The Son-In-Law of the Magician Is a Transcendent Sword Master - Chapter 78
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Chapter 78
Malik Elrayson.
Strictly speaking, he wasn’t a black mage.
However, he was a mage as troublesome as any black mage.
‘…He used tricky magic.’
Illusions, mind control, cognitive distortion, memory manipulation, and so on.
The magic Malik primarily used was all specialized in wearing down people’s mental strength.
‘He was truly a disgusting bastard.’
If Victor’s golems had killed the most resistance members physically, then Malik had undoubtedly tormented the most mentally.
Malik would secretly approach the resistance barracks late at night when everyone was asleep and scatter hallucinogenic mist.
No matter how strong someone was, they were defenseless while sleeping. Because of this, the soldiers had to lose sleep and tremble with fear.
Malik’s influence was certainly not small in Renia’s pathological habit of placing surveillance and monitoring magic around the barracks.
Finally, when the war was nearing its end, Renia and I succeeded in catching Malik’s tail and eliminating him.
However, it was a pyrrhic victory. There were already dozens of resistance members who had lost their minds to Malik’s brainwashing.
‘Malik Elrayson.’
Therefore, when I heard the news that Malik was the new representative of the Spiral Tower, my decision became clear.
‘I must kill him.’
It was the same as with Barg, whom I had faced in Mist Valley.
The perfect opportunity to kill Malik was right now. It would be right to cut him down before he became stronger and more mature.
Not only that, but the problem in Trion had to be resolved somehow because of the formation of the Alliance Subjugation Force.
There was no evidence that he had killed the previous Spiral Tower representative. However, as a regressor, Malik clearly seemed to be the culprit behind this incident.
‘First, I’ll go to Trion and… somehow catch Malik’s tail.’
Just as I finished that thought, the carriage entered the main gate of Benheim Estate.
“Reagan, the lord has called for you first.”
Valen said, patting my shoulder.
The fact that he called for me before Renia or Sheril meant that Steren considered me the main actor in this commotion.
“…Do you think the lord will be very angry?”
“I wouldn’t know. However… this matter is somewhat serious. Don’t worry. If you’re to be punished, I’ll personally give you the beating.”
Valen grinned. That reaction itself meant there wasn’t much need to worry.
I headed to the office in the main house with relatively lighter steps.
“You called for me.”
When I entered the office, Steren was standing with his back turned, looking out the window.
“Sit down first.”
As I quietly took my seat, Steren slowly began to speak.
“How is your body?”
“Yes. I’m fine.”
“I heard you weren’t fine. You were unconscious for over two days.”
“That’s also… correct. However, Arcamen’s alchemist gave me a special potion, so I recovered quickly.”
After hearing my answer, Steren remained silent for a while.
Eventually, he turned around. His purple eyes looked at me.
“When you say Arcamen’s alchemist… are you referring to Lady Isobel?”
“…”
It seemed Steren also knew Isobel.
Well, Celestials were a race that lived for eons. If Steren was an Archmage, he wouldn’t be unaware of her existence.
I nodded. Steren asked again.
“How was Lady Isobel’s condition?”
“Condition? What do you mean by that?”
“Did she seem happy?”
“Yes. Well, she seemed to find everything enjoyable.”
“That’s good news. It seems she’s not feeling bored at the moment.”
Steren nodded as if relieved, then moved away from the window and sat across from me at the desk. His wrinkled eyes curved sharply.
“First of all, you were too careless.”
Now came the main lecture.
I obediently lowered my head.
“I’m sorry. I thought I was being cautious, but I didn’t expect Markel to attack.”
“No.”
Steren shook his head.
“I’m not trying to blame you for Markel’s matter. Since Markel Benheim is my younger brother, it’s my fault as the lord for not considering it properly.”
Steren tapped the desk with his finger.
“What I want to talk about is… the matter of ‘Claw’.”
“…”
“I heard the detailed story from Sheril. You provoked the chief researcher of the Amber Tower. Because of that, he hired an assassin’s guild out of revenge. That’s what I mean by your carelessness, Reagan.”
“That’s… hmm.”
