168 - 175

Chapter 168 – The Road Home (3)

The Sipoto branch of the Information Guild, which the 'King of Mice' ran, was one of the best in the central region. It was located on the outskirts where there were few people. Theodore had to find the markings, but it wasn't so hard to retrace his past steps. People came and went as he crossed through the maze-like alleys like they were his home.

It was good until Theodore and Randolph found a shabby door at the end of a road. A familiar smell rubbed at their noses.

"This…!?"

"…It is the smell of human blood. It is very thick."

Theodore and Randolph prepared for battle simultaneously, as they stared past the half-open door.

Randolph had a lot of battle experience, so he could tell that the Information Guild's hideout was filled with dead humans. This smell of death meant there were at least dozens, perhaps hundreds, of bodies.

The two men carefully approached the entrance of the Information Guild.

"Let's double check before entering." Theodore took one step inside and scanned the area with detection magic. Waves of magic exploded from his palm and headed inside the Information Guild's hideout. The waves bounced back and forth like a bat's ultrasound while searching for a survivor.

However, the magic soon disappeared, and Theodore's expression stiffened. "Everyone is dead. At least, there isn't anyone moving inside."

"It is literally a massacre. The sun hasn't even fallen yet, so the killer sure is a bold person," Randolph remarked.

The guild's hideout was out of sight, but it was impossible to kill all these people without garnering attention. Randolph raised his two swords in preparation for an unfamiliar situation and stepped forward with Theodore.

Then the passage Theo had walked through a year ago appeared before them.

Hwaack.

The last time, he hadn't used light magic in order to avoid provoking the guild. However, he now used a few drops of magic to illuminate the surroundings. If he looked at the differences from the last time he'd been here, there was a heavy smell of blood, as well as holes in the left and right walls of the passage.

Theodore looked around and spoke to Randolph who was walking in front, "They were killed using the element of surprise, so the killer must be pretty talented."

"I don't think it is like that," Randolph disagreed with Theodore. "This way, Theo. Take a closer look at these bodies."

"What?"

It was a sword master who was pointing this out, so Theodore followed Randolph's advice without saying anything further.

Theodore broke the wall where Randolph pointed at, and bodies rolled out to his feet. The bleeding from the bodies was so severe that there weren't any parts of the floor or ceiling which were not reddened.

However, Theodore frowned as he noticed the commonalities between the bodies.

'The bodies of the information guild members—'

"Why do they look like this?"

Their faces were smiling or contained other normal expressions. Theodore wasn't familiar with sword injuries, but there were no humans who could keep the same expression from before they were stabbed in the heart or head. However, all the corpses looked like they didn't even know they had died.

"This is an extremely dark sword." Randolph looked at the cuts with a serious expression.

He was confident in his speed, but was it really possible to kill dozens of people like this? In particular, when there were so many people residing in concealed spaces… No matter how fast his sword was, could he reproduce this scene?

"No, not even a legendary grandmaster could do this." Randolph went over the situation many times in his head and still found it impossible. It was a hard task even for a considerably skilled person. This wasn't the type of thing which could be done without the help of 'Aura Ability' or magic.

The two people continued past the strange corpses. Shortly afterward, Theodore was able to see it. In the place where he had first encountered Gibra, Theo could see a body so 'dismantled' that it was difficult to tell the body was human.

"…Torture," Theodore stated.

"..."

Twenty fingers and toes were rolling around on the ground. The places where the eyeballs should be were empty, and the skin was completely peeled off. The reason why Theodore and Randolph were even able to identify the dismembered corpse as Gibra was because of his unusually large build.

It was surprisingly painful for Theodore to discover the death of the man he had once known. Then Randolph frowned as he examined the terrible sight and muttered, "This is familiar."

"Huh?" Theodore asked.

"I remember. It was what I learned about torture at a knight school in the empire. First, cut off the last part of the limbs, then take the vision to make the body more sensitive. Lastly, deal pain by slicing away thin parts of the skin. It is famous for being very effective."

It was a torture style from the Andras Empire! In the end, Theodore felt like a thunderbolt had struck his head. The corpses and the Andras Empire's torture method… This was a real moment of enlightenment as he recalled two facts which were deeply buried in his memories.

"No way… The empire's Seven Swords?"

"What?! The empire's Seven Swords—" Randolph responded to Theo's words and forgot to lower his sound. However, Theodore had no time to explain to him. It was something he'd heard from the White Tower Master in the Great Forest. An unknown sword master, presumably one of the empire's Seven Swords, possessed a 'concealment' ability.

Clang.

A red crystal necklace, which was a primitive amulet, appeared in Theodore's palms.

[+5 Tail of a Defeat Loser (Accessory)]

[This is an artifact created using the body part of a person presumed to be one of the empire's Seven Swords. The body part was cut off directly by the White Tower Master. The red crystal looks like a jewel, but it is a special product created by refining a part of the sword master. It also contains a tracing function. This artifact is designed to trace the 'target' within a 30km radius and will guide the owner to the coordinates.

* This necklace is rated 'Rare.'

* When consumed, a small amount of magic power will be absorbed.

* When consumed, the residual aura will inhibit magic power circulation.

* When consumed, the proficiency of 'tracking magic' will increase.

* Please note! It contains blood with a high concentration of aura. This artifact will have a negative effect on the user.]

Once Theodore confirmed the artifact's information window, he poured magic power into it without checking Randolph's reaction.

This amulet had been created with the arm of the sword master whom the White Tower Master had defeated in the Great Forest, and it was used as a tracker. If this artifact responded, the identity of the other party would become clear.

Theodore invoked the artifact.

Huuuuuuong!

It met his expectations as red light started to scatter. The red light struck the ceiling, walls, and floors, as well as the two people in the room, before drawing a map on the left wall. The depiction of the terrain was so perfect that it could be sold at a map store for an expensive price. This feature was possible due to the space magic of the White Tower Master.

As Theodore looked at the map, he muttered with a dumbfounded face, "This… It's a place outside Sipoto?"

It wasn't the outskirts but an area outside the walls, where wild winds blew the sand. There was a blinking blue light at the center of the map which showed the location of the sword master.

Then at that moment…

"Eh?"

"What is it? I will let you find out."

Randolph was grumpily complaining by Theodore's side, but Theodore didn't give Randolph a chance to respond.

For a moment, the blue dot disappeared from the red map. In other words, the sword master being tracked had used his 'Aura Ability.' No matter how efficient the ability, it would consume mana quickly. There was no sword master who would use it in unnecessary situations.

This meant the target was now in combat.

"If it's not the Information Guild, then who is he fighting against?" Theodore's doubtful voice resonated within the room which smelled thickly of blood.

* * *

Around 10km away from the King of Rats' branch of the Information Guild, there was a man who revealed himself as someone who knew Theodore. Bill Parent, a full-time warrior of the Orcus Company for a few years, looked at the person before him.

'Who the hell was this person?' He tried to shout out.

However, Bill couldn't say anything. Just as he tried to open his mouth, his head was already rolling onto the hot sand. He was dead the moment he met the unidentified man, but Bill Parent died without even realizing it.

The last five people were no different. Six wary aura users were turned to corpses instantaneously.

However, the masked sword master was disgruntled. "Che, these trash were bait."

'Bait?' He didn't waste any minutes cheering at the success of the perfect assassination.

However, in response to the masked man's words, a few shadows rose up from the sand-covered ground. The shadow who seemed to be the leader asked the masked person, [Who are you? Why are you attacking us?]

"I've been asked that question a number of times, but you don't need to know," the masked man replied coldly. "You knew I was coming anyway."

[Hulhulhul… There have already been three raids today. You caused a commotion twice and thought we wouldn't know about it…?]

"No, I expected you to know. I just thought you would be smart enough to withdraw. I'm sorry." Despite the creepy voice coming from the shadow, the masked man continued with his mocking, "I don't know why you are waiting after being attacked twice. Did you prepare a means to deal with me? Or do you intend to give me the information I want?"

[…It is information regarding the whereabouts of 'him.']

"Yes. If you listened to my request from the beginning, two of your groups would've been fine. You inflicted this on yourself." A white aura arose from the blade of the masked man as he said, "The winner is strong, and the loser is weak. I am stronger than you. Therefore, I have the right to take away your lives."

It was the law of the jungle. He sounded closer to a beast than a human as he pointed his blade at them. This was the power of the aura of a sword master. The space, where the edge of the sword was pointed toward, split in two, with the sand and wind being divided in half as well.

"So, tell me. Where is Theodore Miller?" The masked man asked.

The magic power holding the shadows together became shaky, and their shape faded before becoming clear again.

The masked man had an imposing presence which was enough to shake the shadows' magic power! What an unbelievable monster. The opponents might've peed their pants if they were real people instead of shadows.

However, the lead shadow wasn't daunted and ridiculed him.

[Stupid sword master. The realm you've reached is helpless in the face of true death… Yes, you want to prove the legitimacy of the 'law of the jungle…?']

"That's right."

[The strong and the weak… I will teach you the values that are above that.] The lead shadow, a warlock of the Orcus Company, sentenced the masked man to death in a lighthearted manner, [I will turn that sword into scrap metal! From now on, worship death!]

Chapter 169 – The Road Home (4)

The sun completely disappeared beneath the western horizon. The wilderness was a few kilometers away from the city. Torch light didn't exist in the area, and it seemed darker than ever. This was a dark curtain which distorted the laws of nature and corrupted life. A normal human would collapse if they were within the vicinity of this power.

However, a sword master was a monster who exceeded the standards of life.

"Who would be afraid of the babbling of a magician?" The masked person—no, Hyde the 6th Sword of the empire raised his sword as his emotions started to boil.

His hatred for magicians and the humiliation he'd suffered in the forest… these feelings burned more intensely instead of diminishing over time. Hyde didn't even think about distinguishing between warlocks and magicians. This hate wouldn't diminish until he destroyed the magicians who ruined his honor and his master's plan.

Shortly afterward, Hyde's body disappeared like it melted in the air.

