The Sword Genius of the Magic Empire - Chapter 99



Only Noblemtl

“You’re a genius.”

Those meaningful words lingered in Enoch’s ears.

“I’ve seen a lot of people engage in close combat while working as a freelancer, but this is the first time I’ve seen someone like you.”

April looked at this side blankly and asked.

Enoch almost avoided her gaze without realizing it. She probably didn’t notice his identity, but there was something about her that made him feel uneasy.

Could it be because Enoch was known as the genius of the sword from the beginning? I found myself laughing a little at that thought.

“It’s strange to call someone a genius with just that.”

“Well. You’re going to fight in close quarters without even one basic defensive spell on your body? Aren’t you scared of fighting like that? If it were me, I’d be shaking so much I’d ​​never be able to do it.”

“… I can’t really imagine engaging in close combat with a rifle like that.”

“That’s true, but that’s not what I meant.”

She added, her eyes slightly squinted.

“I’m not a melee wizard, but I know that it’s not easy to dodge all the magic attacks coming at you from close range with your bare body.”

She pointed to Arcto, who was sitting on a bench in the rest area outside the window, smoking a cigarette.

“See that old man? Just now, he was maintaining a reasonable distance and only engaging enemies from mid-range.”

Enoch nodded.

Battle magicians usually maintain a distance so that they can respond to their opponent’s attacks in all weathers, and usually project firepower with their magic.

Even if you have the means to move at high speeds through magic or artifacts, it is only for evasion and to gain an advantageous position.

There are few instances of mad dashing towards the enemy.

“Of course, since magicians of level 10 or higher are so skilled, there are many monsters that are just as adept at close combat as they are at mid-range combat… .”

April spoke slowly.

“From experience, even for the most veteran battle mage, it’s not easy to charge at an enemy without blinking while being hit with magic while bare-handed.”

Enoch felt a little tired and asked again.

“So, what’s the conclusion?”

“No matter how you look at it, it’s not the reaction of a normal person.”

“… … .”

Enoch glanced back at her for a moment.

April’s insight had a sharp edge.

“So, let me summarize my reasoning again… … .”

April stared blankly at Enoch’s face hidden in the shadows of his hood. He slowly opened his mouth as if he was possessed by something.

“Are you by any chance broken somewhere?”

She muttered as if she was lost in thought and didn’t even realize what she was saying.

Enoch stared at her calmly for a moment.

April looked at me like that for a moment, then suddenly realized something. “Hot!” she said and covered her mouth.

“Me! I didn’t mean it in a bad way! It’s just… … .”

April suddenly became nervous on her own, and she looked at me with her hands and feet shaking. Then she quickly waved her hands as if making an excuse and added:

“Hmm, hm! They say that geniuses often lack something. I was wondering if maybe they don’t feel any fear during battle… .”

“No. That can’t be.”

Enoch answered lightly and turned his head.

Of course, the fear of battle itself never goes away. But I did it because there was no answer if I didn’t overcome it.

“And anyway, among the 10th ranks, there are probably many skilled people who aren’t afraid of close combat.”

“Tch, how would I know?”

She pouts and crosses her arms.

“You only see real 10th-grade battle wizards from afar or on the media. If I had to fight them up close, I’d already be in the other world.”

She glanced this way and smiled faintly.

“Thanks to you, I survived today.”

Perhaps because of her bright appearance with her pink eyes and hair, her thanks sounded quite refreshing.

Enoch nodded.

“That’s true. There aren’t as many level 10 or higher magicians running around as there are in Elseid.”

“Elseid? Have you ever been there?”

Enoch nodded at her momentum.

I’ve never really been there, it wasn’t something worth doing.

Rather, that might sound less credible to April, who thought of him as an ordinary battle mage of rank 10.

Besides, I was also genuinely curious about how people outside the castle viewed Elseid.

Including Enoch’s own reputation, which had risen without permission.

“I have been there before.”

“That sounds good. I also want to go to Elseid Castle. It must be spacious and sparkling, right?”

“Well, that’s not necessarily the case.”

That’s definitely not the place.

Enoch knew that better than anyone.

Images of the deserted facilities within the castle automatically flashed through Enoch’s mind. In particular, the basement where the Enoch training grounds were located.

“Hey, no way. Isn’t that the famous Jugamun fortress?”

April cast a suspicious glance at him, who was swallowing a bitter smile inside.

Enoch answered truthfully.

“It’s true.”

“Well. I don’t believe it, but I’ll never be associated with such a place again. It doesn’t matter.”

“No connection? It seems like you’re recognized as a freelancer, but do you have any plans to work at Elseid?”

