I Became the Hero While Paving a Flower Path for My Niece - Chapter 47

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Cousin’s Flower Path Paved Hero Chapter 047
[But what kind of place was this?]
[Alex, let’s go down and check it out!]
Alex had been thinking the same thing.
“I’m going to look around the Underground Space for a bit.”
“All right.”
After speaking to Dein, Alex descended into the Underground Space once more.
“Light.”
Since there was no need to sneak, Alex brightened the surroundings.
The space where he’d fought the guards first appeared before him.
[There’s nothing worth taking here, right?]
“There’s a Communication Device, but House Brodel will investigate that.”
[If you let me handle it, I could trace it back and figure out where the message came from.]
It was difficult work for someone still at Second Circle—even if Alex hardly seemed like it.
Alex moved forward and entered through the open doorway. The single Light spell moving alongside him wasn’t bright enough, so he conjured several more.
“Light.”
The Underground Space blazed with illumination.
[Oh, it’s quite vast.]
[And the ceiling is high too.]
It was indeed spacious, just as Ibaek had said.
Likely many people had come here over a long stretch of time, carving away at the earth.
Alex surveyed the surroundings.
On the jagged walls lay pickaxes and buckets that workers had left behind, half-eaten food, and filthy cloth used in place of blankets scattered about here and there.
“This is….”
As Alex ventured deeper, something caught both his and Ibaek’s attention.
“A Magic Circle!”
[It’s a Magic Circle!]
A Magic Circle carved into the earthen floor.
It appeared the workers had dug this one too, using pickaxes.
“It looks like it’s still incomplete.”
[Yeah. Since they’re carving it into the ground rather than drawing it, it must have taken forever.]
[And on top of that, ordinary people without magical knowledge were the ones digging the earth.]
For people ignorant of Magic Circle principles, the complex design was nothing but a puzzle—surely the work had been grueling.
“The fact that they didn’t draw this with a mana stone but actually carved into the ground itself… they meant to use it semi-permanently.”
[Right.]
[A Magic Circle can keep functioning as long as Mana is replenished, so long as it isn’t erased.]
Through Alex’s eyes, Ibaek examined the quite large, incomplete Magic Circle.
Because it was still unfinished and contained no Mana whatsoever, there was no way to tell what magic it was meant for.
[What kind of Magic Circle is it?]
[It’s hard to tell without Mana in it.]
Alex answered him.
“This is a Black Magic Circle.”
Alex’s pale green eyes gleamed as he gazed down at the Magic Circle.
[Oh! I knew it!]
[So this was a secondary hideout for a black mage!… though it doesn’t quite seem like a main base, does it?]
[It’s too sloppy to be a proper hideout.]
[No grimoires or materials or anything.]
Ibaek spoke with an intrigued tone.
[A Black Magic Circle, huh.]
[It really is different from the ones in our world.]
[But didn’t you say you don’t know much about magic?]
As Ibaek expressed his confusion, Alex walked around the Black Magic Circle and replied.
“I don’t know much, but I’ve seen plenty.”
No matter how ignorant of magic one was, seeing similar things over a hundred times meant you’d inevitably recognize them.
It had left such a vivid impression that even an incomplete Black Magic Circle, Alex could identify.
[Do you know what kind of magic it is?]
Unfortunately, his skill didn’t extend to that level.
“I don’t know that part, but black magic is pretty much all the same.”
[True enough. Sacrificing people to summon demons, or gaining power for yourself, or creating undead.]
[So the kidnapped people might have been sacrifices?]
“They’ve probably already suffered their fate, wherever they were taken.”
If there was a separate headquarters elsewhere, she suspected the Black Magic Circle there had already reached completion.
“I didn’t expect to encounter a Black Mage down here….”
Alex’s expression hardened.
She didn’t know how powerful this Black Mage was, but she couldn’t simply let it pass.
“The Magic Circle drawn on the rock—can you tell what level of mage created it?”
[Probably around third Circle.]
“Third Circle….”
