The Son-In-Law of the Magician Is a Transcendent Sword Master - Chapter 22

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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 22

“…You, how exactly did you do that?”

As I was wiping the blue blood from my sword after defeating the magical beast, Petra Rucen approached and asked this question.

“Even my magic couldn’t pierce that hide. But how did you… with just a single sword…”

Petra’s face was pale white, as if she couldn’t believe it at all. The recent battle seemed to have been quite a shock to her.

“Even if it’s a magical beast, not every part of its hide is tough.”

I answered indifferently while examining the blade. All the teeth on one edge had fallen out.

“What do you mean?”

“No matter how monstrous a magical beast is, it’s still within the category of living creatures. The hide where joints bend is inevitably softer. Like behind the knees or jaw joints.”

“How… how do you know that?”

“Who knows.”

I shrugged my shoulders.

“Experience, I suppose.”

Before my regression, I had fought magical beasts dozens of times.

The number of magical beasts I’d beheaded was probably twice as many as the times I fought the Archmage King’s subordinates.

“Reagan is amazing. Our subjugation count is already eight.”

Renia walked out proudly and showed off her qualification badge.

“What?”

Petra was shocked when she saw the score engraved on the qualification badge. Arno didn’t react either, but his expression darkened, showing his pride was quite hurt.

Meanwhile, I frowned as I looked at the magical beast’s corpse that had begun rotting rapidly.

‘Even so, to think they’d release real magical beasts. They’ve got some nerve.’

It was fortunate that the magical beast that appeared this time was a physical enhancement type that could only charge forward mindlessly.

If it had been a magical beast that used magic or had the trait of disrupting mana, I would have struggled considerably.

However, there was also a problem caused by the magical beast being a physical enhancement type.

“…Tsk.”

I frowned as I looked at the sword with its blade chipped and dangling. The cheap iron sword had reached the end of its lifespan after forcibly cutting through the magical beast’s thick tendons and bones.

Until we left the forest, I would have to fight the remaining battles with a broken sword. My head was already throbbing.

“You guys, let’s get out of here first.”

“Yeah.”

It was dangerous to stay in this place.

Arno and Renia nodded at my words. Petra, perhaps having her pride wounded by the earlier fight, followed cautiously with her lips pressed tightly together.

However, before we could leave the spot, someone burst through the bushes.

“Everyone, are you safe?”

It was an elderly man with a white beard. The robe he wore had Benheim’s crest clearly embroidered on it.

“E-Elder Beron!”

“Wow! Old man!”

Arno and Renia brightened up.

It was Beron, one of Benheim’s five elders.

Coincidentally, he was also someone I knew.

– Elder Beron. He was the evil that ate away at the family. He was the one who disabled the family’s protective spells in response to the Archmage King’s signal.

The leader of the black mages who had infiltrated Benheim. One of the Archmage King’s most faithful servants.

He was the person who proudly occupied the first place on the list of black mages infiltrating Benheim that Renia had told me about.

“Renia, Arno… and even Rucen’s heir.”

Elder Beron surveyed the scene with sharp eyes. His gaze lingered for a while on the magical beast I had defeated.

“…This magical beast, did you all defeat it?”

“Yes, well.”

“…”

For a moment, deep regret flashed through Beron’s eyes.

‘Regretful about losing a carefully made test subject?’

Through that momentary look, I was certain. This old man hadn’t come to rescue us.

“Let’s get out of here first. The Hunting Festival has been suspended. Benheim’s mages are handling the situation everywhere.”

“Elder, what exactly happened?”

“There’s nothing we can know yet. It might be that nearby mana veins went berserk and magical beasts appeared.”

“…”

Renia’s expression became subtle. She had already heard from me earlier that black mages were involved in the Hunting Festival.

However, Renia was quick-witted. When I kept my mouth shut, she didn’t speak up either.

“You are…”

Eventually, Beron looked at me.

“The child the family head brought. Your name is…”

“It’s Reagan.”

“Right, Reagan. You come along too. This place is dangerous.”

I pondered.

If I fought this man here, could I win?

‘It would be difficult.’

Even if rotten, he’s still a Benheim elder.

