The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 225

173. Mikhail (1)

“Hoo…”

“Already tired?”

Serika teased, watching Mikhail exhale softly.

“…I am not. I’m still in top condition.”

Despite clenching his fist and speaking forcefully, the dark circles under his eyes betrayed his fatigue.

“Let’s rest here today.”

Karyl smiled faintly, looking at Mikhail.

After all, he was the one who would have the hardest time here.

The group was on their way to Tatur.

Azor had a massive teleportation gate that could take them to the Istria Three Kingdoms in one go.

From there, it wasn’t far to Tatur, so considering efficiency, they should have chosen that method.

Whoosh…

But for some reason, all that surrounded them were densely packed coniferous trees. In the middle of a fir forest so tall it obscured the sky, the group started a campfire and prepared to camp.

“How long has it been?”

“It’s been about three days now.”

Mikhail quietly answered Karyl’s question.

“We’ve come a little over halfway in three days… That’s about the same speed as riding a horse.”

“Y-yes, it is.”

Serika said as if she had been waiting for his answer. Unlike Mikhail, she looked relaxed, despite having traveled the same distance.

“Are you really a 5th class mage? How are you more tired than me, a 4th class? You seem to be using even less mana than before. You trained so much in Antihum.”

Instead of using Azor’s teleportation gate, Karyl had them travel to Tatur using their own teleportation magic, supposedly for magic training, without even using horses.

It was definitely a grueling journey.

Most mages didn’t expend their mana like this.

“…I’m sorry.”

Mikhail couldn’t refute Serika’s words. The reason they had only come about halfway to their destination was because of him.

“Just think of it as an extension of your training. By depleting all the mana in your mana circuits and replenishing it, it will become easier to circulate your blood.”

Certainly, teleportation magic had the advantage of being able to travel a certain distance in an instant, but that was different if the distance was tens or hundreds of kilometers.

From Blink, which moved short distances within sight, to Teleport, a long-distance teleportation magic.

All of these were spells that mages could use once they reached a certain level, but the amount of magic used varied greatly depending on the distance.

If a mage who had just reached 4th class were to teleport between kingdoms without using a magic circle, they would collapse from mana exhaustion and be bedridden for days.

“…I will keep that in mind.”

Mikhail said dejectedly.

Karyl had suggested this journey because he had broken through the wall of 6th class, but also because everyone gathered here—Serika, Mikhail, and Israfil—were all mages.

‘I can roughly see the difference in their capabilities.’

Another reason Karyl chose this mode of transportation was to compare the three of them.

“Um… Dinner is ready.”

Israfil, who had been watching the atmosphere, said cautiously.

Next to him, a darkness giant, now grown to about waist height, waddled along with a bowl on its head.

‘Certainly, at this point, no one can match Israfil in terms of mana control.’

He was a mage who had trained in the Immortal Order from the start, unlike the other two, but he didn’t tire much even when maintaining the darkness giant while using teleportation magic.

‘The darkness giant borrows mana from Duat [a plane of existence associated with darkness], but it doesn’t mean he doesn’t use his own mana at all.’

He had Aln’s teachings, but he was definitely a man qualified to be chosen as one of the Ten of the Oracle.

‘Serika is also one of the Ten, and although she is only 4th class, her mana itself is very pure. Moreover, she has been practicing swordsmanship since she was young, so her physical abilities are the best among the three, and her blood circulation is good.’

He hadn’t worried about her from the beginning, but after visiting Antihum, she showed remarkable skill.

Just looking at her when she caught the Dust of Emptiness, he knew she had a good sense of combat.

‘As expected… the problem is Mikhail.’

[Do you really think so?]

It was then.

Aln, who had read Karyl’s thoughts, asked him in his mind.

[Haven’t you noticed yet?]

‘…What?’

[Well, even Nine didn’t notice it. When I talked about Jochie before leaving Antihum, there was a slightly suspicious part… Seeing him struggling so tired, my suspicion is confirmed.]

