Chapter 151, Not a Difficult Task (2)

Translator: Lizzz

Editor: Hedge

 

That afternoon.

 

‘Please spare me some time after you finish your work today, Master.’

 

Until Allan heard these words from Kalian, who had come directly to his office, he hadn’t given it much thought.

 

‘If you need me, I’ll follow you out right now.’

 

So he had answered like this.

 

But what work could Rmain passed on that could be more important than Kalian? Allan had always lived with this kind of mindset.

 

But Kalian only shook his head.

 

‘To convert Aura, night is better than morning.’

 

Then he said these words, which were puzzling to Allan.

 

Well, anyway, if his lovely Disciple had said so, it must be so. If night was better, then even if he had to change day to night, they should meet at night.

 

Fortunately, Kalian did not ask Allan to change day to night. He simply asked him to wait a little while, saying he would first scout out a suitable place in the forest and then ask Allan to come find him. So Allan readily agreed.

 

Thus night came and the full moon rose.

 

Allan was about to pass his remaining work to Arsene when he remembered that the fellow had left the palace to do something Kalian had assigned him.

 

So, he had no choice but to open the door to the office across from his, go in, and neatly place the remaining documents on the desk of the office’s owner. Then, he confidently said to the person sitting at the desk, ‘This old man is tired, so I’m leaving first today,’ and stylishly walked out. After that, he hurried to the forest.

 

*Clop, clop*

 

Just then, a black horse emerged from beyond the boundary between the forest and the Royal Palace. It was Kalian’s horse, sometimes troublesome but equally clever, with only its right front ankle white.

 

“Is your Master in the forest?”

 

When Allan asked this, the incredibly haughty creature slowly raised his head. Then he stopped in place, made a snorting sound, and turned around. It seemed to Allan as if he was saying that if he was looking for Kalian, he should go find him himself. Raven caused Allan to laugh involuntarily.

 

[This fellow’s temperament really matches well with his Master.]

 

Anyway, now that he knew Kalian had already arrived in the forest, it would not be too difficult to find out where in the forest he was and move there. Even in a place touched by Syspanian’s hand, Magic could still be used.

 

Not long after entering the forest, Allan, having found Kalian, snapped his fingers and closed his eyes.

 

When he opened them again, the surroundings were all green soaked in moonlight. His cat-like Disciple with red eyes sat bathed in pure white moonlight.

 

“Master.”

 

That lovely Disciple, precious enough for Allan to simply carry him around on his back all day, called out to Allan with that welcoming face. The same face Allan feared might wear thin if they looked at each other too long, the same feet he worried might ache if they walked side by side.

 

*Swoosh!*

 

Then with those delicate, beautiful hands, he hurled a razor-sharp blade.

 

In that instant, Allan let out a chuckle.

 

After all, Kalian had certainly asked for a little time, not asked for a little of his life.

 

Well, what did it matter anyway?

 

This way or that, he was still just lovely.

 

So Allan watched with an affectionate heart as that determined blade rushed toward his throat. A pleased smile formed on his face, and simultaneously a red barrier to block the sword and a large-scale Silent to block sound unfolded.

 

*BOOM!*

 

And then this tremendous sound erupted.

 

* * *

 

Allan had been busy since morning.

 

Arsene had been absent from his post since that day.

 

Plants was meeting with the Knights and was not in Wilhelm Hall.

 

The Valkan Mages were excited.

 

They were excited for exactly two hours.

 

Unfortunately, because Arsene’s work had fallen to the Mages, they could onot stay excited any longer than that.

 

So that morning, the Mages spent exactly two hours in deep consideration, weighing how to split their efforts between wrapping up the final day of clearing Heisia Palace’s debris and tackling the mountain of paperwork Arsene had left behind.

 

“I’ll do debris cleanup.”

 

“Me too, debris cleanup.”

 

“Me too.”

 

“Yes, me too.”

