The Son-In-Law of the Magician Is a Transcendent Sword Master - Chapter 44

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 44

 

Exactly one year had passed since my regression, and I had turned nineteen.

 

Caught up in some inexplicable sentimentality, I stood before a mirror I usually paid no attention to and carefully examined my face.

 

“…Hmm.”

 

The man in the mirror had a darkened jaw. Well, it was about time for facial hair to grow. I’d need to ask Sheril for a razor soon.

 

The youthful look had completely disappeared from my face long ago.

 

I had held my coming-of-age ceremony with Arno last month, and now my previous life’s features were clearly established on my face.

 

“Not bad.”

 

If there was one major difference from before my regression, it was my physique.

 

Though I hadn’t had a bad build before either, perhaps it was because Benheim had provided me with nutritious meals over the past year. I had grown a bit taller than before, and my shoulders had broadened considerably.

 

It wasn’t just that I had gotten bigger. When I pressed my forearm, it was so solid it felt like touching rock. Thanks to absorbing elixirs and barrier stones, and continuing brutal training with Valen, my muscles now had much higher density than they appeared.

 

“…The perfect body for a swordsman.”

 

Of course, that didn’t mean it was bad for a mage.

 

After receiving guidance from Steren, an Archmage, for half a year, my prowess as a mage had also improved dramatically.

 

My current level as a mage was 5th Circle.

 

As a swordsman, I was an Aura Expert. In my previous life, I had only reached this level around age twenty-four. That alone was a remarkable achievement, but I was only nineteen now. The future was still bright ahead.

 

‘…If I were to fight Barg again, this time I could win without magic.’

 

After reaching the 5th Circle, I had sparred with the Rune Sentinels a few times as a test, and except for Valen, none of them could touch a hair on my body. Even Valen had to draw upon 6th Circle magic to subdue me.

 

Perhaps because of this, when I walked around Benheim territory, the gazes of surrounding mages were quite intense. Some even speculated that I might be an illegitimate child from another great magic family.

 

“…Still not enough.”

 

However, I couldn’t be satisfied with my current achievements.

 

Less than six years remained before the Archmage King would begin his full rampage.

 

‘I need to reach at least the 8th Circle to face him.’

 

Among modern human mages, those who had reached the 8th Circle could be counted on one hand. Even throughout Benheim’s thousand-year history, only the founder and Renia had reached the 8th Circle.

 

In that sense, I had once asked Renia about the 8th Circle in my previous life.

 

The answer I received was truly remarkable.

 

– It’s not a level you can reach through effort alone. At some point, it just naturally ‘broke through,’ you could say?

 

– Broke through?

 

– Yes. From the moment I reached the 8th Circle, the world looked different. Hmm… It’s really hard to explain in words.

 

“Tsk.”

 

There was no point worrying about it when I hadn’t even reached the 6th Circle yet.

 

I raised my hand and condensed mana. Blue light was finely forged into a small razor. After learning blade magic to some extent, I could freely change and create sword forms like this.

 

After finishing shaving and washing, I returned to my bedroom to find formal wear laid out on the bed. Sheril had brought it while I was away.

 

“Doesn’t suit my station.”

 

Ceremonial robes with Benheim’s crest embroidered in gold thread on a black background.

 

I had worn it once during last month’s coming-of-age ceremony and hadn’t given it a glance since.

 

But today, I had no choice but to wear it.

 

“…The Great Mage Alliance Council.”

 

Today was the day to depart for the Imperial Capital to attend the council.

 

This council would be attended not only by the Five Mage Families but also by prominent Imperial mage families in large numbers.

 

Naturally, the main agenda item was the treatment and countermeasures for the black mages who had been causing trouble recently.

 

Since Steren had called for the assembly, Benheim would be the protagonist of this council.

 

‘The Archmage King will come too.’

 

There was no way he would miss such a major event.

 

He would certainly come disguised as an Imperial Mage Association investigator to observe the situation.

 

Moreover, with suspicions about the Airid Family to investigate, I couldn’t afford to lose focus during this council.

 

“Let’s concentrate.”

 

I straightened my clothes and slapped both cheeks sharply.

 

* * *

 

In front of Benheim’s main gate, a procession of carriages ready for departure was already lined up.

 

“Reagan, over here.”

 

Renia waved her hand. She too was not wearing her usual simple robes, but a splendid dress symbolizing Benheim’s direct lineage.

 

“You’re dressed up nicely today.”

