The Son-In-Law of the Magician Is a Transcendent Sword Master - Chapter 131
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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 131
After my confrontation with Kashar, Maelrn’s Head, came to an end, I explained the entire situation to Saya.
“So you’re saying you’ll relocate all of Aconia to Benheim Estate?”
“That’s right. Kashar agreed to it. Now the mages of Maelrn won’t stand in the way of them leaving the forest.”
“…It’s a complicated matter. However… there’s no real reason to refuse it either.”
Saya accepted my proposal readily enough. The real obstacle, however, lay elsewhere.
“You’re asking us to abandon our homeland now!”
“We settled in the Southern Forest far longer than Maelrn did! And now you want us to flee because of them? Does that even make sense!”
Aconia’s mages reacted with fierce resistance to the idea of leaving the Southern Forest, where they had spent their entire lives.
Their reaction was understandable, of course. For those who had devoted their lives to mastering poison magic out of hatred for Maelrn, abandoning this place felt no different than surrendering to them.
“Saya! Even if you saved us all and became the Head of our Family, I cannot accept this under any circumstances!”
Above all, Baren, Aconia’s former Head, stepped forward in vehement opposition.
For an Elder mage who valued family pride and dignity above all else, it must have felt like an unbearable humiliation.
“…Reagan, I’m sorry. I… I cannot convince my father.”
Saya offered me an apologetic smile. Nominally, Saya Aconia was the current Head of Aconia. However, since her succession had occurred less than a day ago, her authority as Head was still far from absolute.
I had anticipated this would happen.
Well then, there was a method for this.
“…Should we just subdue them and load them onto the ship?”
We could knock them all unconscious and carry them like cargo.
Once they awoke and saw the abundance of Benheim Estate, they would settle down on their own.
“Reagan, we can’t use violence.”
“…”
But Renia’s objection put an end to that plan.
“Besides, Reagan, you said you charged at Maelrn’s Head ready to die.”
“That was… because I had faith in something…”
“And you went ahead and handled everything without me.”
“…”
Renia seemed quite displeased that I had resolved the entire situation while she was suffering from her hangover.
In the end, I spent considerable effort soothing and coaxing her for a while.
Night fell, and the breakthrough came almost laughably easily.
“…I have something to discuss with you.”
Baren, Aconia’s former Head, came to find me alone late at night, glancing around nervously before speaking.
“I had no choice but to refuse during the day for the sake of propriety… but I have one question.”
“What is it?”
“Is Benheim Estate… a good place to live?”
I smiled widely and answered.
“Compared to here, it’s paradise.”
“…I see.”
* * *
After that, everything proceeded smoothly.
The moment dawn broke the next morning, Baren gathered the Aconia mages and expounded upon how magnificent the Benheim Estate was and how advantageous relocation there would be for the family’s future.
Thanks to his efforts, he successfully secured a majority vote of approval at the Aconia Family council meeting the following day.
I found it remarkable that Baren, who had been so unyielding, would reverse his stance overnight—though upon reflection, there was nothing surprising about it.
‘…Maelrn must have weighed heavily on their minds.’
They had been growling at each other for nearly a century.
Just days ago, Maelrn’s Head had even mobilized the Bokryeongdae, the family’s greatest military force, in an attempt to annihilate Aconia.
The Aconia mages must have been anxious at heart. Perhaps they had even hoped that Baren would take the initiative and present them with a plausible solution.
“Rashek, this is thanks to you.”
“Me? Did I do something?”
“Yes. Because you acted unlike Maelrn and saved Aconia, working tirelessly without rest, their resistance toward Maelrn has been diluted somewhat.”
“Hmm…. I’m not sure. In the end, most of what was accomplished was the work of Reagan and Renia, wasn’t it?”
“You may feel that way, but your efforts weren’t in vain.”
I patted Rashek’s shoulder.
“So, Rashek, will you come with us?”
“Of course. I intend to leave the Southern Forest and travel the wider world to broaden my horizons. There’s no better starting point than Benheim, the greatest magic family on the Continent.”
Rashek grinned widely and tapped his own chest.
The next day, I led the Aconia mages out of the forest.
I anticipated the journey would be arduous, given that we were traversing the Continent with an entire family in tow.
“My goodness, young masters! You’ve returned safely!”
“Cobin? What are you doing here?”
However, the moment we arrived at the River Port of the Trading Post and encountered the storyteller Cobin, I sensed that everything would proceed smoothly.
