The Book Eating Magician Chapter 89:
Chapter 89 – Sword and Magic Confrontation (3)
After accomplishing a perfect victory in his duel with Rebecca, Theodore didn’t head toward the dinner venue . Instead, he headed to the infirmary of the royal palace .
Theo came down from the stage in a much better state than Rebecca, but that didn’t mean he was without damage . The power of the blade which was literally like a storm had leapt beyond the defensive power of ‘Battle Song . ’
The healer clicked his tongue when he saw Theo’s tattered forearm . “…How terrible . It isn’t easy to heal injuries caused by aura, but this is more than that . Simple treatment using potions or herbs would be more effective than magic . ”
Basically, the mana which passed through a person’s body was altered according to the person’s inherent nature . In order to resonate with that nature, magicians minimized the degree of deterioration by forming an artificial circulation organ called circles, but knights were different . For them, their inherent nature was merely a good thing . Since aura strengthened physical abilities, the closer it was to the user’s own nature, the greater the efficiency and power would be . However, this left behind traces which interfered with magical healing .
“So?”
“Yes . Knight Rebecca… the density of her aura is already reaching the level of a pro-knight . If you suffered a serious injury, you might’ve been lying in bed for months . ”
“Then how long will it take for this wound to heal?”
“Please wait a moment . ” The healer carefully examined the stab wound on Theo’s forearm . There was occasional pain, but it wasn’t enough to make a fuss about it . Theo’s behaviour was like that of a veteran soldier .
The healer used his magic power to heal the wound before lifting his head again . “Fortunately, the blade didn’t enter too deeply . I will use a healing spell, apply a medicine and then a bandage . The wound should be healed in three days . ”
“Three days…”
“Oh, please avoid any heavy exercise or movements for a week . The wound might reopen . ”
Theodore had no reason to refuse, so he nodded gently .
The healer proceeded to start the full-scale treatment . First, he removed the aura remaining in the wound with healing magic, then he connected the muscles in the blood vessels which hadn’t healed yet . Subsequently, the blood completely stopped flowing out . After the bleeding stopped, the healer performed a simple treatment with potions and herbs .
The healer’s workmanship was truly worthy of a healer working in the royal palace . A white bandage was wrapped around one of Theo’s arms, and the pain from the wound was away . Theo moved the arm wrapped in the white bandage and said, “It is much better . Thank you very much . ”
“…It is nothing . Rather, I should be thanking you . ” The healer checked the bandage’s knot meticulously and laughed at the gratitude .
He had been employed as a royal healer for several decades . Once the war broke out, the number of patients he treated had been in the thousands, and hundreds of them hadn’t been able to be saved . Their lives had been taken by the Andras’ blades .
“It was always a victory if we returned from the battlefield, and a defeat if we returned with the bodies of our colleagues . So, there were times when I regretted being a healer . I couldn’t fight, and sometimes I blamed myself for choosing who to leave behind . ”
“……”
“But today, I knew what it felt like to win for the first time . ”
It was too early to call him an old man, but wrinkles could clearly be seen on the hand which gripped Theo’s . Perhaps he had also been sitting in the audience and had seen with his own eyes the imperious and rude demands of the empire .
The healer bowed his head and thanked Theo once again, “Meltor’s Hero, it is an honour to treat you with these hands . ”
“…It was my pleasure . ” Theo was forced to accept the fierce praise .
He felt burdened by the healer’s emotions and left the infirmary after a brief goodbye . Most of the crowd was at the dinner party, so the corridor was a few times darker and emptier than usual . As soon as the door closed behind his back, a cold silence fell .
“Hoo, it is too burdensome . ”
Whether it was positive or negative, it didn’t fit Theo’s nature to attract the attention of others . He was able to put on a firm face after absorbing the experiences but encountering such sincere praise made him feel itchy .
‘What should I do now?’ He walked down the corridor while locked in thought .
The soft sounds of his footsteps rang out amidst the silence of the corridor .
Veronica had encouraged Theo to go to the dinner party when he was available, but he didn’t want to go to such a burdensome place . He also didn’t think he could rest comfortably in a place where the two sword masters were .
It was much more attractive to use his injury as an excuse to return to the tower, as a political place would obviously be uncomfortable in many ways . Furthermore, there was a destination he hadn’t thought of .
Theo advanced a few steps before stopping and breathing lightly . He looked over at a shadow in a corner of the corridor and said, “Why don’t you come out now?”
The shadow was faint like fog . Despite his senses being refined to the limit, he only grasped the hiding place after a few minutes . As Theo’s voice rang through the corridor where nobody was present, ‘he’ naturally appeared . It was like he had been there from the beginning .
Lloyd Pollan, one of the empire’s Seven Swords, shrugged and said, “Oh, I followed you unintentionally . ”
“…I thought you were attending the dinner party?”
“I’m sorry, but Meltor’s food and alcohol don’t suit my tastes . I was going around on a walk . ”
It was nonsense, and Theo regretted that he couldn’t dismiss it . Theo stared at Lloyd with cold eyes . Although it was a separate building, a sword master wouldn’t be allowed to wander around the royal palace by himself . Besides, a walk? It was a pathetic excuse for following the winner of the duel .
