Ionia, Where Magic Ran Rampant

"Are you here to see me off, or to pick a fight?"

He gently pushed up the sword at his waist with his thumb, exposing part of the gleaming blade to the sunlight.

"Mm... I'm not here to pick a fight. It's just..."

Yasuo looked at the sword in Li Ke's hand. If he remembered correctly, it was Yone's favorite sword. Because of him, Yone had given it to Li Ke.

Honestly, he wanted to buy that sword back. But whenever he had money, he spent it on drinking and eating meat, or treating his fellow disciples to feasts. Unlike his brother, he never saved any money.

So...

He had no money to buy it back. Even his own sword had been bought by Yone.

"Huh? Don't tell me this is about this sword?"

Li Ke raised a brow and lightly patted the sword at his waist, more or less understanding what Yasuo was thinking.

Yasuo nodded eagerly, then suddenly realized something and hurriedly explained, "Mm. If you're willing to give it to me, that would naturally be best... Mm, no, don't misunderstand, that's not what I meant."

As he spoke, he took an insignia from his pocket. It was exquisitely made, but covered in grime and even carried a stench of alcohol. Still, Yasuo held it out to Li Ke.

"This is the insignia of a merchant from Shon-Xan. I saved his life once, and he said he would repay me. So I thought... Mm, you could take this insignia to him and have him give you a better sword or something..."

Li Ke rolled his eyes and took the insignia. Though Yasuo was currently an absolute piece of trash—arrogant, conceited, and an idiot—his nature was not actually bad.

He simply had not yet been beaten down by reality, and Yone and Elder Souma were still cleaning up after him, so he never thought before speaking or acting.

No, he had no brain to begin with.

After taking the insignia, Li Ke turned and left, leaving Yasuo looking somewhat awkward. In the end, though, he had no nerve to say anything.

"Yone is my friend. I won't stand by and watch him go without a suitable weapon."

Yasuo was overjoyed and hurriedly called his thanks after Li Ke's retreating back.

"Mm! Thanks!"

His lips trembled, but in the end, he failed to say the words "I'm sorry." He could only watch Li Ke walk farther and farther away until he disappeared from sight.

Li Ke did not take the matter to heart. He had already planned to replace the sword in his hand anyway. As for finding that Shon-Xan merchant, he was in no hurry. Even if he did go, he first needed to complete the task Elder Souma had entrusted to him.

He walked briskly. There were few means of transportation on Ionia's roads, and since it was not market day, Li Ke could only walk to a larger town and catch a carriage there to Shon-Xan.

Nothing unexpected happened on Li Ke's way to town. Aside from a few farmers greeting him, nothing of note occurred. Nor did he expect anything to happen. This was Ionia, not some war-torn land.

At least, not yet.

After reaching the town, Li Ke asked the local carriage driver and learned that the carriage would not depart for another two hours. He headed to a restaurant in town, intending to order a few small dishes to pass the time.

Ionian food was exceptionally delicious. Although its seasonings differed from those in his previous life, both the texture and flavor were excellent.

Most importantly—

The cooks here used magic when they cooked.

"Warm me a bowl of fruit wine, a plate of peanuts, and a dish of beef."

Li Ke set his sword on the table and placed his order with the owner. Then he watched as the owner wrapped his wok in a ball of flame and began cooking with magic.

Azure flames heated the iron wok until it glowed red, and the oil inside swiftly came to a boil. Plump peanuts fell into the pan one after another, soon releasing an enticing aroma.

Li Ke lifted the fruit wine brought over by the innkeeper's wife—or perhaps daughter—a timid-looking girl with cat ears atop her head. He casually took out some money from his pocket and paid for the meal.

It had to be said that although Ionia's society was backward and still operated under a tribal system, its resources were absurdly abundant. That, too, was the work of magic.

Li Ke could not help looking toward the nearby fields. He could clearly see that when the farmers tilled the soil, either their hoes glimmered with faint spiritual light, or they muttered one or two simple incantations passed down among farmers as they planted.

That was right—they chanted spells to farm. And beyond that, they used magic in every aspect of daily life.

For example...

"Ma'am, do you have any bowls or other things here that need repairing?"

A young man in ragged clothing entered the restaurant and somewhat nervously asked the cat-eared proprietress. She was startled at first, but after hearing his stomach growl, she quickly nodded and went into the kitchen to bring out a pile of bowls.

Then Li Ke watched the young man pick up a bowl and a tool. As he slowly turned the bowl that had split cleanly in two, he chanted something under his breath.

Then, amid the faint glow of magic, the bowl's crack began to mend. The bowl that had been broken in half returned to its original form.

Even its somewhat worn appearance became noticeably newer, while several smaller chips were restored by the magic as well.

This was Ionia—a place where magic had seeped into every trade, making it nearly impossible for someone without magic, like Li Ke, to get by.

It was also the sort of place that made Noxians feel like they had seen a ghost.

Just think about it. Even a farmer knew magic for turning the soil, yet people actually thought this damned place was a soft target...

"This kid's pretty skilled."

Li Ke muttered to himself. He thought of his shattered sword. If he had brought the fragments with him today, perhaps this hungry young man could have repaired it.

He let out a soft breath. Ionian fruit wine was much like the fruit beer from Li Ke's previous life: sweet and refreshing, with little alcohol. Most importantly, the owner had added a rare herb that made it invigorating and clear-headed, so it would not get him drunk.

Paired with the glossy, oil-coated peanuts the owner brought over, it was undeniably a pleasure. The beef Li Ke had ordered was soon delivered as well, along with a small dish of sesame oil.

Li Ke took out the dry rations he had brought—a tough, unleavened flatbread—and began eating it with the beef and peanuts, all while keeping an eye on the carriage. If he missed this one, he would have to wait another week before he could leave.

But things were never so convenient. Just as Li Ke waited in peace, a long-haired figure suddenly emerged from outside the town and showed an insignia to the carriage driver. The next moment, the driver stood up and prepared to set the carriage in motion.

Clearly, they were leaving.

"..."

Looking at the still hot, oil-glistening peanuts and the beef he had barely touched, Li Ke only wanted to curse.