Chapter 139: The First Magic Swordsman (2)

She rubbed her eyes.

Then she looked at the Ring once more.

A dazed sound escaped her, not for the first time.

It shifted into horror in an instant.

Whir, whir—

The Ring swelled as it let out a casual Resonance.

“What is that? What on earth is that?”

“It is a Circle.”

“How do you have a Circle! No, what Circle in the world exists outside the body…!”

At that moment, the dignity of a King was nowhere to be found.

She looked only like a scholar who had discovered an unprecedented mystery.

Alisa approached the Ring with her mouth agape.

A Magic Array was drawn within her blue eyes.

‘It is not a trick caused by an illusion or an Artifact.’

Through her all-seeing eyes, everything about the Ring was dismantled and laid bare.

Then, she discovered an amazing fact.

‘It is a superior version of a normal Ring.’

The Resonance itself was different.

If the Resonance of other Rings was like a whisper, Richard’s was closer to a roar.

Her gaze moved toward Richard’s chest.

The Mana bursting from the Knight’s heart was as fierce and overbearing as a raging torrent.

It was maximizing the output of the Ring.

Furthermore, Richard’s Mana was special even at a glance, so it was truly like giving wings to a lion.

Suddenly, goosebumps rose along Alisa’s forearms.

If Richard, who seemed to have already reached the level of a Swordmaster, were to achieve greatness in Magic as well…

The first Magic Swordsman of the Continents would be born.

The research results stating that Knights and Wizards were perfectly suited to complement each other were enough to motivate Wizards to pour their energy into the production of the Magical Armor Corps.

However, that did not mean Richard’s Ring had only advantages.

“It is a special and amazing Circle. But it is far too dangerous. A Ring exposed like this…”

Richard nodded his head.

“It would shatter into pieces if it took a hit.”

Immediately after absorbing the Artificial Heart in the Ancient Ruins, he had looked at his Ring and commented that it was like having a right atrium throbbing in his hand.

It was an accurate assessment.

The injury most feared by Wizards was the rupture of their Mana Circle.

The level of power they had shed blood and sweat to achieve turning into dust and scattering was a terrible thing that anyone would fear.

In Richard’s case, such a fatal weakness was highlighted too greatly.

“Still, I cannot let this infinite potential go to waste. Do you not agree?”

“………. Well, that is true. Anyone would say so.”

Alisa took in the Magics swirling around the Ring.

Firebolt, Ice Bolt, and Lightning Bolt.

Though they were only 1 Circle, manifesting three elemental Magics simultaneously was an incredibly difficult task.

‘He must have hidden his abilities while living at the Duke of Bartenberg. He likely began training in earnest after leaving the Main Family. For at least half a year.’

The greatest family of swordsmanship would never leave a member of their bloodline alone if they were training in Magic.

Richard’s appearance, which was completely different from the malicious rumors calling him a scoundrel, added credibility to her thoughts.

Triple Casting after half a year of training.

It was an achievement that belonged to the talented.

That was what Alisa was thinking.

“Sir Pyran helped me with my training. Manifesting Magic with my own hands brings back many memories.”

“Wait…”

“Yes?”

Richard tilted his head.

“Those words make it sound as if you learned Magic for the first time when you visited my Main Family.”

“Um… that is correct.”

Alisa’s eyebrows twitched.

Her stiff face suffered a small convulsion.

“How long did it take…”

“What are you referring to?”

“I asked how many days it took for you to manifest your first Magic.”

“I succeeded on the second day. Unfortunately, it was a day later than the records of King Alisa or Alan.”

Looking at the awkwardly smiling Richard, Alisa had to try her best to calm her racing heart.

Two days.

It was slower than herself or Alan, but two days was a record that far exceeded Marx’s Average.

“Did you say you wanted to learn Magic?”

“Yes.”

“What you want most is likely the Eye of Laplace.”

“If you give me the opportunity, I will do my best in my training.”

Richard did not seem to have any intention of hiding it.

She let out a small chuckle at his confident manner.

It seemed she had gained a disciple who would be fun to raise.

***

The Wizards of the Royal Palace were summoned.

Alisa looked over those who filled the wide Council Chamber before speaking.

“The one who attacked me was the Lord of Markus, Bafel Marx.”

She revealed the details of the incident in a calm tone.

As the story progressed, the faces of the Wizards grew increasingly stiff.

Finally, when they heard that Bafel had tried to steal Alisa’s eyes, they could not even hide their boiling murderous intent.

These were loyal subjects who had left Markus for Alisa out of pure loyalty.

Their fury was natural.

“What is important is not what he did to me.”

The King’s Voice awakened their reason.

After calming the agitated Wizards, she continued.

“Bafel Marx is serving Demonic Energy. That hideous energy.”

The appearance that had transformed like a Demon and the thick, terrible Demonic Energy.

In addition, there was the unknown presence that could only be seen through the Eye of Laplace.

“………. The real danger is not the Lord of Markus.”

Pyran struck at the core.