 

“…Yeah, actually I don’t really like this outfit either. But Allet kept insisting that since Benheim is the protagonist of this council, we need to maintain proper formality.”

 

Renia spun around in front of me as if to show off. Her skirt fluttered like flower petals.

 

Was it because she was approaching adulthood, or was it that clothes make the person?

 

The Renia before my eyes now had quite the air of a lady about her. Just a year ago, yet I couldn’t find any trace of the young girl I had met in the graveyard.

 

“You’re beautiful.”

 

“…”

 

When I spoke honestly, Renia blinked in surprise.

 

Had she not expected me to give a compliment?

 

Renia moved her lips for a moment, then cleared her throat and said,

 

“W-well, you look pretty good too, Reagan. Now you finally look somewhat like a noble.”

 

“These clothes are so uncomfortable I could die.”

 

“Bear with it. I can’t stand seeing my husband dressed like a beggar.”

 

The word husband still didn’t feel familiar.

 

Though we hadn’t held a wedding ceremony yet, Renia’s and my relationship was essentially semi-officially announced. If Renia came of age next year, Benheim would formally hold the ceremony.

 

Perhaps because of this, Steren’s expression seemed to grow more deathly by the day, though probably not as much as the young man now approaching us.

 

“…Why does my brother look so angry?”

 

“He got thoroughly beaten by me yesterday too.”

 

“Shut up!”

 

Arno, who had approached us, shouted angrily.

 

When I reached the 5th Circle a few days ago, Arno was still lingering at the beginning of the 4th Circle. Whether this fact had significantly wounded Arno’s pride, he had desperately challenged me to a duel last night but couldn’t last even one exchange before being defeated.

 

“What can you do, Arno? The wall of talent is high. And a younger brother can never beat his older brother.”

 

“I…! That older brother thing…! Don’t…! Say it! That bet was already over half a year ago!”

 

Arno looked ready to charge at me, but with the clear difference in our circles now, he couldn’t bring himself to attack and just fumed.

 

Watching her brother stomp his feet and grind his teeth, Renia giggled. Arno finally turned his arrow toward Renia.

 

“Renia, you too! You lack respect for your older brother! I’m going to be the next family head!”

 

“But brother, the person who’s going to be the next family head has never beaten Reagan even once? And since you lost the bet, why aren’t you calling him older brother?”

 

“That’s why I said don’t talk about that!”

 

Watching Renia and Arno bicker, I smiled bitterly.

 

According to what Renia had told me in my previous life, both of them had reached the 4th Circle only after coming of age. In that sense, their current growth rate was clearly faster than before my regression.

 

As for Renia, well, since she eventually reached the 8th Circle, there wasn’t much to worry about.

 

Over the past year, I had realized that Arno’s talent was equally excellent. In this life, I would make sure he didn’t fall helplessly to the Archmage King, so Arno could become stronger too.

 

As Renia said, since he would be the next head of Benheim, having Arno as an ally was important. So I needed to function as fuel to stoke his competitive spirit, just like now.

 

“So, won’t you bow once to this older brother who has reached the 5th Circle?”

 

“Hey!”

 

So I provoked him.

 

Though somewhat childish, the effect was quite good.

 

“Everyone seems to get along well.”

 

While I was teasing Arno for a while, Steren walked out from the main house.

 

Unlike the dressed-up Arno and Renia, Steren wore his usual formal uniform. He seemed to believe that formality came from one’s position, not from clothes.

 

“Everyone seems to be gathered. Let’s depart.”

 

The carriage we would take this time wasn’t pulled by pegasi like before. Unlike the case with Rodel, the distance from Benheim County to the Imperial Capital wasn’t that far, so using the land route was actually more convenient.

 

Several hours had passed since we boarded the carriage and left Benheim territory.

 

We were at a way station, changing horses and taking a brief rest.

 

In the distance, a long procession of carriages could be seen approaching, raising clouds of dust. The leading carriage had a splendid flag of mixed black and red colors hanging from it. Even without checking the crest, it was clear which family they belonged to.

 

“Well, well, if it isn’t Duke Benheim.”

 

Eventually, mages descended from the carriages. From the luxurious procession, a middle-aged man with reddish long hair walked out.

 

“Kaiden. It’s been a long time. Have you been well?”

 

“Thanks to you.”

 

The head of Rucen, Kaiden, offered a bitter smile as he extended his hand to Steren for a handshake.

