Isekai Magus: A LitRPG Progression Saga

by Han Yang

  “They likely broke the rules with that massive open space,” Asha guessed.

  “Well, where do we go?” I asked.

  Tarla tapped a spot on the map away from both the human cities and the Ostriva plains. “Here,” she said with conviction. “It’s a day’s ride to this city.” She tapped the indefensible river city. “Two days walk to the main wall with another half a day to the city from the wall.”

  I glanced at her and shook my head. “I don’t like it, but… if we take mounts, it might be possible. A lord and his two companions,” I said, setting my knuckles against the edge of the table.

  Bell giggled and Tarla rolled her eyes.

  “What?” I asked. “Companions, not wives. Both are common here, correct?”

  Bell covered her mouth, trying to contain her laughter. “Yes, it is very common. It’s just that I predicted you’d use us as a cover.”

  “Ah, is it a problem I can take only Tarla?” I asked.

  “I’m your head priestess. It’s not a problem,” Bell said.

  Tarla smiled. “I’m fine with playacting. I can tuck my claws away for the mission.”

  I turned to Asha. He noticed me waiting and said, “We can get a lot done while you trade. I like this plan, and I don’t. Distance traveled in any region means you are exposing yourself. At the same time, this allows your skeletons to earn while you’re away, but… if you buy a surplus of items, how do you move them?”

  “That would always be a problem. We could make multiple trips maybe. They -” I started to say but stopped when Asha changed the map.

  “This is undefended for a reason. Scouts or scryers likely monitor the area heavily, and the farmers pick up and flee at the first signs of trouble. Look at this.” Asha zoomed in on the map.

  A road led to the mountain foothold city with thick walls. He then traveled the mountain to the main city.

  “They’re connected,” I said, noticing what he was trying to show.

  “Absolutely. They have to move the food safely. All the trade goes through this city and then under the ground. I bet they let you travel for a fee or something, but… you’re you,” Asha said.

  “Yeah, just getting into this city should be enough. We can afford to pay the extra fee. Which brings us to the question of where we arrive,” I said.

  Asha winced. “There’s no good answer. Anywhere you can select in the area will result in having to fight humans. This isn’t Tarb where a few hunting parties scour the forests for the odd rasker or terska - the bunny monsters. Anyway, both sides are braced for war. Arriving on horseback in thick armor with two mages, a bunch of gold, and a story should get you in the gate without an inspection.”

  I frowned. “So where do you want to set up our portal?”

  He pointed to a blue portal in the start of the incline, right where the Nordan line was located.

  “The busiest area?” I asked.

  “We’ll get to fight two sides, assuming you’re okay with that,” Asha said. “Fighting humans means you might have dead humans.”

  “I… I am. I have to be. They’ll kill me in a heartbeat if they learn what I am. Unless the city declares itself neutral.”

  After thinking about it, I wanted to be as neutral as possible.

  “Great, because we’re going to fight scouts, and both sides will think we're the other. This spot is not too far from an old Nordan road. And -”

  Before he could finish, I selected and confirmed the location.

  “We march to war… with a side of trading,” I said with a smirk. “I call ‘not it’ on riding Charlie!”

  A round of laughter echoed through the room. I donned my thick metal helmet with the nose bridge. We were going to visit a human city while my minions wreaked havoc.

  CHAPTER 45

  Lind Kingdom

  “Copper per entry!” a guard in studded leather cried out. His outfit was colored black, much like the rest of the guards. If I had to guess he was an officer because he wore a feather in his cap. “Try to avoid the tax, just try it. I dare ya! Copper per entry!”

  We stuck to the middle of the road, waiting our turn to pay the gatekeepers. The common folk lined up off to the side while the traders and farmers stuck to the middle of the road where they had their wares inspected before being assigned a fee.

  The outbound traffic heading for the farming town and the northern town squeezed the wagons closer to the commoners. Immediately, it became evident the nation of Lind was bustling with a high population density.