[But there’s no trace of Black Magic aura. If it were a Black Mage, it would definitely show through.]
At Ibaek’s words, Alex fell silent for a moment, thinking.
“They haven’t fully become a Black Mage yet, I suppose.”
[Ah, that’s probably it.]
[So they’re creating this Magic Circle to become a Black Mage?]
A third Circle mage….
“Can I defeat them?”
[You’re technically second Circle, but your proficiency is nearly fourth Circle level, so you should be fine.]
[Besides, you can also use a sword.]
[Just close the distance with Body Enhancement and strike them down in one blow?]
At Ibaek’s suggestion, Alex let out a soft sigh.
The opponent was strong, but for Leo’s sake—for a path of flowers—she had no choice but to defeat them.
“Then I’ll need to find this would-be Black Mage.”
[How are you planning to find them?]
“By tracking down everyone who was dragged away from here.”
She would need help from the Crow Guild.
[What about borrowing the strength of the Sollenium Church?]
[They’d probably find them easily.]
“I could alert them through Dein, but the priests in the County of Brodel wouldn’t recognize this Black Magic Circle.”
[Why not?]
“Because they’ve never seen one. Information like this is kept strictly classified—only high-ranking priests of the Holy Knight Order know about it.”
Since anyone could potentially learn Black Magic, all related information was kept under the tightest security.
“Unlike someone who lets anyone use it.”
[Ugh.]
At Alex’s teasing tone, Ibaek took the hit and collapsed—though he had no body, of course.
“It would take time for those people to come from the capital anyway, and I’m not even sure they’d believe us.”
Alex looked down at the incomplete Black Magic Circle beneath her feet.
“An incomplete one like this could just be mistaken for the work of some mad mage. A complete one would be different.”
[True.]
[A mage could probably pull it off.]
[So we have to find them ourselves, then.]
“We can also use the power of House Brodel to make it easier.”
If they learned that such a suspicious Underground Space existed near the Lord’s Castle, the nobles would surely investigate more actively.
If both the Crow Guild and House Brodel searched simultaneously, they might get results quickly.
“Though it troubles me that there are two third Circle mages in the Brodel household.”
[The Count’s son isn’t suspicious, right?]
[He’s the future Lord of Brodel.]
Ibaek spoke in an excited voice.
[I’m betting my grandfather’s name on this!]
[Though I’m an orphan, so I don’t even know who my grandfather is!]
[But anyway!]
[He’s definitely suspicious. That Xenortap mage!]
[He claimed to be second Circle, but he was actually third Circle all along!]
[Too bad. If I could see him directly, I’d know for sure.]
Ibaek, who had been speaking so eagerly, sounded disappointed.
“Well, whoever the culprit is, they’ll reveal themselves if we dig around enough.”
After circling through the Underground Space and deciding there was nothing more to see, Alex emerged outside.
The outside was loud and bustling.
The sound of horses neighing and the sharp clang of metal striking metal filled the air.
They were from House Brodel.
[Wow!]
[Knights actually came! The power of the Gratitude Token is incredible, huh?]
Alex caught sight of the scene unfolding before him.
Two knights stood ready in full armor while a handful of talkative soldiers gathered information from the kidnapping victims about what had transpired.
‘That one must be the commander.’
‘They’re the strongest here.’
‘Stronger than Dein?’
A large, broad-shouldered knight was conversing with Dein.
Alex had expected knights to arrive, but he was somewhat surprised by how formidable this one proved to be.
“I’ve heard stories about that tavern from time to time. I’ve wanted to visit once, but I never seemed to find the time.”
“Ha! If you ever grace us with your presence, we’ll serve you the finest drink in our establishment.”
“That sounds promising!”
‘That’s odd. The atmosphere feels a little strange.’
It did seem that way.
Both men spoke of ordinary matters on the surface, yet something in their eyes looked suspicious.
‘They don’t seem to know each other.’
‘Or do they? Maybe they do know each other.’
As Ibaek and Alex exchanged puzzled glances, Dein’s eyes met theirs.