That means he’s a 6th-tier mage.

Moreover, Beron is a black mage. There’s no telling what kind of sorcery he might use.

Most importantly, the fact that an elder-level figure appeared directly to lure us meant his accomplices were surely nearby as well.

If I caused a commotion carelessly, there was a high chance I’d be subdued immediately.

‘Well, if things go wrong, father-in-law will save me…’

No matter how elaborate a plan the black mages had devised, time was on our side.

Outside the barrier, Benheim and Rucen’s mages would be stationed.

The gap between 6th and 7th tier is like the difference between heaven and earth. Even Markel, who was helplessly subdued by Stern recently, is a 6th-tier mage.

Moreover, there’s also Rucen’s family head Kaiden. He’s only half in Renia’s eyes as an 8th-tier archmage, but objectively speaking, Kaiden is also worthy of being called an archmage.

Our side’s strength is sufficient.

So I just need to buy time until they dismantle the barrier and charge in.

For now, it would be better to play along with their tune as much as possible.

“Let’s go.”

Renia glanced at me sideways. I nodded slightly to her.

* * *

Thus, under Beron’s guidance, we proceeded through the forest.

Arno and Petra were telling tales of valor with relieved expressions, but I slowed my pace while observing the presence around us.

‘…We’re going deeper and deeper.’

The direction Beron was guiding us wasn’t toward Benheim’s main house.

Rather, it was the opposite side from the forest entrance, toward an even deeper place.

‘It’s a dead end.’

The twisted terrain and the scent of the wind were telling me.

They must have stationed black mages beyond the forest.

I said I’d buy time, but I had no intention of deliberately sticking my head into a tiger’s den.

I stopped walking and said.

“Elder, my legs hurt, so let’s rest for a moment before going.”

Beron, who had been walking ahead, frowned and turned around.

“Bear with it a little. We don’t know when magical beasts might jump out right now. Benheim’s mages will be waiting just ahead.”

“Then tell those mages to come here.”

“What…?”

“Aren’t all the people here of high status? Our legs hurt and we’re tired, so is there really a need for us to go? Why don’t you send the subordinates to bring a palanquin or something.”

A statement that was not just rude but arrogantly presumptuous.

Arno was startled and tried to cover my mouth.

“Hey! Hey! Reagan! What kind of way is that to speak to an elder!”

Ignoring Arno’s scolding, I plopped down on the ground. Beron’s eyebrows twitched.

“Reagan… this is an emergency situation. This isn’t the time to act spoiled.”

“Yes. I know very well that it’s an emergency. But what can I do when my legs have given out from tension? Would you perhaps carry me on your back, Elder?”

At my words, Renia’s lips twitched.

“…Come to think of it, my legs hurt too.”

Renia plopped down right next to me.

Anyway, even after returning to the past, her intuition is still top-notch.

“…”

Beron looked at Renia and me with narrowed eyes. While Arno floundered in confusion, he slowly opened his mouth.

“When did you notice?”

Beron twisted his lips. He seemed to have no intention of wearing the mask of a benevolent elder any longer.

“From the moment you first showed your face. The stench was so bad I could barely stand it.”

“…Indeed. I heard you saw through Markel, and your perception is quite remarkable. I can see why that bastard Stern brought you in.”

Beron let out a hollow laugh and stepped back.

Arno’s expression hardened. He too had noticed that the situation was taking a strange turn.

“E-Elder! What on earth is this situation!”

“Arno, does that human still look like a Benheim mage to your eyes?”

At my words, Arno bit his lips. Arno also possessed outstanding talent, so he would be able to tell.

The mana aura surrounding Beron’s body now was hardly different from that of the magical beast from before.

“H-how…”

“Let me ask you one thing.”

While Arno was flustered, I asked a question.

“Who is behind you?”

“What’s the point of knowing when you’re about to die?”

“I should at least know what’s killing me to feel less wronged when I die.”

“The great Archmage King. He is also a prophet who will lead humanity to even greater heights.”

Archmage King.

As expected, he was already making his moves at this point in time.

“I never thought you would be able to defeat the magical beast. But that’s all you can do. There’s nothing you can accomplish. Now, surrender quietly.”

