Shepherd Wizard (Novel) - Chapter 111

Chapter 111

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After several trials and errors, the new weapon, Death Water, was completed.

The biggest challenge for using it was finding a way to store it.

At the very least, they needed a container made of a material that wouldn’t dissolve if they wanted to store and accumulate it.

For this reason, they experimented with all sorts of materials they could find nearby, from wood to commonly used iron and porcelain containers.

“How about this?”

“No, that won’t work.”

“Then shall we try this?”

“…Are you suggesting we make a container out of gold?”

“It’s practically lying around in this area anyway.”

Fortunately, the Koloa region was a mining area where all kinds of minerals could be found.

There was an abundance of materials to experiment with, to the point where they could freely use all sorts of precious metals that would be considered valuable in other regions.

Of course, since these were technically Ravitas property, they couldn’t use them excessively, but taking a few for their experiments wasn’t difficult.

After trying to store it in various materials, they discovered that transparent crystal and glass could withstand the Death Water.

“What common characteristic do they have besides being transparent?”

“Maybe it dissolves color?”

“I don’t know for sure, but I don’t think that’s the reason.”

Despite comparing various types and strengths of materials, there didn’t seem to be any commonality besides transparency.

When they tried colored glass or crystal, those materials dissolved too, which made Solif’s theory that it dissolves colored objects seem plausible.

In any case, after figuring out a storage method, they immediately proceeded with biological experiments.

Living animals and plants, and even magical beasts.

All manner of methods were researched, from spraying or feeding them Death Water to freezing it and stabbing it into them, or vaporizing it and engulfing them.

The conclusion was that the third method was the most efficient.

“…This is truly something that should never have its recipe revealed, even more so than Fire Soul.”

“I agree completely.”

The wetland that until recently had been covered in jungle.

Now all that remained was the rotted skeleton of trees and slimy sewage where all sorts of animals and plants had melted away.

The result of vaporizing mass-produced Death Water and controlling it with wind magic to cover the forest.

It was truly a mist of death from which nothing could emerge alive.

“Not just animals… even most magical beasts would die if they entered this.”

Of course, sufficiently powerful magical creatures could withstand it.

They had tested it themselves by drinking diluted versions and applying it to their skin, finding that even the pure concentrate wasn’t enough to significantly harm nobles with top-tier magical power.

However, for mass eliminating relatively weak enemies, it demonstrated even more lethal power than Fire Soul.

Being a liquid, it would be particularly useful in environments where Fire Soul was difficult to use, like rainy days.

“Let’s stop the experiments here for now. She’s been looking quite uncomfortable lately because of this.”

“Understood.”

Though Meisa tried to appear calm, not wanting to hinder the development of an important weapon, her expression darkened each time they experimented with Death Water on various animals.

Turan also kept his own direct experimentation with the substance secret, suspecting it would make her twice as depressed if she saw him testing it on his own body.

Even as they developed this new weapon, the reclamation project continued steadily.

There was a minor mishap when they tried to use Death Water for land development—the ground became contaminated with water in which animals and plants had dissolved—but with some additional help from the settlers, progress accelerated.

Two and a half months after they learned to produce Death Water.

As spring passed and summer arrived, around the time the second rainy season was ending in this region, the reclamation of the final area was completed.

“It’s done!”

“Hooray!”

Not only Solif, who had been complaining that he was sick of this place, but even Meisa, who had said she enjoyed living like this, clapped her hands with a smile.

It was natural to feel a sense of achievement when completing something you’ve been intensely focused on.

When they returned to the settlement to formally announce the completion of the reclamation, Yoz and several Ravitas knights and officials who were directing the settlers cheered.

“This reclamation will truly become legendary!”

“Indeed. The time it took to clear all this vast land…”

“About ten months, I think?”

“Ten months, it’s truly unbelievable. It seemed like it would take a hundred years even with human hands, but here we are.”

Soon after, a festival began throughout the entire settlement.

