Chapter 89
We decided to split into teams.
Having twelve heroes flocking together not only draws attention but isn’t efficient either.
Each team was made with one member from Helion’s group and one from Yannick’s, and I, along with Finn, was added to one team each.
A total of 5 teams.
It might seem like there aren’t enough of us to cover this wide city, but we’re not the only ones here.
Existing heroes and clergy from Dortmund are also actively working, so the actual number isn’t small.
Finn is in the same team as Canthurman.
I teamed up with Gaon and Yannick.
It seemed like they intentionally placed Kshanoll, who had a one-sided insult match with Finn, in a different group.
And now.
One of our team members, Gaon, speaks up.
“Wouldn’t it be nice if we at least looked the same while walking around… but that probably won’t happen…”
“The Twelve Divine Beasts can polymorph at will, so it’s impossible to find them by appearance. Gaon, that’s why your skills are needed now more than ever.”
Yannick, with hands twice the size of an average person’s, patted Gaon’s shoulder.
Knowing this from the start, Gaon activated his mana sensing ability and said he would check this place momentarily, closing his eyes to focus even more.
I admired how he subtly let the mana waves drift into the air.
The particles of his mana spread out like a school of fish swimming in a river. The small and dense size revealed his considerable skill at a glance.
Indeed, even if he held the lowest hero ranking among Helion’s team members, his youth alone made him stand out.
If he doesn’t mess things up, Gaon might be able to track even traces of mana from weeks ago.
Especially the distinctive mana from a unique monster like Frikkanrisk would stand out. He was an extremely important figure for locating.
“There are no traces here at all.”
“Strike out, then I suppose we should move to the next spot.”
Yannick scratched the back of his head roughly and guided us to the next location where Frikkanrisk was expected to move.
Since the areas were assigned from the start, we were only operating within those boundaries.
Upon arriving at the next spot, Gaon shook his head again.
Not here either.
“Hm. Not here either…”
Yannick, lost in thought, fiddled with his sparse beard.
No matter how much Frikkanrisk tries to hide its mana, it wouldn’t make sense if it left absolutely no trace.
It should stand out more than a human, after all.
I guessed his thinking and asked. My comment was based on the assumption that his thoughts were getting stuck.
“The church report says Frikkanrisk violently destroyed the previous village. Here, however, it’s behaving unusually quietly and discreetly.”
“I know. That’s why we’re out here searching ourselves.”
“While it hasn’t been clarified what Frikkanrisk intends to do in Dortmund, it’s moving purposefully rather than just rampaging with madness.”
“Rather than reacting impulsively, we are moving with intention.”
For some reason, the church has recorded her. She suddenly went crazy, devastated the village, and started devouring people.
– But saying she’s just lost her mind doesn’t quite fit her current actions.
Even if one simply considers destruction and murder as her goals, it indicates she knows that conquering this place won’t be easy and is planning accordingly.
“Then we need to change our search methods.”
“What specific measures do you suggest?”
Hearing Yannick’s question, I looked at Gaon. This was something only he, among Helion’s teammates, could handle.
“Even if we narrow the range of mana detection, we need to increase its precision.”
“It’s not that I don’t know it’d be better to increase precision. Realistically, if that happens, we’d run out of time, and then it’d be too late.”
Although it’s tiresome to explain everything, Yannick is quite experienced as a hero. His methods have become rigid and inflexible, so I have to grease the wheels a bit.
“We’ve been searching for Frikkanrisk even before we arrived, haven’t we? It’s already been a week. The fact that no results have come up means one of two things: the method is wrong, or she doesn’t exist at all.”
However, Frikkanrisk is definitely within this city.
So, we must change the method. Quality rather than quantity, not the other way around.
“So?”
Yannick looked down at me with a slightly annoyed expression.
He might seem like a kid trying to act all high and mighty, but I interpreted it differently.
“If the Divine Beast has taken special potions or been cursed to conceal its mana, then the existing methods would be nothing but wasted effort.”
This was a thought possible only because I mostly dealt with curse magic.
