Chapter 36: The Swordmaster’s Awakening

Bring was stunned, exclaiming, “Two days?”

He couldn’t believe it.

He had thought only a few hours had passed.

The lingering effects of the spar were still evident in his body.

How is this still here?

As a Swordmaster, his physical recovery was exceptional—most injuries healed within a day.

So why did Gaon’s energy still linger?

It didn’t make sense.

…Is it a type that doesn’t heal easily?

Bring closely examined the energy Gaon had left in his body.

It’s domineering.

The energy lay dormant, but it wasn’t tame.

It was calm only because it hadn’t been provoked—if he tried to expel it, it would wreak havoc inside him.

Could I have withstood it if I’d prepared?

He had only prepared his sword.

Would armor or artifacts have helped him endure the lightning?

Pointless…

Even if he had blocked the lightning, the outcome wouldn’t have changed.

Gaon would have prepared a stronger spell, and Bring would have been unconscious for longer than two days.

“…Wait.”

A sudden thought made Bring look at Muratone in shock.

“Then the special auction?”

“It started yesterday and is on its second day now,” Muratone replied.

“Damn!”

Bring leaped out of bed.

He had come to the capital after three years specifically for the special auction, particularly for the new item from the Kerhen Workshop.

The second day was when it was scheduled to be revealed.

“Thanks! We’ll talk later!”

Expressing gratitude to Muratone, Bring rushed out, quickly assessing his location before heading to the auction house.

My body feels lighter?

As he ran, Bring was surprised.

His body felt noticeably lighter than before.

At first, he thought it was his imagination, but it wasn’t—he was certain.

I need to thank him.

Bring resolved to express his gratitude to Gaon if he hadn’t left yet.

If he had, Bring would send a gift or letter later.

Arriving at the auction house, he headed to his reserved room and looked at the stage.

At that moment, the auctioneer announced:

“Master Tron from the Kerhen Workshop!”

Tron stepped onto the stage.

Phew.

Bring sighed in relief.

He had worried he might have missed it, but thankfully, he hadn’t.

He watched the stage with reverence.

“Normally, we’d explain the new item before revealing it,” Tron began, pausing as all eyes focused on him.

With a faint smile, he continued, “But we have additional items to introduce, so we’ll reveal it now.”

Tron raised his hand, holding a black glove.

“It looks like a glove, and it is. But, of course, it’s not ordinary.”

Tron put on the glove and pressed a button on its back.

Whoosh!

The glove glowed, transforming into full-body armor.

…!

Bring was astonished.

Full-body armor?

“It’s not made of ordinary iron—it’s crafted from Bern Black Iron,” Tron explained.

“There’s a magic circle on the left side and right thigh.”

As Tron continued, Bring decided, I need to commission one.

In the north, battles with monsters and demonic beasts were frequent and sudden.

If magic armor were distributed, injuries would plummet.

It could help drive back the creatures, reduce the demonic energy in the coexistence zone, and eventually allow for its reclamation.

…But what else is he introducing?

Bring tilted his head.

Tron was rushing through the explanation, likely to move on to the next item.

What could be so significant that it overshadowed the magic armor?

Soon, Tron finished, and the auctioneer began.

“30,000 gold!”

“Any higher bids?”

“Three… two… one…”

“Sold for 30,000 gold!”

The magic armor was sold.

Tron, with a deeply serious expression, spoke again.

“The next item is one you all know well. Honestly, I wanted to bid on it myself, but I’m here to present it because only I can convey its true value. It’s an artifact from our eternal master, Kerhen.”

…!

Bring was shocked.

Kerhen’s artifacts?

And not just one—“items,” plural.

Who could have…?

Who had acquired such rare artifacts?

The crowd in the general seats buzzed with excitement.

Tron revealed the first item.

“1.4 million gold!”

“Any higher bids?”

“Three… two… one…”

“Sold for 1.4 million gold!”

Gaon, watching, grinned broadly.

A high-grade Kerhen artifact had sold for 1.4 million gold.

How much is this all worth?

He had submitted eight Kerhen artifacts: two mid-grade, four high-grade, and two top-grade.

The mid-grade ones sold for 300,000 and 200,000 gold, and the high-grade ones for 1.3, 1.5, 1.7, and 1.4 million gold.

Now, only the top-grade artifacts remained.

How much would they fetch?

I won’t miss the elixirs.

Even without knowing the top-grade artifacts’ final price, the proceeds so far—over 6.4 million gold—would easily cover tomorrow’s elixir auctions.

Knock knock.

“It’s Kellion,” came the voice of the auction house manager.

