Rising to Power with Void Magic ~An Exiled Genius Magician Decides To Take Revenge With His New Friends and Create a Utopia~ - Episode 9

Allen and Elena. 

Their journey through the Forbidden Forest continued, maintaining a strange tension between them.

There was hardly any conversation and a constant sense of distance as they subtly measured each other’s presence.

Elena manipulated the wind, lightly hopping from tree to tree like a bird, scanning the surroundings and warning Allen of potential dangers. Allen, on the other hand, used Void Magic to gain spatial awareness, keeping a broad lookout and efficiently eliminating any magical beasts they encountered.

Their cooperation was not based on trust, but rather a dry, utilitarian relationship aimed purely at survival and mutual use.

Elena was still on guard against Allen’s power, feeling unease at the coldness and the otherworldly nature of his abilities. His occasional superhuman combat skills were both impressive and terrifying.

(Who is this man…? That power… it’s not normal magic…)

On the other hand, Allen had evaluated Elena’s abilities. Her wind-based scouting and mobility were useful for progressing through the forest. However, her deep-seated distrust and occasional displays of human emotion were incomprehensible to Allen, and to him, they seemed like nothing more than weakness.

(As long as I can use her, I will. That’s all.)

Such awkward companionship continued for several days, until one day, while veering off the beast trail, they heard ragged breathing and the sound of metal scraping from a dense thicket.

“…! This presence… a human? And there’s magic…!”

Elena used the wind to probe the area and signaled to Allen.

They cautiously moved towards the source of the noise.

After breaking through the thicket, they came upon an incredible sight in a slightly open area.

Several black stakes protruded from the ground, connected by magic-infused steel wires, forming a clever trap that had ensnared a dwarf.

The dwarf was muscular, with a prominent beard, and carried a massive battle axe on his back. He had been immobilized by the trap, unable to move. Using his immense strength, he tried to tear the steel wires apart, but they seemed to be made of a special alloy, and they wouldn’t budge.

“Damn it! Who set this damn trap?!”

The dwarf cursed as he continued to resist. The complexity of the trap seemed too advanced for a mere magical beast deterrent. It was clearly designed to restrain the dwarf’s strength.

“…A dwarf? What is he doing here?”

Elena muttered suspiciously. It was rare for a dwarf to venture so deep into the Forbidden Forest alone.

Allen silently observed the trap’s structure.

The magic-infused steel wires, the arrangement of the stakes in the ground, and the magical flow sustaining the trap. Disabling it wouldn’t be easy.

“…Should we help him?”

Elena asked, a mix of caution and faint sympathy in her voice.

Allen thought for a moment. There was no obligation to help the dwarf, but if they left him, he would surely become a target for the magical beasts. More importantly, this situation was a perfect opportunity to test a new application of his Void Magic.

“…Move.”

Allen said curtly, signaling Elena to step back, then stood in front of the trap.

The dwarf, noticing Allen, looked at him in shock.

“Hm? What’s this… are you going to help me?”

Without answering the dwarf’s question, Allen slowly extended his right hand toward the trap.

Then, he activated his power to interfere with the space itself.

“Space Crush”

In response to Allen’s will, the space around the steel wires constricting the dwarf subtly distorted, vibrating, and then—ruptured.

It wasn’t physically cut. The connection between the wires was “erased” from space itself.

The magic-infused steel wires lost their power and hung loosely. The stakes, too, became loose as the coordinates of the space they were fixed in shifted.

“Wha… what the hell?!”

The dwarf was suddenly freed from the trap and stared around, confused.

Elena, too, was taken aback by the new power Allen had shown. It was an incomprehensible phenomenon, as though defying the laws of physics.

“…Thanks. You’re using some strange power, but it seems you know what you’re doing.”

The dwarf, who introduced himself as Garud, stood up brusquely and thanked Allen.

“Allen.”
“…Elena.”

After Allen and Elena introduced themselves, Garud’s gaze shifted to the short sword strapped to Allen’s waist.

“Hmph, Allen, huh? But you, with that piece of junk—how the hell did you make it this far with a sword like that? I can tell just by looking at it; it’s terrible quality. Let me see it.”

Without waiting for an answer, Gald snatched the sword from Allen and began inspecting it with a practiced hand.

“Huh… I thought so. The steel quality is bad, and the balance is all off. With this, you can’t even make a proper cut.”

Garud said with a disappointed tone, but without missing a beat, he pulled out a portable anvil, hammer, and whetstone. Then he began to work on the sword right there.

The rhythmic sound of metal striking metal echoed through the air. He sharpened the blade, applied heat to correct any warps, and adjusted the grip. His movements were those of a skilled craftsman, demonstrating his expertise.

“…A blacksmith?”

Allen asked, and Garud didn’t stop working as he responded.

“Well, yeah. I used to be from a fairly well-known family… but let’s not talk about the past.”

A slight, wistful expression appeared on his face as he continued to work.

“As a thank you, I’ve improved it a bit. The materials are too bad to do anything major, but it should be better than before.”

Garud handed the sword back to Allen after finishing his work. Allen took it and felt that it was indeed more comfortable in his hand, with a sharper edge.

“…Thanks.”

“Hmph. So, what are you two doing way out here in the middle of this forest? Are you being hunted too?”

Garud asked, eyeing them suspiciously.

“…Something like that.”

Allen answered briefly. Elena remained silent, looking down.

“I see. I’m in a similar situation. Some ‘research’ of mine rubbed some folks back home the wrong way, and now I’m stuck here, looking for something.”

Garud said, laughing bitterly.

“Something you’re looking for…?”

“Yeah. I’m searching for a legendary mineral that’s supposed to be somewhere in this forest. With it, I’ll be able to make what I want to make. I’ll be able to prove that my craftsmanship is the real deal.”

His eyes held a deep pride as a blacksmith and a frustration at not being recognized for his skills.

Allen began to feel that Garud, the dwarf, might offer more value than just as an ally.

His exceptional blacksmithing skills and the fact that he, too, was someone ostracized by society made him a valuable asset.

(He might be useful…)

“…We need to get out of this forest as well. Our destination might be the same. How about it? Want to join us temporarily?”

Allen proposed, echoing the same offer he had given Elena earlier.

Garud studied Allen’s face for a moment before grinning.

“Hmph, interesting. Your strange power and the girl’s wind skills might come in handy. Alright, I’ll join you, but don’t slow me down.”

Thus, Allen, Elena, and the newly joined Garud began their strange journey together.

Despite the continued mistrust and wariness among them, their shared goals—or perhaps shared enmity—bound them together, if only for a time.