Lord Summoner's Freedom Philosophy: Grimoire of Love

11 The City Of Mercenaries And Merchants, Arkansas

Elemental Mana

Mana is divided into several attributes according to their elements. Fire, Water, Nature, Wind, Dark, and Light, are the main elements comprised inside the world, while other elements like shadow are the derivatives from the main elements.

Most people possess a non-attributed mana, which is a mana that didn't contain nor compatible with any element, making those who possess elemental mana considered rare.

Unlike usual non-attributed mana, those with elemental mana is capable of summoning and conjuring their elements in a form of spells, allowing them to be what we called as magicians and wizards. But as their rarity, mastering the use of controlling and utilizing the elemental mana is not something easy to achieve. But at the same time, those who succeeded on mastering it are capable of utilizing a great amount of strength, and are seeked by various powerhouses.

-Basics of Mana Training Part 2 Book, Great Library of Eureka, The city of academy and magic, Ausbildia

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"What should we do with that thing?" Lyan points at the shadow hobgoblin that is standing still expressionlessly.

(Without the orders of its master, it will continue to stand by, waiting for another command) (Lilith)

"I see... Hm..." Lyan approached the shadow hobgoblin.

"Summoning Grimoire," (Lyan)

The summoning grimoire appeared before Lyan responded to his call.

"Take him to the grimoire's space," Lyan touched the forehead of the shadow hobgoblin with his index finger, and after that command, the shadow hobgoblin started to get engulfed by black particles from the summoning grimoire.

"Hou... It worked!" (Lyan)

Not long after, the shadow hobgoblin disappeared from before Lyan and the black particles return to inside the summoning grimoire as if getting devoured by it.

After absorbing all the black particles, the summoning grimoire shone with black light and its pages flips on their own. As if showing the process to Lyan, the summoning grimoire opens a certain blank page inside it in front of Lyan, and slowly, some writings appeared together with an image of a monster.

"A-a page just got filled..." (Lyan)

[Shadow hobgoblin

A hobgoblin that got devoured by a living shadow that is loyal to its master, granting it the strength to use shadow attribute magic and abilities to protect its master. As the shadow of its master, the hobgoblin is capable of protecting its master and following its master by hiding inside the master's shadow.

The shadow hobgoblin grows stronger by absorbing the shadow essence of dead beings. The stronger the creature that the shadow hobgoblin absorbs the essence of, the stronger it will get.

Health: 100/100%

Status: Healthy

Attribute: Shadow

Mood: Neutral]

"I-I got my first summonable monster!" Lyan exclaimed in joy.

(Try summoning it, master) (Lilith)

"Okay, let's try it. [Summon: Shadow Hobgoblin]!" (Lyan)

The summoning grimoire glows in response to Lyan's command, and black particles gushed out of the summoning grimoire. The black particles quickly went to a certain point and gather, forming a form similar to a human's.

After the black particles dissipated, the figure of the shadow hobgoblin appeared before Lyan with some of its figures magically transformed.

"It's form changed?" (Lyan)

The worn-out armor the shadow hobgoblin used before transformed into a strong-looking jet black armor, and even the sword the hobgoblin was using before transformed into a jet-black sword. And the shadow hobgoblin is now using a black hood that it didn't wear before, while its height got slightly higher.

Before, the hobgoblin's height is about a foot higher than usual goblins, but now, the shadow hobgoblin's height is as tall as Lyan.

"But this mana..." Lyan noticed the familiarity of the mana gushing out from the shadow hobgoblin.

(He smells like Lilith!) (Azelia)

(He got Lilith's mana?) (Arturia)

(Yes, it's mine. It seems that the shadow hobgoblin absorbed my shadow essence that got scattered all over the place in this space. It looks like it'll get even stronger if you let it continue absorbing shadow essence here, master) (Lilith)

(Hou... He looks interesting. Let me play with him when you sent him here) (Griselda)

(Make sure you don't break it, though) (Hestia)

"I see... Then I guess I'll let him get even stronger first. Somehow, summoning something like this is making me excited! Wait, doesn't it mean that I don't need to have intercourse to get the summonable monsters?" (Lyan)

(Hm~ Maybe?) (Lilith)

"I guess we'll need to have more experiments in the future. Now, shadow hobgoblin," Lyan addresses the shadow hobgoblin who is already kneeling in front of Lyan. His eyes are now filled with more intelligence than before.

"[Return]!" (Lyan)

*Poof!*

Unlike before, the shadow hobgoblin's transformation into black particles happen instantly, and the black particles immediately went inside the summoning grimoire.

"Well, now time to continue to go to the city,"

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"So this is a human's city..." Lyan widens his eyes in excitement as he observes the city brimming with life from the distance.

