The father and son were waiting for a carriage by the roadside.
Sote held his father’s hand and asked the question that had been on his mind for many years.
“Father, isn’t our Bernas Family very rich? Why don’t we have a head butler, servants, chefs, and drivers like other families? We have to hail a carriage by the road every time we go out. Isn’t it a bit too inconvenient?”
Sodlan gently stroked Sote’s head and explained to him carefully.
“We do not belong just to our own Bernas Family; we belong to the entire Human Race. Your brother is the Human Sword Saint and needs to protect our race. Hiring such things would damage our family’s image. We should remain low-key at all times.”
“Huh? But other great families are like that, and I haven’t seen their image damaged.”
“You don’t understand. Other families made their money through business. We are different. Most of our funds come from the state, and they shouldn’t be wasted on such useless things.”
“Okay.”
Hearing his father’s explanation, Sote felt a bit dejected.
Even though the family had money, they didn’t live like a wealthy household.
As they spoke, a carriage passed by the gate.
After the two of them agreed on a price with the driver, they boarded and headed straight for the Mages Association.
Along the way, not only Sote but also Sodlan felt anxious.
He was unsure if the Mages Association would accept Sote.
In the Human Race, the Mages Association sent people every year to test the Magic Talent of newborns from door to door.
Those with Magic Talent were usually taken away by the association as early as six or seven years old.
However, because Sodlan’s family was a family of swordsmanship, Magic Talent was considered rare.
Even if it existed, there was a high probability they would study swordsmanship instead.
Therefore, the association had never sent anyone to Sodlan’s house for testing.
Sodlan was worried not only about the age issue but also Sote’s magical aptitude.
Shortly after, the two of them arrived near the central area of the human city.
The father and son stood by the road, looking at the tall building in front of them, which was constructed entirely of pitch-black stone.
The central part of the building had a towering pointed roof that was significantly higher than the two wings, giving it a very strong presence among the surrounding architecture.
At the entrance stood two junior mages dressed in black robes.
Their faces were covered by black veils, and they held two old, broken-looking wooden sticks in their hands.
They stood respectfully, acting as guards.
Sodlan walked over and attempted to greet them.
“Hello, I would like to bring my son to test his Magic Talent.”
However, the junior mages at the door remained motionless.
The one on the left spoke four words in a low, numb voice.
“Outsiders, may, not, enter.”
“We aren’t just outsiders. We’re here to test his talent.”
“Outsiders, may, not, enter.”
The junior mage on the left continued to repeat the same phrase.
At this moment, the junior mage on the right pulled back the black cloth, revealing a young face.
He spoke in a normal human voice.
“Sir, the Mages Association sends people out every year. Anyone with even the slightest bit of Magic Talent would have been recruited by our Chairman. As for the rest who lack talent, please go back.”
After saying this, the junior mage covered his face with the cloth again.
“My son has talent. You have to believe me.”
“Outsiders, may, not, enter.”
“Sir, please stop wasting our time.”
“Everything I’m saying is true! Let me in, take me to see your Chairman. Just give me a chance!”
Sodlan pleaded frantically at the gate, but the junior mages did not seem to believe him and refused to let him in.
Sote also pulled on Sodlan’s hand and whispered.
“Father, how about we just forget it? I’m no good. I should practice my swordsmanship first before trying magic.”
Sodlan gripped Sote’s hand firmly and looked at him with determined eyes, giving him confidence.
“No! Son, you can do it!”
With that, he prepared to take Sote and force his way inside.
However, the moment he took a step forward, the junior mages crossed their wooden sticks to block him.
“Outsiders, may, not, enter.”
“Sir, you cannot enter.”
“I’m going in.”
“You cannot enter.”
“I said, I am going in!”
Sodlan gradually released his aura, attempting to intimidate the junior mages.
However, the two junior mages were no pushovers.
They stood their ground firmly; if entry was forbidden, it was forbidden.
“Since you won’t let me in, I’ll just have to see for myself.”
Sodlan placed Sote in a spot further away.
He drew his own sword, wiped the smooth blade with his hand, and settled into a stance.
“I will make you open that door.”
“Leave.”
“Gladly.”
One of the junior mages stopped pretending.
He used magic to make himself float in the air.
The wooden stick in his hand was emitting Magic Power, glowing with a faint light.
It seemed a fight was inevitable.
Sodlan struck first to gain the advantage, gripping his sword and thrusting it rapidly toward the junior mage.
The mage used a Levitation Spell to float higher, easily dodging the attack.
“As expected of a barbarian who only knows how to move blades. Even your attacks are so clumsy.”
The junior mage waved the wooden stick in his right hand, and a circle of blue water covered Sodlan from above like a large net.
“Do you think your magic is so strong?”
Sodlan held his sword over his head and spun it rapidly, parrying all the water away.
In the end, not even a single drop touched him.
“Then how about this?”
The junior mage began to chant.
A few seconds later, a large puddle suddenly appeared beneath Sodlan’s feet.
Since Sodlan had never fought a mage before, he didn’t know that the chanting meant magic was being cast.
Ultimately, just as the junior mage had expected, he fell into the puddle and became a soaked mess.
“Hahahahaha! This is hilarious. I just wanted to toy with you; I didn’t expect you to be so serious.”
Sodlan climbed out of the puddle in a sorry state.
Sote, standing to the side, was very anxious, but he was a Loser and couldn’t help.
The junior mage, looking like a petty man who had achieved his aim, floated above Sodlan and warned him.
“Leave quickly. This is the Mages Association, not a place for a Swordmaster like you to cause trouble. I’m only warning you now. If you don’t leave, I will use lethal magic. At that time, I won’t be able to guarantee your life.”
Unable to endure the junior mage’s frantic provocation, Sodlan threw his sword toward the sky, but it was easily dodged.
“Do you want to play some more?”
The junior mage floated down and continued to provoke Sodlan to his face.
“In the Human Race, everyone can learn swordsmanship. It’s nothing special. But I’m different. I can use magic. An ordinary person like you has probably never seen real magic in your entire life, right?”
“You’re really pushing your luck, aren’t you?”
Sodlan seized the opportunity as the junior mage descended and snatched the staff right out of his hand.
The junior mage suddenly panicked.
“Hey! Wait, man, I didn’t steal your weapon, did I? Taking someone else’s weapon is really unsportsmanlike. Give it back to me right now!”
Sodlan’s gaze darkened.
He gripped both ends of the stick with his hands, holding it horizontally between them.
“So it’s this broken stick, is it?”