“Come in,” Gaon replied.

Creak.

Kellion entered, and Gaon asked, “What’s up?”

“It’s about the payment. Would you like it in gold or securities?”

“Securities. It’s too much for gold.”

With 6.4 million gold already and the top-grade artifacts likely pushing it past 10 million, physical gold was impractical.

“Understood. Any preference for securities?”

“What options are there?”

“Kerhen Workshop securities, Seionia securities, and our kingdom’s securities are available.”

“Half Kerhen, half Seionia.”

“Got it. Enjoy the rest of your time.”

Kellion left, and Gaon’s expression turned bitter.

Kerhen Workshop and Seionia Empire securities were used continent-wide.

The Varta Empire’s securities once held similar status, but its decline had diminished their value—a fact that stung Gaon.

“5 million! We have 5 million!” the auctioneer’s voice rang out.

Gaon’s bitterness vanished, replaced by a wide grin.

“7 million!”

“7.5 million!”

At the Abyss’s 3rd Branch, its leader, Kemmel, stared at a report with disbelief and suspicion.

The 2nd Sub-Branch was wiped out like this?

Contact with Galico, the 2nd Sub-Branch leader, had been lost.

The deputy leaders were unreachable too.

An investigation team confirmed the 2nd Sub-Branch’s annihilation by Gardion Tower mages.

Some regular members remained, but their identities were exposed—they’d soon be dead.

Swish.

Kemmel set the report down and asked Adir, “Didn’t they arrive just a few days ago?”

“Yes, today is their fifth day,” Adir replied.

“So, they were killed three days ago, meaning it took two days to wipe them out…”

Kemmel trailed off, letting out a hollow laugh.

“Does this make sense?”

Three Gardion Tower mages had destroyed the 2nd Sub-Branch in two days?

Reporting this to the higher-ups would only earn him ridicule.

Adir, equally incredulous, had double-checked but confirmed it was true.

“Could Bring have been involved?” Kemmel asked.

The kingdom’s only Swordmaster was in the capital.

Perhaps he had intervened.

“We investigated, but no. It seems…” Adir hesitated, then continued with a troubled expression, “someone crossed the wall.”

“Who? Elder Baren? The guy with broken circles suddenly jumped from not even 6th Circle to 7th?”

“Not Baren. Apparently, Baren showed deference to a mage named Gaon.”

“…That wasn’t in the report.”

“I just received it. They omitted it because it sounded absurd.”

Kemmel’s face darkened.

Adir continued, “There’s no mage named Gaon in Gardion Tower. It’s likely someone in disguise.”

“Not from Gardion Tower?”

“That’s the most likely scenario.”

“An unidentified 7th Circle Archmage…”

Kemmel fell into thought, considering various mages.

None fit the profile of someone who would disguise themselves as Gaon.

…Could he have come this far?

There was a rogue Archmage, unaffiliated with any group, notorious for causing headaches with his erratic actions.

Kemmel hadn’t considered him due to the distance, but what if he was Gaon?

Even so, wiping them out in two days is too fast.

Galico was a 6th Circle mage—not strong enough to defeat a 7th Circle Archmage but capable of holding out.

Regardless, he needs to be dealt with.

Kemmel had promised Lilith a head.

If he didn’t deliver soon, she’d send troops herself.

“Where are they headed next?”

“They were on a mission in the Gelita Plains. Likely there.”

“Gelita Plains…”

Kemmel pondered, then spoke.

“Are Teams 1, 3, and 8 on standby?”

“If you mean the assassination teams, Teams 1 through 9 are available.”

“Send all of them, up to Team 9.”

“…All of them?”

“Yes. A 7th Circle Archmage? We need to ensure he’s killed. If they fail, the 3rd Elder will come.”

“Understood.”

Adir nodded, and Kemmel added, “Send Atros too, just in case.”

“…Atros as well?” Adir asked, slightly shocked.

“Yes. He’s a mage’s nightmare. If the assassination teams fail, Atros can finish it.”

Atros had abnormally high magic resistance, making him nearly impervious to most spells.

His recovery was also monstrous, far surpassing a troll’s.

He was a mage’s worst enemy.

“There’s a problem—he’s uncontrollable,” Adir cautioned.

Atros didn’t follow orders well, acting on instinct and causing numerous incidents.

He was currently confined in the 3rd Branch’s underground prison under disciplinary action.

“He’ll charge like a dog at an Archmage. He loves hunting mages.”

“…Understood.”

Adir, after a brief hesitation, bowed and melted into the floor.

Kemmel looked at the report again, thinking, This should be enough.