The Son-In-Law of the Magician Is a Transcendent Sword Master - Chapter 123

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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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Chapter 123
Saya Nafelus Aconia, the heir to Aconia, sat with her face buried in her knees, lost in profound despair.
The campsite lay devastated and trampled. Tents blackened by soot, equipment shattered beyond recognition.
The Black Mages who commanded the chimeras—those grotesque beasts—had swept through Aconia without meeting any real resistance, dragging everyone away.
The place that had been like a home to her was now reduced to ruins, and the reality of it all felt impossibly distant.
She had thought everything was finished.
That nothing remained but despair.
Yet in that darkness, a hand of salvation had appeared.
A thread of hope, however fragile.
To seek aid from the mages of Benheim who were tending a campfire nearby.
But Saya Aconia hesitated to approach them, and her reluctance had its reasons.
It was….
“…Ahem. Um….”
Someone cleared their throat, and Saya slowly lifted her head.
The moment she saw the bronze-skinned man standing at the tent entrance, her lips trembled.
‘Maelrn….’
The detestable heir of Maelrn.
To the mages of Aconia, a mage of Maelrn was more vile and wicked than any demon.
And if he was the heir to that family, he was someone one should never associate with—better to bite one’s own tongue and die.
One must never join hands with Maelrn. It was an ironclad rule that even children in Aconia knew before they could walk.
Why had the mages of Aconia developed their venomous magic so relentlessly in the first place?
Was it not to cultivate the strength to resist Maelrn?
Was it not to overthrow the oppression of Maelrn, which now regarded Aconia as a thorn in its side, herding them into the vast cage of the forest and controlling them like livestock?
To borrow the hand of Maelrn merely to preserve one’s own life was a shame worse than death for the heir of Aconia.
But that was not all. To Saya personally, Maelrn was an enemy whose hatred could never be erased.
‘…They killed my mother.’
Maelrn called Aconia the descendants of demons—parasites that hid deadly poison in their Mana Core and endlessly destroyed the forest.
But to Aconia, the true demon was Maelrn.
She had lived with that resentment carved into her very bones.
And so Saya had sworn that if she ever faced a mage of Maelrn, she would pour curses upon them.
“Um… ah….”
Yet Saya could not bring herself to rage.
The reason was simple.
“Would you… use this at least?”
Rashek el Maelern, the heir of Maelrn, hesitantly pulled a small handkerchief from his pocket and offered it to her—a delicate thing embroidered with a rabbit, the sort of thing one could never imagine such a burly man carrying.
As Saya stared blankly at the handkerchief, Rashek offered an explanation with a smile so innocent it bordered on foolish.
“Um… I noticed your tears have smudged quite a bit, so I thought it might be good to wipe them away… but….”
“I don’t need it.”
She barely managed to squeeze out the rejection, and Rashek awkwardly scratched the back of his head.
“Ah, I’m late with introductions. I’m Rashek el Maelern.”
As he spoke, Rashek el Maelern gazed intently at Saya. His hand, still extended with the handkerchief, showed no sign of withdrawing. His demeanor suggested he would not relent until she accepted it, so Saya reluctantly snatched the handkerchief from his grasp and spoke.
“…Saya Nafelus Aconia.”
“Ah! A fine name indeed. Especially the way your tongue strikes the roof of your mouth when pronouncing the ‘S’—quite excellent.”
“….”
I couldn’t fathom what was supposedly excellent about that.
I couldn’t understand why he wore such a radiant smile over a single exchange of words, nor could I comprehend the motives of the heir to a family that was my sworn enemy approaching me first.
Perhaps he read the contempt etched across my face. Rashek’s cheerful expression faded, and he scratched his cheek awkwardly.
“…Well, I came because there’s something I wanted to say….”
“Why are you here? I… don’t wish to speak with Maelern.”
“…I see. But I wish to speak with you.”
“….”
As Saya’s eyes narrowed and she glared sharply, Rashek offered a bitter smile.
“Well… you’ve probably noticed by now, but I’m not particularly intelligent.”
“…..”
“I never understood the complicated matters—the century of enmity between Maelern and Aconia and all that. I lived in ignorance. But… perhaps ignorance is also a sin.”
Rashek’s voice grew more solemn as he continued.
