The Rebirth Of The Hero’S Party’S Archmage [EN]: Chapter 207

207

“Platinum?”

“You said platinum?”

“It’s platinum.”

As soon as I entered the Adventurer’s Guild with Bart, we attracted enormous attention because of his massive size and the dragon bone spear.

The gazes, which had initially been mere curiosity, turned into a commotion throughout the entire guild when the receptionist, in a flurry, mentioned the platinum rank.

Hmm, it’s been a while since I’ve felt this kind of attention… A wry smile crept across my face at the familiar sensation.

– Look, it’s the Hero Party.

During those tumultuous times, many renowned mercenary groups gathered, but there was a significant difference in how they were treated compared to the Hero Party.

Mercenary groups still carried a somewhat disreputable image, while the Hero Party was seen as a noble group burdened with the mission of saving humanity.

Perhaps that’s why many mercenaries at the time seemed to cast envious and admiring glances simultaneously. Just like now.

“C-Confirmed. Bart Yuriuns-nim!”

The receptionist, after verifying the documents and identification tag Bart submitted, spoke in a trembling voice.

“Rank increased to Platinum 11th, you are now eligible to receive S-rank or higher quests…!”

Almost immediately, not only the other receptionists but even the branch manager came out to show the utmost respect.

“I am Willum, the branch manager of the Guild. Please remember me and contact me if you need any assistance!”

It was understandable.

Platinum was an honor bestowed upon only 11 individuals at the very top of all adventurers.

Originally, he would have gone to the guild headquarters to receive the platinum rank identification tag in a solemn ceremony.

When he received the platinum identification tag, gleaming brightly on the silk cushion, even the adventurers and staff dining in the hall were looking this way.

“Bart of Black Iron? Never heard of him.”

“Must have been active in the upper continent.”

“He does look strong. How can he carry that around?”

Some exchanged doubtful remarks, while others, flaunting their skills, asked if he would consider joining their adventure party.

“Sorry, I’m not taking any more party members.”

“Don’t be like that. I’m really strong, you know? Do you know what my nickname is? The Strongest.”

“Sorry, but I’d appreciate it if you spoke in the common tongue.”

Amidst the throng of such ruffians, there was one figure that particularly caught my eye.

Was it because he was so out of place in this setting?

A kid who looked to be about Aki’s age, wearing a hood pulled down low, was struggling to get over here.

“Need help?”

Aki went up to him, tilting her head. The kid seemed speechless, only moving his lips.

“Aki will help!”

Then, she pulled the kid, who was stuck between the legs of the adults, out towards us.

‘Hmm?’

For a moment, Rain couldn’t help but tilt his head slightly.

The hooded cloak fell off, revealing an innately noble appearance that couldn’t be hidden by anything.

He was a boy with golden, curly hair, faded like desert gold, and clear violet eyes.

‘I wouldn’t call him handsome, but anyone can tell he’s not of ordinary stock…’

The boy, with a reddened face, fumbled to find his cloak and hurriedly covered his face again.

He carefully scanned his surroundings with his hood pulled down, but all he saw was the scene where all the attention was focused on Bart.

Seeing that, he let out a sigh of relief, as if he had some story to tell.

“What’s wrong?”

I asked cautiously, but the boy only fidgeted with his fingers, uttering unintelligible sounds.

“Ah, aah, ae, au.”

Then Aki’s eyes lit up!

“Abu, aba, abe, abe!”

“?”

“???”

“Do you know what that means?”

Could it be some kind of dragon language I don’t know?

“Don’t know!”

This is the intelligence of a True Dragon…….

As I sighed and rubbed my forehead, I suddenly felt a strangely familiar sensation from the boy’s hand movements.

No, it’s not just familiar. Could it be sign language?

‘Link and Kies used to use simple sign language, so I know it better than most people…’

The meaning of using sign language is one thing.

“Can’t you speak?”

As if he had no problem hearing, the boy shyly averted his gaze, looking down.

“Why can’t you speak?”

“Ah, aah, ah.”

Hmm, I see.

I pulled out a hemostatic bandage from Seresias’ subspace pocket. I bit my little finger and drew blood.

