The Son-In-Law of the Magician Is a Transcendent Sword Master - Chapter 93
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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 93
“Please return to the Shadow Tower now. The day of the ceremony is approaching.”
The moment Sheril heard Jeonon’s words, her shoulders trembled with a start.
“…Hmm.”
I let out a low hum as I looked at Jeonon and Sheril.
Return to the Shadow Tower.
Those words themselves weren’t particularly strange.
Rasherine Shady, that is, Sheril, was the daughter of the current Shadow Tower Lord. Just seeing how Elder Jeonon spoke respectfully and treated her with courtesy showed her position clearly. So Jeonon’s suggestion to return to the tower wasn’t unreasonable at all.
But why was it that…
“I am…”
Sheril bit her lips. I caught sight of her clenched fists trembling beneath her maid’s uniform.
At Jeonon’s suggestion, Sheril could neither refuse nor accept, just hesitating.
Clearly an odd reaction.
However, Jeonon smiled knowingly as if he had expected this and continued his story.
“Of course, regarding the discourtesy that Young Tower Lord Rasherine committed against the Tower Lord several years ago… everyone in the tower knows about it. It was truly a troublesome matter. However, the Tower Lord has decided to forgive Young Tower Lord’s transgression with a generous heart. Both leaving the tower without notice and hiding for such a long time.”
Hearing Jeonon’s words, I roughly pieced together the situation in my mind.
‘She ran away from home… is that it?’
No.
To call it merely running away was too simple, given Sheril’s terrified attitude and Jeonon’s snake-like gaze.
Above all, what parent would tolerate their daughter wandering outside for years?
Moreover, Steren seemed to know Sheril’s circumstances. The fact that he took Sheril in as a maid knowing it would put him at odds with the Shadow Tower meant that the ‘transgression’ Jeonon was indirectly mentioning wasn’t an ordinary problem.
“Oh my, sister. Why are you looking at us with such fearful eyes? Shouldn’t we be the ones who are afraid?”
As Sheril hesitated to answer, one of the women behind stepped forward with a smile.
Her name was definitely… Vera or Sierra, wasn’t it?
“Do you know how much we suffered because sister irresponsibly ran away? And to think you were hiding in a place like this, serving another family. How disappointing.”
“…This was my choice.”
Sheril answered Vera’s mockery with a suppressed voice.
“A choice? I suppose you’re proud of abandoning that glorious position you were given.”
“Haha. Sierra, that’s a bit harsh. She was still a Young Tower Lord, after all.”
One of the women interjected.
“Vera. Think about it. That precious sister of ours is now wearing an apron and wiping dust off floors. How heartbroken would the Tower Lord be to see this?”
“I really can’t bear to watch. To think the place she ran to after kicking away such a prestigious position was just being a servant in someone else’s family.”
“…”
The sisters Vera and Sierra took turns pressuring Sheril.
In the end, Sheril couldn’t even properly retort, just biting her lips while keeping her gaze fixed on the floor.
Unable to watch any longer, I was about to step forward and speak when someone placed a hand on my shoulder.
When I turned around, it was Valen.
“…Stand down, Reagan. This isn’t your place to interfere.”
Valen’s words were right.
I bore the Benheim surname but wasn’t blood family.
Moreover, as an outsider who didn’t know the internal situation of the Shadow Tower, it wasn’t something I should carelessly interfere with.
However, it wasn’t me that Valen should have stopped.
“…What exactly are you all doing?”
Renia suddenly spoke up.
Valen made an ‘oh no’ expression, and even Sheril looked at Renia with surprised eyes.
However, Renia paid no attention to those gazes and walked forward, standing in front of Vera and Sierra. Considerable displeasure had risen on her refined face.
“Coming here out of nowhere and telling Sheril to return is ridiculous enough, but now you’re saying terrible things to our family member in the middle of someone else’s territory?”
“…F-family?”
