The Son-In-Law of the Magician Is a Transcendent Sword Master - Chapter 46

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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 46

 

“Ru, Rucen…?”

 

The loan sharks’ faces turned ashen. Their previous arrogant demeanor vanished completely as they all hesitantly watched my every move.

 

‘Definitely effective.’

 

That’s how Great Magic Families are treated on this continent.

 

Absolute prestige. An authority that ordinary people dare not approach.

 

Even Rucen, which has the shortest history among the Great Magic Families, is no exception. Their influence is higher than any great noble family except other Great Magic Families, never lower.

 

“…Hey, let’s get out of here.”

 

“But the money…”

 

“Are you crazy? Is that measly money more important than our lives? Let’s go. We can come back for it later.”

 

The leader-like man urged them on, and the other men eventually nodded and quickly tucked their tails between their legs.

 

“We, we’ll be taking our leave now.”

 

They didn’t forget their manners either. When I nodded, they turned around and fled as fast as their legs could carry them.

 

The alley was instantly enveloped in silence. Only then did I disperse the magic sword in my hand and extend my hand to Victor, who was sitting on the ground.

 

Through his dust-covered face, ash-gray eyes looked up at me.

 

“Uh…”

 

“Aren’t you going to take it?”

 

“No, no! I’ll take it.”

 

Victor startled and carefully grasped my hand to stand up.

 

I looked around. The stares were piercing. I had used magic in the middle of a marketplace. And Rucen’s unique magic formula, the blade magic at that. It was inevitable that everyone’s attention would be focused on us.

 

Since I was currently impersonating Rucen, I had no intention of drawing unnecessary attention.

 

“Let’s move somewhere else first.”

 

“Yes? Yes!”

 

I grabbed Victor’s arm and moved deep into the back alley.

 

Victor limped along, seemingly in pain from where he’d been beaten, but finally couldn’t hold back and spoke first.

 

“Why, why would a mage from Rucen help a third-rate mage like me…?”

 

“Shouldn’t you thank me first?”

 

Perhaps because he was a subordinate of the Archmage King in my previous life, my tone naturally became blunt when dealing with Victor.

 

“Th, thank you. I’m alive thanks to you.”

 

Victor showed no sign of displeasure and bowed his head respectfully. Then he only lifted his gaze to check my face.

 

“But… may I ask why you helped me?”

 

“I became interested in what you’re making.”

 

I pointed to the mechanical arm cradled in Victor’s embrace.

 

“That’s a golem, right?”

 

“Yes! Yes! That’s right! You recognized it after all!”

 

Victor’s face lit up at my words.

 

It seemed he was extremely pleased that Rucen, one of the great families, had shown interest in his work.

 

Watching Victor’s joy, I was caught up in complex emotions. There was no need to inform him of the uncomfortable truth that the real Rucen County would never show interest in something like golem studies, being a family steeped in bloodline supremacy.

 

“Anyway, I’d like to see the prototype of that golem you made. You said you’re participating in the upcoming Imperial Exhibition. So you have your workshop in Orelion?”

 

“Yes! That’s correct.”

 

Victor nodded with a bright smile.

 

“I’ll guide you there right away!”

 

Thinking this was the opportunity of a lifetime, he hurried ahead of me despite his limping gait to guide the way.

 

Victor’s workshop that we arrived at was literally a ruin on the verge of collapse. Rather than a workshop, it was more like a shack. The door hung loose, and seeing the gutters attached everywhere, the roof was practically useless.

 

“…S, sorry. It’s humble, but… it’s still my workshop.”

 

Victor hastily explained.

 

Well, real estate prices in the capital are murderous. If Victor was poor enough to borrow from loan sharks for research funds, the interior condition of his workshop was predictable.

 

Sure enough, the inside of the workshop was a sight to behold. Metal scraps littered the floor, and there were traces of makeshift pillars added to support the half-collapsed roof.

 

But the workshop’s condition didn’t matter. What mattered was the giant doll made of haphazardly woven metal pieces standing in the center of the workshop.

 

“Is that the golem?”

 

“Y, yes. It’s my masterpiece… that I’ve spent half my life creating.”

 

Victor attached the left arm he’d brought to the golem’s body and watched my reaction.

 

Regardless, I focused my eyes to examine the golem’s condition.

 

‘…Crude.’

 

Overall, it was rough. The mana circuit connections weren’t smooth, and the joint finishing was terrible.

 

However, several characteristic parts, including the drive unit, remained vividly in my memory.

 

‘What a terrible invention it was…’

 

During the age of war, the maestro who commanded hundreds and thousands of steel golems under the Archmage King.

 

Steel Legion Commander Victor Otto was the worst enemy for the Resistance Army, second only to the Archmage King.

 

The number of resistance fighters who lost their lives to these golems alone was in the double digits. If we count all the continent’s people, not just those under Renia’s command, it would be hundreds of times more.

 

While I was having such thoughts, Victor carefully spoke up.

 

“Um… are you alright?”

 

“What?”

 

“No… it’s just… you look very displeased…”

 

My face reflected in the transparent golem surface wore a grim expression.

 

Due to memories of golems from my previous life, I apparently failed to hide my killing intent.

 

“I’m fine. Just remembered something from the past.”

 

I relaxed my expression and looked at Victor’s face. No matter how I looked at him, he was nothing more or less than an innocent country youth.

 

However, the Victor Otto in my memory was the Archmage King’s left hand and a villain who willingly massacred thousands.

 

But that’s a future event. I don’t yet know whether Victor at this point was evil from birth or corrupted by the Archmage King.

 

So I’ll find out from now on.

 

“Victor Otto, you said.”

 

“Yes. That’s correct.”

 

“Let me ask you one question.”

 

I pointed to the long cylinder attached to the golem’s arm and asked.

