The Son-In-Law of the Magician Is a Transcendent Sword Master - Chapter 8
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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 8
“So, how was it?”
“…To report the facts…”
At Family Head Stern’s question, Sheril reported in detail what she had observed.
The activities of the outsider mage Reagan that she had monitored for the past few days were nothing short of bizarre.
Sheril was not a simple maid. Nor was she an ordinary mage either. She was a 5th-tier covert mage belonging to the Imperial Dark Mage Guild.
Sheril had been dispatched to monitor Reagan while disguised as a servant, simultaneously performing the role of a magic instructor. However, Sheril had no opportunity to offer Reagan any meaningful advice.
“He used magic? And by himself?”
“That’s correct.”
The outsider mage Reagan had used rune magic on his own on the very first day he moved to the separate residence.
On the second day, he even began modifying that magic in his own way.
The flame rune Kenaz.
It was a simple magic that a 2nd-tier mage could learn and use without much difficulty.
However, what shocked the covert mage Sheril was not that Reagan had used a mere 2nd-tier magic.
“He used it just from reading about it in a magic book? You’re saying that someone who doesn’t even have a mana core, who’s just beginning to enter the world of magic, used a 2nd-tier unique magic that’s not even common magic?”
Magic has fundamental principles.
The trinity of casting: Recognition-Construction-Manifestation.
If one has exceptional talent, they might quickly master Construction and Manifestation.
But Recognition is a different matter. One must understand the essence itself.
And understanding the essence of magic is not something that can be done in a day or two, even with considerable talent.
“…Well, this is something.”
Stern made a surprised expression and placed his hand on his chin. He looked at Captain Allet and continued speaking.
“If that’s true, then that child is a heaven-sent talent. Captain, how many years into your training were you when you first learned Kenaz?”
“…I believe it was my second year.”
“Right. But that boy grasped the mysteries of rune magic in less than a day.”
“He may lack a mana core, but there’s no guarantee he hasn’t learned magic before. Also, being able to use magic doesn’t necessarily mean he’s grasped its mysteries.”
“That’s also true. However, mimicking a 2nd-tier magic without a mana core, especially Benheim’s unique magic which is said to be complex, just by reading text in a book is also remarkable talent.”
Stern’s words were absolutely correct.
Even the great mages who had been called geniuses took considerable time from their first encounter with magic until they showed their prowess.
Magic is a discipline that can only get on track with systematic learning and support. Someone who has just entered the world of magic cannot skillfully use magic just by looking at a magic book.
Especially Benheim’s magic was famous for its complicated recognition process, as it incorporated ancient runic characters into a magical system.
‘Indeed, is this the talent chosen by the family’s ancestors?’
Stern was honestly impressed.
A novice who hadn’t even entered the world of mana was casting magic just by looking at a magic book.
Perhaps it would be better to see his achievements soon and pass on the family’s unique mana cultivation method.
He was having such thoughts when it happened.
“Father.”
Someone raised their hand.
When Stern turned his head, he saw Benheim’s eldest son, the well-groomed Arnaud von Benheim, wearing a frown.
“Don’t tell me you taught the family’s magic to that thief you recently took in?”
“Thief? Arno, surely you don’t mean Reagan?”
“Yes. That thief didn’t stop at stealing the family treasure and is now consuming the family’s resources. No matter how excellent his talent may be, I don’t think it’s right to coddle a criminal.”
“A criminal, you say. That child is a benefactor to our family. Don’t you remember how Reagan recently saved Renia?”
“I heard the mastermind behind that attack incident hasn’t been revealed yet. Perhaps that Reagan fellow orchestrated everything. The background investigation on him isn’t finished yet, is it? We can’t rule out the possibility that he’s a spy the dark mages infiltrated into our family.”
At eldest son Arno’s words, Stern frowned.
It wasn’t just Arno’s opinion. Including Allet, most of Benheim’s mages distrusted the boy named Reagan who had newly entered the family.
It was only because Stern had issued a gag order that the topic hadn’t surfaced.