“I only learned just now that your mother suffered such hardship because of our family. I didn’t know Aconia despised Maelern so deeply. But… even if I apologize now, it won’t earn forgiveness. This is history spanning decades, no—over a century.”
Saya gazed steadily at Rashek’s face.
His gaze was so earnest and unwavering that not a trace of deception could be detected.
“But now… isn’t saving all of Aconia the priority? They are your family, after all.”
Family. At that word, my shoulders trembled slightly. The gray-haired man from moments ago had spoken those same words.
Rashek, observing my reaction, continued carefully.
“I don’t understand the grievances of previous generations that you speak of, Miss Saya. But I’m not so wicked as to stand idle while innocent people suffer terrible fates. Of course, it’s natural that you don’t trust Maelern. But if you cannot trust me… then trust those two instead.”
Rashek gestured toward the two men and women from Benheim huddled together by the campfire.
“Reagan and Renia are excellent mages. Far superior to me. With those two, I’m certain they could save your family.”
“…Then, what about you.”
“Me? I’m merely a pack carrier or a shield for those two. If they tell me not to follow, I’ll stay behind.”
Rashek flashed a refreshing, broad grin.
I grew even more confused. What could the heir of Maelern possibly lack that he would offer aid to Aconia, his sworn enemy, with such humility?
“I don’t wish to accept help from Maelern.”
As I finally opened my mouth, Rashek nodded as if he’d expected as much.
“I understand. But I wish to help Aconia.”
“Why.”
“Hmm?”
“Why do you go so far? You are Maelern, and I am Aconia.”
“That’s wrong. You are not Aconia—you are Saya. And I am not currently Maelern—I am Rashek. And the mage Rashek believes the current situation is wrong.”
“….”
I regarded Rashek with narrowed eyes.
Then my gaze shifted to my own hand. The handkerchief, embroidered with a rabbit, looked nothing like something that demon’s descendant would carry.
“You’re really foolish.”
“…Haha. For some reason, I’ve been hearing such things quite often lately.”
Rashek laughed hollowly….
“Hm.”
Saya let out a soft chuckle and crumpled the handkerchief tightly in her grip.
* * *
Saya Nafelus Aconia changed her mind around midnight that day.
“I know where those Black Mages are likely to have gone. I’ll guide you. Since time is of the essence, shall we depart immediately?”
“….”
I was genuinely surprised that the stubborn woman would cooperate so readily in less than half a day.
I had subtly provoked Rashek, but I never expected it to actually work. When I glanced at Rashek, he scratched his cheek awkwardly and averted his gaze, while Renia tapped my shoulder twice.
“Why all of a sudden, Renia?”
“This is all thanks to my advice.”
Renia cleared her throat and puffed out her chest proudly. I frowned and asked.
“Advice? What advice did you give, exactly?”
“I just told her to be honest and straightforward about her feelings. After all, someone like Rashek can’t do acting or sweet talk like you can.”
“…That’s true.”
She certainly had a talent for reckless directness.
More than anything, it didn’t seem like Renia had merely offered advice. The handkerchief now tucked into Saya’s chest was something Renia had cherished since childhood—a sign that she had put thought into this.
“Hehe. Reagan, if you ever have troubles, come consult with your older sister anytime.”
Rashek and I were both twenty-one, two years younger than Renia, but I decided not to mention that. In the end, results mattered more than the process.
“So, where exactly do you suspect the Chimera Sorcerer might be?”
“If you go a bit further south from here, there’s a Great Cave. Aconia established a camp there a few years ago. Those facilities should still be standing.”
“Are you certain?”
“I’m fairly confident. In this region, there’s no better place for the Black Mages to set up a workshop. Moreover, since they captured Aconia’s mages, they would have learned about that location from family members.”
“Hmm….”
A cave.
It was perfectly suited for the Black Mages to hide in.
“Alright, let’s go.”
And so, with Saya leading the way, we began our journey.
Since we departed near midnight and our destination was the Great Cave deep within the Southern Forest, notorious for its treacherous terrain, I estimated the journey would take at least two days.
And my estimate was spectacularly wrong.
“There are venomous insects there. If you step on one, you’ll suffer burning pain for at least three days.”
“That swamp has no bottom. It’s better to take a detour.”
“From here on, we move by climbing tree trunks. This area is teeming with leopards.”
