My Lord Who Is Being Prudent! [EN]: Chapter 121

§ 121 – Knight, Mage, and Swordmaster…?(2)

Osley practically dashed out of the tent.

And the moment he stepped outside.

“Huh?”

He found himself face to face with Cyan, who was standing outside the tent.

With a knight standing beside him.

It seemed they had arrived together.

Soon, Cyan spoke to Osley with a slightly troubled expression.

“I came because I have something important to tell you, but are you in a hurry?”

“…Come in.”

Osley went back inside the tent.

Cyan followed him into the tent.

Cyan first saw Bendington sitting down.

Osley went to sit next to Bendington.

A huge chair befitting his massive size, one that looked like a bear would sit on it.

Cyan didn’t need that much space, so he took a seat on a suitable chair.

Then, Osley’s gaze turned to Cyan.

“You’ve uncovered the mastermind behind the black magic.”

“Yes, I have.”

“How on earth?”

“Well… it just sort of happened…”

Cyan vaguely trailed off.

He didn’t know where to start explaining.

And he doubted if an explanation was even necessary.

‘Actually, I’m called a Saint in the Holy Empire.’

‘I’m one of the people who cured the plague back then.’

‘No, it’s not that I have exceptional medical knowledge.’

‘So, what happened was…’

He would have to give such a long-winded explanation.

Mages liked to grasp and explain phenomena.

So, maybe Panat would be different.

But it wasn’t something Cyan was suited for.

Cyan shook his head.

“It just sort of happened…”

But Osley didn’t seem to believe him.

Knights disliked complicated things.

But that didn’t mean they were simple-minded.

From the start, these were people who wouldn’t open their mouths no matter what you did.

People who kept their mouths shut even when Osley held a sword to their faces.

But they immediately opened their mouths to Cyan.

Osley couldn’t help but suspect, ‘Could Cyan also be involved with the black magic forces…?’

But was it thanks to Bendington’s good explanation?

Or was it because he had heard the word ‘Saint’ earlier?

“It seems you knew something from the beginning.”

Osley only stopped at suspicion.

He didn’t ask any further questions about it.

In any case, what mattered wasn’t the process or the explanation.

“Who is it?”

A terrifying aura erupted from Osley’s entire body.

It was anger directed not at Cyan, but at the mastermind.

And Cyan understood Osley’s feelings.

Cyan had seen with his own eyes what state the North was in as he came here.

And what suffering the people of the North were enduring.

That’s why Cyan understood Osley’s anger.

And that’s why Cyan had come to Osley directly.

“Well… I can’t specify who it is.”

“Can’t specify? What does that mean?”

“I’ll tell you, but I thought it would be better to see it with your own eyes, so I came here. To be honest, I’m not entirely sure myself, so I think I need to meet them in person. Before that…”

Cyan looked at Osley and continued.

“The mastermind you’re thinking of… it’s not that kind of concept.”

“Not that kind of concept?”

“To be precise, it’s not certain whether they are the mastermind or not.”

Cyan continued immediately.

“It’s an elf.”

“El…f?”

Osley’s head tilted.

Bendington, who was listening beside him, did the same.

That’s because of the word ‘elf’.

Elves were a very rare race on the continent.

Even more so because they hated humans.

An elf is the mastermind?

“Could it be that the elves are acting out of hatred for humans?”

“I don’t know. That’s why I said I wasn’t sure. There’s a possibility it’s not. So…”

Cyan looked at the greatsword on Osley’s back.

A greatsword almost as tall as Cyan.

To put it simply, it was like wielding an adult man.

He knew that Osley was a mid-level master [a skilled warrior], but…

No matter how he thought about it, it wasn’t something a person could wield.

Well, anyway.

“Even if you meet them, it might be better to leave that greatsword behind for now.”

Osley was the Count of the Northern Territory and a mid-level master.

For Osley to draw his sword wasn’t just about drawing a sword.

It could lead to unnecessary misunderstandings and bloodshed.

So.

“You mean I should try to talk to them first.”

“Yes.”

Cyan calmly nodded.

Osley stared at Cyan.

A moment of silence descended.

Although Osley’s anger was fiercer than ever.

The position of Count of the Northern Territory meant that there were times when he had to control that anger.

“…Alright.”

Finally, Osley nodded.

#

The place people had told them about.

That is, the place where they could meet the elf, was a bit far from the village.

They had to travel north for about a day.

And if they needed any help.

People told them that if they needed the elf’s help, they should come to this place.

‘The elves helped people?’

Elves basically hated humans.

There was no way they would like humans who captured them and used them as slaves.

Even if they didn’t attack right away, they basically harbored hostility.

And for them to readily help humans was impossible.

‘Do they have other intentions?’

But the people’s attitude was strange.

They really thought of the elves as benefactors.

There was no room for doubt, as they wouldn’t open their mouths even when a sword was held to their faces.

‘Hmm…’

Cyan thought about it carefully, but…

He couldn’t find an answer.