– Rin, will you promise me?

The form of the magic circle to draw is four.

The bioelectrical reactions occurring in the left hemisphere of the cerebral cortex, which is responsible for language expression, are read by Bel Cideus [a magical artifact].

– When you come back, promise me you’ll be an adult who can freely share the light of magic with others.

When I made this for Link, I had to go through many trials and errors and receive material help from Nils, but now that I have Bel Cideus, I can do it alone.

Even though it was a simple magic circle drawn with blood, I could see that its craftsmanship was excellent.

I stretched out my hand and tied the bandage like a hood on the forehead of the boy, who was wary.

“Ah, aah, aeeh…….”

At that moment, a hand flew in and grabbed my collar. At the same time, a dagger was aimed at my neck.

“You bastard, what do you think you’re doing……!”

I knew the killing intent was approaching.

But it wasn’t an opponent worth being wary of, so I just let it be. And there are companions around.

At that moment, the old swordsman’s chin slammed into the table. It was Miria, who was nearby. She skillfully snatched the sword from his grasp.

“Miria, it’s okay. Let him go.”

By that time, I had finished tying the hood and raised both hands.

“D-Don’t, don’t do it……?”

The boy’s eyes, who had been struggling in Rain’s hands and running towards the old swordsman, went blank for a moment. He had a look of disbelief on his face.

Not only the boy but even the swordsman’s eyes were shaking.

I gently placed my hand on his head.

“Now, can you speak?”

“……?!”

“Go to a good equipment shop and have them draw that magic circle as it is and make a magic tool. There should be no problem wearing it normally.”

This concludes our business at the guild.

Bart seems tired of being surrounded by so many adventurers, and I’ve joined up with Miria and Rem, so we can leave as is.

As I turned to leave, the boy grabbed Seresia’s sleeve and urgently opened his mouth.

“H-Help, h-help me.”

* * *

is a place where marine products from the north and south intersect, so its prosperity shone brightly compared to the size of the city.

Not only the appearance that is revealed on the front of the city, but also the underworld that thrives in the shadows.

At the entrance to the back alley leading to the red-light district, there was a dirty stall, and Valensidice was leaning against the side of the stall.

“Long time no see.”

At the familiar presence, the old woman tending the stall grinned, revealing her yellow, rotten teeth.

“It’s Toureina’s toy. It seems your master broke down first. Hehehe.”

Restraining Pipi from getting angry, Valensidice placed a money pouch full of silver coins on the stall.

“I need information about North Adrion. What’s the situation like over there these days?”

A smile formed on the old woman’s lips as she opened the bundle. The light of the silver coins reflected and scattered light spots on her face.

“There’s not much to say. Hmm, no. It seems the Dawn Brigade is slowly picking up speed, and soon the entire northern part of the continent will be in their hands.”

Valensidice raised an eyebrow.

The second pillar of the Black Church, the Dawn Brigade led by Elamas, is a formidable enemy beyond the Slayers, without the need for explanation.

It would be wise to hurry south before the entire north falls under their influence.

“It seemed like they would eat up the Solond Kingdom soon, but I heard the young prince ran away. I don’t know much more than that.”

Eat up the Solond Kingdom?

That information was not in Valensidice’s intelligence network. Was Elamas establishing a base there, whose whereabouts had been elusive?

But if I acted flustered, this vixen would start acting expensive, so I only moved my eyes expressionlessly.

“But what else could it be? That prince is famous for being mute. What can such an incompetent brat do even if he runs away? Hehehe.”

* * *

Help me…….

What more do you want me to help with?

I sighed as I saw him continuing to follow me even after leaving the guild. Bart was still surrounded by adventurers.

“Do you have money?”

Rem, knowing the purpose and danger of the journey, asked bluntly.

“Sorry, but I don’t have the luxury of doing charity work right now…….”

Then the kid handed Rem the necklace he was wearing preciously around his neck.

The old warrior who was attending to the kid didn’t even have time to stop him in dismay, but in that moment, Aki and Setsunen’s eyes widened.

It was a mystical jewel. As the twilight bounced off the surface of the jewel, a sacred tone flowed out, for what reason I couldn’t fathom.

