The Son-In-Law of the Magician Is a Transcendent Sword Master - Chapter 81

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

Chapter 81

The night had grown deep.

As the sun set, the fog that filled Trion’s streets became even thicker.

The people who had been walking the streets had also disappeared without a trace.

I sighed as I sat on the windowsill of the lodging, looking outside.

From what I witnessed with my own eyes during the day, the mages of the Spiral Tower, even the Tower Lord at the pinnacle of the 6th Rank, were under Malik’s mental manipulation.

Just what method did Malik use to control even the Tower Lord like his own puppet?

For now, it was a complete mystery. I couldn’t even begin to guess.

‘I need to find some kind of clue somehow.’

I looked at the festival poster placed on the table.

After taking office as the representative of the Spiral Tower, Malik had seized control of Trion, withdrawn from the Great Mage Alliance, and planned the Laughter Festival for the Night of the Moon’s Eclipse.

Then, to understand his true purpose, I should participate in the festival.

However, I’m not reckless enough to enter a tiger’s den without any preparation.

“Everyone, do you know anything about Malik Elrayson?”

The most important thing is Malik’s motive.

In fact, even in my previous life, all I knew about Malik was that he was a mage skilled in mental manipulation who served the Archmage King.

I had no interest in which Mage Tower Malik came from, what kind of life he had lived, or why he decided to cooperate with the Archmage King.

It wasn’t that I was unusual—that was just the nature of the battlefield. Tragic stories were common on the battlefield, and most of those stories would be buried under piles of corpses.

But now it’s different.

Malik Elrayson is the representative of the Spiral Tower and became the ruler of Trion after his father’s sudden death. Then I should be able to find the reason why Malik is doing this from his past actions.

“Hmm…”

At my question, Renia placed her hand on her chin and tilted her head.

“Actually, I don’t know much either. Maybe his father, though.”

“You mean Emeric Eleison? The person we paid our respects to today?”

“Yeah. He was a really strict person.”

“Strict? Like the family head?”

“More than my father… maybe like the head of Rucen?”

Renia, who had been continuing her words, suddenly let out a small exclamation as if she remembered something.

“Ah, right. Come to think of it… I think he visited Benheim once before. I remember greeting him then.”

“With Malik?”

“Yeah.”

Renia continued, recalling the memory from that time.

“He seemed like a really shy person. Even when I greeted him, he kept avoiding eye contact. So his father got furious and scolded him.”

“His father… you mean Emeric Eleison?”

“Yeah.”

I could roughly picture the situation in my head.

Emeric is Malik’s father. And he’s an authoritarian figure who harasses his son and disciple Malik to show proper qualifications.

‘Wait a minute.’

I felt suspicious.

I asked Valen, who was sitting on the sofa.

“I have one question. Is it customary for a Tower Lord’s child to become the next Tower Lord?”

“For Mage Towers belonging to Great Magic Families like Benheim or Airidd, it’s natural since the family head serves consecutive terms as Tower Lord. But other Mage Towers are different.”

Valen answered while taking out and biting a cigarette from his chest.

“Originally, the ecology of Mage Towers is more about academic connections than blood relations. It’s generally common to establish an outstanding disciple as the next Tower Lord.”

Listening to Valen’s explanation, I recalled what I saw and heard at the Ochre Tower.

Tower Lord Melchior was raising his disciple Giles, who shared no blood with him, as the next Tower Lord.

If that’s the general practice, then the succession structure of the Mirage Tower is different from typical Mage Towers.

“…Come to think of it, Thorn Tower Lord Rosalindr said that Emeric Eleison died while suppressing a mana vein rampage. What do you think about this?”

It was Sheril who answered my question.

“It’s quite plausible. Mana veins actually erupt several times a year. The main job of Benheim’s hunting grounds keeper is also mana vein stabilization.”

However, Sheril frowned and added.

“But… it’s still strange that a 7th Rank mage died from being unable to handle just one mana vein rampage.”

“Why is that?”

“A 6th Rank mage might be different, but 7th Rank mages and Sword Masters are extraordinary beings who can control mana even while sleeping. Controlling internal mana while stabilizing a mana vein shouldn’t be difficult.”

Controlling the flow of mana inside the body…

Hearing that, something came to mind.

“Sheril, controlling a mana vein requires extreme concentration, right?”

“That’s correct.”

“Is that similar to the process of drinking an elixir and meditating?”

“…Yes. In fact, it’s the same method in that you accept external mana through internal mana circuits.”

Hearing that, I fell into thought.

These are the only clues I can gather for now.

“…Let’s see.”

First, the relationship between Malik and Emeric that I learned from Renia’s testimony.

The peculiarity of the Mirage Tower’s succession structure that Valen told me about.

Finally, Sheril’s explanation about mana veins.

“Hmm…”

It felt like different gears meshing together and turning.

Naturally, I thought of the father and daughter from Rucen that I saw at the recent Hunting Festival.

Kaiden, who was obsessed with bloodline and oppressed his daughter, and Petra, who felt fear toward him.

Didn’t Renia also say she thought of Kaiden when she saw Emeric in the past?

When my thoughts reached that point, a plausible hypothesis formed in my mind.

“…I think I roughly understand.”