“Enough. You know well how foolish it is to suspect someone based on mere circumstantial evidence. Everyone should treat him with courtesy.”
In Benheim, the family head’s word was absolute.
However, being absolute didn’t mean it could move hearts as well.
Arno reluctantly closed his mouth, but his expression was full of dissatisfaction. Not knowing the detailed circumstances, he couldn’t understand why a foreigner with no family blood was receiving his father’s favor.
Stern saw through his son’s inner thoughts but decided to leave him be instead of scolding him. Competitive spirit would serve as a catalyst to sharpen his skills.
Unaware of his father’s thoughts, Arno violently stabbed his meat with his fork and thought.
‘I should visit that guy soon and probe his true intentions.’
Meanwhile, at the far end of the dining table, there was a girl listening to the father and son’s conversation with interested eyes.
Among Stern’s three children, the youngest daughter who had inherited Benheim’s blood most deeply.
“…Hmm.”
Benheim’s second daughter with golden hair, Renia Benheim, sparkled her violet eyes.
In those eyes was considerable curiosity about the boy named Reagan who had saved her.
* * *
Seven weeks had already passed since my life at Benheim began.
All I had done during that time was read magic books and try to utilize those magics in various ways.
Whoosh――.
Bright red flames flowed down from the rune character Kenaz floating in the air.
Now I had reached a level where I could use Kenaz without any particular concentration.
While the achievement couldn’t be called excellent, it wasn’t something a half-baked person who hadn’t created a mana core could easily accomplish.
“…I think I can modify it a bit more.”
Looking at the Kenaz floating in the air and pondering, I gathered mana from the air and infused it into the rune character.
Instead of controlling the flames surging from the rune character, I gripped them tightly with my left hand.
The flames created by rune magic are high-purity mana. They don’t harm the caster.
――Bang!
I scattered the rune characters in my hand in a fan shape. The flames dispersed like exploding fireworks.
Actually, this was a slightly improved version of the Kenaz application method that Renia had used in my previous life.
Since the rune character Kenaz alone didn’t have particularly excellent destructive power, it was generally used in combination with other runes. However, the method I employed was an application that stubbornly pursued efficiency to the extreme.
A method that fully utilized the advantage of being able to create flames superior to same-level common magic with just a single process.
The power wasn’t strong. But it was excellent for blinding enemies.
“Not bad.”
Above all, I had other means besides magic.
I flexed my left hand that had grasped Kenaz. Meanwhile, my right hand was positioned at my waist as if gripping an invisible sword hilt.
Unconsciously, I was assuming I held a sword in my right hand.
“…I wonder if I can use it together with aura.”
The reason I had repeatedly performed Kenaz instead of new magic these past few days was entirely for this.
A sword in my right hand, magic in my left.
It was to familiarize my body with this simple yet unconventional new combat method.
My achievement was still lacking. Having wielded only swords for nearly twenty years, it seemed it would take some time to become accustomed to a mage’s mana manipulation.
“If I had known this would happen, I should have learned magic in my previous life.”
I clicked my tongue and recalled my life before regression.
Since I was naturally a swordsman, I hadn’t particularly wanted to learn magic from Renia. When I didn’t actively ask, Renia also didn’t teach me magic.
Only when the Royal Court collapsed and the war situation reached its worst did I ask Renia to teach me even simple magic, but instead I received a strange response.
– Not yet.
– Not yet? Don’t tell me you plan to postpone this until after the final battle?
– That’s exactly what I mean. Don’t worry. An opportunity will naturally come to you, Reagan.
I smiled bitterly.
Could it be that the next opportunity she mentioned was referring to now?
I still couldn’t completely fathom Renia’s intentions.
However, one thing was certain. To face the Archmage King, I needed to reach a realm beyond first-class.
And to elevate my realm, it would be better to grow my strength under the protection of the Great Magic Family Benheim.
As I was organizing my thoughts like this.
Thunk.
A pebble flew over the wall.
As I stared at it, another pebble came flying.
Someone was playing a foolish prank.
I stepped up and climbed over the wall. Beyond it was a girl with golden hair.
“Hello.”
Renia von Benheim.