 

Thus all fifty volunteered for debris cleanup and lunchtime arrived. So they had lunch first and divided the personnel in half through drawing lots. That also took exactly two hours.

 

The fifty lunatics who had meaninglessly blown six hours frantically began their work. They could not even train and ended up only working overtime.

 

Four more hours passed as they dawdled through debris cleanup and paperwork processing, and finally…

 

Dinnertime arrived.

 

Of course the Mages were smart.

 

They were all just crazy.

 

Anyway, whether they were smart because they were crazy or crazy because they were smart, the Valkan Mages hurriedly grabbed dinner and started working again. They did not finish until late at night.

 

The problem arose after that.

 

“What is… this?”

 

A Mage named Nidlen with pink hair muttered this while standing in the middle of the site of Heisia Palace, where all the visible debris had been completely cleared away.

 

The Mages who had not done much work but had suffered until late hours while scattered around sipping carbonated water gathered together. And they all uniformly furrowed their brows.

 

“Heisia Palace didn’t have an underground level, did it?”

 

“It didn’t.”

 

With serious faces they had never shown before, the Mages stared at one spot on the ground. They did not rashly approach or try to touch it.

 

“I’ll bring the Commander.”

 

Who knew better than Mages how dangerous unfamiliar things could be?

 

So one of them went to Arpia Palace while the remaining Mages continued watching the same spot with grave expressions.

 

In the pile of dirt,

 

From the spot where the Mages’ gazes had converged, a very faint but definite light was seeping out.

 

* * *

 

‘Most Knights accumulate Mana long before they ever awaken their Aura. Even then, only a tiny fraction of that already rare group ever steps onto the path of the sword. Still, everyone does it, just in case, just hoping. You probably did too.’

 

The reason Kalian had called Allan was because of these words from Knight Taillan, who had been his Master in the past.

 

‘Mages use the accumulated Mana itself, so it doesn’t matter, but Knights are different. Poorly accumulated Mana, no matter how much, won’t manifest as Aura. However, how much Mana could one possibly accumulate before awakening Aura? If you could accumulate that much Mana, it would be better to become a Mage instead of a Knight. So the difference is so minimal that everyone ignores it and moves on.’

 

At that time, Bern had not paid much attention to those words either. Taillan had only mentioned it for reference, not because he wanted something to be changed. Because it really was minimal.

 

What made Kalian recall Taillan’s words was the incident from the day they were attacked by wolves.

 

Certainly that day, Kalian had drawn out all the Aura he could and was wielding his sword. Then he concluded it would be difficult to face the creature with swordsmanship alone and used Wind Spear.

 

The manifested Magic directly penetrated the creature’s body.

 

That creature was one who used red Aura. And it was protecting its body with it. Yet Kalian’s Magic pierced through the creature’s body in one shot. Just like Arsene’s attack.

 

[That Spell was too strong.]

 

When facing the remaining four, Magic manifested again.

 

Recalling that incident, Taillan’s words came to mind. He also came to understand why the Magic had been so strong that day. It was the residual Mana that had not been converted to Aura.

 

So he called Allan.

 

To do the work of ‘converting Aura.’

 

For Bern, the unconverted Mana might have been exceedingly minimal, but not for Kalian. The old Kalian’s Mana, which had received Syspanian’s Blessing, was never minimal.

 

*Crash!*

 

The tip of the extended sword caught on the red barrier.

 

Six attacks were delivered, but unfortunately Allan did not move even a single step. He did not even create a new red barrier to replace the first one he had made.

 

*Whooom!*

 

Blue light appeared on Kalian’s sword.

 

Kalian’s sword, empowered with Aura, dripped cold light.

 

Without a moment’s hesitation, Kalian brought the sword down. Toward the red barrier placed in front of Allan.

 

*Slash!*

 

Only after being imbued with Aura’s power could the sword split the red barrier lengthwise. Along with it, Allan’s figure also disappeared and reappeared in a distant place.

