Chapter 54
Chapter 54
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Chapter 54
-----------------------------------------------------------------
```html
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Sword Master (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Jamie, that child is truly astonishing.”
The Bell Marquis had arranged a private space to converse with Sears.
“Though I’m only a 4th class mage at best, I could glimpse fragments of the power that child harbors.”
The marquis set down his teacup and continued.
“I’ve lived for over seventy years, but I’ve never seen talent like Jamie’s. The closest might be Elder Siegfried in the mage world, but even he pales in comparison.”
“I know. I’ve heard it from so many people.”
Sears had recognized Jamie’s talent as well, though she never let it show.
“Before long, the entire world—not just the kingdom—will revolve around Jamie. Do you understand what that means?”
Sears gave a bitter smile at the Bell Marquis’s grave tone.
“He knows it too.”
“He probably does. That’s why I’m curious. What have you prepared for Jamie’s future, Countess?”
“Nothing set in stone yet. Jamie’s own wishes come first, after all.”
“That’s far too complacent. Jamie is in a gravely dangerous position right now.”
Immense talent is rarely just a blessing.
Surely, across this vast world, greedy hands would stretch out from every corner to claim Jamie.
For now, Count Welton and the Bell Marquis stood as powerful breakwaters shielding him, but once word spread worldwide, there would inevitably be limits.
“Is that why you gave him that?”
“Yes.”
Sears knew of the necklace the Bell Marquis had given Jamie.
“Your mother would have wanted it too.”
The item now hanging around Jamie’s neck had belonged to the Bell family matriarch, who was no more.
Only the Bell Marquis knew its full power, but Sears had a general idea of its abilities.
“It won’t be an absolute shield, but I believe it will provide ample protection.”
“Knowing that my mother is watching over my son eases my heart.”
The marquis and Sears exchanged bitter smiles.
“More than that, I’m worried about you, Countess.”
“You heard, then.”
“Impossible not to. You’ve made an enemy of the Zenith Church?”
He leaned back in his chair with a sigh.
“The Zenith Church won’t let it slide. Those bastards are twisted monsters.”
The marquis knew the Zenith Church was no longer what it once was. Yet he remained still because their influence was simply too vast.
No matter how renowned the Bells were, the Zenith Church’s fame dwarfed theirs.
“Speaking of Zenith, the Pyro Church is in a precarious situation right now.”
“What?”
“The Zenith Church is moving to wipe them out completely.”
This was intelligence only someone of his stature in the kingdom could access.
The Pyro Church shared deep ties with the Bell family. Its destruction would mean losing one of their most potent weapons.
That was when it happened.
Knock knock.
“He’s here.”
“Who?”
The smiling Bell Marquis and the puzzled Sears.
At the marquis’s invitation to enter, the door opened, and a man familiar to Sears strode in.
His jet-black hair fell to his shoulders, and a massive greatsword was slung across his back—an imposing figure.
The marquis spoke with a grin.
“It’s been ages for you two. Say hello.”
“Long time no see, Sears.”
“……Sir Beryl. It’s been a while.”
Beryl Onyx.
One of the kingdom’s five Sword Masters was residing at the Bell estate.
Returning to his room, Jamie found Bena sprawled out on her back, drooling in her sleep.
Her tousled pink hair fanned out across the entire bed.
Jamie stared down at her for a moment, then raised his palm.
Smack!
“Ow!”
Bena bolted upright, clutching her forehead. Tears welled in her eyes as she glared at the culprit who’d struck her fair skin.
“Why’d you hit me!”
Jamie raised his palm again at her shrill cry.
Smack!
“Eek!”
Bena toppled backward, banging her head on the floor.
Rubbing the back of her head from the far side of the bed, she met Jamie’s pitying gaze.
“Didn’t I tell you not to drop the transformation?”
“B-but staying transformed is so stuffy! You have no idea!”
“And if you get caught?”
“W-well…”
“Then what?”
Before leaving, Jamie had earnestly implored her to maintain her transformation whenever possible.
If she let her guard down in an empty room and someone burst in suddenly, the consequences would be dire.
“That one slip could doom us both. Actually, I’d just get a scolding, but do you think you’d get off that easily?”
“……”
Bena swallowed hard, her face pale at Jamie’s stark warning.
She could be hauled off to a church as a black sorcerer, subjected to all sorts of torture. The thought made her shake her head vigorously.
“Transform. Now.”
“Yes, sir.”
