The Shepherd Alone on the Hill is a Genius Wizard

After several more tests, it was confirmed that the silent stone throw was not just quieter but an incredible technique with more than twice the original speed and even greater penetrating power.

Given that it would be difficult to perceive and dodge even with a noble's reflexes, it was essentially a guaranteed lethal technique if properly aimed.

Of course, there were drawbacks as well.

First, he couldn't throw freely while running around like he used to with regular stone throws.

Even for relatively close targets, he needed to spend at least one second implementing the wind path, and for distant targets more than five seconds—because if he moved, the starting point would change and he'd have to create a new path entirely.

And second—

"Another failure..."

Watching the stone fly with a bang, Turan sighed in disappointment.

He could see the deer that had been his target frantically running away in shock.

The principle of silent stone throwing was to control the wind path by extending mana in advance, then accelerate by clearing the air to eliminate resistance as the stone flew through.

Because of this, if the target moved during flight and the trajectory deviated, he couldn't quickly correct it.

If the stone moved even slightly according to guidance magic, it would catch partially on the wind and ruin the entire trajectory.

Of course, he could forcibly apply power with mana to correct such situations, but from that point both efficiency and power would be shattered.

Though he tried various tests, there seemed to be no way to overcome this.

'Since no opponent will stay still during a fight, I'll have to use it strictly for surprise attacks. Or against targets that can't move...'

Of course, even with just that it was a terrifyingly fearsome technique.

If he launched such an attack while concealed, and even enhanced its power by channeling maximum mana, the opponent wouldn't even be able to react.

Even a top-tier wizard like Meisa would probably faint or suffer similar damage if hit in a vital spot by this attack without defensive magic devices.

'I guess I'll end today's practice here.'

As the sun was already setting, Turan called Bize who was playing far away and returned to Kalamaf City.

It had been three weeks since announcing that the western threat had been eliminated.

As winter gradually retreated and the air became pleasantly cool, he could see the citizens' clothes had noticeably thinned.

However, looking down from above, the city's south gate entrance appeared unusually chaotic.

Had some incident occurred?

Activating his senses, he could feel three or four nobles and over twenty knights standing near the entrance.

After confirming there were no threatening opponents, he landed, and a police officer who had been anxiously fidgeting nearby rushed over to report.

"Guardian of the city! The lord of Bigen has come personally requesting a meeting—what should we do?"

"The lord of Bigen?"

Turan recalled his memories for a moment.

That was the city located southeast of Kalamaf, geographically closest to the Enril Desert, wasn't it?

He also remembered that one of the nobles who had visited before was that lord's son.

"Since they've come from another city, we can't treat them poorly. Guide them to the central mansion."

Upon receiving the order, the police officer's face brightened considerably.

How worried must he have been, having to keep wizards from another city's lord waiting at the city gates?

"Understood!"

Since Kalamaf overcame its crisis, Turan had been implementing policies to help the poor people living in the central mansion build their own small houses and become independent.

This wasn't because he suddenly desired mansion life, but because he knew that whoever ended up ruling the city wouldn't allow commoners to continue living there.

Of course, it was still quite empty since he hadn't indulged in luxuries like repurchasing expensive furniture that had been lost or maintaining the garden, but it was still better than city hall.

Shortly after, Turan sat across from the lord of Bigen in the former lord's office, which had only a few desks and chairs brought in.

"This is our first direct meeting! Guardian of Kalamaf. I am Alos, lord of Bigen and head of House Mebern."

"I am Turan of Kalamaf."

Alos, the lord of Bigen, was a middle-aged man with a shrewd—or one might say cunning—impression similar to his son who had visited before.

He lightly gauged the mana and immediately took a humble attitude toward Turan, who looked at least a hundred years younger than himself.

"My foolish son visited before—I hope he wasn't discourteous."

"Not at all. Though I was a bit taken aback when he suddenly brought up marriage."

"Haha, that was more the unanimous opinion of all the lords in this region rather than my own..."

Based on his experience so far, lords of regions without a monarch to serve, like this Grey Zone, were often somewhat arrogant and inconsiderate, but this one seemed used to being mindful of others.

Just look at how skillfully he deflected responsibility.

"Anyway, that's the reason I came personally this time."

They both knew what "that" meant without having to say it.

The condition for becoming the city's lord—investigating the whereabouts of Turan's mother.

As expected, being the city closest to Zahar's territory, the Enril Desert, they likely had the highest chance of success.

"Have you found any clues?"

"I pride myself on having discovered quite certainly who that woman was. I doubt any other lord here has learned as much. Have others come before me?"

"No, not yet."

Turan's heart beat roughly at the confidence in those words.

However, for some reason, after making such a bold claim, Alos scratched his eyebrow with a somewhat less confident expression.

"However... based on this information, it's difficult to guess where that woman is now, so honestly, if that's what you're looking for, I won't be much help."

"That's fine."

After all, Turan already knew his mother had arrived at Hisaril Hill, given birth to and raised him, then passed away.