Isekai Adventure in the Dimensional Cube

As someone who inherited the original owner's memories, Reiger saw memories related to strategic-level magicians that were almost entirely positive from the original owner.

There was no helping it, the original owner had come to the big city to strive for becoming a person above others, to become a noble.

For common folk like him, there were only a few ways to become nobility.

Either he had to perform meritorious military service and be granted a title by the kingdom,

or he had to marry into a high-ranking family or join a noble one,

or he had to make the kingdom value him enough to offer him a title in order to win him over.

The method the original owner chose was the latter.

With his naturally immense magic power, becoming a tactical-level magician was not a very difficult task.

Even, if he was hardworking enough and talented enough, becoming a strategic-level magician was not entirely impossible.

If he could become a tactical-level magician, then he would immediately be appointed a noble title and become a noble.

And if he could become a strategic-level magician, then he could become a national treasure of the entire Ginas Kingdom, be granted the title of a grand noble, and become an existence like Yuri, second only to one above all others.

With such a plan, the memories the original owner had of strategic-level magicians naturally consisted entirely of longing and admiration.

It wasn't just the original owner, most people in this world revered and longed for strategic-level magicians, believing them to be the most powerful magicians in the world.

As long as one could successfully unleash strategic-level magic, they could destroy an entire city or even a small nation in an instant; to common people, this power was undoubtedly indistinguishable from that of a deity.

Only those who lacked sufficient magic power and who, no matter how hard they tried, could not cast strategic-level magic, and not even tactical-level magic—combat-level magicians—would hold the belief that the strong should master combat-level magic and that strategic-level magic was just a weapon for war, impractical and militaristic, looking down on strategic-level magicians.

This view wasn't necessarily wrong.

According to Reiger's understanding, the conditions for releasing strategic-level magic were indeed strict; the chanting time alone was even longer than that of ultra-long chanting spells. To cast a piece of strategic-level magic often required minutes or even dozens of minutes of spell chanting.

With such extensive chants and long chanting durations, they were of no use in the rapidly changing throes of battle.

Let alone strategic-level magic, even tactical-level magic required a minute or several minutes of chanting time, which was not practical in combat.

On the contrary, combat-level magic often only required a few seconds of chanting time, and some didn't even need chanting, spells which could truly become mainstream methods in battle.

In single combat, if a magician was not proficient in combat-level magic, then even if they were a strategic-level magician, they could be taken down in an instant, losing to a street thug was not impossible.

Therefore, tactical-level magic and strategic-level magic hardly had any use in battle, only on the battlefield or in war.

Furthermore, the power and effect range of these two kinds of magic were too broad. They couldn't be used in densely populated areas; in large cities especially, their use constituted disaster. Principally, their use was prohibited by all major nations.

This was quite fascinating.

To boost national power and enhance military strength and deterrence, all the great nations needed to desperately recruit tactical-level magicians and strategic-level magicians.

Yet, outside of the battlefield, tactical-level and strategic-level magic were strictly forbidden and not allowed to be used.

This led to many tactical-level and strategic-level magicians being significantly restricted; without necessity, the nations wouldn't even allow them to leave their territories freely.

It could be said that wherever tactical-level magicians and strategic-level magicians went, they were under surveillance, whether by their own nation or by others.

Therefore, existences like strategic-level magicians were generally looked down upon as mere tools of war by some people, other than the common folk.

And from Yuri's reaction, it was clear that she was not at all proud of her status as a strategic-level magician; she even seemed somewhat sick of it.

Perhaps this person also faced many restrictions and had a life that lacked freedom?

Reiger silently sympathized with the benefactor who had saved his life and spoke up at just the right moment.

"You suddenly brought up the matter of your status to me, does this have something to do with the ambush I experienced?"

Reiger considered this possibility.

Otherwise, why would Yuri bring up her status, which even she didn't care about, out of the blue?

There had to be a reason.

Indeed, that was the case.

"Although tactical-level magic and strategic-level magic are hardly useful in battle, if used on the battlefield, they can indeed be terrifying weapons, that is indisputable," Yuri sighed and said, "The nations of the Akasha continent all desperately covet magicians of these two levels, but conversely, if an enemy nation has such magicians, they pose a huge threat to them."

Reiger narrowed his eyes and said, "Are you implying that the reason I was ambushed is because of this?"

"Yes," Yuri nodded and said, "Actually, I had suspicions when you were ambushed. After being unable to find any clues about the attackers, I came to believe that the person who ambushed you was very likely one of the Heretic Assassins that have been increasingly talked about recently."

Heretic Assassins.

Reiger was aware of this name.

It was something that happened in the last few years.

