Chapter 75
Chapter 75
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: Mirna's Revelation
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Mirna.
One of the two pillars who had been leading the Silvermont mages alongside Kairon.
Even though she was over seventy years old, aside from her silver-tinged, silky white hair, she appeared so youthful that she could pass for someone in her fifties.
With her gentle features added to that, she had an aura that naturally put people at ease.
"......Pardon?"
But even that unique atmosphere failed to calm Jeon right now.
'How does she know about the Guardian rune?'
And for good reason.
Ever since arriving in this world, aside from the thoughts of the great mage he encountered in the ruins and the layered will of the Silvermont family accumulated over long ages...
This was the first time a living person had mentioned runes so directly.
"Ah, if it's a secret, don't worry about it spreading. I've cast a mana barrier around just the two of us."
As expected of someone who had reached the realm of a great mage.
Without Jeon even noticing, she had created a soundproof barrier using the surrounding mana.
The others could barely handle mana, let alone stand on their own, so her skill was truly impressive.
Moreover, the fact that she had done this before Jeon could even respond meant she was all but certain.
"......Yes. That's correct."
Jeon straightforwardly admitted that he possessed the Guardian rune.
'I planned to help them anyway, so this much should be fine.'
Kairon's case was an exception, but Jeon had come all the way to the White Tower to help them in the first place.
So, while he might have denied it if they hadn't figured it out, he couldn't lie to someone who saw through it so openly.
"I knew it."
"But how did you know?"
Jeon asked, brimming with curiosity, as Mirna nodded as if her suspicions were confirmed.
Seeing Jeon like that, he must have looked just like a boy his age, because Mirna laughed pleasantly—hohoho—and pointed to his chest.
"There's a Guardian silver fox in there, isn't there?"
"Ah, so you sensed this?"
"Not exactly... They said you used a mysterious silver fox magic, just like the one our progenitor Merimure used."
The magic that defined Merimure was the Guardian Silver Fox.
The legendary spell said to have saved the first king of the Langley Kingdom countless times.
Others had thought Jeon's magic resembled it upon seeing it, but no one imagined it was truly the same spell Merimure had wielded.
"Since it's a lost spell, they probably thought it was just similar. The descriptions passed down in legends don't match perfectly either."
But the more he heard her words, the stranger something felt to Jeon.
"But... how did you know it was the Guardian rune?"
Knowing that Jeon used magic similar to the legend was one thing; knowing it was rune magic using the 'Guardian rune' was entirely different.
"Hoho, you're still young, but you have a surprisingly sharp mind."
Jeon had pinpointed the distinction between 'using the same magic as Merimure' and 'using Merimure's rune magic.'
Mirna nodded approvingly at him.
"Child, your name is Jeon, right?"
"Yes, that's right."
"Then, do you happen to know how many people here besides me have ears—er, the defining trait of the Foxkin?"
As she spoke, Mirna revealed the small fox ears hidden among her long, voluminous hair.
They were concealed by her distinctive hair color and length, but she had one of the Foxkin's most prominent features: fox ears.
"Come to think of it......"
At her words, Jeon suddenly scanned the surrounding Silvermont mages.
Given that the group was called the 'Silvermont Mages,' not a single one had the Foxkin trait of fox ears.
"See? None, right? It's the result of centuries of mixed blood. Most still carry some Foxkin blood, but faintly—they look far more human on the outside."
As Mirna said.
Most of them still carried Foxkin blood to some degree.
But it was so diluted. As an outward-facing group, they rarely encountered other Foxkin outside their circle or formed deep bonds with them. Newcomers were mostly the occasional human disciples they took in.
In the early days, when they married within the group, pure Foxkin were common, but as mixed marriages increased, the Foxkin traits faded over generations.
"I'm similar to the others, but... mine is a case where the Foxkin blood manifested strongly."
Mirna's fox ears were smaller than those of pure Foxkin, but excluding her, such cases were rare, so she truly carried thick Foxkin blood.
"That's why I was always particularly curious about our Silvermont history. That led me to take an interest in the magic passed down through our generations—the one infused with our ancestor's will."
The magic infused with the ancestor's will.
In other words, the magic using the runes of Merimure's will left for posterity.
He had thought it was a modified version usable even by regular mages, not rune magic.
"Its structure was completely different from modern magic. After long research, I realized it was ancient rune magic that's now lost."
Its origin was the will's rune magic.
