Orcs were not the only threat.
The menace of the Black Mages still lingered. They were just as dangerous as the Orcs. Often, these Black Mages would burn down an entire kingdom and flee whenever they showed themselves.
To defeat those very mages…
“What is the situation?”
“There are four individuals who appear to be 5th Class. Besides them, there are various summoned creatures… and even a Necromancer who controls the undead.”
“This is serious.”
Duke Jisert spoke up, breaking a long silence.
He had entrusted the task to his subordinates, but they were not strong enough to handle Black Mages. Therefore, Duke Jisert had no choice.
“Do you intend to draw upon your power?”
“It is still incomplete… but I suppose it cannot be helped.”
“You must not overexert yourself. You know what happened in the past… We still haven’t been able to recover the territory lost back then.”
“It will be reclaimed soon.”
Generation after generation, the Dukes who led House Jisert were known as Guardians.
Beneath the soil of his own land, Duke Jisert was essentially invincible. This was thanks to the secret technique held by House Jisert.
By borrowing the power of their territory, House Jisert could increase their strength and create superhumans.
The current Duke Jisert possessed that very power.
If this power were used as an offensive tool rather than a defensive one, House Jisert might have become a royal family instead of a ducal one.
“I believe in you.”
“Before that, I must deal with the fools who dared to invade the territory of House Jisert. Where are they?”
“The North. And the South.”
“Then we must go to the North first. Let’s go.”
“I will prepare at once.”
A secluded giant. The Duke of House Jisert stretched his limbs.
*Boom!*
As soon as Duke Jisert stepped out, he charged toward the Black Mages. There was no strategizing, nor was there any gathering of strength.
He alone was enough.
“Hooo…”
As he inhaled, the earth beneath his feet twitched, synchronized with his pounding heart.
The undulating earth brought power to Duke Jisert. The Earth Qi of House Jisert became the Duke’s strength.
*Whoosh—*
Even the atmosphere he breathed responded to his respiration.
“…”
The energy converged around him. With every breath, Duke Jisert’s power swelled immensely. Then, he unleashed that power completely.
*Flash!*
He hurled it toward the group of Black Mages before him.
“E-evade!”
“Send the undead!”
The Black Mages were desperate. They continuously sent the undead they had amassed to block Duke Jisert’s attack. However…
*Crunch!*
With a single gesture of his hand, dozens of undead were crushed into dust.
No matter how much the undead hated the living, they had no power to swing at them once their bodies were pulverized.
“You rats who crawled into the lands of House Jisert! Die!”
The Duke’s shout was a proclamation.
*Rumble—*
Like loyal soldiers obeying his command, the ground the Black Mages stood upon began to pull their bodies down.
“Argh! The, the ground!”
*Gulp.* Those who failed to lift their feet in time were swallowed by the earth. That was enough. The soil and the earth ensured they could no longer breathe.
*Snap.* They were completely crushed to death.
Even those who acted quickly did not find themselves in a better situation.
“Fly! Ugh… Fireball!”
*Boom! Boom!*
The earth rose up following the Black Mages who had taken to the air. Like living golems! Or perhaps, like spears that could pierce through anything!
*Stab!*
“Aaaaagh!”
“…Gah.”
Spears of the Earth rising from below pierced through the bodies of the Black Mages from bottom to top!
There were three 5th Class Black Mages. There were ten 4th Class members, and the undead had grown countless in number by devouring the commoners of House Jisert in the North. All those numbers vanished in vain. Within the lands of House Jisert, it was proven that the Duke’s power was nothing short of invincible.
“Is the South all that remains?”
“Yes. Their numbers are fewer than in the North. It seems some have even crossed over into the territory of Marquis Owen’s House.”
“Good. That will serve as a fine pretext for heading toward Marquis Owen’s House.”
Duke Jisert, who used the power of the earth, was not merely stubborn. He was clever.
For him, the excuse of chasing Black Mages who fled to the South was sufficient.
‘I must extract payment for the blood spilled.’
With that single pretext, the Duke intended to create a bridgehead toward the House of Marquis Owen, which was currently in chaos due to internal strife.
The strength of the fief lost while defeating the Black Mages…
‘The situation is favorable.’
He planned to replenish it by devouring Marquis Owen’s House.
It was a thought characteristic of a natural predator.
Duke Jisert, who was gauging just how much of the Marquis Owen’s House he should consume, quickly finished his calculations.
“Prepare to go South.”
“Yes. However, there were people who came to visit.”
“Visit?”
“Yes.”
Unexpectedly, there was a faction seeking him out.
“From where?”
“It is the Enchant Magic Tower.”
“Hmm.”
It was a visit from those with unexpected power.
Recently, various Magic Tower factions had lost face.
This was especially true for the Enchant Magic Tower, which specialized in creating magic items.
The source of their disgrace was a single place—no, more accurately, it should be seen as a single person.
“Rayrn Ophern… If we had known it would be like this, shouldn’t we have accepted him as a disciple of the Magic Tower?”
“At that time, anyone could see he had no talent. It was expected that he would barely reach 3rd Class.”
“Hmph… Perhaps he had an awakening. Or he is a genius.”
