The Anti-Magic Orb

Struck by lightning and slammed into the wall, Yohane was slumped over and motionless.

Elza rushed over and examined the wound.

The area around his right chest was scorched.

"Elza-san, is Master going to be okay?!"

"Quiet."

Elza calmed the panicking Azu and removed his jacket.

The clothing underneath also bore marks from the lightning, but the damage was far less severe compared to the jacket.

"This is…"

When Elza placed her hand on the wound, an orb tumbled out of his pocket.

"An Anti-Magic Orb, is it."

That voice came from the royal man behind them. He sounded somewhat impressed.

When Elza applied a healing miracle to Yohane, his consciousness returned.

"Ow, ow, what just happened?"

He rubbed his back as he got to his feet.

The damage from the lightning was practically nonexistent.

He'd simply been knocked unconscious from being slammed into the wall.

"Th-thank goodness…"

Azu said that and sank to the floor.

Having witnessed the lightning strike him head-on, she'd been beside herself with worry.

She'd even started thinking the worst.

"What's wrong?"

Completely unaware of any of that, Yohane looked down at the collapsed Azu with a puzzled expression.

But the fight was still ongoing in the center of the hall.

The mages that Alexia and Azu had taken down still seemed to be out of commission, but given enough time, they might recover.

"I don't know what all that was about, but I'm better off than before. Let's move."

"Yes!"

Azu stood up and nodded firmly.

"Here, Azu-chan, you need treatment too."

Elza treated Azu's right hand. She'd sustained lacerations from punching through the barrier with her fist.

"I was so caught up in the moment I didn't even realize. Thank you."

"Now, while we have the chance."

With Alexia in the lead, they finally made it out of the great hall.

First, they needed to get outside and reach the carriage where their weapons were stored.

The group following behind them likely had the same idea.

The auction items hadn't been handed over yet.

If the emcee was taken down, the auction items would be stolen.

Yohane hadn't won any bids, so he had nothing to lose personally, but that didn't mean he wanted to let thieves walk away. Besides, if things went well, he might be able to collect a reward.

Bare-handed, they couldn't do much, but once Azu and the others were armed, they could put up a fight.

They ran through the corridor and burst outside.

It was just as crowded as when they'd arrived.

The difference was that everyone was in a panic.

Most had huddled around their own carriages, making themselves small.

A few, forgetting they were in the sky, tried to flee outward and nearly fell off the edge.

Others around them barely managed to pull them back.

From the outside it looked absurd, but that's what panic does to people.

Yohane pushed through the crowd and made it back to their carriage.

The mules had nerves of steel, lounging around calmly despite all the commotion.

He confirmed that Azu and the others had grabbed their favorite weapons, then turned back toward the building.

There was no time for them to change clothes. He needed to send them in while the emcee was still holding out.

"Now go drive those guys off. We can't exactly leave with them still hanging around."

"Well, I suppose there's no helping it."

"And after we got all dressed up, too."

"I won't forgive them. It's a good thing Master wasn't hurt, but…"

"Don't overdo it. Pull back if things go south."

With that, the three of them charged back into the building.

The royal man's guards followed with weapons in hand.

He hadn't gone without guards, of course, keeping a couple of attendants with him.

There was nothing left to do but leave things to Azu and the others.

Accepting that, Yohane broke the seal on his canteen and took a long drink.

Apple cider vinegar diluted with water.

He'd been thirstier than he realized, because he drained it all.

He couldn't remember himself, but apparently he'd taken a direct hit from a spell.

After that, he'd been slammed into a wall and passed out.

A bit shameful for a man, he thought.

As he put the canteen back in the carriage, the royal man approached.

"What can I do for you, my lord?"

"You seem fine."

He looked Yohane up and down as he said it.

Thanks to the orb, there were no real injuries to speak of.

His clothes were ruined, but all things considered, he'd gotten off easy.

"More or less."

Unsure of the man's purpose, he gave a vague reply.

Immediately after, he reflected that this was probably too casual a way to speak to royalty.

Fortunately, the man didn't seem to care.

One of his guards cleared his throat and formally introduced the man to Yohane.

"This is His Grace Duke Baroba Deiancle of the Kingdom."

Royalty after all.

That said, they weren't within kingdom borders, so there was no need to kneel.

"My name is Yohane. I'm a merchant by trade. What business does a duke have with me?"

He corrected his manner of speech and asked directly.

The guard bristled slightly at his refusal to kneel, but the duke himself appeared unfazed.

"An Anti-Magic Orb. A rare thing to be carrying."

"Ah, this?"

Yohane held up the orb.

A transparent sphere, small enough to fit in his hand, glittered as it caught the sunlight.

"Would you be willing to sell it?"

"Hmm."

It seemed the duke wanted Yohane's orb.

Yohane had brought it along but had no connections to sell it through, and had been wondering what to do with it.

Luckily, it had just proven its worth by shielding him from a spell, so bringing it hadn't been a waste.

"As it just protected you, the Anti-Magic Orb provides powerful resistance against magic. In situations like a magical ambush, whether or not you have one can mean the difference between life and death."

"Indeed, that does seem to be the case."

"So then, will you sell it to me?"

A direct offer from the duke. Yohane didn't want to refuse and make an enemy.

But simply nodding along would be leaving money on the table.

"How much are you willing to pay?"

"I'll offer two thousand gold coins."

He nearly let his expression slip.

He barely managed to keep a straight face through sheer willpower.

Two thousand kingdom gold coins. A staggering sum. That alone showed the orb's true value.

But he wanted to push a little further.

"A wonderful price. However, this orb is also my lifeline. My guards are skilled, but as you can see, I'm helpless on my own. The thought of another spell flying my way… I simply can't bring myself to part with it."

"Hmph. Then how about two thousand five hundred. But I'll tell you now, I won't go any higher."

Five hundred more, just like that.

But true to his word, the duke wouldn't budge past this.

The guards' glares were getting uncomfortable, too.

"Very well. I'll sell it to you."

"Good. Unfortunately, I can't pay you on the spot. Come to my territory once this is settled."

He seemed confident the situation would be resolved, likely trusting in the skill of the guards he'd brought along.

Yohane felt the same way about Azu and the others. He believed they'd come back with good news.

As they waited, figures in robes fled through the hole in the ceiling.

From what he could see, four of them escaped.

It seemed the intruders had been successfully driven off.