Chapter 03
There are five great magic families on the continent.
They are known as the Five Pillars of the Imperial magic world, recognized by the Imperial Magic Academy. The lands they rule and their influence surpass even most city-states.
I couldn’t remember every detail about each family. By the time I was working as a proper mercenary, they had already been in decline for a long time—after the Magic King burned them down and stole their unique magic formulas during the war.
However, I clearly remembered Renia’s origin—the Benheim Count family—and its history.
That was because Renia used to boast about her family almost every day.
Even though the family had already fallen, she still treasured her childhood memories there.
“Mr. Reagan, you know? My family used to be the leader among the magic houses.”
“Why?”
“Well, historically, the Benheims were loyal servants of the Emperor. And more importantly, our unique magic formula is on a completely different level compared to the other four families. We restored the language of the Age of Gods and created a new magic system. It’s called Rune Magic! That’s the magic I use. What do you think? Tempting, right? Want to try learning magic, Mr. Reagan?”
“No thanks. It’s already hard enough handling a sword. Why would I learn magic?”
“Tsk.”
From what I heard from Renia, the reputation of the Benheim family in the Empire was immense.
A family founded by the advisor sorcerer of the first Emperor. The originators of monster hunters. Masters of rune magic who revived ancient scripts and turned them into a magical system.
With its history, legitimacy, and strong support from the Imperial family, the Benheim Count family was supposed to be the most prestigious among the five magic families.
…It should have been.
“The atmosphere feels tense.”
It had already been two days since I started traveling by carriage.
As I got closer to Benheim territory, I noticed a strange tension among the people.
“Did something happen?”
There was no way the war had already started. The Magic King would raise his army seven years later. So it had to be something else.
Instead of guessing, I stopped the carriage and asked a passing merchant.
“Excuse me. Did something happen in Benheim?”
“Huh?”
“I’ll pay you.”
Money works in most situations. When I handed him a few copper coins, he swallowed nervously and spoke.
“Hmm… from what I’ve heard… it seems Benheim’s treasure was stolen.”
“…Treasure?”
“Yeah. Apparently, it’s the symbol of the family head or something.”
“Do you know what it looks like?”
“There’s a wanted notice over there. Go check it. I heard it looks like a pendant…”
The merchant kept glancing around, afraid someone might overhear.
“Anyway, you should avoid acting suspicious. The mages of Benheim are arresting anyone who looks suspicious and interrogating them. Quite a few traders have already been taken.”
“…Understood.”
“Take care, young man.”
The merchant quickly left after pocketing the coins.
“…Ha.”
It felt like I had been hit on the head.
Benheim’s treasure was stolen.
It’s a pendant.
A symbol of the family head.
That could only mean one thing.
I reached inside my clothes and grabbed the pendant Renia had given me.
If this pendant was in my possession, then naturally, there couldn’t be another identical one in this era.
Which meant—
I had become the thief who stole Benheim’s treasure.
“Renia… you didn’t plan it this far, did you?”
I muttered in annoyance toward the Renia of the future.
As expected, the wanted poster showed a picture identical to the pendant I had.
It even promised a massive reward from the Benheim treasury to whoever returned it.
“This is troublesome…”
I fell into thought.
The artifact Renia entrusted to me. She wanted me to interpret the rune engraved on it and reveal it to the world.
In that case, wouldn’t it be best to go to experts in rune magic?
After deciding, I spoke to the coachman.
“Sir, take me to the Benheim Magic Tower.”
“Are you serious? Didn’t you hear the merchant? The mages are arresting people…”
“Yes. That’s exactly why we should go.”
“Listen, young man. I’m saying this out of concern. Mages aren’t good people. Sure, if you become one, you can live well—but how many succeed? Not even one in ten.”
He spoke earnestly, like it was his own problem.
“I’ve heard bad rumors. Some noble magic families are making chimeras in underground labs…”
“Do you believe that?”
“Of course! Some even experiment on turning humans into spirits…”
He kept rambling on.
Well, that’s how ordinary people see mages.
“It’s fine.”
“No, it’s dangerous!”
“I have a plan.”
After I insisted, the coachman reluctantly turned the carriage.
Soon, the Count’s estate came into view.
