Chapter 11
The air in the annex felt heavy.
I looked out the window.
In the garden, servants holding brooms were busy cleaning up the traces of the duel.
Most of it was Arno’s nosebleed stains.
Maybe because of that, the looks the servants threw at me as they passed by were far from friendly.
‘Well, even if I won the duel, I’m still an outsider.’
A rolling stone had scratched a firmly embedded one. And the fact that the embedded stone was Arno von Benheim, the heir of this family, only made things more troublesome.
It felt like the wariness and hostility the Benheim mages had toward me had grown even clearer.
Right then, I heard steady footsteps coming up the stairs.
“Sir Reagan, the head of the family has come to see you.”
The maid, Cheryl, said.
“Hmm…”
The head of the family, Stern von Benheim.
I was wondering when he would come.
After all, I had punched his son in the face. It wouldn’t be strange if he was furious.
“Reagan, I heard what happened.”
Stern entered the room, hung his hat on the rack, and sat down.
There were many things I could say in my defense. More than anything, it had been a fair duel, so I had nothing to be ashamed of.
Still, I had enough sense to read the room.
So I decided to act like a child who had just broken a window.
“…My lord, I deeply regret what happened.”
“What exactly do you regret?”
“…Well.”
“See? You don’t actually think you did anything wrong.”
Either I had no talent for acting, or Stern’s insight as a great mage was simply too sharp. He saw right through me.
“Reagan, let me make this clear. I didn’t come here to blame you.”
Stern had a faint smile on his face.
“I heard my son Arno wagered an elixir in the duel.”
“…Yes, that’s correct.”
“An elixir is a treasure carefully managed even within Benheim. It’s not something just anyone can take, and it’s not something we can easily give to an outsider.”
“Yes, I understand. I only said it casually. You don’t need to worry about it.”
It was unreasonable to expect to gain something like an elixir from a single duel. Even low-grade potions sold in the market were in high demand. No one would willingly hand over an elixir to an outsider mage.
“Reagan, I’ll say it again. I didn’t come here to blame you.”
But what Stern said next was unexpected.
“Benheim never breaks a promise. Especially when the one who made it is my son, the heir of this family. As both the head of the family and his father, it is only right that I give you the elixir.”
“…?”
“However, to take an elixir out of storage, I need approval from the elders. So instead, I’ll make you another offer. I’ll give you something even better than an elixir. Are you interested?”
“Something better than an elixir… what is it?”
At my question, Stern smiled slightly.
“I heard from Cheryl that you haven’t formed your mana core yet. Is that true?”
“…Don’t tell me.”
“Yes, exactly that. Originally, I planned to give you one of the best mana cultivation methods available on the market once you became a proper mage. But since you defeated my son, you’ve already proven your talent.”
Stern smiled broadly and declared,
“I will teach you Benheim’s unique mana cultivation method.”
Even I, who had experienced countless things, couldn’t hide my surprise.
A mana cultivation method was the deepest root of magic. In other words, it was the foundation of a family.
“My lord, are you serious?”
“When have I ever lied? Benheim is a family that keeps its word.”
“But I don’t carry Benheim blood. I’ve only been here for a week. More importantly, I’m not even officially part of Benheim yet.”
“Do you think that’s a problem?”
“…Isn’t it?”
“No, you’re right. It is a problem. A very big one. If the elders find out, they’ll be furious. And if other families hear about it, they’ll try to recruit you no matter what.”
Stern continued casually,
“But if I, the head of the family, decide to fully support a promising talent, who can stop me? There may be opposition, but not enough to overturn my decision.”
I didn’t know much about nobles, but I had heard stories during my time as a mercenary. Most nobles were arrogant and proud.
But what about Stern? Just a few hours ago, I had knocked his son down, and yet he was willing to teach me a secret technique without hesitation.
He was even more generous than Renia had described.
“Reagan, before I am the head of the family, I am also a mage. So I must say this. A mana cultivation method is the very foundation of a mage. If you learn Benheim’s method, it means you will share the same roots as us.”
“….”
“This is not something to take lightly. If you choose to learn it, you won’t be able to easily leave Benheim. Are you fine with that?”
I smiled inwardly.
I was already on the same side as Renia.
There was no reason to hesitate.
“…That’s exactly what I want.”
Stern stroked his mustache in satisfaction.
“Good. Follow me. We’ll go to the ley line.”
Benheim County was vast.
There was a main building that looked like a castle, a tall magic tower, and four annex buildings. Surrounding them all was a half-circle garden.
As expected of a magic family, even the garden was unusual. Following the path behind the main building, we came to a waterfall, and beneath it was a small altar.
“This is the ley line. It’s also called a mana vein.”
Stern said.
