Magic Is Learned For Nothing [EN]: Chapter 40

Magic is Learned in Vain – 40

# 40

Awful Man 2

-Krrr, krrr, krrr (Bro, bro. Stop sleeping).

Sephia nudged Legion’s side as he lay unconscious by the river.

Legion was still unconscious.

-Krrr, krrr (Bro, you’ll catch a cold if you sleep here. Let’s go to the Orc village).

Sephia nudged him again.

It was pure luck that he found Legion.

Sephia waited in the Amazon Orc village as Legion had ordered. As he entered the village, the Orcs were terrified and scattered in all directions.

Slightly annoyed, he destroyed a few houses. He was told not to kill them.

The Orcs armed themselves and surrounded Sephia.

“What brings you here?”

Amadeus asked nervously. He knew Sephia was Legion’s subordinate. But that was a different matter from the instinctive fear he felt from the ogre. The Orcs’ limbs stiffened just from looking at the ogre.

-Krrr, krrr (Bro told me to come here to eat).

“Legion did?”

-Krrurrurrung (Yeah).

“Where is Legion?”

-Krrkeuk, krrkeuk (Dungeon).

“Dungeon? Do you know which dungeon?”

-Krrurrung, krrurrurrung (I don’t know. He just told me to wait here and eat. Give me food. If you don’t have any, I’ll eat one of you. I’m hungry).

Amadeus’ face turned pale. *That* son of a bitch. Why did he come here looking for food?

So the Orcs provided Sephia with meals.

At first, they thought Legion would show up in a day or two. But no. Ten days had already passed, and he still hadn’t appeared. They could endure it for a few days, but not longer than that.

The amount of food that pig-like ogre had eaten in the meantime was equal to the entire Orc tribe’s monthly food supply.

At this rate, they would go bankrupt.

Sephia wasn’t stupid either. He noticed the Orcs’ gazes whenever they looked at him: ‘Glutton,’ ‘pig bastard,’ ‘stop eating,’ ‘if you have any conscience, get your own food.’

He was uncomfortable too.

So he moved a little away from the Orc village and settled by the river. There were often crocodiles and aquatic monsters, but unless they were crazy, no one would dare to attack an ogre.

As soon as Sephia appeared, the crocodiles and aquatic monsters that smelled the ogre had already run far away.

He was looking at the night sky, whimpering and singing, ‘Bro, I miss you. When are you coming?’

That’s when he saw a human floating down the river. He knew it was his brother by the smell.

Sephia quickly ran and brought Legion to the riverbank.

“Krrr, krrr (Bro, you’re amazing. You can even sleep in the water. I can’t).

But Legion didn’t wake up for almost an hour.

Sephia turned Legion over and poked his stomach with his finger.

“Kuaaaak!”

A considerable amount of water poured out of Legion’s mouth. He coughed violently.

“Haa, haa.”

Legion took a deep breath and looked around. It was a riverbank. That meant he was outside the dungeon.

“I, I’m alive!”

Legion raised both hands in the air.

-Congratulations, congratulations. You barely made it.

Mark’s dejected voice was heard. *Why* does your voice sound like that? I came back alive.

-Being alive is a good thing. Well, that’s that.

What’s wrong?

-Nothing. It’s better not to know.

Oh, come on, either don’t say anything or tell me. Why? Tell me.

-Your intelligence…

What about me?

-It’s…

Ah, right. My intelligence dropped again, didn’t it? How much? Don’t tell me it dropped below 90?

-It’s 69.

…

How much?

-It’s 69.

I don’t really get it.

-It’s lower than a dolphin’s and similar to a dog’s. It’s just lower than Sephia’s.

Legion knelt down. Let’s die. Let’s die. What’s the point of living with intelligence similar to a dog’s?

-Krrr, krrr (Bro, did you sleep well? I was surprised earlier. Seeing you sleep in the water. As expected, there’s nothing my brother can’t do).

Sephia gave Legion a thumbs up.

