The Son-In-Law of the Magician Is a Transcendent Sword Master - Chapter 14
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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 14
Before the final battle with the Archmage King.
I spent the night with Renia in a shabby cabin, and was able to hear various stories from her.
Not just stories about childhood memories, but also about major events.
– When the Archmage King’s army came storming in, Benheim had no choice but to be helplessly overwhelmed.
Renia explained in detail how Benheim was destroyed by the Archmage King, and the circumstances behind it.
– There were collaborators within the family. The collaborators disabled the protective magic inscribed on the family’s territory, and the Archmage King entered the heart of the territory without bloodshed. It was too quick a time to respond.
According to Renia’s testimony, the black mages’ influence had long reached into Benheim.
They opened the territory’s gates in coordination with the Archmage King’s rise, and destroyed the protective spells carved on the top floor of the Magic Tower.
– Actually, if only father had been well, we could have somehow blocked the Archmage King’s forces. But father was assassinated the moment the Archmage King entered the territory.
– Assassination? Someone who was an archmage was taken down so easily?
– Yes. The opponent wasn’t an ordinary assassin either. It was a trusted relative.
– Who was it?
At my question, Renia’s eyes became endlessly cold.
– Uncle.
– Uncle?
– Uncle Markel, that bastard was… a collaborator. As soon as the Archmage King began his invasion, he stabbed a dagger coated with deadly poison into father’s back. If not for that bastard, Benheim could have held out for at least another six months. In that time, many things would have changed.
Renia’s eyes glittered with vengeance. She bit her lips, expressing her hatred for her uncle.
Besides that, Renia told me various pieces of information. From those who cooperated with the black mages within the family, to the names of covert mages who had secretly infiltrated.
All those stories were vividly etched in my mind.
I don’t know why Renia explained the circumstances in such detail. But it couldn’t be unrelated to the regression I experienced.
Just like right now.
“What on earth are you talking about.”
Shtern’s bewildered voice cut through my train of thought.
I raised my head.
Shtern twisted his face as if he couldn’t believe my words at all.
“According to what you’re saying, my brother Markel is a black mage right now?”
“Yes. He is in league with the black mages.”
“Nonsense. Markel is my brother, the backbone of Benheim. For such a person to be a black mage, you’re telling an absurd story. Reagan, think about the weight your words carry.”
Of course he wouldn’t believe me.
To convince Shtern, I needed to present proper evidence.
Fortunately, I knew one uncomfortable truth that Shtern would have no choice but to believe.
“Lord, as you know, I met Benheim’s mage. That mage handed me a pendant and told me various stories. I also heard the information that your daughter would be attacked then.”
“…Don’t tell me.”
“Yes. The fact that this person is a black mage was also directly told to me by the mage who gave me the pendant.”
Shtern’s expression hardened.
After a moment of silence, he slowly opened his mouth.
“Is that the truth?”
“Yes.”
“If this matter is false… Reagan, you’ll need to be prepared to offer your neck.”
“I have only spoken the truth.”
Shtern’s monocle glinted. I hadn’t noticed when I first met him, but now that I had learned some magic, I could tell.
That monocle was an artifact. It must be a tool with the ability to discern the truth of words.
“It seems to be true.”
Sure enough, Shtern let out a deep sigh and continued speaking.
“Reagan, then can you present evidence?”
“Evidence…”
“Even if you believe it to be true, without evidence it cannot become fact. Evidence is needed.”
There was no evidence I could present right now. The only proof that Markel was a black mage was the conversation with Renia in my head.
However, if Renia’s words were true, then Uncle Markel would have left clues in his quarters.
“Yes. I should be able to prove it.”
“…”
At my firm answer, Shtern let out a deep sigh. Then he looked toward the Main House where Markel had returned earlier and furrowed his brow.
“Fine. I’ll give you a chance. But if it turns out that my brother is innocent, then you’ll have to offer your neck.”
“By all means.”
It was already a neck I’d offered once, so a second time couldn’t be that difficult.
* * *
I was led by Shtern toward the Main House.
The family servants cast shocked glances at the sight of an outer gate mage walking alongside the lord, but Shtern paid no attention and crossed the corridor.
“This is Markel’s private study.”
Shtern guided me to the innermost room of the corridor where the Main House and Magic Tower met.
“He spends most of his day in this place. However, today he has separate business at the Magic Tower, so he won’t come until sunset. Find evidence here that my brother is a black mage.”
“…By myself?”
“Didn’t you say you could prove it?”
Shtern crossed his arms and leaned against the doorframe.
It seemed like he was being serious.
‘…It’s a kind of test.’
Here in Markel’s private study, I had to find evidence that he was a black mage.
I briefly surveyed the study’s interior. By any measure, it was an ordinary mage’s study.
However, black mages are cunning. The moment their identity is exposed, the Imperial Mage Guild dispatches assassination squads, so they’re desperate to hide their true nature.
It wouldn’t be so careless that a mere teenage boy could uncover it.
But still….
‘Well, shall I show off my skills for once?’
Unlike a few days ago, I now have a new mana core. Moreover, I have the talent to utilize that mana core to its fullest.
Lastly, I have countless combat experiences fighting black mages.
Whatever schemes they’re plotting, they’re mostly within my grasp.
“First….”
I looked around the study.
Between the densely packed bookshelves, I could sense Markel’s scent and faint traces of mana.