[Hoh…! Is this your ability…? Interesting,] the lead shadow spoke with admiration, but it smiled like it was confident of victory.

There was no audible sound nor visible shape. Furthermore, there were no signs that anything had even existed in this area. Was there any way for the shadow to beat this absurd power? How could it survive the sword master who was a perfect assassin?

Hyde scoffed at the shadow. It might be possible for one of Meltor's tower masters, but how could a warlock detect Hyde's sword?

[There.]

However, Hyde's confidence was broken as dozens of dark lightning bolts struck around his feet. Each one was of the 6th Circle! It was a power which couldn't be completely blocked by a master class.

Surprisingly, most of them were blocked, but Hyde's mask was charred.

"This lowlife, how dare you?!"

[Stupid… Do sword masters suffer from side effects such as the brain turning into muscles?]

The rest of the shadows chuckled and joined in ridiculing Hyde.

Paduduk!

Hyde, who was being ridiculed by the warlocks, jumped forward and aimed for the lead shadow with a distorted face. He would show this garbage why they were nothing compared to Meltor's tower masters.

[Think about it, foolish sword master. This space is already my territory… It is a watercolor painting I've painted. The paint is black magic, and the canvas…]

"So what?"

[Don't you understand what I'm saying? Your ability means you don't show up on my canvas. Since nothing is felt, that 'blankness' exposes your position.]

Hyde's expression froze at the end of the shadow's words. So, Hyde was being perceived because he was 'completely' hidden? It was a blind spot he hadn't thought of.

However, he soon recovered his composure and laughed at the warlock who had arrogantly told him the reason. If the warlock could figure out his position on this canvas, it would be enough if he just left the canvas or tore it to pieces.

"Fool. Why would you teach me this? I will just get out of here."

[Now you know a little bit, that was the correct answer.]

"…Was?" Hyde asked with an ominous feeling. It was past tense.

Simultaneously, the shadows burst out laughing in the distance. There was a reason why they had kept their distance and taught Hyde the weakness. The lead shadow had explained all of that in order to bind Hyde's feet.

[Kuhuhu! It is already too late, Sword Master!]

At the same time, a red squiggle appeared at Hyde's feet, exploding without giving him a chance to react.

―――――――.

All sound died. Light was swallowed. The sand was tinted black, and even the stars in the sky were hidden.

The completely impenetrable darkness was the fog of the dead zone, which could be found in the depths of the Demon World. It didn't harm warlocks at all, but it was extremely threatening to other life in the physical world.

A normal person wouldn't last for even a few seconds, but a sword master could somehow survive. However, he would get corrupted and turned into a sword demon by the power of death.

The lead shadow called Holsten, who was one of the top five executives in the Orcus Company, sighed with relief. He had been dominating the situation with a relaxed expression, but he would've missed the chance if Hyde had been a little more aware.

[I was laughing, but your ability really is intimidating.]

If Holsten hadn't been prepared in advance, he might've really been killed by Hyde's sword today. From the door of the abyss to the barrage of darkness, the number of sacrifices consumed for this trap was 5,000 people. Thank goodness it was a success. All of it would've been for nothing if he had failed to catch Hyde.

The creation of a corrupt knight, unlike a death knight, was worth using 5,000 sacrifices if it could use all its abilities.

Holsten continued speaking, [This is one step closer to our long-awaited…]

Their expansion of power was delayed due to Meltor's disturbance, but the harvest this time would be large enough to overturn it. Hyde was a sword master specializing in assassination! The methods of using him were as numerous as the stars in the sky.

However, at that moment…

Kiing! A small hole breached the absolute darkness.

[What?!]

Alas, this shocking situation was only the beginning. A storm of aura blades sliced at the darkness, scattering light. Then Hyde's white aura emerged. No, it wasn't his aura. Unlike the other shadows, only Holsten, who was close to a master, could infer the identity of the force. However, even if it was likely, Holsten couldn't admit the possibility of it.

[This unbearable power! No, this is impossible!]

The nemesis of magic, the power of a people who had left the material world long ago…

[Divine power is a remnant from a previous age!!] As Holsten cried out, the white light, which had no color, tore through the darkness.

The abyss door was shattered, and the warlock controlling it died on the spot, while the rest of the warlocks coughed blood onto the floor. Their circles were destroyed, the nerves of their bodies broken, and their brains burned… It was a feast of those who had fallen to ruin.

[K-Kuaah… Why… What… This…!] Only Holsten managed to remain sane, and he maintained the shadow magic, even when his body had been turned into a mess. As a reward for his patience, Holsten was able to see 'it' in Hyde's hand. It was a silver sun in the shape of a sword.

"In the face of true strength, your tricks have little meaning. Emerging from the shadows you always hide in is the reason for your defeat."

[T-That sword…?]

"'I don't know,' is what I would like to say. But I'll teach you specifically, so you will know."

As the wind swept through his empty left sleeve, Hyde focused his power on the sword in his right hand. Then in response to Holsten's question, Hyde went on to speak the name of the sword which Andras' prince, Fermut, had given to him. It was an unbelievable symbol from the Age of Mythology.

"Cry, Claimhb Solais!" (Spelling provided by author.)

Hyde spoke the name while pushing the brilliantly shining silver blade deep into the sand.

Kiiiing…!

The power which could transform the user's aura into a new force and shatter all magic… The power of the past which no one had ever escaped from… It was the divine sword of the tribe of the gods, the divine sun sword. (Tuatha Dé Danann)

In the gap created by the backlash of destroyed magic, the god-sword emitted a horrific white flame.

* * *

The silver sun came up.

Theodore and Randolph, watching from afar, had the same thought about the wondrous sight.

Until a little while ago, the area had been locked in an ominous darkness. The sun had sunk in the west, and unexplained black magic had been used. Then the stars had disappeared, and the world had fallen into darkness. In this place, the warlocks had exerted several times more power than usual, making even Theodore feel a sense of crisis.

'At least, until the silver sun rose.'

Randolph leaned against a rock, while Theodore looked down at the necklace which had shattered.

It wasn't just the necklace. The bracelet Theodore had was borrowed from Kurt III and other minor artifacts had shattered as well. Even the tracking necklace designed to chase the sword master had also been turned to powder.

"Why are all the artifacts broken?" Theodore muttered in his original appearance of black hair and blue eyes.

There was monetary damage, but he didn't have an excuse for it. He sighed as he placed the debris of broken artifacts into his inventory. It wasn't just the bracelet made by the Yellow Tower Master but also the device they'd been using to chase the unidentified sword master. Now, the two of them could choose to fight or run away without meeting him at all.

Then at that moment, Gluttony abruptly woke up.

–User!

Its shout pounded Theodore's head, making him feel taken aback.

'W-What? What happened?'

-Why is 'that' here?

'That?'

In this situation, there was only one thing Gluttony could be referring to. It was the mysterious sword pouring out a silver light. Theodore was curious about its identity, so he couldn't miss this.

'What is that sword? Teach me if you know.'

–How ignorant, impudent, and shameless! Harsh words poured out of the rarely agitated Gluttony. –It's one of the four treasures of the tribe of the gods, the sword of the sun god. It's the silver arm, the sword worn by the god-king, Nuada Airgetlám. This is the sword that slays all magic!

'A god-sword… the sword of the god-king? Really?'

–Do you think I wouldn't know that silver light? It might be in the hands of an unqualified person, but this god-sword is the nemesis of a magician!

It was great that Gluttony had called a sword master an 'unqualified person,' but Theodore's head was hurting from something else. This was a vestige of history, a relic of the Age of Mythology which had almost been lost in the Dark Age… It was a sword used by the king of the tribe of the gods!

This sword removed the powerful dark magic and also neutralized all the artifacts. It was an admirable power.

'…But this is this, and that is that.' Theodore quickly made calculations in his head.

The sword master was hostile to him and was equipped with a formidable weapon. Theo wanted to overpower the sword master with the advantage of numbers, but unexpected variables changed his choice.

The influence of weapons and tools during a master level battle was limited, but a god-sword was a strategic weapon for a sword master. The other person was a sword master who specialized in assassination, and he held a divine sword, making him a threat to Theodore.

Theodore thought up to here and made a decision, 'Okay, let's go back instead of fighting.'

It might be tempting to neglect this danger and fight the sword master here, but this was a gamble which also involved Randolph's life. There was no reason to deviate from his original purpose of returning to Meltor or to risk both their lives with unnecessary fighting.

"Randolph, go back to the…" As Theodore made a calm decision and turned back to Randolph, a light filled his vision. His eyes narrowed as aura pressure touched his skin.

Kakang! There was a loud sound in the air.

"There!" Randolph stared at the space 5cm behind Theodore and struck with his sword.

It was a fast-paced action. Despite Theodore's vision being enhanced by Battle Song, Randolph Clovis' sword was only a blur.

Kakang! King! Kakang!

From a straight line to curved line, a curved line to a straight line, a straight line to a curved line… As the ray of light moved from top to bottom and left to right, the invisible sword hit it precisely. The swords collided many times at a dizzying speed.

Randolph took two steps back, and his two swords moved in a diagonal line, while something transparent appeared before him.

Then the enemy revealed his appearance. It was the face of the swordsman whose pride was scratched for the second time today, after Holsten the warlock.

"It is a little annoying. A guy with this level of aura is in the neighborhood and even saw my attacks?"

Gray-brown hair was revealed between the torn mask and cloak, while the scars on his body proved the harshness of the life he lived. This was a person with the talent and hard work which allowed him to rise from a low status to the position of a sword master.

It was the moment when the empire's 6th Sword, Hyde, finally found his target.

TL: I know that 'Claimhb Solais' isn't the common spelling, which is why I specifically left the above author's note, as I chose to keep the author's spelling. Stop hounding me about it ><

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Current schedule: 6 chapters a week to match the author's release rate.

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Chapter 170 – Claimhb Solais (1)

"Tsk." Hyde then took off his mask and cloak, which had lost their meaning, and stared at Theodore's group in front of him. He'd wanted to handle the witnesses, only to encounter another sword master. Additionally, during their short exchange, he could tell that the opponent's level wasn't lacking.

