Despite having such a wondrous announcement made by my spymaster, it was still terribly boring. I was standing on the snowy main street listening to a bunch of elven officers shouting slogans such as ‘Fight the bourgeoisie’ and ‘Down to the zealots, the undeads and the orcs!’

Lines of elves marched uniformly along with armored bear riders which seemed to be called ‘Bear Troopers 7’ or the ‘BT-7s’. Ever since the destruction of most major anti-magic crystals, some elven top ranks started to experiment on using new weapons based on the crystals. My spymaster got a tip-off that they might be making automated golems powered by magic which they ambiguously named the ‘T-series’ project.

As it turned out, the Union was still in a state of war so foreigners were watched with great suspicion. I wasn’t able to explore much except near the port, where I was waiting for a boat to the closest Sorcerer City State.

“Attention comrades! Cheers and salute to the heroes of the Union! The former 46th Halberd Division will now be renamed to the 1st Reed Guards, who will now serve as the vanguards against the enemies of the Union!” An elven general atop a platform announced and the crowded street erupted in cheers.

Highly disciplined elves equipped with tan-colored metal armor armed with higher quality weapons marched across the street. The men all sang patriotic and glorious songs which almost made me unconsciously clap.

Whew, whatever these elves were, they sure do know how to make patriotic songs.

Wait a minute…

There was something wrong with all these…

I tapped my spymaster’s shoulder and whispered, “I thought we stopped the elven-orcish war?”

“Did I stutter? I said you ‘sort of’ stopped it. You actually didn’t stop it. You can’t just stop a war by destroying one army. What is this? Some kind of fantasy novel written by kids?” Beor snapped at me.

“It doesn’t matter if the war is still ongoing or not. I technically stopped the demon controlling the army, right?” I pointed towards Satel who was behind me. She was watching the crowd of elves intently as she covered herself with a thick robe to hide her dryad nature.

“It’s a bit weird…I made these forests, nurtured the elves and protected them. Only to see them turn into these…” Satel muttered.

“I suppose you’ll be missing Sayitsi then?” I asked Satel.

“I don’t think so. In fact, it would be a pleasure to leave this place once and for all.” Satel shook her head and walked back to the hotel we were staying at.

As she said that, I had a weird feeling that we might return to this place someday. This place was just too significant for me to just run off just a day after entering it. With a war between the elves and whoever they want to kill starting, I just hope I don’t return to a wrecked war-torn city.

“By the way, Beor, where exactly is the ship taking us?”

“The closest port city from Greeningsrad should be a place called Rallas. I have a good amount of spies implanted in that city as well so I know the ins and outs of that place. You’ll have good fortune as well, Boss. By the time we arrive there, there would be another evaluation test.”

“Evaluation test?”

“It’s a yearly thing to decide who becomes a ‘Grand Sorcerer’ or something alike. It lasts for a few weeks, and many attendees consist of the most powerful mages of the Sorcerer City States.”

Whenever he mentioned Sorcerer City States and mages in the same context, I could only imagine a bunch of muscled men posing in front of each other.

Begone evil thoughts!

“I wish I can sightsee more of Greeningsrad…” I sighed.

“Unfortunately for you, Boss, the country is in state of war. Foreigners like us would only be suspected as spies so we’re limited to the coastal areas only.” Beor shrugged.

“Someday, I swear.” I clenched my fist and looked at the massive trees with spiral roofs.

Someday.

*

*

*

The next day, my ship going to Rallas arrived on time. As the ship was loaded with our cargo, including a demon tortoise, I explored the ship. It was a rather large ship so I wondered if ship carpentry had advanced. Back in the old days, these types of ships were a rare find.

This was because, almost a thousand years ago, the seas were filled with monsters. Not many people would bother trying to spend too much money on things that will be gobbled up by an oversized squid.

Maybe the seas are still filled with monsters and that this ship isn’t as common as I think to be?

“Aye, she be uncommon. This ship’s took me a long time to get, but t’was worth it. She’s a beauty ain’t she?” The captain of the ship proudly showed off his ship to us. His white hair and tattered jacket showed that he had been a captain for a long time already so it could also explain how he got this ship.

“How uncommon? Can only the richest afford this?” I asked.

“Nay, nay. Large companies such as them lycan merchanting guilds have lotsa these. It’sa just out of the reach of commonfolk, that’s all.”

“So, it’s like horses and such?”

“Some’in like that. Them nobles in Angolia can afford warhorses, but the middle folk can always buy an old nag for their cart.”

It means that ship technology had progressed quite far then. Compared to this ship, the ships I knew back then were quite primitive. I rubbed my hand against the ship’s inner wall and thought to myself.

‘What the hell happened to all the sea monsters?’

“Boss, we’re done loading our goods. We should head up to the top deck. I heard it’s a nice place to sunbathe,” A lightly armored man with a thick hood came down from the deck and called out to me. I recognized him to be my one of my eccentric companions, Daggerless.

“What about Alph?”