I tried to make an excuse, but Steren’s gaze was fierce, so I quietly closed my mouth. He sighed.
“I advise you not to make unnecessary enemies. Even if it’s fine for now, it will come back as a fatal arrow later.”
After that, Steren’s substantial lecture continued.
“Of course, Reagan, you are a proper adult. However, don’t you have a companion who hasn’t yet reached adulthood?”
Since it was all correct advice and arguing back wouldn’t be a good response, I quietly listened to Steren’s counsel.
How much time had passed like that?
“…However.”
Steren’s gaze lingered on my dantian. A faint smile appeared on his lips.
“I never expected you to reach the 6th Rank so quickly. Your achievement is remarkable.”
“I was lucky.”
“No need for modesty. I was quite worried that you might have reached the 6th Rank too hastily, but the state of your mana core is definitely stable. It must be Lady Isobel’s work.”
“Yes. Lady Isobel’s help was significant.”
“I see. Benheim will properly thank Arcamen and Lady Isobel. Well, Iline would never accept it though.”
Steren nodded and then hardened his expression.
“Before that, I must make those rats who targeted my daughter pay an appropriate price.”
“…What do you plan to do about ‘Claw’, my lord?”
“I’ve already sent an official letter to the guild. At the earliest, the entire guild will be dissolved within a month.”
“Wow…”
I was secretly impressed.
‘Claw’ was the continent’s top assassin’s guild, notorious even in my previous life.
To disband such a powerful organization in just a month. I could truly feel how immense Benheim’s influence was.
“It’s a natural course of action. How dare they try to assassinate a direct member of Benheim. There’s a limit to arrogance. Adding the crime of looking down on Benheim, I’ll deal with them mercilessly.”
Steren’s expression was menacing.
For Steren, who was an extreme daughter-lover, this incident had touched his reverse scale. The mana that was usually coldly settled began to surge explosively.
——.
The entire office began to tremble.
A 7th Rank supreme Archmage was enraged.
That fact sent chills down my spine.
“Hmm…”
Originally, I had planned to ask Steren for permission to go to Trion.
However, if I told Steren in this state that I wanted to leave for Trion…
‘…I’d definitely get caught in the crossfire.’
There was no way Steren would give permission, and he might even lock me in a room, asking where I thought I was going to wander off to.
However, even at this moment, Malik was plotting something in Trion.
Knowing that fact, I couldn’t just stay put in the estate.
‘How can I get to Trion peacefully?’
Sneaking out was impossible.
Steren is at the pinnacle of 7th Rank. He’s one of the five greatest archmages on the Continent. Slipping out of the estate while avoiding his eyes would be like threading a camel through the eye of a needle.
I was walking down the corridor after leaving the office, lost in such thoughts.
“Hm?”
Just then, I made eye contact with a man around my age walking from the opposite end of the corridor.
It was Arnaud von Benheim.
Since it was our first reunion in three months, I was about to greet him warmly, but the look in Arno’s eyes as he stared at me was far from ordinary.
“Uh, uhh…? Reagan?”
Arno looked me up and down, then opened his mouth so wide his jaw nearly hit the ground as he stared in shock.
“You… don’t tell me you’ve reached 6th Rank?”
Seeing that dumbfounded expression, a brilliant idea popped into my head.
‘Right, this naive guy was here.’
I lifted one corner of my mouth in a smirk and draped my arm over Arno’s shoulder.
“Hey there, little brother-in-law. Still stuck at 4th Rank?”
At my provocation, Arno’s face twisted into an ugly scowl.
* * *
During the past three months while Reagan and Renia were away from Benheim Estate.
Arno had spent quite enjoyable days.
His magic studies were filled with a sense of achievement.
He could feel his realm improving day by day.
‘While those two are busy, I’m getting ahead.’
He was confident that at this rate, he could reach 5th Rank before the Alliance Subjugation Force was formed.
So Arno was filled with anticipation that he would be able to stand proudly before everyone.
However, the moment he saw Reagan returning from his journey, Arno realized he was worse than a frog in a well.
“You… don’t tell me you’ve reached 6th Rank?”