 

Allan was not one who handled swords, so his eyes were not as quick as Kalian’s. Nor was he someone who needed to see such things with his eyes. So the moment he sensed the barrier’s disappearance, he had moved his body.

 

Kalian’s figure disappeared once more.

 

And swift attacks followed.

 

*Screech! Clang! Crash!*

 

The red barrier that had been regenerated shook violently and disappeared.

 

Allan’s figure, having lost the barrier that protected his body, reappeared in a distant place. This time, instead of protecting his body, he created a huge spear and shot it.

 

*Swoosh!*

 

A blazing spear of fire aimed for Kalian’s heart and came rushing in.

 

Kalian, grinning at the sight of his Master finally attacking, swung his sword widely.

 

*Clang!*

 

If it had been Arsene’s spear, it would have shattered or been deflected. Because that would be ice.

 

Allan’s fire was different.

 

The flaming spear that collided with the transparent sword wrapped around Kalian’s blade like a giant snake coiling around its prey’s body. Then it instantly began to swell, extending its length as if trying to devour Kalian’s arm.

 

It was a living fire.

 

Kalian’s smile deepened as he saw for the first time what kind of thing Allan’s fire was.

 

*Whooom!*

 

Along with it, the sword in his hand made a deep groaning sound as it scattered into pieces and reformed. In an instant, the fire that had lost its host was cut off and disappeared into the air.

 

A blue whirlwind coiled around Kalian’s sword. Since ice was best for dealing with fire, he had imbued the sword he held with ice properties. Holding the sword shining with clear water-like light, Kalian once again concealed his form.

 

Allan’s arm moved quietly.

 

He did not hide his enjoyment, wondering just how far his Disciple who could handle a sword and was a Mage could block attacks.

 

*Snap!*

 

A light sound rang from his fingertips.

 

*Whoosh!*

 

Flames erupted from all sides around Kalian. Those flames burning white beyond red light threatened as if they would burn Kalian to nothing, as if they would put everything into their mouths and swallow it all.

 

The sword in Kalian’s hand transformed into the shape of a wide shield. The blue light on the shield that had become wide enough to embrace his entire body sparkled as if it had gathered and contained the current sky.

 

*Swoosh!*

 

Several streams of fire that shot up from the ground like water spouts flew toward Kalian’s entire body. A stinging heat entered his body, which had become unable to feel either warmth or cold.

 

There was no need to deal with the flames.

 

Therefore, Kalian, who had leaped into the pouring flames, moved so quickly as not to allow time for fire to catch on his body.

 

Kalian’s figure sank into the darkness again.

 

After a time that could only be described as an instant, Kalian’s form appeared directly behind Allan.

 

*Clang! Boom!*

 

Kalian held nothing back. Drawing out all available Aura, he struck his sword toward Allan’s neck.

 

As red light rippled, Allan’s protective barrier disappeared once more.

 

Kalian did not miss the moment and thrust his sword toward Allan’s back hidden within, toward the heart inside.

 

*Swoosh!*

 

Without fail, Allan’s figure vanished. And a spear of fire flew toward that spot again. Kalian quickly twisted his body to avoid it and leaped off the ground once more.

 

*Crash! Clang!*

 

It was an exchange between a Mage and a Knight.

 

No, an exchange between an Archmage and a Sword Master.

 

Every place Kalian stepped burst into flames. Every place Allan disappeared was sliced away. Only the two of them remained completely unharmed as they aimed for each other’s lives.

 

*Clang!*

 

Allan constantly changed positions while attacking, and Kalian either parried or avoided them while pursuing Allan. There was no hesitation whatsoever in Kalian’s attacks as he followed the traces of Allan, who might disappear anywhere at any time.

 

When attacks came, he parried or blocked them and then thrust and swung his sword in return.

 

A long arc formed on Kalian’s lips.

 

He had naturally known Allan would be strong, but he hadn’t known it would be to the extent that he could not lay a hand on him like this.

