Shepherd Wizard (Novel) - Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Discord
Restraining a mage, especially one of noble rank, is an incredibly difficult task.
Even if bound in iron chains, they can heat and melt them to escape, and if confined in a room with thick walls, they can create passages through them.
Yet now, instead of escaping in such ways, Solif was just leaning helplessly against the wall.
Judging by the magical flow from the chains binding him, those seemed to be the issue.
‘To be able to restrain a top-tier noble, it must be a treasure nearly equivalent to a Holy Relic…’
Of course, considering the nobles gathered here were likely Baraha family elites who came to capture Solif, this wasn’t surprising.
What was more puzzling was why they were calmly staying at Deben Island, Cobinus’s last stronghold.
Should he flee now, or stay longer to learn more details?
After brief consideration, Turan chose the second option.
When not in immediate danger, having more information could create more advantageous situations.
And conveniently, there was someone here who could provide him with the most appropriate information.
Turan moved slightly away from the prison and implemented Wind Path, an application of wind magic.
Usually used to silently shoot stones, but with slight modification it could serve another purpose.
Namely, creating a path from his mouth to the target’s ear to secretly transmit his voice.
[Hey.]
Startled by the unexpected voice, Solif twisted his body, causing his chains to clank.
The lounging young noble turned around in surprise and shouted.
“Oh geez, what now? I told you you can’t break those chains! Stop scaring people…”
His attitude was far too dismissive to be addressing a great family’s heir.
After silence returned, Turan spoke again in the same manner.
[Stay still in that position and don’t move your face. I’ll let you speak without sound.]
Turan created a second Wind Path after confirming Solif’s silhouette remained rigid and motionless.
This time, the path went from Solif’s mouth to his ear.
[Done. Even whispers will be heard, so speak softly.]
[Who are you?]
[The person who shared drinks with you on the beach recently.]
[…Ah, right, Turan. That was your name. How did you do this? Is it a magical device?]
Having met only once days ago, Solif didn’t immediately recognize Turan’s voice.
Partly because the Wind Path somewhat distorted voices in transmission.
Instead of answering, Turan counter-questioned.
[The nobles here, they’re Baraha elites, right?]
[Yes. They were determined to take me. I fought pretty hard but they brought loads of restraining magical devices, so I couldn’t handle it. Though I doubt you came to rescue me…?]
[I went to Parayan Island and found Cobinus enslaving kidnapped people, so I came to kill him, only to find this situation.]
[…I just learned today that Cobinus is a cover identity used by my- by Baraha family members. They use magical devices to change faces. Probably the same one my childhood friend used.]
His correction from “my family” to “Baraha family” felt quite significant.
Anyway, as suspected, the Cobinus pirate band was apparently created by the Baraha family to extend influence in the southern seas.
Those like Bagos killed hours ago were likely local minions recruited using the cover identity.
[I told you to flee far from your family if possible.]
If Solif had seriously taken Turan’s advice and fled west toward the Siraf Marsh, he wouldn’t be captured here after just days.
Clearly he had continued exploring various parts of the southern seas afterward.
[Haha, honestly, I didn’t expect them to come after me so quickly. And with this level of forces…]
Solif muttered bitterly that he’d expected at most parents or a few relatives trying to persuade him.
After grasping the situation, Turan contemplated his next move.
Though he’d already destroyed two major Cobinus pirate strongholds, plucking their nose hairs by killing only local pirates, he could still end things moderately by stopping here.
But rescuing Solif would mean directly punching Baraha in the face.
Even with Solif as an ally, two nobles facing a great family was too daunting.
In comparison, slipping away now seemed much sweeter.
He wasn’t even close friends with Solif to risk danger, and hadn’t mentioned information that might provoke potentially divine beings backing Baraha-
‘Hah.’
Mid-thought, Turan realized he was seeking excuses to retreat in fear.
He attacked here because the Cobinus pirates kidnapped and abused ordinary people.
That act reminded him of stories his mother told of evil nobles abusing knights, making him project his childhood fear of bad nobles onto the oppressed people.
Did anything change just because the opponent was a great family, one of this world’s most powerful militant groups?
Rather, such strong beings oppressing ordinary people was even more despicable.
Acting fierce against the weak but tucking tail like a dog upon facing strong foes was truly the height of cowardice.
[Solif.]
[What?]
[Want me to save you?]
[I’d love that of course, but is it possible? From numbers to power, they’re enough to crush a dozen decent mage families. Plus some have magical devices I used to own. I know you’re skilled but it seems difficult.]
Come to think of it, Solif originally carried several seemingly powerful magical devices befitting a Baraha heir, but now was completely unarmed except for the binding chains.
Well, why would they let their captive keep such things?
[I have a way. First, if those chains are removed, can you fight again?]
[Though I look fine, I’m quite injured in various places and can’t fight without treatment.]
[Treatment can be provided. But promise me two things.]
[What are they? Let’s hear them.]
[First, understand that of the nobles on this island today, none but us two can leave alive.]
After Turan’s words, the response didn’t come immediately.
Shortly after, Solif spoke with a somewhat trembling voice.
[…You mean kill them all?]
[Yes.]
[That’s a bit… they’re still my family members-]
Of course, having expected such a response, Turan began explaining in a low voice.
