The Sword Genius of the Magic Empire - Chapter 50



Only Noblemtl

At dawn.

The blue shadows of dawn fell upon the walls of Elseid’s castle, which had grown cold during the night.

Inside those huge walls.

The magicians belonging to Elseid, who had completed preparations for the joint mission, gathered together and were conducting a final check.

“3 minutes before boarding.”

“All hands, ready to board.”

The cold air just before dawn cast a pale blue glow over the busy wizards.

And beyond where the wizards move.

Eyes even darker than those at dawn were quietly watching them, leaning against the wall.

‘It’s just beginning.’

Enoch briefly thought about what was to happen next.

– Start date of the joint mission.

The schedule for this mission overlapped exactly with the Vendetta experiment dates written in Tantalus’ journal.

Then maybe… .

‘In this joint mission, we may encounter the Vendetta Annihilator, Tantalus, again.’

By the time I thought about it that far.

“ah!”

Just then, a familiar voice came from next to him.

“Enoch Elseid.”

A wizard in his mid-thirties approached me with a formal greeting. He was the man I had seen in Leopolis last time.

I even remembered the name clearly.

“I think it was Askle.”

“Yes, it’s nice to see you here again!”

During the kidnapping incident at the Leopolis nursery last time. He was a wizard from a family that had been dispatched there before and gone missing, and was rescued by us.

I think it was said to be a direct descendant of the current 3rd class.

He bowed his head deeply once again.

“I owe you my life, young master.”

“What’s the purpose of this mission?”

“This time, in addition to being a sort of guide, I have also been added to the group as an advisor to the Suin tribe.”

In that regard, it was said that a considerable number of additional personnel are required for joint operations depending on the situation.

After all, it’s not like only the Silk Family’s combat personnel are needed for the dispatch location.

It was a mission with a much larger group of people than expected, numbering in the dozens in total.

“You’ve had a hard time.”

“Haha, I only know a little because I lived in a village near the south when I was young.”

He shook his head as if it was nothing and added:

“Ah. Besides me, I heard that healers dispatched from the ‘Cult’ are also accompanying us on this mission.”

“The healers of the church too?”

“Yes. The church also has a cooperative agreement with Elseid. Anyway, since they are from the church, they are said to have certain skills in healing magic.”

Enoch did not miss the implications of his words.

The fact that even excellent healers dispatched from the religious order are accompanying the mission means that the family was expecting a fierce battle from the beginning.

“The Suin tribe is quite wary of the village.”

“Yes. After all, this time we have a mission to encounter the dangerous “Suin Tribe”.”

At that moment, someone approached from the side.

It was three knights of the Nemesis Order and Theano, dressed in their usual uniforms and hats.

She came right up to him and stared at Enoch with her eyes hidden by the shadow of her hat.

“Operational vehicle, inspection complete.”

Her words drew the attention of the other wizards. Theano looked around and gave a concise instruction.

“All hands, prepare to board your designated vehicles!”

The hangar inside the castle opened, the lights inside turned on, and vehicles appeared.

The family prepared a total of five operational vehicles for this joint mission.

A large, sturdy design with a sleek black gloss that reflects the hangar’s lights and a distinctive metallic sheen.

– The family’s operational vehicle.

The vehicles representing the official duties of the Elseid family are stylishly painted with blue accents on a black background, the family’s symbolic color.

Meanwhile, the family crest was simply engraved in white on the side of the car body.

Enoch also boarded the designated vehicle along with other passengers. The interior of the vehicle was quite large and comfortable, including the seats lined up on both sides.

“Okay, let’s go.”

Immediately after the announcement was made from the driver’s seat.

On the front of the sleekly designed operational vehicles, bright blue headlights were turned on.

Kurur… …

Finally, the tires started to move, and the convoy of operational vehicles began to move silently under the dawn sky. Enoch buried himself in the seat, holding his sack.

The lights of the still dark streets flashed and glided over the surfaces of the tactical vehicles that traversed the downtown area of ​​the citadel.

Inside the car, which was speeding across the asphalt road, there was only the soft noise of the engine. Even the vibration was barely noticeable.

But of course, Enoch wasn’t the only one riding inside that spacious vehicle.

Those who rode in the same vehicle as Enoch.

The wizards of the family sat silently in their seats, their horses out of sight.

“… … .”

But even so, I felt people glancing in my direction from here and there in the seats.

