Chapter 2: New Century (Epilogue)
“You’re actually telling me a succubus won’t harm you? Are you kidding me?”
Layton’s eyes widened, and a faint lightning glow flickered in his hand. The surrounding guests also noticed something amiss, as the electric element in the air was affecting the entire tavern. The magic lamps in the tavern flickered erratically, disturbed by the surge of elemental energy, emitting bursts of crisp crackling sounds.
“That’s right, Your Highness. Nairna would never harm me, nor would she forcibly absorb my vital energy,” Aurobak said to Layton, holding the weak, pitiful, and helpless succubus tightly. “Your Highness, would you like me to take off my pants to prove it? We’ve conquered the Abyss Plane before, and we know the discipline of normal succubi. They absolutely cannot resist the temptation of vital energy!”
“You’re going to take off your pants in public?!” Layton pointed at Aurobak, his fingers trembling. He could barely recognize this former genius of the Violet Family. “Where is the elegance and demeanor of a mage in you!” His voice gradually rose, and the electric element around him became extremely active, even transforming into golden currents that flashed in his sapphire-blue eyes.
“Misters Mage, fighting is forbidden within Winter City, especially in the Inner City. If you wish to fight, you can go to Winter City’s arena. Not only can you fight to your heart’s content, but there will also be a professional team to collect the corpse of whoever loses, and even hold a funeral based on your remaining possessions.”
The tavern owner’s voice rang out. He was a balding middle-aged man, and as he raised his head, a dazzling white light flashed through the tavern. The surrounding customers were momentarily blinded by this brilliant glow, including the tense Layton and Aurobak.
Aurobak’s strength was actually comparable to Layton’s, so he didn’t particularly fear Layton. In the past, he had indeed been respectful to this prince, but after staying in Winter City for a long time, he realized that princes and princesses were all the same. Just look at the King of Winter, who could make the Emperor of the North Continent his dog and crown whoever he pleased.
While mages in the South Continent were indeed powerful, suppressing knights, this power was built upon the Magic Net. Without the Magic Net, a mage’s casting speed would drop by 60%. When he first came to the North Continent, he found everything difficult to adapt to. It felt like being able to poop very smoothly, but after arriving in the North Continent, someone would watch you poop and even pinch your buttocks to prevent you from doing so!
Moreover, Aurobak had discovered that mages in the North Continent possessed strong overall capabilities and had much better control over magic than mages in the South Continent. This was because they were constantly in a state of pushing their magic to the limit to extract spell runes from the rules. They had to make and eat their own meals, unlike South Continent mages, whose runes came easily with the help of the Magic Net, as if food was being fed directly to their mouths. Unconsciously, South Continent mages had been spoiled by the Magic Net.
But Aurobak could not deny the benefits brought by the Magic Net. Faster casting speeds allowed mages to play a greater role in combat. Under the coverage of the Magic Net, mages’ understanding of magic and analysis of spell models were also more efficient, further promoting progress and development in magic. The Magic Net was a double-edged sword; it provided a fast lane for masters’ development while also making mages overly reliant.
Sometimes Aurobak thought that South Continent mages should travel to the North Continent for two years after graduation to adapt to the thin magical element density of the North Continent and experience those aloof magical runes before returning. He dared to guarantee that they could absolutely crush mages of the same level who had not traveled.
“What right do you have to point fingers at me?!” Layton turned and looked coldly at the tavern owner. He was already in a bad mood, and now he was furious. He aimed his palm at the owner, and five overlapping, gradually intertwining hexagrams lit up. This was a technique of stacking five first-ring Trembling Lightning spells. Their actual power was comparable to a fourth-ring Lightning Strike, but with twice the casting speed and similar mana consumption. The only drawback was that it required the user to possess sufficient mental strength and mana control to simultaneously construct five spell models.
Layton didn’t want to kill, he pursed his lips, two of the five spell models shattered, leaving only three. Accompanied by a thunderous roar, three hexagrams merged into a golden lightning serpent that shot towards the tavern owner.
The bald, fat owner seemed stunned. It was understandable; faced with a mage’s magic, most ordinary people would react this way. As soon as this thought formed, Layton saw the owner pull out a shield radiating Holy Light from under the counter, blocking the Trembling Lightning. Then, his figure flickered, appearing before Layton like a ghost.
Layton’s pupils contracted, and he inwardly cried out that it was bad. Just as he was about to cast a Teleportation spell to escape, he found that his magic runes, which were usually obedient, were not responding. The magic runes that were as docile as lambs under the suppression of the Magic Net in the North Continent had now become arrogant foxes. Trembling Lightning, a first-ring spell, was manageable, as it only required three lightning runes for one spell model. A third-ring Teleportation spell, however, required a staggering 27 arcane runes. Like attracting forces repel and like forces attract, these arcane runes immediately scattered and refused to cooperate.
The Teleportation spell couldn’t be cast instantly, but the bald owner’s movement was almost instantaneous. Then, a large, sandy fist was raised.
“Bang!”
Layton felt a sharp pain in his nose. His ears felt like they were stuffed with ten thousand buzzing flies, and his vision went black. Vaguely, he seemed to see his deceased teacher waving at him in a golden halo. His consciousness was buried deep within his brain. The little prince from the Southern Continent’s mage sanctuary fell straight to the ground and lost consciousness.
“With just this much strength, you dare to cause trouble in a tavern? Don’t you know this tavern is owned by a Holy Knight of Light? What a weakling!” The Holy Knight of Light wiped the blood from his nose with a rag, then slung his shield back onto his back. “Everyone, continue drinking. Tonight, I’m treating!” The entire tavern erupted in cheers.
“Wow!!” “The owner is generous!” “Wishing the owner prosperity!” “Owner, would you like to play a tense round of Gwent?” “No,” the Holy Knight and tavern owner waved his hand, chuckling. “I still have to deal with this fellow. You all enjoy yourselves. Feel free to drink any special liquor, but don’t sleep outside my tavern if you get drunk!”
“Don’t worry, boss! We’ll crawl home today, even if we have to!” Layton was dragged away by the tavern owner. Aurobak pouted and sat back down with the succubus. “I was just about to remind you that the owner of this tavern is a Sky Knight, and he practices Holy Light. Tsk tsk, as the saying goes, a heart that plays with Holy Light is indeed dirty~” He sighed with a smile, picked up his wine glass, and drained the fragrant barley wine.
