Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Aide Sable (1)
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After finishing his bath, Jamie lay down on the bed with a weary face.
"What happened, Master?"
Vena asked, wondering how startled she had been when Jamie suddenly bolted out, demanding to know the reason.
"It was nothing. One Sword Master just directed his aura solely at me, saying he wanted to test me."
"...And that's nothing?"
"No one died or got hurt."
"I see..."
Vena decided not to ask any more.
She wouldn't understand his thoughts anyway.
Instead, she asked something else.
"But a Sword Master... What if he notices me?"
"Hm?"
"They're called superhumans, right? If he senses me, a Black Sorcerer, and comes to catch me...!"
The terrified Vena trembled, her small pink body shaking with worry.
Jamie clicked his tongue at the pathetic squirrel.
"I'm really glad I didn't take you as a disciple."
"What do you mean by that?"
"A guy who practiced black magic for ten years. Tsk. Why do you think all countries just leave Black Sorcerers who harm humanity alone?"
"W-Well?"
"Because they can't detect you unless you draw out black mana."
A Black Sorcerer is ultimately a mage who handles black mana.
In other words, unless you release black mana, it's hard to distinguish between an ordinary mage and a wicked Black Sorcerer.
"Even someone who brutally murders humans might get caught by the stench of blood ingrained in their body, but you're not like that, are you?"
The most Vena had done in experiments was cutting open animals. She had learned black magic semi-forcibly from the start and lacked the courage to experiment on fellow humans.
"And if we were going to get caught, it would've happened ages ago."
Among the group that had come this far, there was a divine apostle, a saintess, and a holy enforcer.
The apostle was on Jamie's side, so he might turn a blind eye, but would Anna and Ras have?
"You're right..."
That's why everyone fears Black Sorcerers.
Of course, many countries don't turn a blind eye to Black Sorcerers' actions. If they go too far, they form subjugation squads.
Against state-run subjugation squads, even the most vicious ones have no choice but to hold their breath.
"So don't worry about nonsense."
"Phew... That's a relief."
Jamie shook his head as he watched the pink squirrel pat its chest in relief.
Sensing his gaze, Vena cleared her throat awkwardly.
"Go to sleep."
"Yes."
Embarrassed that her ignorance had been exposed, Vena hid under the pillow.
Jamie lay straight and stared at the ceiling.
He recalled the earlier situation with Beryl—what he called a battle but was really just toying with him.
'It was my first time clashing with a Sword Master.'
Actually, "clashing" was the wrong word.
It had been entirely Jamie's one-sided play.
But the once-mighty Black Sorcerer used that term to preserve his pride.
Of course, it wasn't without embarrassment, so he kicked at the blanket needlessly.
"What's wrong, Master?"
"Nothing. Sleep."
He shoved the squirrel's head, which had peeked out from under the pillow, back inside and continued his thoughts.
'It felt like there was a huge wall in front of me.'
Like an egg striking a rock.
Exactly that sensation.
A feeling from the distant past, back when Diablo Volpir was training in magic.
He had forgotten it completely due to the long time, but today's events brought it back.
'It's been ages since I fought an unbeatable foe.'
Come to think of it, the one who first defeated him in his previous life was also a swordsman.
There had been Sword Masters back then too.
The opponent wasn't one yet, but he later became a monster who reached the pinnacle of the sword, so losing to a Sword Master wasn't entirely wrong.
He had known the gap between mages and swordsmen since then.
'One-on-one is ridiculous to begin with.'
Naturally, mages and warriors serve different purposes.
On the battlefield, mages handle wide-area damage, warriors close combat.
The difference widens even more for grand mages and Sword Masters.
Yet many mages dream of surpassing Sword Masters. Jamie was one of them.
In fact, during his Diablo Volpir days, he had surpassed even Grand Masters with magic.
Before he invented black magic.
'Now I'm back to square one?'
Not quite.
Compared to his previous life, this one started with all his memories, which was unfair.
Luckily, he had acquired the Full Body Breathing Method, strengthened his body with the Orb of Life.
He had even reclaimed 'Perfect Cell,' one of the three divine artifacts.
'Still far away.'
He was growing fast, but stagnation would come.
At the threshold of 7th class.
Even Nebro, now a lich, hadn't crossed it in life.
It's not called grand mage for nothing starting at 7th class.
From then on, it's not just skill. The mage's self-established magical subjectivity must align with their 'realm' for the door to open.
Mages call this process 'magic's permission.'
'Following my previous life's path would be easy.'
Jamie had walked it once.
He had planned to do so again. But arriving here changed his mind slightly.
'The reason I was given another chance.'
He hadn't found the answer yet.
But even without knowing the truth, he had no intention of repeating past failures.
He hadn't decided how to handle emotions yet, but magic was firmly set.
'I'll pioneer a new path.'
Past methods that failed wouldn't work again.