“In Benheim’s thousand-year history, this place has always been important. What do you feel, Reagan?”
The density of mana in the area was incredibly high.
It felt like every hair on my body was standing on end.
“If it’s here, I could even use third-circle magic.”
“Haha. That’s right. Your mana sensitivity is excellent. As you said, the mana here is far superior in both quantity and quality. It’s the perfect place to form a mana core.”
Stern led me to a large rock near the waterfall.
“Sit here.”
I sat cross-legged. Stern gestured to Allet, who handed me a book with an annoyed expression.
It was old and worn, tied with a purple string.
“What is this?”
“It’s the book that contains Benheim’s mana cultivation method. It’s been hundreds of years since this was shown to an outsider.”
“May I read it?”
“That’s why I gave it to you.”
I opened the book.
It was written in an ancient language, but there were notes, so it wasn’t too difficult to understand.
After reading for a while, I was amazed.
‘This is insane.’
I had traveled the world as a mercenary for nearly ten years. During that time, I had studied countless mana methods and combined the best parts.
But this one was on a completely different level.
As expected of a family that used rune magic, the structure of the method was perfectly designed for it.
“Do you understand it?”
“Somewhat.”
In truth, I understood everything immediately. But to avoid suspicion, I acted like a child.
“Good. You don’t need to rush. Forming a mana core takes time. You can come here whenever you want, study the method, and make it your own. If you have questions, ask Cheryl or any of the mages.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“Since it’s your first day, I’ll guide you a little. Straighten your back.”
Stern placed his hand on my back.
A strange sensation moved along my spine.
“Forming a mana core means creating a place in your body where mana can gather. Right here, do you feel it?”
His mana touched my lower abdomen.
“Take in the mana from the ley line and guide it here. You must learn to absorb mana like breathing. The method helps with that. Follow it slowly.”
“Yes.”
It wasn’t difficult.
I had done it many times before.
I closed my eyes and felt the flow of mana.
Benheim used rune magic, so their method followed its nature.
But…
‘I’ll need to adjust this a bit.’
Why should I just follow their method exactly?
I had already seen the limit.
Even Renia, who used this same method, couldn’t defeat the Archmage King.
What I needed now was something beyond that.
A method that could surpass him.
A method that could combine both aura and magic.
And I had just found the perfect foundation.
‘I hope you don’t mind.’
I planned to create a new method based on Benheim’s.
Starting now.
I calmed my breathing.
Then, skillfully, I began to control the mana.
“Hmm…”
Stern watched and clicked his tongue in amazement.
Reagan was breathing steadily, and there was clearly mana in his breath.
“Do you see that, Allet?”
“Yes.”
“That boy learned how to breathe mana in less than half a day. What do you think?”
“…He’s a genius.”
Even Allet had to admit it.
Handling mana and absorbing mana were completely different things.
No matter how talented someone was, absorbing mana was a different level.
And Reagan was exceptional.
“Someone with good talent might feel mana in a day. But I didn’t expect this level. I don’t even need to guide him.”
Stern laughed.
“Let’s leave him. We won’t disturb him.”
“Yes.”
They left quietly.
Reagan didn’t even glance at them. His focus never broke.
On the way back, Allet spoke carefully.
“My lord, there is something I must report.”
“What is it?”
“It’s about the boy learning the family’s mana method.”
Stern nodded.
If the elders found out, they would be furious.
“His talent is undeniable. But if this spreads outside, other families won’t stay still.”
If people learned that Reagan had learned Benheim’s method, his life would be in danger.
“And it’s not just outside. The branch families will also strongly oppose this.”
Benheim was a large family.
There were many branch members training in magic.
If they heard that an outsider had learned the family’s secret, they wouldn’t stay quiet.
“Allet, don’t worry. Reagan is smart. He already understands his situation.”
“Are you testing him?”
“You could say that. If he overcomes this, he can truly be called a Benheim mage.”
“And if he succeeds?”
“Then he can live as one of the family.”
“We don’t even know his background. Even if he becomes a great mage, his past will hold him back.”
“Do you think I haven’t thought about that?”
“Then what will you do?”
“There’s only one way. We bring him into the family.”
“…You mean give him the family name? No outsider has ever received it.”
“There is a way.”
Stern smiled faintly.
At that moment, he saw Renia walking in the garden.
Allet followed his gaze and was shocked.
“You can’t mean… Lady Renia…”
“Enough, Allet. That’s only one option. The most important thing is her will. I won’t force her.”
Stern looked at Renia.
She was holding a basket of food, heading toward the ley line.
“Well… I don’t think it will take long.”
Stern sighed.
This heavy feeling in his chest—
was not as the head of the family,
but as a father.