Sweet snacks made with lots of brown sugar added to strong liquor produced from locally abundant sugarcane, skewered meats and vegetables seasoned with spices…

The sight of thousands of settlers singing traditional folk songs of the south and dancing with all sorts of food and drinks laid out was truly a magnificent spectacle.

Though Turan’s group couldn’t mingle with the settlers to enjoy it, they could watch the scene from the most honored seats.

Meisa spoke while chewing on spicy frog legs:

“It still doesn’t feel real that we’re finished. I feel like we should be going back to work tomorrow.”

“That’s probably how most commoners feel throughout their lives.”

Except for a few from the wealthy class, most were unable to escape the shackles of labor throughout their lives.

In a way, Turan’s group had indirectly experienced that kind of regular work.

At that moment, Solif, who had just downed a glass of his favorite sugarcane liquor from across the table, asked Turan:

“So, what are we going to do now? I really want to play in a big city.”

“First, we’ll report the completion of our work to Ravitas, then… maybe check on how those people we rescued from the island are doing.”

“Ah, that. You’re really going to do it.”

According to his occasional correspondence with Asiz, the Arabion-Carmine war didn’t seem like it would break out immediately.

And based on a recent brief visit to check, Zahar wasn’t causing any trouble in Kalamaf either.

With the most important matters currently not pressing, he planned to take care of things they hadn’t been able to before.

And while they were at it, travel to the southern sea to look for the merfolk royalty who had reportedly fled there.

“Since one of our destinations is in the east, I’m thinking we could also visit your family, as you wanted. That means going to a big city, like you wanted.”

At the mention of visiting the Baraha family, Solif’s jaw dropped in astonishment.

“…I’m not sure that’s a good idea. Aren’t we just looking for trouble?”

“Well, you can disguise yourself with my mask as you’ve been doing, and we’ve developed a few disguise methods of our own.”

Over the past few months, Meisa had been diligently practicing the enchantment knowledge she’d learned from Asiz.

Among these techniques was one where mages with different bloodlines could provide power, and during this process with Turan and Solif’s assistance, they discovered something interesting.

Specifically, that Turan could use his Holy Relic as a medium to assist in creating magical devices with the powers of the Wavecutter and Mimic bloodlines.

Using this method, they had recently completed a necklace that could adjust the wearer’s apparent age and a ring that could change eye and hair color.

These were much lower grade than the mask that could completely change one’s appearance, but considering how extremely rare such disguise-oriented magical devices were, they were still quite valuable.

“Besides, I know you’re curious too. How your parents might be doing.”

“Hmm.”

Solif could only let out a soft groan without giving an answer.

* * *

After the festival, when the settlers heard that Turan’s group was leaving, they tried to hold them back with tears.

It was understandable, as these gods who had protected them with overwhelming power and even healed all manner of wounds and diseases were departing.

But since they couldn’t be held captive here forever, the settlers requested portraits of the three before they left.

They said they would create statues and pray to them, serving and honoring them eternally.

Afterward, having entrusted management to several local knights, they headed north to Merem, the capital of Ravitas, along with Yoz.

Unlike their previous journey when they had ridden a lizard sent by the family head, this time they had to walk, which took considerably more time.

If Solif and Turan hadn’t taken turns carrying Yoz as they moved, it would have certainly taken more than a month or two at the pace of an ordinary knight.

Solif grumbled as he kicked at the muddy ground:

“Ah, damn it. I wish we could just ride Bije.”

“I understand how you feel, but… I’d prefer to keep our mobility capabilities secret if possible.”

While everyone in the settlement knew that Bije was not an ordinary golden eagle but a magical beast, no one knew that his small frame could pull a steel swing carrying multiple people and fly quickly for days on end.

Without top-tier noble-level magical power, it would be impossible for such a small magical beast to exert that much strength and speed.

Since this mobility was one of Turan’s group’s greatest weapons, it was better to keep it secret as much as possible.

Besides, moving on foot wasn’t entirely useless, as they could gather small bits of information from the villages and cities they occasionally visited along the way.

Specifically, about how widely and in what manner the news of their deeds had spread.

The results were exactly as Turan had expected.

