Chapter 35
Chapter 35
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Ice Americano and Farewell Spar
-----------------------------------------------------------------
After the ruins conquest was over.
Jeon stayed on in Silvermont to work on his magic book.
"Ah, this is nice."
On top of that, Duke Alexar Silvermont had graciously told him he could stay as long as he wanted.
Jeon fully enjoyed life in Silvermont with a relaxed mind.
From the very start, ever since his days in Celleron had led into this Silvermont lifestyle, Jeon had always felt satisfied.
But among all that, the thing he liked most was...
"Coffee's here."
...being able to drink coffee.
Right now, Lena and Risar had called him over for a quick tea time.
Clink.
The maid who brought the coffee set it down one by one in front of Lena, Risar, and Jeon.
However, the coffee placed in front of Jeon was different from what Lena and Risar had.
Theirs was hot, dark coffee in ordinary glass teacups.
Jeon's was in a larger cup, with ice cubes floating in it—a form that would be called an iced Americano by his previous life's standards.
"...But is that really tasty?"
"Yeah, of course."
Risar asked in all sincerity as he watched Jeon happily sip his iced Americano.
In this world, no one really understood mixing cold water into hot coffee and then adding ice on top.
No, that method didn't even exist here to begin with.
The standard coffee here was close to espresso by previous life standards.
There was a latte version mixed with milk, but even that wasn't drunk cold.
So Jeon had simply added cold water and ice to the espresso-like local coffee to create an iced Americano.
But aside from Jeon, hardly anyone drank coffee this way.
A few had tried it out of curiosity or at Jeon's urging, but most couldn't accept coffee—which was a type of tea—being cold.
"Mixing water and ice into coffee? That's insane."
Even Lena, who had invited him for tea time, shook her head at the sight of Jeon's iced Americano.
"I pity you for not knowing the taste of iced Americano."
"I pity you for drinking expensive coffee like that."
As Lena said.
Unlike in his previous life, coffee here was quite pricey.
The Silvermonts, who owned silver mines and had plenty of money, could drink it freely, but it was a luxury item that put a burden on most nobles if indulged in excessively.
Still, Jeon had a point to make on that front.
"This just looks like more because of the water and ice. The actual amount isn't much different from yours."
"...Then it's a draw."
Since when had this conversation turned into a contest?
He wondered why they had to compete even over something like this, but lately, Lena's behavior made it somewhat understandable.
'She's always picking fights to compete.'
After returning from the ruins.
Jeon's magic skills had improved by leaps and bounds.
Especially reaching 3rd Circle in less than three months after coming back from the ruins had shocked everyone.
Officially learning magic for less than half a year, going from 1st Circle mage to 3rd Circle.
If Jeon hadn't asked them to keep it quiet.
The rumors would have spread far and wide about an unparalleled genius appearing.
'I benefited a lot from those indirect experiences.'
But the main reason Jeon had reached 3rd Circle so quickly was thanks to the wills of the Silvermont mages he encountered in the ruins.
Having inherited their knowledge and experiences embedded in those wills, his magic skills had naturally skyrocketed as a result.
Anyway.
For that reason, Lena—who was around the same age and walking the path of a mage—had started visiting Jeon often afterward, saying things like, "We're both 3rd Circle mages now, so let's see who's better!"
'Of course, I won every time.'
Jeon had never once held back against Lena when she came challenging him, always securing an overwhelming victory.
In truth, ever since Jeon had reached 2nd Circle, Lena hadn't been his match.
She had a higher Circle back then, but.
With Jeon's Magic Language interpretation ability, mana recovery through the mana cultivation method, and even Rune Magic on top of that, Lena couldn't win.
And now that he was at 3rd Circle, the gap had only widened further.
At this point, he wouldn't lose unless he forced himself to.
'Well, she seems to be using it as motivation.'
Still, since her skills were steadily improving each time she came back after losing, saying "Let's go again," Jeon saw it as providing her a good stimulus and faced her in earnest without mercy.
The only odd thing was Lena's unique way of challenging him to duels.
And it wasn't just Lena coming to Jeon for magic reasons.
Starting from Gilead, all the mages currently in the family had visited him at least once.
'They all went crazy wanting me to teach them magic.'
They had all heard that Jeon was writing a new magic book and came hoping to learn even a little ahead of time.
But Jeon didn't teach magic separately to any of them.
