The Son-In-Law of the Magician Is a Transcendent Sword Master - Chapter 111
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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 111
“Did you hear that rumor?”
“Rumor? There are countless rumors in this business.”
“About the Shadow Tower.”
“Ah, I heard. Was it last month? Their Archmage committed a taboo and was punished. The world’s going to hell. When even an Archmage does such things, tsk.”
In the southern part of the Empire, there is a city called Harfen.
Located along a massive river known as the lifeline of the south, it had long been a logistics hub where commerce and water transport flourished.
As such, countless people from all walks of life gathered there, and the taverns scattered throughout the city always buzzed with the chatter of gossipmongers buying and selling information and rumors.
“Actually, there’s a rumor that Benheim was involved in that incident. Do you know Benheim?”
“Ha, even back alley beggars know that place, don’t they? Of course I heard that rumor too.”
“Then did you also hear the news that the family took in a commoner son-in-law?”
“…Hmm? That’s the first I’m hearing of it.”
At a corner table in the tavern.
When the old mercenary with a curly beard frowned, the middle-aged gossipmonger sitting across from him, Corbin Armand, lowered his voice as if he’d been waiting for this moment and began his story.
“Actually, word is that the recent convening of the Great Mage Alliance and all these monthly incidents are because of that commoner son-in-law.”
“What on earth are you talking about?”
“Well, they say that son-in-law is a mage with heaven-sent talent.”
The mercenary who heard gossipmonger Cobin’s words showed an interested expression.
For mercenaries who lived by the sword, mages were always a mysterious realm. So they would often let their imaginations run wild hearing about their ways in taverns like this.
“Good. You’ve got my interest, so pay up. Let’s hear it.”
When the mercenary pulled out a few copper coins from his pocket and placed them on the table, Cobin smiled broadly and pocketed the money.
Benheim’s commoner son-in-law.
This topic had been like an inexhaustible spring for gossipmongers lately.
Cobin had already sold the story of Benheim’s son-in-law twice today in this tavern.
Yesterday was the same.
In fact, the day before and the day before that were no different.
“Do you remember the Trion incident from half a year ago?”
“The Trion incident?”
Cobin cleared his throat and began his story.
“Yes. That terrible incident where the entire city was laughing like they’d lost their minds.”
“Ah, of course I know. Didn’t that turn the Great Mage Alliance upside down?”
“Exactly! And the one who solved that incident was none other than Benheim’s son-in-law! There are even eyewitness accounts of him flying around on a sword!”
“Come on, a person flying on a sword? How is that possible?”
The mercenary let out a hollow laugh as if it was absurd.
Swords were their area of expertise, so what? A mage flying around on a sword?
“And a mage using a sword? That’s too much of a tall tale.”
“It’s not a tall tale! You think that’s all? Do you know Arcamen, the great magic family of the north that forges artifacts?”
“Of course I know them. They’re the blacksmiths who forge the finest weapons. There are plenty of mercenaries who would give their entire fortune just to buy an Arcamen-made weapon.”
“Right. They say Benheim’s son-in-law even fixed an ancient device that was hundreds of years old, which even Arcamen’s master smiths couldn’t repair.”
“What the…”
The mercenary stroked his beard as if incredulous. However, as Cobin passionately argued with a serious face, the mercenary seemed to gradually believe his words.
“Hmm. So what’s the name of this amazing son-in-law?”
“Well… um… was it Ray…an?”
“Rayan? That’s an unusual name. What does he look like? If he’s good enough to sweep away Benheim’s daughter, he must be quite handsome, right?”
At the mercenary’s words, Cobin rubbed his palms together and nodded.
“Good question. Well, that son-in-law, you see. He’s said to have an impressive build. Broad shoulders, arms full of muscle. And his appearance is so striking it’s like he’s not of this world. He has ash-gray hair and eyes that are blue like the deep sea!”
“Ah, like that man who just walked in?”
“Yes, yes. Exactly like… huh?”
Cobin tilted his head in confusion.
The mercenary’s gaze was directed over Cobin’s shoulder toward the tavern entrance.
Cobin carefully turned his head. Just as the mercenary said, a man who looked exactly like what he had just described had indeed opened the tavern door and entered.
His age also appeared to be around twenty, which would fit perfectly if the rumors were true.
‘How convenient.’
Cobin inwardly rejoiced and answered.
“That’s right. Benheim’s son-in-law would look exactly like that.”
“Hmm… Then what does Benheim’s daughter look like?”
“Come on, anyone living in this Empire would know about Benheim. Blonde hair and purple eyes! A beauty that could topple nations! Just remember that!”
The gossipmonger spoke with exaggerated gestures. However, the mercenary didn’t react. Neither did the other customers who had been listening to the story.
“…Huh?”
A strange silence fell over the tavern.
There was no reason for a tavern to be this quiet during the busy evening hours when it should be packed with people.
Finding it strange, Cobin turned his head again.
There stood the ash-haired man quietly looking down at him and…
“Reagan, what’s this situation?”
“Who knows.”
A woman with dazzling golden hair and amethyst-colored eyes stood there, having just pushed through the tavern’s swing doors.
In other words, blonde hair and purple eyes.
Then the ash-haired man raised the corners of his mouth and leaned forward.
“Renia, it seems this gentleman knows us very well.”
Renia.
Cobin mulled over that name.
Soon he realized.
It was a name he had heard before.
Of course…
“Benheim?”
Cobin blinked.
Then he understood the situation he was in.
“Ah…?”
…He understood it all too well.
* * *
A week had passed since I left Benheim Estate with Renia under the pretext of a honeymoon.
Actually, the biggest concern was whether the family head Steren would allow this trip…
– You’re both 6th Rank, so you won’t be looked down upon anywhere. You’re adults, so I have no grounds to stop you. Go ahead.
