The Son-In-Law of the Magician Is a Transcendent Sword Master - Chapter 23

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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 23

Beron, an elder of Benheim and a black mage, judged that this Hunting Festival was the perfect opportunity.

‘We absolutely cannot fail.’

To achieve the divine feat with a human body, excellent materials befitting such a task were necessary.

The old cores of aged and diseased mages like Elder Beron were utterly useless.

What was needed were fresh, blooming mana cores with infinite expandability.

“Two heirs of Benheim, plus the daughter of Rucen.”

Although the unfortunate incident occurred where Markel, one of the key figures, had his identity exposed and fled, this Hunting Festival with even Rucen’s heir participating was an opportunity they absolutely could not miss.

That’s why they risked danger to intervene in the Hunting Festival.

The plan proceeded smoothly.

They set up a barrier to cut off the forest from the outside, deployed subordinates to deceive the sentries’ eyes. Tracking the heirs’ locations wasn’t difficult either. They had hidden tracking magic in the qualification badges that recorded the Hunting Festival scores.

Beron and the other black mages easily entered the forest and succeeded in creating magical beasts through black magic.

Originally, while that magical beast rampaged and tied up the feet of the Benheim forces that would come later, Beron planned to naturally intervene and win favor by pretending to rescue the children.

With the face of the most trustworthy adult, he intended to make them walk into the trap on their own.

‘Did you defeat this magical beast?’

‘Yes, well.’

‘…’

Some brat had dealt with the magical beast, making things awkward.

Reagan.

The impurity that Stern had brought.

A wretch who, despite being an outsider, had even absorbed the family’s mana cultivation method.

He wasn’t simply skilled.

‘Since when did you notice?’

‘From the moment you first showed your face. The stench was so bad I could hardly bear it.’

Though he thought he had hidden it well, Reagan had managed to detect the scent of black magic from behind Beron’s mask.

At this point, even Beron had to acknowledge it.

‘Stern brought quite a useful fellow.’

Because of that boy Reagan, the prepared magical beast died and his identity was seen through. In the end, Beron had no choice but to reveal his true nature earlier than planned.

But it was fine. The barrier was still intact, and the black mages who would support Beron were arriving one by one.

“Elder, everyone has assembled.”

A black mage approached and spoke. Beron nodded.

“Good. Capture all of them.”

“However… what should we do about that ash-haired brat?”

“Kill him.”

The black mage frowned at Beron’s words.

“…But… that fellow has learned Benheim’s mana cultivation method. He should be useful as material.”

“I know. That bastard Stern taught him without permission.”

Since he couldn’t inherit direct bloodline, his value as a vessel would be somewhat diminished, but he’d be better than branch family members who hadn’t even learned the cultivation method. There would be no harm in taking him.

However, Beron shook his head.

“That fellow is a rebel by nature. Taking him alive would only trouble us. It’s better to kill him here and nip it in the bud.”

“Understood.”

Beron was bothered by the strange atmosphere hidden behind Reagan’s insolent attitude. It wasn’t the kind of composure a mere 3rd-tier brat could show.

Therefore, he instinctively felt it was right to kill that boy now.

——Thud.

Perhaps he sensed that killing intent.

Reagan, who had been standing still, dropped his broken sword and took a step forward.

“Do you intend to surrender?”

Pathetic thing.

In the end, a brat is just a brat.

It was the moment Beron raised the corners of his mouth.

“As if.”

Reagan’s subsequent action was completely different from Beron’s expectation.

A pale blue thread was drawn from his raised fingertips. Lines became surfaces, and surfaces formed shapes. Knots made of mana appeared here and there, fixing the form.

“…What.”

Beron had also held his position as an elder of Benheim for twenty years. As such, he immediately realized what Reagan’s magic was based on.

“Sword Creation magic!”

The unique magic formula of the great magic family Rucen, Sword Creation magic.

Although the sword Reagan created wasn’t as sharp and nimble as those drawn by Rucen’s mages. It was crude and rough.

Rather than a well-forged famous sword, it was closer to a club made by carving beast bone.

‘Even so… he succeeded in manifestation.’

Even clumsily imitating it was miraculous, an impossible feat.

It was common knowledge that a great magic family’s unique magic formula couldn’t be copied unless supported by that family’s mana cultivation method.

Since the mana operation itself differed from common magic, attempting to use it without the appropriate mana cultivation method often resulted in becoming a cripple.

However, Reagan had clearly learned Benheim’s cultivation method, yet somehow implemented Rucen’s Sword Creation magic, albeit clumsily.

“…Hah.”

Beron let out a hollow laugh.

He turned his head and called his subordinate.

“…Ruben.”

“Yes.”

“I retract my previous order. That fellow must be captured without a single wound. No matter what happens, capture him alive.”

Elder Beron instinctively knew.

The most valuable target here wasn’t Benheim’s heir or Rucen’s daughter.

It was that fellow.

* * *

——Swish.

The sensation of swinging the newly created sword was strange.

Light. And simultaneously hot.

It lacked the heavy and cold feeling characteristic of metal.

It couldn’t be helped. The pale blue light cluster I held in my hand was merely a sharply honed lump of mana rather than a sword.

