Chapter 70

70.

***

“Hmm?”

Helsia Ashraf’s eyes sparkled with interest.

The storm of mana she had released just after passing through the city gates was carefully controlled, enough to gently shake the ground as she waited for a reaction.

‘To cut off the flow?’

The storm of mana suspended in the air was suddenly split in two.

As if sliced by an invisible blade, the divided mana storm began to lose its momentum and collapse almost instantly.

The luminous blue lights falling and scattering beautifully were unable to coalesce again despite her efforts; they merely dissipated into the surroundings.

Even the mana-manifesting members of the imperial guard stared wide-eyed at the magnificent spectacle of light falling and dispersing.

“Hmm.”

Helsia sat upright from her leisurely reclined position and turned her gaze.

She was looking for whoever had disrupted the flow of mana.

Pinpointing the location was not difficult. A Transcendent’s senses can distinctly identify each and every presence within the city without fail.

The faint sound of a sword that reached her ears at the moment the flow was severed.

And at that exact moment, there was only one person wielding a sword. The location matched where the envoy party was heading. The source of the sound was above the Imperial Palace.

Helsia directed her gaze toward the terrace of the towering palace.

Even though a considerable distance separated the Outer Wall and the palace, it was no issue.

The eye of a Transcendent could view this distance as clearly as something right in front of them.

‘That old man, still alive after all? The Emperor must be regretting his absence.’

Thus, while idly formulating this thought, Helsia’s inspection of the terrace brought forth an involuntary exclamation.

“Eh…?”

What in the world is this?

A single line of inquiry emerged within her mind.

Staring blankly at the terrace, she inadvertently spoke.

“A mana mass?”

Though uttered carelessly, this was the only description possible.

On the terrace, there burned a colossal mass of mana shaped like a human, radiantly intense.

The splendid sword held by the mana mass. Judging from the available clues, this was what had disrupted the flow, but…

After 50 years of memories, this phenomenon was an unprecedented sight for her.

‘The person seems to match…’

A faintly detectable presence, unique to humans, could be perceived.

“It’s not Landeck, that old man.”

The aura exuded by the first Swordmaster was cold and still.

But the aura possessed by the mass of mana was hot and rough, akin to flames shaped into a human form.

She lowered the mana and blinked her eyes.

As the sensations dimmed, she redirected her gaze toward the terrace.

This time, instead of a mana mass, a vague but clear human shape became visible.

Short black hair and black eyes.

A powerful physique covered in a magnificent black formal attire with adornments. The sword in his hand faintly glimmers.

His countenance, though somewhat savage upon first glance, appeared quite young.

Their eyes met; then the figure turned around and disappeared inside.

“Las.”

“Yes.”

Swish.

A man completely wrapped in black cloth appeared on the palanquin.

After gazing blankly at the now-empty terrace, Helsia spoke.

“How many mana-manifesters are considered as candidates for the next Swordmaster within Altain?”

“Five… no, four.”

“Among them, is there a young man?”

“No.”

Unexpectedly, she turned her head.

“There should be a mana-manifestor named Ildan.”

“Ildan Brayden was designated as a traitor last month and executed.”

“Hmm.”

Her eyebrows gracefully curved.

Disturbed by the Transcendent’s slight annoyance, Las hurried to continue.

“However… there is someone noteworthy, though not a mana-manifestor.”

“Who?”

“Cain MacBilian. The consort of the Empress of Altain.”

Among the various pieces of information gathered while the envoy was en route to Altain, the information about Cain was the most peculiar.

Even Las and those involved in gathering information tilted their heads, pondering if it wasn’t a deliberate fabrication from the Altain side.

“Regardless of the reason for it, this young powerhouse has defeated several mana-manifestors. Even the one who decapitated Ildan Brayden is him.”

Hearing Las’s explanation, Helsia recalled the figure standing on the terrace.

‘Cain MacBilian.’

This is a sword-knight who slays mana-manifestors.

The black-haired man appeared as a burning mass of mana. An unfathomable existence that blurred the lines between person and mana—a sensation that came across distinctly even from the perspective of a Transcendent.

Helsia’s lips curled softly.

“Fascinating.”

The emergence of a new powerful figure was pleasing news.

It has been a long while since Emperor Myers locked himself away after sustaining fatal wounds in the Thousand-Angle Fortress.

The monstrous old man who withstood the combined assault of the two Transcendents, Emperor and herself, and ended up losing only an arm, has also disappeared without a trace.

At the end of a monotonous life, two young knights have emerged.

One, the letter of state of Altain—Cain MacBilian.

The other, her youngest disciple—Theodor.

While casually comparing Cain’s black hair with her disciple’s white hair, Helsia closed her eyes.

***

After preparing in the terrace and returning to the audience hall, the door of the audience room was opened under unprecedented attention.

As the envoy delegation from Sylvester entered the audience hall, it was eerily quiet, as if a mouse had died.

There were quite unusual circumstances. Not just a few but several members of the delegation, including Helsia, were dressed in rather provocative attire.

If someone were to whisper about vulgarity or something like that, no one dared to open their mouth, nor did their gazes align correctly—most of them conspicuously avoided looking at Helsia.

The central nobles were silenced under the overwhelming presence of the Swordmaster, and the envoy seemed uninterested in creating a fuss, bowing their heads.

The audience hall resonated only with the dry conversation between Iris and Helsia.

Sylvester expressed their final congratulations on the marriage and delivered the gift sent by the Emperor, thus concluding the audience with that problematic nation without any trouble.

Or so it seemed, until Helsia suddenly spoke.

“Empress Iris. May I speak with your consort for a moment?”

“…What for?”

“Don’t misunderstand. It’s merely out of curiosity as a swordsman regarding his excellent skills.”