Beron spread his arms and grinned wickedly.

Meanwhile, I sensed presences from the other side of the forest. Black mages were slowly closing in their encirclement. It seemed Beron had no intention of dirtying his own hands.

“R-Reagan… what do we do?”

Renia asked, terrified.

“Well.”

Currently, the only weapon I had was a single broken sword.

I couldn’t channel aura into a broken sword.

I would have to fight using only Benheim’s rune magic and common spells.

However, I had only learned four rune characters.

Against a Benheim elder, it was nothing more than child’s play.

Even if Renia, Arno, and Petra joined forces, there was no chance of victory. Three mere 3rd-tier novices could never defeat an elder who had trained for decades. Moreover, Beron’s subordinates were approaching by the moment.

‘If only my sword were intact, I could have bought more time…’

Suddenly, a girl with red hair entered the corner of my vision.

Petra Rucen. The magic she had shown against the magical beast earlier flashed through my mind.

Several red swords she had created by weaving mana in the air.

“Sword Creation magic.”

A unique magical formula that sharply forged mana and manifested it as swords with physical force.

It was exactly the magic I needed most right now.

“Hey, Petra.”

I placed my hand on Petra’s shoulder. Her body was trembling like a leaf.

“T-this is the worst… I shouldn’t have come to a place like this… I’m going to tell father. I’m going to tell him…”

“Handle that yourself, but I have a favor to ask.”

“…A f-favor…? Suddenly?”

“Rucen’s secret magic, the Sword Creation magic. What’s the principle behind it?”

At my request to tell me the principle of secret magic, Petra’s eyes widened. However, she couldn’t bring herself to look away from Beron, glancing sideways while whispering.

“Are you crazy? Why would I tell that to someone else! Especially to a lowborn like you!”

“Then we can all die here together.”

“Urk.”

At my words, Petra hiccupped.

Not missing that momentary gap, I quickly continued speaking.

“Do you even know what they’re planning to do? First they’ll slice open your belly and remove your organs. They’ll extract your mana core and make it into pills or something. The remaining corpse will be fed to the crows.”

At my words, Petra’s teeth chattered.

For Petra, who hadn’t even reached adulthood yet and had grown up as a precious treasure in Rucen, my story was close to a death sentence.

“You saw me take down the magical beast with a sword earlier. I need a sword right now. If you just tell me the Sword Creation magic, I’ll somehow resolve this situation.”

“…No, it’s impossible. Sword Creation magic is the essence of Rucen. Do you think a 3rd-tier lowborn could learn it even if I told you?”

“Of course. I’m more talented than you, after all.”

At my confident affirmation, Petra scrunched up her face.

Still, she didn’t dare deny it, trying to preserve her pride by keeping her mouth shut.

But that was only for a moment.

“Haah… F-fine. I’ll tell you. But keep it secret from father, really… Though it won’t work anyway…”

Finally, Petra spoke as if giving up. At the same time, Beron’s subordinates began appearing in view one after another.

“There’s no time. Just quickly tell me the principle.”

“To make a sword, you need threads of mana. You emit mana thinly from your mana core to create threads. And to form the shape, you need to use knots, and the knots needed for one sword are…”

“No, explaining will take too long. Just show me.”

Petra made a displeased expression and drew a red sword from her fingertips.

Flash.

Red threads of mana wove from Petra’s fingertips, and a sword bloomed forth.

Drawing mana like thread from the mana core to create a framework, then layering sharp mana over it to create an edge. And even the unique knotting method that fixed the form.

Rucen’s unique magical formula, its intricate blueprint entered my vision completely.

“Excellent. I’ve memorized it perfectly.”

“You understood it just from seeing it once? Does that make sense?”

Petra frowned as if finding it hard to believe and continued speaking.

“Anyway, shooting this sword…”

“No, that’s enough. There’s no time to learn that too.”

I cut off Petra’s words.

I stepped forward and met Beron’s gaze.

I dropped the broken sword to the ground and raised both hands.

Beron smiled so wide his mouth seemed to split.

“Are you planning to surrender?”

“As if.”

I’m going to fight.

With a very fine sword I’ll make myself.

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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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