(More accurately, this is the city of mercenaries and merchants, Arkansas. This is a neutral city that didn't belong to any nation and is ruled by the council consisting of big merchants and the guildmaster of the mercenary guild) (Hestia)

"Hou... So this is a city that is not under any nation, huh... Anyway, where is Lilith and lady Griselda?" (Lyan)

(They're playing with shadow!) (Azelia)

(Rather than playing, they're ordering him around. Lilith ordered him to dissect the parts of the goblin corpses and the giant hunting serpent that could be submitted to the mercenary guild as the subjugation proof, while Griselda is testing his abilities. There are only the four of us left here) (Hestia)

"The four of you?" (Lyan)

(Yes. It's me, Hestia, Azelia, and Sylphia. Eira had gone to her room and didn't come out since quite a while ago, while Cynthia went to her room to do her prayer) (Arturia)

"I see. Well, time to check out this so-called city of mercenaries and merchants, I guess," Lyan uttered while trying to suppress the excitement he felt from visiting the fantasy world's human city for the first time.

(Where should I go first, the mercenary guild, and make my mercenary id tag? Or go to a tavern to have a meal and enjoy the RPG-like atmosphere? Or go to the brothel to test out the requirement that needed to get summoned monsters?) (Lyan)

"Ah... I won't be able to do anything without having money, won't I? Then I should go to the mercenary guild first, I guess," (Lyan)

The city of mercenaries and merchants, Arkansas, is surrounded by huge walls. There are only two gates which are on the west and the east side of the city.

"Hm... This city unexpectedly has better security than I thought it is..." Lyan muttered as he join the line consisting of people waiting to be inspected by the guards and enter the gate.

(Of course, it is. There are lots of big merchants that have enough influence with the royals of several countries and have their firms in several countries. Most of them have one of their biggest store here, while some even have their main store here, of course, they would want to have the security heightens) (Hestia)

"I see... So the mercenaries linger around following the demands from the merchants, huh... What a wonderful relationship," (Lyan)

(That's right) (Hestia)

Not long after, Lyan arrived in front of the gate guards.

"Name,"

(Hm... I certainly look suspicious. It would be annoying to be held here too long. I guess we'll need some faint hypnotism here) (Lyan)

Putting a spell on his eyes, Lyan's pupils changed into purple for a moment.

(But my name, huh...) (Lyan)

Lyan's original name is just Lyan, but he remembers the name that the god's voice mentioned when he first open the grimoire.

"Lyan Arkanium Evocatore," (Lyan)

"Okay. Next," The guard noted his name and let him in.

"Phew! That was kind of nerve-wracking," (Lyan)

(Did you use magic, master?) (Arturia)

"Yup. It's just a weak hypnotism to lower the opponent's suspicions against me. I look suspicious, but we didn't harbor any ill intentions towards this city nor anyone inside it. It'll be a bother if we got stopped halfway because of our looks anyway," (Lyan)

(Indeed...) (Arturia)

(Now that I think about it, illusion magic is much more handy and formidable than I thought it was) (Hestia)

(You're right. Looking at master made me reevaluate illusion magic) (Arturia)

(T-That's right) (Sylphia)

"It's not that great. Against someone that has a high mental strength, my illusion magic won't do much," (Lyan)

(But it is enough to give the opponent a moment of weakness and lost your position for a while. It's more than enough in a high-level battle) (Arturia)

"Well, it's easy to say, but to actually maneuver it is much harder than you think. Unlike other mana, illusion magic is hard to use consecutively, and is harder to use illusion magic while using its mana to reinforce your body at the same time. So losing a moment of focus could be dead in such a high-level battle for an illusion magic user like me," (Lyan)

(As expected, there is a certain condition for you to utilize it like that, huh... No wonder) (Hestia)

(Well, I guess that's how the world works) (Arturia)

"By the way, this city truly is amazing..." Lyan praised the scenery around him. The city is filled with medium-size to large-size houses, and the city is organized beautifully and neatly. People bringing carts, huge bags, and swords wander all over the place. The liveliness of the people inside it shows how alive the city is.

"Anyway, I've been walking for a while now, does any of you know where the mercenary guild is?" (Lyan)

(Hm... Try turning around) (Hestia)

Following Hestia's direction, Lyan turns his head around.

(There! That huge building! That is the mercenary guild!) (Hestia)

(Let's go, master! Let's go there!) (Arturia)

Arturia's voice is more energetic than her usual voice.

"Yea! Let's go!" (Lyan)

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Name: Lyan

Occupation: None

Money: None

Weapon: Hobgoblin's Sword