However, instead of frowning, Hyde smiled. "This is great. It is the first time I've encountered an ability like yours, with the freedom to quickly strike in every direction. But it is a shame that there is an imbalance in the swords you have now."

Randolph was shocked to hear the words, but he couldn't deny it.

This was because Randolph was already aware of the weakness Hyde pointed out. There were various combinations of dual wields such as a long sword and a short sword, a light sword and a heavy sword, and so on. However, the Clovis twin swordsmanship was based on using two swords which were perfectly matching in weight and shape.

But the swords which corresponded to that standard were never common. The swords which Aquilo had in her treasure chest were famous, but there was a slight gap in Randolph's swordsmanship because of their individuality. The shape and weight of his current swords were somewhat similar, but the center of gravity was off.

"And…" Hyde turned his gaze from Randolph to Theodore.

Theodore, whose disguise necklace had been broken by Claimhb Solais, had returned to his original appearance. One year had changed his appearance and physique, but it wasn't enough for him to look like someone else.

After the surprise attack, Hyde's eyes shone as he muttered, "I've finally found you, Theodore Miller."

The wind around the sword master stopped blowing.

"I thought the rat in the back alley was messing with me… If I had known this, I would've made his death easier," Hyde spoke in a loud voice which seemed like an animal's growl.

However, compared to a year ago, Theodore had entered a different realm, and he didn't shrink back at Hyde's daunting atmosphere. 'The rat in the back alley,' reminded Theodore of Gibra's broken body.

So, Theodore went on to say, "A sword master who is proud of his torture methods. But shouldn't rat be a nickname for you, since you only know how to hide?"

Hyde laughed, "Hah, this magician has a sharp tongue. Should I make it so you can't speak?"

"You are the trapped rat who ran away when one of your arms was cut off." Theodore's last words were crucial.

"…Hoh." Hyde's playful voice became cold.

Wuooooong!

There was no wind blowing, but his grey hair rose up. It was aura pressure. Aura flowed naturally from the pores of Hyde's body. This was different from when people used their auras consciously. The sword master had become intensely emotional and triggered this unconsciously.

'The intimidating feeling has increased almost two-fold… He is still bruised from his defeat in the Great Forest,' Theodore realized.

Despite being overwhelmed by the terrifying presence, Theodore watched Hyde without stepping back. Extreme emotions increased one's power, but it adversely affected one's movement accuracy and ability to think calmly.

However, the thing that Theodore really paid attention to was the changed form of 'Claimhb Solais.' The sword of the god-king, Nuada, changed from a silver sword to Hyde's left arm.

'Gluttony.'

–Um.

As Hyde was lost in his boiling anger, Theodore quickly asked Gluttony, 'You said before that the sword master is unqualified?'

-That's right. A sword master might be great in this age, but he isn't qualified to be the master of the god-sword, Claimhb Solais.

'If so, does that mean there is a limitation to the god-sword and he can't use all its functions?'

–I understand the intent behind your question.

If Hyde continued using the same abilities he showed before, the two people had no chance of winning. Sweat dripped down Theodore's face as he looked at where the warlocks had been. The ground was melted down like the crater of a volcano.

Fortunately, Gluttony denied the worst possibilities.

–The same firepower won't be available for a while. However, that left arm is almost impervious to magic. Even 7th Circle magic won't be able to penetrate the god-sword's resistance.

'Then is there a chance for the two of us to win against him?'

–If it is two against one, the odds will be over 70%. The biggest problem is another function of Claimhb Solais.

There was another function? However, the moment he was about to ask Gluttony again, the silent Hyde opened his mouth.

Hyde said, "…No matter how I think about it, dealing with both of you will be disadvantageous."

He was a ghost among the Seven Swords of the empire, someone who had trained in blood since childhood. Hyde's senses realized that there were two masters as his opponents. Although he had been arrogant with the warlocks, he wasn't confident that he could beat both Theodore and Randolph.

Hyde knew this and drew the sword hanging at his waist. "Becoming a master in a year… My master's insistence on naming you as a target of extermination was correct."

Theodore shook his head. 'Master? He must be referring to the emperor of the Andras Empire. No, then he would say, 'Your Majesty'…'

However, Theodore's thoughts didn't last much longer. Instead of the god-sword, Hyde drew a different sword and pointed it at the two people. The blaze of a high-density aura turned the surrounding air into a haze, showing off an alarming presence.

Theodore and Randolph adjusted their postures accordingly.

"I'll play with you a little later, nameless swordsman," Hyde stated.

Randolph scoffed at Hyde's words. "What? Do you think to deal with us one by one?"

"I'm afraid so. You are a great swordsman, but I have to put my duties first. I will fight you after taking the head of this magician."

"How funny-" Randolph tried to refute it.

However, Hyde's left hand suddenly shone as a shout emerged from his mouth, "「King of the Tuatha Dé Danann, show the dignity of Nuada Airgetlám in this fight! The unbreakable god-sword, forbid the enemy Theodore Miller from escaping!」"

Simultaneously, the light burst out.

"―――Uh!?"

It was the tradition of 'blinding eyes with a brilliant light' from the Age of Mythology. This was the third power given to the sun god-sword, Claimhb Solais. The magic which blocked light, the magic which called darkness, all of it was nullified as those in the area were forced to cover their eyes.

Theodore, Randolph, and even Hyde couldn't be free of that influence.

Randolph cursed, "Damn…! What the hell is this damn light?"

Then as the silver light covered the ground and sky, Randolph was finally able to raise both eyelids. The sight of the sword master was still blurry, but it was only for a short while. Shortly after that, the whites of Randolph's eyes became bloodshot, and he exclaimed, "T-Theodore?!"

Randolph's reaction was natural. He'd closed his eyes from the start of the flash for literally just a moment. However, when Randolph looked again…

His companion of a year, Theodore, had disappeared along with one of the empire's Seven Swords.

* * *

Nuada Airgetlám, the famous 'Silver Arm Nuada' of the Age of Mythology…

According to the records found in some ruins, he'd broken through a myriad of demonic undead corpses alone in order to defeat the demon king, Balor. He'd killed all creatures in his sight and turned the demon army back into corpses.

However, one thing had been needed to achieve that feat. It was 'Claimhb Solais,' the god-sword eternally etched with the spell of the sun god.

Even if Nuada had broken through the demon army and faced Balor, it would have been useless if Balor had fled. In order to block such possibilities, it had been necessary to force the opponent into a 'one-on-one battlefield.'

Hyde pointed to his left arm with a proud face. "This battlefield is a space created with the power of the sun god. We can't escape until one of us dies."

Unlike Hyde, who was leisurely explaining this to him, Theodore jumped back reflexively.

His opponent was a sword master. Theodore was relatively flexible with how far away he needed to be from his opponent, but his opponent was formidable. Using an interval of 50m, Theodore quickly measured the width of the area. Then he shot out a wave of magic power and looked at the results.

The area was narrower than he'd thought. Theodore calculated the result of the detection magic, and his expression hardened. There was a radius of 100m, and the error range was around 3m. It was a large space, but it wasn't enough for a magician. A sword master could go dozens of meters in one step, so the diameter of 200m was too narrow.

Theodore grasped the problem.

While taking a defensive stance, Hyde laughed at him, "Hah, now that cheeky face has lost its composure."

In the end, it was like this. The natural fate of a magician was to fall before a swordsman.

He had lived his whole life with a sword in his hand and covered in blood. Hyde was a murderer raised specifically by Prince Fermut. He was a rare type of monster who placed commands above fame.

Even so, Theodore didn't hesitate to fire back. "What did your master do when your arm was cut off? You are only strong due to the god-sword. I've overestimated the Seven Swords of the empire."

"Shut up."

"Your master is also rather funny. Giving you that god-sword… Doesn't he know it is like giving pearls to a swine?"

Theodore didn't know which keyword poked Hyde's anger. However, after Theodore finished speaking, he was able to see something blazing in Hyde's eyes. It was hatred, a terrible emotion.

"…Okay. This is the end of your chattering, Magician," Hyde growled. Then his aura started to swallow up his body. Color, sound, and everything else were erased, until only his voice tickled Theodore's ears, "I will kill you in a special way."

Those words couldn't be misunderstood, especially when Theodore thought about Gibra. If Hyde caught him, Theodore really would have thousands of pieces of his flesh peeled off. Hyde's precise knife control meant Theodore wouldn't die quickly, and terrible pain would be inflicted until the end.

However, Theodore suppressed his fear and shouted, "Inferno!"

If he couldn't determine the enemy's position, then he would just sweep away all the possible locations. The 7th Circle fire magic, previously compressed by Veronica into the form of a sword, swept through the battlefield.

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Chapter 171 – Claimhb Solais (2)

The decisive battle began, with the flames flickering like they were being blown by the wind. The atmosphere suddenly heated up, and it felt like the world was burning red. As the sand and gravel on the ground melted, Theodore looked around hurriedly.

'The completeness is somewhat lacking, but…!'

Any magician who heard this would be in disbelief. This 7th Circle magic was a strategic magic which burned at one point when the user placed it in focus, but it could also be spread widely.

Theodore had just reached the 7th Circle, so it was impossible for him to cast it so quickly. Therefore, it was necessary to have 'something' which made the impossible possible. It was Artificial Yin and Yang, the key to this unprecedented speed and the secret he'd obtained by passing Seimei's test.

[+? Artificial Yin and Yang (Imprint)]

[It is the result of 'Aquilo's Blood Mark' and the 'Ring of Muspelheim' circulating to form the shape of yin and yang. The two forces of fire and water embody the idea of amplifying each other's strength without opposing each other. The affinities of both attributes have risen to the limit, and the existing abilities are inherited. Additionally, the imprints have the ability to rotate and generate magic power independently of the user's circles.

* The rating of the imprint is 'Legend.'

* The abilities of 'Aquilo's Blood Mark' have been passed down.

* The abilities of 'Ring of Muspelheim' have been passed down.

