Shepherd Wizard Chapter 69

Translator: Pai_

After reuniting at the palace entrance, they first paid a visit to Midella, Ashiz’s mother and the head of House Berg.

She warmly welcomed her son's benefactor, who had come after several months, and provided a separate annex for their stay.

As for Solif, he was introduced simply as a wandering noble of the Pyromaniac Bloodline whom he had met during their travels.

With his modest attire and even missing an arm, he looked every bit the impoverished and rugged wanderer, leaving no room for suspicion.

After exchanging greetings with nobles of House Berg whom he had met before, Turan entered the annex and asked Ashiz about Haram’s whereabouts.

His mentor, who had taught him hand-to-hand combat techniques and physical training, and who was also Ashiz’s uncle-in-law, was nowhere to be seen.

"Uncle-in-law? He went out to hunt a magical beast."

"A magical beast?"

"A giant wolf, I think? Judging by its known size and speed, the knights wouldn’t stand a chance against it, so he personally took on the task. He should be back in a few days."

It would have been nice to meet him right away, but Turan swallowed his disappointment and sat down in the annex’s reception room.

Ashiz and Solif, like any friends meeting a friend's friend for the first time, looked at each other with a somewhat awkward expression.

It seemed they would need more time to grow closer.

Perhaps to break the awkward atmosphere, Ashiz turned his attention to Bije, who was sitting at Turan’s side.

"What’s this? A pet?"

"Her name is Bije. We made a Soul Bond."

"Oh... like Tilly?"

"That’s right."

Tilly, a massive horse standing about three meters tall at the shoulder.

Like Bije, it was a magical beast soul-bonded with a wizard, in this case, Midella, the head of House Berg.

Of course, last time, it had accompanied Ashiz on his pilgrimage.

"Can I touch it?"

"Ask Bije directly. She's as smart as a person."

"Is that okay, Bije?"

At Ashiz’s question, Bije initially considered writing with her claws but, realizing it might damage the expensive table, simply nodded instead.

Seeing her obedient behavior, Solif grumbled from the side.

"That thing acted so fierce with me..."

With the conversation now revolving around the golden eagle magical beast, the atmosphere lightened slightly before shifting to updates on each other’s lives.

"Me? I’ve been the same as always."

"I heard you’re going on another pilgrimage?"

"Not yet. I’ll rest for a few more years first…"

As expected of a long-lived noble, he had a relaxed sense of time.

Of course, from a noble’s perspective, Turan was the unusual one, living with the urgency of a commoner who measured time in weeks and months.

After sipping his tea, Ashiz brought up the recent dark elf subjugation.

"I heard you participated in the dark elf subjugation with Meisa?"

"Where did you hear that?"

"It’s all over the place! There was talk of a noble who’s insanely skilled with a slingshot. Who else could that be but you?"

"Well, true."

Even the nobles of House Zahar whom he had seen before used bows or other throwing weapons, but never a slingshot.

After all, it had the image of being a weapon used by the lower classes.

Turan had considered switching to a more lethal weapon at times, but it would have been a waste to abandon his years of skill.

At this point, he could even hurl fireballs with a slingshot-like throw, making them more powerful while using less magic power.

"Tell me more. How did you even get involved? And what’s this rumor about you having the Barrier Master Bloodline?"

"Ah, that."

Come to think of it, he had told that lie using the Mimic Relic.

He had spoken so much nonsense wherever he went that even he sometimes got confused.

Turan took a moment to sense his surroundings through the relic, checking for eavesdroppers, and then used wind magic to block out sound around the reception room.

Seeing this, Ashiz’s eyes widened in shock.

"Huh? What-?"

Ashiz already knew that Turan was a genius when it came to magic, but seeing him use such a technique so effortlessly was another matter entirely.

As a vassal of House Arabion, he understood that manipulating wind with such precision was not merely a matter of skill.

"Wait, are you from the Arabion Bloodline?!"

"You didn’t even tell your friend? And here I thought you two were best friends, how can you have so many secrets?"

Ashiz’s shocked reaction made Solif, who was listening from the side, mutter in disbelief.

Turan ignored the comment and sank deeply into his chair.

"This is going to be a long story, so I’ll explain everything slowly from the beginning."

In the secluded room, free from any interference, Turan revealed what he had learned in Kalamaf about his parents' past.

The story of a knight’s daughter who had been kidnapped from Arabion, her romance with a noble of House Zahar, and the tragic end that followed.

Ashiz, who had never even suspected such a thing, was left with his mouth hanging open as if he might swallow a bug, while Solif, who already knew about Turan’s bloodline, merely clicked his tongue.

Turan continued, recounting how he had been born on the western Hisaril Hill and lived as a shepherd, how he met the knight Keorn, and how his journey east eventually led him to encounter Ashiz.

The latter part of his story was meant to prove that his meeting with Ashiz had nothing to do with House Zahar.

"-That’s pretty much how it all happened."

A brief silence followed before Ashiz suddenly grabbed his teacup and took a large gulp, only to choke and cough violently.

Then, he lowered his head slightly toward Turan.

"Thanks for being honest with me. That couldn’t have been easy to talk about."

