The Son-In-Law of the Magician Is a Transcendent Sword Master - Chapter 138

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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 138
Black magic is evil and malicious.
It corrodes the caster’s own body and mind, and inevitably demands the sacrifice of others.
Among the various branches of black magic, Chimera Sorcerers and Necromancers are considered the most sinister.
Some argued that Necromancers were comparatively more merciful since they used corpses rather than fusing living people together like Chimera Sorcerers, but it was splitting hairs. In the end, both were nothing but obvious villains who transgressed taboos.
Particularly in how they treated corpses as mere tools, it was a form of magic that ordinary people could never learn with a normal mindset.
Perhaps for this reason, the Necromancers I encountered in my past life were almost invariably twisted in some fundamental way.
“…You’re saying my younger sisters…became Necromancers?”
In the ruins of the destroyed Cabin, where the stench of rotting corpses hung thick in the air, Sheril asked in disbelief.
“I cannot comprehend this. Vera and Sierra were foolish children, brainwashed by their mother, yes. But…they were not evil enough to learn black magic. And Necromancy, of all things.”
Sheril understood the situation well enough. Yet her question to me was a form of confirmation.
“Regardless, the reality we witnessed speaks for itself. Those two used corpses like bombs. Moreover, they even spoke to us through the mouths of the dead, using Vera and Sierra’s voices.”
“That is…yes, true enough, but…”
Sheril gazed at the ruins of the collapsed Cabin with lingering doubt.
I too harbored suspicions. The possibility that they’d reached such a level of Necromancy in merely half a year suggested they’d employed some shortcut.
Perhaps someone had forcibly injected a completed spell formula into them.
If there was such an agent…
‘The Archmage King.’
Of course, it was premature to jump to conclusions.
What mattered now was not the mastermind, but the enemy before us.
“In any case, we must capture them alive.”
The fact that Necromancers were roaming near Orelion.
The fact that these Necromancers were criminals who should have been transported to Grave—this was an excellent clue to uncover the true identity of the Archmage King.
“…Do you have a way to track them?”
Sheril asked, her tone uncertain.
“Those two are…Covert Mages. They excel at concealing their presence.”
“Of course I know that. But they’re Necromancers now as well. In other words, Black Mages.”
“How is that…a clue?”
“It absolutely is.”
In my past life, I encountered and slew countless Black Mages. Innumerable.
Recalling that experience, Necromancers were among the easier Black Mages to track.
“Sheril, Necromancy typically uses corpses, right?”
“Isn’t that an obvious question?”
“Then what do you think the medium for Necromancy usually is?”
“…Hmm.”
Sheril paused in thought before answering.
“…Skeletons?”
“That’s the common understanding. But it’s wrong.”
“Wrong?”
“Necromancers use corpses, but not every corpse can be used. How would a skeleton made of nothing but bones move? All the tissues governing movement have already decayed and oxidized.”
“Ah.”
“Right. Necromancers prefer relatively ‘fresh’ corpses.”
Because they possessed such a nature, the methods for dealing with necromancers in my previous life were relatively straightforward.
They appeared on battlefields. More precisely, after combat ended, they would scavenge among the abandoned bodies, selecting those in good condition.
Because of that repugnant habit, necromancers were sometimes called Ravens on the battlefield.
However, this is not a time of war. Therefore, to procure fresh corpses, they would necessarily have to either kill people directly or exhume newly buried bodies.
I recalled the vagrants who had exploded in the Cabin moments ago.
Which meant….
“They’re in the Slums.”
The back alleys of Orelion, districts teeming with the homeless and impoverished.
No matter how many people disappeared, it would attract little attention—for necromancers, truly an ideal hunting ground.
“Vera and Sierra must be there. They’d have no choice but to lurk nearby, searching for fresh corpses.”
After hearing my explanation, Sheril nodded in understanding. But soon she regarded me with suspicious eyes.
“…Reagan, I’d like to ask you one thing.”
“Go ahead.”
“How is it that you know so much about black magic?”
“….”
“You’ve only been studying magic for three and a half years, yet you possess far more knowledge of black magic than I do, despite having studied magic for over fifteen years.”
It was only natural that Sheril would think that way.
Sheril had been at my side as a devoted attendant both when I first took up magic and when I reached the Fourth Rank.
From Sheril’s perspective, I should never have had the opportunity to acquire such knowledge of black magic. I pondered briefly before offering a vague deflection.
“It’s just… things I picked up and learned during my days as a mercenary.”
“I see. I understand.”
Though she said so, Sheril continued to stare at me intently.
* * *
In the heart of Orelion stood a platinum-colored tower.
It was called the Imperial Mage Tower.
The Imperial Mage Tower was counted among the Seven Great Mage Towers, but it was also the place where the Imperial Palace’s influence wielded the greatest power.
Thus, the Imperial Mage Tower’s role focused less on magical research and more on restraining the Great Mage Alliance and protecting the Imperial authority.
Accordingly, a meeting was being held at the Imperial Mage Tower today to discuss related matters.
“It is said that the heir of Maelrn currently resides as a guest of Benheim. While Maelrn has shown no particular reaction thus far, this is a matter that warrants close attention.”
In response to the chairman’s remarks, the investigators gathered in the conference hall each began to speak.
“Isn’t this essentially equivalent to Maelrn and Benheim officially establishing diplomatic relations?”
“Maelrn has never cooperated with anyone within the Great Mage Alliance. If Maelrn were to cooperate with Benheim, the Imperial Court must seek ways to counter this.”
The heir of Maelrn had placed himself under Benheim’s protection.
One might ask if that were all, but considering the power dynamics within the Great Mage Alliance, this was a grave matter.
If Maelrn and Benheim were to unite, they would become a colossal force dominating the south-central regions of the Empire.