And those gazes in silence continued throughout the long journey to the southern part of Elseid Island without a single break.

In the strange atmosphere, the operational vehicle, without any particular small talk, enjoyed its long and quiet journey with only the soft vibration of its body.

***

Before we knew it, the scenery outside the car had changed.

“We finally arrived.”

Askle said, looking out the window.

“From here, it’s the southern part of Elseid. It’ll still take a while to get to the Suin tribe village.”

Enoch also suddenly turned his head out the window.

Outside the vehicle, a desolate landscape unfolded.

It had been a long time since I had left the city center, where tall buildings were already lined up. The surrounding area had now become a reddish-brown area made up entirely of rocky mountains and sand.

The tactical vehicle, now fully engaged in off-road driving, felt a bit more bumpy than before.

“And from now on, the vehicle speed will become even faster.”

“It’s getting faster?”

Askle nodded.

“Yes. There are frequent attacks by demons around this area. We need to get out as quickly as possible.”

Askle glanced at the people in the other seats.

And then, as if the people who had been silent throughout the journey were getting annoyed, they continued chatting while looking out the window.

“Isn’t it empty? The southern outskirts of Elseid are not well-inhabited, either in the past or now.”

“Why?”

“Because this place is home to a horde of demons classified as high-risk by the Empire.”

He said, looking out the window.

“So this is an extremely dangerous place where normal people would never be able to survive. No one except those famously savage beasts would be able to survive in a place like this.”

“Interesting. If you know anything more about the Suin Tribe, can you tell me?”

Enoch asked so pretending to do so.

“I don’t know much about the Suin tribe. I’d like to hear about it.”

Of course, I know very well about the Suin tribe.

But just in case, cross-checking of information was necessary. This is no longer a game, it is reality.

“Oh, of course. If I can help.”

Askle nodded.

“First of all, the water people look no different from humans, but the only difference is that they have beast ears, tails, or horns.”

He added, sounding a little nervous.

“And, above all, it is said that the Suin are innate masters of close combat magic.”

Enoch nodded.

Up to this point, it was as he knew for sure.

In the original work, the Suin were depicted as beings with innate physical and athletic abilities that surpassed human capabilities, as well as the keen senses of animals.

Of course, they have excellent conditions for close combat magic, and if you just look at average combat power, they are the best force in the empire.

Enoch glanced out the window and said.

“So all of them are excellent battle magicians.”

“That’s right. In particular, the bloodline of the ‘chief’ family, who is the leader of all the people, is said to be very skilled in combat magic.”

“So the chieftain’s bloodline is much stronger?”

“Yes. Even the current chieftain’s successor is a genius who has surpassed the 10th rank despite his young age.”

─Genius.

Enoch’s eyes narrowed slightly when he heard those words.

The words Ascle had just spoken were the information he had been desperately waiting for. A title he had seen countless times in the original passed through his mind.

“Successor of the Chieftain of the Suin Tribe”

‘… … It’s a familiar title that makes me miss it.’

Enoch laughed quietly and secretly.

Perhaps, since I was possessed and fell here, this is the ‘wizard’ I’ve wanted to meet the most.

But I’m still not sure.

“Is there any more information about the Chieftain?”

Askle nodded, saying, “I will tell you what I know.”

“The chieftain’s family has been the leaders of the other beastmen for generations, and they are said to be overwhelmingly stronger than the other beastmen. Perhaps the beastmen who are the chieftain’s daughter also inherited that bloodline.”

“So that’s what makes you a genius.”

“Yes. They say that as they are strong, they are also very violent.”

Enoch tilted his head slightly.

“… … violent?”

“Yes. It is said that the nature of the Suin tribe is to only obey the strong. According to the general theory, they only serve ‘those who have defeated them.’”

Askle said with a hollow laugh.

“What? She is the daughter of the chieftain who rules over all those rough and savage beastmen. She probably isn’t a very noble wizard.”

… … Oh my.

Enoch hesitated for a moment.

It’s definitely a bit of a departure from the original.

But I guess he wasn’t the type of person who could be called violent? Enoch muttered to himself without realizing it.

“… Have the rumors about the Suin tribe been distorted?”

“Huh? What did you just say?”

“No. It’s nothing.”

Enoch gave a vague answer and asked again.

“But from what I’ve heard, the images of the Suin tribe seem quite negative?”

“Yes. If I say more, my mouth will hurt.”

He said with a slight shrug of his shoulders.