‘Is there a problem?’

Karyl frowned slightly at his words, as if he didn’t understand.

[What’s the point of giving him the Repository of Knowledge? He’s too busy thinking about what he can get from it… Before you fill your own desires, you need to take care of your people more clearly.]

‘Sounds like words from experience?’

[Anyway… you can’t stand losing, can you?]

Aln clicked his tongue, looking at Karyl. But since Karyl had already chosen this method of transportation to observe the three of them, Aln was just scolding him first.

‘If you know something, tell me.’

[Call me Master.]

‘Master.’

[…….]

Unlike a moment ago, he said it without even thinking, which made Aln lose his energy.

[Anyway, you…]

He shook his head as if he couldn’t win.

[Hmm… there’s a pretty useful monster living in this forest nearby.]

Aln said, scanning the densely packed fir trees.

[I’ll call a few of them over and have him fight. Remember what Nine Darhon said?]

‘Of course.’

[But you’ve only heard about it, you’ve never seen him fight properly. We need to check it out this time. I’m a little curious too.]

‘Is that even possible?’

[It’s the power of Duat. Darkness is fear, so I can move more freely and secretly than anyone else.]

Aln smiled meaningfully and raised his hand. Then, with the rustling of his robe, the sound of leaves colliding with each other could be heard in the distance.

Rustle… rustle…!

Swish…!!

The sound coming from afar quickly approached, and the trees began to shake wildly.

[Kuaaaaa—!!!]

A roar echoed under the night sky.

“W-War Bear?!”

Mikhail, who was about to receive the bowl from Israfil with a spoon in his hand, jumped up and shouted at the sudden appearance of the monster.

Serika and Israfil hurriedly turned around.

“……!!!”

She instinctively reached for the spear she had placed next to her.

“……?!!”

But soon her face crumpled.

She looked up at Karyl, who was stepping on the spear shaft and crossing his arms, pretending not to notice, because the spear didn’t lift from the ground.

“What are you…”

Just as Serika was about to shout irritably,

Crack—!!!

The sound of a giant tree breaking was heard.

Creak…! Creak…!

But there was more than one sound of falling. The view, which had been obscured by the dense trees, suddenly cleared as if water was being parted.

The night sky, which had been difficult to see even when looking up, was now visible without raising her head.

“This is…”

Serika, who was watching the scene, couldn’t say anything and couldn’t close her mouth.

The fir trees were cut down on both sides with smooth cut surfaces, as if they had been cut by something sharp.

Not just one or two…

Hundreds of them.

[How is it?]

In front of the cut trees, the War Bear that had attacked Mikhail was lying on the ground with its head cut off.

Whoosh…

“U-uh…”

The wind mana still swirling around Mikhail’s arms, who was sitting blankly in shock, contained dirt and dust.

He was more surprised by the power of the magic he had cast than by the monster that had attacked him.

[Hehehe.]

Aln laughed, looking at Mikhail’s expression.

[Do you remember what I said when you first showed me this guy?]

‘…?’

Karyl tilted his head.

If it was when Aln first saw Mikhail, it was when he won the magic competition in Azor and visited the Gray Headmaster.

It had already been several years.

No matter how good his memory was, it was difficult to remember what he had said so long ago.

[Well, I didn’t take it very seriously at the time either.]

Aln chuckled as if it were natural.

[This guy’s blood vessels from the mana nodes to the mana points are shorter than others. Such a body is easy to learn magic. Moreover, the blood vessels are thick, so the circulation of mana is easy. It’s literally a blessed body.]

‘Ah…!!’

Karyl nodded as if he had just remembered.

[Short blood vessels mean a short activation time for mana. That means you can concentrate mana quickly.]

Come to think of it, that was true.

Mikhail had cast Wind Blade on the War Bear that was trying to attack him a moment ago.

Generally speaking, Shadow Casting meant casting magic with just the name of the spell without chanting the incantation.

