The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 49

44. Magic Competition (3)

“Did you see that? The lightning that struck yesterday.”

“Of course. And it wasn’t just that. The day before, there was a huge fire in the eastern forest.”

The conversations of people gathered in the pub were loud.

“But when the wizards went to put out the fire, there wasn’t even a spark left?”

“What kind of trickery is this…….”

The topic of their conversation was only one thing.

“Well……. The results of the Magic Society’s investigation…….”

For several days, strange rumors circulated in Azor.

Lightning suddenly falling from a clear sky, freezing in some places, burning in others, and sometimes the ground shaking like an earthquake.

Facio, the lord of Azor, requested the wizards of the Magic Society stationed in the city to find the cause.

However, the wizards of both the Dawn Society and the Immortal Society only found faint traces of magical power at the scene.

“With this level of damage, it must be at least a 4th class magic.”

“What are you talking about? The remaining traces of magical power are barely above the 1st class. If it were 4th class or higher, there should be a much higher concentration of magical power.”

“Is there no possibility of a natural disaster?”

The lord’s subordinate asked the wizards, but soon both shook their heads.

“Unless it was artificially created, there’s no way magical power would be felt.”

“This power. Someone must have artificially erased the traces of magical power.”

“That’s ridiculous. To erase the traces, it would have to be at least 6th class or higher. Why would a high-level wizard do something like this?”

Opinions were divided.

“In the first place, aren’t all high-level wizards under the jurisdiction of the Magic Society? I haven’t heard any reports of a high-level wizard in Azor right now. It seems the Dawn Society isn’t managing things properly?”

The wizards who came to investigate the incident somehow turned it into a battle of pride, only creating discord between the two Magic Societies.

“Then your head must not be normal. Do you think you can create this much damage with that class of magic?”

“……What?”

The wizards stared at each other with fire in their eyes.

From the start, they were gathered to show off their skills through the competition.

In the end, they were rivals.

A situation where taking the lead was necessary.

“Then how else can you explain this!”

“Then you! Show me some convincing evidence!!”

Instead of investigating the incident, they were busy disparaging each other rather than respecting each other’s opinions.

“Hoo…….”

The city official watched their 모습 [appearance] and let out a low sigh.

In the end.

The conclusion they came to after arguing and putting their heads together was the natural disaster that the official had mentioned at first.

‘Hmm, I tried to be careful……. But it’s a relief. It’s because the personalities of those Magic Society guys are like that.’

Kahlil listened to the conversations of the people gathered in the inn and nodded lightly.

Natural disaster.

That was the conclusion reached by those who explored magic and called themselves the wisest on the continent.

‘It’s the same now as it was then, they just call what they don’t know a disaster.’

The upcoming war and the oracle that will be given.

In the end, the wizards who call themselves sages dismiss all events as something that cannot be helped by human power.

‘That’s a good excuse to pass the buck.’

Kahlil smiled bitterly.

“Hey, how’s it going? Is the preparation going well? Here, this is the guild’s emblem. I’d appreciate it if you could wear this when you compete.”

At the voice he heard in front of him, Kahlil slowly raised his face.

Bargo Sira, grinning, had eyes full of expectations for the lucky guy who came in with a vine.

Snob.

Looking at him, Kahlil smiled cynically and received the emblem he handed over.

“Sure. But how much did you bet?”

“Hmm?”

“Let’s not hide it from each other. Everyone knows that the reason the competition never stops isn’t just for pure purposes like the Magic Society’s skill competition.”

Kahlil said casually as he pinned the emblem to his chest.

“I’m saying, how much did you bet in my name?”

“Ha, hahaha!”

At his words, Bargo laughed heartily as if he couldn’t beat him. His laughter was so loud that the eyes of the people around him were drawn to him.

“100 gold in dividends. No one bets this much on the first game of an expert.”

“That’s too little.”

But Kahlil’s reaction was cold.

“……Huh?”

“I did some research myself. I heard you can bet up to 500 gold even for the first game.”

At his words, Bargo’s face crumpled.

‘Is he crazy? 500 gold isn’t just the name of someone’s dog……. Even if I broke the magic measuring device, what am I supposed to believe?’

In Bargo’s eyes, Kahlil was still young.

