The Son-In-Law of the Magician Is a Transcendent Sword Master - Chapter 11
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 11
The air in the separate residence hung heavy.
I looked out the window.
In the garden, servants with brooms were struggling to erase the traces of the duel.
Mostly the bloodstains from Arno’s nosebleed.
Perhaps because of that. The glances the servants cast my way as they came and went were far from welcoming.
‘Well, even though I won the duel, I’m still an outsider after all.’
The rolling stone had scratched the embedded stone. The fact that the embedded stone was this family’s heir, Arnaud von Benheim, made the situation even more awkward.
I could feel the wariness and hostility that Benheim’s mages held toward my existence becoming even clearer.
—Click-clack, click-clack.
As I was having such thoughts, I heard the regular sound of footsteps climbing the stairs.
“Lord Reagan, the family head has come to see you.”
The maid Sheril said.
“Hmm….”
The family head, Steren von Benheim.
I wondered when he would come.
Since I had punched his son in the jaw, he had every right to be furious.
“Reagan, I heard the news.”
Steren entered the room, hung his bowler hat on the coat rack, and sat down in a chair.
I had countless excuses. Above all, it had been a fair and square duel, so I felt confident.
However, I was someone who had at least learned to read the room.
Here, I decided to act like a child who had broken a window.
“…Family head, I am deeply reflecting on this incident.”
“What exactly are you reflecting on?”
“…Um.”
“See? You don’t really think you did anything wrong.”
Whether I lacked acting talent despite having some sense, or whether it was due to the archmage’s excellent insight, Steren saw through my pretense immediately.
“Reagan, just so you know, I didn’t come here to blame you.”
What appeared on Steren’s face was a deep smile.
“I heard my son Arno wagered an elixir on the duel.”
“…Yes. That’s correct.”
“The elixir is a treasure that Benheim manages with special care. It’s not something just anyone can obtain, nor can we readily hand it over to an outsider of the family.”
“Yes. I understand. It was just something I said casually. You don’t need to worry about it.”
It was indeed absurd to obtain a high-grade potion like an elixir from a single duel. When even low-grade potions on the market had people overflowing with offers to pay extra, where would you find someone willing to readily throw an elixir to an outside mage?
“Reagan, let me say this again. I didn’t come here to blame you.”
However, the words that came from Steren’s mouth were beyond my expectations.
“Benheim never breaks its promises. Especially when the one who made it is my son, the family’s heir—as both family head and father, it’s only right that I hand over the elixir.”
“…?”
“However, taking out an elixir requires the elders’ permission. Reagan, in that sense, let me make you another proposal. Instead of an elixir, I’ll give you something even better. Does that pique your interest?”
“Something better than an elixir… what would that be?”
At my question, the corners of Steren’s mouth curved gently.
“I heard from Sheril. You haven’t created a mana core yet, have you?”
“…Don’t tell me.”
“That’s exactly it. Originally, I planned to give you the finest mana cultivation method available on the market once you became a proper mage, but beating my son proves your talent, doesn’t it?”
Steren declared with a hearty smile.
“I’ll teach you Benheim’s unique mana cultivation method.”
Even I, who had been through all sorts of experiences, couldn’t help but be surprised by those words.
Mana cultivation methods are the deepest roots among secret magic. In other words, they are the foundation of a family.
“Family head, are you serious?”
“When have I ever lied? Benheim is a family that keeps its word.”
“But I don’t carry Benheim blood. I’ve only been in the family for barely a week. Most importantly, I haven’t even officially become a member of Benheim.”
“Right. Do you think that would be a problem?”
“…Wouldn’t it be a problem?”
“No. You’re right. It would be a problem. Quite a big problem at that. The elders would be furious if they knew, and if word reached other families, they’d try to recruit you by any means.”
Steren continued with a playful tone.
“But when I, as the family head, want to give full support to a promising talent, is there anyone who could stop me? As I said, there would be opposition, but not enough to change my mind.”
Being of humble birth, I don’t know much about noble society. However, I’ve picked up stories while living as a mercenary. Nobles are generally arrogant and haughty.
But what about Steren? To readily offer to teach secret techniques to some unknown fellow who had beaten up his own son just hours ago.
Benheim’s family head was more of a good person than Renia had described, and more than I had expected.