“The Suin tribe is said to have exceptional magical talent, especially in battle, but they have been notorious since ancient times as an uncontrollable barbarian tribe.”

“Barbarians… …?”

“Yes. It’s even more dangerous when those with innate powers run wild… … and they’ve even been raiding nearby villages recently, so there’s no way they’ll get good news.”

Of course, that’s true. But that’s true.

Enoch asked back, somewhat hesitantly.

“But from what I’ve heard so far, it seems like all I’ve heard about the Suin tribe is rumors. Has there been no proper interaction with them?”

“Yes. The southern part of Elseid Territory has been a region infested with demons since the time of the empire, and no one is willing to enter it.”

Askle explained carefully.

“There aren’t many people here who have the ability to survive the hordes of demons… and the Suin tribe itself rarely ventures outside the southern region where they live.”

So, there is no communication.

It was a statement that had an uneasy corner somewhere.

Enoch opened his mouth.

“It’s strange. If the southern part of Elseid is really a region that everyone avoids because it’s full of demons, then even if the water people are skilled in battle magic, there’s no way they’d like to go there, right?”

“That’s true. However, it has not been revealed why they chose this place as their base.”

He added, however.

“It is said that in the distant past, the Suin tribe also lived peacefully throughout the empire.”

Enoch tilted his head slightly.

“Then, let’s leave aside the current exchanges. Are there no records of the Suin people in the past?”

“Unfortunately, there aren’t many records about the Suin tribe. What I’ve told you is all I’ve seen and heard while growing up in a village nearby.”

Enoch nodded slowly.

It was the moment when guesses turned into certainty.

‘As expected.’

It seems that a lot of information about the Suin tribe is currently distorted.

‘There are no records or interactions with the people.’

It is only natural that fear of the Suin tribe, who were unknown for a while, would arise.

I don’t know how far the distortion goes, but I do know that people’s antipathy toward the modern Suin tribe is greater than expected.

Enoch thought quietly.

‘Well… “The disaster that occurred during this mission” must have originated from this misunderstanding.’

-One of the tragedies that takes place in the original work’s past.

In the official story, this happens ‘during this joint mission that Elseid was dispatched to.’

That tragedy was precisely one of the reasons Enoch had come on this mission.

“By the way, if communication itself is cut off, then there must be quite a few demons in the southern part of Elseid Territory.”

“Yes. And also, as you can see around here… the harsh environment will also play a part.”

Enoch turned his gaze out the car window again.

As expected, because the terrain was what he said, the only things visible outside the car window were mountains and cliffs made of rocks.

Enoch looked around at the surrounding terrain and suddenly felt a sense of foreboding.

‘Something feels strange. These rocky cliffs here, do they look familiar?’

Of all places, why is this feeling so strange in the southern region?

It was quite a strange thing.

Because even he, a veteran, had ‘never been to this place before’.

‘The southern part of Elseid Territory was not a place implemented in the original work. How could I not know about such a place?’

Literally, this area was not implemented as a place for players to go to on their own for the most part.

Therefore, no matter how much of an original character it was, there was no reason to feel this sense of awkwardness.

‘But it’s never a mistake.’

Nevertheless, the geography and atmosphere of this area felt strangely familiar.

‘This view of rocky cliffs. I’m sure I’ve seen it somewhere.’

A feeling as if a memory that never existed is whispering to you that it is a sight you saw a long time ago.

And I could think of only one reason why this feeling of alienation might occur.

‘no way….’

Enoch’s eyes reflected in the glass window narrowed slightly.

I could probably guess where I had seen landscapes covered with rock cliffs like this.

‘If my thoughts are correct, that rock cliff is….’

For a moment, a memory from the world of nothingness flashed through my mind.

2nd generation, at the time he inherited the Hwarin clan.

The water people, the powerful magicians, and the last swordsman of the empire standing between the two groups, were all tied up and kneeling on a rocky cliff in the middle of the night.

The terrain was exactly the same as the cliffs there.

‘Surely not, then this southern part of Elseid… If it were real, then this kind of coincidence wouldn’t happen, right?’

But before Enoch could even think about it, Askle asked quietly.

“But… your highness.”

He looked around as if asking while he was at it.

“I, by any chance. I’ve been wondering for a while now….”

Then he asked cautiously in a small voice.

“Why is there a maid on this mission…?”

Lien.

