The Son-In-Law of the Magician Is a Transcendent Sword Master - Chapter 32

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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 32

It had been three weeks since I began training with the Rune Surveillance Unit, and the day of the operation was now imminent.

“We depart the estate tomorrow at dawn and head to the western part of the Empire.”

Valen pointed to the continental map with a dry tone as he recited the operation’s outline.

For reference, my seat was right in front of Valen, at the head position.

I wasn’t oblivious to the situation. In addition to my victory in the bet against Valen, rumors spread that Stern had personally bestowed upon me one of Benheim’s treasured swords, naturally making this my seat.

From what I overheard among the members, I was apparently a promising talent that the family head had his eye on and a candidate for the next vice-captain position.

Because of this, I had to endure the sharp stares of the other members.

“Our destination is Mist Valley, and our temporary base is Rodel, a small city in the eastern and western parts of the valley. We’ll arrive in Rodel five days before the operation to complete our supplies, then enter the valley at dawn on the day of the new moon.”

Valen turned the operation board. On the back page was a detailed map showing the geography of Mist Valley.

It was also a familiar landscape.

It was the place where Renia and I had made our final stand against the Archmage King in my previous life.

“Our target is the Black Mages. Specifically, the capture of Markel Sirid von Benheim, one of their key figures. He is a spy of Benheim who, as a Black Mage, targeted Lady Renia’s life.”

The purpose of this operation was simple.

Eliminate the Black Mage group preparing a secret meeting in Mist Valley and capture Markel.

“Capturing Markel Benheim alive is the top priority, but if the situation doesn’t allow it, consider killing him as well. This is a directive given directly by the family head.”

Murmurs grew louder at Valen’s words.

No matter how much of a Black Mage Markel was, he was still nominally the family head’s brother.

Yet permitting his assassination was proof that Stern didn’t consider Markel his blood relative.

For me, it was a matter of indifference. The Black Mage Markel in my memories from before the regression hadn’t distinguished himself. Therefore, Markel wasn’t necessarily a target I had to eliminate, but rather just a bothersome pebble in my way.

So what I was focusing on in this operation was a different matter.

‘…I might encounter the Archmage King.’

It wasn’t certain how far the Archmage King was involved at this point.

However, if he had planted Black Mages inside Benheim, there was a high possibility he would show his face at this meeting.

So there was a real chance I might encounter the Archmage King in this operation.

‘If he appears… I must kill him.’

I couldn’t let this opportunity slip away.

At this point, the Archmage King’s rank was likely not very high. At most, 8th tier?

In other words, it would be a level that the Rune Surveillance Unit’s forces, led by Stern, could barely handle.

If I could kill the Archmage King, I had to do it as early as possible.

“Reagan.”

My thoughts were interrupted by Valen’s voice.

The operation briefing had ended, and members were leaving their seats one by one in the bustling atmosphere. Valen placed his hand on my shoulder and kneaded it rather roughly as he spoke.

“Were you perhaps lost in thought? Your expression was quite murderous. Not the kind of expression a kid should make.”

I touched my lips at those words.

I must have indeed been making a grim expression.

Since I was sitting in the front, the other members couldn’t see, but it would have been clearly visible to Valen standing on the platform.

“I was just having some idle thoughts.”

“Getting absorbed in distracting thoughts before going to battle is poison. Keep your head clear. Especially for guys like you who fight with instinct.”

“I understand.”

It was similar to what Valen had told me during my Resistance Army days.

When I chuckled, Valen also grinned.

“By the way, are you using the gloves well?”

“Yes, well. They’re warm in early winter, which is nice. Of course, even if you asked for them back, I wouldn’t give them to you.”

“That’s not why I asked, you brat.”

Actually, I had chosen these gloves thanks to my memories from the Resistance Army days before the regression.

Back then, Valen would ramble on at every drinking session about his heroic tales and give lengthy speeches about how amazing these gloves were.

That’s why when I thought of something worth demanding from Valen, only these came to mind.

“They not only block physical impacts, but more importantly, they’re excellent at blocking magical backlash. At least magic of 5th tier or below won’t even scratch them.”

“They’re definitely good items. The mana conductivity is excellent too.”

I rubbed the gloves made from wyvern leather. Being able to block magic up to the 5th tier also meant the range of minor techniques I could deploy would expand.

I didn’t bother telling Valen about that. He would surely object if he heard the details.

“Anyway, you’ll have to earn your keep for all the food you’ve eaten so far.”

Valen put on a stern expression, but his eyes clearly showed anticipation.

After all, if a rookie to whom he’d given his prized possession performed poorly in actual combat, there would be no greater embarrassment.

“You don’t need to worry.”

“How bland.”

I nodded and gathered my belongings.

Then I voiced a question that suddenly occurred to me.

“By the way, I have one question.”

“What is it?”

“Vice-captain, you explained that we depart tomorrow at dawn.”

“Hmph. So you were listening to my words even while lost in thought. Is there some problem with that?”

“As far as I know, Mist Valley takes a good ten days to reach from here, even riding horses non-stop. The timing doesn’t add up to arrive on schedule, does it?”

Even when I lived as a mercenary, crossing the continent required at least a month.

So to travel from here in eastern Benheim to Mist Valley at the western edge of the continent would take ten days at most, even with the best horses.

I couldn’t understand the plan to reduce that journey to three days.