He didn't know how relations between gods had changed, but this era overwhelmingly favored the 12 Celestial Gods compared to when he fought desperately.
Humans had already become their slaves.
'So I must advance further.'
The battle with Beryl (called a battle but really toying) had helped greatly.
'But what's his relationship with Mother?'
The powerful Sword Master seemed to have known his mother for quite a while.
Yet Beryl's expression lingered in his mind.
'What was that bitter look?'
Unaware of the details, Jamie pondered alone.
Then he abruptly sat up.
"M-Master!"
The bed shook, startling the sleeping Vena awake.
"M-Master?"
"I'm going for a walk."
Leaving Vena drooling in surprise, Jamie headed outside.
The marquis family's grounds were undoubtedly larger than the Welton estate.
Apton, one of the First Territories, was land granted by the king to the first Bell when the Kingdom of Selдам was founded—as its name implied.
Thus, it was historic, boasting territory as vast as the marquis's power.
Jamie strolled the garden under the moon in mid-heaven.
The beautifully tended flowers were well-maintained. The garden of the great Bell family, praised as magnificent, couldn't be otherwise.
"Nice scent."
The night garden emitted a calming aroma.
Jamie walked further and sat by a small lake.
The serene surface mirrored the moon transparently, like glass.
"You seem to appreciate the night's charm."
Then, an unfamiliar voice came from behind.
Jamie whipped around.
There stood a silver-haired man silhouetted against the soft moonlight.
Jamie frowned and asked,
"Who are you?"
It wasn't a friendly tone.
The silver-haired man widened his eyes at the hostile voice and smiled.
That cold face with such a smile stirred needless discomfort.
"My apologies for not introducing myself. I've been rude to such a noble guest. Please forgive me."
"I asked who you are."
As the man humbled himself, Jamie softened slightly.
"I am Sable, the aide who serves by Marquis Bell's side."
"Aide?"
"Yes. I heard Welton family members were visiting but was tied up with urgent matters, so I'm greeting you now."
"How did you know I'm a Welton... Ah."
Only then did Jamie touch his hair.
Emerald was the Welton family's signature color.
He fiddled with his hair, then startled, looked at Sable.
'Come to think of it, he appeared behind me without any presence.'
No matter how relaxed, he hadn't been that careless.
Sable had completely masked his presence and taken position behind him.
Someone who could erase their presence this well was top-class assassin level.
'An aide with this much skill?'
Jamie felt sweat on his palms.
Not comparable to Beryl, but Sable was undoubtedly formidable.
To the point where victory wasn't assured.
Sensing Jamie's wariness, Sable smiled and said,
"No need to be on guard. I swear, I'm merely the marquis's loyal servant."
"You know my name too?"
"As his aide, how could I not know the basics?"
It wasn't wrong.
Jamie lowered his guard halfway and turned back to the lake.
Sable walked to his side.
"You enjoy night walks?"
"I like them."
"I like this place too. It calms the mind. May I sit beside you briefly?"
"Sure."
Even he couldn't treat Marquis Bell's aide lightly.
And this wasn't his land; he couldn't just say leave.
Wary, but no particular like or dislike.
"I hear you're an impressive mage."
"Not that impressive."
"But you will be?"
He pressed persistently.
Jamie didn't answer, and Sable just chuckled.
The two silently watched the lake's surface.
That moment.
Water spikes surged from the lake in ambush.
"Shield!"
A translucent barrier unfolded before Jamie.
Not panicking at the sudden attack, he spread his mana widely.
And sensed a massive creature beneath the surface.
Jamie clenched his fist.
A portion of the lake began swirling inward circularly.
His attacker was inside. He planned to crush it under pressure.
"It's Tolke!"
At "Tolke," Jamie's eyes widened.
The water that should have been crushed defied gravity and spewed out.
Jamie dodged by turning his head.
Boom!!
A tree behind shattered.
"Tolke..."
Jamie recalled a ferocious fish-type monster.
Tolke, living in freshwater, fills itself with water and spits it like a cannon.
Older ones even shape the water, earning B-rank status.
"Why is a Tolke here?!"
It was a small lake in the marquis's front garden.
Maybe carp, but Tolke made no sense.
Whether Jamie was shocked or not, Tolke's attacks continued. The giant fish peeked its head above water and spewed relentlessly.
Boom! Crash!
The garden became a mess.
Jamie frowned, deciding to end the mad fish in one blow.
All water-dwellers are weak to electricity.
Even strong Tolke.
As he prepared to fire golden lightning from both hands at the lake, something moved first.
Splash!!
A thin water stream rose from the surface.
It rained down, two massive lumps crashing to the ground.
Shing—
The silver blade flashing in moonlight returned to its sheath.
Sable asked Jamie with a smiling face,
"Are you alright?"
Jamie inhaled the thick floral scent and thought,
This guy really doesn't suit being just an aide.