“Huu….”
Exhaling, I took a deep breath. Simultaneously, I spread the air filling my lungs throughout my body and circulated mana through my mana core. Just by accepting the mana in the air into my body, I could grasp the essence of the mana flowing through that space.
This was mana sensitivity.
It was also my specialty.
‘As expected… it has a foul smell.’
Sure enough, the mana in the study contained a faintly mixed alien energy.
The disgusting smell unique to black magic, extremely hidden and unnoticeable to ordinary mages.
Covert mages also have a rather foul smell, but black mages are particularly severe.
Having cut down nearly hundreds of black mages so far, I could tell.
Click.
Following the traces of the stench, I placed my hand on one book in the study.
Among the dust-covered books, only this one book was clean.
“Bingo.”
Clack.
When I pulled the book, a hidden space behind the bookshelf was revealed.
There was a small box placed there, and the seal wrapping the entire box was clearly a black magic technique.
“….”
Stern’s expression hardened as he watched this from a distance.
In fact, this alone was more than enough reason to interrogate Markel.
However, since things had come to this, I decided to also examine the contents of the box.
“Lord, could you provide some blood?”
“What do you mean?”
“You share the same blood as your younger brother. This seal seems to be unlockable through blood.”
Upon hearing those words, Stern frowned as if displeased….
“…Understood.”
He took out a ceremonial dagger from his chest and cut his palm. As the dripping blood drops touched the seal on the box, the black magic responded to the blood and glowed with an ominous red light.
‘So he was a blood mage after all.’
Just as magic is divided into various classifications, black magic also has diverse types. Among them were black mages who used blood.
These were called blood mages, and it seemed that Renia’s uncle Markel also belonged to this category.
—Click.
The black magic seal was released, and the hinges opened.
What was inside the box were stacks of letters.
It went without saying who they were exchanged with.
I took out the letter on top and read it.
[Day of the eclipse, graveyard, daughter of Benheim.]
Three words written concisely.
Having seen that much, there was nothing more to say.
Stern also seemed to have checked the letter’s contents over my shoulder, as he let out a deep sigh. His expression was more distorted than I had ever seen before.
After some time passed like that, Stern, having organized his thoughts, opened his mouth.
“…Reagan, let’s go.”
“Where to?”
“Markel.”
Stern turned his head with coldly hardened eyes.
“I need to meet my younger brother.”
* * *
Markel von Benheim was conducting business at the Magic Tower when he suddenly received news.
“Brother has come to visit?”
Usually, even when Stern had business, he never came directly to the Magic Tower. He would send servants or the chief steward instead.
Though sudden, it was the family head’s summons, so he couldn’t refuse.
Markel casually met Stern on the first floor of the Magic Tower.
“Brother, what on earth is the matter… hmm?”
Subsequently, Markel saw the ash-haired boy standing beside Lord Stern and frowned.
It was Reagan.
“Brother, what did you bring this lowborn for? You know well that according to family law, external mages cannot enter the noble Benheim Magic Tower.”
“The noble Benheim Mage Tower… How ridiculous.”
Stern snorted. Just as Markel was about to feel suspicious about this subtly different reaction from usual.
Thud.
A small box fell at Markel’s feet.
“…Th, this is.”
A storage box made of ebony.
Why was this box, which should have been hidden deep in his study, here?
While Markel was flustered, Stern continued speaking.
“Those who brought black magic into the noble Benheim Mage Tower shouldn’t be saying such things, should they?”
“….”
“I’ll give you a chance to make excuses. When did you start learning blood magic, and when did you begin exchanging with them? My treatment of you will change depending on your answer.”
“…Br, brother.”
Cold sweat ran down his back.
‘How on earth…’
There was nothing that could have been discovered. He had erased the traces and eliminated the smell. Of course, if it was Stern, a 7th Circle mage, he could certainly find it, but there was no reason for him to come all the way to his private study and search through everything in the first place.
But why, how was this box discovered?
‘No, this isn’t the time for that.’
Now was the time to somehow preserve his life.
‘If I fight… can I win?’
Impossible.
Even though Markel’s skills had improved dramatically while learning black magic, against a 7th Circle archmage, he was less than a butterfly before a storm.
‘Should I beg for brotherly mercy?’
He held onto a glimmer of hope, but that too was shattered by Stern’s next words.
“Markel, I saw the letters you exchanged with the black mages. So you were the one behind the attack on Renia.”
“….”
“You tried to kidnap my daughter, what were you planning to do? Who was behind it? Tell me everything you know.”
He had even figured out that he had touched his precious daughter.
Then begging for his life was meaningless.
He had to escape somehow.
Markel carefully stepped backward, but someone was already blocking the exit.
“You…!”
“The lord’s story isn’t finished yet, is it?”
One boy with ash-gray hair stood blocking the doorway with a bold expression.
Outer gate mage Reagan.
Come to think of it, the plan to kidnap Renia on the night of the full moon last month had gone awry, and Lord Stern had come to suspect him, all because of this boy.
“…It’s all because of you.”
Crack.
Markel’s teeth ground together.
Only now did he understand the entire situation.
That boy was the root of all evil.
“Because of you!”
Blood droplets formed and dripped between his clenched fists…
——Whoosh.
The fallen blood droplets immediately became long spear blades and rushed toward Reagan.
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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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