The Sword Genius of the Magic Empire - Chapter 80



Only Noblemtl

There are 3 hours left until arrival at the mission site.

Enoch was sitting in the seat of a moving tactical vehicle. Perhaps because he had just returned from a joint mission, the interior felt somehow familiar.

The scenery passed quickly outside the car window.

A landscape covered with lush green vegetation.

It is completely different from the downtown area with its tall buildings and asphalt roads that we had seen until now.

“The mission of the emergency request will proceed quickly.”

I don’t remember it well, but I think it was a setting that appeared in passing in the part where the original story’s main character was mentioned.

This time, I experienced it firsthand and I can feel it.

Enoch didn’t know that they would immediately send him on a mission without even a proper explanation of what the emergency request was.

“excuse me!”

At that moment, a pair of wolf ears popped up from the side of my vision. I turned around and saw Shiroko staring blankly in my direction.

“You know, what exactly happened at the ruins called Rhodes? And what about the Academy?”

“You, didn’t you read the mission materials I gave you?”

“Yeah. But even if you read it, you won’t know. I still don’t know what kind of guys are in the Empire.”

Sirocco tilted her head as she spoke. Enoch also found it easy to understand her position.

As soon as Shiroko left the isolated village of the Suin tribe, he was immediately given a mission.

In that case, it would be stranger to understand it all at once by reading just one mission document full of proper nouns.

“The Imperial Academy is an academic institution that receives full support from the Imperial Family. It is home to many scholars and students, and the ‘Exploration Corps’ is one of its affiliated organizations.”

“So that’s where the problem started?”

“Yes. If a problem occurs during an exploration by an Academy-affiliated expedition team in Elseid Territory, the responsibility will fall on the Juga clan. If that happens, the Juga clan’s reputation may suffer.”

Shiroko buried her cheek in the windowsill and sniffled.

“Huh~ Reputation? Is that really that important?”

“At least to the stock families.”

Enoch added simply:

“There is a reason why powerful wizards run wild throughout the empire, but instead quietly stay in the Jugmun and carry out their missions.”

“Hmm, that’s why… … .”

Shiroko thought deeply and then seemed to realize something. He raised his head and said, “Hot.”

“The meal I had earlier was delicious, except for the bell peppers. I doubt everyone was going to eat that…!”

He was shouting seriously.

Becoming a member of a household to eat delicious food is a novel idea, but unfortunately it is not the right answer.

“That’s how much their reputation improves. The Juga clan is the center of the magicians who support the imperial society, and they are in a position to maintain order.”

Enoch glanced at Sirocco and asked.

“In the first place, Shiroko, that’s why you wanted to become a follower. Wasn’t it to improve the treatment of the Suin tribe?”

“Huh? What is that?”

But unexpectedly, Sirocco tilted his head.

“I didn’t know that?”

“What? You didn’t know?”

“Yeah! Of course!”

Shiroko looked up and smiled brightly.

“It’s much simpler. Since you’re strong, I thought I could entrust you with the future of our tribe!”

“… … Yeah. Well.”

“Huhung, you can like it a little more than that. Since I, the successor to the chieftain, acknowledge it, right?”

I guess the reason was much simpler than I thought.

However, if Shiroko really thought she had made the wrong choice for the tribe, the chieftains who were more familiar with the internal interests of the empire than she were would have opposed her.

Suddenly, Enoch glanced at Sirocco for a moment.

For some reason, she kept staring at me. When our eyes met for a moment, Shiroko smiled faintly with bright eyes, as if she was really happy.

‘Anyway, I know for sure since you’re here by my side.’

Shiroko’s bright smile was full of innocence.

It was clearly different from the original where she was deeply stained with guilt over not being able to save the tribe.

However, her original, unreserved and free-spirited personality has not gone anywhere.

Likewise, even if the future she would experience had been different, the overwhelming potential and abilities were entirely Shiroko’s own.

In that case, the ‘breeding method’ would not be any different.

Now that we’ve brought Scirocco into the party, there will be more ways to upgrade your specs in the future.

Of course, it is necessary to continue the sword’s legacy, but it is also necessary to recruit powerful followers, including Shiroko, and train them.

‘Above all, we must hide our swords from now on.’

At least it’s impossible to draw your sword when other people are watching. But now you have one more card to play.

That’s a very powerful pack too.

‘Because I’m no longer a loner with no followers.’

It is now possible to ‘command’ a squad made up of followers and fight. This is the goal I set out to achieve from the beginning.