“Ah, Reagan. Before being a family head, as a mage, I must say this. A mana cultivation method is the very source of a mage. If you receive Benheim’s unique mana cultivation method, you’ll essentially share the same roots as us.”
“….”
“This is not a matter to be taken lightly. If you decide to receive the mana cultivation method, you won’t be able to easily leave Benheim. Are you still fine with that?”
I inwardly smiled at Steren’s question.
I was already in the same boat as Renia.
There was no reason to hesitate.
“…That’s exactly what I want.”
Steren stroked his mustache with a satisfied expression.
“Good. Follow me. Let’s go to the mana vein.”
* * *
The Benheim Count’s family possessed a very vast estate.
There was a main house reminiscent of a castle, a towering magic tower, and four separate residences. Finally, there was a semicircular garden that seemed to embrace them all.
Befitting a great magic family, the garden was no ordinary garden either. Following the path that led behind the main house, I could see a waterfall with rushing water, and below it stood a small altar.
“This is the mana vein. It’s also called a mana ley line.”
Stern, who had led me to this place, spoke.
“In Benheim’s thousand-year history, this place has never once been unimportant. How do you feel about it, Reagan?”
Befitting the mana vein of one of the Five Great Magic Families, I could immediately tell that the concentration of mana swirling around was dense.
It felt as if all the hair on my body was standing on end.
“I could even use 3rd-tier magic here.”
“Haha. Yes. Your mana sensitivity is excellent. As you say, the mana here is superior both quantitatively and qualitatively to that outside. It’s truly the optimal environment for creating a mana core.”
Stern found a decently sized rock in front of the waterfall and led me to it.
“Come, sit down.”
Following Stern’s words, I sat cross-legged, and he gestured toward Captain Allet who had accompanied us. Allet approached me with a somewhat displeased expression and handed me a book.
It was an old, shabby book bound with purple cord.
“What is this?”
“It’s a book recording Benheim’s mana cultivation method. This is the first time in hundreds of years we’ve shown this secret manual to an outsider.”
“Is it alright for me to read it?”
“That’s why I brought it out.”
I received the secret manual and read it. The magic book was written in archaic language no longer in use, but thankfully it had annotations, so reading it wasn’t difficult.
How long had I been reading? An exclamation burst forth inside me.
‘This is insane.’
I had wandered the world as a mercenary for nearly ten years. In that process, I had studied countless mana cultivation methods, selecting only the good parts from them to weave into my dantian.
However, this Benheim secret manual I was looking at now was so excellent that even if you combined all the third-rate cultivation methods I’d seen, they couldn’t even touch its toes.
Befitting Benheim, which used rune magic as their unique magical formula, the composition of their mana cultivation method was also specialized for rune magic. A secret manual containing hundreds of years of wisdom. I had never seen such a systematic yet clear mana cultivation method.
“Can you understand it?”
“I can grasp it to some extent.”
Actually, I had understood everything from the moment I first read it. However, to allay suspicion, I tried my best to show the awkward smile characteristic of a young child. This time, Stern also fell for my act.
“Yes. You can’t be full from the first spoonful. I was the same way. Creating a mana core generally takes a long time, so whenever you need to, feel free to enter this mana vein to read the secret manual and enlighten yourself to make it your own. If you have any questions, seek advice from Sheril or the family’s mages anytime.”
“Yes. I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Since today is your first day, I’ll give you some simple guidance. Straighten your back.”
Stern came behind me and placed his hand on my spine. A tickling sensation gathered around my waist and flowed along my backbone.
“Creating a mana core means making a pouch inside your body that can gather mana. Right here, can you feel it?”
Stern’s pure mana precisely targeted my dantian.
“Accept the vast amount of mana flowing from the mana vein and guide it to this area. You must embody absorbing mana like breathing. The mana cultivation method is a way to help that process. Look at the secret manual and follow along slowly.”
“Yes.”
It wouldn’t be difficult.
After all, I had done this several times before.
I sat cross-legged, closed my eyes, and felt the flow of mana.
Benheim had systematized rune characters, the language of the Divine Realm, into magic. Therefore, their mana cultivation method also followed the unique properties of rune magic.
However…
‘I’ll need to modify this a bit.’
Why should I follow Benheim’s mana cultivation method like babbling?
I had already seen the limits.
Even Renia, who had learned this same Benheim mana cultivation method, couldn’t match the Archmage King.