‘Converting light into sound?’

Is that even possible?

No, I’ve heard of it somewhere.

“……Very sufficient, yes, absolutely!”

Rem, who received the jewel, changed his attitude while drooling. He’s always been so greedy for money.

“I-It’s important. I-I’ll give it back later. A-At that time, I-I’ll give you money.”

“Later? When is later?”

The old swordsman snatched the jewel from Rem in a hurry and returned it to the kid, then stepped into the center of the conversation.

“The young master and I must go to the Solond Kingdom. If you escort us to the border, we will pay a reasonable reward.”

“Solond? Why do you need an escort?”

“That’s none of your business.”

The old swordsman named Biram handed over a request form with an overbearing attitude. It was an escort request form stamped with the guild’s seal.

“It’s a B-rank escort request. The reward isn’t bad either.”

That was Miria’s explanation after quickly scanning the request form. You had to be in the upper ranks of Silver or higher to receive B-rank missions.

“Hmm, wouldn’t it be nice to earn some travel expenses on the way to ?”

Miria nodded as Rain, sitting on a barrel in the alley, raised an eyebrow.

“But also, I know that you need a considerable amount of contribution and mission achievements to head to . Even if you’re platinum rank.”

“Why?”

“Because a huge number of adventure parties have gone missing in the Ruin Zone or the ‘Flowing Desert.’ They’re only letting in the truly skilled.”

That was Miria’s judgment, but Rem’s judgment, who received the request form from her, was different.

“Hmph, no thanks?”

“What?”

“You guys are too suspicious. So you smell dangerous.”

It was around that time. Suddenly, Miria clutched her forehead as a dizzy spell struck her head.

“I have a really good nose, you know?”

What is this? This feeling…….

I feel a pull, as if my soul is being dragged somewhere unknown…….

“You don’t reveal your identities and don’t even say why you’re entrusting us with the escort.”

Yawning, Rain watched the scene of Rem pressuring Biram.

“How can we accept a request when it’s so suspicious?”

Perhaps because Setsunen and Aki were dozing off in his arms, he felt very sleepy because of their warm body temperatures.

I can see heat haze flickering around the kid, who is glancing at Rain, who is blinking his eyes.

Is it out of focus, or does it seem like the space itself is warping…….

The space itself is warping?

The moment a chilling premonition flashed through my mind, everything happened in an instant, like an explosion.

In an instant, the kid’s upper body was severed along with the space. The structures in that trajectory also had sharp grooves as if they had been cut by an invisible blade.

‘No way…….’

And half a beat later, a whirlwind swept through as if to fill the void of annihilation, and the hem of my clothes and hair fluttered madly.

“A, Aru, Aru, Aru.”

Setsunen, who was covered in the hot blood, burst into tears.

“What is this, why, suddenly…….”

Miria was on the ground, pressing her chest with her fist, and Rem’s eyes, who looked back at the butchered corpse, were simply wide open.

‘This sword energy is definitely Space-Time Severance (時空殲) [a high-level sword technique]…….’

Even though I clearly recognized all the situations unfolding before my eyes, Rain could only feel a confusion that made his heart race like crazy.

‘The Holy Sword Art (聖劍術) [a divine swordsmanship] that Rista independently created…….’

In the midst of near-panic confusion, the outline of the culprit came into view at the edge of Rain’s vision.

From the rooftop of a distant three-story stone building, I can see someone quickly turning away with a greatsword slung across their back.

I have to chase him.

I had a feeling that I absolutely had to. At the same time as kicking off the ground and chasing after him, I called out the name of a new power.

“Come here, Setsunen!”

Cheeing…… Setsunen’s body became a streak of light and soared into the sky, then was immediately equipped on both hands as gauntlets of thunder.

I can feel a new flow of magical power that tingles through my blood vessels. Yellow, the magical power of electricity. The dragon’s phase is engraved on the soul and body.

A mage cannot chase a swordsman’s footwork. But if I can block the footwork, there’s no way I can’t catch up with stamina.

“Jesueseoran Yeon, Lightning Style (雷式) [a combat technique].”