There was nothing new.

In the game, the player also takes on the position of commander, commanding the characters they have organized.

At that moment, an announcement came from the driver’s seat.

“Enoch, we have almost reached the Rhodes operation area. You should now be able to see the area outside your window.”

Hearing those words, Shiroko looked out the window absentmindedly, and her eyes widened with a small exclamation.

“Whahaha!”

Enoch, who was watching the scene, also turned his head to look outside. The scenery outside the window came into view.

Above a vast lake spread out under a clear sky. An island rising out of it.

─There, there was a huge fortress city.

On the surface of the lake, sparkling in the midday sunlight.

There stood a huge wall and towers that protected the city that was once built on the island.

The castle walls have collapsed here and there over the years. The stone structures are covered with moss and trees and seem to pierce the sky. It was a castle city that remained as a relic of the past.

However, the ground of the island where the castle city is located is sinking, and some parts of the castle, which has already become a quiet ruin, are submerged in water.

Only the towers and walls of the huge castle rose above the water.

“The ruins of the sunken castle city: Rhodes”

Just like the original place name.

Rhodes was a sunken ruin.

A submerged area sinking beneath a lake.

A place where the unique atmosphere of ruins was overwhelming.

Meanwhile, Sirocco, who was sitting in the seat next to me, twitched his ears and tail and shouted excitedly.

“Look at that! There’s so much water! Near our tribal village, there was only rocks and sand blowing away!”

“I know.”

But unlike Sirocco, Enoch’s gaze was sharp as he watched the high walls of Rhodes.

Although it is said that this is 5 years before the original, Rhodes is a place I have been to many times while playing.

In the original, the “Ruins” were classified as a type of stage for farming. Although they are not included in the main story, they are places with a high level of gameplay.

Relics, ancient artifacts, and horse steeds.

In addition to this, there are stages where various rewards necessary for training are dropped. Of course, Rhodes, one of them, is also one of the maps that I have played until I was worn out.

‘But looking back, I know better.’

So far, while farming, I have never seen the Sword of the Black Knight, or anything like it, anywhere in Rhodes.

That was exactly the problem.

How can I find the other sword of the Black Sword, which I had visited several times in the original but could not find?

***

The vehicle passed a temporary iron bridge heading to Rhodes. The long bridge stretched over the lake. The vehicle stopped in front of the Rhodes citadel.

Arrived faster than expected.

As Enoch got out of the car, he heard the brakes of another vehicle.

I glanced over and saw Dionil and his followers disembarking from the stopped tactical vehicle next to me.

Perhaps because they had a large number of personnel, they moved in a completely different operational vehicle than this one.

“You know.”

Suddenly, Shiroko poked my arm.

When Enoch turned around, she pointed to the side.

“Why are their faces so distorted?”

You suddenly looked at someone and your face turned sour.

I wondered what kind of face she had, but when I saw the Dionil members she was pointing at, I was immediately convinced.

The expressions on the faces of those looking this way were like they had chewed something out.

Maybe they’re acting like that because Shiroko openly teased them in front of the butler.

“Leave it alone. I think she needs to go to the bathroom.”

“Huh. All of them? That’s a big deal.”

The expression was a bit unexpected, too.

Apart from the expressions of the members of the Dionil faction, they no longer bothered me. Compared to a while ago, it was a new feeling.

‘Or maybe I’m just scared of Sirocco.’

That’s because he’s a 10th-grade. He’s also a member of the Suin tribe, which has never had a good reputation. In many ways, Sirocco is a being that’s difficult to approach.

“Haam~”

… … Of course, if you look at him yawning so calmly from the side, it doesn’t seem like much.

“Enoch, we are ready.”

Then Dionil came towards me.

Behind him were his followers, wearing black tactical robes. Counting them, there were about fifteen of them.

“If you’re ready, let’s move. The first destination, the expedition base camp, is right ahead.”

Enoch nodded slightly.

“Base Camp of the Academia Exploration Team”

The place where the emergency request came in. In the original work, we’ve seen expedition teams set up in other areas several times. The priority is to grasp the situation there.

“You are direct descendants of Elseid!”

After a short walk, a makeshift camp appeared, with large tents, boxes piled up haphazardly, and metal equipment set up.

“Oh, come in. I’ve been waiting for you!”

A fairly old man wearing a monocle.

He hurriedly approached them, introduced himself, and guided them as the members of the Academia Exploration Team moved busily around in uniforms emblazoned with their insignia.

