Chapter 113: Reaction of Bloodline Tracing Magic
As the imminent departure from Gloomhaven approached, Sein saw no reason to keep Seven concealed any longer.
The Divine Tower of Dawn and the knights responsible for the assault on Mystralora City hailed from the south.
No matter how far-reaching their influence, it was impossible for them to extend their reach to the three northern nations.
Revealing Seven also served as a strategic move on Sein’s part to showcase his strength.
In any region of this world, strength reigned supreme.
Maintaining a low profile was not always advantageous. At times, flaunting strength was the key to avoiding unnecessary trouble and seizing opportunities.
With Seven’s aura acting as a deterrent, Sein’s group traversed Dusken Ridge without encountering any hostile magic beasts daring to provoke them.
The hierarchy among magic beasts was even more stringent than that among human knights and mages.
Lower-level magic beasts seldom initiated confrontations with their higher-level counterparts. They adhered to the jungle’s law where the weak demonstrated humility and tolerance, sometimes even more than humans.
Despite not being actively challenged by magic beasts, Sein and his group faced several battles during their journey through Dusken Ridge.
The region teemed with abundant basic magic ingredients and raw materials scattered across the mountains and forests.
While Sein did not initially intend to collect them, Seven seemed accustomed to aiding Sein in resource gathering.
Throughout their travels in the Dusken Ridge, Seven brought back numerous intermediate and basic magic ingredients and raw materials.
On the third day within Dusken Ridge, Seven even used its Aero Chain to drag back a massive two-meter-tall magic hog.
“I-Is... this... a Hurricane Hog?” Hudson stammered as he pointed at the hog.
The hog’s head had an opening, and the aero magic core inside had been consumed by Seven.
Magic beasts were extremely territorial. As an foreign quasi-ranked magic beast, the easiest way for Seven to integrate into Dusken Ridge was to directly challenge a native magic beast of comparable strength.
Merely scavenging resources as a trespasser would invite rejection and backlash from the majority of high-level magic beasts in Dusken Ridge.
High-level magic beasts exhibited remarkable intelligence. In fact, quasi-ranked creatures like Seven possessed intelligence that matched that of normal humans.
Although the Magus World was dominated by knights and mages, magic beasts retained their influence over intermediate and low-level areas.
Individuals disrupting the ecological balance, regardless of their background, risked facing retaliation from the kings across the magic beast ridges in the Magus World.
Even if the Divine Towers or the Orders of the Knights intervened, these magic beast kings, with life levels of Rank Four or higher, could call upon guardians as their allies.
In the formidable civilization of the Magus World, magic beast kings of Rank Four and above were always abundant.
Fortunately, such powerful magic beasts were absent from the Dusken Ridge.
According to Seven’s observations, the strongest magic beast in Dusken Ridge was probably a Rank Two being, situated deep within the western forest of Dusken Ridge.
***
“Master Sein, won’t you consider the idea of joining the House Fayt? They are among the highest-ranking nobles in the eastern part of the Lysian Alliance. I’m sure the viscount would undoubtedly extend a warm welcome to you,” the old man with the goatee insisted as they crossed into the Lysian Alliance border.
“Once we reach the Black Fortress ahead, our escort mission will be complete as stipulated in the mercenary guild’s contract. I appreciate the offer, but I currently have no intention of aligning with any noble houses. My next destination leads me to the west of the Black Fortress,” Sein declined.
The perks of traveling with a mercenary group and an employer familiar with the Lysian Alliance quickly became evident upon entering the region.
Not only were they able to smoothly cross the border with just a greeting to the guards, the old man even managed to secure a team of soldiers to escort them by showing them the House Fayt’s emblem and other proof of identity.
The old man’s assertion about House Fayt’s influence in the eastern part of the Lysian Alliance was proven right.
However, Sein’s focus lay in the west, prompted by the sudden reaction of his long-dormant bloodline tracing magic upon entering the Lysian Alliance’s territory.
This indicated that Sein had roots in the Lysian Alliance, though it remained unclear whether his family belonged to the central nobles or the western nobles.
The central nobles enjoyed higher prestige, ruling over the prosperous plains with a large population, while the western nobles shared a direct border with the Zephyr Kingdom, and were known for their aggression and powerful private armies.