Reagan was at 6th Rank.
The aura emanating from around his body made it clear.
An aura that felt as distant as the sky to Arno, who was merely 4th Rank.
To Arno, 6th Rank was an incomprehensibly lofty realm.
‘How… how could this…’
Seeing this, Arno felt more bewilderment than inferiority.
But this damn brother-in-law approached Arno with a sly smile and said this:
“Hey there, little brother-in-law. Still stuck at 4th Rank?”
“…You bastard!”
Arno was furious, but he couldn’t bring himself to throw a punch.
Because he was certain to lose.
Arno suppressed his boiling anger and asked.
“Reagan, how did you reach 6th Rank so quickly? You were only mid-5th Rank before you left the estate.”
Then Reagan grinned and answered.
“Little brother-in-law, enlightenment can’t only be found within the pages of books.”
“What?”
“Truth lies within actual combat. I gained tremendous enlightenment while fighting for my life against your former uncle this time. Thanks to that, I was able to break through the wall of 6th Rank.”
“With… uncle?”
Come to think of it, Arno had recently heard news that Reagan had fought and defeated Markel Benheim.
So he had even broken through the wall of 6th Rank during that deadly battle and returned?
But… fighting strong opponents to gain enlightenment?
Did that even make sense?
Arno wanted to argue, but with the result of 6th Rank right before his eyes, he couldn’t dare object.
“How about you come outside the estate with me this time to experience some real combat? If you stay holed up in the workshop like a greenhouse flower, you’ll never cross the threshold of 5th Rank in your lifetime.”
“You used to tell me I could easily overcome the wall of 5th Rank.”
“Hmm… Well, I was talking about when you’d experienced real combat. How about it? If you travel with me, you’ll be able to become much stronger than you are now.”
Reagan spoke with an innocent expression.
Honestly speaking, it was tempting.
However, his sense of responsibility as an heir held him back.
“B-but… I’m going to be the next head of Benheim. I can’t just wander around outside carelessly.”
Arno squeezed out his last bit of pride.
Then Reagan nodded as if it was no big deal.
“Right. Can’t be helped. The position of family head is more important than one’s realm, after all. Isn’t that right?”
“Y-yeah…”
Why was this guy backing down so easily for once?
It was the moment Arno felt suspicious.
“Renia!”
Reagan shouted toward the other end of the corridor.
Then Renia peeked her head out from the passageway near the kitchen.
“Did you call?”
“…”
Arno could only gape in shock.
Because the density of mana surrounding Renia’s body was different from before.
Though not as much as Reagan who was 6th Rank, it was definitely a pure and solid aura that had far surpassed the limits of 4th Rank.
“…Renia, don’t tell me… you’ve reached… 5th Rank?”
Arno asked in a trembling voice, and Renia nodded brightly with a smile.
“Yep!”
“How…?”
“It just happened somehow?”
“…”
Arno turned his creaking head to look at Reagan again.
Being behind Reagan was fine. This guy was a genius of the century with outstanding talent, acknowledged even by father.
But being overtaken by his blood-related younger sister… as an older brother, as Benheim’s heir, this was something that should never happen.
“…Ugh.”
His pride was completely pulverized.
Reagan was 6th Rank, his younger sister Renia was 5th Rank.
Among the three present here, only he alone remained at 4th Rank.
Arno’s lips trembled, then he squeezed out his words.
“Tell me. How exactly… can I raise my realm…?”
“I just told you. Real combat experience is important. Do you know that Renia even obtained an elixir thanks to traveling with me?”
“An e-elixir?”
“Right. An elixir called Essence of Earth, and thanks to that elixir, Renia reached 5th Rank.”
Renia giggled at Reagan’s words.
This was clearly suspicious.
There was definitely some scheme at work.
Arno had also been watching Reagan for nearly two years. He wasn’t so oblivious as to not notice that Reagan was manipulating him.
However.
Still, his desire to raise his realm took precedence.
“…Let’s go.”
Arno said through gritted teeth.
“Adventure or real combat experience or whatever it is, let’s go.”
Right now, he had to grasp at any straw available.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————