Chapter 06
In the near future, the Magic Emperor would raise an army. The very first thing he did upon starting the war was to strike the Empire’s five great magic families.
According to Renia, his primary objective wasn’t the destruction of those families—but the secret techniques they possessed.
Each family’s inherited magic formula was a high-level spell that far surpassed human understanding. By using the five families’ unique formulas as nourishment, the Magic Emperor aimed to break through to the 9th Circle.
To him, the destruction and chaos of the world were merely side effects.
The reason the Magic Emperor was able to conquer the world alone was largely due to the internal conflicts among the five great magic families.
Although they stood on equal footing under the protection of the Emperor, their relationships were far from harmonious.
Even the recent incident involving the stolen Benheim family pendant was suspected to be a petty scheme by another magic family—or a dark mage.
“Rot in there for life, you filthy thief. Not only did you steal the family heirloom, you even dared to attack Lady Renia.”
Even the guard treated me like a criminal of the highest order.
No matter how much I protested my innocence, no one listened.
In the end, I was locked in a solitary cell deep within the Benheim Mage Tower, forced to listen to the steady drip of water from the ceiling.
“So… what now?”
Sitting alone in the cell, I let out a deep sigh.
“No way out, either.”
The bars were inscribed with magic.
I could roughly guess what kind. It resembled the spell Renia used on prisoners—something like a binding restraint.
Understanding the structure meant it could be interfered with.
I raised my hand and tried to dismantle the magic engraved into the bars, but without a mana core, it was impossible.
After hours of effort, I had barely managed to distort even a tiny portion.
Still, it wasn’t impossible. Given enough time, I could wear it down and completely dismantle it.
The problem was—I didn’t have time to waste.
“Damn…”
Maybe it had been foolish to ask for Renia’s hand the moment we met.
No father would agree to give his daughter to some random nobody.
“…Was I too direct?”
“Yes. Far too direct.”
At the sudden voice, I looked up.
The steward of Benheim, Alet, was standing right in front of the bars.
His gaze lingered on the spot I had been tampering with.
Had he noticed?
After staring for a moment, Alet cleared his throat and spoke.
“The Lord deeply cherishes his children. Before being a great mage, he is a warm father. Considering the outrageous statement you made in front of such a man, it wouldn’t be strange for you to rot here for life.”
His tone was cold, but I focused on the meaning behind his words.
“You didn’t come all the way here just to mock me, did you? If I were truly being sentenced for life, you wouldn’t bother saying all that.”
“That is correct. The Lord has decided to overlook your earlier… remark, taking into account your contribution in recovering the heirloom and saving Lady Renia.”
“That wasn’t a joke. I meant it.”
“Haha. You certainly have a talent for humor.”
Alet smiled—but his eyes didn’t.
When I fell silent, he finally got to the point.
“Benheim does not break its promises. Since the Lord has agreed to accept you, from now on you will live as an outer mage of the Benheim family.”
So that’s why his tone had turned polite.
“Outer mage… so something like a guest?”
“Closer than a mere guest. However, until you prove yourself as a mage, you will reside in the annex.”
“The annex?”
“Yes. You will train in magic there for the time being. Do not worry—we will assign you a servant knowledgeable in magic to assist you.”
I nodded.
Right now, I didn’t even have a mana core. Calling me a Benheim mage was a stretch. It made sense they’d isolate me and make me start from the basics.
“Well, that works.”
Regardless of the title, I had become a mage of Benheim.
Compared to my previous life, this was an ideal start.
“So I’ll meet members of the family eventually, then.”
Renia came to mind.
We hadn’t had much time to talk earlier due to the situation. When we met again, what would I even say?
As I pondered, Alet frowned.
“One piece of advice: it would be best if you avoid interacting with the family members. In fact, minimize contact entirely—until you become a proper mage.”
“Why?”
“The direct bloodline does not favor interaction with outsiders. Even the collateral branches are the same—so imagine how they feel about an outer mage. Every year, many mages pass the entrance test and join Benheim, but only a few remain.”
So, elitism. Or hazing.
Unlike the collateral branches, I was a complete outsider—and still suspected of stealing the heirloom. Naturally, they wouldn’t look kindly on me.
Alet’s advice was perfectly reasonable.
But…
“That’s my decision.”
“…Did you not hear me?”
“I did. You said not to act recklessly until I become a proper mage.”
“Then—”
“I don’t plan on becoming just one proper mage. I’ll be worth at least ten.”
As I spoke with unfounded confidence, Alet frowned.
Perhaps remembering Stern’s instructions, he simply sighed instead of getting angry.
“Do as you wish. But I will not clean up any trouble you cause.”
