The Regressed Magic Swordsman Devours the North - Chapter 68

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 68. Gears of Fate (6)
I took a sip of the Rooibos Tea that Brillis had prepared, then spoke.
“It truly has such a deep flavor. It’s almost unbelievable.”
“I’m delighted. I adore tea, so I’ve traveled across the continent gathering rare varieties.”
“Then this tea carries your personal care. I’m not sure I deserve such an indulgence.”
“Of course you do. I prepared it with you in mind.”
“Thank you. Though there is one thing that troubles me.”
Brillis answered, still smiling warmly.
“Do speak your mind.”
I mirrored her smile with a gentle one of my own.
“You needn’t be so formal with me. Speak as you would naturally.”
“My, are you suggesting I’m old?”
“Not at all. To be honest, I knew who you were from what Father told me. That’s precisely why I was so surprised—the moment we passed each other in the corridor, I thought you were my age.”
“That’s quite the compliment.”
“I mean it sincerely. So please, speak freely with me. Call it intuition, but I have a sense we’ll be seeing each other often. I’d like you to treat me as someone you can be comfortable with.”
Brillis’s expression warmed at my flattery.
“It’s hard to believe you’re only twenty-two. You speak with such polish, and I don’t see a trace of youthful impetuousness.”
She’d dropped the formal tone.
Her words carried a weight I hadn’t heard before.
“Perhaps it’s because I’m in the presence of a true adult?”
Brillis laughed aloud, then replied.
“You really are different from other children. And I mean that as a compliment.”
Something warm flickered across Brillis’s face—genuine favor. I took it as an excellent sign.
‘The goodwill of an Archmage carries value in itself.’
“I heard Father offered you a professorship at Seiren Academy. And that you told him you’d decide after meeting me.”
“That’s right.”
“May I ask your reason?”
Brillis set down her teacup, took a sip, and answered.
“A professorship at Seiren Academy isn’t remotely compelling. You know that yourself, don’t you?”
“I think of Seiren Academy as a vessel. If you fill it, it becomes a vessel that holds a gem.”
“That’s why I wanted to meet you.”
I formed a theory about why Brillis had decided to meet me before making her choice. There were two likely reasons.
First: she was intrigued by someone who had awakened a fire-affinity aura in the Northern Region.
Second: she was fascinated by a knight who had awakened his Core and then, with his Saint Circle awakened as well, became a mage.
Yet when she met me, she asked nothing and avoided all the obvious questions.
If that was calculation, it was calculation indeed.
‘I need to be careful. I’m dealing with a three-hundred-year-old schemer.’
But what came from Brillis’s lips was nothing like I’d anticipated.
“If you become my assistant, I’ll accept the position. That’s my decision, having met you.”
“…I beg your pardon?”
I’d tried to keep my composure during our conversation, but this was so unexpected I couldn’t help but be taken aback.
“It’s hardly a poor bargain, is it? Don’t you want to grow stronger as a fire-affinity mage? You won’t find a master like me anywhere.”
She was right.
Before the Regression, I’d reached Fifth Rank with sheer effort, but advancing further required a teacher.
However, enrolling as an academy student meant taking other classes—it wasn’t efficient.
And asking for private tutoring was unreasonable; Brillis’s time was far too precious.
Even if she took the professorship at Seiren Academy, she wouldn’t abandon her work at the Black Magic Tower.
…In other words, there was no reason to refuse.
“If you need time to think, take it. The commission still has far to go, and I’m not asking you to decide this instant.”
“Please, don’t misunderstand. I was simply overwhelmed at the prospect of becoming your assistant—I needed a moment to collect myself.”
“So you accept?”
“It is an infinite honor.”
Brillis smiled gently at my answer.
“A young mage who ignited flame across the frozen wastes. Refining you—it feels like the work left for me to do.”
I was a task left undone. I couldn’t fully grasp the meaning behind her words, but I sensed they carried a deep, sorrowful weight.
