Thereafter of An Exiled Magician - CH 80

“Let’s go home for today.”

“Eeh!? But why?”

When I suggest going home, Reno raises a voice in protest.

It’s not like I don’t understand how she feels.

We had finally found a ruin.

Of course you’d like to go inside and take a look around.

There’s a possibility that we might even find a way to master the usage of Sui’s grimoire, and that makes even me curious.

I could explore on my own, but if there were any secret passages like before, then I wouldn’t be able to find them.

Reno is needed for this exploration.

But it won’t go that easily either.

“The ruins this time aren’t completely sealed off from the outside like before. Since there’s a risk of finding monsters inside, we can’t enter that easily.”

The door to this ruin was not closed.

In the previous one, only the door was visible to the outside and that too was shut.

In case of those ruins, there’s no way for monsters to enter inside.

Well, there’s always a possibility of there being another entrance, so nothing is for certain.

However, the door to this ruin itself was open.

In this case, there is the possibility that monsters are generating inside, as well as that the ones outside are going in.

It’s too dangerous because of that.

Fighting in ruins is different.

The one at a disadvantage due to the narrowness will be undoubtedly us, with our large group.

Even if I only took Reno with me, I don’t feel confident enough to could protect her in those narrow halls.

I haven’t been a bodyguard before either.

Besides, they haven’t killed any monsters yet since they came to this area.

Considering the risk of failing to find every enemy, I want to challenge this place after they can fight a blackwolf without difficulty.

I even thought our previous challenge of the ruins could’ve ended in failure.

“Well, even if we could manage, there’s no harm in waiting till everyone’s strong enough.”

“But still~”

“Reno, Lain has said no so let’s listen to him.”

“…Yeah.”

I gently stroke Reno’s head, who had gone silent after getting scolded by Kili.

“Reno is really kind. Everyone realizes how hard you worked to find this. But, you won’t like it if someone got hurt, right?”

Reno nods her head.

“Then let’s train hard enough to never get hurt. I’ll begin training you on fighting inside narrow spaces as well.”

“…Okay.”

Reno seems to be convinced.

I could see a strong will in her now raised eyes.

“Then, should we go home now? If we start heading back now, we would make it just in time for dinner.”

“You’re right, we’ve collected enough as well so I think we should do that.”

Kili said while reconfirming the insides of her back.

The bag was clearly overflowing.

“Then let’s head back.”

We made our way back home.

***

“Then, I leave the rest to you.”

“I understand.”

“Since I will be attending the social gathering at the royal capital, I will be absent for a long time.”

“I am aware.”

Entrance of the mansion.

The deacon was bowing his head deeply at me, who had completed her preparations to depart.

I am about to go visit the aristocrats of the North.

The northern aristocrats are all in the 3rd prince faction like me.

The southern aristocrats are in the 2nd prince’s faction.

“Ah, that reminds me, did you send a letter to Aria like I told you to?”

“Yes. I received information that Sieg-sama departed almost a week ago, so he should reach by today or tomorrow.”

“I see. Then our notice of absence will make it, it seems like.”

A social gathering takes place in the royal capital, once spring arrives.

There are many events held at this gathering, but one of them is the martial arts tournament for aristocrats of one year.

This is a place to announce the results of a year’s study as a noble, and also a place to prove that you possess a brave heart befitting a noble.

Such an invitation had also come for Aria.

Aria is currently in exile, but she has not been made so officially.

It’s bad publicity to expel someone just because they have no talent, after all.

Aristocrats are most concerned with saving face.

Such aristocrats make use of this yearly tournament to create an official excuse for the expulsion, like failure to participate.

Officially expelled with the words “A coward that runs away from the tournament is undeserving of nobility”.

“…Surely, that Aria won’t bring up participating now, would she?”

“That is most unlikely.”

There are no rules regarding not killing your opponent in this tournament.

Well, since it’s a test of one’s bravery, that cannot be helped with.

Normally, since the other party is also aristocracy, they won’t set out to kill you.

Since if they do, the family of the dead would want to avenge their fallen member.

However, in the case of exiled nobility like Aria, no one would complain on her behalf even if she died.

I would like to complain if Aria were to get killed, but if I were to make a move for someone who isn’t officially my family, my own position will be at jeopardy.

“That Milia girl was also former nobility, so I’m sure she’ll stop her. She didn’t participate last year, am I correct?”

“Yes. That is what I hear.”

There is an ex-aristocratic girl named Milia at Aria’s pioneering village.

As a result of not participating last year, she was formally expelled from her house.

She must be aware of the dangers of this tournament.

It’s a tournament where once every few years, former aristocrats participate and get killed because they couldn’t accept their expulsion.

However, no matter how many times I thought about it, I couldn’t get rid of this bad feeling.

“…Well, be on the lookout.”

“…Very well.”

The deacon looked at me as if I was a worrywart.

Although even I feel the same.

“Margravine-sama, it’s time.”

“Ah, my apologies.”

At the coachman’s voice, I hurriedly make my way to the horse carriage.

The arrival time has been decided.

If the departure time is delayed, it will cause trouble for the carriage and the driver.

I left my territory while not getting swiped away by this bad feeling.