“I’m about to descend that cliff. This is the shortcut. Worried it’s dangerous? There’s a small lake below. The water is deep enough that you won’t die even if you just jump. Trust me.”
Until now, I had considered Rashek a rather excellent guide through the forest.
But even Rashek could not compare to the heir of Aconia, who made the forest itself her home and domain.
A truly perfect guide.
A journey that would have taken at least two days with Rashek was shortened to merely half a day with Saya’s assistance.
In the end, we departed at midnight and arrived safely at our destination before dawn broke.
“…It’s confirmed.”
From within the massive cave carved into the cliff face—a gaping maw of stone—the putrid stench peculiar to Chimeras drifted on the wind.
So that colossal natural cavern was indeed the Beast Face Society’s stronghold.
“…Reagan, what do you want to do?”
Just as when we’d raided the Apsache Stronghold before, Renia’s eyes gleamed as she posed the question to me.
Formulating any strategy required intelligence. Fortunately, we had someone who’d directly confronted the Beast Face Society’s full strength and knew this terrain intimately.
“Saya, how many mages does the Beast Face Society have in total?”
“If we’re counting only those wearing animal masks, there are four. Three of the 5th Rank, and one who appears to be 6th Rank.”
“…Hmm.”
Hearing Saya’s answer, I turned the situation over in my mind.
Our current forces here were nearly evenly matched with theirs. However, they were Chimera sorcerers. Given how pathetically weak their personal combat abilities were, they’d rely on deploying wave after wave of Chimeras to lead the charge. It would inevitably become a numbers game.
‘If I unleashed virulent poison…’
I’d considered having Saya disperse toxins throughout the sealed cavern using her magic, but Chimeras modified through Black Magic possessed inherent resistance to poison and superhuman regenerative capabilities.
It wouldn’t be particularly effective.
Besides, with Aconia’s mages imprisoned here, attempting something so recklessly dangerous was out of the question.
Then a flanking route would be the right approach.
“You said you used this cave as a base before, right?”
“I did.”
“Are there side passages?”
Saya nodded at my question.
“If you follow the cliff path around, there’s a gap narrow enough for one person to squeeze through. I used to use it all the time when playing hide-and-seek with my peers as a child.”
“Good. You know that route well enough. Go in through the back and rescue Aconia’s mages. Rashek, you go with her just in case something goes wrong.”
Upon hearing my orders, Rashek asked in alarm.
“…Reagan, Renia. What are you two planning to do?”
“We draw their attention. Knock on the enemy’s front door and summon them all out. You two need to extract the prisoners so we can fight freely. It’s a diversion tactic.”
“Surely you’re not saying the two of you will face all of them? Didn’t you yourself say the Chimeras would be swarming everywhere?”
“I’m not sure who’s worried about whom here.”
Looking toward Renia, she was smiling with perfect composure.
“We’re far stronger than you think.”
There were two 6th Rank mages in this group.
And that was more than enough firepower to hold back a Chimera horde.
* * *
After confirming that Rashek and Saya had taken the detour along the cliff path, we walked boldly toward the cave entrance.
Perhaps they’d noticed the blatant intrusion.
Before long, four Chimera sorcerers wearing animal masks emerged from the darkness of the corridor.
Upon confirming that the intruders numbered only two, they tilted their heads in bewilderment.
But that confusion was short-lived.
[Grrrrk.]
From deep within the cave came a horrific cacophony of flesh colliding against stone as Chimeras began crawling forth with sickening sounds.
By sight alone, there were easily three digits of them.
“Brings back old memories.”
I let out a wry chuckle as I watched the tide of Chimeras surging forward to fill the entire space ahead.
In my past life, there was a time when Renia and I had charged into the Black Mages’ hideout alone together. It was during the early days of the Resistance Army’s formation, back when Renia and I weren’t yet as close as we would become.
I couldn’t quite recall the exact reason why we had stormed into that hideout together.
Perhaps it was simply because the Black Mages lurking near the campsite had annoyed me.
What had I said to Renia back then?
‘Ah.’
I remembered.
“Does this job pay well?”
Renia’s expression darkened noticeably.
“What kind of question is that?”
“It’s a fair one.”
I laughed softly and drew Benheim’s sword.
The Mana Core spun, and a brilliant, razor-sharp azure aura blazed along the blade.

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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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