She was looking up at me from below the wall with a grinning expression.
“Mm.”
Actually, bewilderment came before joy.
Though I had been keeping in mind reuniting with Renia, I hadn’t expected to meet her while hanging from a wall like this.
“I’d like to talk for a bit.”
Whether I said anything or not, Renia calmly continued speaking. Thanks to that, I could respond relatively composedly as well.
“You could just come in and talk, so why are you speaking from beyond the wall?”
“There’s a reason for everything. Father told me not to approach you.”
“Ah.”
So my father-in-law had resorted to petty tactics.
It must be because his paternal wariness had risen considerably due to my remarks last time.
“Anyway, I don’t have much time. I snuck out just now.”
“Snuck out?”
“Yeah. As punishment for leaving the family on my own last time, I’m practically living under house arrest. Right now I slipped out while the maid briefly left for outside business. Well, I put a doll in my bed, so I won’t be caught until evening.”
It seemed surveillance of Renia had become strict after the last attack.
That was understandable. It was an unprecedented major incident where Benheim’s precious daughter had gone outside the family’s protection on her own and nearly been kidnapped.
“So, did you come to give a belated thank you?”
“No? Not particularly. You already received a separate reward from Father, right? Since you got what you wanted, I don’t really need to thank you, do I?”
“….”
She clearly separated business from personal matters.
Even at her young age, Renia had quite a straightforward personality in this regard.
“Then what’s your business?”
“I came to warn you.”
“Warn me?”
“Yeah. My brother is plotting something.”
Renia nodded as she spoke.
Brother.
That is, Renia’s sibling. She must be referring to Benheim’s eldest son.
“Brother doesn’t like you very much. He seems to think you’re the one who stole the pendant.”
“You could just tell him it wasn’t me.”
“My brother is quite stubborn. Once he gets fixated on something strange, he won’t listen no matter what you say.”
“Hmm.”
“So, if brother comes looking for you, pretend you’re not here. Go hide in the basement or something. Brother doesn’t have much persistence, so he’ll give up and go back soon.”
Renia was seriously giving me advice, but…
‘As if I’d be afraid of some mere brat.’
For me, it was a matter of complete indifference.
Having fought life-and-death battles with the Archmage King, there was no reason for me to avoid a fight out of fear of some kid who wasn’t even an adult yet.
If Renia’s siblings disliked me for no particular reason, I was prepared to give them a proper reason to do so.
However, there was no need to reveal such inner thoughts to Renia, who had come to see me out of concern.
“Got it. I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Yeah.”
When I showed understanding, Renia finally seemed relieved and smiled brightly.
“By the way, you. Are you practicing magic by any chance?”
“How did you know?”
“The mana concentration here is thinner than other places. It means someone has used magic several times.”
Talent really is talent, I suppose.
Even Renia from ten years ago possessed such sharp magical senses.
I nodded obediently. Then Renia grinned mischievously.
“Perfect. How about I teach you some magic?”
“You said you didn’t have time.”
“I have time until dinner. If I go back now, I won’t be able to go anywhere and will have to study.”
“Can’t you play with your brother?”
“Brother is boring right now. He’s acting like some apostle of justice, scheming about how to devour you.”
“That’s funny.”
“Hehe. It would be interesting if I told brother what you just said.”
“Go ahead and tell him, then.”
“No way. I’m staying here. I think watching your training would be more fun.”
“….”
I unconsciously swallowed at Renia’s casually thrown words.
It was already a long time ago.
During late dawn hours, when I would swing my sword under the moonlight, Renia would crawl out of the camp to watch my swordplay. Even when I told her to go inside and sleep because she must be tired, she wouldn’t listen. Instead, she would say this:
– Watching Reagan’s training here is more enjoyable.
“….”
No matter how young she was, Renia was still Renia, wasn’t she.
I sighed and said.
“…Then do as you please.”
“Yeah!”
Then Renia smiled brightly and nodded her head.
From each of her gestures and expressions, memories with Renia came flooding back.
“Tsk.”
Indeed, regression wasn’t entirely sweet after all.
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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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