If he started with one, he'd end up teaching them all individually and never finish his book.
Besides, there was just so much content.
He couldn't systematically teach anyone without first organizing it all into the magic book.
"I heard last month that your magic book writing was almost done. How much is left?"
"Oh, that?"
In the midst of their tea time.
Risar, sitting beside them, suddenly asked.
It had been six months since Jeon returned from the ruins and started writing the magic book.
Considering that writing a single magic book usually took years, it was an unbelievable speed.
But since Jeon was just pulling knowledge from his head and organizing it, he actually thought it was a bit slow for himself.
"It's finished."
"...Pardon?"
So, he had just poured extra effort in recently and wrapped it up.
But Risar looked shocked at the sudden news and asked again.
Lena at the same table stared at him with wide eyes too.
"Not long ago. Finished it about two days back."
"Yeah, that's recent. So... this is the first you're telling us?"
"No. I told the Duke right after finishing. He was thrilled and immediately suggested we spar again."
"Ah, so that's why you and the Duke suddenly scheduled a duel yesterday...?"
"Yep. He said it was to celebrate finishing the magic book."
Reporting that the magic book was done, only to get a reply of "Let's spar"—
Very much like Alexar.
He'd said something similar right after Jeon reached 3rd Circle.
The man was incredibly consistent.
"That's why I set this tea time. Perfect timing before heading out."
With that, Jeon downed the last of his iced Americano.
"But... why did you accept the duel request?"
Risar asked Jeon with genuine curiosity.
Jeon had no real reason to accept Alexar's challenge.
The skill gap was clear from the start.
"When we first met and made that bet, he said after the ruins were done, we'd do it again."
"You're saying he's bringing that up now?"
"Well, felt right to do it before I leave."
"Leave? You mean...?"
Having neatly finished his iced Americano, Jeon stood up.
Risar tried to ask more, but Jeon left one last word behind.
"Time's about up. Gotta go."
It was finally time for his last duel with Alexar before departing.
Silvermont's training grounds.
In the center stood a boy who now showed signs of eating well and a sturdy middle-aged man facing each other.
'It's been a while since we've been in this setup.'
On the day he first arrived at this mansion.
The setup born from that sudden bet was unfolding once more today.
'Though it's completely different now.'
Unlike back then, when it was just blocking one attack for the bet.
Today was a proper duel.
So Alexar had even brought his beloved sword and donned his armor.
"Then, let's begin."
"Yes, sounds good."
Vmmm!
As the duel started, Alexar infused his sword with aura.
A perfect, blade-like form of aura, maintaining its shape flawlessly.
The completed aura representing a master's realm enveloped his beloved sword.
'Much bigger than last time.'
Before, it had just been a thin layer along the blade.
Now, it made his normal longsword look like a greatsword—the aura's size was immense.
Not to be outdone, Jeon promptly led with Silver.
Silver leaped from Jeon's embrace and grew in size upon receiving mana.
"That's him going easy."
He wondered just how intense it would be without holding back.
But for now, Jeon planned to go all out.
"Here I go!"
Thud!
Jeon charged at Alexar with Silver while casting magic.
Alexar grinned amusedly at Jeon coming at him instead of waiting for the attack.
"I like that spirit!"
Alexar rushed toward Jeon as well.
A master comparable to a 7th Circle or higher grand mage.
He closed in at a speed Jeon couldn't match and swung mercilessly at him.
Of course, Silver moved faster than his sword, intercepting it.
Silver's body flashed with silver light, blocking Alexar's sword.
But...
"Let's see if you can endure this time too!"
Unlike before, the completed aura on Alexar's sword didn't vanish.
It seemed slightly diminished, but not fully dissipated.
But Silver was the same.
Receiving more mana than before, and not needing to block head-on this time.
It deflected Alexar's sword at an angle.
"...Not bad!"
And right before Alexar.
Jeon's completed 3rd Circle magic unfolded.
Boom!
Silver flames exploded, sending Jeon flying back.
Jeon, perched atop Silver as it was flung back too, retreated while swiftly casting more spells.
"Fun!"
Alexar, unscathed despite the explosion, chased right after.
'Is he even human?'
He knew the man was strong, but this was over the top.
But no time for stray thoughts.
Jeon unleashed 2nd Circle spells, which he could cast relatively quickly.
Silver flames of various shapes began pouring endlessly from his fingertips.