“Of course.”
Whatever the case, he was still a Benheim mage.
I smirked and held out my cuffed hands.
“So when do these come off?”
“Ah. In all the commotion, I forgot to relay the Lord’s final instruction.”
Alet’s lips curled upward.
It was the first genuine smile he’d shown me.
“The prisoner Reagan is to remain in confinement for one week and reflect on his crimes.”
“…Damn it.”
That damn father-in-law.
“What did he say?”
“Nothing in particular. But he seemed quite dissatisfied.”
“I’d imagine so. Being locked up for a week at that age…”
After hearing Alet’s report, Stern of Benheim chuckled bitterly and took a sip of wine.
Alet hesitated before speaking.
“If I may offer my opinion, that boy is rebellious by nature. I question whether it was wise to accept him into the family.”
Stern nodded.
In truth, when Reagan had asked for his daughter’s hand, even Stern had nearly lost his temper.
Had it not been for his restraint, an attack spell might have been cast on the spot.
“Alet, everything the boy said was true.”
Stern adjusted the monocle on the table.
It looked ordinary, but it was an artifact—capable of discerning truth from lies.
He had worn it when meeting Reagan.
“There was no deception.”
Everything the boy said was true.
A mysterious mage had given him the pendant, told him about the rune inside, and sent him to return it to Benheim.
That alone was astonishing.
But the most crucial part—
Reagan had some understanding of the rune’s nature.
“Knowing the power of the final rune is not something we can ignore. If that boy speaks of it elsewhere, his life would be in danger—and so would our family.”
A rune of time.
A magic capable of overturning the world.
The culmination of Benheim’s thousand-year legacy.
A mystery no previous head had been able to solve.
And the key lay within that pendant.
“Who do you think gave him the pendant?”
“This rune governs time. Then there’s only one possibility.”
Stern tightened his grip on the pendant.
“Either a successor from the future—or an ancestor from the past—guiding us. Given the outdated attire, it’s likely an ancestor… but they knew of Renia’s attack today, so it could be a descendant.”
“Then why entrust the task to that boy instead of appearing directly?”
“There must be a reason beyond our understanding. But one thing is certain—whether past or future, Benheim chose that boy. That makes him a benefactor.”
Alet nodded.
He too had sensed something extraordinary about Reagan.
“He was dismantling the magic on the bars…”
When Alet realized that, he had been shocked.
A boy who hadn’t even formed a mana core was analyzing and dismantling a magical structure—and partially succeeding.
That level of talent was beyond exceptional.
And despite his apparent rudeness, he possessed insight far beyond his age.
Still, as steward, Alet had to prioritize the family’s safety.
“My lord, that boy killed all the attackers who targeted Lady Renia—with a single sword.”
He had already received the investigation report.
The attackers weren’t highly trained, but they could use basic aura. There were also two dark mages—one of the 2nd Circle and one of the 3rd.
Not overwhelming—but still considerable.
“The captain said every strike was precise. All fatal blows. Clean cuts—without excess.”
“….”
“Lady Renia’s testimony matches.”
A normal boy—without mana—had slaughtered five attackers with a cheap iron sword.
“Isn’t that suspicious? The attack, the stolen pendant—it all feels like it revolves around him.”
“Alet, what are you suggesting?”
“We cannot rule out the possibility that Reagan is a spy—from another family or a dark mage. There have been troubling rumors about the Lucen family recently. This attack may be connected…”
“I know.”
Stern cut him off.
He was already aware of the unrest surrounding the Lucen family.
“But Alet—Benheim exists to reach the pinnacle of magic. Correct?”
“Yes.”
“And there is no rule that only those of Benheim blood may stand at that peak. If there is exceptional talent outside the family, we must accept it without hesitation and make it part of Benheim.”
Alet bowed his head.
“But your concerns are valid. Have the elite pursue those who attacked Renia.”
“They have already been deployed.”
The Rune Surveillance Unit—Benheim’s elite.
If they were involved, the truth would soon be uncovered.
“Also, assign a trained observer to Reagan. We should remain cautious.”
“Understood.”
Alet left.
Left alone, Stern stared out the window, swirling his wine.
His thoughts remained tangled.
“Asking for my daughter…”
Reagan had said those words.
Coincidentally, Stern had thought of his daughter the moment he saw the boy.
Renia Benheim.
Bold, mischievous, rebellious—yet immensely talented.
They were alike.
And today, Reagan had saved her life.
If they worked together, they might elevate each other.
Perhaps Benheim’s magic would advance further.
Stern could feel it instinctively.
But…
“Renia… I hope that child doesn’t get influenced.”
As a father, he couldn’t help but worry.