 

The Grand Mage Council includes all five Great Magic Families. Rucen, being one of them, is no exception. Since Benheim Estate is relatively close, meeting like this at a waystation isn’t strange at all.

 

“I heard your children have reached the 4th Circle. Congratulations.”

 

“I understand your daughter also reached the 4th Circle this time.”

 

“Petra, you mean? Haha. She has mediocre talent. She still has a long way to go.”

 

While exchanging casual pleasantries, Kaiden’s gaze turned toward me, standing behind Steren.

 

His expression hardened as he sensed the aura emanating from my body.

 

“Well, well… your prospective son-in-law’s achievements are quite remarkable. Truly… he’s become unrecognizably strong.”

 

Though it was praise on the surface, Kaiden’s voice carried clear displeasure. He must be displeased that a mere commoner mage had reached the 5th Circle.

 

Steren, seeing through his true feelings, responded smugly.

 

“You flatter me. If he catches your eye, my son-in-law must be quite useful. Why don’t you try bringing talented mages into your family as well?”

 

“Haha. Your jokes go too far. Rucen is a noble family of pure bloodline.”

 

Kaiden glanced at me with snake-like eyes before continuing.

 

“That aside, bringing a lowborn to the Council, even if he’s your son-in-law, will have people pointing fingers.”

 

“How unfortunate, Kaiden. Benheim isn’t a family weak-willed enough to be swayed by others’ gazes.”

 

A tense war of nerves unfolded between the two family heads.

 

It seemed Kaiden still harbored resentment about my copying Rucen’s unique magic formula.

 

If Kaiden knew I had used Rucen’s unique magic formula for shaving this morning, wouldn’t he try to kill me regardless of Benheim?

 

Not a particularly pleasant thought.

 

“…H-hello.”

 

Someone greeted me as I silently watched the two family heads’ conversation.

 

A red-haired woman with a bob cut.

 

It was Petra Rucen.

 

“Yeah. It’s been a while. How have you been…”

 

I was about to casually return the greeting when I lost my words.

 

Indeed, Petra’s complexion before me was not good. No, it was bad.

 

Beyond pale, it was a dark, earthy color. Compared to the Hunting Festival, she looked like a completely different person.

 

Clearly the face of a sick person.

 

“…Petra? Are you okay? Your complexion looks terrible…?”

 

Even Renia, who usually found Petra disagreeable, was worried enough to speak up.

 

“Are you carsick? Oh, we have herbs good for headaches in our carriage. Should I give you some?”

 

“N-no… I’m fine. Don’t worry.”

 

Having heard our conversation, Kaiden, who had been talking with Steren, turned his head to look at Petra.

 

When his cold gaze touched her, Petra swallowed quietly and trembled.

 

“…”

 

I had seen and felt during the Hunting Festival that Kaiden, head of Rucen, was a strict father, but Petra’s current reaction was still excessive. Her eyes looking at her father clearly contained fear.

 

I examined the inside of Petra’s body. Normally I would need to touch her, but my special vision could read the flow of mana within the body without contact.

 

‘This is…’

 

I frowned.

 

Chaotic, unorganized energies rampaging within Petra’s body.

 

It was completely different from when I met her ten months ago. Petra’s mana core contained a mixture of disorderly mana. As if forcibly crammed in, different types of mana were colliding with each other.

 

In other words, this wasn’t mana absorbed through natural training. It was the result of artificial procedures or suspicious elixirs.

 

According to what Renia told me in my previous life, Kaiden, head of Rucen, was an extreme purist.

 

Such a Kaiden couldn’t be unaware that his daughter’s body contained mixed impure mana. Nor would he ignore it knowing about it.

 

‘Could it be…’

 

The worst possibility occurred to me.

 

Unlike last time, the Hunting Festival had been held normally in this life.

 

If Kaiden had realized something from the Hunting Festival and done something terrible to his daughter.

 

If Petra’s current physical condition was what Kaiden intended.

 

Suspicion arose.

 

Steren must have had the same thought, as he glared at Kaiden with narrowed eyes.

 

But before he could speak, Kaiden smiled broadly and pulled Petra’s shoulder somewhat roughly toward him.

 

“Then we’ll see you in the Capital, Duke Benheim.”

 

Rucen’s carriage disappeared, raising dust clouds.

 

Steren watched the carriage and muttered quietly.

 

“…I smell blood.”

 

I could only nod in agreement with those words.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————