Overwhelm with quantity over quality.
A strategy impossible for normal mages due to mana concerns.
But Jeon could rapidly replenish mana via his cultivation method.
So he barraged relentlessly.
"Can't believe you're the same guy from when you first arrived!"
But Alexar sliced through all the spells, closing in.
Before completed aura, 2nd Circle magic was powerless.
Yet Jeon didn't stop the barrage.
Some missed amid the frenzy, but he ignored that and poured out his best.
"Impressive!"
A smile played on his face as he broke through the rain of spells.
He looked like he was genuinely enjoying it, to the point Jeon sensed a hint of madness.
'No, it might actually be madness.'
A mad obsession with swords and strength.
Perhaps that was the root that propelled Alexar to master realm.
Anyway.
Having pierced Jeon's magic barrage, he reached right in front of him again.
"Block this one too!"
Alexar's sword swung at Jeon once more, and Silver intercepted as before.
But unlike just now, Silver couldn't deflect it.
"Let's settle it like this!"
As if he'd planned for it, Alexar pressed with full momentum.
Silver light poured from Silver's body to nullify the attack.
Alexar kept fueling aura into his sword, maintaining the completed form.
'This is bad.'
Even with increased mana capacity at 3rd Circle.
It was incomparable to a master's aura reserves.
Blocking completed aura took an insane amount of mana.
Even with cultivation supplying mana, there was a limit.
"You're holding up well!"
And the moment he tried another spell.
Mana to Silver would drop, breaking the defense instantly.
A true dilemma.
"I've still got one move left."
But Jeon had one trick up his sleeve.
After all, he'd orchestrated this power struggle on purpose.
"What... Huh?"
Alexar, questioning Jeon's words, suddenly felt a chill down his spine.
He sensed mana surging behind him.
The moment he whipped his head around.
The spells Jeon had fired in barrage—what he'd thought missed—were raining down from the sky onto Alexar's back.
Too late to slash them all individually.
"Such a...!"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The falling spells struck Alexar directly.
"Urk!"
Jeon was in the blast radius too.
He minimized damage by hiding behind Silver but still had to roll on the ground once.
Even so, his eyes stayed glued to the impact site.
'Magic infused with the Rune of Will... As effective in real combat as expected.'
In truth, those "missed" spells were all infused with the Rune of Will.
The Rune of Will allowed embedding his intent.
So he could control the spells to some degree per his will.
'Basically guided magic.'
That's why he'd aimed for this from the start.
Even 2nd Circle spells, in that volume, would deal significant damage to Alexar.
"Hahaha! Incredible! Truly incredible!"
But from amid the barrage, Alexar burst into satisfied laughter.
"...Definitely not a normal human."
Taking zero damage from that.
Jeon was starting to feel exasperated at Alexar's strength, but it wasn't entirely futile.
"It's been ages since I had to aura up my whole body!"
Alexar had needed to envelop his entire body in aura to block Jeon's trump card.
In other words, even Alexar had been in a pinch momentarily.
And he'd gone all out to overcome it.
Jeon belatedly noticed the aura cloaking Alexar's whole body and realized his move hadn't been useless.
"Phew, that's my limit. I went all out."
Satisfied, he flopped straight onto the ground.
"Good duel."
"Hoo, glad you think so."
Alexar nodded, seemingly quite satisfied, accepting the end of the duel.
For Jeon too, it was a chance to gauge his progress, so a satisfying moment.
"By the way, you're leaving Silvermont now, right?"
"Yes. In about a week."
He had already told Alexar about departing Silvermont.
Alexar looked at him with eyes full of regret.
"Shame. If only you'd accepted my marriage proposal back then..."
"Come on, I said no to that."
The marriage proposal right after the ruins conquest.
Jeon had refused immediately.
And every subtle follow-up since, met with firm rejection, so he'd thought it had quieted down.
'Still hasn't given up, huh.'
Alexar apparently still harbored lingering hopes.
"Well, can't force it if you're against it... How about something else then?"
"Hm? Something else?"
Jeon tilted his head at Alexar's sudden words.
Then, as if on cue, a Silvermont family butler walked into the training grounds.
In his hand was a rectangular leather bag. Alexar took it, slightly opened it to show the contents, and held it out to Jeon.
"Here, take it. A parting gift for you."
An unexpected gift upon departure.