Training-Addicted Mage In A Progression Fantasy-Chapter 51: Merchant Convoy Escort (2)

“Tris is trustworthy.”“Well, there’s no one with more experience than Tris......”

The Silver Adventurers seemed to have no major objections to Tris stepping up as the leader.The expressions of the rough adventurers were a mix of relief and acceptance, which wouldn’t have been possible without a solid reputation.

In an atmosphere of unanimous agreement, Tris politely asked another middle-aged man standing nearby.

“Would it be alright if I took on the role of leader?”

The middle-aged man wearing a wide-brimmed hat nodded, his eyes half-closed.

“Go ahead. I can’t stand troublesome matters.”

His attire was unmistakably that of a Mage.Leon used Scanning Magic to assess his realm.

He was an Apprentice 3rd Grade.

“Thank you.”“Just don’t get cocky and try ordering me around......”“That won’t happen.”

The Mage looked down at Tris with an arrogant expression.Tris maintained a humble attitude, keeping his head bowed until the end, then turned his gaze towards Leon.

He slowly approached Leon.At the same time, the Mage’s gaze shifted to Leon as well.There was a sharpness in his eyes, as if trying to detect a potential threat.

......However, that gaze didn’t last long.

“Are you Apprentice 3rd Grade Theo?”

Tris asked Leon politely, just as he had done with the middle-aged Mage.

“Yes, that’s right.”“Would it be alright if I took on the role of leader?”“Of course.”

There was no reason to refuse when someone else was willing to take on the troublesome task.As Leon nodded, Tris smiled with relief and stepped forward to face the adventurers, drawing their attention.With one hand on his waist and the other habitually brushing back his brown hair, he looked around at the group.

“I think everyone here is an experienced adventurer, so you probably know that our first challenge will be the monster attacks at the entrance of the Ribein Mountains. We must prepare thoroughly to face them. We absolutely cannot let our guard down.”

Tris’s voice carried a sense of gravity.The 100 adventurers listened attentively to his words, even amidst the chaotic atmosphere.

Meanwhile, the middle-aged Mage approached him.He was the only Mage on this mission besides Leon, and the arrogant expression he had when dealing with Tris was now nowhere to be seen.

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“Hello. My name is Medriga.”

Leon had currently adjusted his realm to Early Arcane using Bima’s Bracelet.From Medriga’s perspective, he wouldn’t be able to gauge Leon’s true abilities.However, the very fact that he couldn’t assess Leon’s skills had likely already led Medriga to form his own evaluation of Leon.

Medriga’s gaze briefly turned to Kito as well.

“Beas...... Ahem, I apologize.”“Hmm...”

Kito looked at the Mage with eyes that seemed to regard him as insignificant, then turned away indifferently.It was an attitude of complete disinterest.

Medriga’s expression seemed somewhat confused.

“Ahem, I heard you were an Apprentice 3rd Grade......”“I was fortunate to gain some insights and progress quickly.”“I-I see......”

Medriga’s long mustache quivered slightly.His eyes were still fixed on Leon, but there was a glimmer of wariness and unease about something he couldn’t quite grasp.

***

Tris divided the adventurers into several groups to efficiently escort the twenty carriages.

He assigned scouts, front and rear guards, and arranged shift times for the rest to take turns resting.

While some adventurers patrolled around the carriages on guard duty, others rested according to their assigned shifts.

The Mages, Medriga and Leon, were scheduled to take turns on duty.

Medriga was a Mage who primarily used Earth attribute magic.After the carriages departed, Medriga demonstrated typical Apprentice 3rd Grade skills when dealing with the occasional monsters they encountered.

While the adventurers engaged the monsters, Medriga prepared his magic through long incantations.In urgent situations, he responded quickly with pre-memorized spells.Although he could only store three spells, it was enough to provide significant support to the adventurers.Each time his magic activated, the ground trembled, and stone pillars erupting from the earth subdued the monsters’ movements.

“As expected of Sir Medriga.”“It’s nothing special.”“You’re being modest! Without you, we would have suffered casualties by now, and our progress would have been delayed.”“Ahem, there’s no need to go that far.”

Medriga seemed to secretly enjoy the adventurers’ praise.While he usually maintained an arrogant attitude, his expression softened when receiving compliments.

That’s how it appeared to Leon.If Leon had noticed this, the experienced adventurers must have already figured out his personality.