Suddenly?

Iris hesitated for a moment before turning her gaze. Her violet eyes, brimming with unease, met Iris’s.

With no appropriate words coming to mind, she nodded.

Since they only wanted to have a conversation, there was no solid reason to refuse.

‘It shouldn’t be dangerous.’

When the flow of mana had been severed, their eyes had met.

Considering the character of the protagonist from the novel she had read, she must have been significantly intrigued, which likely prompted the suggestion for this conversation.

Thus, an impromptu exchange between the Transcendent of Sylvester and Cain was arranged.

The subtle scent of tea leaves lingering within the room softly teased the nostrils.

The small reception chamber housed only me, Milene, Helsia, and a figure seemingly resembling some kind of bodyguard.

Starting with questions like what’s your name and where’s your hometown, Helsia maintained a smooth conversation.

Likewise, I responded, carefully sidestepping any sensitive topics.

As the conversation began to wind down,

Helsia gracefully lifted her teacup while crossing her legs.

Her sturdy, bronze-colored legs were enticingly crossed. The barely covering piece of fabric accidentally slipped and got caught between her thighs.

It was a sight that could unintentionally draw a gaze, yet I couldn’t allow my eyes to wander.

The individual in front of me was a Swordmaster, one of the strongest beings in the Western Continent who had transcended limits.

After setting down her teacup, Helsia spoke.

“Cain MacBilian. I also have a disciple around your age. His name is Theodor.”

Helsia’s disciple, Theodor.

Someone from the Sylvester faction, yet one I was familiar with and a name I would never forget.

Because it was the name of the protagonist from the original story underlying this world.

‘So, she became Helsia’s disciple after all.’

Despite my appearance in Altain disrupting the flow of the story quite significantly, it seemed the protagonist was still following the original script, growing steadily in some distant land.

“His reputation precedes him. I’ve heard about him single-handedly eradicating a desert bandit group at a young age.”

“An inflated reputation at best. If we must compare skills, you are far more astonishing.”

After saying that, Helsia lifted her teacup again.

“Not in earnest, but think about it. Breaking through a Transcendent’s mana, no less? And you’re just an ordinary knight, not even a mana-manifestor. How intriguing, isn’t it?”

The tail-like appendage swaying behind her waist.

Her golden eyes—unreadable in their emotions—were firmly locked on me.

Crack.

“If you’d permit me, I can eradicate all the mana-manifestors in your capital, including you, right now.”

A fine crack appeared on the teacup.

Suddenly, my chest tightened and the air felt heavy, as if it were pressing down on me.

“If it’s not within the Emperor Myers’ will, destroying the hollowed-out remains of Altain would be an easy task. There’s no one here in Altain who can stand against me.”

“…”

“Or, maybe you should bring that old man who’s hiding somewhere to me.”

“…”

But his figure hasn’t shown up, has it?

The feral aura of a human-beast, a being who held cat-like spirits, flickered in her golden pupils.

The furniture inside the reception chamber began to waver, unable to withstand the force of Helsia’s ki waves.

‘Crazy.’

Was she revealing her true nature?

Bang.

The metallic clanging sound caught my attention—Milene knelt on the ground with an ashen face.

An eerie sensation of shivers running down my spine.

Forcing down a dry swallow, I moved my hand towards the sword on my waist. Would I be able to?

While calculating the optimal route to Helsia’s neck, she spoke again.

“…However, it would be too dull that way. So, I’ll give you a choice.”

Helsia grinned seductively.

“Come to Sylvester.”

“…”

“Compete with Theodor, overcome him, and ascend to the Transcendent realm. Forsake this weak Altain. I’ll train you directly. Strengthen your sword and ascend higher.”

Let’s engage in an iron-bound discourse of life and death.

That’s what the desert Transcendent was saying.

A bloodthirsty strongest being.

Helsia fit that description.

Originally, she had great rivals in Emperor Myers and a master, but currently, none exist.

Her reason for taking in numerous disciples was simple.

Creating worthy rivals.

If she trained many talented individuals, someone who transcends into the realm of Transcendence would surely emerge someday. Then, she’d quench her thirst.

Why she taught swordsmanship to Ban Ray and accepted Theodor, and now was proposing a transfer to me.

According to the novel’s plot, her wish would be accomplished.

Through the hands of the protagonist Theodor.

With a spear piercing her heart, Helsia would pass on all her mana to Theodor and meet her death with a kiss.

She would depart with a contented smile, and the protagonist would finally reach the apex.

If no special events occur, it would likely flow that way.

If I were to join her disciples, that role might transfer to me. Ascending to the level of a Swordmaster much faster and achieving the status of the strongest in the Western Continent.

No need for contemplation.

“I decline.”

The suggestion to abandon Altain and defect to Sylvester was absurd.

It was impossible, especially now. Not to mention, the idea of defecting was never on the table.

“What?”

Helsia frowned and set the teacup down.

“Are you daring to refuse?”

The faint blue glow in her golden irises.

A subtle hint of malice within the mana, causing my entire body to sting uncomfortably.

The sharp breaths of Milene nearby indicated her difficulty in breathing.

The oppressive sensation intensified gradually, and proportionally, Helsia’s beautiful face began to distort slightly.

It was a clear message—accept her proposal or meet your end.

‘Her temperament is quite impatient. Is it her nature or just the arrogance of a Transcendent?’

Letting out a light sigh inwardly, I fixed my gaze on her eyes.

“Helsia Ashraf.”

I smirked toward her stern gaze.

“Go ahead and wash your neck clean, awaiting your death.”

Don’t rush.

I’ll come to you on my own when the time is right.

“I am Landeck’s disciple.”