“That’s right. Family. Sheril is a member of Benheim. She’s not someone you can treat carelessly.”
When Renia’s true personality emerged, Vera and Sierra’s eyes widened.
No matter what, they hadn’t expected a direct descendant of Benheim to step forward personally.
As the atmosphere quickly grew tense, Jeonon hurriedly stepped forward and bowed his head.
“There seems to be a misunderstanding, Young Lady Renia. These children are Lady Rasherine’s sisters. It’s just that emotions ran high during a family reunion after such a long time.”
“How is that a family reunion? To my eyes, it looks like interrogating a criminal.”
When Renia spoke bluntly, even Jeonon made a troubled expression.
“…I apologize, but this is a matter involving the internal discipline of our Shadow Tower. While we won’t forget Benheim’s grace in generously taking in the Shadow Tower’s daughter, isn’t it against propriety for another family to interfere in blood matters?”
“Propriety? Sheril isn’t a stranger but our family.”
“…Huh.”
Jeonon’s rebuttal was reasonable, but this was Benheim territory. And Renia was a direct descendant of Benheim.
Each word she spoke carried different weight.
In the end, even Jeonon could only roll his eyes, unable to do anything.
Clap clap.
At that moment, Steren, who had been quietly listening, clapped his hands to draw attention.
“That’s enough, Renia. Step back now.”
“B-but Father! Those people…”
“This isn’t a matter for you to argue about.”
At Steren’s stern command, Renia made an indignant expression. However, she couldn’t challenge the family head’s authority and reluctantly stepped back beside me with pursed lips.
When Renia stepped back, Steren continued.
“Envoys of the Shadow Tower. I understand your intentions, but causing a disturbance in the middle of Benheim territory is problematic. I’ve prepared rooms in the separate residence for now, so rest from your journey. We’ll discuss matters regarding Rasherine Shady’s situation at tonight’s banquet.”
When even Steren drew the line, Jeonon had no choice but to comply.
“Yes. We shall do so. We offer our deep gratitude for the hospitality Benheim has shown us.”
Afterward, Jeonon, Vera, and Sierra were guided by an attendant to the guest quarters in the separate residence.
When Steren gestured a few more times, the family mages who had been on guard also dispersed.
Thus, only Renia, Sheril, Steren, and I remained at the estate’s main gate.
“You all should go inside for now as well.”
“…Family Head, regarding Sheril…”
When I asked carefully, Steren shook his head.
“Wouldn’t it be better to hear it from her own mouth rather than from me?”
With those words, Steren also left to attend to tower business.
Naturally, Renia and I found ourselves looking at Sheril, who stood with her head bowed.
“…Sheril.”
Renia carefully called her name, and Sheril, who had been looking at the ground, slowly raised her head.
“…”
I was inwardly shocked.
Sheril’s expression was filled with more anguish than I had ever seen. Since Sheril always perfectly controlled her emotions, the shock was doubled.
“Well… if it’s difficult, you don’t have to talk about it.”
Sheril shook her head and spoke with a somber expression.
“No. Since it’s come to this, it’s something you should know eventually. I’ll tell you… everything.”
* * *
“As you might have expected… I am the daughter of the Shadow Tower Lord.”
Having moved to a private room in the main mansion, we sat facing Sheril.
Sheril fidgeted with her cold teacup and began explaining the situation step by step, though with some hesitation.
“And I… as you heard earlier, left the tower and hid as a maid in Benheim.”
“May I ask why you ran away?”
“…Yes.”
Sheril answered while lowering her gaze.
“…Because I was afraid of life in the tower.”
“Afraid?”
“Yes… I grew tired of life as a covert mage. Because of my selfish desire to just hide and live as an ordinary person… I abandoned everyone and ran away.”
I frowned.
To say that was all there was to it didn’t explain Sheril’s trembling with fear in front of Jeonon.
Something felt off, but I didn’t press further and asked my next question.