Turan sank deeper into his chair, trying not to show his inner feelings of relief, joy, and gratitude.

Though he tried to maintain his composure, his voice was slightly hoarse.

"I just couldn't tell you because I was a coward."

In the past - no, even until recently, Turan had been almost paranoid about hiding his true identity.

This was largely due to the past of Keorn, the knight who had told him about his Zahar bloodline.

After discovering that the relatives who had massacred Keorn’s family were his own kin, Turan developed a vague sense of self-loathing.

That feeling only grew stronger because all the friends he had made afterward were from Arabion.

If his identity were ever exposed and they looked at him with contempt… that would have been unbearable.

What finally helped him overcome his self-loathing was realizing that the other half of his bloodline was Arabion and that he had been born from his parents' love.

It also helped that the Arabion nobles he met firsthand weren’t as noble and pure as he had once imagined.

And after fighting on the island to save Solif not long ago, he even managed to break free from his obsessive need to keep his identity a secret.

Now, he had both the confidence and the strength to stand against even the great houses for the things he wanted to do and what he believed was right.

And considering that he would need to ask Ashiz for many favors from now on, it was necessary to lay everything bare here.

There was no greater way to show absolute trust in someone than to reveal one’s deepest secrets.

As the shock gradually wore off, Ashiz let out a sly grin and playfully teased Turan.

"A bloodline fusion between two great houses… If you formally rejoin your family, Meisa’s position might be in danger."

"Keep my story a secret."

"Huh? Why? I get that having Zahar blood might make some people uneasy, but a noble with four bloodline abilities would be welcomed anywhere. I mean, unless you prefer living as a wanderer…"

Ashiz’s words reflected the typical mindset of nobles.

Most people preferred living as a core member of a great house, enjoying luxury and influence, rather than wandering with no clear status.

Turan glanced at Solif, who had been quietly sitting beside him, and asked,

"This also involves you, Solif… You don’t mind if I tell him, right?"

"If you trust him that much, go ahead."

After getting Solif's permission, Turan briefly explained Solif's identity and past.

Upon learning that the man he had assumed to be just an ordinary wandering noble was actually the heir to a great house in the Far East, Ashiz immediately jumped to his feet and bowed his head.

"My apologies, I had no idea I was treating such an esteemed guest in such humble conditions-"

Even though Meisa, Ashiz’s cousin, was also an heir to a great house, was this how he treated someone of the same status?

Turan was surprised by Ashiz’s reaction, but on second thought, it made sense. It would be difficult to treat a cousin the same way as a complete stranger.

Solif, seeming accustomed to such treatment, shook his head.

“It’s fine. I have already left my house.”

Ignoring the still awkward atmosphere between the two, Turan continued his explanation.

The topic now was even heavier than before.

He spoke of the various incidents he encountered after leaving House Berg, the secretive information he learned about the gods and great houses through those experiences, and finally, the hypothesis he derived from it all.

By the time the story was over, Ashiz looked ten years older than when he had first met Turan.

"Ah, this... this is too much for me to handle."

"Ashiz, you must not tell the family head or anyone else who isn’t here. You’re the only one I trust enough to reveal all of this."

At Turan’s solemn words, Ashiz trembled slightly before letting out a deep sigh and rubbing his face with both hands.

"So, what are you planning to do now?"

"I want to find out if the Preah God Tribe is behind Arabion, and if they're manipulating Meisa's life like they did to this friend here. Can you help?"

This was not just a distant issue for Ashiz either.

Meisa’s mother was the cousin of Ashiz’s mother, Midella, the head of House Berg.

After a brief silence, Ashiz, now sounding more resolute than before, spoke in a firm voice.

"Alright, let’s do it. If nothing else, we can treat it as a grand theatrical performance. At the very least, I should be able to play a supporting role, right?"

His words, fitting for a drama enthusiast, made Turan laugh.

With that joke lightening the mood, he dispelled the soundproofing magic, called for a servant, and ordered tea.

Unlike earlier, when he had gulped his drink in a rush, Ashiz now sipped his tea gracefully before asking,

"So, what exactly do you need my help with?"

"I want to restore his arm. Do you know a healer? They don’t need to be particularly skilled, just discreet."

"Ah, because this person's... abilities shouldn't be revealed?"

"Exactly."

The stronger a magical being was, the more power was required to heal them. So, even if they didn’t intend to, healers would naturally perceive the immense strength of their patients.

And Turan did not want Solif’s true status as a top-tier noble to be exposed.

It was not just about keeping the existence of a silver-haired, highly skilled noble from spreading, most importantly, if something unexpected happened during their investigation of Arabion, Solif could serve as their hidden trump card.

This was not just a lingering remnant of Turan’s old paranoia but a strategic decision.

"Hmm, I do know someone. But she moves around a lot, so I can’t guarantee she’ll come immediately."

"Is she on some kind of pilgrimage?"

"No, she just likes healing commoners."

"Oh."

That alone earned the unknown healer high marks in Turan’s mind.

According to Ashiz, her name was Rua Manag, a noble from the Manag family, one of Arabion’s vassal houses.

She had been born with noble-level magic power and was adopted as a foster daughter by the family.