At my question, Valen stopped packing and stared at me intently. Soon, the corners of his mouth curled up in a sly smile.

“Well, well, you’re more of a country bumpkin than I thought, Benheim’s son-in-law.”

“What do you mean?”

“Did you think Benheim was some petty family that goes to battle riding mere horses?”

Valen chuckled and patted my shoulder.

“Watch carefully tomorrow. I’ll help you shed some of that country bumpkin attitude.”

I realized the reason for that laughter the next dawn.

“Whoa…”

Only after seeing the three carriages lined up in front of the estate gate did I understand.

No, they weren’t horse carriages. They were magic carriages.

Winged horse-shaped magical beasts were pulling the carriages.

“They’re pegasi.”

“This is my first time seeing them.”

“Of course it would be. They’re phantasmal creatures.”

So we were going to fly there.

This was a means of transportation I had never heard of or seen, neither during my mercenary days nor my Resistance Army days.

“How is it? Doesn’t it make your eyes light up?”

“Carriages pulled by pegasi. Are there many such carriages?”

“No. Even in the Empire, only the Imperial Family and a few Noble Houses can use such precious items. Since they pass through airspace, prior permission must be obtained, making it quite complicated. Half the reason this operation had such a long preparation period was because of this.”

“I see…”

Then it made sense that I had no memory of them.

As soon as the war broke out, the flying vehicles owned by the Imperial Court and noble families would have been the first to be requisitioned or destroyed as the Archmage King’s top priority targets.

The reason they went through the trouble to arrange this was probably to strike swiftly without giving information a chance to leak.

“Board the carriage. Don’t dawdle. They’re waiting.”

“Yes.”

At Valen’s urging, I climbed into the carriage.

Immediately after a command, the carriage soared into the sky. The riding experience was surprisingly not bad. There seemed to be related magic inscribed inside the carriage.

“How is it, country boy? How does it feel to fly through the sky?”

“Not too bad.”

“What an old man’s reaction. Try to enjoy it like someone your age would.”

I gave a casual response and looked out the window.

The continental landscape spread out below the clouds.

I clicked my tongue as I watched Benheim’s estate rapidly disappearing into the distance.

I realized that the plan to reach the western continent in three days wasn’t a pipe dream at all.

What was most impressive wasn’t simply flying through the sky.

“I can see a checkpoint over there.”

Below the carriage, a massive gateway crossing the Empire’s territory came into view.

There are checkpoints throughout the Empire.

During my mercenary days, I’d sometimes had to slip bribes or waste half a day just to pass through a single gate.

However, the carriage didn’t bother to lower its altitude.

“Don’t we need to go down?”

“We can ignore it. The head of the family has already taken care of passage-related issues.”

As Valen said, the sentries at the gate were actually saluting toward the sky.

“While those ground-crawlers roll around in mud getting inspected, we can pass by drinking tea above the clouds. Buying time with power—this is Benheim’s majesty.”

Valen chuckled while resting his chin on his hand.

“If you have power… you can even buy time…”

In that sense, Renia was truly befitting of Benheim’s last heir.

“That’s quite true.”

I expressed my simple sentiment.

* * *

Benheim’s power could be felt even after arriving at our destination, the small city of Rodel.

“Distinguished guests, you may stay here. If there’s anything uncomfortable, please let us know at any time.”

The City Council had actually lent us an entire grand manor.

As I unpacked in the luxurious reception room, I recalled the days when I had to sleep in straw bundles at inns whenever staying in cities.

‘What a difference between then and now.’

I was reminded once again why Renia had hated camp life.

Since such luxurious living was her daily routine, the barracks crawling with insects must have been like hell.

“The Day of Moon’s Bite is five days from now. Since we’re here in utmost secrecy, we must not let the citizens discover our identities. If rumors spread that Benheim’s mages have arrived, those rats in the valley might catch wind and flee.”

Valen warned with a stern expression.

“Refrain from individual actions, and don’t wear robes when going out. Thoroughly disguise yourselves as ordinary travelers.”

The members nodded and disappeared into their respective rooms.

Using the excuse of recovering from travel fatigue, I threw my luggage in my room and headed alone to the manor’s watchtower.

A high place where the city’s entire view could be seen at a glance.

Rodel wasn’t as massive a city as Benheim Estate, but being half-buried in steep gorges gave it its own charm.

“…”

When I took a deep breath, the cold air pierced my lungs.

In the distance, I could see steep gorges shrouded in pale mist.

Mist Valley.

The place where I had died in my previous life.

The grave where I had resisted to the end alongside Renia, only to finally fall.

I had returned to that place.

And with the very sword I had been gripping just before death.

“How amusing.”

Though I’m not one to get sentimental, the emotions are fresh.

Though I have returned to my grave.

This time, the one to be buried won’t be me, but you, Archmage King.

It was while I was gripping the railing tightly and renewing my resolve.

“…That’s.”

A flag hanging in the outskirts of the city caught my eye.

My brow naturally furrowed.

Because the emblem on the flag looked familiar.

“Black Crows… mercenary group?”

White fangs on a black background.

The third-rate mercenary group led by Gerkin.

It was the emblem of that mercenary group I had belonged to in my childhood, and had destroyed with my own hands half a year ago.

Why would those bastards who should be doing odd jobs in the eastern continent be here in the western continent?

Especially right under the nose of Mist Valley where the Black Mages’ gathering was taking place.

“…Something’s strange.”

I needed to check this out.

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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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