He admitted that he had tremendous magical power for his age, but it was clear that actual combat was different.

‘No matter how much magical power you have, it’s useless if you can’t use it properly.’

He was racking his brains.

Looking at the bracket, there were 4th class users among the wizards of the Magic Society and the Immortal Society.

Moreover, the two of them were people Bargo knew by name. They weren’t participating for the first time, and they were excellent in experience, so the final would definitely be those two.

‘Winning is impossible.’

Even if he loses, it’s not bad for him.

‘He’s already joined the guild. If I coax him well with the defeat as an opportunity, I can make him my man even more.’

That’s why Bargo bet money at a 적당한 [moderate] level. Showing sincerity that he was 기대하고 [anticipating], but also the amount he could afford to lose.

“It’s a shame because it’s an opportunity to make a lot of money. Individuals can only bet on beginner competitions.”

“I like your confidence. With that much spirit, you might be able to aim for the championship?”

Kahlil knew it was lip service.

‘I don’t intend to spend a lot of time in a place like this. There are many things to do and many things to get.’

The word championship.

It’s what everyone dreams of, and how great it is to reach the top, but for Kahlil, the competition in front of him was just one gateway.

In his previous life, he fought many wizards.

Especially.

After Oliban was crowned emperor.

Before the oracle was given, he was at the forefront of the empire’s conquest to unify the continent.

Of course.

It’s different from when he was at the peak of the sword.

‘But even now, without magic, it’s not difficult to deal with 4th class wizards.’

Even if his body wasn’t completely trained yet, the enemies he had to face now were only weak ones.

‘Compared to them, it’s insignificant.’

From the Falchion War, where he was surrounded by top-level wizards, to the battle with Derill Harian of the Lurein Principality, one of the four great wizards of the continent.

The memories that really threatened his life remained vivid.

‘I was the one who came back alive from there.’

“It’s starting.”

The beginner’s game video appeared on the crystal ball that was 크게 [greatly] made in the square.

Kahlil watched it and got up from his seat.

“I should go to the stadium soon.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

Kahlil smiled at Bargo’s words and pointed to a person who appeared in the crystal ball.

“Well, bet on the guy who’s out now instead. Something interesting will happen.”

A man standing in the arena with a very nervous face.

It was Mikhail.

* * *

‘It’s going smoothly.’

Kahlil, who was sitting in the waiting room, nodded as he looked at the list of players who had advanced to the semi-finals of the beginner competition.

Of course, Mikhail’s name was accurately engraved among the four names.

“The competition is outdated. To use the same stadium as the beginner guys.”

“Besides, why are the newbies using the stadium first?”

“It can’t be helped. Think of them as the extras before the main game.”

“Hmph…….”

Kahlil was listening to the players’ conversations while waiting for the stadium to be 정리 [cleaned up/prepared].

There were no people among them who felt more than 4th class magic.

Those who have just entered the ranks of wizards.

But even that was not something that could be 흔하게 [commonly] seen on the continent, so their noses were 하늘을 찔렀다 [sky high/stuck up].

“Damn it, I don’t want to go out. The final is already decided anyway.”

“What can we do? The Magic Society guys……. Always apply on the last day of registration. We free wizards can only hope to avoid them.”

“Let’s all take it easy. The purpose is to catch the eye of the Magic Society’s scouts.”

A man wearing a 눌러쓴 [deeply pressed] robe said.

“You too? Where are you thinking of going?”

“If it’s the Magic Society, it’s the Dawn Society. It has the most branches on the continent. My teacher was also in one of the Dawn Society branches.”

“What are you talking about? If it’s the Magic Society, it’s the Immortal Society. Can the Ivory Tower be compared to the vast library of Anti-Hum? If you’re a wizard, you should 탐해야 [covet/seek] magic.”

“Then what? There’s no way that the guys who learn 저주술 [curse magic] will enrich humanity.”

Those who were talking nicely at first began to raise their voices as if they were already members of the Magic Society.

“…….”

Kahlil let out a low sigh as he watched them.

‘The wizards haven’t changed at all. Is it inevitable that I think of that guy when I see something like that…….’

He recalled a 그리운 [longed for] face.

After the oracle was given.

Kahlil created his own independent unit that he personally selected for the war.

