The Crazy Mage Reincarnated into a Fallen Family

[Translator - Prøks]

[Proofreader - Prøks]

Chapter 214: Fichte's Question

"That's an interesting hypothesis. What makes you think so?"

"Because he was exactly like the demon recorded in the records."

I looked at Loren.

"He matched the description of Demon Marquess, Vassago, precisely."

"Interesting. It was already hard to believe that the expedition from the legends was real... and now, the same demon?"

Loren adjusted her posture and looked at me.

"Could I see those records sometime?"

"They're in the fifth-floor archives of the White Magic Tower."

"Hmm."

I could convey the facts, but I couldn't reveal everything.

Revealing everything could actually lead to a loss of trust. Loren licked her lips, and her eyes narrowed.

"Somehow, it sounds like there are other high-ranking demons too."

"The Demon Marquess isn't the end."

"There's more beyond him?"

"As far as I know..."

"..."

"Demon King Verkes. He's the ultimate mastermind."

"The Demon King from the legends, I presume. What's his level?"

Loren, who had asked the question, muttered as if she were answering herself.

"The expedition included all the elites, including the heads of the three major Divine Clans at the time. If most of them were annihilated, I think I get the picture."

Suddenly, I felt a surge of presence, and I looked at Loren.

Loren was looking at me too.

We stared intently at each other for a moment and then, out of the blue, nodded slightly in unison.

'She's definitely reached it.'

The feeling was different from when we met in Urgon.

An aura that wasn't significantly inferior to the presence the heads of the Vassal Clans used to emanate.

Just as Black had said.

The single ethereal sword that sliced through the collapsing space from left to right allowed one to infer the realm she had reached.

The realm where one could freely wield a completed sword energy, with just a wisp of qi.

Sword Mastery.

Loren, an 8-star knight, had taken a step into the realm of transcendence beyond the superhuman.

"I wonder if Black ran away."

It was annoying that he had disappeared without a word, but I had some idea why.

He was a guy who had been hailed as the absolute master of the next generation.

Even though he wasn't hung up on such titles, his obsession with swords was so great that the public's evaluation was insufficient.

Having failed to inflict a proper blow on Vassago and then witnessing the realm Loren had reached, his self-esteem must have taken a considerable hit.

"Lord Ruin, there's something I'd like to ask you."

Suddenly, Fichte looked at me with a somewhat subdued expression.

"Was Samael also part of that expedition?"

I stared intently at Fichte and replied,

"That's right."

"I knew it."

Fichte nodded as if he had expected it.

I knew why Fichte had asked that question.

As I anticipated, Fichte would notice the inconsistencies in the information I told Loren.

He would already be aware of the contents of the White Magic Tower's archives.

Fichte believes that the source of my information lies within Samael.

"As I listened to you, Lord Ruin, a question arose."

"Tell me."

"If it's a demon from 300 years ago, and even recorded in the records, how could it reappear? The expedition would have already killed it, wouldn't they?"

I replied with slight admiration,

"You noticed right away, Military Commander. That's what I'm wondering too."

"You're saying you don't know either, Lord Ruin?"

"I don't know. What's certain is that the legends circulating out there are wrong. Maybe even Demon King Verkes could reappear."

Fichte murmured as if thinking aloud,

"Perhaps the current situation is related to the expedition 300 years ago."

"What I truly suspect is..."

I looked at Fichte for a moment, then at Loren, and then turned my head to look at the squad members.

When did these guys become so patient?

"What do you really suspect? Just tell us, Commander."

I lightly hit the back of Zion's head and looked at Fichte.

"There's a possibility that there was a traitor on the expedition 300 years ago."

"...A traitor? You mean?"

"Probably. One of the Divine Clans."

This time, Loren asked,

"That's a dangerous thought. Is there any basis for that?"

"If not, there's no explanation. The legends have been distorted."

Loren, her lips moving slightly, looked into the air as if recalling a memory.

"The Baltahar clan didn't kill the Demon King?"

This time, Fichte nodded.

"If we consider whether it makes sense or not, it's certainly possible. It might even fit the cause and effect better that way."

Silence fell once again.

We sat side by side in front of the window frame, looking outside.

A chilly wind blew.

It was a day with a noticeable difference in temperature between day and night.

The sunset had completely faded, and the dark night sky settled over the city.

As the sharp moonlight cast its glow on the window frame, Loren slowly looked at me.

"Attend the Vassal Clans Banquet, Ruin."

"..."

"Normally, other clans can't participate, but you're qualified. Given the gravity of the situation, it's imperative that you attend. I'll issue an invitation in Ardehain's name."

I nodded as if it were a matter of course.

Even without Loren's request, I was planning to attend.

"Stagnant water is bound to rot. It's been almost two years since the last banquet. I wonder how our proud Vassal Clans will react."

Just as I felt a hint of something deeper in Loren's words, a strange noise came from the sky.

It was then that a shadow fell over the moonlight illuminating the window frame.

Saaa—!

As Loren and I looked up at the sky simultaneously, the sky above the city swirled as if a hole had been pierced through it, and the bow of a ship, shaped like a sword, protruded.

I looked at Loren and said,

"It seems they've come to get you."

Loren tilted her head and looked at Fichte.

"Are there people coming from the main clan?"

"Hmm."

Fichte, who was looking up at the sky, suddenly smiled at me.

I felt a chill from that smile, and at that moment, a burst of light exploded in the sky.

