Chapter 58: The Magic Kingdom (4)

The opponent was shrouded in a black robe, making it impossible to see their appearance. With the exit blocked and light diminished, even guessing was out of the question.

But I could feel the gaze from the darkness. They were watching me intently.

Then, a voice laced with curiosity and intrigue emanated from within the robe.

"Hmm, this is a first. There are traces of magic training, but you hardly look like a mage..."

They muttered, pondering. But their deliberation didn't last long.

"Hand over the mage behind you, and I'll let you go."

I couldn't help but scoff at their words.

"A murderer like you sure talks a big game."

"Mages are a plague that shouldn't exist in this world. You're too young to understand..."

"Sorry to interrupt."

I cut them off.

"I'm not some kid who needs coddling. And I couldn't care less about your beggar-level ideology."

With that, I kicked off the ground and charged.

They sighed.

"Foolish. You can't comprehend the greater purpose."

As they spoke, a spell activated centered on them.

Whoosh—!!

A fierce gust of wind surged, enveloping me in an instant. The condensed mana dispersed into the air. My sword aura, enhanced body—everything reverted to normal.

"You know your state now. Surrender, and I'll let you go."

I ignored the offer completely.

The Mage Killer. Unassuming entrance aside, this guy was seriously dangerous. Sure, the moniker made him sound like a threat only to mages, but that was far from the truth.

His magic endangered all mana users.

The effect was simple: exposure to the caster's mana waves collapsed the target's mana. Hit by it, mana operation became impossible, like my current state.

The caster, immune, could wield mana and spells freely. Fighting him was inherently disadvantageous.

But that assumed a mediocre opponent. I deliberately controlled my heartbeat, accelerating blood flow.

Thump, thump.

My heart pounded fiercely. Oxygen flooded my body, invigorating me.

In that moment, I reached the Mage Killer.

He drew a dagger from his waist, assuming a defensive stance. But there was a hint of laxity.

With his invincible spell active, it was understandable. So I let it hit me on purpose.

I flexed my muscles. Pure power surged from my entire body. I channeled that raw muscular force into Karsa.

And swung.

Slash—!!

A clean severing of the shoulder. Karsa's sharpness combined with pure physical might sliced through the enhanced body effortlessly.

The arm and part of the shoulder flew through the air. Blood spurted from the severed stump.

"Guhk—!"

The Mage Killer's voice was thick with shock. He hurriedly created distance.

Instead of pursuing, I grabbed the airborne arm and tossed it behind me.

The Mage Killer had superior regeneration via his mystery ability. He could reattach a severed arm easily.

Look at that. The stump was already healing. Blood was regenerating in real-time, restoring color.

"Senior, could you dispose of that?"

"...Gross."

She grimaced slightly but obliged my request. Passing through Ruina Lindel's hands, his arm disintegrated beyond recognition.

"How...?"

He stared at me in disbelief.

"What? What's so surprising?"

"...Even a knight without mana is just a normal human. How...?"

His reaction was understandable. A knight's superhuman strength came from mana. Without it, they were merely tougher humans, as he said.

Swordsmanship was the same. Without mana, it couldn't even muster a fraction of its power.

"How? It's all muscle."

Knights without mana were indeed unimpressive, but they had trained bodies.

"...Human training has limits. Without mana, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠humans can't even shatter rock."

"True enough."

I agreed. Pure physical limits existed.

But he was mistaken—there were plenty of ways to boost output without mana. They were just inefficient and time-consuming.

Plus, I had Karsa. Cutting him would be weirder than not.

Of course, no intention of explaining.

"No need for details. Enough chit-chat."

My thighs swelled. I unleashed muscular power from my feet.

Without mana enhancement, my speed was slower. He dodged warily, perhaps wary from the hit.

Useless. Even if slower, I could ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠corner him. In this confined space with no escape, catching him was feasible.

Closing in, I swung Karsa.

Mana infused his dagger. Broadly, he qualified as a magic swordsman. He could manage sword aura.

Martial arts too, naturally. The dagger lunged sharply.

I hastily altered my sword's trajectory. Muscles strained heavily, but no choice.

Clang!

The blocked dagger. Karsa wouldn't be pierced by mere sword aura.

With swords locked, I twisted my wrist. The dagger slid downward.

Anticipating, he tried to retrieve it. But it didn't go his way.

My swordsmanship insight far surpassed his.

And that was the opening.

Power focused in my right arm. Pure human force gathered.

I swung again.

No escape. He shouted desperately.

"Iron Skin!"

Incantation complete, his skin hardened.

Schwick—!

But a weak sound. The feedback felt off.

As expected, cleaving him in two is too much.

Double reinforcement via mana and magic was tough even for normal Karsa.

Still, not meaningless.

"Kuhk..."

A long diagonal gash across his chest. Deep enough to expose bone.

He retreated. I didn't pursue.

"This power without mana..."

Ragged breaths. But the wound healed swiftly, steadying his breathing.

"However, it was shallow. Without mana, humans are..."

I interrupted.

"Yeah, shallow. But that's enough."

I bent down, picked up the fallen necklace, and showed it to him.

"What's this?"

"Why is that there...!"