“Our story is really only famous around the Koloa region. Even just a little further north, hardly anyone knows about it…”

“Well, it’s not particularly something that would spread widely. We’re not the only ones reclaiming wetlands, after all.”

When Meisa spoke with a somewhat deflated expression, Turan smiled in response.

Anyone who directly witnessed them reclaiming the wetlands would have been amazed.

The sight of burning several hundred meters of radius, sending away tens of tons of water, and raising the earth to create walls would have inspired awe even in powerful nobles.

But those who directly witnessed these miracles were only the settlers and a few knights.

Among them, the only ones who could spread rumors outside were the commoner merchants who came to sell goods to the settlement.

Naturally, when mages from other regions heard these merchants’ tales about people in the south reclaiming wetlands with tremendous power, they didn’t take them very seriously.

‘To those ignorant commoners, any magic powerful enough to reclaim wetlands must seem terrifying. They’re exaggerating.’

This was the common thought among mages who heard the rumors from the Koloa region.

Who would have thought that three practitioners with skills considered quasi-family head level even among great families were reclaiming a remote area?

Naturally, the fact that Solif had briefly revealed his true identity as the Baraha heir for a month or two hadn’t spread widely either.

After walking at a moderate pace for about twenty days.

They finally arrived back in Merem.

“Welcome, all of you! My, everyone’s skin has tanned nicely.”

Rida, who greeted Turan’s group, said this while touching the faces and forearms of the three.

Of course, noble skin wasn’t so weak as to tan just from a bit of sunlight, so this was merely a pleasantry.

After welcoming the three, Rida immediately prepared a lavish feast, saying they must have suffered working on the reclamation project in the southern wilderness all this time.

Naturally, there was no comparison between a housewife and a direct chef of a great family’s influential figure.

Turan’s group was able to enjoy delicious food until their stomachs were about to burst, something they hadn’t experienced in a long time.

“Ugh, I can’t eat anymore…”

“Don’t say that. There’s still plenty left.”

Just like grandmothers do with their grandchildren, Rida pushed food into Solif’s resisting mouth with a pleased smile.

After enduring this food torture, Turan’s group scheduled a meeting with Osel, the head of the Ravitas family, through her.

Having already heard reports from Yoz, Osel instructed that Solif—or more precisely, the attendant knight ‘Phil’—should also join them.

Three days later, Turan’s group entered the same private residence as before and met the family head who was reclining leisurely with the curtains drawn back.

“You deceived me.”

The first thing Osel said reproachfully was naturally directed at the disguised Solif.

To this, Turan responded with a smile:

“I don’t recall ever deceiving you, I simply didn’t mention it.”

During their previous meeting, Osel had never once asked if Phil was the heir of Baraha, so Turan hadn’t actually deceived him.

Of course, this was just wordplay when it came down to it.

This was truly an insolent attitude for a mere wandering noble to take with the head of a great family, but none of them seemed to mind.

Osel knew Turan’s group’s capabilities, and unlike before when he had something he needed, now that they had completed their mission, their relationship was equal.

“I’ll let you off, but what about my sister? You certainly deceived her.”

“I’ve already apologized for that. Fortunately, she was very understanding.”

“Hmph, don’t rely too much on my sister’s generosity. I despise those who try to take advantage of her.”

As he had sensed before, Osel’s affection for Rida seemed somewhat excessive.

It wasn’t strange for him to feel maternal affection toward his cousin who had raised him by directly breastfeeding him, but still.

After grumbling like a child, he returned to his family head demeanor and said:

“Anyway, I’ve heard everything from Yoz. The three of you worked almost without rest and completed everything. You even gathered people to create a settlement, establishing a sustainable revenue structure.”

“Yes. We heard advice that it would be good for maintaining the reclaimed land. He’s a very capable person.”

“There’s always a reason when the head of a great family keeps a mere knight as a confidant.”

After laughing briefly at his arrogant manner of praising his subordinate while elevating himself, Turan noticed Osel suddenly becoming serious as he looked at them.

“So, I was wondering if you’d be interested in taking on another request?”