A beautiful maid girl with flowing silver hair, sitting neatly on the seat next to Enoch.

Long before the vehicle started moving, other passengers around me could be seen glancing in this direction.

I can understand that too.

Anyone can see that the combination is truly amazing.

A silver-haired servant girl who sits calmly as if nothing happened right next to her, even though her immediate family is noisy everywhere.

‘At this rate, no matter where I go, I won’t be able to avoid being targeted.’

Enoch turned his head slightly.

Next to the seat, I saw Lien, still sitting quietly, unperturbed, wearing her usual maid outfit.

Just like on the last train, this time too he seemed completely oblivious to the eyes of those around him.

Askle gave Enoch some small advice from the side.

“Your Majesty. In this mission location, the Suin Tribe Village, a maid who is an ordinary person like that will be dangerous.”

“…Ordinary people?”

Enoch just chuckled.

But Askle, who knew nothing, continued speaking with a worried tone.

“As I have said many times, the Suin tribe is known for being strong magicians and violent. If you happen to get into a fight with the Suin during your mission, you may end up in a dangerous situation.”

Enoch responded calmly to his concerns.

“The Suin tribe is dangerous, but shouldn’t we be concerned about other things first?”

“other?”

Enoch nodded and responded to Askle, who asked with a slightly puzzled expression.

“Didn’t you say that before? ‘There are frequent attacks by demons around this area.’”

It’s almost time now.

Enoch was sure of that.

“Yes, that’s true, but why all of a sudden…?”

Askle asked blankly. But Enoch knew what would happen next.

‘I don’t know about the southern terrain because it wasn’t implemented in the original, but I have a rough idea of ​​what happens in this joint mission.’

So I knew what was happening around this time.

“Hold on to something.”

Enoch suggested calmly, grabbing the handle near the car seat.

Askle looked at Enoch with a puzzled expression for a moment at his unexpected words.

But Enoch left him alone and winked at Lien, who was next to him.

Sigh.

She looked this way for a moment, then grabbed the handle next to her without saying anything.

And the next moment.

-Squeak!

Suddenly, with a loud noise, the tactical vehicle braked hard, turned sideways, and skidded.

“Ugh!”

The other wizards riding in the car were thrown forward, losing their balance and falling over from their seats.

Several more unexpected turns followed, accompanied by the loud screeching sound of the tires on the ground.

The strong centrifugal force swept objects and people inside the vehicle to the side.

However, Lien and Askle, including Enoch, had already grabbed the handle and were not harmed.

“Oh, what happened all of a sudden….”

Askle looked around with a slightly bewildered expression to try to figure out the situation.

At the same time, the sharp voice of the driver echoed inside the car, reaching the passengers’ ears.

“The first car has been attacked! Everyone, prepare for battle!”

Tension suddenly spread across everyone’s faces.

In such a rapidly changing situation.

Enoch felt it alone and calmly.

‘… It’s finally starting.’

The ‘introduction’ of the joint mission that was also depicted in the original work.

Right now is the moment of transition from the prologue to the main story.

Before he knew it, the script described in the original work was running through Enoch’s head.

“A few years ago. The first to arrive at the village of the Suin tribe, isolated from imperial society, were those who participated in Elseid’s joint mission.”

“They were dispatched to investigate signs of a rebellion by the Suin tribe, but on their way to the village, they were attacked by demons and engaged in a fight.”

It is now five years before the original story.

However, in , there were already descriptions of past events.

That was the only way to read the future, including the unfolding of this mission.

‘And in this original work, right at the conclusion of this joint mission… .’

At the beginning of the story that is about to unfold, Enoch briefly reflects on the future of this joint mission.

“A brutal disaster in which countless people died.”

“A terrible ending brought about by social discrimination and misunderstanding.”

“Predestined destruction and victims in meaningless resistance.”

“And in the end, there is a girl who is never saved.”

Enoch muttered slowly.

“… … Everything must be changed.”

According to the official account, during this joint mission, a brutal ‘tragedy’ occurs in which numerous people die.

And based on the clues we have so far, here’s what we can guess.

The fate of Enoch, who is killed by demons in the original work five years later, will likely be deeply connected to the ‘disaster’ that occurs during this joint mission.

So it was clear what this side had to do.

Kwak.

Enoch’s grip tightened.

‘Ultimately, I have to change all the planned histories of this joint mission.’

That is none other than changing fate… .

Enoch Elseid, that would be the way to survive.