That’s why Cyan set out to find the place where the elf was.

And those who followed Cyan.

Since conversation was the priority, they kept the number of people to a minimum.

Cyan, along with Count Osley of the Northern Territory.

And.

“How did you know?”

It was Panat of Rothschild.

Panat approached Cyan and asked.

Panat’s clothes were very light.

Both when they first met and now.

Unlike Cyan, who was bundled up in fur clothes.

Panat was wearing only a neat robe.

He didn’t even wear the hood attached to the robe.

No joke, he was dressed in a way that he would freeze to death in less than an hour.

But Panat didn’t seem to mind.

Far from shivering, he was even sweating.

It seemed he was using magic to keep his body warm.

‘I’m jealous of that.’

He couldn’t do it with Aura [a life energy].

Of course, he could withstand the cold to some extent by drawing on Aura.

But that only allowed the body to endure the cold for a longer time.

It didn’t eliminate the cold itself.

Cyan said, wrapping his body tighter against the cold wind.

“What are you talking about?”

“That the people didn’t use black magic.”

Cyan slightly turned his head to look at Panat.

Panat’s expression was full of questions.

Along with the curiosity of a pure mage.

Cyan could also see one fact hidden within.

“Did you know?”

“What… are you talking about?”

“That the people didn’t use black magic.”

It was the same question as Panat, but the meaning was different.

At first, Panat was convinced that the people had used black magic.

That’s why Panat should have asked Cyan like this.

‘Didn’t the people really use black magic?’

Or else.

‘What do you know?’

That’s how they would have reacted.

In fact, the mages of the Arcanic Magic Corps [a magic division].

They showed those two reactions.

But Panat wasn’t like that now.

He asked how Cyan knew that the people hadn’t used black magic.

In other words, Panat already knew that the people had *not* used black magic.

“…I wasn’t sure. I just thought it was possible.”

As expected, Panat already knew.

But as he said, it seemed to have stopped at the level of possibility, not certainty.

So, that’s why he stopped Osley from killing the people.

“How did you find out?”

Panat asked Cyan again.

When you think about it, even Panat only considered it a possibility.

But Cyan saw through that fact at once.

And not even a mage, but a knight.

From Panat’s point of view, he was curious to death.

Cyan slowly opened his mouth, as there was nothing to hide.

“Because I didn’t see any madness.”

“Madness?”

Panat tilted his head.

“Most of those who use dark mana are consumed by madness. They can’t overcome the nature of dark mana.”

“But, they might be hiding the madness.”

“That’s not the kind of thing you can hide.”

That was like saying they could control the madness.

Only demons could do that.

To be exact, the seven demon lords.

And even if they could hide it like that.

It couldn’t escape Cyan’s senses.

“How can you… ?”

Panat looked surprised with wide eyes.

And Cyan was a little surprised by Panat’s reaction.

That’s because Panat’s reaction now.

It was surprise at how well Cyan knew about dark mana.

And the basis for that surprise.

‘This…’

It was as if he had experienced that madness himself.

It seemed that…

Panat had used dark mana himself.

Whether for research or curiosity.

Panat had touched dark mana.

And he seemed to have directly experienced the madness within.

“Are you interested in dark mana?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

Panat spat out the words firmly.

Dark mana was a type that should never be touched.

But Cyan could be sure.

Panat was interested in dark mana.

He was not only interested but had actually used it.

The goal of all mages in the world is only one.

The truth that makes up this world.

The truth that only God knows.

To bring that truth into the realm of human reason.

Thus, to define all principles as laws.

To make all truths understandable by reason.

That is the ultimate goal of all mages in the world.

And dark mana was still an unexplored area.

It was a type known to be impossible to handle.

Only a thousand years ago.

Elodie, who was Arnaize, used that power.

That meant.

It’s not that they can’t handle that power.

Nevertheless, the secret has not yet been revealed.

This is like a long-cherished wish that mages must uncover.

But, one thing.

Only Cyan knew the truth.

‘What was written in Elodie’s records?’

Cyan recalled his memories and casually blurted out.

“Dark mana refers to mana that has properties contrary to natural mana. It also takes the mind of the being as a sacrifice.”

Then Panat tilted his head.

Clear curiosity could be seen in between.

“The more intensely the mind boils, the faster dark mana accumulates, and thus dark mana consumes the being with madness. That’s why dark mana has been ostracized for a long time.”

Panat quietly listened to Cyan’s words.

“But do you know that there are beings who have used dark mana and have not gone mad?”

“Are you talking about the Archmage Elodie?”

Cyan gently shook his head.

Elodie was also right, but before that.

“Demons.”

“Demons…?”

It was the situation when Elodie first had curiosity about dark mana.

Elodie had seen demons using the power of darkness.

And she was curious about the fact that they had not only madness but also cold reason.

Eventually, Elodie was able to find the answer from Kyle.

And Kyle said to Elodie.

“Haven’t you ever thought that the premise is wrong?”

“The premise is wrong…?”