“A request?”

“We no longer owe each other anything, but there’s no guarantee you won’t get injured again in the future. Last time I allowed payment after treatment because of my sister, so I’m wondering if you’d consider accepting payment in advance this time.”

In other words, he needed their strength but either didn’t have adequate compensation to offer immediately or didn’t want to give it, so he was suggesting free future treatment that might or might not be needed as currency.

Turan glanced briefly at his two companions to confirm their intentions, then nodded.

“I’d like to hear about it first, but does it meet the conditions I mentioned previously?”

“Yes. It’s catching a thief. A sufficiently righteous task.”

Catching a thief.

It sounded like a simple task, but if the head of a great family couldn’t solve it himself and had to request help from others, it was obviously not so easy.

When Turan looked at him with an expressionless face, Osel continued explaining:

“A distant relative of mine, Moroz Ravitas, recently fled with an important Holy Relic of the family.”

“A Holy Relic…”

“Yes. The one you heard about from my sister.”

He was referring to the Holy Relic that Rida had promised to give Turan if he brought a white elf spirit mage—a relic that continuously infused its owner with healing and purification power.

This meant that the item she had promised not only to Turan but also to other promising nobles had been stolen.

“How did that happen?”

“It’s an internal family matter, but… tsk, I suppose you won’t accept that. It seems the fellow fell in love with a knight and stole it to prevent his lover from aging and dying. Even though they’ll eventually die when their lifespan ends anyway.”

From what he had heard before, when commoners used that Holy Relic, their lifespan extended to about one hundred thirty years.

For a knight, it might be a bit longer.

Perhaps they could even live as long as nobles.

In any case, while it was a romantically motivated theft, stealing a family’s Holy Relic and fleeing was undeniably a serious crime.

“How strong is this thief?”

“A bit weaker than my sister Rida.”

So around the middle of the upper ranks.

A considerable practitioner, but anyone in Turan’s group could defeat such a mage without much difficulty.

However…

“You don’t know exactly where they are, I assume?”

“The last sighting was of them taking a ship eastward. Beyond our family’s territory, their destination is unknown.”

This was essentially saying they could be anywhere in the world.

The one fortunate aspect was that it overlapped with the direction of Turan’s group’s next destination.

“What’s the time limit? And the reward for finding and retrieving it?”

“Unlimited.”

At this brief response, Turan’s eyebrow twitched, and Osel continued with a serious expression:

“You can bring it back whenever you find it. And as a reward, I’ll ensure that no matter who you bring or how severe their injuries, they’ll receive our full healing efforts. I understand that such a reward is necessary for this task.”

While the lost Holy Relic wasn’t strictly necessary for the Ravitas family with their abundance of healers, if someone eventually brought them a spirit mage, they would need to offer it as payment.

Considering that this being could play a crucial role in the family’s secret desire for immortality, they needed to retrieve it by any means.

“Very well. I can’t promise to put aside all other matters to search for it, but I’ll try to retrieve it when the opportunity arises.”

“Thank you. I can only entrust this task to you because I trust you. You’ve proven your reliability by diligently fulfilling the previous request after receiving payment.”

Individuals without credibility might choose to keep the Holy Relic for themselves rather than return it for the reward.

After all, a Holy Relic that halts physical aging was valuable enough to warrant such temptation.

Sensing this thought, Osel subtly added:

“That item merely provides continuous healing and purification effects without requiring payment, but its healing power itself isn’t particularly strong, so you would still need my help for injuries like the ones you had before.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. But I’d like to ask one more question.”

“What is it?”

“May we deal with that person’s magical power as we see fit?”

At Turan’s question, Osel scoffed as if it were ridiculous.

“Well, I suppose it would be troublesome to capture and bring them back from a distance… As long as the Holy Relic is retrieved, I don’t care. It’s not like that level of magical power would be of much use to practitioners of your caliber anyway, so do as you please.”

“Understood.”

Turan nodded and fingered the Mimic Holy Relic hanging on his chest.

It seemed that when the time came, he would need to make room for another.