  Another set of heavily armored adventurer types trotted into the city via the space between the folks on foot and the wagons. We joined that line, approaching a fifty-foot tall wall with a smooth stone surface.

  At least a hundred guards watched over the gate. Mighty siege weapons appeared menacing as they perched on special platforms. None of the soldiers gave us more than a cursory glance.

  If I had to wager, adventuring nobles were common and nobody showed their orbs in LInd. It was all about collecting a tax from the citizens for them to use the city.

  The adventuring group in front halted for a brief moment. They flicked a coin to a linebacker of a woman and were waved through without an inspection. This was exactly as we had seen a few times already.

  Upon closer inspection, the woman had an unrepaired nose and a big mole on her cheek. Had she been in a fight or was she born that way? Either way, she eyed us with disdain, holding a palm out and urging us forward as if she had somewhere to be.

  “Just the three of ya?” she asked, her tone snippy and uncaring.

  “Yup,” Bell said, readying a purse.

  “Silver per,” the guard said.

  I had seen the last group give her a single silver for five people and immediately let out a tense breath. Not wanting to cause a scene, she got what she wanted without a single question. We gave her the extra coins.

  After Bell handed her the silver coins, we rode through.

  “Hurry it up,” the old hag snapped.

  Both Bell and Tarla had tried to assure me that mounted rich folk received different treatment, but I had still been nervous I really relaxed when I saw no orb inspecting at all.

  We trotted the horses along the busy road, seeing nothing but stone boxy and tall structures at the front of the city. The feel of the city told me of a condensed expansion. Crews worked to build up with cranes clogging the alleys. The road teemed with people. I gasped at the sheer numbers.

  The roaring din of folks trying to over talk the groups beside them, drowned out the wagon creaks and the horse hooves.

  A nearby kabob vendor cried out that his amazing roasted lamb was for sale. The smell of roast meat wafted over the area. I smiled, a sense of normalcy returning for a brief moment.

  I heard a slight clang of coins and saw a nearby lady glance at Bell. Charlie carried all our gold and Z for trade on his rear-end with Bell in his saddle. Tarla watched those bags like a hawk during our trip down main street.

  Five minutes into the city, we saw a massive four-story stone bank. Large pillars stood out front amidst an ascending set of stone stairs. Guards patrolled here with far more vigor than where we had been already.

  After declaring we had business, a guard waved us past a small wall. I glanced up at the massive sign.

  Lind Adventurer’s Bank & Exchange.

  We hitched the horses out front, and I stayed in the saddle of the chestnut mare. I people-watched over the wall while the ladies went into the bank. Miscee carried supplies, and I spotted a chain of tigran being led somewhere in restraints.

  A regular tigran dressed in fine garb startled me. Its orange fur puffed out at a tight neckline. Nobody batted an eye or cared that he walked freely through the city. He was rare but not alone. I spotted more of the tigran intermingled with the common citizens.

  Most of the people stuffed into the busy street wore decent garb that matched a well-cared for city. Based on the population density, it wouldn’t surprise me if the people f
rom the three destroyed towns further south had all moved here.

  When we arrived via the portal into the Lind Realm, I had expected intense fighting. Instead, we saw no signs of scouts. Based on the fact the populace seemed at ease, the guards semi-alert, and tigran freely walked in the streets, I wagered a peace between the two forces was in effect. Or, at the very least, the two sides had come to an understanding.

  “Copper to brush the horses, mista?” a raggedy young girl asked.

  I glanced at the bank guards, but they didn’t seem to care she was pestering me.

  I didn’t let her distract me too much. I kept an eye on the horses even though Charlie would not let anyone but Bell take off his hitching. The raggedy girl’s fellow urchins urged her forward, wondering if I had heard her the first time.

  I reached into a pouch and tossed the young, silver-haired girl a full silver cube. Her eyes widened in delight at the wealth.

