Chapter 10
The Northern Duke's daughter was a sword genius. Shwick shwick shwick. The troll's lower body collapsed. Unlike its massive bulk, it shattered pathetically. Thud-!! It buried itself in the snow with a massive crash. Sizzle! The monster's blood melted the snow. By the time the red blood soaked the ground intensely...
"...Oof..."
I covered my mouth with my hand, staring at what used to be a troll. Chills. Fuck, straight-up chills.
'This is magic?'
We're fucked. Yesterday, this thing had me shaking like a leaf, convinced we'd never take it down. And now? Magic. One shot. Does this even make sense?
'This is why they call 'em mages, huh?'
Jealousy surged. If I didn't get a grip, I'd piss myself from the hype. No way. I'm thirteen—past the age for that shit. If I were two years younger, I'd have lost it right there.
"...Wha... Wha..."
"Th... Th-that...?"
The soldiers looked just as shell-shocked as me. Eyes wide in awe. And those eyes turned to me.
"M-Mage... sir...?"
"Yeah. That's me, the mage."
"...Pardon?"
"If I ever kick the bucket someday, make sure to spread the word in the afterlife about this badass scene."
"What do you...?"
What else? Pure clownery. I'd fired off one spell, and it felt that good. I was acting like a total idiot.
'Fuck, can't hold it in.'
Euphoria overload. This was the real drug. The thrill was intoxicating.
"Hoo."
I barely calmed my breathing. It was awesome, sure. But first things first: assess the situation.
'Killed a troll.'
There were other mobs, but the soldiers handled those. What mattered was my magic dropping the troll.
'Pretty damn good, right?'
From the soldiers' reactions, this wasn't some pushover monster. And I'd one-shot it—
Drip drip.
"Cough."
Mid-thought, I clutched my mouth. Hot stuff pouring from my nose and lips. Blood.
"Huh."
Why the hell is this happening?
"Mage sir!"
Shocked soldiers rushed over. My knees buckled.
Fuck. 'My vision...'
Blurring. Heart pounding like mad.
-You just barely sealed it away.
Adoptive mom's voice—Elise—flashed in my mind.
-If you don't train hard, it'll flare up again.
Mana Sickness. The illness that hits right before becoming a mage. Something everyone else shrugs off easily. But not me, remember?
'No fucking way—'
Again? I thought I'd sealed it. Formed a circle, so it should be fine for a bit, right?
Thump-! Thump-!
My heart racing out of control said otherwise. What was wrong?
'What's—'
How do I calm this down? My heart squeezed like a vise. This felt like...
'Like that mana depletion shit?'
Two spells in, and I'd nearly died. Same vibe.
'Maybe—'
Mana issue? Tried moving—yep, confirmed.
'Bingo.'
Engine with empty fuel tank. It was throttling my body and throat.
Last time, rest fixed it. But...
'Not this time.'
Instinct screamed it. Just collapsing wouldn't cut it.
"Guhk—."
Need to refill mana. Or die.
'From where?'
How the hell do you refill mana? Isn't rest enough? Never learned this shit. No answers.
"Ma... sir... mage... sir."
Soldiers' voices fading. Just like before meeting crazy mom, dying from mana sickness.
'Back then—'
That strand floating in the air. Chased Elise's leaking mana and survived.
'...Huh...'
Thinking of it, something appeared in the air. Mana.
'That's...'
Where's it coming from? Traced it. Shockingly, from the troll's corpse.
Monster body leaking mana. Why there? Didn't question.
'...Fuck.'
I need that. Only thought filling my head. Without it, I'm dead. Die here? Fuck that.
'How—'
Learned one spell, die here? No way.
Can't die. So...
'Gimme.'
Staring at the leaking troll mana, it was like it read my mind.
Whoooosh-!!!
The floating mana surged toward me.
Shaaaa—!!
Mana pierced my body. Into the heart.
"Gasp... heuk..."
The choking pressure and thirst vanished instantly. Bleeding stopped. Vision cleared. Hearing returned.
"Haa... hak..."
Steadied my breath. Stumbled to my feet.
"Are you okay!?"
"Mage sir... please come to..."
"Prepare to return at once."
