Chaprter 120: Lord Versed in Mugong

A message had arrived.

-“I will come soon.”

It was a message stating they would send someone for the trade. Perhaps to maintain their pride, it was shorter than their usual messages.

‘They must be burning with impatience. They held out quite well.’

I had mobilized the suppression force right before winter. After building the fortress and moving, midwinter had passed.

I had sent the message to the Magic Tower in the middle of winter.

Since the temperature was starting to rise now, the Magic Tower had managed to hold out for over a month.

‘I must make sure to get a good price for this.’

I intended to charge dearly for the wait.

Those who sent the news used magic.

‘A teleportation, I see.’

Every Magic Tower possesses a teleportation magic circle made with great effort. These circles are installed in various places and become the center of the teleportation magic circle.

Afterward, lower-level teleportation magic circles are installed, which are linked to the central circle and are relatively easy to set up.

‘Still, it costs a significant amount of money. It’s such a waste of funds.’

If you install magic circles this way, you can easily teleport with just a small amount of mana.

‘What if there is no teleportation magic circle?’

Whoosh-

Only after consuming a significant amount of mana like that is it possible to cross over.

There is only one reason why I investigated teleportation magic circles so thoroughly in advance.

‘Because this is one of the items for trade with the Magic Tower.’

I intend to install a teleportation magic circle during this deal as well. Of course, it is just one of many trade items.

‘I am going to milk them dry.’

***

As I was gauging how I would squeeze them, the perfectly executed teleportation magic created two shapes.

“It has been a long time, Young Master.”

One was Toden. He was a Class 5 mage who frequently visited our spiritual land for trade. He had a beard that had started to turn gray.

‘He is someone who could put a decent merchant to shame when it comes to trading.’

He was someone born with a natural flair for business.

He was somewhat frivolous during deals, and with his thin frame, he had an image that could be described as cunning and slippery if one were to put it negatively.

What was unexpected was the person beside him.

“……Nice to meet you. My name is Lucid.”

Possessing four mana circles, this person had a larger build compared to the thin Toden.

Their stature was enough to make one believe they were a warrior, not a mage. Furthermore, the face revealed above the robe was pockmarked and broad, making it difficult to find them likable.

‘Anyone else would certainly think so. This is interesting. Did they try to pull a trick?’

I returned the greeting to those who had greeted me.

“Welcome to Leireun Fortress.”

“I was truly surprised when you said you built a fortress in a place like this. How on earth did you think to build a fortress here?”

As if trying to seize the initiative, Toden spoke at some length.

‘Are they trying to gather information?’

How the fortress was built. The size of the fortress. Even what kind of magical treatments were inscribed here.

He was asking trivial questions, collecting information, and trying to seize the initiative in the conversation.

“You may stay here. Both of you.”

“Oh. It is quite flamboyant.”

“I prepared it with care.”

Listening to Toden’s words, I personally guided them to the place they would stay while conducting their business. And—

‘Shall I shatter their petty tricks?’

Toden, who had been rambling on and on. Toward the silent, pockmarked mage, I threw one line.

“I would like to see your true form when we meet for the trade tomorrow. Until then, have a good night.”

That was enough.

“……Ah.”

“Uh!”

At my short remark, Toden’s mouth snapped shut, and the silent pockmarked mage was tinged with surprise.

‘Seeing them act like this makes me want to squeeze more out of them. How much should I wring from them? Hehe.’

Ignoring them, I walked away.

The signs of their astonishment were being conveyed to my back for quite some time.

***

Whoosh-

Ruan dispelled the transformation magic cast on her body.

Her large shoulders shrunk, and the pockmarks completely disappeared.

“……Phew.”

A moment of deep breathing was enough. Eventually, she returned to her appearance with clear features and skin that had been kept pale by staying only in the Magic Tower.

Toden did not admire her beauty as he watched her. He remained with a furrowed brow.

“There is no need to be unnecessarily disguised, but…… this is unexpected. Wasn’t he a Class 4 mage?”

“……Unless he has some special means, he is definitely a Class 4. However, he was very sharp.”

“That means something absurd just happened.”

The magic Ruan had cast on herself was a self-polymorph.

Self-polymorph, which changes one’s appearance, is a Class 5 magic. Even then, it required higher abilities if changing one’s race.

‘Even if not perfect, there were almost no flaws.’

Since she had not yet reached Class 5, her mentor had assisted with the magic.

Even if cast with assistance, it was still Class 5 magic.

It is not magic easy enough for a Class 4 mage to notice. In fact, many among those at the Magic Tower did not recognize the appearance she had transformed into.

Yet, Leireun had noticed. He did not even cast any special magic. If there had been a flow of mana, he would never have missed it.

“Is it possible for a Class 4 to see through Class 5 magic?”

“It is not impossible. However, it requires time. Especially the magic Ruan cast is difficult to identify.”

“And yet…… he noticed in an instant.”

It made no sense. There were not many cases like this.

“It would be correct to assume he is someone who has received a blessing regarding mana, or is hiding his true power.”

“……Neither of those two things makes sense. You know that, right?”

“That is true.”

