The Sword Genius of the Magic Empire - Chapter 40



Only Noblemtl

Two days have passed since I finished my duty.

Enoch was walking down the hallway after finishing his training.

As always, at the end of the training that started at the crack of dawn, it was getting close to evening outside.

“Phew.”

Enoch walked down the hallway, his body exhausted.

Although his body was heavy from the fatigue of the training that had continued without rest, his head was clear right after he picked up the sword.

‘The more you train, the more you learn.’

He checked himself calmly.

‘First of all, there are still some areas that are lacking.’

As I regained Enoch’s senses while handling the sword, there were several elements that I could clearly feel.

‘The swordsmanship that has been inherited. It is still incomplete.’

─ Especially type 2, “Hwarin”.

It was still at the level of imitation.

The true path of the Fire Wheel sword that the last swordsman of the empire had unfolded was vaguely drawn in Enoch’s mind.

‘Originally, the fire wheel was a much faster and more precise combo.’

But it only roughly kept up with the sword’s speed.

The difference in perfection was clearly evident compared to the ‘original’ Hwa-ryun swordsman who could freely control his sword in the midst of a flurry of attacks.

The reason was actually obvious.

‘Speed ​​is essentially a result of efficiency.’

So what about the efficiency?

Efficiency comes from establishing thorough fundamentals.

That’s what’s been lacking up until now.

‘It’s probably because I’ve been using swordsmanship to quickly apply it in real combat, only vaguely imitating the swordsmanship.’

Up until now, I have only been using the swordsmanship of the Black Sword Master in a hurry to survive.

There was no time to properly study it or acquire the skills to bring it to a basic perfection.

So, it is perhaps natural that the sword form was not properly completed.

This was the biggest problem he discovered.

‘I can’t leave it like this.’

Kwak.

Enoch grabbed the strap of the sword bag on his back.

‘In the future, countless swordsmanship techniques will be inherited.’

Not only the current Jecheom Sword, but also the memories and swordsmanship of the sword masters that existed in the past empire.

Someday I will inherit all of that.

But what if all of that is just an imitation, and cannot be embodied as a truly complete technique?

‘It is absolutely necessary to improve your specs. But before that, you need to lay the foundation first.’

No matter how many swordsmanship techniques you inherit in the future, if you can’t use them properly, you’ll only end up learning a bunch of half-baked, unfinished techniques.

If you install something like that in real life, it’s obvious that if you make a single mistake, you’ll go straight to hell.

Of course I have no intention of doing that.

It’s not too late, so I just need to fully embody the swordsmanship I inherited and get used to the feeling.

… … By the way.

Enoch stopped thinking there.

The magnificent and spacious hallways of the castle he was walking through.

Among the crowd of people around him, Enoch quietly replayed in his head the gazes he had felt since earlier.

‘It’s blatant.’

I noticed a few eyes staring at me since I left the training grounds.

I could tell for sure with my sense of mana.

The presence of ‘strong mana’ can be clearly felt here and there, including in the hallways and balconies.

‘The Knights of Nemesis.’

Several wizards wearing black uniforms with sophisticated gold decorations and caps.

They were walking around the castle like everyone else, leaning against the walls and pillars, naturally blending in with the crowd and quietly watching this way.

‘and….’

Enoch slowly raised his head.

From up on the balcony in the distance, I noticed a neatly-dressed female knight looking down at me.

‘Vice-Commander, to Theano.’

Under the shadow of the pressed hat, Theano’s azure eyes, resembling midnight amethyst, were quietly staring at me.

“… … .”

Enoch’s dark blue eyes, facing her, met her briefly through the crowd in the hallway.

‘I’m being watched.’

Enoch turned his gaze naturally.

‘I kind of expected it, but… it’s more serious than I thought.’

Yesterday, I talked about the underworld, but that alone wasn’t enough to answer the question.

The opponent was Nemesis from the beginning.

I never thought that Theano, the vice-captain of the elite knight order, could be fooled so easily.

The part they were suspicious of was actually obvious.

‘How did that incompetent direct descendant suddenly gain the ability to do such great things?’

Enoch Elseid.

A non-magician who was unable to manifest magic until the age of thirteen.

The reason he has been despised and even faced expulsion from the family is due to this very fact.

‘But now that you’re suddenly using magic, it seems like something’s not right.’

Of course, it didn’t actually manifest magic…

It was natural for the ordinary citizens of the Magic Empire to think that the power Enoch used was ‘magic’.