Could a proud Divine Beast really hide its mana, and even take a potion or be cursed to blend into an ordinary person? Even a four-year-old would shake their head in denial.
“Does that sound ridiculous?”
“…It seems somewhat reasonable, but even so—”
“I also think it sounds ridiculous.”
Yannick, in a baffling twist, frowned and then scratched the back of his head. It was a reaction of confusion.
“Generally, it’s hard to imagine that such a proud Divine Beast would go to that extent.”
Frikkanrisk hasn’t just gone mad.
She has clear objectives and methods.
That much is certain.
“However, if we assume she is indeed in this city, she must have gone to extreme lengths to avoid being tracked by the heroes. That’s why she hasn’t been discovered until now. We cannot rule out this possibility.”
In reality, I already consider this a certainty.
I’m only curious about the reason.
What has driven her to such desperation?
Is it truly to destroy this city?
Or is she looking for something else?
Whatever the end may be, she is trying to gather information from within. Even if it means getting covered in filth, she seems indifferent to that.
“Barghaan’s point has merit. I think it’s worth a shot.”
Gaon agreed with me.
Yannick increased the intensity of scratching his head and nodded in response. He looked somewhat satisfied.
“Let’s do it, then.”
As expected.
This Yannick fellow wasn’t actually displeased with my suggestion; rather, he was analyzing it in his own way.
He doesn’t seem to have a completely rigid personality, as I guessed.
“By the way, it’s a shame. If we were going to do this, why didn’t we say it when we were all together? Then it would have been easier to convey it to the other teams.”
Yannick made a face like he just tasted something sour after eating something sweet. I shook my head.
“Anyway, the only ones capable of using magic to detect potions or curses, aside from Helion, are Gaon and me. Convincing everyone would waste more time than just getting a few to nod along, and Helion is likely handling it on his own.”
The magic to sense potions or curses can only be performed by Gaon, aside from Helion. Moreover, persuading everyone takes more time than just getting a few to nod along, and if it were Helion, he’d probably handle it himself.
And whatever happens, others needed to conduct their own investigations. To control Frikkanrisk’s movements, in case my assumptions were wrong.
“Why didn’t we reveal it right after splitting into teams?”
“Because we need to show that it can’t be done. That would strengthen our argument significantly.”
“Then, what if Gaon had been placed in a different team? What would you have thought?”
“I would have given Gaon a heads-up in advance. It’s not something to overthink.”
As I spoke fluidly, Yannick raised one corner of his mouth slightly. He seemed rather pleased.
Even someone like him showing a positive reaction proves that my words will be taken more seriously moving forward.
…Well, it’s definitely more convenient than being viewed negatively. Plus, I might have some questions later.
“You are an interesting one!”
We immediately continued our tracking in new ways.
Although the precision was maxed out, there was no need to worry. We had Yannick and me. There was more than enough mana.
Two days went by after we changed our method, and we finally got a response.
Oddly enough, it was a trace of Frikkanrisk using mana externally.
Honestly, I thought it would take another three days since the church hadn’t completely avoided using such methods, but we got lucky.
This is quite considerable.
No, I’d say it’s a significant breakthrough.
*
Helion’s team and ours arrived at the location where the reaction was detected. We merely reported our findings to the other teams, while they pursued their own traces and clues.
The first clue Gaon discovered came from an alley behind a tavern.
“How about it? Can you see it more clearly?”
Yannick asked in a slightly eager tone, while Gaon, furrowing his brows, concentrated all his senses and exhaled sharply.
“It’s not clear. However, I can vaguely trace the moment when Frikkanrisk used mana.”
“Exactly. Just that is a great achievement. It’s reconstructing the mess Frikkanrisk left behind.”
Yannick acknowledged that he had been somewhat hasty and patiently awaited Gaon’s response. Gaon continued.
“Three days ago, Frikkanrisk used mana here. It seems she transformed using polymorph… and employed ice-element magic.”
Gaon proceeded to accurately recount Frikkanrisk’s past actions.
“With that, she killed two people.”
