change, Amella casually retorted.

“This man has it. His name is Ruon, a warrior wielding a sword blessed by Tibella, and he killed Salvator.”

After a concise explanation, Ruon didn’t have anything else to add, taking out the slab from his pocket and throwing it towards Eddie.

Having caught it, Eddie winced in amazement.

“Belducias, Salvator, Amella… and Quintuanus? How many powerful beings did this stone find?”

“There were reasons.”

“Salvator, the self-centered bastard, must have grown quite a bit.”

Sighing deeply, Eddie snapped his fingers towards the group.

“Come closer.”

Although Eddie’s behavior seemed erratic, Amella nodded as if assuring them it was okay, and the three of them reluctantly approached Eddie.

Eddie spoke.

“You’ve ridden the hippo, so you shouldn’t be too surprised by your bodies floating a little, right?”

As soon as he finished speaking, all four of them began to float gently upwards.