Enoch glanced at her rifle and asked.

“I saw you earlier, but your marksmanship seemed excellent.”

“Even so, it’s just a trick that relies on the characteristics of the horse. Even a level 15 horse like me can provide good firepower if the conditions are met.”

As she said, the biggest advantage of the firearms class is that it shows overwhelming strength at long range.

But it is also a huge challenge with its limitations.

Just to give you a taste, there are issues with the number of remaining bullets, gun management, malfunctions, restrictions on the types of magic that are compatible, etc.

Because it is a riding field that requires quite a lot of sacrifice.

Because of this, there is a sharp divide in opinions among combat magicians who must fight in all kinds of situations and all weathers. The talk about using magic as a shortcut was certainly true.

Of course, maximizing the advantage of the horse is also a skill in battle, and many people use level 10 or higher.

“Isn’t it just a matter of confidence?”

She shrugged.

“I know very well that my abilities as a magician are lacking. Besides, there are many people in Elseid who are of fraudulent bloodlines. They are born with different mana sensitivity.”

Enoch said nothing in response.

Although it is said that magical talent is often determined by bloodline, this was an exception. In fact, that fact felt even funnier.

April said, leaning back against the backrest.

“I can’t even dream of Elseid anyway. I have to work as a freelancer and think about making a fortune through gambling!”

“……gambling?”

“Of course! Even so, I’m incredibly good at betting. I mean, I make a lot of money when I bet on horse races or stadium tournaments!”

She said with sparkling eyes.

“That’s how you can turn your life around in one go!”

Somehow, I think I understand why she can’t escape from the high-paying freelance work and outsourcing. Enoch looked at her with a somewhat pitiful gaze.

‘But on the other hand, I can understand it.’

He also knows well how much dopamine gacha gives.

It’s not that it isn’t, but has been a collectible gacha game since then, so I’ve said it all.

“I’m the woman the goddess of probability smiles on. If you bet and pray earnestly, you’ll win!”

“……okay.”

Enoch stared at the freelancer who was babbling nonsense in front of him for a moment.

Just then, she struck his palm with her fist.

“Ah. I just remembered Elseid, do you know Theano, the Vice-Captain of the Nemesis Knights?”

Enoch flinched a little.

Naturally, it was someone I knew very well. The knight who had accompanied me to the previous Suin tribe village. She was still one of the people I found a bit awkward.

“I think I have a rough idea.”

“Speaking of Elseid, among the celebrities from that group, he is my role model.”

“A role model? Why?”

April looked at me with a strange expression.

“Well, he’s a famous person among the battle magicians who use firearms, right? He’s one of the best among pistol users. The best.”

… … I didn’t know that.

I don’t really know much about Theano yet, but I guess he’s not the vice-captain of Nemesis for nothing.

“You seem a bit excited when you talk about Elseid.”

“Of course! It’s one of the hottest places in the Empire. A lot of fun things happen there, right?”

She took out her terminal and scrolled down the screen, saying it was funny.

“Right, so even so, you know this, right? This time, the direct lineage called ‘Enoch Elseid’ is a huge topic of conversation.”

Enoch swallowed a bitter smile inside.

I brought it up because I wanted to hear that information, but I always felt a little sad whenever I realized my fame.

April, who didn’t know that, continued talking.

“You managed to resolve the rebellion of the Suin tribe all by yourself? It’s probably not a fabrication, but isn’t it impressive? You’re still three years younger than me.”

“… … .”

Surprisingly, it felt a bit awkward to talk about myself so openly. I just felt like I had asked for nothing. Enoch decided to cut off the conversation and continued talking.

“Enoch Elseid. Why are you suddenly talking about that?”

She shrugged.

“Well, when would it be fun to see him in person? Since he’s such a hot topic, I’m curious.”

Enoch looked at April like that without saying anything.

To be honest, I was a bit curious as I listened to the story.

How would she react if she found out that the person listening to her right now, wearing a hood and mask, was the person in question?

Enoch swallowed the question quietly.

… … Of course, there is no reason to tell you that.

At least for now.

***

The headquarters of SIG Industries.

When Enoch returned to his personal reception room via the underground elevator for staff that Elena had personally told him about (she said there were such facilities installed throughout the building).

As soon as he opened the door inside the familiar reception room and entered, the first thing that greeted him was none other than Sirocco.

She rubbed her eyes as if she had been sleeping for a while, and slowly came towards me.

“Sirocco.”

Reply.

For some reason, Sirocco suddenly grabbed Enoch’s waist, brought his nose close to him, and started sniffing.