“My goodness, young masters ventured into that terrifying Southern Forest, so how could I possibly stay away! The moment I informed the Great Mage Alliance Branch, I rushed straight to the port to wait for you!”
While his primary motivation was clearly to involve himself with Benheim and create tales to tell, his affable demeanor was not unwelcome.
“Good. Cobin, I’d like to take these people across Harfen and into the Central Continent. Is there a way? I’ll compensate you handsomely.”
“There’s always a way for that! In five days, there’s a merchant caravan heading across Harfen. If you board with them, you should be able to reach Orelion without difficulty.”
“Excellent. You’ve saved me considerable trouble.”
I withdrew several silver coins from Andvari’s Cube and pressed them into Cobin’s hand.
Renia, watching Cobin’s mouth split wide with a grin, nudged my ribs.
“…Our exploits will spread to the ends of the Continent now.”
“Well, that’s not necessarily a bad thing.”
Thus we joined the merchant caravan that Cobin had arranged and headed toward the Benheim Estate. Despite our large numbers, we were able to traverse the Continent without significant hardship, thanks to the caravan’s generous provision of cargo wagons.
At last, we arrived at the Benheim Estate.
The moment I led dozens of people through the gates, the Benheim mages were taken aback.
When my father-in-law came out to greet us, his expression was priceless.
Steren stared in bewilderment at the dozens of mages standing behind me.
“…Reagan, why have you brought so many people…?”
“They are the Aconia mages.”
“I know that. So I’m asking—why are those who should be in the Southern Forest here, in the Benheim Estate in the Central Continent?”
“I intend to relocate them here.”
“…Is this your decision alone?”
“No.”
I turned my head slightly. There, Renia wore a mischievous smile. Steren pressed his hand to his forehead.
“…Reagan, Renia. Wasn’t this southern journey supposed to be nothing more than a honeymoon?”
“It’s only natural to encounter new connections while traveling.”
“That’s right, Father. We actually had quite the enjoyable trip.”
“….”
At such an utterly shameless response, deep creases furrowed Steren’s brow. Yet he surely had already heard the full account of what transpired in the Southern Forest and with Aconia.
In the end, Steren asked with a heavy sigh.
“…Reagan, are you planning to have those mages live in the forest?”
“Yes. From what I’ve heard, they find the forest more comfortable. Besides, the Benheim Estate’s forest is quite expansive, is it not? While we do have forest keepers, they alone would struggle to manage the entire forest.”
Indeed, during the last Hunting Festival, the Black Mages had openly unleashed magical beasts into the forest.
Of course, that was partly due to Steren’s tacit allowance, but had the forest keepers been able to maintain complete control, matters wouldn’t have escalated so far. In other words, a handful of forest keepers simply couldn’t manage the forest adequately.
“Moreover, there’s the need to periodically maintain the Mana Vein, is there not? With Aconia’s mages present, they can lighten the burden on the forest keepers.”
“….”
“Should you worry about Aconia’s mages employing poison, there’s no need for concern. Now that the threat from Maelern has vanished, they have no further reason to refine such arts. Above all, wouldn’t word spreading that Benheim has taken in a minor family oppressed by Maelern elevate the family’s prestige?”
At my clear and logical persuasion, Steren finally threw up his hands in surrender.
“…You’ve already made up your mind, haven’t you? Reagan, do as you see fit.”
“My lord, surely allowing poison sorcerers into the estate is far too dangerous?”
“Allet, we cannot heartlessly cast out those who have lost their home, can we?”
“….”
Though Attendant Allet protested vehemently, with the Head’s decision made, he had no choice but to relent.
Thus, Aconia established a new camp in the Benheim Forest.
“This place is peaceful. No fierce beasts dwell here, and the terrain isn’t treacherous. Most of all, this mana….”
Saya closed her eyes and took a deep breath, feeling the mana flowing from the Mana Vein.
“Are you satisfied?”
“Extremely satisfied. I once chided Rashek el Maelern for being a frog in a well…. Yet we were no different. To think such magnificent land existed beyond the jungle.”
Saya smiled brightly and bowed her head to me.
“Thank you, Duke Reagan. All of Aconia, myself included, have received your great kindness.”
“Direct your thanks to Rashek el Maelern.”
With Aconia’s relocation settled, the next matter—a new stone that had rolled into Benheim—was placed under scrutiny.
It was none other than the question of Rashek el Maelern’s treatment.
