The Sword Genius of the Magic Empire - Chapter 72



Only Noblemtl

When Enoch opened his eyes.

A familiar world unfolded before my eyes.

The land is a place as clear and translucent as water. The sky is a space where darkness like obsidian spreads endlessly.

Needless to say, it was a world without meaning.

‘When the real body passes out, it enters the world of nothingness.’

This was the first time I had heard of it.

Come to think of it, I’ve never lost consciousness or fainted since I became Enoch. It’s only natural that this is my first discovery.

But if you pass out, your consciousness comes here.

‘So from now on, I can just hit my head hard and come here without having to bother concentrating?’

Around the time I was having such useless thoughts.

With a loud noise, the world of nothingness changed.

Kururur.

The endless floor rotated greatly. Large shadows rose from various places on the translucent black ground.

They quickly took shape and were soon covered with color and light, creating a space of the past.

Enoch looked at the scene before his eyes.

The fortress where the last swordsman of the empire resided.

There, the Black Sword was sitting on the throne.

He was welcoming numerous people.

Representing the countless hordes of water people in the fortress, a water woman stepped forward and opened her mouth.

“Lord of this land and swordsman.”

A young and beautiful water woman with red wolf ears standing up on her head, a fiery red tail, and bright, ruby-like eyes.

But her white cheeks and skin were raw and bruised, and her light clothing was torn here and there. She looked so messy that it was pitiful to look at.

She then quietly knelt down on one knee before Geomseong.

“As the chieftain of the Suin clan, I have something to tell you.”

“Speak, Lycaon.”

Enoch’s eyes widened for a moment.

‘Lycaon’ is Sirocco’s family name.

Well, I had a rough idea just by looking at the wolf ears and tail, but if that were true, then the young matriarch kneeling before the swordsman right now… …

‘Sirocco’s distant ancestor?’

Even during the time when the last swordsman of the empire lived, Lycaon’s family lineage was the chieftain!

Meanwhile, she continued speaking calmly.

“The territory of this land that the Black Star has accepted us in is a place that is difficult for the Empire’s hands and eyes to reach due to the surrounding rugged rocky mountain ranges and the demons that have continued to appear since the Demon War.”

Lycaon’s ancestor, the matriarch of the Suin tribe, looked up at the last swordsman of the empire and added quietly.

“But the ‘pursuers’ sent by the Empire to kill our compatriots are different.”

“The pursuer?”

“Yes.”

The chieftain absentmindedly glanced at the battle scars on his body and explained calmly.

“They are high-level magicians sent by the Empire to eliminate us. Even I and the warriors of my tribe had no chance against them.”

Behind her, the other people silently bowed their heads.

It was just as she said.

The ‘pursuers’ sent by the Empire were amazingly strong, and also brutal.

A situation where ‘wizards with strength from another dimension’ are chasing them and slaughtering them indiscriminately.

Therefore, the matriarch of the Lycaon family united the various water races scattered throughout the empire according to tradition in order to survive.

He ascended to the position of chieftain of the unified tribe.

He led the last of the men and resisted, but when he finally reached his limit, he fled to the territory of the Black Sword.

There was no one who did not know that fact.

The matriarch of Lycaon shook her shoulders slightly, her emotions a mixture of anger and helplessness.

“The Empire is currently eliminating everything related to our race. As soon as we hear the news, pursuers will arrive here as well.”

“so?”

“We were all running away here from those guys, so if they were to chase us, they might cause great harm to the innocent residents who originally lived in this territory.”

The matriarch quietly bowed her head.

“Thankfully, the Black Star protects us with His Grace, but we may end up causing more innocent victims. This is my concern and the concern of my entire tribe.”

As if waiting for an answer, the matriarch still knelt down on one knee before the blacksmith, leaning on her horse’s saddle and bowing her head.

The black swordsman who was looking down at her answered briefly.

“I clearly said that I would not allow anyone to harm my people.”

“I remember. However, the opponents are some of the best magicians in the empire with such great powers, and they may use cunning tricks.”

The matriarch’s sharp eyes slightly lowered.

