Chapter 109
Chapter 109
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 109
Chapter Title: Chapter 39: Magic Stone City Senderman (1)
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"Here, take this."
The Welton Count handed a single sword to Jamie.
It was a simple design with hardly any ornamentation. However, unlike its appearance, it was no ordinary blade.
"It's a magic sword."
"Its name is Scud."
A sword whose name meant 'to dash' or 'charge'.
He would find out what magic it held once he used it, but it seemed to contain something quite useful.
"I must have been around fourteen. My father told me to go see the world, too."
"By yourself?"
"Yes. He was truly a merciless man. He gave me a bit of money, a backpack, and this sword."
A swordsman must see the world.
The previous family head always had those words on his lips.
He showed no mercy even to his son, the current count.
- Argent. A great swordsman needs that much experience. Go forth.
Thus began a three-year journey disguised as warrior training.
The problem was that he couldn't use the name 'Welton'.
The count had felt the power of a name to his bones back then.
It was three years of learning so much. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say those experiences made him who he was today.
"Though the place you're going isn't for training as a swordsman, you'll inevitably see and learn much."
Just like he had in his youth.
Perhaps his exceptionally gifted son would learn even more. No, he surely would.
So the count wasn't worried.
"Come back safe and healthy."
"Yes, Father. I'll be back safely."
"Good. Even if you get hurt, just come back stronger."
The count gently embraced his son and rose from his seat.
Then he spoke to Sears, who was holding back tears beside him.
"You say what you want to say, too. Just don't cry."
"...Jamie."
"Yes, Mother."
Sears opened her mouth, red-eyed and resolved not to show any tears.
"Your father said it's okay to get hurt, but Mother hates seeing her son hurt. So don't get hurt, stay healthy. If you get sick, contact me. Got it?"
"Yes. I will."
"My son, you have to come back safe."
"Anyone would think Jamie's going off to die."
The count chuckled heartily and shook his head.
The last was Sara.
Sara waddled over to her brother, sniffling, and thrust out her bear doll.
"Chenny will protect Oppa."
The bear doll's name was apparently Chenny.
Jamie took Chenny and nodded.
"I'll think of it as Sara's clone."
"Yeah!!"
She replied by clenching her fists energetically.
At last, all preparations were complete.
Jamie left the mansion, seeing his family off until the very end.
"Have you said your goodbyes to your family?"
Siegfried had stepped outside first, saying it wasn't his place to intrude.
He glanced at the sword hanging from Jamie's waist.
"A sword? For self-defense?"
"No. I use the sword, too."
"...The young master uses a sword?"
"Yes. Is there a problem?"
"Magic swordsmen are ambiguous types."
Siegfried stabbed straight without beating around the bush.
"Learning both magic and sword means you'll end up mediocre at both."
"I know."
"You trust your talent?"
"It's not trust—it's just natural."
As Jamie replied with a relaxed expression, Siegfried unwittingly let out a hollow laugh.
The Jamie Welton he'd encountered was mature beyond his years and possessed outstanding abilities, yet never arrogant.
Because it was natural to him.
He took his own talent for granted, which allowed that attitude.
And the way he spoke of the sword was just like when he discussed magic.
'Does that mean he's a natural with the sword, too?'
He'd never seen it himself, and even if he did, he wouldn't know the true extent.
Siegfried was a magic genius himself, but unfortunately not gifted in martial arts.
"Anyway, no need to worry. My magic is steadily improving."
The Linmel Marquis had said as much.
That Jamie's talent would advance his magic on its own.
Having seen it with his own eyes, Siegfried couldn't deny it.
He smirked and said,
"You'll know best. Shall we get going?"
"How are we traveling? Warp?"
"Hm. I'd like to go in one go, but... there's a place I want to stop by. Mind going through there?"
"Then you can drop me off and go."
"I think the young master will be interested, too?"
"Where?"
"Magic Stone City Senderman. They're holding a big magic stone market soon."
"Magic Stone City!"
Jamie was well aware of Magic Stone City Senderman.
It was home to the largest magic stone mines in the Seldam Kingdom and boasted a world-famous magic stone market.
Magic stones were crystals formed from mana over long periods—essential for mages.
They enhanced spells or were used to craft artifacts.
Basically, they were universal stones for anything magic-related.
"Got your interest now?"
"Very much so. Let's go. To Senderman."
Their first destination was set.
Magic Stone City Senderman clung to the Kelton Mountains in the south of the Seldam Kingdom.
The massive rocky Kelton range was rich in various minerals, divided among six territories.
They banded together, calling themselves the 'Rock Alliance'.
Despite the rustic name, the Rock Alliance wielded immense influence in the kingdom's south and had become its representative.
Senderman's lord, Picola Zain, was the head of this alliance.