“…Then why did the Tower Lord leave her daughter neglected for so long?”
“Because I’m not… her real daughter.”
“…Not real?”
“Yes. The current Shadow Tower Lord, my mother Arania Sheydi, never had a partner to begin with.”
I frowned upon hearing that.
Sheril was adopted. I understood that fact. However, there were two other women in the Shadow Tower’s delegation that came to Benheim today.
“…Those two women earlier said they were your sisters.”
“That’s also correct. Vera Sheidi and Sierra Sheidi. Both are adopted daughters in the same situation as me. Besides them, the Shadow Tower has many other daughters of the Tower Lord.”
“Why does she have so many daughters?”
“The detailed circumstances are… somewhat complicated, but it’s related to a taboo. A taboo that the Tower Lord must always be a female Covert Mage. So the current Tower Lord adopted numerous girls and raised them as ‘Daughters of Shadow’ – both disciples and candidates for the next Tower Lord position.”
“And you’re one of them, Sheril?”
“That’s correct.”
Taboo magic.
Though Black Mages frequently used such magic, it didn’t belong exclusively to the realm of black magic. There was no rule preventing ordinary mages from using taboo magic.
Understanding the general situation, I nodded.
However, even after hearing Sheril’s explanation, there was still an unresolved question.
“…Then why does the Tower Lord specifically want to take you back, Sheril? She already has many daughters. There were even two in the delegation that came this time.”
“That’s…”
Sheril hesitated instead of answering my question immediately.
I recalled how greatly Sheril had been shaken by Jeonon’s persuasion earlier.
And also the specific words Jeonon had mentioned.
“Sheril, let me ask you something else. What is this ‘Day of Ceremony’ that old man mentioned earlier?”
“…That is.”
Sheril’s lips trembled slightly.
After a moment, she barely managed to answer.
“It’s a succession ceremony… to be reborn as the next Tower Lord.”
Upon hearing that story, both Renia and I stiffened.
That meant…
“Sheril, are you… going to become the next Tower Lord of the Shadow Tower?”
“…”
I couldn’t understand it at all.
Setting aside all those other daughters, why would they make Sheril, who had been absent for nearly several years, the next Tower Lord?
“Why?”
“…”
“Sheril, do you have something special…”
Before I could finish speaking, knock knock.
The sound of knocking echoed.
Then a Benheim attendant opened the door and entered.
“I apologize for interrupting your conversation. However… the distinguished guests from the Shadow Tower are waiting in the reception room. The lord has asked that Lady Rasherine Sheidi prepare herself and come this way.”
Sheril’s expression darkened.
Rather than the fact that she had to converse with the Shadow Tower’s delegation, it seemed to weigh on her heart that an attendant who had been her equal until recently was now treating her with such respectful deference.
“Then… I shall take my leave now.”
Sheril tried to rise from her seat with a stiff expression.
But then Renia suddenly grabbed Sheril’s hand tightly.
“…Ah, Miss?”
“Sheril, your hand is trembling right now.”
Though Sheril tried to hide it, the hand that Renia held was trembling finely.
“…You’re scared, aren’t you?”
“I am…”
“I don’t know why Sheril is scared. But…”
Renia stopped speaking and looked toward me.
Having been together for several years now, I could easily sense Renia’s intentions without her having to say anything.
Moreover, I didn’t completely believe Sheril’s clumsy excuses just now. There must be more circumstances related to that delegation that she couldn’t reveal.
“Sheril, if you want, we’ll go with you to the conversation with your family.”
“…No, no. I’m just…”
“Those bad people might harm you, Sheril. So we’ll go and keep our eyes wide open. We won’t let anyone do anything foolish. If they torment Sheril like they did earlier, I’ll punch them hard!”
Renia chuckled and chimed in agreement.
Sheril stared blankly at my face.
And after a moment, the corners of her mouth turned up slightly.
“If you would… Yes. I would appreciate that.”
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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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