He jolted in shock.

[Mana Collapse] had glaring strengths masking its weakness: a mere 1m range.

Outside that, he was harmless.

But this artifact eliminated that flaw.

[Magic Amplification] boosted range. At max, up to 500m—fully covering the spell's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠weakness.

Now in my hands, his enforced dominance waned.

I drew mana from my dantian.

The difference with and without was stark.

Thud!

I kicked off and charged. He unleashed mana, expanding his spell maximally.

The supposed 1m limit stretched to 2m.

"As long as you use mana, you can't escape my spell!!"

"That's only when I can't use mana."

Arden swordsmanship had multiple anti-mage techniques, like Mana Breaker.

I cloaked Karsa in sword aura and swung.

The anti-magic sword aura shot forth. Magic dissolved upon touching the blade.

Even if his spell decomposed mana, it was still magic—powerless against anti-magic properties.

"This can't be... I still have to eradicate the world's mages..."

As I closed in unhindered, he backpedaled.

But not for long. I reached him.

"Can't say anything nice, so just... goodbye."

Final words delivered, I raised Karsa.

"I still..."

Before finishing, head and body separated.

No ability could recover from decapitation.

I shook blood from Karsa and returned to Ruina Lindel.

"Done."

"Quick work."

"Wasn't tough."

With intel advantage, victory was assured. Fight was short.

"Spoils?"

"Yeah, this."

"Lemme see."

I handed over the artifact readily. She examined it closely.

"Well-made. But don't use it. Madness-inducing."

She warned.

"Is it?"

"Yeah. Use as material."

I knew that. Amplification came at insanity's cost.

Unlike magic tools, artifacts often bore side effects as power's price.

"Shall we go?"

"Yeah. Dust off."

Ruina Lindel cleared dirt with mana—from my fight.

I approached the tossed-aside Petus, nudging him with my foot.

"Hey, wake up. How long you gonna fake it?"

Twitch!

"Can't even act right. Should I bury you as a corpse?"

"I-I'm up!"

Petus finally opened his eyes, flailing to prove he lived.

The more I saw, the less he seemed like ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a 6-circle mage.

"Lead the way. Least you can do after protection."

"B-but I'm a patient..."

"Oh? Want me to make it real?"

"N-no, I'll guide...!"

He scurried ahead.

"Eek! A body...!"

He yelped at the corpse midway. Pathetic. A 6-circle mage never killed?

Doubted his combat experience. Unreliable, but useful for quick exit.

Crowds were probably gathering outside.

Petus's Magic Tower affiliation and 6-circle status smoothed things. No investigation, no hassle.

He fronted, so minimal talk and we were free.

"Useless-looking, but handy sometimes?"

"Only 'cause it was the Mage Killer! And I'm older. Show some respect..."

"Respect my ass. I'm already lenient. Wanna see what no respect gets you?"

"N-no thanks..."

Tail between legs, yet he pushes. Classic type—give an inch, they climb.

Ignore him. More importantly...

"Still disappointing, though. We solved it, yet nothing."

"Tower's full of old fogeys. They wouldn't give anyway."

"Really?"

"Yeah. They'd drag it out."

Makes sense. Not called stubborn for nothing. Closed-off, elders clinging to power—no generational shift.

As she said, reporting to Tower would've meant detention for "investigation," not praise.

"But senior, got all materials?"

"Four left."

"Here in Parun?"

"Yeah."

Not just for mana essence. Parun's Magic Kingdom moniker and Tower drew magic materials. Some exclusive here—probably now.

"Expensive, huh?"

Mine permit alone cost 1,000 gold. This would be more.

"Fine. Got plenty."

Gold pouch still weighed heavy.

"Senior's rich, after all."

"You too. Prize money."

"Not compared to you."

Chit-chat, then I broached.

"Senior, don't you feel a bit wronged?"

"Why?"

"We did the work, no reward."

"It's fine."

"Can't let it slide."

I eyed trailing Petus intently.

"Old saying: repay favors."

She tilted her head, puzzled. Sensing doom, Petus backpedaled.

"I'm done, so I'll..."

"Where to? Saved your life—pay up."

I grabbed his collar.

"Th-thanks for help. But not life-saving. I healed myself..."

"Sure?"

"Y-yes! Let me repay... please!"

A glare and polite persuasion worked.

"Let's go, senior."

"Thanks, Petus."

"No, I..."

After, we shopped Tower and capital for contest materials. Bought gifts for Rana, Elraim too.

Petus footed all.

"My gold..."

Over 4,000 gold, his eyes lost will to live.

Student or not, cheap considering Tower/mine gigs. Noble anyway—affordable. Family'd chew him out, though.

"All bought? Let's head out."

"No business left."

Done, to warp gate. She covered fee.

"Never come back, you demons!"

Petus yelled bitterly behind us. Tormented, clearly.

Back at academy, dropped items at workshop, chatted with her, then dorm.

"Kyle, back quick?"

"Welcome, young master."

They greeted warmly. I showed Parun food.

"Haven't eaten?"

Lunch under noon sky. Gave gifts, talked idly.

Day passed like that.

Days later. Craft Department held the making contest.