 

*Crash!*

 

Once again Kalian’s sword struck the red barrier. Blue and red light intertwined with each other before the red barrier scattered away.

 

By this point, Allan, who would usually flee to another place, didn’t flee this time.

 

Without creating a red barrier, he extended his hand forward.

 

Before he could even turn his gaze, a Fireball the size of a horse’s head that had manifested flew toward Kalian’s abdomen.

 

The moment Kalian sensed danger, he changed his sword to a shield. He wrapped all the Aura protecting his body around the shield. He overlaid an ice barrier on top of it. When that wasn’t enough, he even manifested a shield.

 

*Boom!*

 

The Fireball that instantly sucked in the surrounding oxygen mocked Kalian’s hasty response and immediately caused a pure white explosion. It was incomparable to the mana bullets thrown by Blue Warbler or Arsene’s Fireballs. The white Fireball’s power was different from the start.

 

*Crack! Clang!*

 

The moment it touched the fire, the shield shattered and broke, and the ice disappeared.

 

With explosive force so great it made the blue light of Aura ripple, Kalian’s body was thrown far away. If it had not been for Aura, some part of him really would have disappeared from such power.

 

Kalian, who involuntarily let out a grunt, quickly got up. And without rest, he generated a sword.

 

*Whooom!*

 

Blue light, clearly fainter than before, wrapped around the sword. Kalian charged at Allan again without tiring. Allan snapped his fingers once more.

 

A spear of white flame extended before Kalian’s eyes. His arm, reacting faster than his head, knocked it away.

 

*Crack!*

 

The broken spear tip embedded in the ground and the earth blazed red. Without even glancing at such a sight, just as Kalian was about to charge at Allan once more.

 

*Crack!*

 

The sound of something solid completely crumbling was heard.

 

The sword in his hand scattered into the air and disappeared.

 

He tried to wield Aura once more, but there was no power rising from his empty core. There was no usable Aura remaining.

 

[Finally.]

 

Feeling his Dantian was empty, Kalian stopped in place.

 

Standing while barely supporting his body that wanted to lose consciousness immediately from the overwhelming exhaustion, Kalian let out a long breath.

 

Red eyes slowly closed.

 

*Thump!*

 

When he had emptied every bit of Aura.

 

When not even a handful of Aura remained.

 

And thus, when even the old Kalian’s Mana that had only been manifested as Magic could all be converted to Aura.

 

He had reached that point.

 

*Thump!*

 

Kalian’s heart pounded.

 

The one person who could pour out fierce attacks that would not give even the time for naturally accumulating existing Aura to replenish stepped back one pace from Kalian.

 

The old Kalian’s vast Mana that had been accumulated through receiving Syspanian’s Blessing, forming Three Circles, flowed from his heart toward Kalian’s Dantian.

 

Without even time to sit down, Kalian began converting the flowing Mana into Aura. He continuously wielded the pure Mana extending from his heart.

 

That power, following one after another in succession, began to fill Kalian’s Dantian completely.

 

*Thump!*

 

A cold energy gathered around Kalian.

 

The earth that had heated up from the flames’ power cooled down.

 

Sharp blade-like Magic Power that Arsene had once felt wrapped around Kalian’s body.

 

The Mana converted to Aura through the Dantian entered the heart’s Circles again. It returned as the power forming the Three Circles that rotated vigorously.

 

*Thump!*

 

If there was something that had changed.

 

Compared to before when only the Fourth-Circle was interchangeable with Aura, now all Four Circles were interchangeable with Aura. He could now properly create Aura based on all the Mana the old Kalian had accumulated.

 

Perhaps now there would be no need to hide his Aura before Evan.

 

“Now.”

 

Standing in the middle of the blackened earth, Kalian bowed his head deeply in greeting.

 

“It is done. Master.”

 

Resembling the old Kalian, and resembling Bern.

 

A sword of dark red light was held in Kalian’s hand.