The Son-In-Law of the Magician Is a Transcendent Sword Master - Chapter 86
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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 86
I had expected this to some extent.
Renia’s touch, which had penetrated so deeply as to even change my origin, couldn’t possibly fail to emerge from Malik’s illusion.
“…Why do you look like that? This is a reunion after so long. Wouldn’t it be proper to smile?”
The mature Renia, no.
The illusion wearing Renia’s appearance spoke with a bitter smile.
Her tone, expression, and every gesture were identical to my memories.
It naturally evoked nostalgia.
‘As expected… this is dangerous.’
Even knowing this was an illusion Malik created to lure me out, my heart moved without my knowing.
Facing someone you’ve lost through death again was that much of… an act that caused emotional turmoil.
“…I’m sorry, Renia.”
I sighed and drew the treasured sword from my waist.
“You’re fake. An illusion. I cannot play along with you.”
I was certain Renia’s face would contort hideously and she would reproach me.
However, the action Renia took was beyond my expectations.
“That’s true too. Then please cut me down without hesitation.”
Renia spread both arms wide.
I frowned at this incomprehensible situation where the illusion was urging its own death.
“…Why?”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re an illusion created by Malik. So… shouldn’t you be trying to persuade me or resent me?”
At my perfectly reasonable question, Renia chuckled.
“I am an illusion created by Malik’s magic, but I’m also a personality created through Reagan’s memories.”
Renia, with both arms spread, tilted her head slightly.
“And the Renia in Reagan’s memories would naturally tell you to kill her. Just like this, as I’m saying now.”
“…Why.”
I couldn’t understand.
Didn’t this mean the illusion was defying its creator’s commands?
I had experienced Malik’s illusions countless times in my previous life, but this had never happened even once.
“Did you really think I would be played by some mere illusion? I may look like this, but I was one of only two mages of the 8th Rank or higher in my era.”
“Then you are… the real Renia…?”
“I’m fake.”
Renia stated flatly.
“I’m fake, but I just have the same personality as the real one.”
“…Ha.”
This was dangerous.
Really dangerous.
If Renia had screamed and resented me, if she had acted unlike herself, I could have cut her down without hesitation.
But the illusion before me was more ‘Renia-like’ than what I remembered.
Because it was the kind of appearance I had dreamed of.
Rather, I hesitated to swing my sword.
Was this also part of Malik’s scheme?
If not, then…
“Renia.”
“Yes.”
“I… couldn’t protect you.”
I suppose it was inevitable that I would speak candidly to an illusion.
“Is that so? Hmm… Yes. That’s right. I lost to the Archmage King after all.”
“Not just you, we all lost.”
Renia nodded and looked me up and down.
“Still… you seem to be working quite hard in this life.”
“Yes. Look what state I’m in because of someone.”
“I quite like your current appearance, younger than in my memories. You were really handsome when you were young.”
I chuckled softly.
Perhaps I had been waiting for this kind of conversation partner all along.
In my current state, having experienced regression, the only person who walked the same time as me would be Renia from my memories.
“…I’m sorry.”
“There’s nothing to be sorry about. Rather, I should be more apologetic for burdening you with such a heavy task.”
Renia looked at Benheim’s treasured sword in my hand.
“…When you leave the illusion, you’ll have to fight Malik Elrayson. That disgusting human.”
“Yes. I’ll have to. However…”
Only after hearing Renia’s words did I become aware of the current situation.
He was using Trion’s mana vein like his own tool.
“Even if I escape the illusion… I’ll just fall victim to Malik’s magic again.”
“…Then I’ll be able to have more conversations with you.”
“This isn’t time for jokes. Everyone in Trion is in danger right now.”
“Haha. It was a joke.”
Renia chuckled softly as she looked at my face.
Her eyes curved into crescents.
“Shall I give you some advice?”
“Advice?”
“How about looking around you a bit more?”
“What do you mean?”
“Reagan, you already have the means to break Malik’s magic, don’t you?”
When I frowned at those words, Renia approached me and poked my chest.
“Here, it’s hanging right here.”
Only then did I recall the cool sensation against my chest.
The silver pendant.
It was one of the seven relics of the Divine Realm that I had obtained after defeating Markel not long ago.
“Hrunir’s… heart.”
“If you have that… it should protect you from mental interference three or four times. Of course, the trigger to activate its effect is…”
“Self-harm.”
“Yes. It’s a method I don’t like, but Reagan, you treat your body so carelessly. You have no idea how much my heart ached every time I saw that.”
I nodded as I looked at Hrunir’s heart.
With this, I would be able to engage in battle without being affected by Malik’s interference.
“That’s good advice. Thank you.”
“Not at all. I’m just an illusion formed from Reagan’s memories. So you surely would have realized this method on your own.”
“…”
This situation itself was ironic.
An illusion of Renia created by Malik’s magic was telling me how to kill Malik.
