The Dark Mage Of The Magus World-Chapter 125 - 126: The Mission
Bessie was silent for a long moment, her head slightly bowed. Then, she spoke softly.
"Then let’s just move in together. You can focus entirely on your cultivation, and I’ll handle everything else."
Hutson shook his head.
"No. I prefer living alone. Maybe another time."
His tone was firm, leaving no room for discussion.
Without waiting for her response, he stood up and left, ignoring her attempts to make him stay.
Bessie was not like Elusha.
Elusha had only ever wanted a child a single tie to the future. But Bessie?
She wanted a lifelong bond, a pure blooded sorcerer family, something permanent and unbreakable.
Hutson knew that was never going to happen.
He would not remain in Moonlight Grove, and he had no intention of starting a family he would eventually abandon.
And so, he walked away, leaving Bessie’s world just a little emptier.
Hutson had barely enjoyed two days of peace when a new message arrived.
"Mission: Patrol the Western Mountain Range. Duration: One month. Report to the Mission Hall within three days.
Failure to comply without valid explanation will result in consequences."
Moonlight Grove had sent the order directly through his enchanted rune stone.
Hutson sighed, rubbing his temples.
"It was only a matter of time."
This was exactly what he had expected.
A few days ago, Moonlight Grove had sent Larry to inquire about his future plans.
Had he made it clear that he was staying, they likely would have given him an easy task—or no mission at all.
But by refusing to commit, he had all but guaranteed he’d receive something more demanding.
The Western Mountain Range lay beyond the western borders of Moonlight Grove—a vast, untamed land.
Some called it the Ten Thousand Peaks, for its countless towering mountains and deep valleys.
It was a dangerous territory, filled with ferocious magical beasts and wandering sorcerers.
Technically, all the valuable herbs, magical minerals, and spell casting materials within the mountains belonged to Moonlight Grove.
But in reality, Moonlight Grove lacked the manpower to fully control such an expansive territory.
This made it a prime target for rogue sorcerers and rival factions, who often sneaked in to steal resources.
Hutson’s mission was to patrol the region and stop them.
And stopping them meant conflict.
The sorcerers who dared trespass knew the risks—they would not leave without a fight.
This was not just a simple patrol mission.
This was war in the shadows.
Hutson sent a quick message to Larry:
"Master, I’ve been assigned a mission."
Larry’s reply came almost instantly.
"What kind of mission?"
Hutson explained the details.
There was a brief pause before Larry responded.
"This won’t be easy. Prepare well. Be cautious."
There was nothing else Larry could do—he had no authority to interfere with Moonlight Grove’s mission assignments.
And so, Hutson took his advice to heart.
He made his way toward the Mission Hall.
The Mission Hall, usually a bustling hub of activity, was eerily quiet.
Most of the apprentices and sorcerers had already accepted their assignments, leaving the hall emptier than usual.
At the task allocation window, Hutson completed the required paperwork.
"Report to the Western Outpost within three days.
Transportation: Hellhoof steed.
Route: Stop overnight at the Midway Station before proceeding to the final destination."
With his mission officially assigned, Hutson turned his attention to preparations.
For the next three days, he spent his magic stones wisely, purchasing a stockpile of potions and essential supplies.
More importantly, the potions Larry had ordered for him had finally arrived.
Hutson made his way to Larry’s workshop.
The moment he saw the price, he felt a sharp sting in his chest.
"Twelve hundred magic stones..."
With a heavy heart, he handed over a large pouch filled with glimmering stones.
Larry took them with a wave of his hand, making them disappear instantly.
"Be careful on this mission. Once it’s over, you should have some time to train without interruptions."
Hutson nodded.
"Let’s hope it goes smoothly."
He studied the potions carefully.
Ancient Potion – A dreamlike elixir, deep ocean blue, with the shadow of a great tree drifting within.Amanda’s Potion – A pure orange liquid, thick and vibrant, radiating a powerful magical aura. He had acquired three doses.
He stored them away in his spatial ring, waiting for the right moment—the day he could finally advance to a full sorcerer.