 

“What is this golem’s main function?”

 

“Labor!”

 

An immediate answer came back.

 

“Labor?”

 

“Yes! I made it to move heavy materials that are difficult for humans to lift, or to deploy at dangerous construction sites. I also call it ‘heavy equipment’ because it does heavy work!”

 

“…I see.”

 

He didn’t seem to be lying.

 

Rather, the way he rattled it off suggested it was a speech he’d memorized in preparation for presenting at the Imperial Exhibition.

 

I was secretly relieved. At least Victor Otto at this point hadn’t considered this golem for killing or combat purposes.

 

In the end, this innocent mage became the villain known as the Steel Legion Commander due to the Archmage King’s manipulation.

 

“Good. Very excellent.”

 

So in this life, I won’t let the Archmage King take this golem.

 

“Victor Otto, first let me apologize for lying to you.”

 

“…Yes? Apologize? What lie…?”

 

“I’m not a mage from Rucen.”

 

With those words, I released the color transformation magic.

 

Victor’s eyes widened as he watched my dark red hair gradually return to its original ash color.

 

It was understandable. Impersonating a Great Magic Family on this continent is something even a madman wouldn’t do. If caught, it’s a serious crime that could result in assassination without a trace.

 

But it’s fine.

 

I’ve gained a talent with enough potential to justify taking such a risk.

 

“Let me introduce myself properly.”

 

I extended my hand to Victor, who stood there dazed.

 

“My name is Reagan von Benheim.”

 

Not Rucen, but Benheim.

 

Victor was shocked once again.

 

* * *

 

Victor Otto was lamenting his circumstances.

 

When he was affiliated with the Ochre Tower, Victor had been a researcher with a bright future. However, everything went wrong from the moment he became interested in and began researching golems, the lost secret magic of his family.

 

The Guild did not welcome Victor’s research. Since golems were considered taboo as inefficient, outdated, and unmagical concepts, Victor eventually had to leave the Ochre Tower as if he were being driven out.

 

‘My theory wasn’t wrong.’

 

Even when he confidently quit the Guild, Victor believed without a doubt that his research would succeed.

 

However, reality was not so forgiving.

 

Just one year after leaving the Guild and setting up a private workshop to begin his research, Victor came to painfully realize how sweet the Guild’s research funding support had been.

 

Material costs were astronomical, and even the monthly rent for his laboratory was difficult to manage.

 

Eventually, he had to borrow from loan sharks and even cut back on meals while throwing himself into golem creation.

 

Even that had now reached its limit.

 

‘The only thing I can believe in… is the Imperial Exhibition.’

 

Someone would recognize it.

 

The value of the golem Victor had created. His family’s secret art.

 

Victor had believed this without doubt, but he never expected to see hope in a dark back alley rather than at the Imperial Exhibition.

 

The one who extended a hand was a mage from Rucen.

 

No, he thought it was Rucen, but it was Benheim impersonating Rucen.

 

Naturally, Victor was in a very confused state of mind.

 

“…Be, Benheim, you said?”

 

“That’s right. Benheim.”

 

The mage before him, Reagan von Benheim, nodded calmly.

 

However, Victor had his doubts. Reagan had just used blade magic. But now he was introducing himself as Benheim.

 

‘…Isn’t he lying?’

 

Perhaps that’s why. His claim of being from Benheim also seemed suspicious. He had heard that direct mages of Benheim possessed golden hair. But this man had the complete opposite – ash-gray hair.

 

Perhaps noticing the suspicion in Victor’s eyes, Reagan chuckled.

 

“You look like you don’t believe me.”

 

“Th, that is… I’m not doubting you, but…”

 

“Would you believe me if I did this?”

 

Reagan extended his hand into the air.

 

Space vibrated, and colorful rune characters appeared floating in the air. Victor was shocked. Even though he had belonged to a remote tower, he wasn’t ignorant of Benheim’s unique magical formulas.

 

“…Wh, what the…?”

 

He had just used blade magic, and now he was using rune magic. Victor couldn’t close his mouth at that unbelievable sight.

 

Before he could even ask about this, Reagan changed the subject.

 

“I think that’s enough proof, so let’s talk business again.”

 

Before Victor could even respond, Reagan continued speaking rapidly.

 

“So, how much do you need?”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“Money, I mean money. How much money would it take to finish this research and even set up facilities for mass production?”

 

“Ma, mass production, you said?”

 

“That’s right. This is a prototype, isn’t it? To eventually make production models, you’d need to optimize the production line. Procure materials, hire workers. You’d need a more proper workshop than this too.”

 

“…”

 

Reagan looked to be around his own age at best. Objectively, he appeared to be about twenty years old. But why was he so experienced? Beyond just knowledge, Reagan had been holding and controlling the initiative in their conversation throughout.

 

However, an opportunity he thought would never come had arrived.

 

Victor had no intention of letting this lifeline slip away.

 

Swallowing dry saliva, he recalled the amount he had calculated in his head.

 

“…We, we’d need at least four million livres…”

 

Victor regretted it even as he said it.

 

Four million livres.

 

It was an enormous amount. No matter how great a magic family Benheim was, he didn’t think they would readily throw around such an investment.

 

He would surely be treated like a madman.

 

Victor hung his head as if resigned. However, Reagan listened quietly, then nodded casually as if it were nothing.

 

“Let’s go.”

 

He stood up from his seat.

 

Naturally thinking that Reagan was leaving after hearing such an absurd investment amount, Victor kept his head down.

 

However…

 

“What are you doing, grab your coat.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“I said let’s go. Outside.”

 

Reagan said curtly as he opened the door. Victor blinked and asked.

 

“Wh, where do you mean?”

 

“Where else? We’re going to get you that investment.”

 

Victor’s head slowly lifted.

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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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