Book Eater

Chapter 157: One Year Later (3)

Elsid’s group also wanted to sort out the confusing situation, so they accepted Theo’s proposal. However, unlike Baek Jongmyung and his two children who were admiring the mansion, Elsid and Marquis Piris were busy trying to come up with an alternate plan.

What should I do in this situation?

The awkward atmosphere continued as the group walked through the front door and into the mansion’s reception room.

Elsid sat down and tried to figure out what to say. He had planned to question the two people whose identities were unclear and pressure them into buying back this mansion. However, his opponents were much bigger than he had imagined. One was a senior magician praised by a sword master, while the other was a sword master in his own right who could be a marquis in any country.

However, Marquis Piris had managed to calm down.

... No, it makes no difference even if they are bigger than I thought. Piris is our territory. No matter what their status, they need to bend in the presence of the crown prince!

He didn’t know why these people were hiding here, but it didn’t have anything to do with his task. So he spoke to the two people on behalf of the crown prince, whose status had yet to be disclosed.

“First of all, I would like to apologize for the sudden visit, Sir Ted.”

“No, Marquis Piris. This territory is Marquis Piris’. As guests, we shouldn’t disrespect the owner.”

“I appreciate your understanding.” Marquis Piris’ eyes shone. “However, before I get to the point, I would like you to identify yourself. If I am the master of this land as you said, shouldn’t I have a right to know the secret?”

“Those are fair words,” Theo said, nodding politely, “If this was a year ago.”

“C-Cough!”

It was a sharp admonishment. Theo’s words had been polite and cordial this far, but his last remark had a sarcastic edge to it.

Marquis Piris coughed, his face reddening, before continuing, “Please understand that many things have changed since then. I wouldn’t have accepted the deal if I had known your companion was a sword master.”

“Umm.”

“But today’s matter is not mine to bring up. This person here...”The marquis paused. Elsid nodded, giving him permission, and the marquis continued, “He is the next king of the Soldun Kingdom, Prince Elsid.”

If Marquis Piris thought that his disclosure would make the duo panic, he was mistaken. Theo’s and Randolph’s expressions remained calm.

Theo inclined his head politely. “It is great to meet Your Highness.”

Elsid replied, “... It is good to meet you, unknown guests.”

He clearly wanted their identities, but the two men remained silent. It was a clear indication that a prince’s status was not enough to give up their identities. Elsid frowned, but it was difficult to pressure them. He couldn’t overpower them, and his kingdom was rife with infighting. He couldn’t afford more enemies.

Theo grasped his feelings and changed the subject, “Then Crown Prince, why are you visiting this humble place?”

The marquis replied on Elsid’s behalf, “There is a story behind it, but I want to buy back this mansion.”

“This mansion?”

“That’s right. It is hard to find a suitable residence for Master Baek here, and this mansion is the only candidate.” To be honest, the marquis didn’t want to pay the price, but he had to take a big loss now.

While the marquis vowed to reduce the damage somehow, Theo made a strange expression and said, “How much were you thinking?”

“The same amount of gold that you originally paid?”

“Then I see no benefit in this.”

Theo still had a lot of gold left, so he intended to profit in some way other than gold. In order to achieve that purpose, the marquis and crown prince had to owe him something. They would be deeply indebted to him if they refused his request.

However, Marquis Piris’ mind wasn’t as good as Theo had thought.

“... Can you really say there is no benefit?” the marquis asked.

Theo looked at him oddly. “What do you mean?”

“I don’t know your identity yet, but haven’t you spent a year in Piris?”

The marquis was advising Theo to be satisfied with a little gold in exchange for having hidden him and Randolph for a year. It was a loss for the marquis to buy it at a thousand gold in the first place. Marquis Piris might’ve retreated because he couldn’t use coercive means, but he couldn’t tolerate more damage to his funds. He was determined not to give way any further.

Despite understanding that, Theo laughed slightly. He didn’t intend to get anything from Prince Elsid and Marquis Piris from the very beginning.

“Well, Lord Piris’ words make sense,” he remarked.

“Then...”

“However, I have a few conditions.”

Before the marquis could protest, Theo turned to Baek Jongmyung and said, “These conditions are for the one who will become the owner of the mansion, not the prince and the marquis.”

“Hrmm? Me?”

“Yes, I would like to ask for three simple things.”

The flow of the story naturally switched to Theo and Baek Jongmyung, with the marquis and prince becoming spectators. In fact, Theo had no interest in them at all.

He raised a finger. “First of all, we are going to leave quite soon. I hope you will let us stay until that time.”

Baek Jongmyung nodded. “That isn’t a problem. In fact, I am excited at the chance to develop a relationship with natives of foreign countries.”

“I am thankful.”

Theo was afraid there would be opposition from the prince or marquis, but as expected, they didn’t move. They would prefer nothing more than to see Theo leave this kingdom quickly, but they would be happy with an eye on Theo. If Theo and Randolph stayed at the mansion with Baek Jongmyung, a sword master who was equal to them, then they wouldn’t lose sight of him. If Theo couldn’t be controlled, it was best to monitor him.

Theo had accurately calculated their attitude. Then Baek Jongmyung, who calmly accepted the first condition, prompted Theo. “Now, Sir Ted! Please tell us the second condition.”

“The second thing that I want to ask...”

