Greatest Legacy of the Magus Universe

Chapter 1242: Ah, Civilization

Ichigane Town lay at the base of Mount Hoshigane, serving as the last settlement before the mountain’s dangerous ascent.

It was a hub for all kinds of Magi—adventurers, mercenaries, and scholars—drawn by rumors of ancient inheritances hidden throughout the region.

While most Magi visited this town for the thrill of adventure, others simply wished to gaze upon the infamous mountain from afar.

The town was built from stone and timber, reinforced to withstand the harsh winds from the mountain. Inns, potion shops, and weapon forges lined the main streets, catering to travelers preparing for expeditions.

Various guild outposts and information boards displayed requests and bounties related to ruins and magical creatures nearby.

The atmosphere was one of constant chatter and movement. New faces arrived daily and only a few of them stayed long.

Despite its rugged look, Ichigane was organized and self-sustaining, its people used to danger and the flow of threat that ocassionally seeped down from Hoshigane’s slopes.

This town was steeped in legend. It was said that ages ago, powerful Magi from across Yen-Lu once gathered here, drawn by the immense mana radiating from the peak of Mount Hoshigane.

Many of them uncovered hidden ruins, unearthed lost artifacts, and claimed inheritances left behind by ancient Magi who once lived in the region. Their discovery made Ichigane a place of both wealth and mystery.

Over the years, countless adventurers, warriors, and Magi have come to Ichigane with a single goal - to conquer the peak of Mount Hoshigane.

Each believed they would succeed where others had failed. But none ever returned. The mountain’s summit remained unreachable, guarded by storms, mana anomalies, and the unseen will of the Kistune.

Even so, the legends persisted. For every soul lost, more arrived, driven by the same dream...

To claim the mountain’s secret and carve their name into the annals of history.

But on this day, history would be made in quite an unexpected way.

A tall figure cloaked in black, carrying a strange rucksack strapped to his back, walked across the dirt road leading to a bustling town in the near distant.

From time to time, groups of Magi journeying to Mount Hoshigane would walk past him, giving him strange looks. Almost all of them steered clear of him because of his strange aura that reeked of madness.

”Hahaha!” Adam laughed out loud, his heart filled with joy. ”So many people! So, so, so many of them! I cannot believe my eyes... wait, I don’t have eyes! Hahaha!”

It had been two and a half years since he had come across anyone who wasn’t a beast or someone imaginary. As such, seeing real people for the first time in so long rekindled a strange fire within him.

He couldn’t stop laughing. And so... he laughed and laughed and laughed.

”What’s with him? Is he crazy?”

”Definitely crazy!”

”Look at his arms. Goodness! Was he burned alive?”

”Forget about that. Look at that strange mask he’s wearing.”

The Magi who passed him by spoke in hushed whispers, judging Adam from afar. Surprisingly enough, he could hear them despite the distance and the relentless ravings.

He halted his footsteps, then turned toward them in confusion. ”Their robes also look very strange. Even the way they speak is strange. Is this a cultural difference? Does anyone know? Yeah, I’m talking to you.”

Adam shrugged, pushing the matter to the back of his crazed mind. He turned back around, facing the direction of the town in the distance.

His lips curled into a wide grin, and he muttered, ”Ah, civilization! I can already hear the tantalizing aroma of wine! Hahaha!”

He hastened his footsteps, and by sunset, he had already arrived at the gates of Ichigane Town.

***

Adam walked through the bustling streets, laughter spilling out of him uncontrollably. The crowd looked at him, some confused, while others amused. But he did not care.

Stalls lined both sides of the wide street, filled with strange trinkets, jade crystals, and an aroma of cooked meat. Merchants wearing strange clothes called out, adventurers bartered, and the air buzzed with constant chatter.

For the first time in two and a half years, he was surrounded by people. These were real voices, movement, and noise. After so long in isolation, it all felt unreal, almost dreamlike.

He ran his hand along the road and stone walls, confirming it wasn’t his mind playing tricks again. The chaos, the chatter, the warmth... it was overwhelming, but in the best possible way.

At long last, after touring a small part of the town, his feet came to a halt. He had arrived before a lively tavern. Even from the outside, he could smell the aroma of strong liquor. If he had eyes, he would have cried tears of joy.

”Jade Lantern Inn,” he murmured, his feet carrying him inside seemingly of their own volition. ”Finally, I can be whole again.”

He pushed open the wooden doors of the tavern and was met with a wave of warmth, loud noise, and the rich scent of liquor and grilled meat.

The tavern was alive, with adventurers crowded around tables, laughing, boasting, and clinking cups. Plates with delicious food slid across the counters as servers shouted orders over the din.

The atmosphere was lively with chatter, the crackle of fire, and the faint notes of a musical instrument being played in the corner. Paper lanterns hung from the beams, their soft lights flickering across wooden walls stained from years of smoke and drink.

Adam scanned the room with an unnatural grin plastered across his face. He weaved through the crowd until he finally found an empty spot near the far wall. As he sat down, he observed the tavern once again. The scene was so full of life that it almost felt surreal.

”Hahaha!” He laughed out loud for no reason whatsoever, making the people sitting near him flinch in surprise.

A few moments later, a teenage boy approached him with a practiced smile on his face and spoke in a friendly, straightforward tone:

”First time in Ichigane? We’ve got sake strong enough to melt the cold right out of your bones. What can I get you?”

Adam stared at the youth through the slits in the kitsune mask. He then tilted his head and muttered a simple word:

”...What?”

There was a slight problem.

He couldn’t understand the language at all.