* Understanding of water magic and fire magic has greatly increased, reducing the casting time of magic. Ignores attribute damage that is below the user's level, and halves it if it exceeds the user's level.]

This was a fraudulent combination of power! The Ring of Muspelheim and Aquilo's Blood Mark were undeniable abilities, but the result of the combination was more than that. In the past year, Theodore had completed the 7th Circle and maximized two attributes! This was how Theodore was able to complete Inferno in just seconds.

However, leaving that aside, Theodore's choice was right. If he couldn't figure out Hyde's hidden location, it was best to make use of this limited space. It was necessary for Hyde to defend from the flames of Inferno by using aura. Otherwise, he would be completed eradicated.

Therefore, the area where the fire storm was interrupted would expose the enemy's location. Theodore desperately concentrated all five of his senses on watching the flow. A result soon fell into his hands.

'Inferno's flow is disconnected in that place… It should be… Eh?'

…Three steps ahead of him?

"-Kuk!" Simultaneously, his sensory perception trembled.

Theodore hurriedly moved his head backward, while several strands of his bangs were cut by something sharp. It was a surprise attack which was no different from the swing of a reaper's scythe.

However, his sensory perception warned him of the successive attacks which occurred immediately after that. The blade that descended toward Theodore's head scratched the edge of his clavicle. Then it aimed at his heart. As it missed, the blade descended, heading for his calves. The slash aiming to behead him just sliced the air instead.

Theodore had unusually agile footwork for a magician. Alfred's senses and Lee Yoonsung's martial arts had saved Theodore's life.

'W-What the hell is going on?!' Theodore was full of questions, rather than fear, as the blade passed over his head.

Even if a sword master's defense was great, this situation was impossible. This was one of the best attack magic of the 7th Circle, so a fatal blow couldn't be avoided with the usual density of aura. However, what was this situation? Hyde was moving freely within the flames, like he wasn't affected by Inferno at all!

Gluttony read Theodore���s mental state and answered naturally, –The reason is obvious.

'What?'

-Claimhb Solais is a sword that symbolizes 'light' and 'fire,' so it is natural to give the user resistance to those attributes. The person might be unqualified, but it has joined as part of his body.

'…Hey! You should've told me that first!'

Theodore, who had just avoided the sword by raising his chin, was distracted by Gluttony. He wanted to yell at Gluttony for a few hours, but regrettably, he couldn't.

If this current situation continued, he would die without even touching Hyde. Inferno didn't have an effect, so that meant all fire and light magic were sealed. Theodore's power would've been sealed completely if he were a typical Red Tower magician.

However, he still had one more main attribute. This crisis was an opportunity for it. Theodore recalled a method and waited for the opponent to move one step closer.

「инейштормовой (Frost Storm)!」 He spoke in a language which couldn't be imitated with a human voice. These were words which allowed a dragon to rule over the laws of nature.

The fact that Theodore could already use Dragon Words was proof he hadn't been playing around during this one year. Aquilo's Blood Mark, amplified by the synergy effect of 'Artificial Yin and Yang', immediately changed the fire storm into a frost storm.

At the center of the storm was Hyde, who was right before Theodore!

"What, this is…?" Hyde's voice expressed his surprise and frustration. However, before he could say anything, the frost storm slammed into his body.

Jjejeok. Jjejejeok! Jjeok…!

The melted ground froze over, and the sight of frost on the lava-like ground was fantastic.

Theodore admired the power of the frost storm as he looked around at the all white battlefield. He could produce the same scene using 7th Circle Blizzard, but Dragon Words relied solely on nature instead of his magic power. The strength and efficiency simply couldn't be compared.

Even a sword master with a god-sword had to avoid being directly hit by this.

"…Truly, the empire was right to point you out as an enemy." The sword master Hyde was amazed and moved far away.

According to his research, the young man in front of him was still in his early 20's. If Theodore continued to grow like this, Meltor might soon have a third 8th Circle magician. It was a crisis which the Andras Empire had never experienced before.

Hyde thought so as he looked down at his left hand, which still hadn't vanished. The arm of silver which blocked all magic, it was the sword his master had given him. If it wasn't for Claimhb Solais, the frost storm would've frozen half his body and decreased his combat strength. Theodore's trump card was terrifying. Moreover, unlike Hyde's prediction that he would be overwhelming Theodore in close combat, Theodore had avoided all of Hyde's attacks without a single critical hit.

"Cough." Blood emerged from Hyde's mouth.

Despite the favorable factors, Hyde had failed to heat up properly. No matter how he circled his aura, there was no way to escape from the cold. His left arm was fine, but the mobility of his right side was two or three times lower than usual.

If this were an ordinary mission, Hyde would've retreated. However, it wasn't, so he gripped his sword with a determined expression. This was due to his loyalty to Fermut, his sense of duty as one of the empire's Seven Swords, and his intuition as a warrior.

"I have to kill you here," Hyde declared.

He realized that it would be impossible to kill Theodore later if he didn't do it now.

* * *

On the other hand, after calling up the frost storm, Theodore was worried about how to attack the opponent.

Theo had used Dragon Words, but the storm didn't deal any fatal blows to Hyde anywhere on his body. It had hit Hyde, but it wasn't at a level to interfere with the continuation of the battle.

Theodore frowned as he took off his torn robe. 'Damn, he isn't someone who will fall for the same technique twice.'

It was a serious issue that Hyde hadn't fallen down from Theodore's previous counterattack. Theo had thought that a crisis was a chance, but he would just be stupid if he tried to do the same thing twice. The tactic of using Dragon Words as a surprise attack was over.

However, it was difficult to find a strong magic to use when Hyde's left arm would just neutralize it, especially while the sword master was being more careful.

Let's compare the power Theo had left to what his opponent had.

Theodore only had two uses of Dragon Words remaining. His odds of winning in a close match was less than 1%. The duration of Frost Storm was around five minutes. He had plenty of magic power left, and his wounds were ordinary.

Meanwhile, Hyde had his left arm which neutralized magic and the Aura Ability.

"Tsk, in the end, that damn arm is the problem." Theodore thought of a few tactics and then clicked his tongue as he realized he was stuck because of Claimhb Solais. The left arm was a void since it could neutralize any magic. Wide area magic couldn't penetrate the opponent's defense, and single-point magic would be blocked. If long distance and short distance attacks weren't enough, then there was only one answer left.

"Would a hit and run attack while maintaining a medium range work?"

To be honest, it was crazy. Theodore could combine Battle Song and Lee Yoonsung's martial arts, but it wasn't enough to match the sword master in front of him. It was impossible for him to challenge Hyde unless he had Veronica's physical abilities.

Theodore planned to keep a ranged spell around his body so that he could know the opponent's position, as well as using magic to strengthen his body. His magician's brain was working overtime.

"Okay, I'm beginning."

However, this was only possible for Theodore. It was possible due to his natural calculation abilities, Gluttony's function, and his experience. Taking into account Umbra's abilities, he could avoid death a few times.

Theodore narrowed the scope of Frost Storm and wrapped it around his body, then he took a few steps forward.

"…Are you thinking something cheeky, Magician?" Hyde noticed Theodore's movements and raised his sword. He was waiting for Theodore to expose a gap that he could dive at. His eyes resembled those of reptiles who thought of humans as their prey.

Theodore just laughed when he saw Hyde's expression. "Let's see. Are you great enough to even say that?"

It might be a bit cruel to Hyde, but it was true. During Abe no Seimei's test, Theodore had faced stronger and more dangerous opponents than Hyde. Veronica had overwhelming strength, while Blundell used unimaginable magic. Orta had killed him without even moving a step, while Theo's acknowledged Aquilo's and Superbia's power.

In comparison, Hyde's only strong point was the god-sword. Theodore had high odds of winning if he was careful.

Baduk.

As Hyde noticed this truth, more blood dripped from Hyde's lips. However, this blood wasn't coughed up from the throat but blood which emerged as his teeth were broken. He growled out between tightly closed teeth, "-Kill."

"Let's try something new," Theodore said the words and took on a unique posture.

With one palm above and the other below, his two palms symbolizing the heaven and the earth framed Hyde between them. This was the Above and Below, Heaven and Earth stance. It was a stance to pull out as much harmony as possible.

What happened immediately afterward might be a coincidence or maybe even inevitable. Hyde raised his left arm and his sword, while Theodore gathered magic power in his both hands. The feet of the two people moved in perfect synchronization.

Chapter 172 – Claimhb Solais (3)

Huk.

First, Hyde's appearance disappeared along with his presence. It had been briefly disturbed by Frost Storm, but his Aura Ability was second to none. Moreover, the effect of his ability had nothing to do with his condition, so Hyde's presence didn't leave even a speck of dust.

Even so, Theodore laughed. 'Still, it isn't perfect.'

As expected, Hyde revealed a bit of presence due to the impact of Frost Storm. The slight hint of collarbone was proof of the crisis. Theodore could get a few clues and then move his body in response to the warning of his senses.

Right at that moment, the hairs on Theodore's neck stood up.

Shayak.

He took half a step backward just as the air in front of his neck was cut. It was Hyde's sword, or perhaps his aura blade. Theodore spread all 10 of his fingers before him.

Pipipiiiiing-!

There was a bombardment of Magic Bullets. The transcendent blue lights, far beyond Alfred's original version, shot out 10 times. It was impossible to see this barrage as random shots. In fact, a few of them headed toward Hyde's body and vanished. It wasn't possible to damage him properly, but it did reveal Hyde's body.

'Okay, it works!' Theodore smiled and formed a fist as his shooting worked.

In fact, Magic Bullet was excellent against melee experts such as sword masters. It was good at close range, but it was difficult to hit the target when the distance was too far. Although it wasn't that bad, it was ambiguous to use as his main force.

However, this situation was different. Magic Bullet was very efficient when it came to magic power and was capable of firing it continuously. A 7th Circle magician could pour it out like a shower.

