Published: September 10, 2025
【Just in case】The traveling merchant Akindo’s true identity is Satou.
“Master is the greatest mage in the world!”
The day I first saw my master’s grand magic, I praised him with excitement that wouldn’t subside.
But my master looked at me with a slightly troubled expression.
“That’s not true, Tarlberg.”
“Is it not? I don’t know any mage other than you who can wield such powerful magic.”
“The strength of magic is trivial.”
Saying that, my master patted my head.
“What one person’s magic power can achieve is limited.”
“So, that’s why magic tools and magic circles are used to enhance it, right?”
“That’s right. That’s the limit of ordinary humans.”
I couldn’t imagine my master was just an ordinary human, but seeing the resigned look in his eyes, I couldn’t say otherwise.
“A true mage is one who builds a tower and controls the source.”
Master said that and told me stories about the “Witch of the Illusion Forest” and the master of the “Tower of the Sage.”
Tales of true mages who cause fairy tale-like miracles with the enormous magic power drawn from the source.
◇
“Tarlberg! Are you sleeping? A guest is here!”
The lively voice of March woke me from my drowsiness.
I had been dreaming a nostalgic dream for the first time in a while.
I graduated from my master’s private school twenty years ago.
Since then, I’ve served various lords and nobles, but now, in this village on the frontier of the Marquisate of Ellet, I explore the adjacent monster territories while working as an apothecary.
“Who’s come?”
“It’s Akindo! Pochi-chan and Tama-chan are here too! We’re going to play ‘Big Windmill’ together!”
—Big Windmill?
I don’t really understand the children’s games nowadays.
I called after March as she ran off, telling her not to get hurt, and prepared myself minimally to meet Akindo.
Knowing his thoroughness, he was probably waiting, drinking tea at the village chief’s house.
Opening the creaking door and stepping outside the shabby house, the sandy wind tousled my hair.
“Is it that season already?”
Depending on the wind direction, sand from the Great Desert flows over the mountains into this village at the southwestern edge of the Marquisate of Ellet.
While thinking about that, the village chief’s house came into view.
It was far more splendid than the other houses, but since it served as a meeting place and shelter, it wasn’t due to the chief’s vanity.
“Hello, Tarlberg. I’ve gathered the Charmant Herb you requested.”
“Thank you, Akindo.”
Entering the reception room of the village chief’s house, Akindo got straight to the point without much greeting.
Charmant Herb, effective against this season’s epidemic, is fiercely competed for in every village. Although it can be gathered around here, the amount collected by me and the villagers is nowhere near enough.
“It’s as fresh as if just picked.”
“Yes, it’s a secret technique of our clan.”
I was curious about what sort of secret technique maintained such freshness, but I couldn’t indulge my curiosity about Akindo’s business secrets when he had come all this way to this remote place without hesitation.
“Tarlberg-sensei, do you think this will be enough to stop the epidemic this year?”
“Yes, village chief. Looks like no one will die this year.”
I assured the chief who was checking.
“Once the initial processing of the Charmant Herb is done, I’ll gather the rest of the materials and prepare the potion immediately.”
“You’ll collect the materials in the monster territory?”
“Yes, that place is like my backyard.”
I answered Akindo who showed interest.
“May I accompany you?”
“That’s fine, but even though I’ll be your guard, the monster territory is dangerous.”
There’s no shortage of dangerous creatures that look harmless.
“I have some knowledge about that.”
Akindo answered confidently.
“Akindo even performs traveling sales in such a remote area without a guard.”
“That reminds me…”