Chapter 04
“What’s this? Just a kid? Don’t tell me he’s the one who knocked away my dagger?”
“Just luck. Focus on the job.”
The attackers stayed alert when they saw me standing protectively beside Renia. But once they realized there wasn’t even a trace of mana in my body, confidence filled their eyes behind the masks.
One of them stepped forward, showing off the sword at his waist.
“Hey, kid. Hand over the girl and I’ll let you live.”
“You talk nonsense very smoothly. You’re really planning to leave a witness alive?”
I was used to dealing with thugs like these. There was no way I’d fall for their tricks.
I took a step forward.
“Killing a child always leaves a bad feeling.”
“Then kill him cleanly. Don’t make a mess.”
“Yeah, yeah, I got it.”
The man in front gave up trying to persuade me and drew his longsword.
He’s completely careless.
This body of mine was still that of an untrained boy.
Compared to the body that had once been called the Sword God, it was weak and lacking.
But that also meant I could use different tactics.
I raised my sword awkwardly on purpose. The man frowned.
“Damn. I’ll never get used to killing kids.”
“C-come at me!”
“Haah…”
I acted with a nervous, childish voice. The man shook his head and smiled bitterly.
“Don’t hate me too much. This is just work.”
He swung his sword down at me.
Slow. Full of openings.
“Guh!”
—Stab!
That was his mistake.
My sword deflected his and pierced straight through his heart.
“Ghk…”
Blood bubbled from his mouth.
He died just like that.
“Too careless.”
No matter how young I looked, letting your guard down against someone holding a sword—this wasn’t even third-rate.
“Y-you crazy bastard!”
One of them shouted. Of course they were shocked—the kid they thought was nothing just killed one of their own.
But I wasn’t going to give them time to react.
Whoosh!
Using the corpse as a shield, I rushed forward.
I threw the body at the big man far away and swung at the thinner one nearby.
Clang!
Our swords clashed. My hand stung.
Luckily, he hadn’t infused mana into his blade yet.
This was my chance.
“Urgh!”
He panicked and lunged.
Clang!
But instead of landing, our blades slid past each other, sparks flying.
“What?!”
His eyes widened in shock.
My sword was already blocking the path of his attack.
I had read his movement.
Once might be luck.
But again and again, I blocked every move he made.
Sometimes strong, sometimes flexible—my sword danced through the air.
He couldn’t even swing properly, only stumbling back to protect his vital points.
“W-who the hell are you?!”
“Just a mercenary.”
“Mercenary…?”
To me, this wasn’t anything special.
I had spent my whole life on the battlefield.
There was a reason I was called the Sword God.
Without even using mana, the difference between me and someone like him was like heaven and earth.
“Ghk!”
In just a few moves, my blade pierced his throat.
Now the others finally realized the situation.
“Damn it! Kill him! Do whatever it takes!”
The black mage leading them shouted.
The large man charged at me, his axe glowing faintly with aura.
Aura—power created through mana.
You can’t block aura without aura.
And right now, I couldn’t use it.
A disadvantage.
But I didn’t hesitate.
Whoosh!
The axe cut through the air—but missed.
“You dodged it?!”
If I couldn’t block it, I just wouldn’t get hit.
I shifted my balance and slipped past his attack, then moved in at the exact moment his stance broke.
Slash!
His axe grazed my cheek, leaving a thin line of blood.
The pain sharpened my senses.
My body began to move naturally, guided by countless real battles.
This feeling.
This instinct carved into my bones.
This was what brought me this far.
I’ve been given another chance to fight.
This wasn’t a blessing from a god.
It was a mission Renia had given me.
Then I’ll complete it.
I had a goal.
To kill the Demon King of Magic.
At that moment, my eyes met Renia’s.
Her violet eyes curved slightly.
In the end… it’s still because of you.
This second life…
I would live it to fulfill my contract with her.
Not just for her—but for myself too.
I didn’t want to see her smiling that painful smile ever again.
She was the most important part of my life.
And the one who took her from me—
was the one I hated the most.
Stab!
My sword pierced the big man’s stomach.
He died without even screaming.
“Damn it! Use magic!”
The black mage shouted desperately.
Two mages began casting spells.
Magic… would be troublesome for me right now.
“They’re using dark magic. Dispel it.”
Renia replied, confused.
“What? Dispel? How do I do that?!”
“…You can’t?”
“You want me to dispel someone else’s magic?! I’m not some great mage!”
I realized my mistake.
I had unconsciously treated her like the future Renia.
But right now, she was still inexperienced.
“Die!”
A black sphere flew toward me.
I blocked it using a corpse.
But another came from the side.
At least 3rd-circle dark magic.
If it hit me, I’d die instantly.
But I didn’t hesitate.
I swung my sword.
—Slice.
I cut the magic apart.
Silence fell.
The black mage stared at me in shock.
Of course.
A sword without aura cutting magic?
Impossible.
But not for me.
I could see it.
Not just see—I could feel it.
Where to cut.
Where to strike.
How to break the structure of magic.
Even the Demon King’s magic…
I had managed to cut it once.
There was no way I couldn’t cut something like this.
“You cut magic? How?!”
The mage panicked and blamed his subordinate.
“Idiot! Did you mess up the chant?!”
“No! I did it properly!”
“Shut up!”
While they argued—
I was already moving.
Stab.
Another one fell.
Now only one mage remained.
“D-don’t come near me!”
He threw spells wildly.
But they had lost their power.
I cut them all down easily.
Tap.
I stepped on a gravestone and leaped forward.
“Just… how…?”
That was his last word.
My sword pierced his forehead.
“…Wow.”
Renia stared blankly at me.
Five assassins.
Gone in moments.
I stood among the corpses, breathing heavily.
“Tch…”
My whole body hurt.
My heart felt like it would burst.
Blood dripped from my cheek.
This body isn’t ready yet.
I spat blood and turned toward Renia.
“You okay? You’re not hurt?”
“Y-yeah… I’m fine…”
“Good.”
I smiled.
She awkwardly smiled back.
“Are… are you really okay?”
Before she could say more—
“Miss!”
Voices echoed from the entrance.
“Lady Renia, are you alright?!”
A group of mages in white robes rushed in.
They saw the scene—
Dead bodies.
Dark magic traces.
And me, standing with a blood-covered sword.
“…You bastard!”
They pointed their staffs at me.
“W-wait! It’s a misunderstanding! He—!”
But they were faster than Renia.
These were elite mages.
At least 5th circle.
“Damn…”
My body wouldn’t move.
I had reached my limit.
Flash.
A red light filled my vision.
A stun spell.
Drip… drip…
I woke to the sound of water.
Dark room.
Light coming through iron bars.
A prison.
So they threw me in jail.
As expected.
I lifted my head.
An old mage stood outside.
“He’s awake.”
A man stepped forward.
Sharp eyes. Middle-aged.
“You are…?”
“I heard everything from Renia. It seems there was a misunderstanding. As the head of the Benheim family, I apologize.”
He bowed.
Head of the family.
Golden hair. Purple eyes.
Same as Renia.
Which means—
“Father-in-law.”
“…What?”
He froze.
“…Sorry. That just slipped out.”
That was a mistake.
I quickly corrected myself.
This man was Stern von Benheim.
Renia’s father.
“I have many questions. But first—there was a reason we had to imprison you. Can you guess why?”
“I’m not sure.”
“You still say that after seeing this?”
He sat down and pulled out something.
A pendant.
Only then did I realize—
it was gone from my chest.
“That was found on you. And it belongs in our family vault.”
His eyes were full of suspicion.
“Where did you get this?
