The Son-In-Law of the Magician Is a Transcendent Sword Master - Chapter 40

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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 40

Seven years from now, the armies of black mages would rise up in unison to overthrow the Empire.

They would burn the Imperial Palace, massacre the capital’s citizens, and raise black flags of the black mages in major cities, fanning the flames of war.

Originally, black mages were like rats. It was common for them to hide and live in secrecy, avoiding the Empire’s brutal surveillance and pursuit.

These ragtag groups had suddenly mobilized in unison to form a systematic army.

There were many speculations about this strange phenomenon, but it was widely accepted that the Archmage King was at its center.

However, no one knew the true identity of the Archmage King.

Where he came from, what his real name was, even his face was unknown until one met him directly.

Even Renia from my past life, who was a direct descendant of Benheim, knew nothing about the Archmage King.

– If he was a mage of such caliber, he would have been widely known even if he was a black mage. It’s clearly strange.

Renia’s argument was that even if he thoroughly hid his identity, he couldn’t avoid the tight information network of the great magic families.

However, now that I had returned to the past, I finally understood why the Archmage King could lead the black mages from beneath the surface without drawing attention.

“What’s wrong? You look pale.”

The man, no, the Archmage King tilted his head and asked.

Instead of answering, I looked at the clothes he wore. Golden embroidery sewn on a pure white uniform. The crest on his chest showing crossed staff and sword.

It was a dress uniform that only high-ranking imperial officials could wear.

‘…The Archmage King was affiliated with the Imperial Magic Association…’

The darkest place is under the lamp.

This was exactly the phrase for such a situation.

He had been hiding behind the authority of the Imperial Court, the only power group that surpassed the authority of the great magic families, building his strength.

So even Renia couldn’t have known. Who would dare suspect an imperial investigator who worked day and night to catch black mages?

“Is there something on my face?”

“Ah, no. It’s just… this is my first time meeting someone of such high rank, so I’m nervous.”

I forced a smile and made an excuse.

I felt nauseous. I was facing my mortal enemy from my past life.

The urge to draw my sword from within my clothes and strike his neck right now surged through me.

But I suppressed my emotions and analyzed the situation coldly.

‘…It’s hard to gauge his level. At least 7th Circle, same as Stern or higher.’

The Archmage King was currently at the 7th Circle.

So if everyone worked together, we might be able to subdue him.

However, his level wasn’t the only problem. He was currently a high-ranking investigator of the Magic Association, a direct imperial agency. If I accused him without securing any evidence, it would draw unnecessary attention. The authority of the Imperial Court was especially high now when no war was occurring. Even Benheim wouldn’t be able to protect me.

So I had to endure.

I forcibly suppressed the rising killing intent and let out a small sigh. Perhaps seeing it as an action to relieve tension, the Archmage King smiled brightly.

“Feel free to speak comfortably. I’m just here to gather information.”

The Archmage King opened his investigation notes with a friendly smile.

“I’ve read the report. Reagan von Benheim, son-in-law of Benheim. You made quite a significant contribution in this operation.”

“I was lucky.”

“Luck… Well, the opponent was too formidable to dismiss it as mere luck.”

The Archmage King’s red eyes stared at me penetratingly.

“Barg the Mad Dog. A quite notorious mercenary in the west. A skilled fighter who reached the level of Aura Expert. Such a person was taken down single-handedly by you, Reagan, who hasn’t even come of age yet.”

“…”

“Just in case, I checked the scene. Barg’s corpse had traces of two types of aura and powerful magic. Usually such traces are left only when at least three people of that age group attack together.”

The Archmage King continued while rolling his pen.

“Or perhaps there’s someone with the strange talent of using both aura and magic simultaneously.”

The corner of the Archmage King’s mouth curved up ominously.

Before I knew it, he was looking at my dantian. A piercing gaze. He had clearly noticed the peculiarity of the mana core inside my body.

Without even using mana, he was already seeing through my mana core. Mana sensitivity close to divine. Even Renia from my past life couldn’t achieve this level.

Since I was already caught, there was no reason to make excuses. From the moment I killed Barg, drawing attention was inevitable anyway.

“…It’s just a trivial talent.”

“You’re modest. That level isn’t trivial, but a talent that will be recorded in imperial history. If you weren’t affiliated with Benheim, I’d want to scout you for our association.”

The Archmage King continued with flattery.

“Airid will also regard you as their savior. Since you saved a child who was about to become the next family head, the reward will be enormous.”

“…That girl was the next family head?”

“Yes. Yusephine Airid. The most legitimate heir that the Airid of Spectral Light treasures dearly.”

“Why was such a precious person in a black mage lair?”

At this reasonable question, the Archmage King brought his index finger to his lips.

“That’s something the Imperial Magic Association is also investigating. It’s classified, so I can’t tell you.”

He smiled as if troubled.

However, I could tell. I could feel it intuitively. The arrogance hidden behind the Archmage King’s smile.

Controlling the black mages in this abandoned mine, kidnapping Airid’s daughter to use as an experimental subject – it was all this bastard’s doing.

The shamelessness of coming as an investigator to clean up the tragedy he himself had created, pretending nothing happened.

‘Disgusting bastard.’

Though I felt like my insides were burning, I outwardly pretended to be calm and asked.

“What will you do with the black mages we captured this time?”

