The Son-In-Law of the Magician Is a Transcendent Sword Master - Chapter 70

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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 70

Claw was an assassination guild notorious even in the underworld of the continent.

Scum who wouldn’t hesitate to take even a newborn’s life for money. I remembered them being particularly vile when I encountered them a few times during my mercenary days.

Moreover, they immediately latched onto the Archmage King as soon as the royal court fell—they were the type I could never bring myself to feel any affection for.

“Reagan, about these people.”

Renia spoke while looking at the seven black-clad figures sprawled on the ground.

Honestly, I didn’t want to show her these corpses.

“How should we handle them? Should we bury them after all?”

“…”

But Renia brought up such a grim topic without even changing her expression.

I let out a sigh.

Come to think of it, there’s no way someone as sharp as Renia would be frightened by mere corpses.

“There’s no reason to bury them. We did nothing wrong. More importantly, we’ve identified their affiliation and their backer. There’s no need to be afraid.”

“Then what will you do?”

“First, it would be better to report this to Arcamen.”

After all, cutting the railway tracks was entirely Claw’s doing.

If we give Arcamen a heads-up about this, they’ll handle it well on their own.

“After that, we just need to take the proof.”

“Proof?”

“Right. These types of assassins carry identification tokens to prove their identity.”

I searched through Gail’s corpse. Soon, I found a black iron token in his breast pocket. It was an item proving his membership in Claw.

There were also some unexpected spoils.

“This is…”

A small ring with a silver tint.

It was an artifact I had seen several times in my previous life.

‘It had the effect of slightly erasing the wearer’s presence.’

I remembered it clearly because it was a ring frequently used by assassins.

It wasn’t uncommon for assassins hired by black mages to sneak into resistance army camps.

Of course, they were all detected and repelled, but every one of them wore this ring.

Were those assassins also members of Claw?

“…What is this?”

As I was recalling old memories, Renia asked with curious eyes.

“Hmm…”

This ring is useless to me anyway.

My stealth techniques are superior to the ring’s presence-erasing effect.

It wouldn’t mean much to Sheril either, who was born a covert mage.

In that case, it would be better to give it to Renia.

“Take this ring.”

“Huh, huh? S-suddenly? Why…?”

“I think it would suit you well.”

I casually pressed the ring into Renia’s hand, but she blinked several times and her lips twitched.

“A-ahem…! Ehem! Y-yes, that’s right. If Reagan says it would suit me well… I’ll treasure it.”

“…Huh?”

Renia’s reaction was quite strange, so I frowned.

“Haah…”

Sheril, who had been watching this, let out a deep sigh.

* * *

A few minutes later, we decided to break camp and retrace our steps.

We poured ash water on the campfire to extinguish it, gathered the corpses together and tied them up in the trees so they wouldn’t be visible. Just as we were about to set up markers and board the carriage.

“…”

I sensed a presence.

The instincts of Reagan the wandering mercenary.

I have an exceptional ability to detect the scent of black magic.

Moreover, this scent was one I had smelled before, which made it all the more necessary to be on guard.

“Sheril! Get down!”

At my shout, Sheril crouched down.

I hurriedly pulled Renia, who was beside me, into my arms and rolled on the ground.

—Crack!

Immediately after, a dark red flash swept past where we had just been standing.

“Wh-what was that?”

Renia, who was in my arms, asked in shock.

I answered with a hardened expression.

“…Blood magic.”

A school of magic primarily used by the particularly vicious among black mages.

And I remember this disgusting stench clearly.

Not from my previous life, but from this one.

“Oh my, oh my. Did I miss? I was hoping you’d understand my mercy in trying to send you off without pain.”

At the edge of the forest.

A middle-aged man with golden hair stood there.

“…Markel.”

Markel von Benheim.

None other than Renia’s uncle was right before our eyes.

“Tsk.”

I clicked my tongue.

Just when I thought we had defeated the assassins, another enemy had appeared.

What made it worst of all was that the enemy was Markel Benheim.

“Haha, what familiar faces. Have you been well?”

Markel greeted us with a nonchalant expression.

I immediately brought my hand to my waist. Sheril also crouched low and placed her left hand on her shoulder blade. It was the characteristic ready stance of a covert mage.