  “I seek knowledge,” I said, and she nodded. I patted the mare’s saddle that Tarla rode in on. “This mare will let you sit in her saddle.”

  She ran to Charlie instead. The damn stallion nickered happily when she scurried up his side. The warhorse snorted at me with a tease and a glimmer in his eye.

  “You suck,” I told the horse, who, of course, neighed out in joy.

  “He’s a beauty. Your lady is lucky,” the girl said. I saw her glancing around his saddle, seeing if Bell had left any items she could pilfer. Being a street kid meant survival, but thankfully her search came up empty. “Whatcha wanna know?” she asked.

  “I’m not from these parts. I’m a bit of an adventurer. Start with the location of the market,” I said.

  She pointed back toward the gate, but off to the left. I had seen a few wagons turn that way, but most had followed the main road we had used. She then shifted her arm until it directed me down the main road that kept going until it entered the mountain.

  “Will more guards charge a fee for the tunnel?” I asked.

  “Only for the express tunnel, but it’s not as bad as getting back into Olin,” she said, stroking Charlie’s neck. “Where you from?”

  “A faraway land,” I said with a smile. “The main city, after the tunnel, is it worth the trip?”

  “You after a market or gamin?”

  “Uh… both sound nice,” I admitted.

  “The arena is over yonder along with the capital market. It’s only an hour via horse,” the girl said.

  Her group of ruffians grew less afraid, nearing my boots with hands out. I tried to ignore them, but they proceeded to brush the horses when their leader told them to get to work.

  “Only one more silver for the three horses,” I said, hearing ‘thank ya mister’ a few times in reply. “The war with the strivians,” I continued. “What happened?”

  The girl huffed, sputtering her lips. “That finished before I was born. After a long war, a mighty battle was won. The invasion was halted, but since then, I’m not sure,” she said. “There’s ambassadors and visitors. I’ve never been to the tirgran city of Lasing.”

  I wondered about her parents, and then let it drop. Her teeth were straight, her nails fairly clean, and her clothes were ratty but intact. She managed.

  “Who’s this?” Bell asked, startling me.

  “That was quick,” I said before turning to the girl. “Off you get.”

  I flicked a silver coin to the group closer to the sidewalk. The kids scurried to retrieve the reward before someone else could claim it.

  “You made friends,” Tarla teased, hoisting herself into the saddle.

  “Right, so… the bank?”

  Bell nodded and said, “They had a metal mage and a parsing mage on hand. We set the bags down and a few minutes later were given a few high value coins called palladium and almost all of our gold is now Z. The good news is, this city is flush with Z compared to Tarb. Nothing compared to a strivian city, but we could leave now and be well ahead.”

  “How much with our gold?” I asked.

  “Four hundred and twenty Z,” Bell said proudly.

  We did have a lot of gold, and I was expecting it to be around three hundred, so this was a nice boon.

  “Debt free,” Tarla said. “Any issues with minions?”

  I shook my head.

  “I bet they’re earning well. What’s the plan, Boss?” Bell asked.

  “We go to the main city market, buy a wagon, and then get our supplies requested. After that, we’ll find a hotel near the arena,” I said.

  “To fight or to watch?” Tarla asked.

  “Definitely no fighting, but maybe some gambling. We have our lists of needed supplies, and the day is young. Maybe we’ll head back without staying the night if shopping goes well. I know we need a parsing to break up Zorta orbs, a shield, and an enchanting mage ourselves. At the very least, we can check the slave market. These tigran are big and would make good…” I saw the kids watching us and chose my words carefully. “…warriors.”

  Bell led us from the bank courtyard. We headed down the main street toward the opening for the underway. The large street remained crowded with the horses forced into a slow walk. My major angst about coming to a human city faded once again.

  The fact I wore expensive armor and rode a horse set me apart from those on foot. My experience was vastly different. From my perch, I saw the street thieves avoiding eye contact at all costs.

