Training-Addicted Mage In A Progression Fantasy-Chapter 53: Merchant Convoy Escort (4)

“Everyone, prepare for battle!”

Tris’s call roused even the resting adventurers.

The Thunder Birds posed a serious threat.Five golden monsters soared overhead, their giant wings spread wide.Each wingbeat echoed like a clap of thunder.

The Thunder Birds circled above the chariot, casting an enormous shadow.Instinctively, Tris’s gaze shifted to the young mage.

The young mage, having just emerged from the chariot, fixed his eyes on the five Thunder Birds.Suddenly, the creatures wheeled around and fled in the direction they had come from.

The adventurers, weapons at the ready, stood dumbfounded.Had the young mage done it again?

Though relieved at the Thunder Birds’ retreat, Tris’s expression remained troubled.

He turned to a nearby adventurer and asked,

“Have Thunder Birds ever been known to fly this low?”“No, sir.”

After a moment’s thought, Tris approached the young mage to explain the situation honestly.

***

Leon first used scanning magic on the Thunder Birds, detecting electric attribute magic flowing through their wings.As he pondered how to take them down, he made eye contact with one of them.Or rather, it locked eyes with Kito, perched atop Leon’s head.

The Thunder Bird then fled as if terrified.

Leon was equally stunned.While grateful for the bird’s retreat, he couldn’t shake a feeling of disappointment.

Tris approached, explaining that such a gathering of monsters was rare.He suggested someone might have deliberately driven them here.

At Tris’s request, Leon rose into the air and cast wide-range scanning magic.He searched several areas but found nothing out of the ordinary.

“Kito.”“Yes?”“Do you sense anything?”“Hmm... Let me see.”

Kito closed her eyes, seemingly concentrating.Suddenly, one of the fled Thunder Birds returned.It flapped its wings frantically before Leon, making whimpering sounds, then quickly flew away again.

“It says humans disturbed their nest and drove them here.”“Humans?”“Yes, but I don’t sense anything particularly suspicious...”

Leon frowned, uneasy.Humans that even Kito couldn’t detect?Whoever lured these monsters must have had a purpose.

Could another trading company be interfering?

But only mages could evade both Leon and Kito’s senses like this.

Mages...

The Tenelon black mages came to mind first.But how could they know Leon was crossing into the Empire by chariot?Besides, wouldn’t they be preoccupied with the Witch?

If magic was involved, Leon would have noticed traces.And someone strong enough to fool Kito seemed unlikely.

As Leon pondered, his gaze drifted to Erika.With uncanny speed, Erika noticed and met his eyes.

“Do you need something?”

Her blue eyes held a hint of desperation.

I’m not sure yet.

Leon turned away, saying it was nothing. He told Tris that someone was indeed behind this, but he couldn’t identify them yet. Inwardly, he remained on guard.

There was nothing more foolish than lowering one’s guard just for being strong among adventurers.Among mages, Leon was still considered weak.

***

After that, monster attacks decreased dramatically.However, this only heightened Leon’s unease.It seemed as if the culprits had realized their actions were discovered and were now being cautious.

As they crossed the mountain range, a vast plateau stretched before them.The trading company’s chariots met nomads at a predetermined point to exchange goods and replenish supplies.

“Does anything catch your eye, sir?”

A merchant approached Leon, asking cautiously but with evident goodwill.This was understandable, given how comfortable the journey had been thanks to Leon.

Leon surveyed the items the nomads had laid out.

The trading company had already acquired all available food resources from livestock.Various ingredients including meat, cheese, and milk were prepared, promising the adventurers a hearty meal after so long.

There were also handicrafts, but Leon had no particular need for them.

The herbs caught his attention.Leon had learned to make D-Grade and C-Grade elixirs after receiving them as rewards several times.

He wondered if there might be suitable herbs for those elixirs, but finding them so easily seemed unlikely.

Nomads probably wouldn’t have herbs that even mages struggle to obtain.

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Then Leon’s gaze fell on a robe with unique patterns.Though lacking magical properties, it seemed useful for disguise when needed.

“Does that interest you, sir?”“I’ll pay for it myself.”“No, no. We wanted to repay you somehow, even if it’s not much...”

The merchant turned to the nomads and asked,

“Do you have any similar items?”

The nomad whispered to a companion, who then brought various clothing items.Fur cloaks and tunics. Hoods, hats, gloves, and more.

“Take them all.”

Before Leon could protest, the merchant smiled and placed them in his arms.Though perplexed, Leon felt their genuine goodwill.

***

As they neared the Empire’s border, dry winds swept in, and an eerie quiet settled over the surroundings.The growing silence only intensified Leon’s anxiety.

Finally, unable to bear it any longer, he spoke to Erika.

“Do you know of any groups that might be trying to hinder our journey to the Empire?”“Well...”

Erika hesitated, her expression serious.Did she know something?

Eventually, after glancing around cautiously, she spoke.

“There are... those who don’t want me to return to the Empire.”“I see.”

He understood why she hid her mage identity, but was she also being pursued like him?

“The details...”

Erika faltered, then, as if steeling herself, closed her eyes tightly and continued.

“I have a favor to ask you, Theo.”“Go ahead.”

Leon replied calmly.He sensed she had an ulterior motive in approaching him.

“If I tell you everything, will you grant my request?”“No.”

Leon shook his head firmly.

“However, I can consider it if it’s within my power.”

He understood Erika’s desperation, but couldn’t make reckless promises.

“O-Of course. Yes, that was selfish of me.”

Fortunately, she didn’t try to leverage her circumstances for help.

“I was actually an ordinary noble with no connection to magic. Now, I suppose you could call me a fallen noble.”

Are there noble families in the Empire unrelated to magic?Leon briefly thought of Rowen.Rowen was... from a magic-related noble family, wasn’t she?

“Amidst the conflict between the Emperor and the opposition, our faction fell. My family was branded as traitors and became fugitives. My master saved me then. There were mages in the Imperial Court too, but my master’s faction was so powerful that even the Emperor dared not touch them.”

With talent enough to reach Apprentice 5th Grade in her early twenties, it was no wonder other mages would covet her.A mage recognizing her talent wasn’t surprising.

A mage even the Emperor couldn’t touch carelessly...

Leon tried to imagine what kind of person her master might have been.

“But after my master passed away, the faction rapidly declined, and eventually, I had to flee across the border to Basprion.”

Erika had lived a life of constant flight after her protective barriers crumbled twice.

“Are the Imperial Court mages still pursuing you, Erika?”“Probably.”“To the extent of following and harassing you all the way here?”“I’m not certain, but I remember the 2nd Prince, tasked with eliminating traitors, has a very persistent personality. He came to capture me as soon as my master passed away.”

Leon pondered her story before speaking.

“It doesn’t seem like a problem that will be solved just by crossing the border.”“That’s why I wanted to ask you.”

Erika looked at Leon with desperate eyes and said,

“Could you take me to the Sigrinel School?”“The Sigrinel School?”

Leon looked at Erika, expecting more explanation.

“After my master passed away, the Sigrinel School declined significantly. The situation worsened as the 2nd Prince stirred up trouble there. But still, it’s the last protective barrier I can rely on. If I can return and regroup...”

The desperation in Erika’s voice was sincere, and Leon understood her feelings.However, he also sensed that the situation would become complicated.

He needed to think carefully.

Just as Leon was about to speak after much consideration,

Kito sent a strong signal through their mental connection.

It was a danger signal.