Chapter 44 : Chapter 44

Chapter 44. The Black Mage (4)

“L-Lord. Jerry Selfit was a proper Mage. A terrible person, yes, but still.”

“……”

“M-Mages may be petty and vengeful, but they don’t forget favors either. Even just the fact that he kept me alive while dragging me all the way out here proves it.”

“What are you trying to say?”

I asked, watching Hailyn speak in a pitiful tone.

What was she suddenly talking about?

Was she actually trying to praise the dead black Mage?

Had she perhaps grown attached to him while traveling together?

As I looked at her curiously, Hailyn slowly raised her hand.

“Jerry Selfit took me in as a servant and taught me magic.”

At the same time, I saw grotesque creatures walking toward us from afar. There must have been dozens of them—huge beings.

“If you’ll let me stay here, I’ll serve as a useful Mage. Please accept me as a resident.”

The golems were moving in perfect sync with Hailyn’s gestures.

“H-How about it?”

Her trembling eyes met mine.

I looked back at her for a moment—then smiled.

“Welcome to your new home.”

And just like that, a naïve Mage who knew nothing of the world became our newest neighbor.

***

A girl of tragic fate, once the servant of a former black Mage—Hailyn—had joined us as a new neighbor. I was even prepared to free her completely if she wished. With Jerry Selfit dead, there was no reason to harm her anymore.

But Hailyn chose of her own will to stay in our territory.

That alone raised a few questions for me.

“Why would someone with magical ability choose to remain here?”

So I asked directly, without hiding my doubt.

If she truly possessed the power of a Mage, it wouldn’t be difficult to live comfortably in the Iron Kingdom. With her master gone, her life could have been far happier.

Yet she had decided to remain here.

Her answer was simple.

“If I use this magic outside, I’ll die.”

The magic Hailyn used wasn’t ordinary. Most of what Jerry Selfit had taught her was forbidden, and her spells carried a sense of ominous dread. If she kept using such magic in the cities, it would only be a matter of time before she was discovered—and once that happened, the Mages of the Sky Empire would hunt her down.

And in this continent, there exists no one who can forever escape the eyes of the Sky Empire. You may run for a while, but eventually, you will face heaven’s judgment. That is why the empire is called the 「Sky Empire」.

“A-And besides, there’s still so much I don’t know. Wandering alone in the Iron Kingdom scares me. I’m too young to know how to live by myself.”

Her second reason sounded plausible enough.

She had lived a foolish, dependent life, dragged around like a slave by a black Mage. She didn’t yet know how to stand on her own.

“And this village reminds me of my hometown… I just like it here.”

Children are easily swayed by their surroundings.

A girl who had long lived under control couldn’t help but develop an attachment to others. The familiar peace of our domain must have comforted her trauma. In the end, instead of placing her faith in an uncertain future, she found security in the ones who had freed her from her tormentor.

That was the conclusion my cautious mind reached. If I listed the facts, things looked quite favorable.

A Mage—no matter her level—was undeniably a valuable asset.

I had gained a Mage with great potential. She was young, inexperienced, and easily guided; she would listen well. And a traumatized girl rarely betrays or leaves the one who saved her…

「Things seem to have turned in your favor, my young descendant.」

Indeed, as Liam said, things were looking good.

“Yes.”

But I was not the sort of person who lived only by suspicion and logic.

What I liked most about accepting Hailyn as a new neighbor was something else entirely.

“Our land is a fine place to live, isn’t it? The scenery’s magnificent too. Since you can appreciate that, I’d say you’ll fit right in.”

「……。」

Yes, our land was beautiful. And the fact that she recognized that made her an excellent person in my book.

“When Seol Yoon first arrived, she said it looked livable but had nothing else. But our domain actually has quite a few things to brag about. Hahaha.”

「Petty brat. You remembered that word for word.」

“I’ll remember it for life.”

「Your pettiness rivals that of a Mage, young descendant.」

Even today, my master offered his version of praise.

“Thank you for the compliment. Hahaha.”

「Hahaha.」

And thus, with Hailyn’s arrival, our domain began to change little by little.

“T-This Guardian Stone—you said you received it from a high orc shaman, right? You can’t place it like that. You’ll lose half its power. It should go to the west—”

The security of the domain improved almost instantly. Mages were masters of defense. Once they settled, their fortifications were second to none. Hailyn began installing basic magical formations throughout the estate and rearranged the Orc Elder’s Guardian Stone properly.

She also positioned several golems as guards.

Lifeless sentinels that required no rest now watched the borders around the clock.

“The leftover golems can help repair old houses or work the fields. I noticed there’s a lot of fertile land just sitting idle.”

Our stagnant land slowly began to breathe again. Whether it was her nature or her desire to prove her worth, Hailyn worked diligently. Thanks to her, I could finally see life returning to the domain.

“……”

It brought back memories.

Memories I hadn’t recalled in a long while.

From the mansion atop the hill, I used to look down upon a view much like this—humble yet warm, people living together in harmony. Feeding livestock, milking cows, sharing food and laughter. On festival days, we’d feast and dance beneath the stars.

—Arhan, come here! Your father has a funny story to tell!

Unbidden, those days surfaced in my mind. It was almost as though I could smell my father’s shirt again.

Before the warm bonfire, I would lean against his chest and listen to his tall tales. My father’s bright laughter, my mother’s delighted giggle. The taste of juicy barbecue and Lady Herfe’s stew. The butler draping a blanket over me when I nodded off, and the soft touch of fireflies landing on my cheek…

“Little Gladiator.”