“A divine beast actually killed people… The church’s intel was spot on. Frikkanrisk is breaking the taboos and causing harm. She plans to swallow this city whole.”
Yannick made his judgment, and no one raised any objections. Helion, too, was deep in thought.
I had different thoughts, but for now, I chose to observe. This was not the stage for me to make my case.
“Can we figure out where Frikkanrisk went based on the remaining traces of mana?”
“Um… it might be a bit tough right now. I’ll use my familiar to look into it, but it’s so widespread that it won’t be easy.”
“Then we need to bring in more people from the church. We have to hurry before all of Frikkanrisk’s mana disappears.”
Among the familiars, there are those specialized in tracking.
I believe Gaon would have at least one or two who are great at sensing, but that alone won’t be enough.
That’s why Yannick is seeking additional assistance from the church.
No matter how much she changes her appearance with polymorph, it’s impossible to change the nature of the mana a living being possesses.
It’s impossible.
Covering things with drugs or curses is merely a façade.
From here on, I’ll lend a hand. Isn’t Gaon the expert in the field of Familiars?
“There’s no need to ask the Church for help.”
Considering the tasks ahead, it’d actually be more advantageous for me not to.
“What does that even mean? What will you do if you don’t get help from the Church?”
“I’ll use my Familiar.”
“Vargan, I know you’re amazing, but just the two of you won’t be enough. To stir up the vast Dortmund, we need at least ten or more…”
I shook my head.
I don’t need Gaon. If I have the target’s mana, a city this size is more than manageable on my own.
“What kind of mystical and amazing Familiar are you going to show this time?”
Helion looked at me with a hint of expectation. Gaon and Yannick wore puzzled expressions.
Hmm… Well, it’s naturally a great Familiar since it’s mine, but this cute rodent relies heavily on its master’s capabilities.
If I had to say, it’s a search method made possible by the sheer volume of my mana.
“As long as Frikkanrisk doesn’t leave the city, I should be able to find it within two days at the latest.”
“Vargan, you don’t have to push yourself. Just coming this far has fulfilled your part and then some.”
Backgrounded by Yannick’s voice, I summoned a Familiar.
It was a small body with black fur and round red eyes—an extremely cute little mouse.
“A mouse?”
“It’s not just a mouse.”
I poured mana into ‘Squeaky.’
From my fingertips, blue mana flowed like waves into Squeaky’s body.
Gush.
Gush.
Mana erupted as if it would spew everything out.
“Wait! How long do you plan on extracting mana like that? What will you do if you collapse from mana deficiency?”
“Don’t worry about Vargan’s mana. Let’s just observe for now.”
“Helion….”
I continued to pour mana into it, maximizing concentration to reduce the time required.
Ah, this should do.
“…Not even a change in expression. I’ve poured in more mana than I have… haha. It’s beyond amazing; it’s ridiculous.”
“Right now, my mana isn’t what’s important. Gaon, please hand over a shard of pure mana from Frikkanrisk.”
Gaon quickly gave me the harvested pure mana fragment, and I held it in front of Squeaky.
“Find this thing.”
Commanded, Squeaky began to treat the small amount of mana like a piece of cheese. It sniffed, knowing it could eat it, and swallowed it whole.
With every nibble, its long whiskers twitched.
I immediately issued the next instruction.
Then.
“…Being with you is always surprising.”
Squeaky definitely dashed out.
Yet, it remained as an afterimage—
⎯Squeak!
It dashed out again, but another Squeaky remained like a bug.
One mouse became two.
Then three, four, five…
Every time Squeaky ran out, another one was added, and already over a hundred kids had jumped out into the wild.
“Though these kids don’t share vision, it’s fortunate in a way.”
Squeaky multiplied, demonstrating the vastness of the mana poured into it. More than 200 had already gone out.
It wasn’t until exactly 329 mice had emerged that they stopped multiplying.
“If all these kids’ senses were connected, my brain wouldn’t be able to handle it.”
I reaffirmed.
It won’t take long to find them.
Two days will be more than enough.
Let’s speed up the story!
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