Chapter 251 251 Hidden In Plain Sight



Wolfe took the shield in his hands and began to layer the area of effect determination and mana-enhancing spells on it to activate a [Mana Gathering Array] and inscribe it into the object for these witches to take home with them.

It wasn't one of the more complex Arrays that he had learned so far, and the shield was large enough that he didn't have to work too hard to shrink the activation inscription to make it fit. If they really could come back with a relic from the Magi, this was one of the better deals that he had ever made.

Thanks to the [Mana Gathering Array], an increased power supply for their village would bring the witches fame and glory, but that was nothing compared to the knowledge they had promised to bring back to him.

The amusement that Wolfe felt at their excitement reminded him of the way that other Demons felt about the witches. No wonder they were viewed as adorable idiots, with their joyful embraces and the happy jewel-coloured eyes shining out from under the helmets of their armour spells. They weren't stupid, just cute and excitable.

Wolfe caught that train of thought before it got too far and stopped it before he fell into the trap that the ancient Magi had and began thinking of others who had different powers or no magic at all as lesser than him. That was a mistake and a potentially deadly one on his part.

"There you go. One Mana Gathering Array. Just add mana to activate it, and after that, it will keep itself active with the mana that it gathers. I thought that you might appreciate it being inert for your trip back across the wastes to whatever village you're stationed in." Wolfe explained as he passed the shield over to its new owner.

"You're really not concerned about us never coming back with your payment?" One of the witches asked while she stared at the shield in her leader's eyes.

"If you don't come back, you will still owe me a Favor. I can promise you that it is cheaper to pay as agreed." Wolfe replied with a smile that made the witch shudder.

"Point taken. We will all help her get the item. Everyone in our village knows what it is, but nobody is brave enough to go get it." The witch who had suggested not paying agreed.

"It requires bravery to obtain? Tell me a bit more about that. Is it still in its original location, or is it being held by the local council or a Monster?" Wolfe asked.

ƥαṇdαsηθνε| "It's in the ruins of an old Magi house. But there is a load of broken spells still around the area, and they are known to attack anyone who tries to come into the area. We even tried to send a Demonic Familiar in, but it was dispelled and had to be called back by its witch.

To say it was not happy about the situation would be an understatement."

Wolfe considered that for a moment. It was likely designed to keep anyone but other Magi out. If it was like the Lumix house, you had to be at least rank two or three to enter the house without an escort, so that would explain why it attacked and tried to throw outsiders out of the area.ραпdαs `nᴏνɐ| сom

The fact that they were getting injured might be accidental, or the owners of the house might have been less tolerant, but the chances were that he could get it much more easily than anyone else here could.

"If you know exactly where it is, I will come with you and give you a hand recovering my payment. The ruins of Magi homes will be somewhat more friendly to me than they are to others." Wolfe suggested.

Four pairs of topaz green eyes looked at him in shock, then around the Den's upper levels.

"You would leave this behind and cross the Wastes just to recover your payment?" The team leader asked.

"It's not a big deal. There isn't much in the Wastes that will aggressively target me other than the Witches and the Mundane Army. If I'm with you, that eliminates one of the two, and I can deal with the others." Wolfe shrugged.

"Alright. We will stay the night if you don't mind, and we will return to our patrol and report in tomorrow morning." The team leader agreed.

"In that case, I suggest a trip to the hot tub and perhaps a nice swim before bed. The warm water is good for the muscles after being on patrol in the Frozen Waste." Cassie suggested.

"There are swimsuits in the pool area since nobody had them when they first arrived. We use magic to clean and stack them at the end of the day." Ella added, then smirked at Wolfe, who viewed that addendum as completely unnecessary.

It did give him a good idea, though. It was getting quite warm here in the Fae Forest, and the temptation to change outfits was high, so if he could spend a while designing new clothing for the Witches, he could have all the eye candy he wanted instead of these loose-fitting winter army outfits.

Wolfe was settling in to think of what he should be making for the new armour amulets when Cook informed everyone that there was a dinner buffet on the main floor of the tower, so the swim would have to wait, but that the conditions were also right tonight for a Familiar Summoning.

The moon wasn't full yet, but it was going to be visible in the sky at the same time as the sun as long as you were at the top of the tower, and they had prepared a summoning circle with balanced elements.

The chance to see a Second Rank Familiar summoning trumped a quick swim before bed in the minds of the patrol, and plans were made to make space for everyone at the top of the tower, where the ritual would take place on the central platform.