And because of that weight,
I knew I had to ask now.
“What do you think of the dead gods?”
“Mmm. First, what are gods to begin with, and what is death? For a god, is stasis truly death? That’s what I need to ponder.”
“…That’s a remarkably philosophical answer.”
“How disappointing for you, is it?”
“Not at all. It’s simply a lot to comprehend.”
“Then ask me something else.”
“Yes. Then, how did you know I was a mage?”
“I came to the Northern Region searching for the Sun. And then fate whispered it to me.”
…….
Brillis didn’t seem hostile toward me, yet she offered nothing in the way of straightforward answers.
‘Then I’ll lay my cards on the table.’
I quietly activated Mana Detection.
It was the only way I could express the Divine Nature within me right now.
Thump—thump—
The Divine Nature lodged in my heart resonated.
Mana bloomed throughout the room.
In that instant.
——Whoosh!
Something erupted from within Brillis’s robes.
“……!”
I recognized the creature at once—a flame salamander spirit, sculpted from fire itself.
“Salamander?”
Though Brillis knew I had activated Mana Detection, she maintained her serene smile.
Salamander regarded me and spoke in a dignified gentleman’s voice.
“A pleasure to meet you, Sion Karsen. I am Salamander, the familiar of Brillis.”
The voice was truly unimaginable from that appearance.
Nevertheless.
I returned his greeting.
“A pleasure indeed.”
“Up close, it’s unmistakable. I can feel the Divine Nature. But let’s save the details for later—might we examine the egg stored in that safe?”
“……Yes. Well.”
In truth, it had been a gamble. I’d wagered that if she recognized the Divine Nature, she’d tell me something.
But.
What kind of mess is this?
I think I’ll have to rename today “The Day of Surprises” and redefine it as “Nothing goes according to plan.”
As soon as I opened the safe, Salamander bounded up and clung directly to the Black Egg.
Then he licked his tongue and spoke.
“Hmm…… Curious. So it’s like this, after all.”
‘Like what, exactly? Speak plainly.’
Indifferent to my silent complaint, Salamander circled the egg, bobbing his head and flicking his tongue—every movement pure lizard.
“This seems to be either my brother or my sworn enemy.”
“……What do you mean?”
Brother or sworn enemy? Did he mean a lizard or a serpent of some kind?
When I asked in confusion, Brillis smiled knowingly and answered.
“Its existence hasn’t been determined yet.”
“Its existence hasn’t been determined…… Could it be.”
I wanted to ask if this egg—since it was retrieved from the Hwabingryong Dungeon among the ruins of the Lumen God—might be a Hwabingryong egg?
But I hadn’t yet shown all my cards, so I expressed it through analogy instead.
“So you’re saying it could be a fire spirit or an ice spirit?”
At that, Salamander narrowed his eyes. Whether he grasped my analogy, I couldn’t tell, but he offered another answer.
“You’re asking whether it could be a lizard or a serpent?”
“Ah, no. Not quite.”
I wasn’t being entirely truthful—the thought had crossed my mind. But I hadn’t expected him to read it so accurately.
Brillis laughed, amused, while Salamander widened his eyes once more and spoke.
“It’s all right. Your guess isn’t entirely off the mark.”
Salamander went on to explain that when this egg hatched, it could indeed become either a fire spirit or an ice spirit.
He added that it might become a lizard, a serpent, or even a bird.
“There’s no determination yet. It depends entirely on what mana it receives.”
“If it receives my mana, would it become human?”
“Ha—no. It would become a magical beast or spirit that can emerge from the egg.”
“That’s a relief.”
I genuinely meant it.
The thought of a human suddenly hatching from the egg was not a comforting one.
I’ve never been married in the first place.
As I was taking comfort in that thought, Salamander suddenly leaped onto Brillis’s shoulder and spoke.
“However, what I wish to convey now is not that.”
“Then what?”
“This egg could become either a calamity that brings ruin to humanity, or a familiar bound in loyalty to you, Sion.”
