Golden Mage - Chapter 38
Volume 2, Episode 8
Suddenly, a voice echoed through the air.
In response, a tremendous aura surged, aiming to strike El.
Quaquaquaquah-!
The mana in the surroundings seemed trapped under one person’s control, creating an illusion of confinement.
And an overwhelming force rushed towards El.
It naturally directed itself towards the Golden Knight, who was blocking El’s path.
With a burst of light emanating from the golden ore, the Golden Knight unleashed its own force.
In that moment, the collision of two powerful energies occurred.
Babang! Bang!
The clash of blue and golden auras resembled crashing waves, each trying to overpower the other.
“This is…”
El’s expression changed as he witnessed the middle-aged man exerting incredible strength. He sensed that the true identity of this man, who could rival or even surpass the Golden Knight, was extraordinary.
When he looked at the man standing in front of the Golden Knight, El’s expression changed once again.
“So, he’s the Crown Prince… And the middle-aged man next to him is… Duke Klyne, the Commander of the Royal Guard? One of the ten Grand Masters on the continent…”
Grand Master!
The appearance of a Sword Master, one of the ten Grand Masters, was a significant event that would require at least fifty Sword Masters to barely stand a chance against him, assuming they didn’t face him head-on.
Walking embodiment of a nation’s weapon – that was what a Grand Master represented.
El’s expression grew solemn. While he couldn’t fully grasp the Grand Master’s power, when quantifying it, he could match or even surpass the might of the Golden Knight! And the Golden Knight held the power of hundreds of mana stones.
El released the final seal on the Golden Knight.
“Tana! Activate Phase 3 mode!”
With that, the radiance of the golden ore around the Golden Knight intensified.
“Laugh…!”
As the Golden Knight and Duke Klyne clashed, a surprised groan escaped the Duke’s lips when he saw a faint blue light gleaming in the Golden Knight’s eyes.
“Unseal. Release.”
Quaqua-! Quaquaquah-!
A surge of power erupted like an explosion.
In an instant, the Golden Knight’s force overwhelmed Duke Klyne’s.
“Ugh! Your Highness, please step back.”
“As you wish.”
The Crown Prince responded to Duke Klyne’s words and retreated, unable to fully exert his power with the Prince by his side.
Then, just as Duke Klyne was preparing to release his full strength, El’s voice reached his ears.
“Tana. That’s enough.”
At that moment, the overwhelming force of the Golden Knight vanished, as if it had all been a joke.
It meant only one thing: the power the Golden Knight had displayed earlier wasn’t its true strength. The Knight had been holding back, far stronger than Duke Klyne had thought.
“Not as easy as I thought.”
The culprit behind the commotion in Ainhart Marquis’s mansion.
It was clear to anyone who caused the turmoil.
Considering the hundred or so knights scattered around, all Sword Expert Knights, it was indeed remarkable.
They must have been defeated by that Golem.
Furthermore, the two figures lying there in such gruesome states.
There was no mistaking them – Ainhart Marquis and his heir, Gretton.
It was astonishing.
Who could possibly bring the two 7th-class mages into such a state?
And look at the appearance of the culprit.
Even though he seemed barely twenty, he had…
From the situation, there could be no other person responsible for this but the boy.
Duke Klyne held his breath. Then, he looked at El. Despite facing a Grand Master’s gaze, El remained steadfast, his clear blue eyes emitting a serene light.
An air of integrity and righteousness surrounded him. That was what El felt.
One of the Ten Grand Masters on the continent, someone he didn’t want to confront head-on. That’s why El replied respectfully.
“Yes, that’s right. If you’re looking for the culprit, it’s me.”
“Is it true that you’re the one responsible for this?”
Duke Klyne asked to confirm once again, wearing a serious expression.
El nodded, without any intention of shirking his responsibility.
“I did it.”
“Well…! Amazing, truly amazing! You don’t even seem to be in your twenties.”
Saying that, Duke Klyne scanned El.
If he had the chance, he wanted to recruit him.
How could he not?
A mage who surpasses 7th-class at such a young age, his magical abilities are exceptional. Not to mention the Golem that made even him stagger.
That Golem must have undoubtedly been the so-called Golem of War, the Knight Golem.
If he could have the boy on his side, the Empire, no, the Blyard Empire would become much stronger. Duke Klyne saw such potential in the boy.
However, he couldn’t seize him. No, there was no need to catch him at the moment.
From a political standpoint, Ainhart Marquis was a vital force in the Blyard Empire. The strength of his family was the strength of the Empire.
Harming him meant proclaiming war on the entire Empire.
Of course, it’s an exaggeration.
From a political perspective, El was the one who weakened Ainhart Marquis, a crucial part of the Blyard Empire. So Duke Klyne didn’t feel the need to catch him.
That’s why he tried to persuade El.
“I don’t particularly want to clash with you. If you step back now, I’m willing to turn a blind eye. What do you say?”
“….”
When Duke Klyne offered his proposal, El fell into contemplation.
He really wanted to punch the Crown Prince next to Duke Klyne. However, doing so would mean provoking not only Duke Klyne and his knights but the entire Blyard Empire.
Harming Ainhart Marquis alone was already a serious matter. Doing so to the extent of harming the Crown Prince might make things even more difficult.
“What should I do…”
El pondered, and in that moment, the Crown Prince spoke to Duke Klyne with a sense of discontent and urgency.
“Hey, Duke Klyne! You’re going to let those villains, who dared to harm Marquis Ainhart, go just like that? It can’t be! Allowing them to leave like this will undermine the dignity of the Empire. Please, make sure those villains are captured!”
As he said that, the Crown Prince’s eyes focused on El and then on Cilfir who stood behind him.
Cilfir turned her head away, feeling a sticky lust in those eyes.
El couldn’t ignore those icy glares from the Crown Prince. So, he made up his mind.
When El fixed his gaze on Duke Klyne, a cold glint flashed in his eyes.
Duke Klyne, seeing that glare, couldn’t help but feel a shiver inside.
In El’s eyes, he saw determination and a strong will to act.
“Alright, Tana! Stop Duke Klyne! Use all your might!”
The Golden Knight’s blue eyes sparkled.
“Master. Command. Execute.”
With that, the Golden Blade, imbued with a faint blue light, soared into the air. It was a fundamentally different Orage Blade from the ones used before, one with unmatched power.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
As it pointed the Golden Blade at Duke Klyne, the Golden Knight charged forward.
The force was so intense that even Duke Klyne had to push back against it.
Quaquakuakuak-!
The surrounding air expanded, creating a fearsome storm.
The Blyard Empire’s sole Golem, the Golden Knight, and Duke Klyne, one of the Ten Grand Masters on the continent, confronted each other.
El caught a glimpse of their clash before redirecting his gaze to the Crown Prince.
At that moment, a cold gleam emanated from El’s eyes.
El’s gaze met the Crown Prince’s, who wore an expression that concealed his inner dissatisfaction.
“I held back even at the inn… but… you’re giving me that look again? I won’t forgive you!”
With that, El began casting his spell.
His magic would be a decisive factor in defeating Ainhart Marquis and Gretton.
“Haste! Iterate!”