What is he saying?

Am I a fish? Sleeping in the water?

-Huh? I sense killing intent rising from across the river.

Mark said nervously.

What? Why killing intent? Is there a monster?

-Just a moment. I’ll scan the area. Three humans are being chased by two trolls. It looks very dangerous. Ah, two humans have been caught and are being eaten by the trolls. Only one is left.

Legion frowned.

If there are people wandering around here, they must be people from the territory. If they’ve come this far, they’re probably herb gatherers.

“Let’s save them first. Sephia.”

-Krrr (Okay, bro).

“Let’s go, a territory citizen is being chased by trolls. We have to save them.”

-Krrr (Okay. Leave it to me).

Legion and Sephia crossed the river.

A tearing scream was heard from the forest across the river. Legion’s heart raced. The trolls’ killing intent is getting stronger.

“Fireball!”

Legion created two fireballs in his hands.

It wouldn’t do much damage to the trolls, but it would startle them.

“Hang in there!”

Legion shouted as he ran into the forest.

And-

Bang!

Someone ran out of the forest.

He collided head-on with Legion, who was running into the forest.

Specifically, with Legion’s head.

With the sound of a watermelon breaking, the boy fainted while crying. His forehead quickly swelled up from the impact.

Legion frowned as he looked at the boy.

A young boy was wearing armor. It was obviously expensive.

Who is he?

There’s no one in our territory who can afford to wear such expensive armor. There was only one person.

Zenon.

But he had become very frugal after marrying Amadeus. Last time I saw him, he inflicted mental damage on Legion with the saying, ‘Water is water, mountains are mountains’ [referencing a Zen Buddhist saying about accepting reality].

He seemed a little crazy.

Anyway, there’s no one among the territory citizens who promotes such overspending…

-Krrurrurrung.

“That’s that.”

Legion looked at the two trolls who appeared with killing intent.

Nearly 3 meters tall. An overwhelming killing intent that humans could never imitate. Hideous appearance. Powerful regenerative power that restores limbs within hours even if they are cut off.

Trolls are more terrifying monsters than ogres to ordinary soldiers.

“Sephia.”

-Krrr (Yeah, bro).

“Can you take care of those guys in 10 minutes?”

At that moment!

Sephia’s huge mace flew through the air, smashing the head of one of the trolls.

-Krrurrurrung (I can do it in 1 minute).

* * *

Legion returned to the mansion after fifteen days.

Yes, it’s only been fifteen days, but why does it feel so unfamiliar? Well, how many years did I live in that damn dungeon?

I feel like I lived there for at least ten thousand years…

As soon as he returned, Silke ran out crying.

The other servants and maids were the same. These days – well, about ten thousand years – Legion’s popularity seems to have risen quite a bit.

Actually, I want to cry more.

He really came back.

“I thought something really big had happened this time. If you hadn’t come back by today, I was going to decide on a search party tomorrow!”

“Don’t do anything dangerous now that you’re old. You have to be careful even of falling leaves now.”

“I couldn’t help it. But when I said we had to find the lord, quite a few volunteers gathered. There are more people in the territory who worry about you than I thought.”

“Oh? Really?”

This is unexpected. So many territory citizens care about me?

-Your luck has risen to 21. You are quite popular with the territory citizens.

Oh! 21? What’s the max?

-Estimated to be 100.

If it reaches 100, will it be upgraded like the Iron Eyes passive skill?

-I don’t know. But it seems like a single skill. No, it’s better that way. If your luck goes above 100 and is upgraded to another skill… honestly, can you imagine what skill it would be upgraded to?

I can’t really imagine it.

-Of course not, how can you imagine that with your IQ? Anyway, I don’t think any more luck than that will be helpful in your life.

Having high luck is a good thing.

-Think about it. You pick up money on the street, eat free food everywhere you go, anything you pick up is a jewel, and people might even think their illness is cured just because you touched them. You already got a lich as a summon, what are you going to do if you get a demon king next? Misfortune awaits at the end of overflowing luck. Always be careful.