Behind the mansion, which looked like a castle, stood a massive tower.
“So that’s the magic tower…”
There are only seven magic towers on the continent.
Even I, who had traveled the world as a mercenary, was impressed by its scale.
“Stop! This is Benheim territory!”
A guard shouted as he spotted us.
I could feel strong mana from him—around the 4th tier.
Even a lifetime of training barely reaches the 5th tier. That meant even the gatekeeper here was a veteran mage.
“Stop here.”
I had the carriage halt and observed the surroundings.
Five guards at the gate.
Several merchants were arguing desperately.
“This is unfair! Losing your treasure is your problem! Why are you stopping innocent merchants?! Return our goods!”
But the guard remained firm.
“It is the Tower Master’s order. All goods must be inspected. No exceptions. Leave now, or you’ll be imprisoned.”
“Tsk.”
The atmosphere was extremely tense.
If I pulled out the pendant now…
It was obvious.
They wouldn’t see me as someone returning the treasure—but as the prime suspect.
I’d be thrown into a dungeon and interrogated.
You can’t negotiate after losing control.
That was my philosophy as a mercenary.
“I need another way…”
Just then—
“…Hm?”
I smelled something familiar.
Pink pepper. Rose. Patchouli.
A scent I could never forget.
“…No way.”
I turned my head.
A small figure in a robe had just slipped past the fence and was walking away quickly.
Even with the face hidden, I recognized her instantly.
“…Renia?”
No doubt.
Renia Erahan von Benheim.
The person I was looking for had just passed right in front of me.
But something felt strange.
At this time, Renia should be just a teenage girl. The precious daughter of a noble family—would she really be outside alone without any escort?
Then a thought came to me.
I turned to the coachman.
“Sir, what’s today’s date?”
“Huh? Today… ah, right. It’s the Day of the Moon Curse.”
“…Ha.”
I let out a hollow laugh.
What perfect timing.
It seemed my employer had no intention of giving me any rest.
Before my regression, Renia had told me stories about her past.
One stood out.
“When I was sixteen, on the Day of the Moon Curse… I was attacked by dark mages while I was alone. That’s how I got this scar.”
She had shown me a lightning-shaped scar on her collarbone.
Now, I had returned to exactly ten years in the past.
Renia was sixteen.
There was only one conclusion.
Today is the day she gets attacked.
There was no reason to hesitate.
I followed her.
Tracking is basic for a mercenary.
Soon, she arrived at a quiet hillside cemetery.
She stood in front of a grave.
[Lillian Isilia von Benheim]
Only then did I understand.
This was her mother’s grave.
She had come alone to visit her.
After brushing off the dust, Renia slowly removed her robe.
Golden hair shone brightly.
“…Ha.”
Even now, I could picture her face clearly.
We had fought together for years.
Her mana always shone like gold.
And that hadn’t changed.
Then—
Crack.
I stepped on a branch.
“Who’s there?”
She turned sharply.
Our eyes met.
“…Renia.”
Memories flooded back.
Her dying face.
Her chest pierced by magic.
It hurt just remembering.
But now—
She was alive.
That was enough.
“Who are you? How do you know my name?”
She looked at me with suspicion.
Of course she would.
To her, I was just a stranger.
And unlike before, her tone was sharp and youthful.
She wasn’t the great mage I knew.
Just a young girl.
“…I see.”
The woman I knew didn’t exist in this time.
To her, this was just a normal meeting.
But that was fine.
I could build everything again from the beginning.
“…I’d like to talk more, but we don’t have time.”
I drew my sword.
“W-what are you doing?!”
Instead of answering, I thrust my sword forward.
She fell backward in shock—
Clang!
I had cut down a dagger flying toward her.
“…So this is how our reunion goes.”
I frowned.
Figures were approaching from the bushes.
“What just happened?!”
“Be careful. There are attackers. They’re targeting you.”
“…Me?”
“Yes. Stay close.”
Five masked figures appeared.
Three swordsmen. Two mages.
I assessed them calmly.
Weak.
Before regression, I could’ve defeated them easily.
But now—
“Tsk.”
I raised my sword.
“This is annoying… just come at me all at once.”
Of course—
I had no intention of losing.