But those days would never return.

Time lost cannot be regained.

“All urgent matters are done now, aren’t they?”

When I blinked, that nostalgic scenery vanished. In its place stood the quiet village—and Hailyn, busy at work. Seol Yoon was there too, expressionless as ever, giving me a slight nod.

“I wonder how strong you’ve become. Let’s cross blades.”

Yes. Nostalgia was always best kept brief.

I knew what I had to do.

“Very well.”

To move forward.

Higher—ever higher.

***

Much time had passed since Hailyn became our neighbor. While she worked diligently for the domain, I hadn’t been idle either. My days were filled with training and sparring.

“That’s a tricky one.”

Even after gaining this new body, I never skipped my daily training. Liam had said that if you set your sword down even for a day, your body would stiffen. I took that advice to heart.

“The weight of your sword feels different now. It’s not so easy anymore, even without using those strange techniques.”

In my spare time, I sparred with Seol Yoon. She was an excellent opponent—and sometimes, even my master. Her insight always amazed me.

Her way of looking at the sword was different from mine. And that often helped me grow.

“I hope that one day, I can defeat you purely with skill.”

“That’ll never happen.”

After countless repetitions of that routine, my sword grew steadier. I learned to adapt to my new, stronger body, to wield 「Wild Instinct」 properly against other swordsmen, and to refine numerous small techniques.

“Little Gladiator, you’re growing fast, but you still reek of a rookie.”

Our sparring took many forms: full duels with live blades, practice bouts with wooden swords, and guided matches for refining technique.

I never once defeated Seol Yoon in the practice duels. Her mastery and precision far outclassed mine. But in real combat, I often won.

The Line flowing within my Steel Blood gave me an almost unfair edge—and 「Wild Instinct」 made my physical power surpass hers.

One day, Seol Yoon said to me,

“You’ve got a knack for dogfights.”

“Dogfights?”

“You fight differently when you’re following rules and when you’re not.”

“……”

“When you’re pushed into a desperate struggle—when both sides have to pour out everything—you become monstrously strong.”

I already knew that.

Brushing dust off her clothes, she said,

“Let’s go again.”

“Of course.”

Time flowed, and both our blades grew sharper.

How long has it been?

「Young descendant.」

Liam suddenly spoke to me.

「It’s about time you reached for a higher place.」

“A higher place?”

「Wings.」

His words were short yet powerful.

「You’ve run far enough. Now, you must fly.」

That single phrase seized my mind entirely.

Liam smiled faintly—and then, as always, he repeated the words I knew by heart.

「It’s time to devour a new sword, my young descendant.」

***

Late that night, Liam completely stole my sleep away.

「Steel Blood flows within our bodies. And within that steel runs mana as hard as iron itself. To become a Sword Beginner, you forged a heart of steel—one that could not be scratched by anything.」

“Yes, I remember.”

「And after becoming a Sword Walker, what did you do? You drew the Line—a path of steel none could block, unmatched by any other.」

As he said, the traits I had gained with each advancement were extraordinary.

The Karavan bloodline’s ‘Steel’ brought forth unique powers.

「This time will be no different.」

“……”

「But it will be far more dramatic.」

And my master never lied when it came to the sword.

「Only when wings sprout does the true power of Steel Blood awaken.」

Of course, this time would be no exception.

「But the greater the gain, the harsher the trial.」

“When was it ever easy?”

「True enough. But from here onward, the pain will be beyond comparison.」

Liam looked down at me, his gaze colder than ever—like tempered iron.

「Do you know? The Sword Runner’s stage is where countless swordsmen break. From here on lies the realm of true talent. The word ‘wings’ carries divine weight. Those not chosen by the gods will never take flight, no matter how they struggle.」

His words were not unfamiliar. I knew of one knight who had devoted his entire life yet failed to cross that wall—my kindly neighbor, my one-time self, the former owner of Twilight, Fetel.

“I know.”

Having seen his memories—having devoured that despair—I understood.

Liam fell silent for a while, then spoke again.

「For the Karavan bloodline, taking flight is even harder. Our Steel Blood never grants power without pain. Your trial will be agony beyond compare.」

“I’m ready.”

「Let this be my warning: the coming time will be terrible. Even your will may not endure. You will want to quit—you will curse the day you ever took up the sword.」

“Perhaps. But that’s fine.”

My master had never given such a grim warning before. Before me now stood not the kind master who joked with me—but Liam Karavan, the distant ancestor, the great Swordmaster.

His words were as sharp and cold as a blade.

I felt fear. I didn’t know what awaited me. But I couldn’t retreat.

Even though I was terrified, I had to move forward.

“Even if I’m driven mad with despair, even if I regret my vengeance to the core, I won’t let go of my sword. Even if I can’t soar, I’ll die gripping it.”

That was the Karavan way I had inherited.

“There’s no paradise for those who run.”

That was the way of the orcs I’d learned through 「Wild Instinct」.

“I must become a Swordmaster.”

「……。」

“Because only a Swordmaster can kill another Swordmaster.”

Arhan Karavan. That was my way.

「I like it, young descendant.」

Liam nodded slowly.

「Good.」

And then—

「From now on, you must devour three swords.」

A new goal was set before me.

「Those three blades will be unlike anything you’ve consumed before.」

“……”

「You’d better stay sharp.」

This time, my master wasn’t joking.

「Because one misstep—and the sword will devour you.」

***

The next morning, as the sun rose, I finished my preparations.

My next destination: the steel city of Ferma.

That is to say—「Arena」.