What I needed now was a mana cultivation method that could surpass the Archmage King’s level.
The ultimate mana cultivation method that could encompass both aura and magic.
And I had just obtained good materials.
‘Please don’t think too badly of this.’
I was planning to create a new mana cultivation method based on Benheim’s mana cultivation method.
Yes. Starting right now.
“….”
I slowly calmed my breathing.
And skillfully began to manipulate mana.
* * *
“Hoo―.”
Regular breathing.
The mana I inhaled turned ashen and flowed out with my exhale.
“Good heavens…”
Stern, who had been quietly watching this, clicked his tongue.
Reagan was sitting cross-legged, breathing deeply. What lingered in that breathing was unmistakably mana.
“Captain, do you see it?”
“Yes.”
“That boy has grasped the method of breathing mana in less than half a day. What do you think?”
“…Genius.”
Even Captain Allet, who had brought the secret manual with a displeased expression, couldn’t help but acknowledge it this time.
Being able to handle mana and being able to accept mana into one’s body are completely separate matters.
Even if someone had outstanding talent enough to perfectly mimic magical forms just by reading books, accepting mana well into the body was an entirely different realm.
In that sense, the talent of that boy named Reagan was truly astounding. If he hadn’t been chosen by Benheim’s Grand Mage, Allet would have considered him a spy from another family. Without that, such a coincidence wouldn’t make sense.
“Someone with excellent mana sensitivity could feel mana and flow it into their body within a day. But I didn’t expect him to be this skilled. I don’t even need to help him.”
Stern let out a hollow laugh.
He had planned to guide Reagan until evening, but he changed his mind.
“He’ll figure it out well on his own. Captain, let’s leave so we don’t interfere.”
“Yes.”
Stern and Allet left the mana vein. Reagan didn’t spare them a single glance, concentrating on his meditation. Even then, his breathing wasn’t disturbed at all. It was truly remarkable concentration.
On the way back to the main house, Allet carefully spoke up.
“Master, there’s something I must report.”
“What is it?”
“It’s about that boy learning the family’s mana cultivation method.”
Stern nodded. He had taught Benheim’s unique mana cultivation method, which only direct descendants could inherit, to someone outside the bloodline. If the family elders found out about this, they would surely be furious.
That wasn’t all.
“I cannot deny that the boy’s talent is exceptional. However, if this news spreads outside the family, the other families won’t just stand by.”
Benheim’s secret manual was a treasure coveted by all mages on the continent. If word got out that Reagan had learned Benheim’s mana cultivation method, he would be walking on a knife’s edge.
“It’s not just a problem outside the family. The branch families will also strongly oppose this based on fairness.”
Benheim was a massive family. Besides the direct line including Arno, countless branch family members practiced magic in Benheim’s territory.
The branch families couldn’t learn Benheim’s core magical formulas. If word spread among them that a boy of humble origins had learned the family’s secret arts, the sharp gazes and pressure Reagan would face wouldn’t be trivial.
“Allet, don’t worry. Reagan is clever. He already knows well about his situation.”
“Are you trying to test that boy, Master?”
“A test. You could see it that way. If he overcomes all of this, he would be worthy of being called a proper Benheim mage. When that time comes, he could live with the branch families as an outer mage.”
“We don’t even know the boy’s origins. Even if Reagan overcomes everyone’s scrutiny and becomes an excellent mage, his background will eventually hold him back.”
“Allet, I’m not blind either.”
“Then what do you plan to do?”
“What other choice is there? I’ll have to bring that boy into the family as a member.”
“You don’t mean to give him the family name, do you? No outer mage who has entered Benheim has ever received the family surname. That boy hasn’t even been in the family for a month. The elders won’t allow it.”
“There are ways.”
Stern smiled faintly. He happened to spot the girl Renia strolling in the garden. Allet was shocked as he followed his gaze.
“Are you serious? Miss Renia…”
“Allet, that’s enough. This is just one of many options. What matters most is my daughter’s will. I won’t do anything Renia doesn’t want.”
Stern looked at Renia visible beyond the garden fence. She was holding a basket of food tightly in her arms, and her destination was the mana vein that Stern and Allet had just left.
“Well, it doesn’t seem like it will take very long.”
Stern sighed.
This feeling, as if a heavy stone was lodged in his throat, was the sentiment of a father, not a family head.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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