The only ten people who can trust his back, and who can be trusted in the past and present.

Mikhail is different from them.

It was only because Nar Di Maugh accidentally discovered his talent and told Kahlil.

It is unknown how he will grow.

But even looking at the results of the current competition, he will do his part.

‘Someday I’ll meet them.’

He smiled bitterly.

All that was left after the victories that they had won for the emperor, for the continent, and for humanity was death.

‘It will be different this time.’

Kahlil looked at the wizards who were 실랑이를 [bickering] with cold eyes.

[We will now begin the Expert Competition!! We will have a word from Tapio, the senior wizard of the Dawn Society, who is the host of this competition.]

The door to the waiting room opened.

At the same time as the host’s words were heard from the entrance, a cheer that was 귀가 먹먹해질 [deafening] was heard.

Waaaaaa—!!!

[Since the 7 Elders who are said to have existed since the beginning, many wizards have been born in Azor. 250 years ago, Kaie Essir, who was called the strongest wizard, was also the winner of the Azor Competition.]

The voice of the old wizard coming from the loudspeaker echoed in the stadium.

[The challengers here may also have the title of a great wizard who will 재연 [reproduce] the glory of the past. Show your skills to the fullest.]

The 열기 [heat/excitement] of the stadium was 뜨거웠다 [hot/intense].

However, the eyes of the audience did not only feel 열의 [enthusiasm] for magic.

A kind of 광기 [madness/fanaticism].

Kahlil knew what the meaning 담긴 [contained] in that look was.

When he challenged the Tatur Arena as a 투사 [gladiator].

It was the same look in the eyes of those who looked at them in the stadium as 유희거리 [entertainment/amusement].

‘It’s 한심하군 [pathetic] to see that 모습 [appearance]. What’s different about this place from Tatur? The people of Azor, who pretend to be 고상한 [noble/refined], are all the same in the end.’

Then he looked at the 무대 [stage].

The 5th class magic book given as a reward for the winner.

The expression of the old wizard coming down from the platform was 흐뭇 [pleased] as if the owner of it was already decided.

‘I’m not really interested but…….’

Kahlil glanced at the 푸른색 보석 박힌 [blue jewel-encrusted] on the cover of the magic book and recalled Mikhail.

‘Should I take it for now?’

Kahlil spun the 싸구려 [cheap] staff borrowed from the Ulkas Guild once and looked ahead.

[We will now begin the Expert Competition!!]

Did Bargo Sira use his 손 [hand/connections] to see his skills before starting the 도박 [gambling]?

Kahlil was the first to compete.

The opponent was one of the wizards who had been 수다 떨던 [chatting] a little while ago.

The 곱상하게 생긴 [pretty-faced] man wearing a wide-brimmed hat was a 전형적인 [typical] wizard no matter what anyone said.

Wooooo……!!

The man 움켜쥐고 [gripped] the 스체프 [staff] and began to 영창 [chant] magic with a 긴장한 [tense] expression.

The magic circles 생성되는 [generated] around him began to 중첩 [overlap].

‘ 적당히 [moderately].’

Kahlil ran lightly towards the man who was 집중하고 [concentrating] on 영창 [chanting].

“……!!”

Then, he 아무렇지 않게 [casually] 들고 있던 [holding] the staff with both hands and 후려쳤다 [struck/smashed] the man’s legs.

우드득-!! [crack]

The staff 부서졌다 [broke] with a 둔탁한 [dull] sound.

At the same time, the man’s leg 꺾였다 [bent/snapped] in a 기묘한 [strange] direction.

“컥……?!”

Without any 반항 [resistance], he couldn’t even 쉬지 [rest] properly and 고꾸라졌다 [collapsed] forward, screaming in pain.

“Flame Finger.”

Flames 일었다 [rose] from Kahlil’s fingers.

Then, he 천천히 걸음을 옮겨 [slowly moved] and 가져갔다 [took] a small flame to the face of the 쓰러진 [fallen] man.

“This…… what is this……!!”

He tried to 소리치려 [shout] something, but instead of an answer, Kahlil 지졌다 [seared] the flame on his 뺨 [cheek].

“Kaaaaaack!!!!”

The game ended 어처구니없을 정도로 [absurdly] quickly.

고작 [merely/only].

With 1st class magic.