25 Magic God

We made our way south through the Great Forest on a horse drawn carriage provided to us by the Dedoldia Tribe as a parting gift. They also provided us with plenty of food and supplies for the trip, meaning we could comfortably make it all the way through the Great Forest without stopping except to rest.

Geese prepared all of our meals during our travels and would share in adventuring stories with Tallhand and Elinalise. He also included Ruijerd, Roxy, Eris, and I in the storytelling, making good friends with everyone in no time. He really was a smooth talker.

The Holy Sword Highway was a straight shot all the way through the Great Forest. Being surrounded by dense forest, the area was bursting with mana, and yet no monster would dare set foot on it.

Geese explained how the Holy Sword Highway was created by Saint Milis. Supposedly, St. Milis was engaged in battle with a Demon King on the Demon Continent and, with a single strike of their sword, St. Milis cut the Demon King in half, along with mountains and forest behind them.

Evidently, St. Milis' mana still lingers on the Holy Sword Highway which is what keeps the monsters from approaching it.

There was also an abundance of wild plants and herb species growing along the highway. I gathered several herbs that could be used as spices as we traveled in accordance with my never ending quest for good food.

I was a decent cook myself, but Geese was akin to a master chef. As he cooked our meals, I stopped by and had friendly conversations with him, while subtly keeping a close eye on how he prepared the food and what spices and other ingredients he used.

It was like a magic of its own how Geese would take nuts and grasses from the side of the road and turn them into seasonings that would add the most delectable flavors to our meals.

One day while Eris and Ruijerd were sparring, we heard Geese calling out for us. I had been watching them train, having nothing better to do at the moment.

Everyone, including Roxy, Tallhand, and Elinalise, came over to where he was calling us to see what was going on.

"Hey, Ruijerd. Come take a look at this", Geese said while motioning for him to come.

"Ah yes. One of the stone monuments to the Seven Great Powers." Ruijerd noticed what Geese was looking at immediately.

"I passed by this same monument on this same path coming from the other direction before the rainy season", Geese continued, "and the thing has changed since then, just four months ago."

"Ah yes. That makes sense", Ruijerd answered.

"You know something? What happened? Was the North God defeated? Did he die of old age perhaps?"

It was easy to see Geese was getting excited. It's not often something like this happens.

"What are the Seven Great Powers?", Eris interrupted.

Geese then explained how the Seven Great Powers are the seven strongest people in the world.

"Long ago someone known as the Technique God selected seven people, themselves included, and declared them to be the strongest in the world. This monument is a way to immortalize who those people were."

"I remember training hard when I was young in the hope that one of the Seven Great Powers would take me as a student", Ruijerd commented with a nostalgic look on his face.

"Wow! So not even you stand a chance against them, Ruijerd!?", Eris asked excitedly.

"I don't know, but seeing as my name isn't on that monument, I'd guess not.

"So who are they then? The seven people?", Roxy asked, now getting curious as well.

Ruijerd knelt in front of the monument and read the names off in order as he pointed to each of their motifs.

"The current seven are, in order of hierarchy,

Number 1: Technique God.

Number 2: Dragon God.

Number 3: Fighting God.

Number 4: Demon God.

Number 5: Death God.

Number 6: Sword God..."

As Ruijerd pointed at the last motif, he turned to look at me, smiling gently.

"Number 7: Magic God."

Geese looked at Ruijerd expectantly. "That symbol is for someone known as the Magic God? I've never heard of them."

"The Magic God? That sounds really cool, I would love to meet them! Do you think they are even better at magic than you, Rudeus?"

"Haha..." Rather than answering Eris, I just smiled wryly and shrugged my shoulders.

"That's what I mean though", Geese protested, "the seventh power used to be the North God. How do you know of the Magic God? Did they defeat the North God?"

Just then, Elinalise and Tallhand's eyes went wide as they realized what had happened.

"Rudeus... you..."

"Uh, yeah. I guess Aleksander did introduce himself as the North God", I said as I looked down at the amulet Roxy had given me, matching the motif the monument had assigned to me.

Geese took a couple steps back, stuttering "Y-you... You defeated the North God!?"

"Wait, does this mean Rudeus is one of the strongest people in the world!? I knew it! Rudy let's track down the number one rank so we can defeat him and take his spot!"

I gave Eris a blank stare at her insane suggestion.

"I don't think that would be a good idea. I'm much weaker now having lost an arm. The last thing I want to do is track down the strongest person in the world and pick a fight with him."

***Roxy's thoughts***

'I always knew Rudy was amazing... but to think he's already one of the strongest in the world at such a young age. It's almost scary to think of what he'll be like as an adult.'

Roxy then began imagining a giant Rudeus riding the clouds and raining down fire and lightning from the sky.

"How on Earth did that bastard Paul father a son like this?", Elinalise scoffed.

"Zenith must have cheated on him. I'm sure of it!", Tallhand remarked.

"Let's just get back on the road", I pleaded. "I want to find my father and get home as soon as possible."

When I said this, the mood became quite somber as Elinalise and Tallhand frowned and looked away. Roxy walked up to me and put her hand on my shoulder.

"Rudeus. I'm not sure how to tell you this... but Buena Village is no more."

I obviously already knew that. When I had mentioned getting back home, I was actually thinking about the magic city of Sharia.

"W-what about Roa?", Eris asked nervously.

Roxy just shook her head no with the same sad look on her face.

"I see", Eris answered. "I was prepared for this much."

"Eris, just because our home is gone, doesn't mean the people who lived there are dead. We were able to survive in the Demon Continent and are on our way back. There is still hope that your family will make it back safe too."

Eris gave me a smile in return. "I hope so. They have Ghislaine after all!"

"You're right! I am sure they are safe!", I answered.

It took about a month for us to make it out of the forest. That was actually very good time as the Great Forest was huge. It was all thanks to the straight path of the Holy Sword Highway and the lack of monsters making for easy travel.

After exiting the forest, we passed through a small smithing town that doubled as a rest stop. Further on were the Blue Dragon Mountains. The Holy Sword Highway passed straight through the mountains, acting as a ravine cleaving the mountain range in two.

After three days we made it through the mountain range, and not long after that, we reached the outskirts of a huge city.

It was the capital city of Milis, the holy city of Milishion.