I nodded heavily.
‘Brother or enemy. So that’s what it meant—an existence not yet determined.’
“The Mana contained within the egg is extraordinary. If it hatches, it will become a far more powerful creature than even I am.”
“……!”
This time, I was taken aback even more.
Through Mana Detection, I had glimpsed Salamander’s Mana reserves—they far exceeded my current level.
If the egg were to hatch, spawning a Magical Beast more powerful than Salamander itself?
That would be far more than an ordinary disaster.
“Then what should we do? Should we destroy it now?”
Salamander shook his head at my words.
“There appears to be no risk of hatching in the near future. And if we destroy it, another egg like this will simply emerge elsewhere. I would sooner recommend taming it as a familiar.”
“That means you know the method to tame it as well?”
This time, Brillis opened her mouth.
“In the Black Magic Tower, there exists a Mythic-Era Magical Artifact capable of examining the egg’s condition and binding it in servitude.”
A Mythic-Era Magical Artifact—a tool left behind by the dead gods when they still walked the earth, fashioned for the humans of this world.
Each one was precious enough that you’d need to sell a small to medium Territory just to afford it.
“……Can I possibly purchase such a thing?”
“Unfortunately, it is not for sale. Its value cannot even be measured. However.”
Brillis smiled brightly and continued.
“I will give it to you as a gift. A token that says, do well from here on.”
“……!”
I was rendered speechless—I never expected her to simply give away a Mythic-Era Magical Artifact whose value cannot be measured.
Why?
Does she mean to clear some debt of conscience she feels toward me?
……That’s probably not it.
What would a Grand Mage need to do that for?
“Is there perhaps something else you desire?”
“There is no hidden agenda. Do not worry. I truly am rooting for you.”
To be honest, I don’t entirely believe her words, but gratitude is gratitude regardless.
“……I am truly grateful.”
“Assistant instructor duties will not be easy.”
“Ah, yes……indeed.”
Brillis smiled with amusement and stood from her seat.
“Then, I look forward to our next meeting.”
“I shall see you out.”
I too rose to escort her, but Brillis drew near and placed a hand on my shoulder, speaking.
“That’s fine. And this is a token of our meeting.”
She held out a sheet of Parchment. I received it and read it with my eyes.
『Four-Star Magic: Salamander’s Tunnel』
“……! Did you perhaps develop this magic yourself, Brillis?”
Brillis did not answer, only smiled faintly, then turned and walked away with a steady, rhythmic gait.
After she had taken only a few steps, her form suddenly vanished like a mirage.
“…….”
The sight was so wondrous that it felt as though I were dreaming.
At any rate.
It was truly a rare experience.
***
Tap, tap.
Brillis Arcadine walked through ‘spaces’ far removed from one another.
After several steps, she had exited the capital of the Northern Region, Seiren. A few more steps, and she stood on the mountainside where Seiren was visible in the distance below.
She posed a question to Salamander.
“You’re certain of it, yes?”
“Yes, Brillis. I am certain. He is the Sun.”
“……Yes. It seems he truly is humanity’s only remaining hope.”
Salamander nodded and spoke.
“Both Divine Nature and Demonic Essence emanated from that Black Egg simultaneously.”
“It has to shift toward Divine Nature entirely. In whatever direction benefits him.”
“You seem quite delighted, if I may say so.”
Brillis answered with a radiant smile.
“It’s the most entertaining thing I’ve done in all my years.”
The Regression Swordmage Devours the Northern Region
Author
: Bangsim
Date of Production
: June 16, 2026
Publisher
: ACES MEDIA Co., Ltd.
Editor-in-Chief
: ACES MEDIA Editorial Team
Address
: 10F, Urban Bench Building, 325 Teheran-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
Email
: [email protected]
※ This work is published by ACES MEDIA Co., Ltd. in accordance with the copyright holder’s contract.
No part of this content may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means without permission from the publisher and author.
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UCI
: G720:N+A129-20260615032

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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