Chapter 28
“Markel’s group seems to have made their nest in the southwest of the Empire, in the Mist Valley.”
“Mist Valley…”
“Do you know the place?”
“Yes… somewhat.”
It was a familiar name.
It was the very path Renia’s resistance army had chosen as their escape route after losing the final battle against the Magic Emperor.
At the end of that valley, we had enjoyed a single night of rest… and then fought the Magic Emperor to our deaths.
In other words, the place where I died. You could even call it my grave.
“Markel is planning to meet with other dark mages there. It seems they’re plotting something. If we ambush them on site, Benheim will catch two birds with one stone.”
“A perfect opportunity.”
“Exactly. We cannot miss it.”
Markel, the dark mage, was the one who assassinated Stern in my previous life with the help of the Magic Emperor. Compared to the elder Veron, who couldn’t reveal anything due to restrictions, Markel was a far more valuable target.
“What are you planning to do, Lord?”
“I will dispatch the Rune Surveillance Unit to hunt them down.”
‘The Rune Surveillance Unit…’
I had heard of them before from Renia in my past life.
— The Rune Surveillance Unit. It’s a group made up of only Benheim’s best mages. Though, from a child’s perspective, they just seemed like a bunch of weirdos.
Only the most talented mages from branch families could join. It was the ultimate goal and dream of anyone who came to Benheim.
If such an elite force was mobilized, there was little to worry about regarding the mission’s success.
However…
“My lord, may I join the operation as well?”
Stern smirked as if he had expected my request.
“Reagan, why do you wish to participate?”
“Well… Markel targeted Renia. As her fiancé, it’s only right that I take part in punishing him.”
“I admire your resolve. But this is not a festival like the hunting event, nor a casual outing like the one you had with Renia this morning. These men are cornered rats. And cornered rats bite. It will be dangerous.”
“I’m more of a beast than a cat.”
At my reply, Stern chuckled.
“I don’t disagree with that. But if Renia finds out you’re joining such a dangerous mission, won’t she be furious?”
“…That’s true.”
She definitely would be.
“Well, if she doesn’t find out…”
“You plan to lie to your fiancée? In front of her father?”
“She snuck out of the territory herself this time. Let’s call it even.”
Stern shook his head, though it seemed he wasn’t entirely displeased.
“Don’t worry. Arno and Renia will be joining the operation as well.”
“Seriously? Didn’t you say it was dangerous?”
“It is. But the dark mages have already revealed themselves. After what happened during the hunting festival, I won’t keep my children locked away in safety. They are future leaders of Benheim. They must gain real combat experience while they still can.”
He paused before continuing.
“However, they will remain with the main force under my direct mage corps for protection. You, on the other hand, are different. You possess a talent the Rune Surveillance Unit needs. So if you’re willing…”
“That’s exactly what I want.”
Stern smiled in satisfaction.
“I thought you’d say that. I already told them to leave a spot open for you.”
The headquarters of the Rune Surveillance Unit was located beneath the tall magic tower within Benheim’s territory.
Creeeak.
As the heavy door opened, the interior was revealed. The room itself looked rather plain for an elite unit.
But the people inside were anything but ordinary.
Dozens of mages turned to look at me. Every single one of them was at least 5th Circle.
Compared to the status 5th Circle mages held when I was a wandering mercenary, this place was nothing short of a den of monsters.
Their gazes were not friendly.
Sharp. Cold.
To them, I was just a commoner brat who had taken Renia, an outsider who had barged in under Stern’s protection.
‘Doesn’t matter.’
It was no different from when Renia brought me into the resistance in my previous life.
Back then, I was also treated as an outsider.
While I waited, someone approached me.
A middle-aged man with faded blond hair.
“So you’re the kid who came today?”
“…Valen.”
“Oh? Sheryl already told you my name? That’s boring.”
He scratched his head lazily.
Valen Wyrd von Benheim.
In my previous life, he had aged into a gray-haired veteran, but his face was still the same.
The strategist of the resistance.
Among all the survivors of the Benheim family, he was one of the most capable. Not only was he at the peak of the 6th Circle, but his ability to read the battlefield was exceptional.
Even against the Magic Emperor’s army, it was thanks to Valen that the resistance didn’t collapse immediately.
He was also the one who bought us time to escape during the final battle.
“…What’s with that old-man smile?”
Valen frowned and extended his hand.
His palm was rough and scarred.
For a mercenary, rough hands were something to respect.
“Anyway, let me introduce myself. I’m Valen, leader of the 1st squad of the Rune Surveillance Unit. You’ll be assigned to my squad.”
“I’m Reagan.”
“I know. The brat who stole Lady Renia. Your reputation is all over the family.”
He gripped my hand tightly and smirked.
“I hear you’ve got good instincts.”
“Instincts?”
“Yeah. You can sniff out dark magic. You exposed Markel and Elder Veron, didn’t you?”
So that was the “talent” Stern mentioned.
“Well… I do have a good sense for it.”
“Hah. You’ve got guts. Not very mage-like.”
Valen grinned and pulled me closer.
“These are your seniors. Don’t bother trying to get friendly. Most of them aren’t normal anyway.”
That was obvious.
Their stares were unfriendly.
“You might look down on them, but they’re Benheim’s finest. Remember that it’s a privilege for someone like you to even be here.”
“I understand.”
“Most importantly…”
Valen pointed a finger at my face.
“We don’t care if you’re Lady Renia’s fiancé. You’re just a mage here. If you fail to prove your worth, I’ll personally throw you out of this unit.”
His personality hadn’t changed at all.
But I knew who he truly was.
A man who gave his life to protect Renia.
“No need to worry. I’ll do my part, captain.”
“…Hmph.”
He snorted at my answer.
When Stern first gave the order, the unit strongly opposed it.
“A 3rd Circle brat? This is ridiculous.”
The minimum requirement was 5th Circle. And I had only recently joined the family.
But Stern didn’t budge.
“You’ll like him, Valen.”
That was just a day ago.
Now…
“…Hmm.”
Valen watched my magic with a frown.
“You said you’ve only been learning magic for four months?”
“Yes.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Look me in the eye and say that again.”
“I already am.”
Valen watched the spells I cast.
Kenaz. Isa. Hagalaz.
Basic rune spells of Benheim.
But that wasn’t the important part.
“Where did you learn multi-casting?”
I had cast all three at once.
Even for a 3rd Circle mage, that was rare.
And I had only been learning for four months.
Even with elixirs, multi-casting required pure talent.
Valen had never seen anything like it.
“…It just worked.”
More than anything, what he liked was my attitude.
Not noble. Not arrogant.
Practical.
Unrefined.
As a mage, I failed.
But as a magic user, I was excellent.
“Hey.”
“Yes?”
“You…”
Valen pointed at me.
“I’ll forge you into a proper blade.”
His interest was clear.
He wanted to see just how far I could grow.