Enoch, who was quietly watching Sirocco doing this from the side, asked a very reasonable question.

“What are you doing?”

“Huh.”

She glanced up at me with her bright eyes, and then the ears on top of her head perked up.

“Of course, it smells like another female.”

“what?”

Enoch looked at her at her sudden remark.

But she glanced this way, wagged her tail once, and then returned to the living room sofa and lay down.

Judging from the fact that the lying position was extremely comfortable, it seemed that even though he said he was bored, he had already comfortably settled into his private living room.

Shiroko looked back at me from that position and said.

“It’s late. I’m tired of waiting.”

“Considering all that, it looks like you slept well.”

“Oh. How did you not know?”

“It extends from the hair.”

“really?”

Shiroko ran her hands through her hair and looked at her red hair sticking out to the side in the mirror.

Then he said, running his fingers through it.

“Yeah. I’m full and warm. But it’s also true that I’m tired. I can’t even take one step from here.”

“Of course. I don’t want to get caught.”

“I’m bored─.”

Shiroko yawned, covering her mouth with her hand, as she patted the cookie crumbs off her white cheeks. Then she calmly stretched and glanced at me.

“So. Are you done with everything you have to do?”

“For now.”

As he replied, Enoch looked at Sirocco for a moment. She looked even more bored than he had expected.

“It’s a bit unexpected.”

“What? What?”

“Did you hear that there was fighting on my side?”

There was no way Elena would not have relayed the news of the battle to her followers, Scirocco.

“Yeah. The brunette told me.”

“That’s why I thought you’d be anxious.”

Of course, if Enoch had been seriously injured, it would certainly have been detrimental to Sirocco himself.

Since the rise and fall of the Suin tribe depend on the activities of Shiroko’s own followers, the safety of this side will also be something that Shiroko will consider.

but.

Sirocco’s answer immediately afterwards completely erased Enoch’s calculating thoughts that were steeped in vested interests.

“Huh? Well, you said you were okay, right?”

Sirocco glanced at Enoch with a detached expression.

“Then you really don’t have to worry. It’s not anyone else. It’s you who said it.”

She was staring at me with her ruby-like eyes, as if it were so obvious.

Enoch shook his head without realizing it, looking at those eyes filled with such transparent trust.

“Okay. I was talking nonsense.”

“Huh, what is it?”

Shiroko snorted once and crossed her arms.

At that moment, the living room door opened with a bang, and Elena suddenly appeared and jumped into my arms.

“Ah, Enoch!”

She looked up and shouted urgently.

“Are you okay? The freelancers reported to me that they engaged a level 10 warlock… …!”

It’s funny to see her complexion turn a little pale, as it’s a completely different reaction from Shiroko’s just now.

However, Elena had never seen him fight before and would have been unable to gauge his skills, so she must have been even more anxious.

Moreover, he may have been concerned about the worst-case scenario where a direct member of the Elseid family would be injured or killed while carrying out his request.

It’s probably more likely to be both.

Enoch nodded.

“Somehow.”

“Whew… … . I thought so, right? That’s fortunate… … .”

Only after confirming the face of this person who was answering normally did Elena seem to calm down, placing her hand on her chest as if calming herself down.

But as I looked closer, her expression was filled with a different emotion than impatience.

“Woohoohoo. As expected, it was definitely the right choice!”

“what?”

She regained some composure. She swept her glossy brown hair over her shoulder once, looked this way, and shouted with confident eyes.

“As expected, I was right! It was right to offer Enoch a personal sponsorship!”

She just ran in and hugged me, put her hand on my chest, and spoke with a slightly ecstatic expression.

“I was a bit nervous that you might get injured, but with this, Enoch has officially chosen me as his sponsor!”

“Good. Then let’s get to the point.”

Enoch looked straight at her and said.

“Let me start by telling you about the item I will be custom-making.”

“Okay! What kind of item is it? Is it an artifact or a mount that Lord Enoch will use? If so, then first of all, the requirements and body size… … .”

Enoch slowly shook his head as he watched Elena nod with sparkling eyes.

“No. I’m not going to write it.”

He said, glancing at Sirocco.

“I plan to give it to my followers first.”

Yeah, that’s what I was thinking from the beginning.

It’s not like I can use the horse anyway.

Even most artifacts meant exclusively for wizards were impossible to use.

Still, there was only one main reason why I accepted Sig Industries’, or more precisely, Elena Sig’s, personal sponsorship offer.

“Because I wanted to lay the foundation for nurturing my own lineage of followers.”

My heart pounded at the sound of my own words.

at las.

From now on, preparations to fully nurture the followers in reality were also slowly being completed.