With everything in place, Hutson departed for the Western Outpost.
The journey was long, requiring an overnight stop at a midway station.
His steed, the Hellhoof, was a beast of patience and power, bred for endurance in harsh terrain.
By early morning, it had already stirred awake, standing at the station gates, hooves stamping against the ground.
It let out a series of impatient snorts, its breath misting in the cold air.
The message was clear—
It was time to move.
As the sun rose over the horizon, Hutson mounted his steed, setting his sights on the far off mountains.
He didn’t know what awaited him there.
But he knew one thing for certain—
This mission would test him in ways he had never faced before.
Hutson boarded the carriage, sharing it with a plump sorcerer who looked somewhat familiar.
After a moment, he remembered—
This was the same fat sorcerer he had seen back at Red Maple Forest Station, the one who had helped Bessie process the Stone Giant’s heart.
His name was Felid.
Like Hutson, he had been assigned to patrol the Western Mountain Range.
As soon as Felid settled into his seat, he let out a long sigh.
"Ahh... This mission’s a real mess."
His voice was low and grumbling, as if he had long resigned himself to fate.
"I’ve heard it’s extremely dangerous—fights are almost guaranteed. You know who they send here? The ones with no connections, no background, and no real future. Every sorcerer apprentice they send to patrol this place is just a disposable third tier."
Hutson nodded calmly.
"We’ll just have to stay cautious."
That was all they could do.
By afternoon, the carriage reached the Western Mountain Outpost.
The Hellhoof steed that had pulled them here remained behind, settling into the stables for the night. It would return to Moonlight Grove tomorrow morning.
The outpost itself was massive, far larger than a typical frontier station.
A fortress like courtyard surrounded by thick, castle like walls enclosed the area.
This was not just a waystation—it was a stronghold.
As Hutson stepped out of the carriage, he saw eight other third tier apprentice sorcerers waiting there.
At the center of them all, standing like a withered tree, was the one true sorcerer in command.
A gaunt old man, his skin like dried bark, his frame thin yet imposing.
His name was Barty.
Barty’s eyes flicked toward Hutson and Felid, his expression cold and indifferent.
"Good. Everyone’s here."
His voice was hoarse, as if the wind had long since stripped the warmth from it.
"You’ll all be working in pairs. Day and night shifts. Five teams will rotate patrols in shifts."
His gaze settled on Hutson and Felid.
"You two. You’re a team."
Hutson had expected as much. Since they were the last to arrive, they had no choice but to pair up.
Their mission officially began tomorrow—lasting for a full month.
After receiving their orders, Hutson and Felid were handed a map detailing their assigned patrol route.
Felid sighed as he studied the document.
"At least we don’t have night duty... for now."
Hutson glanced at him.
"If we did, would we have to sleep in the mountains?"
Felid nodded grimly.
"Yes. And night patrols are the most dangerous."
Hutson looked at the rotation schedule.
Three days from now, their shift would switch to nights.
They would have to endure the darkness of the Western Mountains.
Before they were dismissed, Barty handed each of them a small, red water sphere filled with an unknown liquid.
Felid turned it in his hand, frowning slightly.
Hutson studied it carefully.
It was called the Whispering Orb.
A messaging device, it was meant to be used only in emergencies.
If they encountered unexpected trouble, they were to infuse the orb with mana—
The moment they did, Barty would be notified instantly.
But there was an unspoken truth behind it.
If a third tier sorcerer apprentice needed to use the Whispering Orb, it likely meant they were about to die.
After all, patrol teams were sent in pairs for a reason—two third tier sorcerer apprentices were expected to handle most threats.
The only time reinforcements would be necessary was if they encountered a full fledged sorcerer.
And if that happened...
Sending a warning before dying was the best they could hope for.
This wasn’t just patrolling.
It wasn’t a routine assignment.
This was a frontline battlefield, where rogue sorcerers and invaders lurked in the shadows, waiting to strike.
Hutson tightened his grip on the Whispering Orb, his gaze steady.
He had long expected this.
Now, it was time to see just how dangerous the Western Mountains truly were.