“The demon tortoise is quite uncomfortable with the tight space given to him. Maybe we should just let him swim?” He suggested as he got up on the deck.

“Would he be fast enough?”

“Demon tortoises are slow on land, but fast on the seas. They just can’t dive, I think. I’m not a demonologist.”

“…But you’re a demon hunter.”

“Firstly, you already know that demon tortoises have nothing to do with demons. Secondly, I don’t do much demon hunting nowadays? Right now, I’m a member of the Order of the Freeriders.”

What kind of Order is that and where can I sign up?

I inspected the top deck and noticed that the heroes’ party was discussing amongst themselves on the deck. The generic looking black-haired mob-like figure who seemed to be the leader of the party, whom I nicknamed ‘Blackhair’, waved at me and walked up to me.

“Teacher, I’m concerned that we didn’t manage to stop the elven-orcish war. With the demons rapidly advancing the southern nations…”

I raised one finger and he stopped talking.

“First of all, I don’t even know what the southern nations are. I’ve been travelling for a while now and I just realized. I don’t have a map,” I noted.

“A map?”

“Yes, I don’t know where exactly I am. Daggerless, go fetch me a map. Go sketch one up or bother Beor.” I snapped at Daggerless and he quickly ran off to search for my spymaster.

“Secondly, why are you concerned again? We stopped the elves from losing the war. You promised to only defend the elves.”

“That is…”

“And it seems to me that the elves are ready to go to war.” Since the ship had yet to depart, we were still at the port. So I opened my palm towards the massive elf horde forming near the harbor.

I continued to explain to him, “Those are the newly formed ‘Reed Guards’. I heard it’s because the plains around the Revolution Fields was filled with reeds or something. That is besides my point; those guys could probably handle the war from here on.”

“I see…” Blackhair lowered his head.

“Besides, I have good reason for bringing you all to the Sorcerer City States!”

That is to help me take revenge on those who dared to attack my men!

“A good reason?” Blackhair raised his head and had a curious face.

“You see, you’ve been training how to fight physically. However, you are all lacking in the magic department. I plan to get you guys into a magic school in the Sorcerer City States!” I proudly explained my plans. Of course, I didn’t want to let them know of my true reason of going to the Sorcerer City States.

“HOLD ON AN ABYSS-DAMNED SECOND!” A voice shouted behind my back. I turned around and noticed it was the mage of the heroes’ party, as well as my apprentice-in-magic, Kendra. She was a short little girl with brown hair and occasionally wore blue or brown armored robes. She also had a tendency to play the straight man against me.

“I am not going to any Abyss-damned magic school in the shitty states!” Kendra protested.

“You damned brat. Don’t go around saying the Abyss’ name in vain. Bad things can happen. Anyways, why not? A magic school might help.” I scratched my chin with my fingers.

“Are you forgetting about the musclemancers?!”

Gasp! She’s…She’s right!

“W..wait…magic schools are truly dead?” I shuddered at my own question.

Kendra sighed and answered, “Not exactly. The muscle maniacs have a different concept for magic schools. But fear not! There’s still Cahalot!”

“What’s a Cahalot?” I asked.

“Can we eat that?” A fat white-haired boy wearing a thick wool black jacket interrupted our conversation.

“No, Lard. Cahalot is the last ‘true’ sorcerer city filled with scholars and men of knowledge.”

My spirits were lifted when I heard that my people hadn’t become musclemen. I excitedly asked, “From Rallas, how long would it take to that Caramelot place?”

“It’s Cahalot! And…I don’t know. I’ve only known Cahalot and I wasn’t willing to enter those muscle freaks’ domains,” Kendra answered.

“Wait a minute! Does that mean there’re magic schools?! Nyufufofofofofo! I, Vakasa of the Darkness, is interested in this Camelot!” Lard raised his arms and swung them into a weird pose. I could never understand this guy. As a summoned ‘hero’ from another world, which I suspect to have no magic, I’ve yet to see any evidence of sanity in him.

“It’s Cahalot…”

“Yes, yes. Do the magic schools have some kind of test where they test out your magic potency? Is this my chance to show off my potential? I’ll show off my skills in a test and the people will go like ‘Whoaaa! Hero! Hero!’ with ladies included of course.” I could almost see Lard flying into the heavens with joy.

“Ha. Tough luck. tubby. You forget that you’re unable to use magic.” I snorted.

“Kuh! You…You! How dare you remind me of the cruel reality. No, I mean…How dare you use mental attacks against me, Vakasa of the Darkness!” Lard placed a hand in front of his face and opened his other palm towards me.

I have a theory on how to find the sea monsters. If I toss Lard into the ocean, will the entire ocean jump up from the recoil? I am tempted to test this theory out…

My temptation was cut short by a loud noise. One of the sailors was blowing his horn, indicating that the ship was finally leaving. I looked in front of me, at the ocean, and back towards the elven city.

It was truly regrettable that I was only able to tour the capital city Mosovo. Once I’m done with my revenge, I want to return to this place and tour it fully.

But for now, on to the Sorcerer City States!