“Well, not bad for something hastily made.”

Not a bad result for a first attempt. Petra, who had been watching me from behind, had her eyes widened so much they looked ready to pop out.

“That’s… impossible. H-how did you do it in one try…”

Instead of responding, I drew up the core of the part governing aura beyond the barrier of my mana core. Different opposing energies mixed into the mana circuits extending to my fingertips.

However, instead of clashing, the two energies achieved an exquisite balance. Above the pale blue sword, deep blue aura rose.

“It seems to take aura well too.”

With this, it could be used more effectively than an ordinary sword.

Befitting a great magic family’s unique magic formula, it had quite excellent performance.

“…Ha, hahahaha!”

Meanwhile, Elder Beron burst into wild laughter upon seeing the magic sword I had created.

“Stern truly picked up a gem!”

Beron’s face brightened as he raised his hand to signal. The black mages surrounding us began walking toward us.

I coldly analyzed our forces. The enemy numbered twelve. They were all mages ranging from 3rd to 4th tier. Elder Beron was even a 6th-tier expert.

What about our side?

Just four 3rd-tier mages. Including Petra, who was trembling as if she might collapse at any moment, and the terrified Arno.

The situation wasn’t very good.

“Renia, how about you at least escape while I buy time.”

“You call that talking?”

Renia carefully got up and stuck close to my side. Rune characters bloomed from her fingertips.

“I said I’d kick your ass.”

“Right, you always were like that.”

My opponent is a black mage, and beside me is Renia.

The battle situation is overwhelmingly disadvantageous.

A laugh naturally flowed out.

“This brings back old memories.”

Because it was such a familiar composition.

When fighting against the Archmage King’s forces, it was a similar situation to now.

I looked at Arno and Petra, who were still frozen, and asked.

“You two there, are you just going to stand there and watch blankly?”

“Uh, uh…?”

“If you don’t want to die, do something. Cast magic, throw stones, or at least cry and beg for your lives.”

“…Kuk.”

At my provocation, Arno suddenly came to his senses. Petra also bit her lips and raised mana with trembling hands.

Even if they’re rotten, they’re still heirs of great magic families, so they’re not completely useless.

“Capture them!”

Beron shouted. As if that was the signal, the black mages each raised their hands. Dark red magic bullets and curses rained down.

Pababak!

While Renia deflected the attacks through rune barriers, I swung my newly created sword. The blue blade cut through the air and cut through magic as well.

“What?”

The black mages momentarily hesitated.

They couldn’t hide their shock at seeing their magic easily cut down.

Each of those expressions awakened my past life’s senses.

I exhaled and lowered my body.

I could see a black mage attempting to chant in the distance.

The distance was far. It would be too late to run and cut him down.

I threw the sword in my hand like a javelin without hesitation.

Shwooook!

“Kyaaaak!”

The blue flash pierced through the black mage’s shoulder. The chanting was cut off with a scream.

“Hey, hey! If you use it like that, father will beat you to death!”

Petra screamed in horror. Seeing their family’s unique magic being used as a throwing weapon seemed to astound her.

“Well. I’m not from Rucen.”

In a life-or-death situation, when there’s the most efficient method available, why bother with appearances?

Without caring, I drew out a new sword and threw it.

“Kuhuk!”

Thunk! The sword I threw lodged in one of the black mages’ chests.

“Damn! Deploy defensive magic!”

Two had already fallen. The ones who were intimidated were actually the black mages. They deployed defensive magic, and thanks to that, the attack magic flying toward us also noticeably decreased.

From that moment, the front line became deadlocked.

While Renia and I blocked the black mages’ attacks at the front, Petra and Arno cast restraining magic.

Surprisingly, despite being outnumbered, it was manageable.

‘They can’t kill us.’

The reason is simple.

Their goal is to capture us alive without major injuries, not to kill us. The gap between 3rd and 4th tier isn’t small, but if the opponent can’t use their full power, the story changes.

If we drag out time like this, the ones in trouble will be the black mages.

Beron, who had been watching with his hands behind his back, looked displeased.

“What are you all doing! What do you plan to do if you can’t even catch mere brats!”

“B-but… their resistance is fierce! Two are already dead!”

“Are you afraid of those insignificant fools because of that?”

Beron walked out in fury. It seemed he intended to intervene personally.

‘This isn’t good.’

Elder Beron is a 6th-tier mage.

Even if his body has aged past its prime, 6th tier is the realm of supreme mages. If he starts pouring out magic in earnest, this precariously maintained balance will be shattered in an instant.

“Renia, take care of things here for a moment.”

“Huh? What, what are you trying to do?”

“I have to deal with that man.”

“What? Hey! Reagan!”

Renia screamed in horror, but I ignored her and rushed out.

Beron, who was just raising his hand to chant magic, looked surprised when I suddenly popped out between the battle lines.

“This… insolent brat, you seem to have quite underestimated me!”

When Beron waved his hand, several black orbs flew toward me. An amazing casting speed. By the time I recognized it, they were already flying toward various parts of my body.

