The Swordmaster Who Returned After 1,000 Years

Chapter 105

[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]

Chapter 105

“In truth, I have been receiving assistance from Sword Master Stein for my magic experiments for quite some time.”

“What? How does a Sword Master assist with magic experiments?”

“I can’t go into detail, but…”

Kaylen glanced around before speaking quietly.

“I’ve been conducting experiments on linking aura with magic.”

“Is that… like a Magic Swordsman?”

“It’s something different.”

Saying this, Kaylen turned away from Lioness.

Lioness, who had been watching the large monsters advancing toward the fortress walls, casually cast a spell.

“Ice Arrow.”

Countless ice arrows formed in the sky.

Even though it was only a 1st-Circle spell, each arrow was massive, more like towering pillars than simple projectiles.

Swoooosh—

The Ice Arrows plunged straight into the ground.

The ogres and other large monsters tried to deflect them with their arms, but they were helplessly impaled by the sharp ice.

Watching this, Lioness thought to himself.

‘Kaylen’s magic is overwhelming, even for someone wearing an A-rank mana suit.’

Thinking back, even during the Superior Mage Selection Tournament, when he wasn’t wearing a mana suit, his magic was incredibly strong.

How could magic of the same circle have such a drastic difference in power? Was it related to his experiments on linking aura and magic?

“This experiment was possible because I briefly trained in aura when I was younger.”

Kaylen’s words made Lioness’ eyes widen slightly.

“You trained in aura when you were younger?”

“Yes. Due to various circumstances.”

Though the original owner of this body had never even held a sword, Kaylen lied effortlessly without hesitation.

Hearing this, Lioness stroked his chin.

“I also trained with the sword briefly when I was young.”

“…That’s unexpected.”

“When you’re a kid, knights wielding swords just look cool.”

He glanced briefly in the direction where his older brother, Guntrian, had disappeared before continuing.

“Heh. But I quit before I could accumulate aura in my mana hall. My talent was too exceptional, so my brother Guntrian stopped me.”

“You were talented, and he stopped you?”

“I also had a natural aptitude for magic. Since I had already engraved a mana circle into my mana heart, he told me I shouldn’t form a mana hall as well.”

In a world where magic was the highest priority, swordsmanship talent was secondary.

It was only natural for Guntrian to advise him to focus solely on magic.

“Aura, huh…”

Lioness continued watching Kaylen use magic.

A Water Meister who froze the ground and rained down ice spears from the sky.

No matter how he looked at it, this was not firepower that an ordinary Meister could produce.

The only person who could match his destructive power was Princess Violet, the wielder of an S-rank mana suit.

‘But that’s only because of Glacia.’

Kaylen, on the other hand, was just like Lioness—an A-rank mana suit user and a 4th-Circle Meister—yet his magic’s power was on a completely different level.

Lioness suspected that this disparity came from the ‘experiment’ Kaylen had mentioned.

‘I want to become that strong too.’

During this fortress defense battle, Lioness had painfully realized the limits of his own strength.

Without hesitation, he asked Kaylen directly.

“The experiment... what are the participation requirements? Do you think I could join as well?”

And just like that, he took the bait.

Kaylen smiled inwardly but responded with a troubled expression.

“Lord Lioness, it is certainly possible for you to join the experiment, but there are essential conditions.”

“Conditions? What are they?”

“In order to participate in the experiment with Lord Stein, aura is required.”

“Ah, I see.” Lioness nodded. The need for aura had been something he had vaguely guessed while listening to Kaylen’s words.

“If you reach the point where you can form a mana hall, then you’ll be able to participate in the experiment on the interaction between aura and the mana circle.”

“Hm…”

“However, it’s quite a difficult path, so I wouldn’t recommend it lightly. If successful, your magic will become much stronger, but it’s still experimental.”

“I see.”

Kaylen spoke to Lioness as if some of the experiments were quite challenging.

“Yes. If the experiment progresses and stable results are achieved, I would recommend it, but... finding a subject for the experiment is not easy. It requires someone who is a Meister and also has the qualities of a knight. Such people are rare.”

“Qualities of a knight, huh?”

“There was a case where someone with exceptional swordsmanship qualities briefly appeared to me as a sword, due to the aftereffects of the experiment. But Lord Stein said that only those with such qualities are worth attempting the experiment.”

“Hmm. So... I have that kind of talent?”

“You might. But since it’s still an experimental phase, it would be too risky for someone like you, Lord Lioness, from the Duke’s family.”

Kaylen continued to try and dissuade Lioness from participating in the experiment.

However, this approach only seemed to provoke him.

‘Kaylen. Does he not want me to be involved?’

He kept emphasizing how dangerous the experiment was…

But the power Kaylen had displayed was astounding.

Kaylen, who came from a humble baronial family and hadn’t stood out much until now.

Yet, he suddenly appeared like a comet in the Superior Mage Selection Tournament, finishing as the runner-up.

With his 6th-Circle talent and completely transformed appearance, no one could deny the immense changes.

‘Back when the second year was ending, he was just a failing student. But in the blink of an eye, he’s become someone like this, and it’s clear that the results of his experiments have played a huge role in that.’

If Kaylen could grow that much, what about him?

Lioness felt a surge of greed.

“No. Isn’t there a lot to gain by participating during the experimental stage?”

“But…”

“You said aura is needed for the experiment, right?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Alright. Let me try learning my sword technique. Compared to magic, aura should be easy for me to master.”