"I'm fine... just... a bit dizzy."
"B-but the blood..."
"Blood? Everyone bleeds and heals, right?"
"...Pardon?"
BS'd my way through, rolled my eyes. Tinnitus fading too.
'Whew, close call.'
Really almost died. Not from the troll—
'Shoulda feared this shitty body.'
Blamed myself for not watching this trash heap closer.
"Hoo."
Wiped sweat. In this cold? Proof of pure terror.
"...Still..."
Blood smeared under my nose, dripping to my chin. I grinned.
"Useful this time, huh?"
"..."
Soldiers froze at my smiling words. Their eyes shook like earthquakes. I grinned wider.
Then.
-H-Here it comes!
Shout from afar. Footsteps too.
Kwangak-!!!
Something burst through the snow, landing. Sword-wielding white-haired woman. Iris.
She arrived frantic, but...
"This is...?"
Froze at the scene.
"Late this time?"
"...What?"
Wiped blood from my nose with my sleeve.
"Ah, you missed the awesome scene, Lady Iris—."
Zing.
"Urk."
Staggered mid-sentence. What the fuck. Thought absorbing mana fixed it?
No time for that.
"Whoa. This ain't good..."
Consciousness flickered out.
Familiar ceiling. Yeah, my room. Slept here just a day or two, but already cozy. Nodded at it.
"Good. Didn't croak."
Passed out? What, once or twice? Lately, fainting like meals. This was routine now. Surviving's the win.
"Ngh..."
Forced myself up. Ugh, wiped.
'Why so sore?'
Every joint ached. Growing pains? Past life barely hit 170cm; hope this one's taller.
'This bullshit.'
Woke up, dumb thoughts already. Chuckled.
Glanced at window. Bright. Too bright?
'How long'd I sleep?'
Looked dead to the world; expected night. But midday?
'Weird.'
Stepped out puzzled. Yup, daytime. But...
'Where're the soldiers?'
No horde. Usually a couple around?
"Something happen?"
Tilted head, wandered. Fuck. Blasted killer magic, hyped to brag.
"No one to show off to."
Such a shame.
"Anyone around?"
Where'd everyone go? Wandered searching. Never explored the mansion; no clue where shit was.
Ah, can I roam free? Get caught, get yelled at? Whatever.
'Fuck it. Worst case, pull the thirteen-year-old card.'
Wahhh. I'm thirteen. Clueless kid. Play dumb perfect—might work. Or not.
"So where the hell is everyone?"
Puzzled, wandered. Then.
"Hm?"
Something there. Person. Snowy path. Someone crouched, staring.
What? Elderly man. Wrinkled face, but black hair.
Approached. Peered: flower in snow.
"Whatcha looking at?"
"Hm?"
Asked; he turned. Whoa.
'That face.'
Fierce beyond measure. Hard to even look at. If I were a real kid, I'd bawl.
"Hmmm?"
Stared piercingly. Sharp eyes, long scar over left. No ordinary geezer.
'Shit, shouldn'ta talked.'
Mistake. Spoke without thinking; wrong guy. Know the rule: weirdos? Avoid. Broke my top life rule in hype. Time to bail.
"Ah, sorry. Just curious. I'll be on my way."
Pretend stranger. Turned to go—
"Caught you."
"Pardon?"
Stood, saying it. Rose huge. Wait, how tall? Head way up. Over 2 meters? Ice troll? Humanoid monster?
Lost in thoughts, he asked.
"How'd you do it?"
"...Do what?"
Intimidation. Black eyes bored in. Met gaze—goosebumps everywhere.
"Asked how you found me."
"...Pardon?"
Found? You were just sitting.
"...You were right there."
"Hoh?"
Head tilt, intrigued. Then.
"I see."
Nodded, understanding. What? Senile? Sketchy. Bail now.
Turned quick—
"Name?"
"Huh?"
"Your name."
Name? Safe to say? Felt not.
Blurted anyway.
"Anbrasse."
"..."
"..."
Silence hit. I scratched cheek.
"Won't buy it, huh?"
"Nope."
Fair. Pretty mangled name.
-Ah, Ice Troll appeared...!!
