Vol 5 Chapter 24

It was perhaps the first time since that day three years ago that he had been given the opportunity to fall into such a trance with only the sword, himself, and his opponent remaining. Kapros now realized, not with his head but with his body, that his abnormally overheated body had been longing unbearably for this moment.

The situation was completely different from fighting with swordsmen in MIST who were influenced by skills and stats. This was purely a contest of unaided bodies and swords. Moreover, his legs, which were the foundation of swordsmanship, were in perfect condition, and his head didn't hurt because nothing was coming to mind.

It felt unbearably good, so Kapros willingly cast away everything before and after from his consciousness and responded to this opportunity with his whole body.

It was an unknown amount of time later when he felt the sword disappear from his hand.

"That's enough. It's sufficient now."

As Kapros unconsciously clenched his fist tightly, trying not to show his disappointment, Superior approached with the same smiling expression as before.

"It's more impressive than I expected. With this level of skill, you might even aim for a higher realm than me. Have you perhaps had experience learning swordsmanship before?"

"Let's say I have."

Kapros answered that way, finding it difficult to explain that he had learned in reality, and Superior nodded.

"Good. I tested you without much expectation, but I'm very pleased. Indeed, someone without this level of ability couldn't possibly become my successor."

After rambling and praising himself a few times, Superior looked at Kapros, who was catching his breath, with a satisfied gaze.

"Then shall we move on to the question and answer test?"

"..."

"Don't make that face. I'm also the type who doesn't bother with tests because I don't see the point in testing what I already know, but shouldn't there be at least a minimal filter for people? I'll only ask one question, so don't worry."

If there were levels to self-praise, this guy would surely compete for first place.

"What do you think is the primary condition for a great mage?"

The first condition for a great mage?

For a moment, Kapros unknowingly opened his mouth slightly, then realizing it might not be a good look, quickly closed it. Seeing this expression, Superior narrowed his eyes as if surprised.

"I said the question was simple, but the answer might not be. Your expression says, 'What a foolish question...' Was this a question you already knew?"

"It's not like that, but..."

"Then?"

"I thought you wouldn't ask such a simple question."

"..."

Seeing Superior's expression, finally seeming to have taken a hit as he closed his mouth, Kapros brought up what he had never once thought wouldn't be the first condition for a great mage.

"Of course, it's..."

...

When he opened his eyes after closing them, Kapros found himself back in front of the pile of stones where he had last stood before viewing the memories.

"I'm back..."

As he stood there, feeling as if he had returned to his hometown despite not much time having passed, he heard a voice echoing as if from inside a cave.

[ What's wrong? ]

"It's nothing."

[ Ah, right. I forgot to mention, but I don't really like using formal speech when meeting new people. Especially in cases like yours where it seems forced out of politeness. ]

"..."

[ Speak casually. ]

"Is that okay? Then I'll do so."

Why refuse when the person himself was telling him to do it?

The owner of this voice that only Kapros could hear now was Lord Superior. More precisely, it was an avatar of Lord Superior, possessing about 1/10 of the original's power but the same memories and knowledge, so it was hard not to think of him as Lord Superior.

However, Superior had dragged on for what felt like three or four days answering the brief question Kapros had asked before leaving that space earlier. Honestly, Kapros wasn't entirely without the desire for revenge, so when he immediately agreed, Superior's slight bewilderment was clearly felt.

[ ...You're not ordinary, agreeing so readily without even one refusal? ]

"Well."

[ With that stone-like expression and such thick skin, you'd be invincible. At that level, even a demon god wouldn't be a problem. ]

"Thanks."

[ .... ]

Superior was speechless for a moment, but soon a weak sigh was heard.

[ Sigh... Anyway, I'd like you to treat me preciously. ]

"You don't need to worry about that."

There was one more thing added to Kapros's body that hadn't been there before. A wooden stick, long if considered long, short if considered short, lightly tied to his waist belt.

This stick, just the right length to grip with both hands, was the single reward Kapros had received for completing the fourth Superior memory quest. And the Superior currently speaking to him was also inside this stick.

The indecipherable hieroglyph-like writing roughly scrawled all over the stick was, according to Lord Superior, a kind of spell engraved to maintain permanent magic. He loudly claimed it had quite many uses, but currently, Kapros knew only one use, and...

[ Let's stay in front of this for a moment before going. ]

At Superior's words, Kapros, who was about to turn around, stopped and stood again in front of the pile of stones. Superior said nothing, but based on what he had heard after taking Superior's test earlier, Kapros was finally able to understand the truth about the 'Flower of Rezul'.

The Flower of Rezul was originally a marker left by Superior, similar to a gravestone for Electric Knight's siblings. However, when he came back to tend to it after the war ended, he left an avatar and cast protective magic for his future successor. But because it was in such an unfavorable location, over the long years, some of the mana forming the basis of the magic had become distorted.

"Is that even possible?"