To them, the magic that unified this vast continent and formed the foundation of the Atlas Magic Empire, which made its dazzling prosperity possible, is omnipotent.

The only power that can counter magic is magic.

So it’s not surprising that some have doubts about Enoch’s use of magic.

So how could Enoch, who was not a magician, suddenly awaken his magic?

And furthermore, it was not strange to speculate that he might have been in collusion with the vendetta.

Or perhaps a ‘worse’ guess is possible.

Enoch calmly collected his thoughts.

‘So, what are the options to consider?’

It is clear that suspicions have already been raised.

If so, it was necessary to consider in advance the possibilities that would soon become important choices.

And if we just look at the context, it might not be that difficult.

‘The point is that we have to somehow dispel the public’s suspicions about us.’

Then, the choices to consider in the future will also be limited to suit the purpose.

– First, reveal your talent for swordsmanship to a few trusted members of the family, with the assurance of complete secrecy.

– Second, we act out a scene where we pretend to have magical talent.

Both of these are methods that can be taken to primarily clear up any suspicions that this side may have.

Both have risks, but if they were to be implemented, there was sufficient basic knowledge of how to proceed.

Of course, that doesn’t mean there were only two options.

‘There is another option.’

As Enoch was passing through the hallway, he took a moment to look at the notice hanging on the bulletin board in the central hall of the family.

There was written there, in flowing but concise language, information I knew very well.

[Nemesis Knights: 1st Entrance Exam Guide]

-That’s the third option.

Passing the upcoming ‘Nemesis Knights’ 1st Entrance Exam’ would also be one way to dispel their suspicions.

Because you will be directly evaluated for your abilities by none other than ‘Nemesis’, an organization that advocates strict neutrality within the family more than anyone else.

At least these methods are sufficient options to allay external suspicions.

‘I’m a bit worried.’

In any case, whichever of these three options you choose, it all has its own pros and cons.

Either way, we will just have to respond appropriately depending on what happens next.

Damn it.

As Enoch was gathering his thoughts and climbing the stairs at the end of the hallway,

Just then, I felt several figures stop and look in front of me.

“… What a surprise.”

And then, suddenly, a familiar voice among them spoke to me in a sharp tone.

“You bastard, you’re wandering around a place like this.”

Dionil Elseid.

He was a boy who was only a year or two older than Enoch, but his eyes had a subtle resemblance to his brother that made one wonder if he was his brother.

He was looking down at me with a self-indulgent expression from the landing of the stairs, accompanied by his retinue of followers.

“I’ve been seeing your face a lot lately.”

Enoch glanced at him and slowly continued walking up the stairs.

Eyes were fixed on this side from the surrounding corridors and balconies leading into the castle.

“I feel sorry too.”

Dionil’s expression distorted at Enoch’s short answer. However, Enoch calmly continued walking.

Perhaps, the meeting between this side and another direct lineage will also be another topic of conversation for the family members.

Anyway, I don’t want to be the center of attention. I guess it’s better to just ignore it like last time.

But it seems as if he had read our calculations.

Dionil said in a sarcastic voice.

“I guess you want to assert your innocence so much that you’re wandering around the hallways like this.”

“…white hands?”

“Yes. You, a non-magician, suddenly gained powers just before your expulsion.”

Enoch paused for a moment.

Dionil continued sharply.

“I heard that everyone in the Elseid Fortress is curious about this out-of-the-ordinary fact.”

The place they are standing is the upper floor hallway landing.

Along with the crowds in the corridors, countless bridges and balconies span the citadel’s high floors.

I looked down at the magicians belonging to the clan who were standing there, looking this way.

Dionil added, looking them over once.

“You, who were driven to the edge of a cliff, may have turned to ‘black magic’ for power.”

Dionil’s voice rang in Enoch’s ears.

“Black Magic”

A taboo that is strictly controlled even in the empire.

A general term for the so-called ‘forbidden magic’.

A concept referring to magic that is extremely dangerous, unethical, and likely to cause chaos in society.

As black magic is a comprehensive concept, its scope is much broader than you might think, but it is all dangerous magic that can easily get out of control.

Simply put, magic that can bring great disaster to individuals, including the caster, or to society.

For example, all kinds of magic that can take away someone’s free will, and simply destroy or control their values ​​and spirit.

Magics that are clearly designed to cause only vicious pain to people, ‘without even observing the minimum level of ethics’, such as those commonly referred to as ‘curses’.

Or, you can make a contract with an unknown entity whose identity has not yet been clearly identified. The Empire calls this “black magic” when you summon forces or entities that you cannot even control.

