Chapter 05
When was it?
It was during a time when the war had grown even more intense—right after a battle had ended.
The resistance forces under Renia were completely exhausted; not a single one of them could properly move. I, too, had just fought the Archmage King’s royal guard and was utterly drained. I wasn’t seriously injured, but I had pushed my mana beyond its limits, and my body refused to cooperate.
“Ahaha. Your legs have completely given out.”
“If you know that, why don’t you at least cast a healing spell?”
“Why should I? What a waste of mana.”
Unlike me, Renia was perfectly fine. A mage who had surpassed the 8th circle was physically superior to most swordsmen.
In that situation, she grinned and said something like this:
“You remind me of my father, Mr. Reagan.”
“I’m not that old. And I don’t look old either.”
At my reply, Renia frowned as if asking whether I was serious.
“No, you definitely look old. If I exaggerate a little, you’re about my father’s age.”
“…You should be grateful I can’t move right now.”
“Anyway, my father was quite an interesting man, even if he was a bit stiff.”
“Bragging about your parents in front of an orphan, huh?”
“If you keep talking like that, I’m going to get mad.”
“…Sorry.”
“Back to the point—my father was a rather unique person. Instead of someone overly polite and proper, he preferred bold people, even if they were a bit rude. He also had a playful side.”
“So that’s why you’re so rude?”
“Hmm… maybe? Anyway, if my father were alive, he would have really liked you, Mr. Reagan.”
“That sounds like you’re calling me rude.”
“You understood that perfectly.”
A fragment of memory involving Renia lingered in a corner of my mind.
It was just a brief recollection, but now that I had returned to the past, it carried a different meaning.
Because the man Renia spoke of—her father—was now standing right before me.
“What is your name?”
“Reagan. I don’t have a family name.”
Renia’s father—
The head of the Benheim family,
Stern von Benheim,
had a peculiar presence.
Unlike a typical mage, he wore a neat suit instead of robes, with a monocle resting over one eye.
Unlike the guards at the entrance, I couldn’t gauge his level at all. At first glance, it even seemed like he had no mana whatsoever.
But that, in itself, was proof that he was a great mage. A truly skilled mage perfectly controls their mana so that none of it leaks outward.
I focused my senses and examined the density of mana surrounding him.
‘At least the peak of the 7th circle… a monster.’
The limit of humanity was the 7th circle.
And he stood at its very peak.
It was a level befitting someone who represented one of the pillars of the empire’s magical world.
Beside him stood an elderly butler who seemed to be assisting him—he, too, was a mage, likely around the 6th circle.
As expected of a prestigious mage family.
I was inwardly impressed.
“So, Reagan, was it?”
Meanwhile, Stern pulled a chair up to the bars and sat down, examining the pendant from various angles. Each time he moved his head, his seagull-shaped mustache twitched.
“I won’t ask twice. Where did you get this?”
“I was fortunate.”
“Explain in detail. I’m not in the mood for jokes.”
Stern spoke firmly. The way he looked at me was no different from how one would look at a thief.
Well, it made sense.
I was someone connected to his daughter’s attack and was also in possession of a lost family heirloom.
‘…What should I do?’
I thought it over.
Should I tell the truth?
It wouldn’t be hard.
That I had returned from ten years in the future, that in seven years a black mage known as the Archmage King would plunge the continent into war, and that I came to Benheim to stop it.
‘No, it’s too early.’
Revealing that I had regressed could wait.
At this point in time, the Archmage King was likely already preparing for war.
If a kid who hadn’t even formed a mana core yet started spouting nonsense about the future, it would be a great way to get myself killed.
Even in front of the head of Benheim, that wouldn’t change.
Better to reveal it once I was strong enough to protect myself.
After choosing my words carefully, I spoke.
“I received it from someone.”
“Someone?”
At my words, the elderly butler beside Stern reacted.
“Explain in detail! What did this person look like? Did they say anything else? Speak! Tell us everything you remember!”
“Allet, that’s enough. I am the one speaking with this boy.”
“…My apologies.”
The old man—Allet—bowed and stepped back.
“My apologies. Our steward has been rather obsessed with catching the thief.”
“I understand.”
I nodded.
Stern gestured with his chin.
“So. Who gave you the pendant?”
“A mage. They wore a pointed hat and a robe.”
“A mage… Interesting. In this day and age, a mage dressed in such an outdated manner.”
Before my regression, Renia dressed like a stereotypical mage—robe, pointed hat, even ridiculous boots.
When I asked her why she wore such cumbersome clothes, her answer had been absurd.
“Isn’t it cute? It looks like a real mage.”
