[Translator - Kiteretsu]

    [Proofreader - Kyros]

    Chapter 11

    The quality of a Sword.

    When Ernstine unlocked the Six Swords ,there were rare individuals who did not merely regard those six swords as extraordinary weapons but perceived Ernstine himself as a “sword.”

    These individuals were what Ernstine called those with "the quality of the sword." And such individuals invariably possessed astonishing talent with the sword—an innate brilliance so radiant that no matter how much they tried to hide it, it was impossible to conceal.

    Their skill was such that, even in their youth, they could reach the rank of Sword Master with ease.

    Unless they were someone who had never even touched a sword, these individuals always rose to prominence in the world.

    ‘And yet, someone with such a gift is merely a guard knight?’

    This wasn’t some farmer who had spent their entire life oblivious to their potential.

    No, a knight blessed with such remarkable talent was wasting away as the escort to a mere count’s daughter?

    It was an incomprehensible situation.

    ‘To think such a talent is rotting away... I’ll have to remember him.’

    After engraving the knight’s presence into his memory, Kaylen turned his attention to his own physical condition.

    ‘A mess.’

    It was true that forming a Mana Body had been a significant milestone, but his physical state was far from ideal.

    Though Kaylen had managed to skillfully control the mana from the Mana Stone, all he had done was avoid fatal internal injuries.

    Minor damages lingered throughout his body, both inside and out.

    Still, now that his Mana Body was complete, these injuries were manageable on his own.

    But Kaylen chose not to heal himself just yet.

    Cough!

    A gush of bright red blood spilled from his mouth, soaking the front of his clothes.

    Simultaneously, his entire body began to swell grotesquely, as if he were transforming into a monstrous creature.

    ‘This should be enough.’

    Satisfied with the horrific state he had brought himself to, Kaylen smirked.

    “What’s going on here?!”

    He heard frantic footsteps rushing toward him.

    Thud!

    Collapsing dramatically, he sprawled across the magic circle, feigning unconsciousness.

    “What is this?! What happened?!”

    Amid the panicked voices, Kaylen closed his eyes.

    It was time for his second harvest.

    From heaven to hell—that was exactly how Lina’s day felt.

    Before heading home after her after-school magic lessons, the Mana Stone she had been painstakingly charging was almost completely filled.

    By today, it would finally reach 100%. Once sold, she’d have personal funds of her own.

    ‘Then I can finally proceed with that experiment.’

    An extremely confidential magical experiment—something she couldn’t let her family know about.

    Once she sold the Mana Stone, she’d be able to move forward with her plans.

    ‘And then I’ll be free from that Kaylen.’

    Recently, Kaylen had been pestering her with questions about 3rd Circle Magic.

    At first, he’d only asked trivial questions, but lately, his inquiries had grown unexpectedly advanced, leaving her with an uneasy feeling despite teaching him.

    But soon, all of that would be over.

    Selling the Mana Stone and Pretending Not to Know Him

    ''Once I sell the Mana Stone, I’ll keep my distance and pretend I don’t know him. Since he’s so infatuated with me, he might even stalk me. I’ll make sure to have Alkas accompany me just in case.''

    ''I had already laid out my plans for the future... but—''

    Bang!

    “Lina!”

    Inside the office of the head of the Florence Family, the stern-looking middle-aged man, Evan de Florence, wore a grim expression.

    He was trying his best to suppress his anger, but it was clearly boiling over.

    The moment Lina saw his face, she knew something was wrong.

    “What have you done?”

    “W-what do you mean...?”

    “I asked, what have you done?”

    Crash!

    "That’s right..."

    "In all honesty, I’d kill him to silence him if I could."

    Evan spoke of murder with unsettling calmness.

    But the situation didn’t allow for that option.

    "Given the Academy''s impenetrable security, that method must be ruled out. The risk of failure is too high."

    "Yes..."

    "Lina, Kaylen Starn did this reckless act because he was infatuated with you, wasn’t he?"

    Lina nodded, and Evan spoke with cold precision.

    "If he wakes up, we will be the first to propose a settlement."

    "The amount we have prepared is 30,000 gold."

    Lina’s eyes widened in shock at the number.

    It was an enormous amount.

    The Mana Stone she had planned to sell was worth 5,000 gold.

    30,000 was equivalent to the value of six Mana Stones.

    "30,000 gold is too much!"

    "Yes, it is. But this matter is that serious."

    "Sigh..."

    "Still, the settlement amount could be lowered depending on who negotiates."

    Evan’s gaze swept over Lina.

    "You’ll handle it."

    "I-I will?"

    "Yes. That Kaylen boy is infatuated with you, isn’t he? If you’re the one to negotiate, we may not need to pay the full 30,000 gold."

    "Ah!"

    "Push for the settlement yourself. Make sure to draft a magic contract."

    At that moment, Lina, who had been hanging her head in uncertainty, suddenly brightened.

    This was something she could do.

    "Understood, Father. This time, I will not disappoint you."

    "Good. I’m giving you one more chance. Consider this your last opportunity to prove yourself within the family."

    "...Yes!"

    ***

    The Medical Wing of the Magic Academy.

    Normally, this place was quiet and empty, but now, people were bustling in and out.

    "Ah, Professor, what brings you to the medical wing?"

    "I could ask you the same. Why is the head of Academy security stationed at the door of the medical wing?"

    "Well, the medical wing is part of the Academy. Ensuring its security also falls under my responsibilities, doesn’t it?"

    "Haha. True enough. Still, as a professor, I should be allowed to enter, don’t you think?"

    "There’s a patient in very poor condition inside. If you’re here to visit them, it’d be better to wait until they’ve recovered a bit."

    "Haha. I heard there was an explosion at the Florence Family’s magic experiment site. It wouldn’t have anything to do with that, would it?"

    "Ha. I wouldn’t know anything about that."

    The two stood at the entrance of the medical wing, locked in a tense standoff.

    Kaylen lay inside, listening to their conversation.

    "So, there are those looking to exploit this situation," he thought.

    Several people had already come under the guise of visiting the patient.

    Those without proper connections were turned away at the door, though his homeroom mage had been allowed inside.

    Looking at Kaylen’s unconscious form, the mage had murmured something loud enough for him to hear:

    "If this accident is tied to the Florence Family, the First Prince’s faction might... Hmm."

    Through the snippets of conversation drifting to his ears, Kaylen was gradually piecing together the political landscape of the kingdom.

    "This accident... I’ll make sure they pay a higher price for it."

    It wasn’t just one party to sell to—there were two.

    Two factions locked in fierce rivalry and competition.

    In such circumstances, he could command an even higher price.

    "Good."

    Having finalized his plan, Kaylen groaned softly and opened his eyes.

    [Translator - Kiteretsu]

    [Proofreader - Kyros]