A soldier called for backup. First to move? Iris again. Nearby on search.
Impossible spot for Ice Troll. Rare area. So Iris expanded patrol.
But.
'Again...!'
Another Ice Troll. In the safe zone now. She bolted instantly. Faster than yesterday. Gripped sword, full sprint.
"Lady Iris-!"
Ignored calls. Ran. If she didn't go, someone dies. Fail to save? Her fault. Like that time.
-Iris--!!
Mother's last cry. Iris ran and ran, thinking that.
'No.'
Save them. At least one. Desperate steps reached the spot quick.
"...Huh?"
Froze at the sight. Troll long dead. Soldiers gawking at someone. Boy standing calm. Useless non-mage mage. Archmage's disciple. Ruin smiling there.
-Late this time?
Bloody-faced words.
-Mage sir...!
Collapsed suddenly. Iris caught the fainting boy in the snow. Returned like that.
"Took down an Ice Troll?"
August scowled at the absurdity.
"Soldiers say so."
"...An Ice Troll?"
"Yes."
"...Hah."
Iris speaking it, even August couldn't believe. Ruin. That punk soloed an Ice Troll. With one spell.
August pinched brow, exhausted.
'...Ice Troll with magic...'
Unbelievable. Ice Troll: mid-tier monster, C-to-B rank for mercs. No pushover. Takes ten regular soldiers clinging to fell one.
Such a beast—
'One-shot. By a newbie mage who'd just learned magic.'
With weak-ass Thorn Arrow no less?
"Iris. You believe that?"
"No."
Firm. She was already Sword Expert. At sixteen. Empire record, barring ancestors Sword King and first Hero.
She could solo Ice Trolls alone, sure. But...
"...Solo kill? Hard to buy."
Ruin's kill? Unthinkable. Weak? Partly. But.
"Trolls resist mana."
Troll trait issue. Mana resistance. Mages hate 'em. Halve spell impact. Knights usually hunt trolls.
"Killing one with a single spell? Impossible."
Newbie mage succeeds? Who'd believe?
"Yeah, me neither."
August agreed. But.
"So soldiers lied?"
"...No."
"Many witnesses. Can't be false."
"..."
"Unbelievable doesn't make it untrue."
Reports matched. Mage Ruin predicted troll, one-shot with magic. Then bled out, collapsed. Consistent.
'Absurd, but...'
Wanna interrogate how. Can't.
'Slept full day.'
Out cold, won't wake. Body fine, but still.
"Hmmm..."
August sighed. Weird from arrival, getting stranger. And.
'This.'
One differing report note. Squad Leader Loden's line.
-Magic used, but no chant heard. Skipped basics chant.
How interpret that weirdness? What the.
'Elise.'
Worst witch alive. What'd she dump on me?
"Alphonse."
"Yes, my lord."
To the waiting butler.
"When Ruin wakes, tell him to come here."
"Understood."
Ruin issue aside, not time now. Of all times—
"Guest arriving soon."
Important figure visiting mansion.
"Guest?"
Iris reacted.
"Yes. Prepare yourself."
"Me too...?"
Sudden?
"Someone you'll love."
"What...?"
August smiled at Iris. Gift for daughter.
"Duke Colton Clay coming here."
"...!!"
Duke Colton Clay. Eyes widened, then sparkled starry.
"D-Duke Colton...?"
"Yes."
"Hah... hah."
Icy girl showed age-appropriate face. Blushing cheeks striking.
Colton Clay. Monumental to Iris. Any sword-bearer felt same.
'Master.'
Master Colton. Peak among sword users. Sword Master—celestial monsters. He ranked there.
Emperor's Sword, Empire's Guardian. Top in any sword talk. Old vet holding fronts fifty years.
Iris's top admired knight.
"H-how...?"
"Business nearby. Thought show you off. What say?"
"O-of course... great."
Trembling voice. August inwardly proud. Mature daughter showing rare innocence.
Satisfied reaction. If Iris happy, good. Seeing idol, father's heart soared seeing daughter's joy.
"Be my disciple."
"Whoa. Hard pass."
"..."
"..."
Until seeing Duke Colton Clay propose to the thirteen-year-old newbie mage.