Recently, meetings on such topics had become increasingly frequent, and the cause usually converged on one point.
“…After all, it is the actions of Benheim’s Son-in-law that are the problem.”
One investigator spoke with evident discomfort.
The other investigators nodded in agreement with his words.
Benheim’s Son-in-law.
Reagan von Benheim. The series of incidents he had caused were all matters of grave consequence that the Imperial Mage Tower could not ignore.
Already burdened with the recent surge in Black Mage activity, Reagan’s actions poured down like rain on an already flooded roof.
“Surely we must issue a formal condemnation from the Imperial Mage Tower. We cannot tolerate such reckless behavior, regardless of his youth or exceptional talent.”
“I agree. We must make our position clear to Benheim.”
“But… would Steren really sit idle?”
The moment Steren’s name was mentioned, the investigators’ expressions darkened.
To the Imperial Court, Steren von Benheim—the Grand Mage—was a formidable restraining force.
“But should we simply stand by and watch him run rampant under Steren’s protection?”
As the discussion grew increasingly heated, the chairman struck his gavel. He then turned to the black-haired man seated directly across the chamber, who had been quietly listening to the entire conversation.
“Chief Investigator, what is your assessment?”
Chief Investigator Damian Carius answered with a faint smile.
“Well, I’d say it’s rather a good thing, wouldn’t you?”
“A good thing?”
“Thanks to his efforts, haven’t several Black Mage Lairs been subjugated? He’s a truly righteous ally, solving the Imperial Court’s headaches in our stead.”
“Hmm…”
Within the Imperial Magic Association, Damian Carius’s influence was truly formidable.
Beyond his tenure, Damian’s rank already placed him at the pinnacle of the 7th tier.
Though not widely known, he was a master of skill second only to Steren of Benheim and Oswald of Iridia.
Moreover, Damian was barely in his early thirties. With the Academy President’s favor and his absolute standing within the Imperial Mage Tower, his position was unassailable.
Yet…
‘What scheme is he plotting?’
Senior Investigator Gideon Midian regarded Damian with suspicious eyes.
Suspecting a junior colleague was hardly becoming of a senior investigator, but considering the hidden depths behind Damian’s flawless facade and the possible misdeeds he might have committed, such suspicion was warranted.
“…Senior Gideon, is something troubling you? You haven’t seemed yourself lately.”
After the meeting concluded ambiguously, Damian approached and asked.
“Ah, no. I’ve simply been exhausted from the recent workload.”
Gideon deflected awkwardly.
Chief Investigator Damian Carius. Though Gideon had worked alongside him for a long time, he truly knew nothing about what kind of person he actually was.
Where he was born, how he was raised, or what objectives drove his loyalty to the Imperial Court.
Until now, it hadn’t mattered because Gideon harbored no suspicions, but that had changed since hearing Reagan’s doubts.
“Say, Damian.”
“Yes? What is it?”
Gideon hesitated briefly before speaking in a rush.
“Do you remember what happened at that drinking gathering last time?”
“Hmm? Was that early last year? I remember.”
Damian answered with a wistful smile.
“I did drink quite heavily that night, forgetting all propriety. Hehe.”
“Yes. That time… I’m fairly certain I heard some of your story then.”
“My story?”
“My younger sister….”
“Ah.”
As Gideon trailed off, Damian nodded in understanding. Then, his expression unchanged, he spoke.
“Yes. She is dead.”
Damian’s face betrayed no emotion. Yet Gideon perceived the truth in that very stillness—Damian was deeply disturbed.
Seizing the moment and steeling himself against his fear, Gideon pressed further.
“Could you tell me more about what happened?”
“…I’m not certain. Speaking of it to others rarely yields favorable responses. The Imperial Magic Academy President expressed similar reservations.”
“You won’t speak of it even to a senior you’ve worked alongside for years?”
“….”
Damian fixed his gaze upon Gideon’s face.
Those cold, crimson eyes—whenever he met that stare, Gideon felt his spine turn to ice.
“…Well, it’s hardly a secret of great importance. The emotions have long since faded, in any case.”
In the end, Damian relented under Gideon’s persistent questioning.
“My younger sister… was killed by my father.”
“Your father?”
“Yes. My biological father. Due to her transgression, my sister’s soul was extracted and flowed into my father’s Mana Core.”
“…That is…”
“Yes. A grave crime. His head was severed in the end. Displayed on a pike in the streets. Nothing more than the tale of a wretch—a creature less than an insect who soared on false wings toward the heavens, only to have his wax melt in the sun’s heat and plummet to earth.”
Gideon found himself at a loss for words.
Despite speaking of such a horrific past, Damian’s demeanor remained utterly composed and serene.
“Let us leave this tedious matter behind. Shall we discuss business instead? I hear you’ve taken full responsibility for the Slums incident.”
“Ah, yes. Lately there have been numerous disappearances in the Slums, you see. That’s why I’ve been using vagrants as my informants.”
“Hmm…. How unfortunate that must be.”
Damian drew out his words, then smiled at Gideon.
“However, Senior Gideon, there is no need to exert yourself so greatly over this matter.”
“…Why is that?”
“Because the impoverished are… hardly necessary beings, are they not?”
“Not… necessary?”
“Precisely. All humans have their utility. Just as we feed livestock, labor them, then slaughter them for meat, so too should those wretches scattered about the streets—creatures less than beasts—be put to their proper use. Is this not the natural order of the world?”
As Damian spoke these words, his expression remained perfectly tranquil.
Gideon recoiled in considerable shock.
Why had he only now come to understand?
Blinded by the recognition of his exceptional talent, had he truly failed to perceive his true nature?
Gideon Midian no longer saw the junior before him as a normal human being.

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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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