“Traitor Markel, I advise you in the name of Benheim. If you surrender right now, you might be able to spare your life.”

Even at Sheril’s threat, Markel didn’t bat an eye.

“Hahaha! Sorry, but that’s what I should be saying.”

Instead, Markel shrugged his shoulders as if amused and continued.

“Rather, let me make the offer first. Surrender. Of course, I can’t guarantee I’ll spare your lives.”

Markel spread both arms. Blood-colored mist flowed from his fingertips and settled low in the basin.

A fishy metallic scent lingered at the tip of my nose.

It was the characteristic mana of blood magic.

“…Ugh.”

Renia’s eyes narrowed as she confirmed the density of mana surrounding us.

“Uncle, surely… you haven’t reached the 7th Circle…”

“Thank you for recognizing it, my niece. Though I’m lacking, I too have reached the 7th Circle.”

“…That’s impossible.”

It’s not a lie.

Markel is currently a 7th Circle mage.

Among us, Renia has the best mana sensitivity. If she felt it immediately, the credibility is quite high.

I too realized that the thick blood scent currently lingering wasn’t much different from that of the 7th Circle blood mage I had encountered in my previous life.

“…Markel, you’ve used underhanded methods to elevate your realm.”

“Underhanded methods? What are you talking about?”

“Do you think I wouldn’t know?”

Black mages advance through the circles far faster than ordinary mages.

It’s not because the system of black magic is more advanced than regular magic.

Black mages reach higher realms by repeating countless acts of killing.

“You bastard, how much blood have you consumed so far?”

Blood mages in particular strengthen themselves by absorbing others’ blood.

Therefore, Markel is not a complete 7th-tier mage.

It’s a half-baked realm obtained by harvesting countless lives.

“Haha. You’re quick to catch on as always. Your guess is right, Reagan. I did obtain quite a bit of blood in Rodel. About a few hundred people, perhaps?”

Renia’s shoulders trembled at his casual mention of hundreds of people.

The anger at such cruelty was momentary.

‘…This is really dangerous.’

Cold sweat ran down my spine.

Half-baked or not, 7th-tier is still 7th-tier.

In the modern magic system, a 7th-tier mage is at the level of an Archmage. It’s practically the highest point humans can reach.

In other words, Markel now stands at a level where he can match Kaiden of Rucen, Oswald of Airit, and Steren of Benheim.

Of course, there are differences in caliber even within the same 7th-tier, but that’s only within the 7th-tier itself.

Even the minimum 7th-tier is worlds apart from lower realms.

‘We can’t… win.’

I judged coldly.

Three 5th-tier mages couldn’t even touch a hair on a 7th-tier’s body.

That was the level of gap between Markel and us.

‘Running away would be the right choice.’

But how?

The question followed.

Generally, showing your back to a 7th-tier blood mage is suicide.

‘Then divert his attention and… scatter…’

That was the moment my thoughts reached that point.

——Kwaagwang!

An explosion rang out right behind us.

When I turned around, a giant flesh monster had appeared and was crushing our carriage.

[Grrruk?]

The massive monster made of crudely attached corpses seemed to have trouble even maintaining its balance, only turning its head crookedly to stare at me.

Among the chunks of flesh formed by dozens of crushed faces stuck together, one head that maintained a relatively intact form was opening and closing its mouth.

“…Corpse golem.”

I knew it well from encountering it several times in my previous life.

A monster commanded by black mages, and among them, definitely one of the top five most troublesome ones.

‘This one alone… equals at least one 5th-tier mage’s full power.’

As I glared at the monster with my hand on my sword hilt, Markel chuckled and said.

“I told it to stay back, but it just won’t listen. I guess it’s because I’m not its master.”

“…Master?”

“Oh right, Reagan. You’re probably acquainted with that fellow.”

“Acquainted?”

“Have you already forgotten Calus?”

Hearing that, something came to mind.

‘Calus…’

The operation in Rodel, western continent.

The abandoned mine in Mist Valley.

The black mage I had subdued and used as a guide.

With the black mage lair in the abandoned mine now eliminated, Calus should have been arrested in Rodel and transferred to the capital’s prison.

The fact that such a Calus had become a corpse golem here meant…

‘The Archmage King.’

It must be that bastard’s doing.

“…Damn it.”