Faaaaa—!

Colorful flames erupted from the bow of the Blazing Sword ship, embroidering the night sky.

[TL/N: Flower Sword Ship- Ardehain’s Flying Ship; Blazing Sword Ship- Samael’s Flying Ship (assumption is they renamed it after getting it from Ardehain clan)]

The bow slowly turned towards where we were standing.

Then, a small pebble popped out from the bow.

The pebble vanished with a familiar mana wave, as if shattering.

Simultaneously, a transparent bridge extended from the bow of the Blazing Sword ship, slowly weaving its way through the air.

"No way, magic stones..."

5th Circle, common magic.

Levitation Road.

Fwoosh—!

The flames that filled the night sky illuminated the city as if it were daylight.

The people on the streets gasped in unison, looking up at the Blazing Sword ship in the sky.

"Ho ho. What a spectacle."

Why would they do that...?

I suddenly felt like hiding.

Slowly, a group of people began to walk across the bridge from the bow of the ship, one by one, with a dignified air.

Kazen and the elders.

As if boasting, the elders each had a magic stone between their fingers.

Why?

Strangely, my embarrassment quickly disappeared, and a sense of reassurance filled me.

"Ruin. You're safe."

Kazen's face, seen up close, was a bit haggard, as if reflecting the hardships he had endured.

"I believed you would be fine... Are you hurt anywhere?"

"I'm alright."

I looked up at the sky filled with exploding flames and said,

"By the way, it seems your taste has changed."

Kazen smiled faintly, and a clear voice came from behind.

"It's my work. I'm glad you're safe, Ruin!"

"Elder Norman."

"Ruin, what do you think! Isaac said it was a waste, but I disagree. The more flamboyant the entrance, the better."

"You're right."

Elder Norman nodded in satisfaction.

"I'll be sure to tell Isaac that when I get back."

Elder Norman seemed to have become even more childish, but I could guess how quickly Samael had been growing while I was away.

To think they could easily implement 5th Circle magic with magic stones like that.

What path were the elders pioneering?

"It's a pleasure to meet you."

Loren, who had risen from her seat, greeted Kazen and the elders politely.

"I am Loren, leader of the Lotus Swordsmen of the Ardehain clan."

[TL/N: 1*]

For a moment, Clan Head Kazen's eyes widened in surprise, but he soon replied with a calm smile,

"It's an honor to meet the Sword Master. I am Kazen Samael, head of the Samael clan."

Loren looked at Kazen with bright eyes.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you. I've been wanting to see you."

Kazen replied with a smile,

"You're too kind, Sword Master."

"I mean it. You're leading the clan of my comrade. Indeed..."

"Comrade?"

Kazen, suddenly questioning, looked at me and then back at Loren.

"It seems my good-for-nothing son has good fortune with people. You've been a great help to Ruin."

"Ho ho. Not at all. We're the ones who received help."

Listening to their conversation, I suddenly felt that Kazen's aura seemed a bit different.

***

The conversation, which seemed like it would drag on, ended sooner than expected.

After confirming my safety, Kazen returned to his clan after a brief conversation.

Growing clans usually have a lot on their plate. Kazen had been exchanging letters with Fichte, it seemed, as he was somewhat prepared for the demon situation.

Strangely, I often found myself understanding Kazen's thoughts even without exchanging many words.

Kazen didn't invite me to return with him, and I didn't insist on following.

I still had things to do in Keplan.

As I watched Kazen's retreating figure, I once again felt that his aura had changed, but I didn't dwell on it.

As dawn approached, Loren departed with the promise of the Vassal Clans Banquet, and my subordinates also disappeared to their respective rooms to sleep.

The city was quiet.

My momentary peace was shattered by none other than Fichte.

Knock knock—

"Lord Ruin."

"Hmm? You're still awake?"

Just as dawn was breaking.

Fichte, who I thought had returned to his room, came back at a rather odd hour.

"There's something I need to tell you."

"Can't it wait until tomorrow? You need sleep to work, Military Commander. You have a lot to deal with, both with the Alliance and everything else."

"I just have one question."

I suddenly felt a strange sensation.

"It's better to talk inside."

I sat down with Fichte at the window frame again and asked,

"What is it?"

"Then I'll ask you directly."

"..."

"The expedition 300 years ago... Did Samael participate?"

"Hmm."

An unexpected question, and a question that didn't fit the mood or the situation at all.

However, the reason I couldn't just brush it aside was Fichte's strange expression.

I had never seen him with such a serious look.

"Didn't I already say we did?"

"Then I'll ask you again."

Fichte looked me straight in the eye.

"The expedition 300 years ago..."

"..."

"Did you, Lord Ruin, participate as well?"

[TL/N: AYO DEMNNN]

[1*: This is the Literal Translation and I am not making many changes here because we don’t know much about Loren except for the facts that she is Celine’s Mother, a 8 star Knight, is the Representative of the Black Lotus or in simpler terms Black Lotus themselves and has a high rank in the clan. Everything else we know about her is direct speculation of Ruin like what her rank is etc.

Theory: We know Ardehain’s Sword Technique is known as Flexible Sword Style so we can speculate that Lotus Swordsmen are a group led by Loren which is different from the Death Sword Guild or it could be its the same group as Ruin did say that they were known as the Lotus Sword Guild once. Most of this is just my own theory and understanding but yeah…]

[Translator - Prøks]

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