He had once researched the beings called ‘Demons’ that appeared one after another after the world was covered in Demonic Energy.

“A Demon radiates Demonic Energy from their entire body. Sometimes Demonic Energy mixes with Mana. And that has the property of mutating others.”

His face was pale.

If that was true for a regular Demon, according to Alisa’s testimony, Bafel Marx was in a state far more serious than a mere Demon.

In the worst-case scenario.

The entirety of Markus might go mad under Bafel’s influence.

The sound of people swallowing their saliva echoed here and there.

Alisa, who had scanned the crowd, took a breath.

“In the Battle he wishes to start, there is no cause or intent that Markus has honed for a long time. He has simply become a Monster desperate to destroy.”

The Battle between Continents that he was aiming for had to be stopped.

To do that, the Laplace Kingdom had to stand against Markus.

“I will send word to the neighboring nations. We need their strength.”

“This is a matter concerning the fate of the Continents. We should not try to solve it on our own…”

Suddenly, the gazes in the room shifted toward Richard, who had been sitting still.

The Bartenberg Bloodline.

If it was that House, which stood at the pinnacle of Knights, they would be able to stop Markus.

But Richard leaned back against his chair and shook his head.

“If the Duke of Bartenberg gets involved, it will truly escalate into a continental Battle. That would be playing right into the enemy’s hands.”

“………. That is true. It was an obvious point, our thoughts were shallow.”

To stop Markus, those who had their foundations in the Southern Continent had to step forward.

“If there is any way I can help, I will do so with all my heart.”

After saying that, Richard fell silent again.

Then his eyes met Alisa’s.

There was a strange look in her gaze.

‘Richard is holding some kind of key.’

It was a feeling close to intuition.

To her, he looked as if he were waiting for the right time.

Richard, who was keeping the key he held carefully hidden.

However, Alisa did not feel like it would return as a dagger against her and Laplace.

“I will hold the meeting again once Alan wakes up.”

For now, she intended to teach Richard Magic until her younger brother awoke.

***

Ang!

Huger grit his teeth.

If he didn’t, he felt as if a joyful scream would burst out.

His strength felt powerful enough to uproot mountains, and his aura felt as if it could cover the world.

Krokta, the King of the Orcs, was exactly such a being.

“That rookie brat, he’s already fought twelve times and lost twelve times! Squeak! He’ll lose today too!”

“To be able to fight the King twelve times! I’m jealous!”

To most Orcs settled in Titan, only one chance to fight the King is given.

Because the price for that reckless challenge is one’s life.

However, there were rare cases where Krokta spared a challenger, which was synonymous with the King recognizing them as a strong person.

Huger, who recorded a record of 12 losses in 12 matches, was such a case.

Thwack—

A dull burst of sound rang out.

A menacing axe blade slammed into Huger’s chest.

Crack, along with a skin-crawling sound, the axe tore through the flesh.

He was Gravely Injured.

Huger stepped back.

Through his split chest, his violently throbbing heart was visible.

Even so, he laughed.

Krokta also let out a boisterous laugh and spoke.

“Youngling! Are you still alive!”

Huger puffed out his throbbing heart as if showing it off and replied.

“I, Huger, am still alive!”

“Impressive! You are a fine man!”

An incredibly ignorant conversation took place.

Huger, clutching his axe, muttered words of apology to Richard in his mind.

Richard’s advice not to fight Krokta immediately repeated over and over in his head.

‘I am an Orc. We are a race that follows the outcry of the heart rather than the head. Forgive me for acting as I please.’

Soon, he even erased Richard’s Voice that was ringing in his head.

“Here I come. Chwi!”

Today’s Gravely Injured state was deep.

He felt this would be his final combat.

‘In that case, it is only right to enjoy it until the end!’

He had regrets, but no remorse.

Just as Huger was about to take his last step.

Whirr—

A wildfire-like Divine Light spread out from the axe he held high.

At the same time, his fading life regained its vitality.

“Hmm…”

Krokta narrowed his eyes and looked at the Light enveloping Huger.

An unusual momentum was bursting from Huger.

“Kuhaha, how interesting! If you survive this Duel, I shall make you a Marshal of Titan!”

Krokta’s muscles twitched.

He beckoned Huger with his hand as if telling him to bring it on.

Waaaaah—!

The heat of the arena began to overheat.

The Orcs, who were second to none in bravery, shouted Huger’s name.

An appointment as a new Marshal.

In the middle of a Victory that was more than enough for an Orc, Huger burst into a hearty laugh.

“It has come! Finally, a Cube Pit has come to me too!”

It was not the Cube Pit of love he had hoped and hoped for.

What had found him was the Cube Pit of Victory.

“As expected, I must have the face of a King.”

Mr. Hor.

If you are watching me, please pass on the tale of my bravery to that Great Human Warrior.

He’ll surely be furious that I didn’t listen to him! Watching that will be its own fun—

Huger, having finished his Ritual of Prayer, threw himself toward Krokta.

The Divine Light wrapped around his axe surged violently.