A 7th-tier blood mage blocked the front, and if we tried to escape, a corpse golem blocked our retreat.

A situation with no way forward or back.

“Now, shall we end this bad blood? I’ve lost too much because of you. My research, my position, everything was ruined because of you. I’ll definitely boil and drink your blood over and over again.”

Step.

Markel took one step forward.

The distance between him and me was already within ten paces.

As Markel approached, an unbearably thick scent of blood stung my nostrils.

“…”

There was still no chance of victory.

Then, I had to somehow tie down Markel’s feet, subdue the corpse golem, and create distance.

“Lord Reagan! Take the young lady and run!”

And I wasn’t the only one who made that judgment.

——Kugugugu!

Sheril’s magic burst forth.

A serpent made of darkness instantly surrounded the area, blocking Markel’s vision. Renia cried out in shock.

“She, Sheril…!”

“I’m fine! You two must run as far away as possible!”

This was the first time I’d heard Sheril’s voice so urgent.

Even though she was a covert mage, Sheril was also a member of Benheim’s household.

She intended to save both of us even at the cost of her life.

“Reagan…! What do we do! She, Sheril is…!”

Renia looked back and forth between me and Sheril, who was wielding dark magic, in confusion.

Her violet eyes were glistening with tears.

I looked up at the sky and clicked my tongue.

“…Tsk.”

Actually, Sheril’s judgment was correct.

The opponent was a 7th-tier mage.

He even had a corpse golem made with black magic accompanying him. Since it used a 3rd-tier mage as a vessel, it would be on a different level from the magical beast we fought at the last Hunting Festival.

Thinking logically, the right decision would be to escape with Renia while Sheril drew attention.

However…

– I’ll stay here.

In a situation like this.

The Renia in my memory had said that.

“…”

Seeing the current Renia overlap with that day’s Renia probably wasn’t just my imagination.

I had no intention of repeating the same sacrifice.

So I said.

“Sheril, I’m really sorry, but could you stop showing off? You’re not capable of that level?”

“What on earth are you saying! Run away right now…”

——Sring.

A cool metallic sound cut off Sheril’s words.

“Don’t worry, Sheril.”

I drew Benheim’s treasured sword and glared at Markel.

“We’re going to win, right here.”

It’s not that I didn’t consider it.

Even if it was difficult for me, I thought about trying to clear a path so at least Renia could escape.

But making such concerns meaningless, when Renia met my gaze, despite her terrified face, she forced the most natural smile she could manage.

“…Yeah. We have to win.”

As expected.

This is how Renia should be.

“…Ha, hahaha! What kind of farce is this!”

Markel burst into maniacal laughter.

“Sheril, how unfortunate. To think the successors of Benheim can’t even assess the situation properly!”

“Kuk.”

Sheril grimaced.

The next moment, blood magic shot from Markel’s fingertips and literally pierced through Sheril’s dark magic.

5th Circle and 7th Circle magic. The difference in power was stark.

Sheril’s dark magic couldn’t overcome the difference in class and crumbled.

“Foolish creatures. I’ll personally dry you all to death without leaving a single drop of blood.”

Markel raised his hand.

Dozens of blood-red spear blades were forged in the air.

I bit my lip and readjusted my grip on the treasured sword in my hand.

‘There’s only… one way.’

With my current level, I can’t face a 7th Circle mage.

Then the method is also decided.

‘Right here, right now, I reach the 6th Circle.’

To become Markel’s match, I need to reach at least the 6th Circle.

Naturally, it’s a difficult task.

The 6th Circle is a distant realm. A wall so high that even mages who’ve trained their entire lives can’t surpass it.

‘But I’m different.’

I already have experience reaching Sword Master.

I know clearly that I can reach the 6th Circle someday.

However, that required time, and I couldn’t leisurely meditate while Markel’s blood magic was targeting me.

But I had one special means.

“…Ha.”

I know it’s insane too.

But what can I do when there’s no other way?

“I didn’t think I’d use this so early.”

I grabbed a handful of pills from the container.

Chronos.

Mental acceleration pills.

Iline’s warning not to exceed one pill per day echoed in my ears.

But right now, my brain burning up doesn’t matter.

“Reagan!”

Before Renia’s cry, who had realized what I was trying to do, could even finish, I poured them all into my mouth.

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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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