“I am the leader of the Imperial Academia Exploration Team here. I am Gelitun Torosis.”

“This is Dionil Elseid, commanding this support mission. Please explain the situation. If this is an emergency mission, the situation will be urgent.”

“It is as you said. The situation is not very relaxed. I cannot waste time, so I will cut to the chase first.”

The man turned and looked at Rhodes.

“In this place where there was originally no threat, demons suddenly appeared within the Rhodes ruins.”

“The demons?”

Enoch’s eyes narrowed when he heard that. Clearly, in the original work, “Rhodes Ruins” was a PvE stage with combat mobs and gimmicks.

Naturally, it was also an area where many of the player’s enemy forces, the “Demons”, appeared.

The timing is strange. Perhaps it is earlier than the original, when the demons have settled in the Rhodes ruins.

Behind him, one of the Dionil followers sighed.

“Huh, I’ve heard that the activity of demons has been increasing throughout the Empire recently. Even in a place like this… .”

“The demons are unpredictable. They appear at any time, especially in places where people don’t set foot. It was a mistake to overlook that.”

The CEO took a deep breath.

“Because we were rushing the exploration due to our schedule, we ended up making the mistake of not properly investigating the situation or coming up with countermeasures. We sincerely apologize for causing inconvenience to the Elseid people.”

But it’s pointless to talk about what happened.

Dionil asked calmly from beside him.

“What should we do?”

“Due to the demons that have appeared, the advance expedition team has become isolated underground in the ruins of the fortress and lost contact. It seems that underground communication magic is impeded.”

“How many people are isolated?”

“Six people. They were originally sent out with light equipment for a short-term preliminary investigation, so they won’t last long.”

“I see. This is a rescue operation.”

At those words, the faces of Dionil’s followers darkened. The rescue operation was a very difficult operation.

While fighting, you must rescue non-combatants who are just like luggage and even break through the attacks of the demons.

“If you decide on a policy for how we at Academia will carry out the rescue operation, we will support you as much as possible.”

The general manager who said that bowed his head deeply. Then Dionil turned his head towards me.

“Enoch. Originally, it was I and my subordinates who were in charge of this operation.”

“so.”

“My squad will explore separately from you and your followers’ squad. No objections, right?”

A battle formation usually made up of followers is called a ‘squad’, meaning that they act individually.

Dionil added, frowning.

“First of all, there are no agents in your squad with defensive or detection magic that can protect the rescuers on this mission.”

Enoch nodded vaguely at those words.

It is clear that Sirocco was a very powerful magician in direct combat. However, he was unable to use detection magic.

Because the fields are different in the first place.

But Dionil had no idea.

The fact that what Enoch wants is individual action.

Whether he knew it or not, Dionil continued to talk earnestly with a serious expression.

“So, my followers and I will move separately. We don’t usually work together. Even if we were to clumsily join forces, we would only be a hindrance to each other.”

Enoch answered without hesitation.

“Okay, then. Good luck.”

“What, what?”

“Why? Is there a problem?”

“… I thought you were suddenly involved in a mission. But now that you’re here, you’re saying you have no desire for public service? I can’t understand.”

Enoch almost chuckled without realizing it.

It seems that Dionil thought that this side’s goal was a simple public enemy. However, that guess was far off the mark.

Because I have no intention of intervening in the rescue operation.

‘The goal is only the Sword of the Black Sword.’

According to the original story, Dionil and his squad of followers do not suffer any casualties during this Rhodes rescue operation.

Of course, it is an event from 5 years ago or in the past from the original.

There is little information in the game, and we don’t know the details of the operation.

But at least one thing was certain.

In this mission, Dionil’s rescue operation ends successfully without any problems.

In many ways, not getting involved would be the right answer.

And that was the most important point.

‘In the meantime, I have other things to do.’

Enoch turned his head and looked at the ruins of the great citadel of Rhodes.

I swallow the feeling of my mouth watering without realizing it and slowly look around the farming site in front of me.

Rhodes, a place that also appeared in the original work.

Somewhere in this half-submerged ruins, there is another Sword of the Black Sword that must be found. All you have to do is find it.

But, just as Enoch was thinking that.

A piercing scream rang out from afar.

“Kyaaaaah! Save me!!”

Everyone’s gaze quickly turned in that direction.

And then, in the next moment, countless screams from afar pierced everyone’s eardrums.

“The demons are attacking the base camp─!!”

As always.

Things didn’t always go according to plan.