And perhaps in that regard, there may be a rumor going around that Enoch, who wanted to avoid being excommunicated, dabbled in such ‘black magic’.

Because I can’t imagine any other possibilities.

Most black magics have been severely punished by the Empire since the past, and their records or existence have been erased. Therefore, they are no longer passed down.

However, the tradition was secretly passed down by some who manifested ‘unique magic’ related to black magic, or by some magicians who sought to recreate past records.

Therefore, it is roughly correct to interpret this sudden acquisition of power in that way.

“If everyone is this curious, shouldn’t the person who started the rumor at least confirm it?”

Meanwhile, Dionil added with a chuckle.

“If we don’t understand your abilities when we take on the next mission… everyone will be in trouble.”

Enoch passed Dionil and spoke briefly.

“don’t worry.”

“…what?”

Enoch’s deeply sunken black eyes glanced at Dionil as he added.

“Even if you don’t like it, you’ll find out soon.”

Perhaps because of the unexpected answer, Dionil looked back with a slightly bewildered expression.

But Enoch had already crossed the landing and was on the stairs leading to the next floor.

‘Maybe now.’

Enoch recalled the contents of Tantalus’ research journal that he had received from Omen.

‘In the southern part of the empire, the timing of the incident that will become the trigger for the next mission occurs.’

***

Imperial Elseid Territory

South.

The rocky canyons scattered across the vast sandy desert were bathed in the dark colors of dawn.

And a wizard, out of breath, staggered over it.

“Ugh, ugh…”

The black robe he wore had a white pattern engraved on it, symbolizing his membership in the Elseid family.

However, the pattern was already dyed with his crimson blood to the point where it was unrecognizable.

“Cough!”

The wounds sustained in the previous battle were deep.

He holds onto the entrails that are about to spill out with his hand. He somehow manages to hold onto the saddle with his fingers covered in blood.

The emergency hemostatic agent has already been used up.

Still, the bleeding did not stop.

Even though he was dragging his already broken leg, he stubbornly kept walking with only mental strength.

Most of the sensation in my body had already disappeared. My consciousness was hazy. Time seemed to pass slowly until I died.

Even though he intuitively felt that his life was running out, he repeated only one thought.

‘… I must tell the stock family.’

How much longer did I walk, dragging my mangled body?

The limit was not far away, suffocating him.

“Ugh.”

His badly torn lungs could no longer supply oxygen and he was gasping for breath.

He had a gut feeling that he wouldn’t be able to move any further.

After confirming that there were still no signs of pursuers nearby, Elseid’s wizard dragged his bloody body against the huge cliff of the rocky valley and caught his breath.

Then, he grabbed the horse’s pole and used his remaining mana to deploy communication magic.

-Chijik.

A faintly glowing magic circle rotates and activates.

Near the wizard’s bloody mouth, a geometric circular pattern made of mana appeared, and began transmitting voices to the designated target.

“…notify the stock family.”

He pulled himself together and continued the communication.

“This is the southern part of Elseid Territory. Dispatched Team 3.”

The wizard opened his bloody lips with difficulty and relayed the situation he had witnessed.

“…Some of the Suin people here have joined forces with a black magic organization called Vendetta.”

He spoke again to the teleportation magic circle.

“We have also captured numerous instances where the Suin are currently planning to rebel against the entire empire.”

You must convey it as long as your remaining breath allows.

“Currently, Vendetta is moving to persuade the entire tribe of the Suin tribe. We tried to stop them, but our power alone was not enough.”

-Oh, damn it.

And at that moment.

-Oh, damn it.

On the rocky cliff where he had been leaning for a moment, the familiar sounds of pursuers rang out.

“We must stop the rebellion of the Suin tribe immediately!”

The wizard reflexively raised his head at the sound coming from above, even as he shouted urgently.

-Thump, thump.

Beyond the high rock cliffs.

Several silhouettes, with their backs turned to the breaking dawn, were approaching him.

People who are no different from ordinary people.

However, a pair of beast ears protruding from its head.

The only difference was that the tail moved behind the back.

And behind them, lined up, robed battle mages belonging to Vendetta.

Glancing at them in the backlight of the sunset, the wizard belonging to Elseid grabbed the horse alone.

“… I repeat this one last time! The situation is urgent!”

Chijik.

He shouted one last time towards the other side of the communication magic that was fading away with the crackling noise.

“Requesting large-scale support from the ‘Village of the Water Tribe’ in the southern part of Elseid Territory!”