It was already too late to dodge. If I tried to deflect them, I’d be caught by the binding magic at my feet.

Instead, I dove deeper into the magic’s area of effect.

“…Kuk!”

Beron’s face was colored with confusion. He clearly hadn’t expected me to jump inside his line of fire.

If he deployed the magic to the end like this, his precious specimen would be ruined. Sure enough, Beron reflexively reduced the magic’s output…

‘Got you.’

He pretends to be experienced, but in the end, that guy is a researcher.

He doesn’t know what a moment’s hesitation means on the battlefield.

I didn’t miss that opening and swung my sword upward.

Slash!

“Kyaaaaaaak!”

Beron screamed while clutching his severed wrist. I shook the blood off my sword and twisted my lips.

“Despite having the title of elder, your combat experience seems somewhat lacking. Perhaps you’ve lived your years in vain.”

“This, this… bastard…!”

At my sarcasm, Beron’s eyes rolled back. Sinister mana condensed above his hand to a degree that even the surrounding black mages were alarmed.

“Elder…! Our mission is to capture them alive!”

“Shut up! I’ll kill him! I’ll make that bastard die screaming in agony!”

Kugugugu!

His reason had clearly snapped. In his eyes, the mission didn’t matter at all. Only the killing intent to turn the insolent brat before him into powder.

‘…This is dangerous.’

A chilling sensation I hadn’t felt in a long time.

Cold sweat flowed.

The oppressive feeling as if space itself was twisting. Black magic containing the full power of 6th tier.

A direct hit would mean instant death. Even a glancing blow would cost me a limb.

If I dodged, Renia behind me would get hurt.

‘Then I’ll break through.’

He’s excited. The magic’s power may have increased, but its composition isn’t meticulous. If I strike the core, there’s definitely a chance of victory.

I’d done this dozens of times during my mercenary days. There was nothing new about it.

Woooong!

I drove my mana core to its limit. Aura exploded from the blue blade like an eruption.

“Die!”

Beron fired his magic. Black waves surged forward.

I bit my lips until they bled and raised my sword.

Just as I concentrated all my mind to pierce through the magic’s core—

At that moment—

Crack.

A great sword flowing with red light struck down from the sky. The black magic that Beron had fired with all his might collapsed the moment it touched the great sword.

“…Wh-what…”

When magic clashes with magic, without exception, the magic of the one with higher mastery overwhelms the opponent’s magic. So this black sword belongs to someone whose mastery far surpasses Beron’s.

I turned my head. Petra was busy running away from the black mages trying to capture her.

That means…

Kuguugugugu.

Suddenly, the sun disappeared.

No, it only felt like it disappeared for a moment.

Countless swords were pouring down like rain, enough to block out the sun.

——Kwagwagwagwang!

The red rain likewise burst forth red blood.

It was far from the simple impression of blades pouring down.

Rather, it was closer to massive iron pillars shot from siege weapons, or hail the size of people falling.

“Keuaaaak!”

The ground shook as if an earthquake had struck. The body of the Black Mage hit directly by the red rain was crushed and burst.

“…Huh.”

Witnessing that terrible death, I clicked my tongue.

With such overwhelming killing power and destructive force, it had to be at least 7th-tier.

There was only one person at the Hunting Festival capable of using 7th-tier sword magic.

“…Kaiden Rucen.”

Looking up at the sky, there was a long-haired man standing on a greatsword with his hands clasped behind his back.

– The head of Rucen? He’s half mage. Among the 7th-tier mages I’ve met, he was the most pathetic. Both in skill and character.

I clearly remembered how Renia had disparaged Kaiden in my previous life, calling him half a mage.

But now I could say with certainty.

‘…How is that half anything?’

The red-haired mage flying on a sword and raining down twenty greatswords as if they were his own limbs.

He was truly worthy of being called an archmage and head of a Great Magic Family.

Pababababak!

With one gesture from Kaiden, everything in that path was obliterated. Trees, bushes, and the necks of Black Mages were no exception.

The twelve Black Mages fled in terror, but the greatswords were faster. They crushed and cut through everything that stood in their way.

As Brock had said, Rucen’s sword magic was indeed unparalleled in killing power among all magic, and I truly understood that reputation.

Kuuuu.

Kaiden Rucen, who descended riding his sword, didn’t even glance at the Black Mages’ corpses. He only looked down at his daughter Petra with cold eyes.

“You’re in a disgraceful state, Petra.”

“Ugh…”

His voice was far too cold for a father who had come to save his daughter.

“I told you to uphold Rucen’s pride. To think you’d tarnish the family name by being toyed with by a mere magical beast and such rabble. How do you expect this father to show his face?”

“I’m, I’m sorry…”

I frowned.

No matter how you looked at it, those weren’t words to say to his own daughter who had nearly lost her life moments ago.

“I will thoroughly interrogate you about this matter when we return to the family.”

Kaiden clicked his tongue and turned his head.

Soon his gaze reached me.

“Lowborn…”

More precisely, it reached the blue mana sword I held in my hand.

“…What exactly is that thing in your hand.”

Kaiden’s eyes, which had been consistently arrogant and expressionless, widened in shock.

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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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