“…Now in the empire, only the Sword Saint treats us as people.”

A number of people who are identical to ordinary people in every way, except for the ears and horns on top of their heads and the tails.

But that small difference has now become a symbol of the ‘cursed ones’ who could become the devil of the empire at any moment.

“The Empire is merciless. Innocent people who were related to our people were also killed along with them. The entire tribe is already tired of seeing their close friends and neighbors killed without any crime.”

The matriarch closed her eyes in resignation.

“Your Majesty, we have only been here for a few days, but many of our tribesmen have been deeply moved by your hospitality. Therefore, if our presence here poses a threat to you, we would be even more reluctant to… .”

“You people of the water tribe.”

Geomseong cut her off and spoke briefly.

“I heard that there is a tradition that goes into choosing who you will truly follow, including the election of the chieftain.”

Geomseong said, grabbing the sword he was holding on the throne.

“Speak.”

The chief hesitated for a moment, then spoke quietly.

“… … This is a public duel.”

In that moment, Enoch realized the swordsman’s intentions.

Although not much was revealed about the Suin tribe in the original work, this much was known for sure.

‘It was said that the Suin tribe had a custom of holding public duels to check whether those they would follow were sufficiently capable.’

Even though they were a race of beasts that had been destroyed in the original work, the reason why they were so knowledgeable about the old traditions of the beasts was obvious. It was none other than…

‘The original condition for recruiting Shiroko was to beat her in a 1-on-1 fight, as was the tradition of the Suin tribe!’

Click.

“If you need proof.”

Geomseong slowly put his sword away and stood up.

“Do as you have done.”

Despite receiving the concerned looks of the chieftain and the Suin tribe, Geomseong stood still.

The chieftain, seeing the unwavering appearance of the swordsman, eventually bowed his head and made up his mind.

chuck.

The chieftain placed his horse in front of his chest, closed his eyes, and bowed respectfully to the blacksmith.

“…then.”

Before he knew it, a dazzling red magic circle had developed and was wrapping itself around the chieftain’s ankles.

The matriarch instinctively bared her fangs like a wolf about to fight. Her eyes were filled with the spirit of a warrior ready for battle.

And the next moment─

The chieftain had reached the swordsman’s sight.

She rushed at him so explosively that he couldn’t even see her kicking the ground, leaving an afterimage behind.

In front of the swordsman’s eyes that had arrived in the blink of an eye, the chieftain tilted his horse back significantly to attack.

An unavoidable strike from a distance aimed at the swordsman who stood still without even drawing his sword.

But that’s it.

Before she could do anything else there.

Turup!

Geomseong reached out with one arm and grabbed the chin of the matriarch who was rushing at him.

“…!”

The matriarch’s eyes opened wide in shock.

The swordsman threw her to the ground.

Kuuuung!

With a tremendous noise, the stone tiles of the fortress floor shattered, sending up debris and dust.

The chieftain who was subdued by the swordsman in an instant.

He didn’t even draw his sword.

The atmosphere around them who were watching the result of the duel was frozen as they could not believe it even after seeing it with their own eyes.

“I guess you understand.”

With one hand still holding the matriarch’s soft chin, Geomseong quietly opened his mouth.

“What you worry about won’t happen.”

He spoke softly.

“Trust me and follow me.”

The chieftain of the Suin tribe smiled faintly.

“…gladly.”

That’s it for the last time.

The last of the empire’s men slowly knelt on one knee and bowed their heads toward the swordsman.

Towards the last hope they will follow.

Enoch’s vision began to fade.

Again, white messages appeared.

? Achievement Achievement: “As the Flame that Opens the Future”

? Notice: Achievements earned can be used as content goods for the ‘Free World’ that will be unlocked later.

***

When I just woke up in a world without meaning.

The place he was lying was a makeshift bed set up in a tent in the Suin village.

It looks like he was moved here when he passed out.

‘Something I saw in the free world felt like a short dream while I was passed out.’

Of course, that wouldn’t have been the case, but I guess it means that I’ve adapted a lot to my inner world.