But he had gone beyond Shadow Casting and didn’t even memorize the spell name, even though it was an offensive spell.

[Thick blood vessels mean you can maximize mana in an instant. On the other hand, the consumption of mana is also great. Even though he has the highest mana after you here, he’s struggling with teleportation magic because the consumption of mana is greater than others.]

‘I see.’

[But the important thing is elsewhere.]

Aln walked towards Mikhail, who was sitting on the ground, and placed his hand on his head.

[Now I know why the Platinum Dragon regretted seeing this guy’s talent in his previous life. I thought I was quite knowledgeable about magic… Karyl, I’m seeing another unique guy like you in my life.]

“……!!”

It was the body of a lion made of spiritual power, but no blood flowed. Mikhail shuddered at his cold touch.

[From now on, you listen too.]

Aln’s voice changed and no longer echoed in Karyl’s mind, but resounded aloud.

The group all looked at him.

[There’s one thing I misunderstood about this guy. He’s not just short in blood vessel length. Originally, it was so short that he couldn’t even use magic.]

“But…”

[He can use magic. The reason can be found in why his blood vessels are thick. No, to be exact, it should be said that it’s the reason why they appear thick. It’s because this guy’s blood vessels are not one.]

“Not one?”

Israfil, who had been quiet until now, asked Aln with sparkling eyes.

For him, who liked discovering magical knowledge, the current explanation was enough to arouse curiosity.

[Extremely short blood vessels are tied together like knots and connected like one blood vessel. But even the blood vessels created in that way are shorter than normal.]

Even Aln didn’t notice.

When he examined Mikhail’s body, he simply thought,

[In short, this guy’s blood vessels are not one line, but dozens of lines connected. In other words, the same mana is used from each blood vessel when casting magic, so this is the result.]

Aln pointed to the trees that had been cut down.

[Do you see it as 3rd class magic? Even if it’s a forbidden magic with high lethality.]

“…….”

[The power exceeds 5th class. This guy is like launching dozens of Wind Blades at the same time with just one cast.]

“……!!”

At his words, Serika and Israfil couldn’t help but let out low exclamations.

They knew better than anyone else how difficult it was for mages to cast magic simultaneously.

But not just one, but maybe dozens.

It was truly a top-tier skill.

Although there was a limitation that it was the same magic, it meant that Mikhail was born with the ability that even a great mage could not do.

[The same magic is applied simultaneously from each blood vessel as soon as the magic is cast. So the mana consumption is doubled, and high-level magic like teleportation magic makes him tired faster than others due to lack of mana.]

“Oh, that’s amazing… Isn’t this really amazing?!”

Israfil shouted almost screaming.

[Then let me ask you one thing. Brat, doesn’t anyone come to mind after hearing my words?]

Aln looked at Karyl.

[There was someone who poured and condensed powerful mana into low-class magic, although the method was different.]

“That… Isn’t that the method Lord used when he won the competition?”

Mikhail carefully said, recalling his memories at that moment.

“Could it be…”

Karyl’s face hardened at Aln’s words.

Aln smiled as if their faces were worth seeing.

[Kaye Eser. This guy is born with the ability to use the magic theory that he built.]

“……!!”

“……!!”

[No, maybe this guy will draw a line in the new magic world that even Kaye Eser couldn’t do.]

“M-me?”

Mikhail couldn’t close his mouth at his shocking words.

He was feeling intimidated because he felt like he was holding them back between the two formidable people, Serika Loren and Israfil.

[Let’s see… Well, how about calling it this.]

Aln’s voice slowly echoed in their ears from the darkness.

[Overlapping Magic.]

At that moment,

A smile spread across Karyl’s lips.

After Aidan, he had clearly solidified one thought.

Now it’s impossible alone.

He had to use people in the right places to change the landscape of the continent more quickly.

Now,

Mikhail Roman.

The place where Karyl should use him came to mind.