Chapter 951

“…!”

Herchi uncrossed his arms and gripped the railing. The other palace guards did the same. They all leaned forward, stretching their upper bodies, as if trying to confirm whether what they were seeing was real.

Thud.

Startled, Barsabe dropped the towel he’d been holding. The others did too. Anyone with even a little knowledge about magic swords was stunned into silence.

Ian smiled faintly and jotted something down on Beric’s file. The mages whistled softly as they admired Beric’s crimson flame sword, but none of them fully understood what it signified.

“Well, would you look at that. Beric actually made a magic sword?”

“Isn’t that supposed to be really difficult?”

“Watching Beric, though, maybe it’s not so impossible after all.”

“That’s second awakening.”

“Second awakening?”

Ian drew a star next to Beric’s name and folded the corner of the page slightly. This was a special mark reserved only for candidates who were closely monitored and strongly recommended for appointment through a special system, even if they failed the regular exam.

“A skilled magic swordsman creates their own sword through magic power. It’s by no means an easy feat. In fact, I’ve heard that about a third of the current palace guards can’t make a magic sword.”

“A third?”

“Probably the more junior members, but it’s a kind of rite of passage for magic swordsmen. Beric managed to do it in just a couple of months. I opened the channel to his soul and trained him at the Count’s estate for only a few months.”

“So, you’re Ian of the palace guard?”

“That’s a strange way to put it.”

Ian frowned slightly and smiled. Whether he meant the joke was too much or that Beric shouldn’t be compared to him even in jest, no one could tell.

“Anyway, that means he’s a genius.”

“Exactly. By the standards of magic swordsmen.”

“This just goes to show you have to find your true calling. Beric’s the kind of guy who’ll hear ‘genius’ from Ian someday.”

“Wonder if I’d get called a genius if I weren’t a mage.”

“You’d be starving on the streets if you weren’t a mage.”

“True. Yeah.”

Unlike the relatively calm mages, the palace guards were in an uproar. None of them had ever undergone a second awakening before entering the palace—not even Herchi or the current three captains.

“Hah.”

Herchi let out a shuddering breath. Is this what it feels like to witness a brilliant future with your own eyes? Just knowing the next generation’s leader was here brought a strange sense of relief.

“Wooooah!”

“Hey, look over there!”

As Beric kicked off the protective shield and soared into the air, the crowd cheered. Whatever else, Beric knew how to work a crowd. That was one thing he’d learned from getting beaten up in underground fight rings over the past few years.

“You in there!”

Beric leapt toward the center of the mass of corpses. The opponent tried to block him by spreading a net-like hand again, but the moment it touched Beric’s crimson flame sword, it turned to ash and vanished.

“…!”

“Meat tastes best when grilled—!”

“Ah!”

“You’re best when burned!”

He actually talks? Beric grinned and swung his sword with vigor. The vitality that had been dormant in every corner of his body burst forth, alive and roaring through the sword and the hot, red flames.

Ssshhh!

With a single stroke, Beric sliced the huge mass from head to toe. The two halves split apart with a sharp crack. Some slimy substance stretched out as the corpse tried to regenerate, but Beric’s flames made it difficult. The fire spread over the corpse like oil catching flame.

Flare!

Whoosh!

The wind stirred again, but this time it was hot and scattered bits of flesh everywhere.

The rectangular, enclosed space was filled with swirling dust, making it hard to see inside. Everyone squinted, focusing intently to understand what was happening.

Ssshhh.

As the wind died down, two figures facing each other became visible. The scorched, shriveled corpse mass, the unextinguished flames, Beric panting and bleeding, and a young girl standing there calmly.

“A girl?”

“No.”

At the mage’s murmur, Ian immediately replied.

“A necromancer’s age can’t be judged by appearance.”

They can shape their outward form however they want, whether by using branding irons or whatever else.

The mage tilted his head and checked Ian’s file.

“Nadia. Age thirty?”

“Huh? What?”

“Thirty, apparently.”

No way. She looks just a bit younger than Beric.

While the mages marveled at trivial details, the palace guards kept marveling at Beric’s talent. Not just the timing of his first awakening, but the sheer power.

“This is insane.”

I heard the Ministry of Magic has already decided Ian Hadell as the next minister? If nothing goes wrong, Beric will be the next captain of the palace guard. Looks like there’s a lot to teach him.

“If only he could read a little better.”

“Maybe teach him some manners and common sense too.”

“And eat less.”

“Gotta have some decency.”

“Can he at least do basic math?”

“…”

Listing all this, he still seems to have a lot to learn. Maybe not a total prodigy? Will he be a good captain…? They exchanged glances in a strange silence, then turned their heads back to Beric.

“Finally came out. You used up all the corpses?”

Beric wiped sweat from his brow, panting. He’d pushed himself too hard right after awakening, and his side was soaked with blood. On top of that, he’d just taken a brutal punch that nearly shattered every bone in his body. The pain was catching up, and his eyes flickered strangely.

Then—

“Ah~ this is so annoying~!”

Nadia whined, twisting her hair and narrowing her eyes. As she slipped her hand into her pocket, Beric lunged at her again, determined not to let her get away.

“Where do you think you’re going!”

But—

“Surrender.”

What came out of her hand was a white flag.

Beric, who was about to strike her head, twisted his body in surprise but was too late—bam!—his head slammed into the protective shield.

“Huh?”

Beric blinked upside down, stunned. Did she just say surrender?

“I’m out of corpses~ I don’t like pain, so I’m done here~ Surrender~”

“No, damn it. You’re poking holes in people’s bodies and then saying surrender?”