Sigh.

Enoch put his hand on his head.

Perhaps he had a fever while he was down, as a cold towel was placed on his head.

I could roughly tell the time by the sun setting beyond the tent window.

I didn’t lose consciousness for long.

That was a good thing.

Because there was still work to be done.

“Are you of sound mind, Young Master?”

At that moment, a transparent voice rang out.

When he turned his head, Lien was standing politely next to the bed. Enoch answered briefly.

“Okay. For now.”

“That’s fortunate.”

It was obvious why Lien was speaking so politely. For a moment, Enoch looked outside through the tent window.

As expected, the outside of the tent was filled with the sounds of people coming and going.

Looking at the location, it seemed to be a temporary medical clinic not far from the town’s central square.

“The healer from the church has contacted you and will be visiting you soon. I will change the towels for you until then.”

Lien came over holding a towel.

So the maid touched his forehead, naturally brought her lips to his ear, and whispered softly.

“… I’ll keep it short, because people around me might hear.”

Her blue eyes, glancing closely at Enoch, shone coldly.

“If you torture your master’s body like this one more time, I will never forgive you.”

The reason Lien remained silent for a while despite Enoch’s injuries was simply because she judged that his physical condition was not something that needed to be rushed. However, the essence of the contract she had with him still remained unchanged.

And in fact, it wasn’t a wrong statement. This fainting was the result of having been working like crazy without resting and continuing to take on missions.

Enoch said calmly.

“Don’t try. Fainting isn’t my hobby either.”

Lien’s eyes turned slightly cold at his answer. And just as she was about to say something more.

Just then, a voice was heard from outside.

“Hey! You’re Master Enoch Elseid!”

At the entrance to the tent, a young sorceress dressed in a neat white nun’s habit entered.

His age was probably similar to mine. His cheeks were bright red, perhaps because he had been running hard.

She came quickly towards Enoch, breathing heavily as if she had been running in a hurry.

“A late introduction! I am Lily, a healer and full-fledged nun from the Order, dispatched for this mission to provide relief and medical support.”

Enoch nodded at her.

“platform”

Like the main clan that governs each field of magic such as ‘Battle’, ‘Engineering’, and ‘Art’, it is the center of magicians with talents in the rare ‘Healing Magic’.

In other words, the “Order” can be said to be a huge force comprised of the most skilled healers in the empire.

Most healing magicians were monks who worshipped the ‘goddess’. It was a very unique group, with the most notable characteristic being that it was made up of nuns.

“I heard from the maid about your condition earlier! Can I start healing you right now?”

When Enoch nodded, she immediately knelt down on the bare floor and gently took one of Enoch’s hands on the bed.

Then she brought Enoch a medical artifact shaped like a small metal stick.

The small magic stone embedded in the tip of the sword began to gather mana and emit light. A healing magic circle appeared in her magic circle.

Enoch, who was watching that, smiled faintly.

Until now, you could not get your wounds treated by the healer of your family for fear that they might find out that you were possessed.

‘But if you belong to a religious group, it’s a better option for treatment in many ways.’

If he was a healer belonging to a religious order rather than a family, he would know nothing about Enoch, who had been locked up in a corner of the room until now.

Unlike the healers of the family who might have seen him occasionally, even if they sensed something strange, they would not have the ability to figure out whether it was possession or something else.

‘But, if by any chance you notice that I’m possessed…’

To quell the momentary worry that came to mind, Enoch briefly looked back at the nun who was diligently healing himself without knowing anything about it.

But the next moment.

Enoch looked back at the nun who introduced herself as Lily and had to suppress the chills that ran down his spine.

Lien was quietly looking down at Enoch with her cold eyes from behind the nun examining him.

“… … .”

Enoch swallowed dry saliva without realizing it.

It seems that I wasn’t the only one who thought about the situation that might happen ‘even if it’s just once.

“…Huh? It seems a bit strange?”

At that moment, Sister Lily, who had just finished the healing magic she had been using for a while, tilted her head as she touched Enoch’s arm that she was treating.