To uncover that in an era with almost no rune knowledge left—truly remarkable insight.
Hearing the story up to that point, a question suddenly occurred to Jeon.
"Then, Lady Mirna, can you use rune magic?"
Could she use rune magic?
But at Jeon's question, she shook her head.
"Sadly, no. I only know of its existence."
"Ah, I see."
"Hoho, but I have no regrets. I'm content with the path of magic I'm on now."
Was it because she had already reached a high realm?
Or genuine satisfaction with the magic she had learned and mastered?
She continued without a hint of regret over not using rune magic.
"But my research revealed that rune magic names itself after the rune used. Our ancestor's spell uses 'Will,' and the Guardian Silver Fox uses the 'Guardian' rune."
"Wow...... That's incredible."
Without something like Jeon's Korean Patch ability.
To not only recognize rune magic's existence but discern the meaning within the runes themselves.
Starting with almost no information, reaching that point was nothing short of extraordinary.
"Hohoho, it can't compare to you, who actually uses it."
"Ah, that's......"
Of course, despite such extensive research, she couldn't use rune magic.
Naturally, one might wonder how Jeon did it, but...
"You don't have to tell me. Everyone has their secrets."
Mirna shook her head at the hesitating Jeon, saying it was fine if he didn't answer.
"I called you aside just to confirm you use rune magic, not to pry into how."
"Pardon? Then......"
"Hoho, knowing you can use rune magic is what's important. There's something I really want to show you."
"Something to show me?"
Mirna had pulled him aside specifically to check his rune magic use... just to show him something?
His curiosity peaked, but unfortunately, he couldn't check it right away.
"Support has arrived!"
"We got help from the nearby guild—manpower and transport too!"
Rector and Tasha had arrived at the dungeon with reinforcements.
With the Silvermont mages in no condition to move, they needed immediate treatment and rest, so they couldn't linger now that help was here.
Besides...
"To show you that, we have to go back to where we were staying anyway."
"Ah, I see."
"You'll have plenty to report to the Tower about this incident, and I'll be busy with treatments and rallying everyone. Come find us once things settle."
"Yes, understood."
It wasn't something they could see here and now.
Jeon suppressed his rising curiosity and helped escort the Silvermont mages out alongside the others.
It was the moment they finally escaped the dungeon full of ordeals.
The Silvermont mages stayed a few days in a space prepared by the nearby guild before being transferred to a hospital linked to the Tower.
Only after confirming that did Jeon's group return to the Tower together.
"Good thing we took the carrier."
"Yeah, tell me about it."
With extra people, it was a bit cramped compared to the trip there.
But with more hands to share driving, their fatigue was noticeably less.
Plus, they took it easy this time—no reckless driving, stopping at villages for inns and rest—so by the time they returned to the Tower, two weeks had passed since leaving the dungeon.
"Everyone, you did great. And thank you."
Knect greeted the returning group with a bow and words of gratitude.
Though they had just returned, he had received a simple report letter in advance, so he knew roughly what they had been through.
"Heh heh, so now we can rest for a couple months, right?"
"You said it. Oof, my back's killing me. My poor back."
Khalid and Rector joked with exaggerated groans, lightening the mood that felt a bit awkward.
"If you want, take a break. Or do that research you've been wanting."
"Hm? For real?"
But the response wasn't a joke.
"The Silvermont mages sent word they'll need time to regroup too. Probably recovering from injuries and strengthening internal bonds."
It made sense.
Though the Ruin Church was involved, the incident stemmed from an internal betrayer.
Rather than pushing activities, a recovery period to solidify unity was far more crucial.
"Whoa... My throwaway joke turned real."
"Haha, even if you hadn't said it, I was planning to give you some leave. After all you've been through."
Beyond that, what they had accomplished far exceeded the expected mission difficulty.
Fighting church members was one thing; clashing with a great mage too.
"Tasha volunteered to handle the full report. So you can start your break today."
Everyone except Tasha, who had report duty, effectively got leave starting now.
As they stood stunned yet delighted, Knect seemed to remember something and called Jeon.
"Oh, right, Jeon."
"Yes?"
"A guest came looking for you."
"A guest for me?"
Jeon's face filled with question marks at that.
'Who? Bolton maybe?'
Who would come all the way to the White Tower for him?
He racked his brain, but aside from Bolton, no one came to mind.
And the guest he met, guided by Knect, was someone Jeon hadn't even considered.