Golden Mage - Chapter 54

Volume 2, Episode 24

Since El hadn’t revealed any hostility, he responded in a relaxed manner.

“Well, your muscle development and aura are quite similar. That’s how I noticed.”

“We suspected as much, but we are the knights of Duke Jammer.”

Myder was surprised. He knew Duke Jammer quite well.

“Duke Jammer? The most promising Sword Master… So, you were knights of Duke Jammer…”

Myder, now referred to as Mos, nodded in agreement.

“Yes, all of us were Duke Jammer’s knights.”

“I’d like to know the details… Can you tell me?”

El asked, and Mos nodded.

“It’s a story from the past, but I don’t see any reason not to tell it.”

And so, Mos began his story.

All the knights, including Mos, were Duke Jammer’s knights.

Duke Jammer, renowned for his swordsmanship, showed incredible talent, becoming a top-level Sword Expert in his early thirties.

The chances of him becoming a Sword Master, the next level, were significantly high.

Then, various nobles began to scheme to recruit Duke Jammer. At that time, the struggle for the throne was intense, and having someone who could become a Sword Master would greatly strengthen a faction.

Furthermore, Duke Jammer came from a very influential family with over ten Sword Experts skilled in handling auras. Even the trainee knights were all Sword Experts.

Despite the persistent temptations around him, Duke Jammer was a typical knight who didn’t seek power. He rejected all offers.

Angered by his refusal, the nobles who came to persuade Duke Jammer left. Soon after, the monsters attacked.

At that time, Duke Jammer had no help. He fought desperately against the monsters, trying to protect as many people as possible. He sent away nearly 30,000 residents from his territory, and he and the remaining knights and soldiers fought valiantly, but the result was tragic.

While desperately holding off the monsters, Duke Jammer made sure to evacuate as many people as possible. He sacrificed himself and the knights to protect others.

As Mos told the story, his emotions intensified, and he spoke with a red glint in his eyes.

“At that time, we were all apprentice knights. Before Duke Jammer passed away, he told us to escape and survive. He also passed down his family’s swordsmanship to us. But we didn’t want to leave Duke Jammer and go to the nobles who had turned away from him. So, we brought all our families here and settled in this place.”

Mos finished his long story. El looked at his reddened eyes and glanced around.

Except for Myder, the eyes of the other village representatives were also red.

“Um…”

El couldn’t find the right words to say. Although their sadness was apparent, he couldn’t fully understand their situation, so he couldn’t offer proper comfort.

In fact, El wanted to criticize their foolishness. With their skills, they could have gone to another country and earned titles as knights. Then, their families could have lived a comfortable life as well. So why did they bring their families to this place known as the Land of Death and subject them to hardship? El couldn’t empathize with their naivety.

But what could he do? People in this world all had different thoughts and beliefs.

El understood this and saw it as an opportunity. If he could persuade them well, he could bring them under his command.

Of course, he didn’t want to force them to join him right away, and they wouldn’t be willing to do so either. They knew nothing about each other.

After waiting for their sadness to ease a bit, El spoke.

“To be honest, driving out the trolls from this place isn’t particularly difficult for me.”

Some of the people nodded, considering El’s golem status.

“However, I want to do something with the trolls. Of course, their bonds are too strong for that to happen easily.”

Myder’s eyes sparkled, sensing what El was implying.

“So…?”

“You catch on quickly. Yes, that’s right. I plan to eliminate the Troll King first.”

“….!”

El’s words astonished everyone. They found it hard to believe.

They had never even seen the Troll King in the heavily infested Monster Land, let alone consider defeating him. Just holding off the countless trolls that kept coming was already overwhelming.

Yet now, El wanted to defeat the Troll King and beyond? His words sounded overly reckless.

El saw their incredulous expressions but continued calmly.

“Let my actions speak for themselves. All you need to do is help me deal with the trolls in the valley.”

Saying that, El turned away from them. Kaina followed him after taking a last look at them.

The villagers continued to stare at them, still full of doubt and suspicion.

—

Cassias Kingdom, Debel’s upper headquarters.

A visitor arrived at the Debel upper headquarters, which had been growing in influence as it ranked among the top 100 on the continent.

The visitor wore a badge that only the top-level guests, such as the top 100, could possess.

The news quickly reached Debel, who hurriedly finished his work and went to meet the visitor.

And when he saw the visitor, his expression brightened.

It was none other than El.

Though the distance from the monster land Troll Valley to Cassias Kingdom Banzak was far, El had used magic circles and magic stones to arrive without much trouble.

Debel was delighted to see El. As one of the top 100 on the continent, his information network was vast.

Debel greeted El eagerly.

“You’re safe, El.”

That’s right. The commotion caused by El in Bliard Empire had spread quite extensively, even reaching Banzak.

Debel couldn’t believe it. Was El really a 7th class mage?

He thought such a thing was impossible.

Anyone could build a tower in any good location if they wanted to build one. Any kingdom or empire would welcome such an endeavor. And it could be built in any place with magic circles and magic stones.

But Troll Valley? Did he mean the Monster Land Troll Valley, one of the Three Great Fever areas of the continent?

It was truly hard to believe.

El seemed to understand Debel’s thoughts and said confidently.

“I know it’s hard to believe, but I am a 7th class mage.”

“The rumors were true…”

Debel, who had been muttering the name of the place, soon replaced his surprised expression with an interested one as he continued listening to El’s explanation.

“About the Tower… I plan to build it this time.”

“A tower? Where do you plan to build it?”

“Troll Valley.”

“Troll Valley… Troll Valley…”

Debel mumbled the place for a moment before his expression changed from surprise to astonishment.

“Do you mean the Monster Land Troll Valley, which is one of the Three Great Fever areas of the continent?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

El’s attitude was candid, making Debel unable to insist that mages couldn’t follow a villain’s thoughts.

Wasn’t that obvious?

The world was vast, and there were many places to build a tower. Any kingdom or empire would be delighted to have a tower built in their territory. Moreover, it could be built in a good location.

But Troll Valley? Building a tower in a place where thousands of trolls, led by the Troll King, resided?

It

was truly an unbelievable statement.

After El finished speaking, Debel remained silent for a while. His face was filled with astonishment.

His thoughts were racing. If this project succeeded, the upper headquarters could rise to become one of the top ten on the continent.

Just thinking about it made his heart race.

To be one of the top ten on the continent?