Pipipipipi-! The blue light poured out. The light emitted from his fingertips was more fearsome than beautiful. There were approximately three or four bullets per second…? No, maybe even more than that. The light rays were being poured out at a rate of close to 50 times per second, making it appear like a meteor shower.

Gravel and dirt sprang up as the light touched the ground, leaving blue afterimages behind. This wasn't like the war hero's skill, but the power of Magic Bullet was truly awesome. However, Theodore's opponent was a sword master who surpassed even a past hero.

The concept of this technique had been devised by someone weak, so a sword master could easily trample on it.

Pit!

Suddenly, blood poured from Theodore's body.

"Kuok…!"

Theodore was half a beat too late. He had been struck off guard due to the enemy's boldness of attacking while receiving damage from Magic Bullet. Fortunately, his bones and nerves were safe. However, there was still blood pouring from the deep cut.

He quickly used healing magic while retreating a few steps, before he started shivering. It was proof that Hyde's position was near. The edge of the blade had gone through Frost Storm and tickled Theodore's ribs.

Simultaneously, Theodore bent his waist back unconsciously.

Swik!

This was an avoidance method from the East which wouldn't be possible to use if he were wearing heavy armor. His folded upper body was now parallel to the ground and completely avoided the sword.

It was an unbelievable reaction which even surprised himself, but Theodore stood upright again and kicked with his right foot.

Ppak!

It was a perfect hit. Although it wasn't enough to break the Aura Ability, a few drops of blood fell onto the ground.

Thanks to Battle Song, Theodore's strength was already equivalent to that of an aura user. This meant the power of his kick wasn't much different from a hit by a mace. Even the body of a sword master would receive a shock which would cause a nosebleed.

However, Theodore instinctively understood that although it felt like he had the momentum, Hyde had actually used this to take one step closer to Theodore.

"-Thunderbolt, cry!" Without distributing any mental power to chanting, Theodore's short chant summoned seven bolts of thunder.

'Sevenfold Thunderbolt.'

This wasn't the 'lightning spear' which concentrated power on one point. Instead, it poured out thunderbolts toward the spot where Hyde was!

Kwarururung-! The sound of thunder was deafening in this enclosed space.

Theodore stared at the spot where the thunderbolts struck as there was a part of the ground which wasn't melted down. He had to watch carefully in order to not miss the movements of the sword master in the center.

However, Hyde didn't move immediately. Instead, he bent over.

"…Kehup!" The damage seemed to be great this time as Hyde coughed up blood. The blood was a dark red. It was a color which proved the impact had reached his intestines even though he had defended with aura.

A lightning spear could be invalidated with the god sword, but there was no way to block all the thunderbolts. Theodore, who was trying to estimate the situation, got a sense of enlightenment.

'Hey, haven't I become stronger?'

The battles he previously experienced had been much more severe and dangerous than this current battle. Umbra hadn't been used yet, and he didn't have any serious wounds. Additionally, his response had been really fast a while back.

Funnily enough, Theodore's power was maturing during this battle. With Alfred's Magic Bullet, Lee Yoonsung's martial arts, his own magic, the Artificial Yin and Yang, and Dragon Words… This wasn't a hasty battle of survival but one he could actually win.

This was a sense of enjoyment which couldn't be felt in battles against stronger opponents. Confidence made Theodore's movements even more violent.

"Ugh-!" Hyde had yet to recover from the damage, but he was receiving a bombardment of Magic Bullets again. One hit wasn't fatal, but it was annoying and cumbersome. However, the consumption of aura was too extreme to block all of them.

Hyde's combat style which maintained the Aura Ability made this an issue. His aura was gradually drying up, and it wouldn't be long before it ran out.

"…Don't make me laugh!" Hyde roared.

However, a sword master was a sword master. Hyde used his left arm as a shield and broke through the Magic Bullets coming from the front. A few hit him, but his aura defense was still intact.

Hyde managed to draw near, but Theodore avoided Hyde's sword. It passed by his temple, and he countered with a punch to Hyde's body.

Chaaeng! Theodore's punch was blocked by Hyde's silver left arm.

However, this wasn't a constraint as Hyde swung his sword with his other arm which wasn't tied up. Clearly, Hyde's body was different from a human's. Sensing that this wouldn't work, Theodore widened the distance again. No, the moment he tried to…

Hyde screamed with a demon-like face, "The light that drives away evil…!"

At that moment, a bright light emerged from Hyde's left arm. It was a small light compared to when he had wiped out the warlocks or created the battlefield, but it was clearly the light of divine power.

This was the nemesis of magic. Before Theodore could take action, 'it' burst out. Argenteous Brillianc

This was the type of brilliance which had defeated Balor when used by Nuada Airgetlám. There was no attack power at all, but Theodore was a magician and the light seemed to be stripping away at him.

'…No, it isn't just a feeling!' There was knee-jerk amazement in Theodore's eyes. As soon as Argenteous Brilliance was activated, all magic on his body was lifted. Frost Storm, which had been created with Dragon Words, completely disappeared.

It forcibly canceled a 7th Circle magician's spell made with Dragon Words…?

Chill. At that time, Theodore had a foreboding of death. He'd lost Battle Song which enhanced his physical abilities, as well as Frost Storm which allowed him to read and block Hyde's attacks.

A minimum of two seconds was needed before he could return to his previous combat state. He needed to hold on for two seconds in front of a sword master!

'Eh?'

Before freezing with terror, Theodore's body had moved freely.

Jjeok!

There was a strange sound. It was the sound of Theodore's martial arts hitting Hyde's body. Anyone watching this battle would call it a last hurrah. A sword master's aura defense couldn't be crushed by the fist of a human.

"…Eh?" However, Theodore was forced to make a questioning sound. "Why?"

Theodore wondered why his fist was fine, as well as why there was no blood on his skin. Why had Hyde taken a few steps back from the punch of a magician? It was such an unimaginable situation that Theodore even forgot to prepare for battle.

This was a moment when the magician showed many gaps because he couldn't understand the phenomenon. However, Hyde couldn't even move his body, let alone stab at the gaps. Shortly after that, Hyde's face revealed the reason.

"Kuheok! Kuk, kuhuup…!"

Hyde's sword pointed downward as blood flowed down. It was nothing compared to the blood dripping from his lips. Additionally, the taut skin of a man in his 20s shriveled like he was an elderly man, and the size of his body decreased. It was like Hyde had aged dozens of years in an instant.

In a situation that nobody could believe, Theodore discovered the answer to the phenomenon which was happening to Theodore.

'…I see. Is that the price for using the god-sword?'

–It seems like it. Gluttony was also convinced about the reason. -I wondered how an unqualified being had this power, but now I know why.

'Explain.'

-It isn't a big deal. It connects to the lost part of the body and has access to the source of life. By consuming the life force of the user, the god-sword is activated. No matter how much vitality a sword master has, he can only use it a few times.

Theodore nodded. Hyde looked terrible. It wasn't merely aging. His life force itself was being sucked out. Perhaps a normal human wouldn't be able to tolerate it. Theodore briefly made a sympathetic expression before continuing to ask Gluttony questions.

'Look at his status and make a decision. How much longer can he last?'

–Hmm. Gluttony observed Hyde through Theodore's eyes and said, –His life is deteriorating. Using anything more is impossible. It won't be long until he dies.

'Damn.' Theodore gritted his teeth because he wanted to end this fight here. From this point on, Theodore was in a better position, but Hyde wasn't prepared to lose yet. So, Theo couldn't be careless before it was over. His senses warned that something was approaching.

Unsurprisingly, Hyde stood up again. "…Up to… here."

As a sword master, he couldn't be unaware of his body's condition. Hyde realized that this place was his grave. The god-sword, Claimhb Solais, would kill him. Perhaps it was a great honor for him to die here. The life which had started in the slums would end with the god-sword.

Hyde smiled and threw the sword in his right hand to the floor.

"What are you doing?" It was an act of surrender, but Theodore asked anyway.

"Fighting with my sword… ends here. Too bad. My strength can't reach you."

Before Theodore could reply to Hyde's words, Hyde grabbed his silver left arm. Then he pulled it like he was pulling the sword off.

Kiing!

It was a sight which seemed like a lie. Theodore thought so as Hyde held the silver sword in his right hand. The blade, Claimhb Solais, shone bright silver with Hyde's vitality as fuel.

"Glory to the future of Andras…" Hyde said as he grabbed firmly onto the light which had wiped out the Orcus warlocks and set it up as a sword.

Then he roared, "Theodore Miller, I will take you with me!"

Chapter 173 – Claimhb Solais (4)

Hyde's eyes were bloodshot, and his solid muscles had long since dried out. Nevertheless, he was determined and aimed at Theodore without any hesitation. He didn't care about dying and wielded the silver sword without stopping.

Despite having only seen it from a distance, the force of the god-sword was clearly marked in Theodore's memory.

'Damn, I wanted to avoid this situation,' Theo cursed inwardly.

Hyde's determination to perish together was confirmed in his stance and blows. Although Hyde couldn't reverse the battlefield with a change in attitude, the weapon he held was crucial in this situation. In exchange for his vitality, he could now use all of Claimhb Solais's strength.

Hyde was much closer to death, but his final blows contained the flames of a sword master. At the minimum, it was the same amount of force he'd used to wipe out the warlocks. In this enclosed space, Hyde's sword pointed at Theodore with the aim of killing him.

Hyde stopped and the light around him became increasingly stronger. It was probably Hyde's remaining vitality being turned into a brilliant power… and Theodore wondered if he could interfere with it.

Piiiii-ik. At 10 meters before Hyde, even Magic Bullet lost power and faded away. Claimhb Solais invalidated magic. So, as Magic Bullet got closer to the light, the structure of its magic was broken down, and the magic scattered.

Higher level magic might work, but Theo didn't have enough time to cast it and stop the blows. In many ways, Claimhb Solais was a very annoying weapon.

Theodore sighed, "Hoo, it can't be helped since it has become like this."

Despite the frontal confrontation, he closed his eyes.

'I've come up with two ways.'

He could either strike from the front while taking a hit or avoid it. The god-sword couldn't be avoided using a normal method, but Theodore had an 'abnormal' method.