“What did you come to me for, Sir Pollan?” Theo struggled to suppress his indignation . It was pointless to be rude here . Theo lacked the power or position to be rude . Lloyd also knew this fact . If Veronica or Blundell were near, then he would’ve disappeared quietly .
‘A sly human . ’ Theodore had an accurate insight into Lloyd’s nature .
“The purpose… I suppose it is an apology . ”
“Apology?”
“As you already know, I made a mistake during your duel with Rebecca . I didn’t know that your senses were so sensitive . You responded to my killing intent that I accidentally let out, and I admire that,” Lloyd praised with a smile, but his eyes weren’t warm .
On the other hand, Theodore paled as he noticed the meaning of the words . Lloyd was saying that he didn’t mean to disturb the duel, but his killing intent had leaked out accidentally leaked .
It meant that… this sword master wanted to kill Theodore Miller .
“Well, you don’t need to be tense here . ” Lloyd smiled and continued saying, “I was scolded by Number 4 because he read my killing intent . At the very least, it is impossible to cut off your head here . It is regretful, regretful . ”
“…Why?”
“Huh?”
Theo spoke the words he had been repressing, “Why do you want to kill me?”
This wasn’t an order from the Andras Empire or from Pan Helliones . He wondered why Lloyd Pollan was so eager to kill him . Murderers killed people for no reason, but it was unlikely for a sword master . Theo was more curious than afraid of the master .
Lloyd sincerely sighed at the bold question .
“Hoo, it really is a pity . Why wasn’t someone like you born in the empire?” He grumbled in a low voice before continuing, “10 years, that is the deadline of this truce . ”
The emotionless face started to spout terrible facts, “In the next 10 years, you will become an enemy of the empire . My senses have never been wrong even once . ”
“Your senses… You want to kill me for such an uncertain reason?”
“You… Did you use more than 30% of your power in that duel?” There was conviction was in Lloyd’s voice, so Theodore remained silent . “You have the potential to match the Seven Swords in the future, so I think I should kill you here, even if that causes a war . ”
“Ah…!”
There was an eerie killing intent . The killing intent pressing down on Theo was different from Superbia’s . It felt like a sharp blade was being held against his neck . Still, the sword never came flying . Lloyd just passed by, like he meant his words about not killing Theo here .
His voice gradually moved further away, “10 years later, I won’t let you live like today . ”
Theo couldn’t move from his spot even after Lloyd had completely disappeared . The killing intent of a sword master was indeed terrifying . He would’ve fallen down if he hadn’t built up tolerance in the fight with Superbia .
In retrospect, it was fortunate that he hadn’t exposed Umbra and Magic Bullet . Lloyd would have rated Theo higher and might’ve ignored the command given to him in order to kill Theo . Theo wouldn’t go obediently, but there was no chance of winning .
“Yes, 10 years,” Theodore murmured in a low voice .
10 years… it was both a long and short period of time . After that, he would be sentenced to death by a sword master . Hearing that, anybody would feel fear . However, Theo just laughed at the words . “I won’t be relaxing . ”
He had jumped from the loser of the academy to Meltor’s hero in one year . Things which would take magicians a month only took a few days for him . Then weren’t 10 years for Theo like a hundred years for ordinary magicians? Common sense didn’t apply to the owners of grimoires .
A sword master was definitely a great existence . ‘But I don’t think that it is an insurmountable wall . ’
Theo took a step forward . He regained his original stride and left the place where he’d met Lloyd . It was yet to be decided as to who would be the one to fall 10 years later .
* * *
Kkiiik . The doorknob turned with a small noise .
Theo arrived at somebody’s room and looked inside it carefully . As soon as he entered, the smell of herbs and potions hit his nose . He removed the smell with simple wind magic and looked in the direction of the occupant .
With golden hair, green eyes, and vivid features, Rebecca, the duelist for the empire, looked at Theo from where she lay on the bed . Her ribs, which had been broken by the shock wave, were bandaged and traces of herbs were visible on bruised skin . Her condition was completely different from that of Theodore, who was wandering around .
He was confused by the situation as he sat down in the chair beside Rebecca’s bed . Theo had no other choice .
‘…No, what is going on?’
Theodore had entered Rebecca’s room because he wanted to ask about Randolph . However, the guard standing in front of the room had let him in easily after his identity was proven .
‘Why did they just let me in?’
Theodore was famous, but the Andras Empire and the Meltor Kingdom were still enemies . Why would they obediently let in a visitor from an enemy country? He just wanted to tell the guard to mention Randolph’s name to Rebecca and see if she responded to it . However, the empire’s delegation didn’t hesitate to let him in to see Rebecca .
The atmosphere was awkward . Rebecca’s eyes stared at Theo without blinking, increasing the burdensome feeling . He didn’t know how to start . In the end, Theodore opened his mouth to say a simple greeting, but Rebecca spoke first .
Her voice was like a clear bell which resonated clearly, “Have you come to exercise the rights of the winner?”