“You understand? What do you mean?”

“Well…”

Just as I was about to continue speaking.

Dong- Dong-.

Suddenly, bell sounds rang from the bell tower.

Looking out the window, I could see citizens holding lanterns walking toward the square with creaking steps through the thick fog.

“Don’t tell me…”

I took out my pocket watch to check the time.

It was just past midnight.

I checked the poster again.

[Laughter Festival]

[Date – Night of the Moon’s Eclipse]

“To think the date meant… right as the day changed.”

I chuckled.

It’s not like some cheap ghost story.

No, maybe this is actually right.

The Night of the Moon’s Eclipse is the day when night is longest in the year.

Deep night would be perfect for preparing an ominous magical ritual.

“What are you going to do, Reagan?”

At Renia’s question, I shrugged my shoulders.

“Well, for now I’ll have to dance to his tune.”

* * *

Malik Elrayson, representative of the Spiral Tower, remembers the heavy pressure that weighed down his past life.

The sharp rebukes that would fly whenever he fell even slightly short of expectations.

The cold gazes of fellow students who whispered behind his back about his lack of ability.

Above all, the existence of that enormous wall who led all of it.

Malik had always stood on the edge of a cliff.

“….”

Even now, if I recalled those memories, it felt like my breath would be cut off immediately.

The feeling that I couldn’t exist as my complete self.

The resentment accumulated and suppressed over a long time.

…But now it’s different.

“You’re truly great, Lord Malik!”

“Hahaha! It’s all thanks to you, Representative! Everyone respects you!”

Bright smiles.

Sincere praise.

Now, Malik Elrayson is recognized by everyone as both a mage and the representative of the Spiral Tower.

That’s right.

Everyone likes Malik.

No one doubts Malik’s qualifications.

So everyone smiles at Malik.

Malik smiled too.

“Now… the festival is coming soon.”

The Festival of Laughter.

A sacred festival created to announce Malik’s achievements to future generations.

But that alone isn’t enough.

Malik needed more smiles and greater praise.

Trion alone couldn’t satisfy him.

The entire Empire should smile toward Malik Elrayson, the next representative of the Spiral Tower and Grand Mage.

“Though some uninvited guests did interfere….”

The Benheim delegation that visited the Spiral Tower this morning.

An unscheduled visit. A concerning variable. But it’s fine. Since they’ve set foot in Trion, they’re within Malik’s grasp.

In the end, they too will understand Malik’s heart. They will smile at him here.

“Yes. Everyone together… laughing for me.”

Malik was quite pleased with this miniature garden he had created.

* * *

Arnaud von Benheim couldn’t understand Reagan’s plan at all.

Clang- Clang-.

A dark night with not a single streetlight lit.

A bizarre procession of people heading to the square carrying lanterns.

The thick fog spread everywhere limited visibility. It was hard to see even an inch ahead, and an unpleasant, humid atmosphere lingered in the air.

In such a situation, did it make any sense to follow this crazy crowd?

‘…Are we insane?’

Arno swallowed dry saliva and glared at Reagan’s back.

“Hey, Reagan. Wouldn’t it be better to turn back around now?”

“Turn back? Why all of a sudden?”

“Well… what if something happens?”

“I’m going because I think something will happen.”

“….”

That calm answer made Arno feel like he was losing his mind.

He felt like punching that indifferent face.

“Wait a moment. Let’s retreat first and go to a nearby small city to request reinforcements from Father. That will solve everything.”

“That’s also a good method.”

“Right?”

Just as Arno was about to brighten up, Reagan added.

“But by then it’ll be too late.”

“….”

“Malik prepared this festival for himself. And on the night of the lunar eclipse. That means he has some scheme.”

“…What are we going to do by knowing his scheme?”

“What else? Stop it.”

Arno’s mouth fell open.

Reagan, his brother-in-law, truly intended to solve Trion’s problem.

He was saying he’d directly eliminate the culprit in the middle of this bizarre city where everyone was smiling creepily.

“….”

A chill ran down Arno’s spine.

But unfortunately, it seemed Arno was the only one feeling fear in this situation.

Valen and Sheril aside, even Renia was moving forward with a determined expression, tightly holding Reagan’s hand.

‘Why… why?’

Why was everyone so calm?

Arno felt like he was the only fool.

Clang- Clang-.

He had requested to accompany them to gain practical experience, to improve his skills….

He never imagined he’d encounter something so frightening and bizarre.

He thought at most they’d hunt a few magical beasts and share heroic tales.

Clang- Clang- Clang-.

Every time he heard the bell sound in the fog, his teeth chattered.

The only fortunate thing was that thanks to the bizarre laughter of people around them, the sound of Arno trembling with fear wouldn’t be heard by Reagan and the others….

Clang- Clang- Clang- Clang-.

“Huh?”

At that moment, he noticed something strange.

Laughter?

When did that laughter start in the first place?

He quickly raised his head.

“….”

There was no one in front of him.

Reagan and Renia who had been walking ahead of him, Sheril, and Valen were nowhere to be seen.

Only thick fog.

And creepy laughter could be heard whispering from all directions.

“Ha, hahaha….”

Arno collapsed with a thud.

“…I’m screwed.”

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