Poof!
Bena shifted into her pink squirrel form without protest.
Jamie let out a short sigh and perched on the bed’s edge. He pulled out the necklace the marquis had given him.
“What’s that?”
Bena clambered onto his shoulder, thrusting her tiny face forward.
He ignored her, turning the necklace over in his hands.
Impatient, she yelled right into his ear.
“What is it?!”
“Ow! Quiet!”
Jamie flicked her away with a knuckle rap.
“Aiyee!” Bena bounced across the bed.
“Stop hitting my head! My brain cells are dying!”
“As if you have any left to lose.”
Jamie brushed her off and refocused on the necklace.
I’m the one most curious about this thing.
It was clearly an artifact, but its exact abilities eluded him.
He examined it from every angle, but his current level wasn’t enough to discern more. The marquis had said it would provide immense aid once—just once.
“Pretty necklace, though.”
Bena had somehow returned to his shoulder, her eyes sparkling at it.
Jamie dangled it from a finger. The embedded blue gem gleamed brilliantly.
The marquis wouldn’t give him trash. He slipped it around his neck.
“I’ll figure it out eventually.”
Jamie reached for the bell to summon a servant for a bath.
Flinch!
A colossal aura froze his body rigid.
Without a second thought, Jamie leaped up and bolted toward the source.
He ignored Bena’s cry of “Master!” from behind.
Mother’s location!
The overwhelming presence emanated from where Sears and the Bell Marquis were.
He had to go faster.
Faster than this. Even faster!
Jamie’s body broke down to particles, leaping through space.
Teleport activated without incantation.
Midair, he spotted a half-open door.
Already inside.
He unleashed the mana surging through his body.
Dozens of memorized spells were ready.
His feet hit the ground—he charged the door.
The first thing he saw: a massive back, crossed by an enormous greatsword.
Nothing else. The hulking frame blocked everything.
This guy.
An absurd presence loomed right before him.
Impossible to defeat at his current level. Black magic might let him hold out a bit?
Impossible.
No matter what, an insurmountable wall.
Even going all-out, no chance of victory.
Focus solely on Sears—buy time for her escape.
He deployed a pre-memorized spell.
Fusion Magic: Eraser Volt
Lightning refined by storm → Dazzling ray of destruction
A single bolt, honed by storm, fired as a blinding beam in a straight line at point-blank range.
The giant twisted aside.
The light bleached the room bone-white, utterly erasing even the colossus.
Did it hit?
Eraser Volt—born of two fused 5th-class spells—rivaled 6th-class power.
No foe, however mighty, could block its all-erasing ray if caught off-guard.
…Or so he thought.
“Not bad.”
The bleached world restored itself.
Jamie grimaced at the fading glow. What he saw: a massive palm casually extended.
One hand.
The giant brushed it aside left and right, as if petting a head.
The destructive beam scattered like an illusion.
The attack, which had consumed nearly a third of his mana, fizzled futilely.
But it wasn’t over.
Pitch-black mist billowed into the air.
It could obscure vision for a fleeting moment.
Black, assist me!
If Eraser Volt failed, stronger magic would suffice.
Black emerged from Jamie’s back, bolstering his spell.
Mana rings formed on his ten fingers.
He interlaced them—blinding light erupted.
Halospear
Dozens of light spears → Relentless barrage
Dozens of radiant spears launched ceaselessly forward.
No one could block this at point-blank range, even forewarned. Jamie felt his mana draining rapidly.
Full Body Breathing Method replenished it, but the depletion outpaced supply.
Still, this should land a solid hit!
“Fine performance.”
Crash!
Everything shattered.
Jamie sensed the world spinning at blinding speed.
No chance to comprehend what happened.
All his spells vanished in a heartbeat. Even Halospear, potent enough to exhaust his mana, crumbled instantly.
He should have used black magic.
Opened the Gate of Defying Heaven, sacrificed his undead legion for time.
With the lich now, it was feasible.
No.
Impossible from the start.
The giant had toyed with him.
Even as a black sorcerer, the outcome would be the same. Worse—he’d likely be executed for his crimes.
Damn it all!
What kind of monster wields such absurd power?
The dark mist cleared fully. Jamie faced reality.
“Ja-Jamie.”
In the upside-down world, a familiar face gazed at him worriedly.
“……Mother?”
Sears covered her eyes, unable to watch.
Jamie dangled helplessly, his ankle gripped by Beryl.
```