  I had to wonder if I had made a mistake investing so much into becoming a neutral champion. Deep down, I knew a lot of that choice was taken away from me in order to save Jark. I used the trip through the throngs of humanity to reflect.

  The goblins had been great in helping us reach our destination. I would have died without them, but now that we had a home, they were just workers. I didn’t lose sight of their utility or agency.

  An inner grumbling left me conflicted. Goblins were part of the reason for my success, but I wouldn’t need them here.

  Now that I was a level 8 healer with a chance at 9, I could live here and likely work. I figured I would be able to blend in and create a good life with minimal use of my necromancy abilities. As warm as those thoughts were, I would always run a risk of being dragged out of my house in the middle of the night and burned at a stake. I had Ostriva points, and that would never change.

  No, this Lind Kingdom was not for me. I did enjoy feeling human again, and we passed a lot of vendors selling jewelry, towels, and soft blankets; the kind of things humans purchased when you had an excess of wealth.

  “You okay?” Tarla asked from my side.

  “Are you sad we can’t live here?” I asked, curious as to how she felt.

  She shook her head, cutting in front of me. The road narrowed and went into a tunnel. We avoided the heavily guarded shortcut.

  After we crossed the narrowing threshold, the space opened again. The sides of the tunnel itself held a mix of stores, homes, and stables cut out of the walls. Large magical orbs illuminated the space, leaving the transition to only a minimal change. Mostly, I felt the chilly air that helped cool the warm day.

  The traffic never died down. I saw side tunnels filled with people coming and going. The city of Lind was congested with people to a bursting point. I had to believe there would be some decent folk looking for a new start.

  Tarla joined my side again. The echoing ambient noise roared loudly inside the tunnel. Tarla raised her voice, saying, “I love you, Damien. I know I don’t say it besides in the mornings while you sleep, but I do love you. I love you more than a city or the idea that the grass is softer in the next meadow or beach. So, no, I’m not sad, not in the slightest.”

  “I love you, too,” I said, surprising myself by how natural it came out.

  Bell glanced over her shoulder, smiling at our exchange.

  “We live where we live because that is our fate. I think it is better to focus on the home we have. Our estate is bigger than my rich father had. It is filled with happiness and love not deceit or snide remarks,” Tar
la said.

  I shifted the conversation. “Do you think we can convince mages to follow us?”

  “We already went over all the ‘what ifs’ over the last two damn weeks,” Bell said from over her shoulder. “But without a doubt, there’ll be hungry people looking for work outside the city. I see a lot of poor here.”

  We turned slightly, almost coming to a halt because the congestion of people was so thick. Far in the distance, a light at the end of the tunnel told me the capital was relatively close. This middle area seemed to be a resting point for those shifting between cities.

  The crowd parted for Charlie with most of the residents admiring the fine stallion who all but pranced proudly. The next half hour passed with the three of us grinning and taking in the sights of Lind.

  When we arrived in the capital proper, I saw an upper city with guards checking orbs. I didn’t see some mighty castle on the skyline dictating where the king or emperor or whatever the local lord lived.

  I had to wonder if living in a tower had a fatal flaw to aerial attacks. If humans had griffins in small numbers, the enemy had to have something similar.

  The distant roar of an arena pulled us deeper into the city. This section teemed with apartments that geomancers had molded into shape. If I had to guess, the arduous process drained mages quickly.

  The towering buildings transitioned into brothels. Those shifted into merchant stores with multiple floors. I scanned the buildings, not finding livestock but finding books, fine bedding, and plenty of adventuring gear.

  I tried to see someone selling horses but quickly realized they had to be somewhere else in the city.

  We neared the arena. Massive arches allowed citizens to flow in and out. Oddly enough, I didn’t see anyone collecting money to view the entertainment. Along the sides of the arena, soaring higher than the framing, were hotels.

  “I…” My voice faded.

  Bell smirked, holding a hand up. She had been there on that first day when I had said I wanted a balcony. She knew me well enough to divert to one of the hotels overlooking the games.