Rayrn Ophern. The youngest of House Ophern. He was the problem.
Originally, Mana-infused Iron was a precious item that only Dwarves could create. A small amount could be produced by a wizard, but the cost was the problem.
‘Spirits always demand a price from mages.’
Mana-infused Iron is difficult to produce by simply pouring mana into it. If a 5th Class mage pours it in, it can be made, but only in small quantities.
“How exactly did he say he made it?”
“He claimed that he used spirits.”
“Does that make any sense!”
As Rayrn said, utilizing spirits, which are close to pure mana, allows for the creation of large quantities.
The problem is the price.
One could barely make any after paying a price higher than simply purchasing Mana-infused Iron from a Dwarf.
Yet, House Ophern…
“They made a set of armor. Along with weapons. I heard a staff went to the Malexia Magic Tower?”
“…We are also requesting a purchase, but there is no response.”
They were producing them in mass quantities. It would have been fine if they were only producing Mana-infused Iron. That would have been better.
The problem was that they also succeeded in processing it afterward.
There is nothing special about a mage making a magic item. However, what Rayrn made was special.
The magic items made by Rayrn were detailed, and multiple spells were layered within them.
After secretly obtaining and studying a helmet from one of the armor sets he sold…
“What were the results of the research on the helmet?”
“…For now, it seems possible for us as well. However, it is estimated that it would take quite a long time. It is considered that it would take one creator at least one year to make just one.”
“One year?”
“Yes. One creator must pour in mana for a year to make a single helmet. And of course, there is a failure rate.”
“Hmph… Then making a set would be an impossible task, wouldn’t it?”
“…”
The more they researched, the more it felt like they were entering a labyrinth.
There are many powerful mages in the Magic Tower. Especially the Enchant Magic Tower, which was skilled enough in creating magic items to include ‘Enchant’ in its name.
‘Is it possible? It should be possible… but time is the issue.’
Even for them, creating magic items that quickly was impossible.
Magic items were not expensive for no reason.
Meticulous calculations had to be made to match the items used as materials. Even after calculating and engraving magic circles, there were many cases where they failed to function.
There was no way the production of such magic items could be fast. There were also numerous failures.
As a result, magic items were naturally expensive.
Magic items were the primary source of income for the Enchant Magic Tower, and at the same time, the field they dedicated their lives to researching.
“It hasn’t been long since they set up that place called a Refinery. But in that time, they succeeded in mass-producing magic items? Does this make sense?”
“One can only say he was born with it…”
“Does that make any sense!”
But a single genius who suddenly appeared had overturned the entire board.
Not only the Mana-infused Iron, but the processed magic items were also a problem.
“Fortunately, not many have been released to the market yet… but what do you think will happen if more of these are released? To our Magic Tower?”
“…”
In the eyes of the Enchant Magic Tower, House Ophern was poor.
The Enchant Magic Tower conducted business across the continent. Based on that capital, they conducted research and grew their influence.
In the eyes of those who could be called the wealthiest, a mere Count’s House was very poor.
The problem lay in the fact that items produced in that poor and barren place could neutralize them.
There was no problem now, but if the youngest of House Ophern grew up, something difficult for even the Enchant Magic Tower to handle could happen.
“Didn’t I tell you to find out the reason? And yet, you still have no results?”
“…He is not simply a genius. That man knows how to trade.”
“Isn’t he still in his teens!”
“Even Toden failed when he went.”
Toden. He was the one in charge of external trade for the Enchant Magic Tower. He was said to have failed the transaction, despite being a man with exceptional natural business talent even before being a mage.
At those words, Emiser, the Tower Master, could not help but frown.
‘This is unbelievable.’
A person can be good at one thing. But no one is good in every field.
Yet, this brat from House Ophern seemed to handle several things with ease. No, not just several, he was accomplishing quite a lot.
Enough to fluster even the Enchant Magic Tower!
The Enchant Magic Tower was not just sitting idly by.
The mages who had operated the Enchant Magic Tower for a long time had seen many geniuses, other than Rayrn, be born and die.
In their long history, there were those who occasionally caused critical damage to the Enchant Magic Tower. Every time that happened, the Enchant Magic Tower…
“What is the status of the contact with the House of Duke Jisert?”
“The negotiations seem to be going well. Wouldn’t Duke Jisert himself be quite anxious right now?”
“I suppose so. With the power of the earth they possess, there is a possibility they could create something like House Ophern.”
“Calculations show that some level of imitation is possible… but it won’t be as good as the original.”
“That can’t be helped. We must support them as much as possible. Originally, there were many people with unusual powers in Malexia, so we must make good use of them.”
They used to use every possible means to keep others in check.
“Proceed with the Jisert matter, and at the same time, try various approaches.”
“Yes. Toden is working hard on this part.”
“Good. Since he failed once, he will surely be gritting his teeth.”
They didn’t just try to suppress him; they also tried to recruit him. It was the way of the Magic Tower to plot using various other means.
And when all those means failed…
‘There is no other way.’
As a final resort, they moved secretly to eliminate him. That was how the Enchant Magic Tower protected its influence. However…
“…Tower Master!”
The target, Rayrn, showed an unexpected movement.
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.