"In the past few years, several individuals in various nations have been abruptly assassinated, meeting unclear and suspicious deaths," Yuri explained, "Some of them were nobles of a nation, some were emerging talents. At first glance, there seemed to be no connection, but they all had one thing in common: either they were tactical-level magicians or they were exceedingly talented, with the potential to become tactical-level magicians or even strategic-level magicians."

The sudden and unexplained deaths of these talents shook all the major nations, and the news spread across the entire continent, creating a substantial buzz.

Gradually, even the common people came to know of a group operating in the shadows, specifically targeting those tactical-level magicians, strategic-level magicians, and talents who could potentially become one of the two.

"Some suspect they are assassination squads secretly formed by one or more nations, specialized in killing those tools of war from other countries."

"Others suspect they are criminal gangs formed spontaneously by combat magicians who failed to become Tactical Level Magicians or Strategic Level Magicians, aiming for revenge and to vent their frustration."

"There are also suspicions that they are radicals organized by those who oppose the use of magic in war and oppose the phenomenon of nations placing too much emphasis on Tactical Level Magic and Strategic Level Magic, all to change this situation."

Yuri's voice slowly reached Reiger's ears.

"This is the Heretic Assassins, an underground organization that has risen to notoriety in recent years."

The reason Yuri suspected these Heretic Assassins were behind the attempt on Reiger was due to their objectives.

Their targets were the users of Tactical Level Magic and Strategic Level Magic, as well as those who might become such talents.

Reiger happened to fit this criterion.

Additionally...

"Whenever the Heretic Assassins strike, their cleanup is extremely thorough. Over the years, not a single nation has been able to find any clue, which suggests the possibility of one or more national powers supporting them."

This was why Yuri believed the attackers on Reiger were the Heretic Assassins.

The attackers on Reiger were the same, their cleanup too meticulous, hinting at state-level support, and so their methods and traces were dealt with especially cleanly, leaving even a Marquis of Yuri's stature with no intelligence to gather.

"If it truly is the Heretic Assassins coming after you, then leaving here would absolutely not be a good choice," Yuri said. "The opponent is a terrorist organization at the level of national power; you can't fight them alone."

Reiger's brow furrowed deeply.

This matter was indeed tricky.

Although Reiger was not afraid, if the opponent were truly a terrorist organization backed by a national power, he did not delude himself into thinking he could handle everything.

With an unexpectedly powerful enemy, with his current strength, he might only be able to protect himself for a while, not for a lifetime.

He was not the type to rush headlong into danger knowingly.

If there was a reason, Reiger might risk everything to force his way through.

But without a necessary reason, Reiger wouldn't be so foolhardy as to actively seek out grave danger.

This was not an adventure, but merely falling into another's conspiracy and malice, causing pain for loved ones and joy for enemies.

Unfortunately, Reiger detested such conspiracies and malice above all.

"You should stay here for the time being," Yuri said, observing Reiger's deeply furrowed brow. "I've already had someone discreetly spread the news of your injury; if all goes well, you should be able to get out of danger soon."

"Injury?" Reiger was initially startled, then he realized and said, "You mean the matter of my 'Gate' being damaged and unable to use magic anymore?"

"Exactly," Yuri replied with a gentle smile. "Your 'Gate' being damaged and not being able to use magic might not be entirely a bad thing."

If this information reached the ears of the Heretic Assassins, they would likely give up on attacking Reiger again.

After all, their targets were those capable of using Tactical Level Magic and Strategic Level Magic; if Reiger could no longer use magic, he would no longer hold any value as their target.

"Just hide out here with me for a while, it's not a disgrace."

That's what Yuri said.

"What about you?" Reiger asked. "Aren't you their target as well? Aren't you afraid of danger?"

Yuri, being a Strategic Level Magician, should theoretically be the prime target for the Heretic Assassins.

But—

"So far, have you heard of any Strategic Level Magicians being killed?"

The question Yuri lightly threw out left Reiger silent.

In this world, there were only eight existing Strategic Level Magicians.

And to this day, none of these eight had been harmed.

"Don't worry, even if I wanted to die, this nation wouldn't allow it," Yuri said with a touch of irony, before continuing. "Just stay here for now until things cool down, then we can make further plans."

Hearing her words, Reiger thought it over and nodded.

Staying here was also good.

In doing so, he could take the opportunity to delve into the power hierarchy of this world.

"So, it's decided then?" Yuri, seeing Reiger nod, seemed very pleased and urged, "Come on, join me for afternoon tea."

Reiger looked at the black tea in front of him and his expression stiffened.

In that instant, he began to wonder if his decision had been a mistake.