The Freya divine tribe’s memoir he found while traveling, and all conclusions drawn from it.
Hearing the hypothesis that he would be used as a vessel for a god’s soul, Solif’s voice trembled slightly.
[What you just said… you’re not making this up, right?]
[If needed, I can show you some evidence later. If I’m lying, you can kill me.]
The Solif from their beach meeting probably wouldn’t have taken Turan’s words seriously.
Back then, he was just a runaway youth who’d escaped his controlling family.
But after being unilaterally suppressed like hunted prey by his family’s mages, he couldn’t dismiss this.
It perfectly explained why the family mages showed no respect for him as heir while subduing him.
[Okay, I’ll believe that for now. But… do we have to kill everyone? We could just subdue the guy in front of me and escape together.]
[Many people already know I’m attacking the Cobinus pirates. The moment I free you, it’ll be obvious who did it, and from then we’re both on an irreversible path against Baraha. If we’re becoming enemies anyway, we should maximize damage to their forces and build up our strength when we have the chance.]
Additionally, inflicting major losses here would help delay Baraha family pursuit.
Great families needed many powerful nobles hunting magical beasts to maintain their territories, proportional to their size.
With powerful nobles dead and others sent out, their foundation would weaken accordingly.
After this explanation fell silent, Solif soon answered in a gloomy voice.
[Fine, I understand. What’s the second?]
[I want you to move with me and fully assist in everything. For about twenty years.]
Twenty years assumed the time needed to become strong enough to survive against great family heads, if not match them.
Whether he’d find worthy opponents to gain such strength depended on luck.
Demanding total assistance was closer to recruiting a subordinate than an ally – something potentially humiliating for a top-tier noble like Solif.
Thus, Turan added one irresistible bait.
[As compensation for the second condition, I’ll tell you something you desperately want.]
[What is it?]
[I know where the drowned god’s corpse is.]
* * *
After finishing negotiations and tactical discussion, Turan maintained stealth while re-entering the prison.
He went behind the still-lounging guard noble, covered his mouth with one hand and stabbed his throat with a dagger.
“Urk-”
The Baraha noble’s eyes widened in shock as he tried to resist, but he couldn’t overcome Turan’s strength, enhanced by far greater magical power and well-trained physique.
After several more stabs to chest and stomach following the throat, Turan threw the lifeless noble’s body forward.
Solif, sitting quietly watching this in the cell, spoke in a seemingly dejected tone.
“You really killed him…”
“Yes, I really did. Now stay still while I free you.”
Having revealed his Zahar bloodline ability during negotiations, that fact didn’t surprise him.
Turan easily bent the iron bars to enter and examined the chains binding Solif’s body.
According to his explanation, this magical device’s function was remarkably simple yet powerful.
When wrapped around a living being, its binding force increased proportionally with time, suppressing the target’s magical power usage.
Though difficult to use by throwing to entangle during combat, nothing better existed for perfectly restraining captured enemies.
Using wind magic for lockpicking, Turan unlocked the chains’ gathering point, allowing Solif to stretch his stiff body while rotating his arms.
“Nngh, magical power really doesn’t return immediately…”
“Rest a bit. I’ll heal you.”
Having absorbed healing bloodline power from the Imitator Holy Relic before entering, Turan immediately cast healing magic on Solif.
With 1/4 used on Bije earlier, 3/4 remained, but since stronger magical beasts required more power to heal the same wounds, complete recovery was difficult.
Still, since there were no major injuries initially, he could recover enough to fight.
While Turan absorbed power from the noble’s body after finishing, fully recovered Solif muttered incredulously.
“Stealth and healing magic… are you sure you’re not a Freya divine tribe reincarnation?”
“Don’t exaggerate. Remember the plan?”
“Of course. How long has it been since I heard it?”
Leaving the underground prison together, Turan focused on presences felt above.
Fortunately, none seemed to have noticed events below.
After sending Solif outside and climbing upstairs, Turan noticed the nobles’ bedroom area was completely covered in magical power.
Clearly barrier bloodline power.
‘Well, with Enril Desert right above, they wouldn’t be unguarded.’
Though Zahar nobles had no reason to suddenly attack non-hostile families like Arabion, human nature made people want precautions against those with stealth abilities nearby.
Even without that, they might guard against vulnerability while sleeping.
Maintaining stealth, he flashed light through the window as a signal, and soon after, Solif began destructively swinging light whips like he used before.
“I-am-free!”
As light and fire erupted everywhere amid shouting in rich noble volume characteristic of high nobles, the sleeping fortress instantly awakened.
While pirates panicked in confusion, the barrier covering the bedroom area lifted.
“What’s happening?”
“He’s escaped!”
“How? Enke was guarding him!?”
“Someone go check the prison for chains! Rest follow me!”
Deep confusion colored the Baraha nobles’ voices.
Naturally, as Solif’s escape was an impossible anomaly to them.
Thus, rushing across corridors, they failed to notice the black powder thickly coating the entire passage.
Without Zahar bloodline’s suggestion ability, noticing it in a midnight corridor would be difficult anyway.
Using flight magic to drop from the window, Turan ignited the Fire Soul spread throughout the corridor.