That was to use Umbra, the national treasure and the dimensional fragment which allowed its owner to jump into the astral dimension. Theodore would be able to avoid the incomplete power of the Claimhb Solais if he used that ability.

…No, wait a minute?

A lightning bolt flashed through Theodore's head. "Ah!"

'It's possible.' The knowledge which had accumulated over the past year in the sharp senses and soul of the magician called Theodore Miller confirmed that the 'magic' could now be completed.

Theodore hit on the final key to completing the magic. He looked down at the Umbra pattern on his right arm, as well as the two magic powers circling around his body. Then he naturally stretched out both hands. He didn't know why, but this posture was the best.

'The flames of Muspelheim.' The flames responded to Theodore's call and flowed like lava from his heart.

All the blood vessels it passed by turned hot like they were melting, but Theo didn't bat a single eyelash. The magic power flowed through his blood vessels and turned his right hand completely red.

'Aquilo's Blood Mark.' Similarly, Aquilo's ice cold magic power emerged.

In contrast to his right arm, his left arm was an ice cave. The coldness obscured some of the senses on his skin. In fact, a thin layer of frost had formed on the skin of Theodore's left arm, and it turned pale, as if it was frostbitten.

The red right arm and blue left arm…! These two incongruent colors were the same as the Yin and Yang symbol in the Eastern continent.

Wuuuuuu.

As the artificial Yin and Yang were formed, a powerful magic storm started to stir in Theodore's hands. This was a co-existence which couldn't be maintained. It was a miracle which was impossible without the aid of 'Artificial Yin and Yang' Theodore had received from Abe no Seimei's Art of Onmyōdō.

So far, he had experience with these. However, from this point forth, it would be a new horizon beyond the limit. If this was a balance which couldn't exist in the material world, he would drag it to another world.

"Dimensional Leave."

Among the many abilities of Umbra, this was the top-level ability which Theodore could maintain for only 10 seconds. It caused the area around Theodore's hands to enter an immaterial dimension. Thus, the incomplete magic had reached the next stage.

According to the theory of Yin and Yang, the world was now in Theodore's hands. A perfect red and blue sphere came into formation. It was the shape of an egg which held a world. The shell of a world which was born to break. This was an imperfect world which could only exist for a moment due to Umbra's Dimensional Leave.

However, that alone was enough. The moment that Theodore's magic was completed, Hyde also struck with the god-sword.

"Burn here, enemy of the empire-!" Hyde roared.

A ray of silver light stretched out from the god-sword like a small sun. The power of the god-sword, which soaked up the last vitality of the sword master, was incomparable to before. It was more than the power he'd used to annihilate the warlocks; this power could possibly even kill a dragon.

Then why…?

Strangely, Theodore felt calmer than ever. As an unexpected stillness filled his body, Theodore decided to name the magic floating in the palm of his hands. A famous novelist had used this name for an egg which existed to be broken.

Theodore recalled the name from his past and muttered, "Abraxas (ΑΒΡΑΣΑΞ)."

As he whispered, the world broke…

And light was born.

* * *

It was too magnificent to be called an explosion but powerful enough to wreak havoc. Claimhb Solais and the great magic, Abraxas…

The collision of such power normally only seen in the Age of Mythology filled the space made by the god-sword, and it caused cracks to spread like spider webs. The aftermath of the confrontation was enough to cause this space to collapse.

If victory leaned to one side, the balance would tilt, and the space would soon collapse. The storm of light was pushed in one direction. Then amidst the light which human eyes couldn't see through, a sharp scream of metal rang out.

The light which filled the area diminished, and the shockwaves subsided.

"…Is it over?"

The man, who was left alone on the battlefield, lifted his eyelids. The color of his eyes was dark blue. It was a color which couldn't be confused with Hyde's off-white eyes. Indeed, Theodore Miller had fought against the god-sword, Claimhb Solais, and won.

He looked around the empty space and found something. "This…"

The sword which had lost its user, Claimhb Solais, remained in the place where Hyde had just been standing. Hyde's body itself couldn't be found in the vicinity. Theo wondered if Hyde had been blown away by the aftermath of the shock, or if he had turned into ash after having his vitality sucked out.

Either way, it was a disastrous end for one of the empire's Seven Swords.

Theodore narrowed his eyes at the thought.

'Hyde and the god-sword…' Theo had a lot of questions regarding Hyde's master. 'Anyone who knows how to use the god-sword wouldn't have passed the sword on without being aware of the side effects. But even if he did lose an arm, why sacrifice a sword master in this way? From my point of view, it is difficult to understand.'

Who was it? Maybe Hyde knew about this and accepted the price. However, as Theodore ruled out the possibilities, he got a bad feeling. A person who could use sword masters as consumables, and who had obtained a treasure from the Age of Mythology, the god sword, Claimhb Solais…

Theodore felt like that person would be more troublesome than the Ocrus Company.

The moment that Theodore was in distress…

Kiiiing…!

The god-sword, which was stuck in the ground, started to shake and cry out loudly. Theodore didn't know what was happening, so he couldn't help but take a few steps back.

Then Gluttony yelled roughly, –Don't back off, User! If you let it go, the god-sword will return to its master!

"What?!" Theodore exclaimed with surprise.

Gluttony explained hurriedly, –It is the same as a grimoire! The independence of its ego is a bit lower, but the god-sword is equipped with the instinct to go home! You have to make a decision before this space completely collapses!

Currently, the god-sword couldn't move because of this space, despite having created it. However, now that Hyde was dead, the battlefield would soon disappear, and the sword would return to an unknown person.

Theodore might've won against Hyde, but the risk of the god-sword was too great. It might've been hard to win if Hyde hadn't already used some power to annihilate the warlocks. Theodore made his decision and hurriedly asked Gluttony, "What can I do? Perhaps you… Can you eat the god sword?"

–No, I can't eat it. The power of magic is completely opposite from divine power. You can use the sword, but I can't absorb it. It may be possible in Stage 7, but it is meaningless to think about that at this time.

"Then what can I do?"

–Think about it.

Theodore's eyes widened at the next words.

–You were in the same situation once before!

That advice was crucial, and Theodore's mind instantly came up with a solution. Back then, during the elder lich's assault on the Miller Barony… How had he sealed the grimoire of necromancy which he couldn't afford to eat?

"Open Inventory!" Theodore cried out.

At Theodore's cry, Gluttony's tongue moved immediately. In the space which had begun to collapse, a gold light filled the sky at the same time as when Gluttony's tongue wrapped around the god-sword completely.

Would the god-sword be sealed first, or would the space collapse first? Before Theodore could witness the result of the struggle which had started out of nowhere, Theodore returned to the area around Sipoto.

"Eh?" He uttered.

The landscape was different from the dark sky of the battlefield, so Theodore realized that he had returned to the wilderness. In fact, he'd returned to the spot where he had been standing right before Hyde had used the power of the god-sword.

"…Theo? Is that you?" Randolph's voice entered Theodore's ears.

"Randolph? Have you been waiting here?" Theodore asked.

"Of course. I was going to wait at least three more days," Randolph spoke in a bragging tone.

However, Theodore understood that Randolph's words were true. If Hyde had won the duel and returned here, he would have to start a second round with the furious Randolph. Theodore felt a lump of emotions rise up to his throat and let out a small sigh.

After reuniting with Randolph, Theodore finally realized that he had defeated one of the empire's Seven Swords.

Theodore looked down at his left hand. '…It is somewhere in here.'

Claimhb Solais, the god-sword which had been about to return to its master, had eventually been captured by Gluttony's tongue.

It occupied a corner of Theodore's inventory, along with 'Death's Worship.' Theodore might not be able to absorb it, but there were many ways in which he could use the god-sword. It could be used as a sacrifice to summon 'Fafnir' or be used against the upper ranks of the empire.

He didn't know the identity of its former master, but someone would be in a lot of pain from losing the god-sword. Theodore laughed at the thought.

Randolph looked at him curiously and asked, "What, do you feel that good about winning?"

"Well…your words aren't entirely wrong. It feels much better than I thought it would."

The battle had been against one of the empire's Seven Swords, the ones who had defended the Andras Empire and killed the people of Meltor. So, as a magician filled with patriotism toward the Meltor Kingdom, it was natural for him to feel a sense of accomplishment from the victory.

He had acquired the god-sword and won against a sword master. Moreover, Randolph's words made Theodore further aware of himself.

Randolph waited for him to completely calm down before saying, "Then shall we go back to the town? Trackers from the Orcus Company might appear… Well, I can handle them though."

"In the East, they call this a win by default when everyone else has dropped out."

"Ah, that's right. There was such a thing!" Randolph clapped as he was reminded of the proverb.

"Then let's return to town. We will rest quietly before teleporting back to Meltor."

Theodore pretended to be fine, but Abraxas was a magic which transcended Theodore's limits. Even if it had succeeded perfectly, his 7th Circle couldn't help being affected.

He had been able to catch a glimpse of the magic through a momentary epiphany, but it was impossible for that to happen again. Theodore had used such great magic, so it was impossible for his body to remain unaffected.

However, Randolph was silent for a moment before shaking his head. "No, I'm sorry, but I can't go with you."

"Huh?"

"This is where we will part ways. I will be going to the Andras Empire, not the Meltor Kingdom."

Theodore knew Randolph wasn't going to seek the vacant seat of the empire's Seven Swords, so he opened his mouth with a questioning expression and asked, "That… why?"

"My sister is still in that country."

Theodore was startled as he understood Randolph's words. "Are you planning to take her away from it?"

"Yes. I am familiar with my Aura Ability and am now a master as well, so I can take care of her. Isn't it thanks to you? I came along to repay the favor, but my debt keeps growing."

Randolph had a noble character, which was unlike his rough appearance. This was the face of a man who knew grace but didn't turn away from his duty. Theodore was speechless, causing Randolph to continue speaking, "Is it okay if we become political exiles in Meltor? At the very least, I should be an earl. How about it?"