Cyan told Panat a story.

Elodie’s records that he saw on his smartphone.

He told the story that Kyle had told Elodie, slightly modified.

In addition, there were detailed contents that Elodie had organized about this…

‘I need to understand what it means to say it.’

Cyan didn’t understand that.

Well, he could take out his smartphone and see Elodie’s records.

But there was no reason to do that.

Still, he told him as he remembered.

And.

“H, h, how…?!”

Panat seemed quite shocked by that alone.

Panat’s eyes widened as if they were about to tear.

The trembling pupils were directed entirely at Cyan.

Well… it couldn’t be helped.

Although it was fragmentary knowledge.

What Cyan had told him was Elodie’s knowledge.

The truth that makes up this world.

The truth that only God knows.

To bring that truth into the realm of human reason.

Mages can be said to be those who challenge the authority of God.

And the one closest to that divine authority.

The one who is said to have seen through the truth of the world.

That is Arnaize of a thousand years ago.

The Archmage Elodie.

Whether it’s the Star of the Empire or Naval.

It would be the same even if Egret was brought there.

“N, no way… you…!”

Egret would definitely show the same reaction as Panat.

Even Kyle, who was called the strongest Arnaize.

Even Elodie couldn’t dare to approach the source of magic.

There was also an explanation for that.

“You mean…! Can you use magic!”

Panat had made a ridiculous misunderstanding.

“…?”

Cyan looked at Panat with an absurd expression.

If he could use magic.

Would he be wearing fur clothes like this now?

He would have used some kind of warming magic like you.

“This… this is not a magical understanding that a knight can have…”

But Panat didn’t seem to think so.

Mages who understand the laws of phenomena.

And swords and magic.

To be exact, Aura and magic.

These two could not be combined.

Aura was something that brought things that were merely individual imaginations and manifested them in reality as if they were the laws of the world.

It was a ridiculous power that ignored the laws of the world.

But mages had already understood.

That the strict laws of phenomena cannot be twisted.

That it is inherently impossible.

They had already understood with their superior minds.

So, magic and Aura could not be combined.

This is an absolute law.

But Cyan’s appearance now.

Cyan was ‘understanding’ magical phenomena.

In some areas, he even possessed knowledge that surpassed Panat’s understanding.

That meant.

It wasn’t just pretending to know, but he definitely ‘understood’.

He had established and ‘understood’ the strict laws of this world.

Nevertheless, he was wielding the power of Aura at the same time.

“A swordmaster existed…?”

So, he couldn’t help but make this misunderstanding.

Panat looked at Cyan with astonished eyes.

He was making a ridiculous misunderstanding at first glance…

Cyan hadn’t understood the magical phenomenon.

He had only read the knowledge that Elodie had written down.

“No, that’s not it…”

Eh. That’s it.

What’s the point of explaining?

He’ll naturally find out later that it’s not true.

Cyan just shook his head.

The reason why Cyan brought up the story about dark mana to Panat was simple.

It seemed like he was going to continue researching dark mana.

It would be a problem if he got tainted by madness while researching.

If a genius like Panat was tainted by madness, a century of evil could be born.

But what.

Explaining for the sake of clarification was annoying.

He didn’t feel the need to do so.

Above all.

“It seems we’re almost there.”

He was almost at his destination.

#

In the forest covered with pure white snow.

The trees were all bare and emaciated due to the cold.

Frankly, he wondered how the trees were even there in this cold place.

That’s why he didn’t even know if they were dead or alive.

“Is this the place?”

Osley asked, and Cyan calmly nodded.

“They said to wait here…”

Right then.

A presence was felt in the distance.

Osley and Cyan turned their heads at the same time.

Following them, Panat turned his head.

At the same time, a slight change appeared in Osley’s eyes.

None other than Cyan’s appearance.

Cyan sensed the presence just like him.

Cyan sensed it at the same time, while even Panat was a beat late.

Osley, a mid-level master.

That meant Cyan’s senses were comparable to a mid-level master…?

Of course, that wasn’t really the case.

The being that was approaching now.

He could feel the power of magic from that being.

But Osley didn’t know that fact.

That’s why he didn’t take his eyes off Cyan.

Without knowing Osley’s feelings.

Cyan looked at the approaching being in the distance.

Someone was running around on top of the emaciated trees, approaching as if flying.

The shimmering hair and slender figure that could be seen in between.

It was telling him that this being was a woman.

Soon, the woman came closer.

She didn’t seem very old.

He couldn’t guess her exact age, but she didn’t go beyond the range of youth.

Her skin was so white and transparent like the snow that had fallen around her.

Her hair was also a glossy, pure white color.

Clear eyes and distinct features.

She was a woman of beauty that could not be easily seen anywhere on the continent.

A pure white woman so radiant that she was dazzling.

However, the pointed ears sticking out to the side told him that she was not human.

It was telling him that she was an elf.

The elf’s eyes faced forward.

Meeting gaze.

“Huh?”

The elf tilted her head.