“We’ll transfer them to a special prison in the Imperial Capital. You may have heard of it – it’s called ‘Grave.’ True to its name, once you enter, you never see light again. They’ll rot for life in their own tomb.”

I was certain.

The reason the Archmage King could command so many black mage armies in my past life.

For the Archmage King, the black mage detention center was nothing more than a barracks. Through his authority as an imperial investigator, he had secretly turned the imprisoned black mages into his private soldiers.

This solved the remaining questions about the Archmage King’s activities in my past life.

His identity, the source of his power, and even his background.

‘Should I expose him right now?’

After pondering, I soon shook my head.

There was no evidence yet.

He was an investigator of the Imperial Magic Association. If I attacked with only suspicion, I would face the backlash instead.

My current speculations also lacked physical evidence.

In the end, I had to wait for the right time.

I stood up from my seat. If I stayed in the same space with him any longer, I felt I wouldn’t be able to hide my killing intent. When I bowed my head, the Archmage King also nodded slightly and closed his investigation notes.

“I sincerely thank you for your cooperation.”

I didn’t even answer and grabbed the door handle.

However, before turning the handle, I hesitated.

There was still one thing I needed to confirm.

“May I ask one thing?”

I turned around and showed the most genuine smile characteristic of a boy.

I couldn’t know how that smile appeared in his eyes. Perhaps hatred was reflected in it. However, the Archmage King nodded without any particular change in expression.

“Yes. Of course. What’s your question?”

“I’d like to know your name.”

“…My name?”

The Archmage King tilted his head as if surprised, then chuckled.

“Ahaha, I see. I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Demian.”

“…Demian.”

“Demian Carius.”

The Archmage King, Demian, added with a grin…

“…Demian, Carius.”

I rolled my enemy’s name in my mouth.

Grinding it as if the phrase “chewing and swallowing” would be fitting.

“…I will definitely remember it.”

I will never forget.

* * *

Creak.

The door closed, and silence filled the room. Demian stared at the door through which the boy, Reagan, had left for a long while.

“Demian?”

When the closed door opened again, there stood a man with a dignified appearance. It was Gideon, the chief investigator of the Imperial Magic Association and Demian’s direct superior.

“Is the investigation finished?”

“Yes. Just a moment ago. I’ve just completed it.”

Demian rose from his seat to greet his superior. Gideon gestured toward the door with his chin and asked.

“So, is it true that Benheim’s son-in-law killed Barg?”

“It appears so.”

Demian nodded.

“He was the owner of a truly exceptional mana core that could use both aura and magic simultaneously. Though it was based on Benheim’s mana cultivation method, the structure was strangely modified to an extraordinary degree. It was so complete that I can’t believe he developed it himself. It wasn’t the kind of skill that a mage of that level should possess.”

“Indeed, I wondered what kind of person Benheim had taken in as a son-in-law from commoner origins. He was no ordinary individual.”

Gideon clicked his tongue in admiration.

The rumor that Benheim had taken in a new son-in-law, and that this son-in-law was of commoner origin, had been a hot topic in the Imperial Magic Order for months. Even the Royal Court had shown particular interest in investigating it, as the recent actions of the Great Magic Family Benheim were nothing short of radical.

Today he understood the reason. An eighteen-year-old boy had single-handedly defeated Barg, who was not only an Expert-level aura user mercenary but also someone the Imperial Magic Association had repeatedly failed to capture.

“That’s not all. He even interrogated and killed the Black Crows mercenary group captain. Looking at the traces left on the corpse, there was no hesitation. It was the work of someone familiar with killing.”

“I heard he was a low-ranking member of that mercenary group.”

“Yes. That makes it even more remarkable. He casually thrust a sword into the throat of someone he had shared meals with.”

Demian rested his chin on his hand with an intrigued expression.

“Above all, his eyes were truly fascinating.”

“His eyes? What do you mean by that?”

At Gideon’s question, Demian chuckled and answered.

“Hostility.”

“…Hostility?”

“Yes. It wasn’t fear or awe, but complete hostility. Though he was suppressing his killing intent, his eyes… Yes. Such things are hard to hide even when you try.”

“Demian, did you perhaps play some trick on that boy?”

Gideon sighed deeply as he questioned him.

Demian was skilled enough to become chief investigator at a young age, but sometimes his pranks went too far. Demian himself silently shook his head and spoke quietly.

“No. Not yet… I haven’t.”

“…Yet?”

“Yes. Yet.”

Gideon shrugged and asked.

“So, Demian? Do you plan to conclude the investigation as is?”

The situation itself was concluded.

However, from the investigator’s perspective, several suspicious points remained about this incident.

“Don’t we need to verify the collusive relationship between Airidd and the Black Mages? The very fact that Miss Josephine was kidnapped by Black Mages feels unsettling.”

“I’ll investigate that separately. It would be better to wrap up today’s incident here. Considering Benheim’s reputation, it wouldn’t be good to stir things up too much.”

Demian gathered his documents and stood up.

“Lord Gideon.”

“What is it?”

“Another Black Mage lair has fallen. The Empire has become safer because of this.”

“Hmm. I suppose so.”

Gideon nodded, yet couldn’t shake an uneasy feeling.

Demian’s work was always perfect. He was his most trusted subordinate and a talent mentioned as the next Guild leader.

However, sometimes when he smiled like that with unreadable intentions, it sent chills down his spine.

“Let’s go back. The Guild leader is waiting.”

“Y-yes.”

Gideon hurriedly left the room.

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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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