The Book Eating Magician Chapter 85:
Chapter 85 – Empire Mission (2)
The Andras Empire…
The so-called sword empire, famous for its power, had existed for centuries as an enemy of Meltor .
The two nations which occupied different parts of the northern region of the continent were similar in many ways due to their long rivalry . However, the core power promoted in the Andras Empire was aura . Just like how the Meltor Kingdom was dedicated to fostering senior magicians, the Andras Empire nourished aura users .
The Andras Empire was said to be a kingdom of sword kings .
Additionally, boys and girls were required to undergo mandatory rigorous training at an agency operated directly by the Imperial Household Agency when they reached the age of seven . Two thirds of the students died, but the empire was able to form a corps of powerful aura users, more numerous than any other country .
“The biggest problem regarding the Andras Empire is that something so crazy produced results . A country that has seven sword masters in one generation can’t be found anywhere else except the Empire . ”
The result was the existence of the Seven Swords who represented the Andras Empire .
It was why the Andras Empire didn’t lose to the Meltor Kingdom, who had two 8th Circle magicians and a number of senior mages . Aura users who achieved the state of a sword master were already close to a living storm .
The most well-known sword master was said to have not stepped back in a battle with Veronica .
Theodore carefully listened to Vince’s words and asked, “…Then why is the empire sending a delegation? They seem like people who will speak with swords rather than words . ”
The Meltor Kingdom had already been struggling against the empire for hundreds of years . The education system had been designed a long time ago to emphasize the bad aspects of enemy countries and inspire hostility towards them . However, despite that education, Vince Haidel didn’t deny the stereotypes . It was because the military power of the Andras people whom he’d encountered on the battlefield wasn’t actually lacking in comparison to the portrayals in the stories .
At the very least, they preferred getting into sword fights rather than arguments .
“Umm, that may be the case for those not involved with politics . Countries that rely on force can’t last for long . The Andras Empire is scary because they know how to use force differently . ”
“Using it differently…”
“The mission this time is to talk about the armistice which was signed in the last war . Of course, you are one of the reasons . ”
“Huh? Me?” Theodore was surprised by the sudden change in topic .
However, Vince answered the question casually, “They are wondering about your relationship with the high elf and Elvenheim . They also doubt the authenticity of the hero who appeared half a year ago . The ambassadors will probably start the bargaining in earnest after seeing your value . ”
“Hah, international relations are fairly complex . ”
“It means that you are a key figure . The status of a high elf is larger than I’d thought . ”
In Elvenheim, a country where half the elves on the continent lived, there were only five high elves . The recently added Ellenoa increased it to six, but that didn’t change the fact that they were extremely rare .
Therefore, they had a huge debt to Theodore Miller who had defended the sixth high elf . Due to this, they might change their position of neutrality which they had maintained for hundreds of years .
Even if Theodore wasn’t of the Superior rank, they would’ve called him separately . This was a phenomenon which Vince could guess easily . From the perspective of the Magic Society, it was no surprise that Theo was treated exceptionally well in the Superior rank .
‘It is a specification that can be a little annoying . ’
There were uninvited guests when he was concentrating on magic training, so Theo couldn’t help clicking his tongue .
He wouldn’t complain if it was a mission, but he didn’t want to be treated as stakes in politics .
* * *
Shortly after their conversation, Theo and Vince reached the destination .
‘Tch, as expected . ’ Theo moved forward while ignoring the gazes which had begun to gather on him .
The number of people increased as he got closer to the auditorium, and they all recognized him . After all, there was only one young Superior with dark hair . There was no one in the Magic Society who wouldn’t recognize the hero, Theodore, whose name had been sworn in at the court dance half a year ago .
Some of the gossip from the magician entered his ears .
“That young man is Theodore Miller…?”
“He is younger than I thought . It seems like the rumour that he has barely turned 20 years old is true . ”
“Becoming a 5th Circle master at that age… I can’t believe it . He is also the only survivor of the convoy . He is a prospect of the Red Tower, so maybe they exaggerated that achievement?”
“Well, let’s just watch for a while . We will know if his name is exaggerated or real . ”
There was no need to respond, so Theo just ignored their voices and crossed the threshold of the auditorium . It was the venue which the Magic Society used for presentations during the annual magic contest, so the space was huge . The 100 magicians gathered there were unable to fill up the auditorium .
However, there was something which filled up the empty space .