When Theo mentioned his second condition, everyone in the room looked at him with a surprised expression. Only Randolph, who had been with Theo for a year, hid a laugh.

But Baek Jongmyung also accepted the strange second condition.

***

“-Hoh, you were hiding such a good place!”

Baek Jongmyung looked around the vacant space with admiration. It was a two hundred meters wide circle under the hill. There were also spells inscribed around it to minimize impacts, block off noise, and trick gazes. This was why Marquis Piris hadn’t discovered their skills despite keeping them discreetly surveilled.

Rather than being pleased by the explanation, Baek Jongmyung just stood in the empty space. The sword at his waist and clothes that didn’t obstruct movement was preparation for the second condition.

Prepared to fight at any time, Baek Jongmyung stared at Theo and asked, “Umm... By the way, are we really going to do it in this space?”

Theo replied without any hesitation, “That’s right.”

“But this place… It is advantageous to me, no matter how I think about it. I don’t mean to demean your skills, but isn’t it hard for a mage to deal with a warrior in such a narrow space?”

The second condition proposed by Theo was a spar with Baek Jongmyung. Everyone had been confused by Theo’s words as it wasn’t a knight but a magician who was challenging a sword master. As far as they knew, a magician who hadn’t reached the 7th Circle couldn’t fight against a sword master.

... That is, if he was a typical magician.

“Master Baek,” Theo replied with an expressionless face, “You know mages, but you still aren’t aware of what a magician is yet. I appreciate your concern, but you shouldn’t treat me so lightly.”

Theo had tried many ways to break his limits over the last year. In order to develop new magic and master existing ones, he had frequently sparred with Randolph, who was a sword master. Theo hadn’t been able to come to terms with aura’s mobility, but he had figured out other things.

At first, it had been hard to last for ten minutes while using all his skills, including Umbra. However, that duration gradually increased. Ten minutes increased to twenty minutes, twenty became thirty, and so on as he gradually increased the number of conditions.

These conditions ranged from fighting without using Umbra, sealing a particular attribute to use, or not using Gluttony. Theo’s odds of defeating a sword master had increased to nearly 45% due to his training. If they sealed their Aura Ability, even a sword master couldn’t be sure of winning.

“Both of you, please greet each other!” Elsid, who had become the referee, looked between the two of them and confirmed the rules again.

“Master Baek, you can’t use your Aura Ability.”

“Yes, I’m aware of that.”

“Sir Ted, you can’t use area of effect magic that spans over half the size of this space.”

“Yes, I’m aware.”

The magician from the west and the warrior from the east looked at each other. Of course, area of effect magic could overcome aura’s mobility. However, it was a special concession considering this was just a friendly spar.

Despite Theo’s warning, Baek Jongmyung was confident.

Sir Ted can’t do anything at this distance… It is best to subdue him moderately.

A few words of warning couldn’t break years of stereotyping. If mages could only attack from a distance, that meant a warrior had a lot of room if they didn’t give the mage time to chant a spell.

As Baek Jongmyung’s hand reached for his sword, Elsid’s clear voice rang through the air, “Then… start!”

Theo’s fingers flickered instantly.

“Um?!”

The blue flash caused Baek Jongmyung’s eyebrows to rise as it sliced through the air. His senses, which were beyond human standards, instinctively recognized that Theo’s flash was extremely dangerous. It wasn’t just fast, it was dangerous enough to damage him if he didn’t have any defenses.

Kakiing!

Of course, Baek Jongmyung was a sword master, so he cleaved the Magic Bullet cleanly in twain. His blade shone in the light as it came down. However, Baek Jongmyung’s expression was stiff as he felt the force that he felt, despite the good amount of aura he used.

That said, that wasn’t the only problem.

Kuk, I was caught!

Theo’s second Magic Bullet was close on the first one’s heels. The blue flashes of light came like a barrage, giving Baek Jongmyung no room to breathe. He was starting to get worried.

“-that’s enough!”

However, Baek Jongmyung wouldn’t be qualified as a master if he could be defeated by this kind of attack. Baek Jongmyung’s sword moved at a terrifying speed, creating a storm that cut down the Magic Bullets approaching him.

Kakiing! King! Kiiing- Kakiing!

Five, ten, every Magic Bullet was deflected into the ground and trees, creating deep holes. It was a sight that would cause anyone to shudder, but Theo continued casting.

Memorize. All Slots Open. Sixfold Thunderbolt. Spell Fusion: Keraunos.

Lightning emerged from his right arm.

Kwarururung!

It exploded from the sky without a loud roar, catching Baek Jongmyung, who was concentrating on defending against the Magic Bullets, flatfooted. The lightning bolt could turn a tree into charcoal instantly, and it was twice as strong as the one he attacked Pride with a year ago.

The ground melted from the blow, and the people watching couldn’t help gulping.

Then a voice rang out, “... Indeed, Sir Ted was right.”

Baek Jongmyung walked out from the dust cloud. He was a mess, but he was uninjured. Theo wasn’t surprised. He had used this spell several times against Randolph, but he never had this much fun.

“It seems I may have taken a magician too lightly. It was a great lesson.” Baek Jongmyung laughed bitterly and raised his sword. The smile was gone from his face as he started to view Theo as an opponent, not a sparring partner.

“Then, this time I will teach you what a warrior is.”