At Toden’s words, Ruan nodded.

‘Both are absurd.’

Mana Blessing.

People whose so-called mana is visible are born very occasionally. Only two such people have been recorded in history.

They all became the head of one of the 5 Magic Towers.

And they even built their own Magic Towers!

However, in her view, it was not a blessing. If he had possessed a blessing, the name Leireun would have spread across the continent since he was young.

Therefore, only one variable remained.

“……He must be hiding his power. That is the highest probability.”

“I suppose so. However…… I have no idea since when or how he has been hiding it.”

“I have no clue either.”

Hiding his power. But they could not even begin to guess since when he had been hiding it.

In reality, it was something achieved because Leireun, after awakening in his past life, had even devoured the memories of a Black Mage.

There was no way for them to know that.

All they could do was feel Leireun’s greatness firsthand.

“I am worried about tomorrow already. Is it even possible to gain an advantage against someone like that……”

“Actually, the Tower Master said something.”

“My mentor did?”

“Yes. He said that if the situation does not go as planned, be satisfied with at least obtaining his cooperation.”

“……Cooperation, you say.”

The great Magic Tower. Among the 5 Great Magic Towers, there is no history of the Enchant Magic Tower, which is at the top, cooperating with a mere individual, not even a kingdom. However.

“……That might be the best option.”

Ruan and Toden had no choice but to admit it.

Leireun, who was beyond their expectations, was an existence outside the standard. If they tried to play tricks on someone like that, they would only end up suffering a massive loss.

“We, the Magic Tower, are bowing our heads to an individual…… This is an unprecedented situation.”

“If we can obtain just the wisdom of a mage from him, we should accept it.”

“Let’s see.”

Even before the trade began, Ruan and Toden, who had come from the Magic Tower, were feeling firsthand that this deal would be difficult.

‘Leireun Ophern. What on earth……’

“He must be having a complicated time calculating things. Hehe.”

It was obvious what the mages from the Magic Tower were doing. Since they were caught arriving while hiding their identities, their heads must be quite heavy.

“Are you that happy?”

“Of course! Usually, when you trade, you have to break their spirit before you start. That way, they listen well.”

“……Ha, hahaha. That might be the case.”

Look at Reton, who is giving an awkward laugh. He had also been discouraged from the start and had no choice but to make a mana oath to me.

‘Strictly speaking, it was fear, though.’

Even now, he was acting as my loyal hand and foot, helping me with my work.

“By the way, when will it be finished?”

“It will take at least 2 more hours.”

“Keuhu. Please remember that I have a lot of work to do as well.”

“We’ll see.”

Ignoring Reton’s grumbling, I picked up an iron plate in front of me.

‘Condition is good.’

Hummmm-

The iron plate that accepted the mana I slipped into it was made using mana-infused iron. Hundreds of such iron plates were piled up in my room.

I began to channel my aura into the iron plate and start inscribing it.

Swoosh-swish.

It was a magic circle. It was not a simple magic circle. I added one thing to the magic circle.

‘A formation. Specifically, I applied a training formation.’

The utility of a training formation is drawing in the energy from the surroundings.

It has similar efficacy to a training magic circle that draws in surrounding mana for mages at the Magic Tower.

Both seem similar, but there is one big difference.

‘Rather than installing two magic circles, adding a formation to a magic circle fits better.’

It meant that applying a formation to a magic circle was easier than I thought.

‘It’s beyond my imagination.’

Immediately after awakening in my past life, I used a training formation to increase speed. However, I didn’t know the compatibility between the two would be this good.

Thud.

By drawing the lines and weaving in the formation so it wouldn’t be easily identified, one magic circle was completed in a snap.

“Hehe. One completed in no time. Reton, what are you doing? Hurry up and activate it.”

“……Kuh. I’m doing it, aren’t I?”

Hummmmmmm-

When Reton poured mana into the iron plate where the magic circle was inscribed, the plate was completely finished.

The magic circle was properly enchanted into the mana-infused iron. Although the size of the iron plate was small, the mana poured in by Reton supported it.

On top of that, the inscribed formation—

Swoosh-

Even at this very moment, it was pulling in surrounding mana bit by bit.

“W-will this work properly? Won’t mana just disappear for no reason?”

“Of course. You’ve already made plenty of similar things, haven’t you? This is a more full-scale version. It is a more advanced form than what we sold at the auction house.”

“……Crazy. Then it will definitely work!”

The face of Reton, who had been wearing an anxious expression, brightened. He is the person who has done the most magic experiments with me.

He understands immediately.

‘If I had just a few more mages like Reton, productivity would shoot up.’

Though he was a talent I picked up(?) by chance, Reton had become quite capable.

I feel such regret because there is a lack of mage talent.

‘Well, it doesn’t matter. Since I have much to gain from this deal. Should I add a few mages into the mix? Hehe.’

And I already had a plan to fill that void.

“Then, are you going to use this for the trade tomorrow?”

“They will be stunned in surprise.”

“Those snobbish Magic Tower mages will have been dealt a blow. Hehe.”

The iron plate currently in my hand was the main protagonist.