Chapter 22
“…You, how did you do that?”
After killing the beast and wiping the blue blood off my sword, Petra Lucen approached and asked.
“My magic couldn’t even pierce its skin. But how… with just a single sword…”
Petra’s face was pale, as if she still couldn’t believe what she had just seen.
“No matter how strong a beast is, not every part of its body is equally tough.”
I answered casually while checking my blade. One side of the edge was already chipped badly.
“What do you mean?”
“A beast is still a living creature. The joints where it bends are always weaker. Like behind the knees or the jaw joint.”
“How… how do you even know that?”
“Who knows.”
I shrugged.
“Experience, I guess.”
I had fought beasts dozens of times in my past life.
I had probably killed more beasts than the number of battles I fought under the Demon King of Magic’s forces.
“Reagan is amazing. We already have eight kills.”
Renia walked out proudly and showed her badge.
“What?”
Petra was shocked when she saw the score. Arno didn’t say anything, but his expression showed he was clearly irritated.
Meanwhile, I looked at the rapidly decaying beast corpse and frowned.
“So they really released a real beast… they’ve got guts.”
We were lucky the beast was a simple physical enhancement type that only charged forward.
If it had been a beast that used magic or disrupted mana, we would have struggled far more.
But there was another problem.
“…Tch.”
I clicked my tongue while looking at my chipped sword.
Because of forcing through the beast’s thick tendons and bones, the cheap iron sword had reached its limit.
From now on, I would have to fight with a broken blade.
That already gave me a headache.
“You all, let’s leave first.”
“Okay.”
Staying here was dangerous.
Arno and Renia nodded. Petra followed silently, still wounded by her pride.
But before we could leave, someone pushed through the bushes.
“Are you all safe?”
It was an old man with white hair. The robe he wore had the Benheim emblem clearly marked.
“Elder Beron!”
“Grandpa!”
Arno and Renia brightened up.
Beron, one of the five elders of House Benheim.
And I knew him as well.
Elder Beron. A rot within the family.
The one who disabled the family’s protective spell system in cooperation with the Demon King of Magic.
He was also the leader of the dark mages hiding inside Benheim.
Among the list Renia had told me, he was at the very top.
“Renia… Arno… and even the Lucen heir.”
Beron looked around sharply. His eyes paused on the beast I had killed.
“…You killed this beast?”
“Yes.”
“….”
For a brief moment, disappointment flashed in his eyes.
So he’s upset that his experiment was destroyed.
That confirmed it.
This man didn’t come to save us.
“Let’s leave. The Hunting Festival has been stopped. Benheim mages are handling the situation.”
“Elder, what is going on?”
“We don’t know yet. It might be due to a mana vein eruption that caused the beasts to appear.”
Renia’s expression changed slightly. She already knew about the dark mage involvement from me.
But she stayed quiet.
“Who are you…”
Beron looked at me.
“The child brought by the head of the family… what was your name?”
“Reagan.”
“Yes, Reagan. Come with us. This place is dangerous.”
I thought for a moment.
Could I fight him here?
The answer was obvious.
No.
Even if I could, it wasn’t worth it.
A 6th circle mage. And a dark mage at that.
I didn’t know what tricks he might have.
And if a figure like him was personally here, it meant others were nearby too.
Still, I wasn’t worried.
If things went wrong, Stern would intervene.
Outside the barrier, Benheim and Lucen forces were waiting.
6th circle and 7th circle difference was enormous.
Even Marquel, who had been crushed by Stern, was a 6th circle mage.
Kaiden Lucen was also outside.
So time was on our side.
All we had to do was stall until the barrier was broken.
“Let’s go.”
Renia glanced at me. I gave a small nod.
Guided by Beron, we moved deeper into the forest.
Arno and Petra were chatting behind us, relieved.
But I slowed my steps and observed carefully.
The direction we were going was wrong.
Not toward the Benheim main estate.
It was deeper into the forest.
A dead end.
The terrain and wind told me everything.
They were leading us straight into a trap.
I stopped.
“Elder, my legs hurt. Let’s rest for a moment.”
Beron turned around with a frown.
“Hold on. It’s dangerous here. Mages from Benheim are waiting ahead.”
“Then call them here.”
“What?”
“We’re all important people, aren’t we? Why should we go to them? Just bring a carriage or something.”
Arno panicked.
“Reagan! What are you saying to the elder!”
Ignoring him, I sat down.
Beron’s eyebrow twitched.
“Reagan… this is an emergency. This is not the time for childish behavior.”
“Yes, I know it’s an emergency. My legs just gave out from stress. Unless you want to carry me?”
Renia smirked and sat down beside me.
“…Now that I think about it, my legs hurt too.”
Beron looked at us silently.
Then his expression changed.
“Since when did you notice?”
“From the moment you showed your face. The smell was terrible.”
“…I see. So you saw through Marquel as well. That explains why Stern brought you in.”
He stepped back slightly.
Arno’s face stiffened.
“E-Elder! What is going on?”
“Arno, do you still think this man is a Benheim mage?”
Arno bit his lip.
He had talent. He could feel it too.
The mana around Beron’s body was the same as the beast’s.
“Why…”
“Let me ask one thing.”
I spoke.
“Who is behind you?”
“What does it matter to a dead man?”
“At least knowing makes dying less unfair.”
“The great King of Magic. A prophet who will lead humanity to a higher stage.”
Demon King of Magic.
Just as expected.
“Didn’t expect you to survive the beast. But it doesn’t matter. You can’t do anything. Surrender quietly.”
Beron spread his arms and smiled.
I could feel them.
Dark mages were surrounding us from all sides.
“Reagan… what do we do?”
Renia asked nervously.
“I don’t know.”
Right now, all I had was a broken sword.
And I couldn’t even coat a broken blade with aura.
I could only use Benheim rune magic and basic spells.
But I only knew four runes.
Against a 6th circle mage, that was nothing.
Even if Arno, Renia, and Petra helped, it wasn’t enough.
Still…
My eyes landed on Petra.
Her sword magic came to mind.
Constructed Sword Magic.
Mana turned into threads, forming swords.
That was exactly what I needed.
“Hey, Petra.”
I placed my hand on her shoulder.
She was trembling.
“I… I hate this… I’m going to tell my father… I’m going to tell him…”
“Do that later. I need a favor.”
“…A favor?”
“Tell me about Lucen’s sword creation magic.”
Petra’s eyes widened.
“You’re insane. Why would I tell you that? Especially to a commoner like you!”
“Then we all die here.”
“Ugh.”
She swallowed hard.
“Do you even know what they’ll do? They’ll cut you open, remove your organs, extract your core, and turn it into pills…”
Her teeth clattered.
She was scared.
“Just show me how it works.”
“…Impossible. Even if I explain it, a 3rd circle mage like you can’t learn it.”
“Of course I can. I’m more talented than you.”
Petra frowned but didn’t deny it.
Finally, she gave up.
“Fine… but don’t tell anyone. This is secret…”
She raised her hand.
Red mana threads formed in the air.
A sword was created.
I watched closely.
Every step.
Mana threads from the core.
The structure.
The knots.
Everything.
“I see.”
“You understood just by looking once?”
Petra couldn’t believe it.
“Anyway, controlling the sword is—”
“Don’t need it.”
I cut her off.
There wasn’t time.
I stepped forward and faced Beron.
I dropped the broken sword.
And raised both hands.
Beron smiled widely.
“So you surrender?”
“No.”
Not even close.
I was going to fight.
With a newly created sword.