“If you didn’t want holes, you should’ve surrendered earlier~”

“Hey! Why do you sound so damn annoying?!”

“Hmph~ You’re way more annoying. That corpse you burned? I collected it for five years~”

“Who cares? Grab your weapon! I’m not done yet!”

“Don’t care~ I surrender~ If you attack me here, you know they’ll haul you off right away, right? Hey, admins! Watch closely! See if this guy’s messing with me or not!”

“Ugh! Your tone’s so annoying! I want to stomp on that twisted mouth of yours!”

“Ahaha~ Too bad you missed your chance~”

Nadia blew on her bright red nails and waved the flag elegantly. Beric shouted something and tried to get up, but he was stuck between the shield and the edge of the arena, struggling. Probably couldn’t stand properly because of the wound in his side.

“Ah…”

The examiner looked up at the second floor with a troubled expression. Ian nodded, and only then did the whistle blow.

“Be-Beric wins! Nadia loses! Good work.”

“No! I don’t want a win like this! That thing should be split in half!”

“Hmph~ You don’t say that to a lady. Hey, everyone!”

“You’re carrying corpses around and talking like a lady? What a joke. Hey, come here. Come on, aren’t you coming? Let’s finish this!”

Ziiing! Ziiing!

Ian lowered the shield, and Beric tumbled down from the arena. Nadia glanced down at him, snorted, draped a fur coat over her shoulders, and without a backward glance, let her hair fly as she disappeared.

“Resume the exam.”

Ian snapped the distracted crowd back to attention and carefully recorded the match results.

“Medic mages, go stitch up Beric’s side.”

“Yes, sir.”

While the mages focused on treating the injured, Barsabe slumped down, dazed. He was so out of it that even a passing mage’s light touch made him sway.

“What’s wrong, Barsabe? You okay? What’s going on here?”

“Beric… that damn mutt… awakened first…”

“Bring a stretcher. Today’s been crazy.”

“Ahhh! I said bring him! He wants to fight again!”

“Quiet, and cover your mouth. Oh dear, his side’s all torn open. Did you get a new pocket sewn in?”

“Pocket? Seriously? Don’t say stupid things.”

“Stupid?! You idiot?! That Beric bastard refuses healing!”

“Why would you—”

Caught in the middle of the unexpected chaos, Ian leaned against the railing, pressing his forehead as if he had a headache. Beric was at the center of all this. He seriously started wondering if they should even be letting ‘that guy’ in. Maybe it’d be better if he matured a bit more first…

“No, wait.”

He couldn’t keep relying on the Count’s estate forever. For the sake of food expenses… yeah, the palace was better after all.

Ian circled Beric’s name on the evaluation sheet and gave him an 8. He did the same for his opponent, a woman named Nadia, but only gave her a 6.

“Ian!”

A group of mages who had been stationed in the general exam hall came through the second-floor entrance, calling out to him. It was time to switch shifts for maintaining the protective barrier. Now Ian just had to head to the general exam hall and check again if there were any candidates with the potential to become magic swordsmen.

“What’s with the vibe here?” one of the mages asked, glancing around. Since this was where the espers gathered, the atmosphere was definitely different—louder, more chaotic, and just… something else.

“Oh, it’s because of Beric,” Ian said.

The mages immediately knew who was responsible and took the papers from Ian.

“Beric’s round just finished,” Ian reported.

“Really? Nice, that’s one less hassle,” one of them said with relief.

While the examiners swept and cleaned the arena, the mages refreshed the protective barrier. They told Ian he’d done well and urged him to head over to the other exam hall.

“It’s quieter there. The people are better, too.”

“Besides, the Imperial Defense Department is handling most of the work.”

The mages could just relax and focus on scouting talent.

“Well then, good luck.”

“You too. Thanks for your hard work.”

“Ah! And Ian—”

“Yes?”

“That Xiaoshi person, she’s your friend, right?”

Friend? They hadn’t known each other long, and they hadn’t talked much. But…

“If I had to say, she’s more like the other way around.”

“What kind of answer is that?”

“Why do you ask? Is something wrong?”

The mages gave a thumbs-up, clearly impressed.

“From what I’ve seen, Xiaoshi’s number one.”

“That seems a bit premature. It’s only the first day of the exam.”

“No, no. You can just tell by the way she moves.”

“You should go see for yourself.”

They must be really something if the mages rarely praise anyone.

Ian nodded in understanding and left the training ground. Nearby, sprawled out and looking dazed, was Varsabe.

“Sis.”

Just as Ian was about to encourage her, telling her she’d done well and that it had been an incredible fight, he noticed her mind was only half there.

“Sis?”

“Ha… life, damn it… how did that shitty bastard get the sword first… and such a huge, cool one at that… it’s not even fitting for his rank…”

She was shocked. It wasn’t just anyone—she was especially disheartened that Beric had beaten her to it.

Ian hesitated, unsure how to comfort her, and ended up saying nothing. Even he would probably deny reality if Beric started casting high-level magic.

“Hey, Ian!”

Just then, Beric, freshly treated, came bounding over, practically bouncing with excitement. As Varsabe slowly turned her head, Beric greeted them with a brighter smile than ever.

“Oh? Even the weakling’s here?”

“Ha… damn…”

Ian wanted to deny it. He already was, but he wanted to deny it even more fiercely. That bastard had undergone a second awakening, and here he was—someone who’d been wielding a sword since he could walk—still hadn’t.

Varsabe threw her head back and fainted again. It was her own way of escaping reality.