"Ah, so that's why?"

"Yeah."

While magic power was the most important factor in the noble world, there were still distinctions based on lineage.

Those born to noble couples, like Ashiz and Solif, were considered the most precious, while those born to couples where one parent, usually the mother, was a concubine were considered middle class, and those born to knights or commoners who awakened noble powers through atavism were considered the lowest.

If they were exceptionally talented, it was one thing, but if not, they often found themselves isolated even among nobles.

"On top of that, people think she’s strange for going around healing commoners. Most don’t like her for it. Not that I care about things like that."

As expected from someone who got along well with both knights and servants alike, his words reflected his natural affinity for people.

Anyway, if things were as Ashiz described, she was exactly the kind of person Turan needed.

If she had no close noble acquaintances aside from Ashiz, there would be no risk of rumors spreading.

"But if we're unlucky, it might take a few months to reach her."

"Just contact her first. If it seems like it’ll take too long, I can always go find her myself. She is fastest in the world."

As Turan said that and stroked Bije’s head, she let out an adorably cute cry despite her large size.

The annex of House Berg, where Turan was staying for the first time in a while, still felt like another world.

After washing up and changing into fresh clothes in a room overflowing with all sorts of magic artifacts designed for daily convenience, Turan called Ashiz and Solif to join him for a banquet in the annex’s dining hall.

Since leaving Komad City, where he had bought Bije, he hadn’t had the opportunity to enjoy such a luxurious meal. Having a feast after several months felt like a blessing, and his mood naturally lifted.

Even Solif, who had lived his entire life as an heir to a great house, showed a similar reaction.

"Yeah, my damn house may be unbearable, but I have to admit, this part was nice. Ah, I kind of miss it…"

"Thinking about going back?"

"Not a chance. Besides, I think I prefer the food here."

After somewhat soothing their tired bodies and minds, Turan sat down to write a letter to Meisa.

He wrote that he was staying at House Berg and wanted to meet her, either by having her visit or by receiving an invitation to see her.

Since someone was bound to read the letter before it reached her, he deliberately avoided mentioning anything too sensitive.

'It would be best if Meisa came here instead.'

No matter what, he was still reluctant to enter the Arabion main estate.

That was why, even when he had gone to see the departure ceremony before, he had only ventured to the outskirts of the city before turning back.

Of course, going inside would have its own advantages.

There was information he could only gather by seeing things firsthand.

After sending the letter, Turan secretly made his way to Ashiz’s room to take care of something he had been putting off.

Analyzing the magic artifacts he had obtained during his last journey.

"Wait, just how many of these do you have?"

"Quite a few?"

"This is way more than quite a few..."

Spread out in front of them were a total of fifteen magic artifacts.

A great house that had vassals like House Berg, a family of Enchanters, might be able to afford such a luxury, but for ordinary nobles, obtaining this many magic artifacts would mean uprooting the very foundation of an ordinary noble house.

Ashiz let out a dry chuckle before placing his hands on each magic artifact, one by one, and beginning his examination.

The first items he checked were the ring and earrings obtained from the Western Wasteland.

As expected, since they had belonged to lesser nobles, they were not particularly impressive.

The ring improved night vision when worn, while the earrings slightly increased resistance to fire.

The earrings might be somewhat useful, but the ring was utterly worthless, making it a better idea to just give it to Solif.

Next, he examined the magic artifacts from the nobles of House Varaha.

Most of them were designed for defense, support, or mimicking bloodline magic, and as expected from a great house, their performance was exceptional.

Although Turan had already figured out some of their abilities through real combat, verifying their exact functions and potential side effects was essential for using them properly.

Of course, without an Enchanter among their acquaintances, doing so was not easy.

As he carefully noted down each artifact’s abilities and considered which ones to use or distribute, Ashiz finally placed his hand on the Transformation Mask.

It was most likely the item that the House Varaha noble had used to deceive Solif and disguise himself as a pirate.

Closing his eyes, Ashiz channeled magic power into it to analyze its properties, only to suddenly frown.

“Hmm…”

“What? Did you find something strange?”

It was a reaction he had not shown while examining any of the previous artifacts.

When Turan asked, Ashiz opened his eyes and replied.

"The ability itself is a bit grotesque, but it’s useful. If you place the mask on a corpse’s face and infuse magic power, it stores that face. Later, when placed on a living person and activated, it changes their face to the stored one. The effect lasts until the mask is removed, but it continuously drains magic power."

"What’s the magic consumption like?"

"For a knight, a few hours would be the limit. For a noble-class wizard, their recovery rate might barely outpace the drain, allowing for near-continuous use. But using magic while wearing it would severely hamper recovery."

Magic recovery speed was proportional to one’s total magic power.

Based on that explanation, someone like Turan, a high-ranking wizard, would only experience a slight slowdown in magic recovery, making it possible to wear the mask almost indefinitely.

And since he could simply remove it when he needed to fight at full strength, the drawbacks were more than manageable.

"That’s excellent."

"Right. With this level of functionality, it could be considered a top-tier magical artifact. But I think there’s a matching item that pairs with it. It seems like the true ability can only be used when combined with that counterpart."