When it was Leon’s turn for duty, he climbed onto a carriage with Kito and sat cross-legged.He mimicked Medriga’s earlier actions, as that’s what he had observed the other Mage doing during his shift.

“I-I’ll go in first.”“Go ahead.”

Medriga bowed his head slightly and disappeared into the carriage.The sound of the carriage door closing echoed softly.

Leon briefly took out a compass to check the needle.The needle was calmly pointing in the opposite direction from Leon.

Reassured, Leon put away the compass and spread out a wide-range Scanning Magic.

A week had passed since the caravan’s departure.The merchant group had passed through vast plains and entered a dense forest.Although they hadn’t yet reached the Ribein Mountains, various monsters inhabited the forest.

“...”“...”

Erika was silently standing guard around the carriage Leon had climbed onto.As they passed by quietly without any particular conversation, Erika suddenly turned her head towards Leon.

“Excuse me, may I ask your age?”“I’m 15 years old.”“...I see.”“...”

Silence fell again.

Leon didn’t bother to find something to say.

Erika was around the same age as Dave.Although she still had a youthful appearance, having just reached adulthood, she clearly looked older than Leon.

Leon knew that Erika was a Mage, and Erika knew that Leon was aware of this fact, but neither of them brought up the subject.

At that moment, Leon’s wide-range Scanning Magic detected the presence of monsters.

“Prepare for battle.”

Leon’s shout echoed through the air.At his voice, the adventurers began to move in unison.They quickly drew their weapons and moved swiftly to their positions.

Tension filled the air.

Leon also summoned his creatures to match the situation.The Azure Dragon, the Phoenix, and the Turtle.They were Arcane-grade summoned creatures, each handling the Water, Fire, and Earth elements respectively.

Soon after, a pack of wolves emerged like shadows from between the trees.Their gray fur, gleaming eyes, and exposed sharp teeth were menacing.

The situation didn’t end there, as another pack of wolves was charging from the rear.

Leon first sent the Azure Dragon towards the wolves blocking their path.

A powerful water cannon shot from the Azure Dragon’s mouth, striking the wolf pack and instantly freezing them, turning them into ice sculptures.

The red-winged hawk flew to the rear and breathed fire.Flames spread along with the wolves’ pain-filled howls.

And whenever wolves that had escaped the magic’s range charged in, the turtle raised stone walls to block them.

In the blink of an eye, the battlefield fell silent.

Leon had single-handedly concluded the entire situation after calling for battle preparations.

“...”“...”

The adventurers wore dumbfounded expressions.Their frozen postures, weapons in hand, even looked somewhat comical.

Kito spoke with a hint of amusement in her voice from above Leon’s head.

“Take it easy.”“...I suppose I should.”

Leon realized it too.Thinking that I lacked area-of-effect magic without Arcane magic, I responded too hastily.

Medriga, who had opened the carriage door and come out at some point, had a face full of surprise and bewilderment.His eyes met Leon’s.

“Huff...... I-I’m sorry.”

His mustache trembled slightly.Leon, confused, asked back.

“Pardon?”“Ah, I didn’t realize you were an Arcane Mage.”“Is there any reason to apologize?”“I-I’m sorry.”“...”

Leon belatedly understood Medriga’s feelings.Leon knew he would also be cautious if a Mystic-grade Mage appeared.

“There’s no need to be so tense. I’m just here to escort the merchant group.”“Th-thank you.”

Medriga kept bowing his head repeatedly before quickly retreating back into the carriage.

Erika, who had been watching his retreating figure, quietly spoke to Leon.

“You know that I’ve studied magic, don’t you?”“......Yes, I happened to find out.”

Erika’s words were sudden.Leon hadn’t expected her to bring this up at all.Previously, she had acted as if she wouldn’t talk about magic at all, so her sudden change in attitude was puzzling.

Wasn’t there a reason she was hiding it? Why is she bringing it up now?

The two had already spent a lot of time in silence during their overlapping shifts, so this conversation felt even more awkward and uncomfortable.

Erika wasn’t the type to casually strike up a conversation in the first place.Her sudden, awkward attempt at conversation made it feel even more uncomfortable.

There must be a reason she’s hiding that she’s a Mage...... She was quiet until now, but after my magic skills were revealed, she approaches me...

Leon tried to gauge Erika’s intentions.

Does she want something?

Leon’s suspicion raised its head.