‘Well.’
There was no way that mere magic from someone like Malik could reproduce the ‘caliber’ of the great mage who had even reversed time.
“Renia, I won’t be able to meet you again after this… will I?”
“No. I think this will be the last time for me too.”
If I followed my heart, I would want to settle down in this mental world just like this.
Even knowing it was just a hallucination, I wanted to spend eternity with the Renia before my eyes.
However…
“That wouldn’t be right.”
As if reading my thoughts, Renia suddenly spoke.
“The me you’re seeing now is, after all, just a mirage and a fake.”
Renia smiled brightly and poked my nose.
“And Reagan, you have a ‘real’ one to protect, don’t you?”
“Right… that’s true.”
“So please cherish her. Not ‘me’, but ‘me’.”
I nodded.
And I lifted Benheim’s treasured sword.
With this sword that Renia had once given me, I had to cut down Renia’s illusion.
Even knowing it was an illusion, even knowing it was fake, my fingertips trembled violently.
I was surprised at myself.
To think I would be so shaken by the mere act of cutting down an illusion.
“Reagan.”
Renia smiled bitterly.
“I’m fine. So… don’t make that expression.”
Even to Renia’s eyes, my face must have looked pained.
“Reagan, you have… a more important task, don’t you?”
I know.
Instead of answering, I thrust Benheim’s treasured sword forward.
Renia’s illusion disappeared.
“Brat.”
I muttered alone in the collapsing white room.
* * *
Malik Elrayson trembled with ecstasy.
Overwhelming omnipotence.
Now that he had connected Trion’s mana vein to his body’s mana circuits, Malik was infinitely close to true omnipotence.
Though his rank was 6th, as long as he could draw upon the infinite magical power of the mana vein, he was superior to his father who had been 7th Rank.
He could wield magic as extensively as any top-tier 7th Rank mage, as much as the heads of the Great Magic Families.
“I will prove it.”
A life where only oppression and contempt existed.
The miserable memories of having to live his entire life cowering under his father’s cold gaze.
Now it was different.
He would create a perfect world where everyone would look up to him, praise him, and smile at him with genuine hearts.
Hadn’t he even strangled that damned father to death for this purpose?
“Yes.”
Euphoria.
Pleasure.
Overwhelming sense of achievement.
This feeling of superiority that everything lay beneath his feet.
“Very, excellent.”
Malik looked down at his feet.
The final piece for the perfect world he dreamed of was right there, lying before his eyes – this young man with ash-gray hair.
“Reagan von Benheim.”
Arno, who was supposed to be Benheim’s heir, had been decent enough, but Reagan was an exceptionally fine puppet.
This man had defeated Rosaline Blair, the Thorn Tower Lord, with merely the early stages of the 6th Rank, and had even dared to push him to the brink of losing his own life.
If he could take control of nearby cities with this fellow at the forefront and expand his power, he would be able to turn the entire Empire into a perfect model garden that smiled toward him.
“Now, rise, Reagan von Benheim.”
Malik commanded arrogantly.
However, Reagan didn’t even twitch.
“Hmm?”
Malik frowned.
“Is he… resisting the brainwashing?”
For that to be the case, Reagan’s expression was far too peaceful.
His face was as quiet as if he had fallen into a light slumber. There was no trace of the agonized expression characteristic of those having nightmares.
‘…Strange.’
But that was all.
Malik’s ego, bloated beyond measure, suppressed his suspicion.
He had poured the entire torrent of the mana vein into him – there was no way a mere 6th Rank could resist.
Just as Malik was convincing himself of this, Reagan suddenly opened his eyes.
Malik smiled broadly.
“Oh! You’ve finally opened your eyes! Now, rise! Rise and spread laughter to the world!”
At Malik’s command, Reagan Benheim slowly stood up.
Then Reagan turned his head toward Malik.
His pale blue eyes clearly held Malik’s image.
“…Phew.”
Reagan let out a deep sigh. He twisted his lips as if displeased and ‘spoke’.
“…I hate to admit it, but I should be grateful to you.”
“…”
Malik’s eyes widened.
Even though he hadn’t commanded it, Reagan was speaking.
That meant…
“You resisted the brainwashing? H-how?”
It shouldn’t be possible by any reasonable standard.
He had mobilized all of Trion’s mana veins to interfere with his mind. There was no way a mere 6th Rank could go against it…
‘No.’
This wasn’t the time for this.
If the brainwashing had failed, he just needed to pour magic into him until it succeeded.
“Smile! Hurry up and smile at me!”
The panicked Malik reached out his hand. But before he could cast his magic, Reagan drew Benheim’s treasured sword. And without hesitation, he thrust it deep into his own side.
Self-harm.
Just as Malik was bewildered by that incomprehensible action.
—Flash.
A strange light began to emanate from the silver pendant hanging on Reagan’s chest.
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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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