"…I will take care of it."

"Hey. This is between us, yes?"

Theodore smiled at Randolph's mischievous attitude. They spoke like this, but they both knew the truth… the fact that a sword master wouldn't be below an earl, and that asylum wasn't as easy as it sounded.

Still, the two men jokingly exchanged words until the end. They stayed for three days in Sipoto, before saying goodbye to each other early in the morning.

Chapter 174 – Return to the Magic Tower (1)

The Northern continent was somewhat different from the Central and Southern continents which were tangles of countries and civilizations.

As for the sword empire, Andras, and the magic kingdom, Meltor… These two powers could take pride in being the strongest in the Northern continent due to their conflict which had lasted for hundreds of years.

'The history of mankind is war.' According to one prominent historian, the war which had lasted for centuries had continuously developed the two powers.

There were the seven sword masters which represented the empire, the Seven Swords, and the four tower masters who guarded the Meltor Kingdom. In the other continents, it was enough for them to have one or two masters. However, the North had a total of 11 masters.

On average, there would be an all-out war at least once a century. Having experienced full-scale wars, the Northern continent was vastly different from the Central region which had lived through centuries of peace. As such, the military power and patriotism of the two Northern countries had been trained over many generations.

This meant that Mana-vil, Capital of Meltor, had a thorough defense system.

"…Indeed, there is no way to hide secretly." Theodore, the young man wearing a dark hood, was amazed as he watched the walls in front of him.

He knew that the walls of Mana-vil were covered with magic to prevent teleporting, but the completeness of the magic couldn't be ignored. This was magic which had been personally set up by White Tower Master Orta. No one could pass through the wall set up by someone who was considered as the best in the continent at space magic.

Theodore took his eyes off the wall and looked up at the sky. It looked like nothing was happening, but upon reaching the 7th Circle, the landscape before Theodore's eyes was different now. There was a gossamer thin web of magic power. This was detection magic which enveloped Mana-vil in the shape of a hemisphere.

'I can't enter unnoticed if I fly, so the remaining method is…'

…To go through the ground.

The only way was to enter through a tunnel below the wall. Moreover, Theodore had an excellent helper when it came to the earth environment. While avoiding the eyes of others, he scooped up some dirt and whispered to the soil on the palm of his hand, "Mitra."

At the very moment that he whispered, the dirt on his palm molded into the shape of a girl. The girl, Mitra, with a large bud on her head, looked up at him with a sleepy expression.

[…Heeeng?]

"Oh, you were sleeping. I'm sorry."

Mitra had a confused expression, but she soon giggled as Theodore patted her head. She looked at him with shining eyes and asked, [Deo, you caw?]

"Can you pass underneath that wall there? Please find out if it is possible."

[Hoing!] It probably meant that she understood. Mitra gave her distinctive cry and jumped off his palm.

The girl moved through the earth, and Theo's mind was soon filled with images of soil, gravel, and roots. The scenery which Mitra looked through passed by in a fleeting manner, causing Theodore to feel slightly dizzy.

Putting aside her innocence appearance, Mitra's cognitive abilities were lacking in many ways when compared to intermediate elementals. However, her cognitive abilities were enough to achieve Theo's purpose.

[Hoeeng… Deo, sowwy!}

'What? What's going on?'

[Here, strange block. Can't go.]

There was a wall which Mitra couldn't go through? This meant there was no path to sneak into Mana-vil. Theodore suppressed his thoughts and told her, 'No, thank you for the help. Go and get more sleep.'

[Yes, I noe…]

Theodore felt no further connection as Mitra returned to the elemental world. He looked at the wall again and sighed. 'No space movement, no flying in the sky, and no moving through a tunnel.'

If he entered through the front door, he would have to prove his identity. So, he had been looking for a back door, but there was no way for a 7th Circle magician to break through Meltor's defense system.

'Hu, should I try the checkpoint…?'

Then at the moment when he was about to join the line of people…

"-W-White Tower Master!"

"What? What about the tower master?"

"A white robe and white mask! It really is White Tower Master Orta!"

"No way! Why is he…!?"

Suddenly, the crowd of people started to mutter amongst themselves about the White Tower Master, who was at the peak of space magic. The mysterious Orta had revealed himself.

The marquis and dukes might have the power in other kingdoms, but the real authority in the Meltor Kingdom belonged to the tower masters. So, naturally, they were people who were difficult for the public to see.

The Yellow Tower Master was known not to engage in any external activities, while the White Tower Master was a mysterious figure.

'White Tower Master? Why is he suddenly at the front gate…' Theodore had a surprised expression on his face.

The White Tower Master was considered as a hidden sword of the Meltor Kingdom. From assassination to intelligence, he was in charge of all the shadowy tasks. He wasn't someone who would appear at the main entrance without a purpose.

However, Theodore soon realized Orta's purpose. Orta's eyes which gazed through the two holes in the mask were paying attention to Theodore.

"Guard Captain, I want to ask something of you," Orta called out.

"Yes, Tower Master! Whatever you say!" The guard captain promptly responded to Orta's call.

He was a citizen of the Meltor Kingdom, so he was well aware of the status of the tower masters in the kingdom. Orta's position wasn't low enough to 'ask' something of a mere security guard.

"I will guarantee the identity of the man standing there. Can he skip the checkpoint?" Orta asked.

"Huh?"The guard captain looked at Theodore and stuttered, "I-It isn't a big deal."

"Thank you." After receiving the permission, Orta glanced at Theodore, who understood the meaning of Orta's gaze.

This was a person whom a tower master had pointed out, so the people paid close attention. However, they didn't dare stop someone involved with White Tower Master Orta. Thus, Theodore was able to pass Mana-vil's rigid checkpoint and enter the capital.

"Ah…!" He exclaimed as he saw the high-rise buildings which pierced the clouds.

They were rare sights in other countries. Particularly, this was an unforgettable panorama which couldn't be seen in the Central continent. As Theodore walked before him, Orta greeted, "It has been a while. A year has passed?"

"Yes, it has already been that long."

"I can tell. You have gained a lot of experience in the meantime. Becoming a master when you're not even 30 years old… His Majesty will be amazed."

Indeed, the fact was now revealed.

Theodore looked at Orta's back with admiration. The number of circles was the same, but the other person had experienced all sorts of things as Meltor's pillar. So, Theo's seven circles were exposed to Orta just by looking at his body.

"Well, it is hard to explain during a short amount of time," Theodore responded.

"I want to hear about it." Orta's white mask looked at Theodore and said, "The suspicion that the Orcus Company uses black magic, did you raise it?"

"Ugh."

"Don't panic. It is different in the South, but the White Tower has many information sources spread in the Central area. Most of the places you passed through have been identified."

Theodore nodded at the explanation, before suddenly looking to his left and right with a surprised expression. 'Is it okay to talk about classified information in the streets?' However, that concern faded when he saw the distorted space around them. 'W-What type of magic is this…?'

This wasn't simply blocking off sound. It was like everyone passing by was unaware of the two of them. No, some people even passed through Orta's and Theodore's bodies. It was a type of space magic, but the principles behind it were incomprehensible. Theodore realized this was why Orta had revealed confidential information without hesitation.

Orta was a 7th Circle magician who had a shield with unknown principles!

'Is it a refraction or distortion of space?' While Theodore was interested in the mysterious shield, the two of them arrived at the crossroad separating the royal palace and the magic tower. Theodore expected to go to the royal palace first.

However, Orta had a different idea and said, "His Majesty is currently in a meeting. Maybe it will end in the evening… Tell me now if there is any urgent business. Then I'll try to get you a seat."

"Ah, it can wait a bit. If possible, I would like to go to one place first…"

"Where is that?"

Theodore told the White Tower Master the location and received a positive reply. Unless he was someone with a house in Mana-vil, there was only one place for a magician to stay. This was a place which magicians of the continent named as a sacred place.

It was the magic tower.

* * *

"There is no need to hide from now onwards."

"Ah, that's right."

The magic shield had been maintained when they entered the Magic Society, but the two men only wanted to conceal that Theodore Miller had left this place. There was no longer the need to hide once they were in the lobby of the Magic Society, so the spell was removed.

Huk.

Theodore lowered his hood as the shield was lifted.

"Eh-?"

"W-White Tower Master!"

"Did he teleport?"

"Next to him… No way!"

The magicians in the lobby had varied reactions. Someone lost their place in the book they were reading, while another person tilted his head when he noticed the White Tower Master. Some of them also recognized Theodore, who hadn't been seen for over a year.

He was Meltor's young hero, the idol of magicians his age, the one behind the alliance with Elvenheim, and the one who had defeated a representative of the Andras Empire. His sudden appearance caused the atmosphere of the lobby to get heated.

"T-Theodore Miller!"

"What? The rumored person? Really?"

"He is the real hero…"

"He looks younger than I thought. How old was he again?"

It was fortunate that Theodore wasn't surrounded by them. With the White Tower Master standing next to him, no one dared to approach Theodore. The magicians were blinded by curiosity, but they were too afraid of the tower master. After all, Orta was the one who had built his own space magic.

Orta ignored their chattering and asked Theodore, "Did you want to stop by your room? Or see someone else?"

"I'd like to see my master."

"Vince Haidel, understood."

Orta remembered Vince well. Excluding the existence of Vince's disciple, Theodore, the number of 6th Circle magicians in the Meltor Kingdom amounted to less than 100 people. However, Theodore was soon forced to stop moving.

"…Theo?" A female voice called out.

She had flowing silver hair and clear blue lake-like eyes. There was a pile of books which seemed to have been dumped on the ground. However, she didn't look down at them. She just kept staring at Theo with a blank expression.

It was an unexpected reunion with Sylvia Adruncus, who had matured a lot more than a year ago.

"It has been a while, Sylvia." Theodore didn't know what to say, so he could only smile bitterly at the eyes facing him.

Chapter 175 – Return to the Magic Tower (2)

It was nice to imagine getting a welcome. However, Theo's departure had been strictly confidential, so he hadn't been naive enough to expect a reunion while others were watching. No, it was questionable if Sylvia even knew of Theodore's actions.