‘Even though this is such a big place, the density of mana is awful… Ordinary people wouldn’t be able to breathe properly in here . ’
It was a terrifying mana flow! A total of 132 Superior ranked magicians were gathered, raising the mana density to unusual levels .
Theodore was forced to admire the fact that the intangible mana could become so heavy . If the magicians in the room concentrated their powers intentionally, the target would immediately be overwhelmed by the tremendous pressure .
At that moment, an old man suddenly appeared on the stage of the auditorium . “Huhu, everybody has gathered quickly . ”
Strangely enough, the old man didn’t lose his composure among the waves of mana which felt like a tsunami . Looking closely, the old man’s surroundings were calm like he was the center of a typhoon, It definitely wasn’t a common phenomenon .
However, Theo had a lot of experience with ‘them’ and realized it .
‘That person, he is at the master level…!’
A 7th Circle magician who went beyond the limits of a human and could adjust the laws of nature… Only masters could dominate and control mana itself . It was possible to manipulate the pressure of mana, just like they controlled their own limbs .
Theo had never met the president of the Magic Society before, but he was another powerhouse master . Indeed, he was qualified to be the president of the Magic Society .
“First, I would like to thank you for coming despite the sudden announcement . The coming of the Andras delegation wasn’t planned, so this old man heard about it too late . Thank you for your understanding . ” The president of the Magic Society bowed and expressed his heartfelt gratitude for their presence .
After his words, the discomfort on the faces of some people was wiped away forcefully . The important issue right now was the Andras Empire’s delegation to Meltor .
Once that unspoken consensus was reached, the president of the Magic Society raised his head again .
“Then I will start talking . Everyone has heard the news that a delegation from Andras is coming to Meltor, so I won’t mention it . We have gathered here to discuss how to treat the uninvited guests,” the president of the Magic Society started his speech eloquently . His voice rang throughout the auditorium, which would allow Theo to hear it clearly even if he were outside .
There was an interesting mix of information in the speech which resonated with Andras’ aggression and brutality .
There was one thing that especially interested Theo .
‘Isn’t the practice of having daily duels more like the custom of an orc village rather than an empire?’
It wasn’t a modest fight where they sparred against each other . This was a real life-threatening duel where people often died in the process . In the Andras Empire, there were men who climbed to the position of duke after a duel as well as a slave who occupied the seat of one of the empire’s Seven Swords .
These duels were even applied to other countries .
“Does everybody know? In Andras, duels are a battle for life, not the moderate fights that we know . 30 years ago, a group of magicians clashed with the ambassadors, resulting in several casualties . Don’t follow in the footsteps of the past . ”
The arrival of an Andras delegation happened two or three times a century, but there was bloodshed every time . This had to be avoided as Meltor had suffered massive damage with the destruction of the convoy half a year ago .
Apart from the damages, if the Andras Empire thought that the Meltor Kingdom was weak, they might invade again .
The magicians gathered in the auditorium nodded at the words .
The president’s words were plausible, and there was no logic to refute it . More than anything else, he added a few words at the end which made their blood chill . “Oh, two of the Seven Swords will be joining this delegation . There is no hope if you are greeted with the blade of a master . ”
The nemesis of senior magicians, the sword masters…!
They were reapers of the battlefield who could cross a gap of several hundred meters in an instant and cut through their defensive spells like they were trash .
Since childhood, magicians were raised with a fear toward sword masters, so the veteran magicians stiffened as they faced reality . A sword wielded absolute strength, so magicians below the 7th Circle were just like straw to them .
As the auditorium grew quiet, the president’s eyes turned in another direction . It was toward Theo, who was sitting on the edge .
The president of the Magic Society met Theo’s gaze and advised in a loud voice, “Theodore Miller, you should be especially careful . As the main target of the delegation, you shouldn’t accept their duel challenges no matter what . ”
“Yes, I understand . ”
“I don’t doubt your competence, but you should refrain from uncertain gambles since this is about the relations between nations . Don’t fall into the foolishness of youth . ”
After seeing Theo accept his cautionary words, the old man turned his eyes to another place .
‘Andras delegation… and the sword masters . ’ Unlike the other magicians, Theodore wasn’t intimidated at all . No, he was actually feeling a little expectant .
Of course, he didn’t think he could compete against the masters . However, Theo was knocking against the wall of the 6th Circle, so he might get new inspiration from the existence of the masters themselves .
As the atmosphere in the auditorium remained tense, Theodore formed fists under his desk silently . He had a feeling that his six months of quiet were ending .
Six days after that, a group of delegates arrived, including two sword masters .