Whether it was because Renia had broken through the 6th Rank barrier, or because we had come of age and even held a wedding ceremony, Steren’s permission came surprisingly easily.
Instead, Steren made this request:
– However… I’m asking you, please don’t cause any trouble this time.
I didn’t answer.
Renia just smiled sheepishly.
Steren let out a deep sigh.
– …Right. I won’t expect you not to cause trouble. Just come back safely.
Taking those words as our farewell, we departed south.
Our destination was already decided.
‘The Southern Forest.’
The place where Thorn Tower Lord Rosalindr had told us a family dealing with deadly poisons was hiding.
The only problem was that the group controlling the Southern Forest was Maelrn, known as the greatest heretic of the Great Mage Alliance…
‘Well, it should be fine.’
I made the decision based on the judgment that they wouldn’t be so lacking in common sense as to turn away two 6th Rank mages bearing the Benheim name who had come to visit in person.
So we took the carriage Steren had prepared and traveled south along the highway connected to the estate.
However, the paved highway didn’t extend all the way, and it eventually ended at this water transport city called Harfen.
Normally Sheril would have served as our guide, but she was currently too busy with the post-incident restoration of the Shadow Tower as its new Archmage.
In the end, we had to arrange our own transportation and guide. That’s why we had stopped by this tavern, which was said to be the busiest in Harpen.
And just then, I found the perfect person.
“So, you’re a storyteller?”
“Y-yes, that’s right.”
It was Cobin the storyteller.
Since he had just been telling stories about us, I questioned him about it, and Cobin answered while sweating profusely.
“…Ah, haha. The reason I was telling stories about you lords is… well, I’m someone who sells stories for money… such a lowly person, you see.”
“Ahaha. Reagan, you’ve become famous. Even in a place like this, stories about Reagan are going around.”
“…Ugh.”
Renia giggled, and I let out a deep sigh.
Certainly, what Valen had said at the wedding was right.
After officially holding a wedding ceremony with Renia, my name and exploits, which had only circulated within magic circles, had become ridiculously exaggerated and spread widely to the general public.
The heroic tale of a commoner-born son-in-law of a Great Magic Family.
There couldn’t be a more appetizing subject for gossip enthusiasts.
“I don’t mind you making money selling my name, but please do me one favor.”
“…A f-favor, you say?”
“That’s right. You’d even get great story material about actually meeting that son-in-law of Benheim in person. Wouldn’t that be profitable for you too?”
I subtly coaxed Cobin using the smooth talking I’d learned from my mercenary days.
Cobin nodded as if entranced.
“Wh-what favor? I’ll help as much as I can.”
“Right. We want to go to the Southern Forest right now, so I was wondering if you know the way.”
Cobin jumped in surprise and waved his hands frantically.
“Th-the Southern Forest, you say? You mustn’t associate with the people who live there! I know because I’ve been there a few times in my youth!”
“Hmm?”
“Those people, they dress strangely and use curses and sorcery on people! Plus, they’re terrible people who treat outsiders like bugs!”
Indeed.
This seemed to be the common perception ordinary people had of the Southern Forest mages.
Renia made a sullen expression after hearing that story.
“…Reagan, isn’t that too extreme a place to go for a honeymoon?”
“You’re the one who insisted on following along.”
“If I hadn’t followed, you definitely would have caused trouble, Reagan.”
Renia puffed out her cheeks.
I shrugged and turned my gaze to Cobin.
“Anyway, I don’t care what the Southern Forest people are like, I have to go. Just tell me how to get there.”
“If that’s the case… I think it would be best to go to the river port…”
“River port?”
“Yes… A great river flows through the depths of the Southern Forest. Ships that transport timber logged there pass through Harpen here… I think it would be safest to pay the boatmen and enter along the waterway…”
“Hmm…”
A waterway.
Certainly, if it was rough terrain without roads, taking the water route would be easier.
Moreover, during my past life as a mercenary, I had taken escort requests to accompany cargo ships several times.
After finishing my thoughts, I nodded and said.
“Good, then you come along too.”
“What? What do you mean? Come along…”
“Let’s travel together. You said you’ve been to the Southern Forest a few times before. Then you’d be perfect as a guide, wouldn’t you? I was just needing one.”
“…”
Cobin turned pale and gaped.
“Ah, the title for this travelogue would be perfect too. ‘Benheim’s Jungle Expedition’. How about it?”
Cobin slumped down with a hopeless expression.
* * *
That evening we took an inn room on the upper floor of the tavern.
If we had presented Benheim’s seal, the Harpen City Council would have provided us with a luxurious manor to stay in.
However, it seemed like nothing good would come from abusing Benheim’s power outside our estate.
“This place is interesting.”
Renia looked around the old, shabby inn room with sparkling eyes as if she found it fascinating. She plopped down on the creaky blanket bed placed in the center of the room and bounced her small body up and down.
“This is my first time with such a hard and narrow bed! Doesn’t it really feel like we’re on a trip?”
“It is a real trip. And Renia, I dare guarantee you one thing.”
“Yeah?”
“You’re really going to hate this shabby bed.”
I had good reason.
– I believe that the most important factor in human life is a comfortable sleeping environment.
Because Renia herself had said those words in my past life.
“What are you talking about. I’m not someone who’s sensitive about things like that.”
“Is that really so?”
“…What’s with that annoying expression.”
Renia frowned and wriggled her body into the bed.
Sure enough.
The next morning, a clear voice echoed through the inn room.
“Ugh, really! This bed is the worst! I woke up and my whole body is aching! It’s like I slept on a wooden plank!”
Watching Renia with disheveled hair patting her back, I chuckled.
“I told you so.”
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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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