“So, Rashek… el Maelern, was it?”
“Indeed. The successor of Maelern pays his respects to the great Head of Benheim.”
Rashek el Maelern cupped his fist and bowed deeply toward Steren.
Steren himself regarded Rashek el Maelern with considerable bewilderment.
“You’re quite… unlike Maelern.”
Steren seemed to find it difficult to believe that this spirited young man before him shared the same blood as Kashar, Maelern’s Head, with his petty nature.
In truth, when I first laid eyes on Rashek el Maelern, I too had doubted whether this man was truly a mage of that Maelern, so Steren’s reaction was entirely understandable.
“Good. Rashek el Maelern, from this day forward you shall reside as a guest of Benheim. We shall provide the Separate Residence for your use. Should you require anything else, speak freely at any time.”
“I am deeply grateful for Benheim’s generosity.”
In the end, Rashek el Maelern became a guest of Benheim.
Though the household servants initially regarded him with suspicion upon learning of his Maelrn origins, within days they found themselves unable to maintain their wariness.
“…Ah! Reagan! Everyone here is so kind. I’m quite fond of them.”
This was because Rashek el Maelern possessed a frankness and lack of pretense wholly uncharacteristic of his homeland.
He accepted the meals the servants prepared without a single complaint, savoring each dish, and even took it upon himself to clean his quarters in the Separate Residence and handle his own laundry.
To servants exhausted by Arnaud von Benheim’s fastidiousness, Rashek el Maelern’s unpretentious nature came as a refreshing revelation.
Most remarkably, this same Rashek el Maelern proved to be perfectly compatible with Arnaud von Benheim.
“Ho, so you are Arnaud, the heir of Benheim. Truly, you have reached an impressive level.”
“…Sir, everyone but me is 6th Rank.”
Even while I had been away on my honeymoon, Arnaud von Benheim remained at 5th Rank. He had already suffered considerable shock upon learning that Sheril, the Shadow Tower Lord, had ascended to 6th Rank, but upon discovering that Rashek el Maelern, the heir of Maelrn, had also achieved 6th Rank, he appeared utterly devastated.
Remarkably, it was precisely this frustration that brought them together.
“Starting today, you’re sparring with me without fail.”
“Oho! Splendid! The mages of Benheim are truly bold and spirited!”
And so Arnaud von Benheim began daily sparring matches with Rashek el Maelern.
Astonishingly, their abilities were evenly matched. Though Rashek el Maelern held the higher rank, Arnaud von Benheim’s precise and practical Rune magic techniques bridged the gap.
Perhaps for this reason, within merely a month, Arnaud von Benheim reached the pinnacle of 5th Rank and set his sights on 6th Rank. Steren was greatly pleased by this progress and granted Rashek el Maelern a room in the Main House. It appeared this was the first time a guest had ever been afforded such an honor.
“…I wonder if he’s genuinely charismatic, or simply foolish.”
“Either way, it’s pleasant to watch. Rashek seems far more confident than when we first met. Most importantly, he’s become a good friend to my brother.”
Renia was right.
Benheim’s new household members adapted swiftly to the rhythms of estate life.
Though I wished to savor this peace at leisure, such indulgence was not afforded to me.
‘The Beast Face Society….’
The Chimera Sorcerers were stirring in the Southern Forest.
This meant the Archmage King’s influence had already spread across the entire Continent.
Therefore, I too had to respond swiftly.
Fortunately, I had obtained one crucial clue during my journey south.
“…The elixir.”
The elixir the Beast Face Society had distributed to the aquatic cultivators of the south.
A suspicious substance that forcibly twisted one’s vital energy to artificially elevate one’s cultivation level.
I needed to investigate its origins.
‘…It must be connected to Rucen.’
Two years prior at the Council meeting, I had observed Petra’s Mana Core—twisted in the same bizarre manner as those of the southern aquatic cultivators. This elixir was undoubtedly connected to it.
Thus, I had already commissioned the mages of Benheim Mage Tower to analyze the elixir’s composition.
Yet unexpectedly, the breakthrough came not from the tower’s researchers, but from Saya Aconia.
“Hmm? Lord Reagan, are you curious about the nature of that elixir?”
Saya gazed at the elixir in the container and spoke with a tone of newfound realization.
“That is… an elixir we of House Aconia use to generate Mana Cores.”
“This elixir was produced by Aconia?”
The saying about the lamp being darkest beneath its own stand applied perfectly here.
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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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