“Alex!”
The large knight’s gaze turned toward Alex as well, his smile broad and cheerful.
“So you’re the mage Alex. Pleased to meet you. I’m Klaus Brodel, the younger lord of House Brodel.”
‘Oh! He was the younger lord!’
‘Wait… didn’t they say the next Count was a mage?’
‘This guy’s got the physique of a knight even if you saw him on a train.’
That was true.
What on earth was happening here?
Bewildered but polite, Alex grasped the thick hand that Klaus Brodel offered.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Alex.”
His hand was as large as his powerful aura suggested, and his frame was imposing. He looked every bit the formidable knight.
“I heard the details from Hugo, the tavern owner.”
‘So Dein’s alias was Hugo.’
Dein beside him wore a smile, but his amber eyes screamed, ‘What on earth was in that letter that made the Count’s eldest son show up?!’
‘We didn’t expect the younger lord to come either.’
‘He must be close with his younger sister.’
Alex had only expected one knight and a handful of soldiers to be sent.
Meanwhile, Klaus Brodel instructed his subordinates to descend into the Underground Space through the passage Alex had created and conduct their investigation.
“Thank you. Without the two of you, we might never have discovered that our people had been kidnapped.”
“Not at all. I only stumbled upon it by chance myself.”
“Still, it would have been difficult to find them without your intervention.”
Alex and Ibaek caught the meaningful look and tone in Klaus Brodel’s words.
‘The younger lord knows Dein’s true identity.’
‘That he’s an Information Guild member!’
‘Does he know he’s the branch director too?’
He probably did.
Even if he didn’t know the exact details, he would have been aware that Hugo’s tavern was connected to the Information Guild.
After all, he was no mere knight—he was the younger lord of House Brodel.
Knowing what existed in the territory he might one day rule was hardly surprising.
‘So that’s why the atmosphere felt odd.’
‘He knew the truth but pretended to be just an ordinary tavern owner on the surface.’
Now that he thought about it, Ben and several of the Information Guild members had vanished at some point.
‘They must have fled!’
Ibaek laughed—a hearty, booming laugh.
“Alex, did you happen to learn anything from your investigation below?”
Alex answered Klaus Brodel’s question.
“There was a Magic Circle drawn on the floor. It’s incomplete, so I’m not yet certain what its purpose is.”
“Hmm, I see. A Magic Circle… In that case, I’ll need to call my younger sister. She’s a Third Circle mage.”
Klaus Brodel broke into a wide grin.
“The brightest one in our family, really!”
‘Wait. His sister’s a mage?’
‘Then does his sister become the Count?’
That seemed to be the case.
Well, he could puzzle out the succession later.
Alex handed over the Magic Scroll and Communication Device he’d been carrying to Klaus Brodel.
Klaus Brodel accepted them carefully and expressed his gratitude to Alex with a formal bow.
“Thank you again. This was something we should have handled ourselves, but thanks to you, we were able to recover them safely.”
“No, thank you for coming all this way. I didn’t expect you to come in person.”
“I’m close with Edan as well.”
Klaus Brodel smiled as he spoke of Edan Caldis, his sister’s fiancé.
“When someone Edan asks for calls on me, of course I have to come. My sister Maylin wanted to come too, but given the circumstances, she couldn’t make it.”
Klaus Brodel added,
“I’m truly grateful for everything — this matter and the Edan situation both. I’d like to invite you to dinner sometime if you’re available. What do you say?”
[Perfect!]
[The House Brodel probably has third-circle mages too! This is a good chance to check them out!]
Alex felt the same way.
The black mage candidate might have connections to House Brodel, so a visit seemed worthwhile.
[I wonder what House Brodel’s cooking is like!]
[It’s got to be better than the Caldis household’s!]
[I’m really looking forward to this!!]
…Though Ibaek’s true motive seemed pretty transparent to Alex.
“I have a young nephew — would it be alright to bring him along?”
“Of course it is!”
Alex certainly wanted to give Leo as many experiences as he could.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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