Lioness said this confidently before heading off to recharge the mana in his mana suit.

Kaylen watched his back with a small smile.

‘I’m glad I discouraged him. He went along with it much more easily than I expected.’

If he had actively encouraged Lioness to join the experiment, it might have caused him to hesitate and doubt.

On the other hand, saying it was better not to join the experiment during its early phase seemed to have triggered Lioness’ competitive spirit.

‘I don’t even fully understand the interaction between aura and the mana circle.’

Though Kaylen didn’t fully grasp the concept of aura and mana circle interaction, he did know that such a combination existed.

What he had achieved with his mana body was precisely that.

However, this was a level only possible for someone like Kaylen, who had infinite mana.

For regular humans, it was more efficient to focus on just one area.

In the long history of humanity, there had never been a notable sword mage, and this fact proved it.

‘But… considering the words I just said, there’s something that bothers me.’

Sssrrr.

While unleashing an ice bombardment on the monsters below the castle walls, Kaylen lost himself in thought.

‘In the past, the linkage between aura and the mana circle would have been impossible… but in this era, there’s the variable of mana suits.’

At first, Kaylen had simply intended to make Lioness practice swordsmanship on his own.

If a person with swordsmanship talent practiced properly with a sword…

That person would never be able to abandon the sword.

A talent that loved the sword and aura, or rather, loved the sword even more than that, was swordsmanship talent.

If Lioness trained with the sword and fully awakened his talent, Kaylen had thought he would eventually walk the path of a knight.

‘But he also has dazzling talent in magic. If he uses the mana suit... is there no way to combine the two?’

“Keek!”

While Kaylen was lost in thought, a flock of harpies attacked from the sky.

Since Lioness had left, they had seized the opportunity, knowing that no one else was around Kaylen.

But...

Sssrrr.

Kaylen’s body soon turned into water.

“Without reason, there’s no learning effect.”

Splash-

The harpies who attacked Kaylen passed right through his watery form.

The water that soaked their bodies quickly expanded, surrounding the harpies.

“Keek... keck...”

The harpies, who shook their bodies for a moment within the water mass, one by one, collapsed as they struggled to breathe.

Soon, Kaylen’s surroundings were filled with the fallen harpies’ bodies.

This scene was being watched by the Meisters in the mana recharge room.

“Truly, that Meister is incredible…”

“They said they didn’t need a guard. Not a single gap.”

Among the current Meisters, Kaylen was the one with the most powerful firepower.

Naturally, the castle’s command had intended to protect him, so they had planned to send knights to guard him. But...

Kaylen had declined, even sending his own personal knight, Alkas, elsewhere.

“That junior... Do you know what’s scarier? He’s deactivated his spirit form now. If you look closely, only his right hand is still in spirit form.”

“Ah, I see. Why is that?”

“To conserve mana, Senior.”

Lioness, who had entered the mana recharge room, joined the conversation among the Meisters.

“L-Lioness, sir.”

“You don’t need to be so formal. I don’t wish to hear respectful speech from academy seniors.”

“B-But...”

Though Lioness said this, no Meister dared to speak freely to the Duke’s most favored son, Oblaine.

As awkward silence lingered, Lioness chuckled.

It’s hard to deal with academy seniors as seniors.

“Even so, if it’s more comfortable to show respect, then please do so.”

“Ah, I understand.”

“Haha. Since we’re commoners…”

The Meisters, who seemed more comfortable using respectful language, appeared to relax slightly.

“Lioness, sir. We’ll prepare a seat for you here.”

“This spot has the best view.”

They even offered a chair by the window where the castle walls could be seen, setting up a mana charging magic circle. Since they had taken care to show respect, it was expected that he would accept it as a noble.

Thud.

Lioness naturally sat down, charging his mana suit while looking out toward Kaylen beyond the window.

Every time the harpies attacked, Kaylen seemed to sense it immediately.

His ability to switch between spirit form and normal form was almost miraculous.

‘His ability to sense enemies seems even better than a knight’s. Did he develop that through aura training?’

The mana charging magic circle automatically replenished the mana for the suit. Typically, when alternating between fights, Meisters would rest, sometimes even sleeping on the magic circle itself.

Lioness, too, needed to sleep during the brief time available, but...

He couldn’t take his eyes off Kaylen, who instantly detected the harpies and suppressed them with his spirit form.

‘If I train aura, could I do that too?’

The interaction between aura and the mana circle.

Normally, Lioness would have thought it impossible.

‘If I train with the sword…’

Ever since the Sword Throne appeared, an unusual heat had been slowly rising in Lioness’ chest without him even realizing it.

‘All of this is to use magic more powerfully.’

Yes.

The reason he was paying attention to aura, something outdated in this era, was solely for magic. There couldn’t be any other reason.

This strange heat must be because it could enhance his magic.

While Lioness was analyzing his thoughts, trying to stay awake, he heard a sound.

Thud. Thud.

“Uh… What’s that sound?”

“Look! The flying monsters are falling, completely frozen.”

Monsters began to fall one after another from the window of the mana recharge room.

At the same time, cheering could be heard from outside.

- Princess Violet is here!

- Reinforcements, reinforcements have arrived!

“Haha. Since reinforcements have arrived... I suppose I can sleep now.”

Lioness got up from his chair and laid flat on the magic circle.

Now he could finally rest properly.

The moment his eyes closed, his consciousness quickly faded.

‘Sword…’

Just before falling asleep, the sword appeared in his mind’s eye.

[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]