While Theodore was filled with such doubts, Orta delivered a message to him using magic, [She knows. She is Blundell's granddaughter, so she can easily find out if she wants to.]

'Indeed,' Theodore agreed inwardly.

Blundell was a tower master, not someone else. So, needless to say, Sylvia could figure out the information related to Theodore. Of course, he was sure that Sylvia wouldn't leak the information, but there might be situations she couldn't predict. As such, Theodore wasn't sure how to start the story.

However, Sylvia was the one who moved first. "Theo."

"Y-Yes?" Perhaps it was because her tone of voice was different from a year ago, but Theodore's response to Sylvia's call was delayed by half a beat. Unlike before, Sylvia now had a clear and resonate voice.

As Theodore stiffened for no reason, Sylvia picked up the books she had dropped.

"It looks like your business is over." Her voice was calmer than he'd expected. She bowed briefly to the White Tower Master and held her books as she asked Theodore, "Are you busy now?"

"…Yes, I think I will be busy until the evening."

"I see." Her tone was understanding. Sylvia smiled and headed toward both of them. Then as she passed by Theodore, she whispered, "I'm still not fully prepared, so I will see you later."

Theodore turned to her at the strange words, but Sylvia was already climbing the staircase toward the Blue Tower. It was the opposite direction of the Red Tower, so it would be embarrassing to chase someone who had already said goodbye in order to ask what they meant.

With unanswered questions, Theodore and Orta climbed the stairs leading to the Red Tower.

The meeting with his teacher, Vince Haidel, was really quick.

During the year that Theodore had been gone, Vince's private room had gotten a nameplate which was engraved with the symbol of a 'Prime.' Theo was surprised for a moment, but it wasn't hard to understand why.

Thanks to restoring the language of the ancient Balcia Empire and its magic system, it wasn't strange that his teacher would become a Prime.

"Master!" Theodore opened the door with a delighted voice.

"The— cough!" Vince spat out the freshly brewed cup of coffee that he had just started to drink. It was a meeting between a teacher and a disciple after one year, and this touching meeting began with coffee covering Theodore's face.

"T-This… Theodore, are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine."

Fortunately, Theodore couldn't get burned by the hot coffee as he was resistant to heat. He didn't have the physical abilities of an aura user, but the body of a magician was different from normal humans in many ways.

Of course, Vince was very apologetic for getting coffee on his disciple whom he hadn't seen for a year.

"Then let's start the story." After the fuss died down and new coffee was brewed, Vince opened his mouth first, "First and foremost, welcome back. I don't see any injuries, but what about the problem we talked about before you left?"

"It is well above expectations."

"That is a good thing." Vince smiled brightly after being reassured. The news that Theodore had gone on a journey was known to a few people, but only Vince knew that Theodore had a deadline.

Orta cocked his head, but he didn't interfere in the story between the two people.

Then the tale of Theodore's adventures began.

The raid during the crossing of the border to Sipoto, the plaque from the trading company, Sipoto's secret auction, the suspicion that the Orcus Company was using black magic… There was enough material to talk all day.

At first, the White Tower Master was listening indifferently, but he then leaned forward to listen more closely to Theo's words, making comments as the tale progressed.

"A death knight and ghost ship… I need to raise the warning level up by two stages."

"The Pirate Archipelago. I thought it was just a group of pirates. I never expected them to have a sea dragon behind them."

"The Soldun Kingdom is making a big move. Maybe there will be a civil war in the east of this continent…"

…It was the same pattern. There were a few minor things, but every single event was too big not to pay attention to. As the story reached the peak where Hyde was defeated, the two older magicians forgot their dignity and clapped.

"Excellent! It is just my judgment, but these achievements are enough to give you the position of marquis," Vince remarked.

"You're overpraising me," Theodore responded.

"No, it is hard to disagree with Prime Vince's words. Reaching the 7th Circle at this age and defeating one of the empire's Seven Swords? Even if you look through all of Meltor's history, it will be hard to find another person like you," Orta praised Theodore as well.

Theodore had no idea what to do hearing the praise from the two magicians.

Vince Haidel and Orta… Both of them were people who contributed to Meltor and had practiced magic far longer than Theodore. He didn't want them to be displeased at the quick accomplishments of a junior, but he couldn't see any signs of that on their faces.

Theodore embraced the feelings of intense joy and admiration, and he felt his heart beat faster.

'I've met some really good people.'

Perhaps this sense of belonging was Meltor's real power. They didn't monopolize knowledge alone, taught their fellow magicians, and didn't have the envious mindset. It was like paradise compared to the Andras Empire, where there was a strict order between teacher and disciple.

"Ah, that reminds me, Master." At that moment, a question about Sylvia popped into the mind of Theodore, who felt better. "I'm curious about what happened in the capital during the year I was away. For example, Sylvia was aware that I left…"

"Hrmm." Perhaps this a heavier topic than Theo had thought, as Vince groaned before opening his mouth to say, "Okay, let me explain what I know."

The story that emerged was more than Theodore had expected. Sylvia had found out about Theodore's departure a while after he'd left. Then she had stayed in her room for a week. A week later, her change had begun quietly.

Sylvia would read books all day or practice in the training rooms. She had become quieter but more violent than ever. As she immersed herself in magic, she didn't even care about her body being hurt.

It wouldn't have been a big deal for someone else, but Theodore's departure had caused changes in Sylvia. She had more talent and aptitude than others, but she had grown up without knowing desperation.

Even with Theodore, she just had the childish desire to compete with him. However, now, Sylvia had changed her perception of magic away from 'playing.'

"You've already noticed it, haven't you?"

"Yes, definitely." Theodore nodded as he recalled the shock of that moment. "She has already finished the 6th Circle."

Sylvia had a shocking and frightening talent. Theodore had struggled, even while using the cheat, Gluttony. The 'wall,' which was hard to overcome with even superior talent, had been penetrated by Sylvia after she had a change of mindset.

However, that wasn't what Vince was trying to say. He looked at Theodore and declared, "That child wants to follow you."

"Huh? Me?"

"Yes. Just like a chick who thinks of the first person it sees after hatching from its egg as its mother, you have become a presence like that to her."

For the very first time in her life, she'd met a boy who could match her and who she'd gone on adventures with. It was natural for Theodore to become a big existence to Sylvia, who was like a blank piece of paper.

However, that boy had left and walked alone. The girl, unfamiliar with asking other people for help, then found her own answer: because she was weak, she had become his burden. Therefore, Sylvia had decided to become stronger. She would become stronger than the boy who defeated her, or at the very least, enough to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with him.

Theodore hadn't realized it until he heard these words. It was then that he finally understood what Sylvia meant by being 'prepared.'

As he drank his coffee while in shock, Vince nodded and advised him, "I won't ask you to meet her straight away, but you shouldn't forget this."

"…Yes, I will keep that in mind."

Theodore had already excluded 'qualifications' and 'age' as excuses. He emptied his cup as he once again realized his own immaturity that Seimei's test had shown him. It might be the atmosphere, but the aftertaste of the sweet coffee was slightly bitter.

* * *

After finishing his story, Theodore was summoned to the royal palace at around 9 p.m. It might be because the afternoon meeting took too long, or perhaps it was to avoid the eyes of others.

Without daring to guess the reason, Theodore passed through the palace's central garden while the stars shone above his head. He walked over a hundred steps beyond the garden and arrived at his destination.

It was a place he had visited a few times in the past. The guard standing before the door recognized Theodore and spoke politely, "It is an honor. Go ahead and enter."

Theodore lightly returned the greeting before taking a deep breath and entering. In general, the guards opened the door while calling the name of the person entering, but the nature of this meeting was a little different.

The guard didn't need to explain how it was different. Theodore could tell as soon as the doors opened.

The Blue Tower Master, Blundell Adruncus…

The White Tower Master, Orta…

The minister for the military, Robert Alpenheimer…

And the minister of domestic affairs, Jerome Violeta…

Aside from Veronica who was absent for some reason, the main powers of the Meltor Kingdom were sitting around a circular table and staring at him. Of course, at the center was a man with purple eyes sitting on a gorgeous throne, Kurt III.

As the door closed behind him, Theodore bowed down to the king. "A Prime of the Red Tower, Viscount Theodore Miller greets the Great Sun of Meltor."

"You can stop bowing now."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Theodore got up and met the eyes of a brightly smiling Kurt.

Then Kurt III spoke in a mischievous tone, "It has been a while, hero who left home. Where did you go and what did you go?"

"Thanks to Your Majesty's concern, I have returned safely."

"Is that so? But I don't think you enjoyed a trip without any incidents. If you don't mind, please tell your story to the people gathered here."

"Yes Your Majesty… Ah." Theodore's expression changed as something popped into his head. "Before I start talking, I have to apologize to Your Majesty."

"Hoh? For what?" Kurt III asked with a confused expression.

Theodore showed his blank wrist and apologized, "During a battle, I lost the bracelet that Your Majesty lent to me. Please forgive me for being inadequate."

"Hah? That hard bracelet? How did you manage that?"

"It couldn't be helped. I was fighting one of the empire's Seven Swords."

Despite his lighthearted tone, the atmosphere of the room changed immediately. Some of the people in the room knew this in advance, but the people who didn't know were shocked. For Meltor, a battle with their greatest enemy, the empire's Seven Swords, couldn't end without any bloodshed. If so, Theodore standing in this place meant…

As everyone was filled with expectation and excitement, Kurt III raised his hand. "Okay, start the story from there. Regardless of when the incident occurred, I would like you to report in the order of most important."

"I will follow Your Majesty's words." Theodore responded to their expectations by opening his mouth and telling his story, "It was just after I saw the devastation in the Information Guild…"

It was a story he had already told to the White Tower Master and Vince, so he was able to make the context more interesting. Sometimes furious, sometimes calm, the voice of the young man resonated in the room.

All of the Meltor Kingdom's most important people were silent as the hero's story was told…

And no one was able to open their mouths until the story was over.