In any case, Stern was eager to catch whoever stole the relic. He took the bait I offered.
“Do you remember their appearance?”
“They wore the hat low, so I couldn’t see their face clearly. But I do remember that they had golden hair and violet eyes.”
“What…?”
Golden hair and violet eyes.
The defining traits passed down through the Benheim bloodline.
I nodded and continued.
“Yes. The mage had the same hair and eye color as you, Lord.”
There was only one implication.
“So you’re saying a Benheim mage stole our heirloom and gave it to a boy with no connection to us? And you expect me to believe that?”
“Whether you believe me or not, that changes nothing. However, that mage did tell me to deliver this rune to Benheim.”
“…Wait.”
Stern’s eyes widened.
“You said rune just now. How do you know that? The fact that there is a rune inside the pendant… is known only to key figures of the family, including the steward.”
Of course it was a secret.
If I hadn’t heard it from Renia—the last head of Benheim—I would never have known either.
“I heard it from the mage who gave me the pendant. They said there was a final rune inside that had yet to be deciphered.”
“…Did they truly say that?”
“Yes.”
Everything I said was true.
I had simply condensed certain details and added a slight embellishment.
Fortunately, Stern seemed to believe me.
“…If that mage told you so, then you must know what domain this rune governs. Tell me. What is it?”
His face had turned pale as he tossed the pendant back to me through the bars.
I caught it without changing my expression and fell into thought.
‘What exactly is this rune?’
I didn’t need long.
I hadn’t heard the details from Renia, but now that I had returned to the past, I could make a reasonable guess.
“A rune that governs time… isn’t it?”
“……”
That seemed to be the correct answer.
Steward Allet covered his mouth, and Stern trembled slightly before removing his monocle and placing it on the table.
“…Then it’s true. You really did meet a mage of Benheim.”
“I told you it was the truth.”
“Reagan. Saving my daughter today… was that also at the request of that mage?”
“Yes. The mage who gave me the pendant informed me that an attack would occur today. I was only able to save Lady Renia because of that.”
I hadn’t planned it that way, but Stern’s misunderstanding made things easier.
It wasn’t even a lie. The one who told me about the attack was Renia herself—the one who gave me the pendant.
“Hmm…”
Stern exchanged a glance with Allet.
Then he cleared his throat and looked at me again. The suspicion on his face had long since vanished.
“You met a mage of Benheim and were tasked with delivering this pendant. In the process, you saved my daughter. That means… that mage led you to our family.”
“I believe so as well.”
I nodded and added,
“For reference, the mage who gave me the pendant said I had talent.”
“Talent?”
“Yes. They said that if I learned magic, I would surely achieve great things.”
At my words, a smile appeared on Stern’s lips.
“Then may I take that to mean that they wished for you to be accepted into Benheim?”
“I merely conveyed their words. The decision lies with you, Lord.”
“Haha. Then, as the head of the family, let me ask you—Reagan, would you like to become a mage of Benheim?”
To think they would invite me first.
I smiled inwardly and nodded.
“Gladly.”
“Good. Steward Allet will show you to your quarters. It’s late, so rest for now and—”
“I apologize, but there is one more thing I’d like to ask.”
I interrupted Stern and brought up my request.
“Any matter deserves appropriate compensation.”
“…Speak freely.”
“Is there no reward for me?”
At my blunt words, Stern blinked.
“Is being accepted into Benheim not reward enough?”
“That is thanks to the mage who entrusted me with this task and to your keen judgment in recognizing it. What I am referring to is compensation for returning this relic to Benheim. According to the notice posted in the streets, whoever recovers the relic would be granted access to Benheim’s treasury and receive a substantial reward. And I believe the Benheim family is one that honors its promises.”
At my words, Stern smirked.
Meanwhile, Allet’s face turned red with anger.
“How dare you speak so brazenly! Just because your mouth exists does not mean you should use it freely! My lord, this insolent boy—!”
“That’s enough, Allet.”
It was Stern who stopped him.
On his face was clear curiosity.
“You’re right. Failing to honor our promise would stain Benheim’s name. Very well. What do you want?”
Good. This is how it should be.
Just as Renia said—he liked bold people, even if they were rude.
“…Hmm.”
I paused briefly.
The reward—
I had already decided.
It was the very reason I came to Benheim.
Better to say it at least once, no matter the outcome.
A satisfied smile formed on my lips as I spoke slowly.
“Give me your daughter.”
Stern’s eyebrows shot up.
“……”
In the end, Renia had been only half right.
The head of the family liked bold people—
but that didn’t mean he liked rude ones.
“You insolent bastard…!”
That day,
I wasn’t able to leave the prison.