Um, okay. I’ll keep that in mind.

“But who is that person?”

Silke pointed to the man dangling from Sephia’s shoulder.

Our lord always brings something back whenever he goes out.

Silke thought it would be nice if it was something profitable like the minotaur last time.

The minotaur was dismantled into parts and sold usefully. In particular, it left quite a lot of profit thanks to the wizards who went crazy over it.

However, it’s a bit difficult to disassemble what’s hanging on Sephia’s shoulder. I don’t think it will be very profitable…

But it’s a person.

“I don’t know.”

“What do you mean you don’t know?”

“He was being chased by trolls, so I saved him. I’m his savior. But he hasn’t woken up yet. The shock must have been quite big. All his companions died.”

“Ah! You brought him from the Dusselrup Mountains? Why did this child go there?”

“I don’t know. Maybe he went to gather herbs?”

Sephia grabbed the crown prince and roughly put him down on the floor.

Silke examined the crown prince. Top-quality armor, clean skin, he looked like he had never touched a drop of water in his life.

There wasn’t a single callus on his palm.

He seemed like a child from a very noble family.

Could he be the child of an herb gatherer who found a mandragora [a valuable magical plant] and made a fortune?

“He’s an herb gatherer, right?”

Legion asked.

“Yes, I think so. He smells like the second son of a *nouveau riche* [newly rich] family who doesn’t know the ways of the world.”

Silke agreed.

* * *

Lauzel regained consciousness.

His head hurt so much. It felt like someone had mercilessly hit him in the head.

“Are you awake?”

Silke asked.

Only then did Lauzel rub his forehead and look around. It was a shabby room. The room smelled strongly of a bachelor.

“Who are you?”

Lauzel asked, wary of Silke.

“Hey! Young man, watch your manners. You should say ‘Who are you?’ not ‘Who are you’.”

Lauzel frowned.

He doesn’t remember well. Only his name comes to mind, but he doesn’t know where he lived, where he is, or who he is.

But honorifics are not familiar…

Somehow, he felt like he had only spoken informally.

“W, who are you?”

Lauzel spoke honorifically with difficulty.

“Let me explain briefly. You were being chased by trolls. Our lord saved you just before you died. In other words, our lord is the benefactor of your life. So make sure to say thank you when you see him next time.”

“T, trolls?”

“That’s right.”

“Why was I with the trolls?”

“From what I can see, you went into the Dusselrup Mountains because of your greed for money?”

“Because of money?”

“You’re an herb gatherer.”

“M, me, an herb gatherer?”

“I don’t think you’re from our territory. I’ve never seen your face before. You must have come from somewhere else. Where are you from?”

“T, that’s… I don’t remember.”

“You don’t remember?”

Silke frowned slightly. Is this guy trying to get a free meal?

“Nothing at all?”

“Nothing except my name.”

“What’s your name?”

“Lauzel.”

“Lauzel? That’s a pretty cool name.”

“I, is that so.”

“You don’t even remember where you’re from?”

“Nothing.”

Lauzel sighed deeply. He was very frustrated because he couldn’t remember anything about himself. His head keeps hurting. Why does it hurt so much?

“Now that you’re awake, would you like to go see the lord?”

“The lord?”

“Yes. He’s about the same age as you. But he’s a very capable lord. Um, in this old man’s opinion, I think he’s as wise as King Solomon in the past.”

“R, really?”

“Do you know who King Solomon is?”

“Yes. I know. I just don’t remember anything about me.”

“That’s a strange case of amnesia. Anyway, let’s go see the lord. Who knows? The lord might solve your memory problem.”

“What is the lord’s name?”

“Legion of the Alexander family.”

Silke smiled, revealing his yellow teeth.

Lauzel felt uneasy as he looked at his smile. Somehow, he felt like nothing good would come of being associated with ‘Legion’ of the Alexander family.