"They call him the 'Father of Rocks'."
"Not a very cool nickname."
"Depends on perspective."
Siegfried strolled casually, explaining Senderman's history.
"Anyway, they say all minerals from the south pass through Lord Picola Zain's hands before circulating outside."
"Come on. That's nonsense. With cities and villages scattered across the mountains, how could every mineral go through Senderman? Too cumbersome."
"I think the same. They'd just waste money doing that."
It was a metaphorical way to express their immense power in the south.
It made enough sense.
Senderman was a city built atop a massive honey pot called the magic stone district. Even B-grade magic stones were worth five times their weight in gold.
Innumerable B-grades were mined from Senderman, along with A-grades and even S-grades.
Its capital alone rivaled Rizen, the largest commercial city under Simon Count.
Unless the lord was utterly incompetent, it was inevitably the core of southern power.
"This time, the item I want has to show up."
"What are you after?"
"No fun if I tell you beforehand."
Siegfried wagged his index finger.
Jamie frowned and turned away. Asking had only soured the mood.
"Not sulking, are you?"
"I'm not."
"Your tone sounds sulky."
"I said I'm not."
"Nah, you are."
"Argh, enough!"
That was when it happened.
"Dodge...!"
Siegfried tried to shove Jamie aside.
But Jamie had already moved.
Thud-thud-thud—
Three arrows embedded where Jamie had stood.
Jamie frowned and looked toward the source.
Five men stood atop a small hill, three aiming bows this way.
'Bandits?' he thought.
"Hm. Didn't expect them to chase us this far..."
"You know them?"
Siegfried scratched his cheek awkwardly.
As Jamie opened his mouth to ask again, a voice rang from the hill first.
"You bastard who dared kill my brother! And all his men! I'll catch you and kill you for sure!"
"...What did you do on the way?"
"Just some roadside thieves demanding money... so I took care of them."
Siegfried mimed slitting his throat.
Jamie's head suddenly throbbed.
The bandits descended the hill, gripping menacing cold steel weapons.
They didn't even look like typical bandits—their skills seemed decent.
The apparent leader pointed his sword at Siegfried.
"Avenger of my brother!"
Siegfried asked the bandit,
"So, which one are you?"
"What?"
"Ah. I've taken down so many, I forget. Which number...?"
"You bastard!"
Unable to hold back, the bandits charged at Siegfried en masse.
Siegfried shrugged at them and said to Jamie,
"This is awkward."
This mess started from your hands.
Jamie wanted to say it, but it was so absurd he couldn't speak.
The distance closed rapidly even then.
Siegfried said,
"Care to show me Young Master Jamie's skills?"
"Why should I clean up after the 7th Elder...?"
"Come on. Let me see just once what a genius can do."
What a sly fox.
Jamie clicked his tongue and eyed the bandits.
The leader bandit shouted,
"Pushing a kid in front now? Are you even human?!"
"Even bandits saying that... Anyway, Young Master Jamie?"
Jamie stepped forward as if to say he couldn't be helped.
Then Siegfried added,
"If possible, use the sword."
Jamie was dumbfounded by the man's brazen face.
Siegfried couldn't believe his earlier claim. Sword and magic couldn't coexist; even if they did, it'd be mediocre. So show him.
'Sly fox.'
Thinking that, he still drew Scud.
Its plain yet sharp blade glinted softly in the sunlight.
"Madman! Fine! If you want, I'll kill you and the brat together!"
Complaining about using a kid, yet threatening to kill one—such contradictions.
Jamie stuck out his tongue at the bandit's idiocy and assumed a stance.
'Too good to waste Single Strike Sword on trash like this.'
It wasn't a technique for mere mobs.
Jamie's aura shifted.
The start was one step.
Mana dominated the space.
Within it, the bandits' movements visibly slowed.
Jamie leisurely shifted his steps along the mana flow.
'Mana control like what...!'
Siegfried's eyes widened as he watched.
An enormous space was controlled under Jamie's mana.
And it didn't end there.
Power gathered at the sword tip.
Then a simple downward slash—
[Welton-style Variant Technique][Hundred Seas - Press]
Jamie’s upgraded version of Hundred Seas.
The mana flow condensed to a single point and crashed to the ground.
It became a colossal pressure, brutally crushing everything in the mana space.
"Gahk!"
"Kek!"
The two excluding the archers had their limbs twisted and collapsed.
Jamie passed them and launched toward the rest.
"Shoot, shoot!"
The remaining three bandits loosed their bowstrings in unison.
But not a single arrow reached Jamie—
The blade traced a circular silver trajectory.
Krarararung!!
Blue lightning erupted from the sword's path, sweeping the bandits.
Jamie shook off Scud's blade and sheathed it. The whole thing had taken barely ten seconds.