ALL NOVEL Chapter 49
Chapter 49
Aria Learns
As Aria’s eyes gradually began to burn with jealousy, Eilyn looked at the kneeling Leonardo and showed a mature smile.
“Do you know who I am?”
Lowering his head and directing his gaze downward, Leo answered.
“How could anyone immersed in magic not know of the Tempelius family’s magician?”
Tempelius Family
A magical lineage that stood at the pinnacle of the magical world, often said to be on par with the Reinhardt family, a house of warriors.
When considering only the feats achieved by the entire family, one could say they were equal to the Sage.
[Tempelius?]
[Hmm… I know of that family too. So, that guy ended up having descendants, huh?]
Just how far did the Sage’s connections extend? One might even wonder if the Sage existed when the gods created humans in the heavens.
[But it’s strange. No matter how I think about it, that guy?]
[Not exactly a scandal. It’s just that the Tempelius family’s magician was my friend. His name was… Kallen.]
Kallen Tempelius
If you were a magician, especially someone who had read even a single line from the official textbooks of the Magic Tower, there’s no way you wouldn’t know him.
If the Sage had laid the foundation of magic, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Kallen had built the tombstone of magic.
[But that bastard confessed to me.]
<………What?>
As far as I knew, Kallen Tempelius was…
[That’s right. That bastard was a man, but he confessed to me.]
<…Ah…Oh…Um…>
It felt as if I had forcibly unearthed a dark history of humanity, something that should never have been known.
[He said if he transformed into a woman, he could have a child, so I turned him down because it gave me the creeps.]
Unfortunately, the reasons to keep the Sage’s existence hidden had just increased. This secret had to be kept, especially for the honor and pride of the young lady from that family.
“Is something wrong? You look pale.”
Now that he knew such a secret about the birth of a prestigious family, it was impossible for Leo to maintain a calm expression.
“Ah… It’s nothing. More importantly, this duel you mentioned…?”
For now, he needed to change the subject. For the sake of his mental health, he needed to forget what had just been revealed.
“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but the word ‘duel’ piqued my interest.”
As the subject shifted, Leo stood up and looked her in the eye.
“If it’s not too much trouble, may I request a duel with you first?”
Watching this, Aria silently mouthed her words.
‘Don’t accept it… Refuse! Leo! Refuse…!’
“There’s no reason to refuse such an honor. Very well.”
And so, Aria’s wish was shattered.
* * *
[But are you really going to fight? She seems to be around 6 Circles.]
As the Sage said, Eilyn Tempelius was indeed at 6 Circles, meaning she was a magician on par with Gladio, the head of the Reinhardt family and a 6-Star warrior.
Considering the age difference, Eilyn’s skill was not something that even the Sage could dismiss lightly.
However, such a threatening fact only served to provoke Leonardo’s competitive spirit. By nature, Leo’s personality was also inclined toward the combative and warlike, enjoying battles and duels.
[Yeah. I’d like to see what Kallen’s descendants are made of.]
<…Ah…Um…Sure…>
Normally, this would have been a simple encouraging reply, but due to the shocking secret he had just learned, Leo couldn’t help but wear a slightly uneasy expression.
To clear away those distracting thoughts, Leo equipped himself with training gear.
“Are you ready?”
The overseer of the training ground glanced at the gear Leo was wearing and asked to confirm.
“Yes, I’m ready.”
“Then let’s begin. Step forward.”
At the overseer’s words, Leo transformed the black stone in the shape of a bracelet into a sword and walked toward the dueling ground.
“You seem prepared.”
Standing in the dueling ground was a woman dressed in a black suit, holding a large staff that visually indicated her stature as a magician.
“I’ve faced those who called themselves magic swordsmen a few times before.”
“How did they fare?”
“They were pathetic. As swordsmen, and as magicians.”
Such was the nature of magic swordsmen.
If one focused on martial arts, it was inevitable that their magic would suffer, and vice versa.
Even if one distributed their efforts appropriately, the skills of a magic swordsman were usually unimpressive. Ultimately, dividing efforts meant that neither skill would be exceptional.
“I hope you’re different.”
“I’ll do my best to meet your expectations.”
However, Leonardo was different.
“Begin the match!!”
With the judge’s shout, Leonardo charged forward. Although it was a straightforward rush, the attack was swift enough to be considered a surprise.
“Kugh…!”
Clang!
What blocked Leonardo’s thrust was a shield of magical power. Considering that his charge took less than a second, her reaction speed was impressive as well.
Boom!
However, Leo’s strike was not something that could be stopped by a hastily conjured magical barrier, so he followed up with a series of consecutive attacks.
[Tempest Blast]
To counter those successive attacks, Eilyn launched a wind projectile. If it collided head-on, Leo would be the one to suffer, and cutting through the wind with his sword was not an option either.
‘…Defense…!’
Leo also deployed a magical shield to defend himself. However, the wind cannon easily shattered his barrier.
“Ugh…!!”
Even though it was a 3rd Circle spell, its power surpassed Leo’s own. Had he not quickly transformed the black stone into a shield, he would not have avoided a fracture.
“You’re quick to respond. Impressive. You surpass others both as a swordsman and as a magician.”
Eilyn couldn’t help but acknowledge Leo’s skill. If he were an ordinary magician, he wouldn’t have even been able to react to the earlier thrust and would have been defeated.
And if he were to somehow block the wind spell, an ordinary person wouldn’t have been able to stand, let alone withstand the shock.
“Well then, let’s continue testing you.”
Eilyn let out a small laugh. The joy of finally encountering an opponent worthy of her full strength caused her to unleash her skills without restraint.
A triple casting followed in quick succession, utilizing a classic approach of mixing weaker and stronger spells to avoid overloading her mana. Even during this process, she skillfully balanced the elemental affinities between the spells.
This was an assault that could not be countered by magic alone, nor by martial arts alone.
[Stone Skin]
Thus, Leo calculated his best possible counterattack. The stone magic he invoked covered his skin, altering his physique to resist the electricity and heat.
The stance he prepared was optimal for cutting through an attack.
• Second Form of the Slash Technique: Vertical Slash
With the force of a gust, Leo’s sword descended, slicing through the high-powered spells, splitting them and dispersing them to either side. Although fragments of the bisected magic still posed a threat, the protection of Stone Skin allowed him to barely endure.
“…Haa… Haa…”
Breathing heavily, Leo adjusted his grip on the sword.
“You’re impressive. No other 3-Circle magician has ever blocked that attack.”
“I’m more than just a magician. And besides…”
Using his sword as a crutch, Leo spoke as he struggled to lift his collapsing body.
“…I didn’t completely block it.”
If he had used the higher-defense Iron Skin, he might have absorbed the impact entirely, but it wouldn’t have been able to block the electric magic.
So, he had chosen the next best thing: Stone Skin, which allowed him to withstand the attack, though it hadn’t been a perfect defense.
[Are you okay?]
Before that, he would likely collapse from mana and physical exhaustion.
“I’m even more inclined to test you further.”
Eilyn dispelled the magic circle she had prepared for her next attack. Her sudden action caused Leo and the spectators to look at her with puzzled expressions.
“I’ve seen it before; your swordsmanship resembles the Eastern Three Talent Sword Technique.”
Three Talent Sword Technique
A foundational martial art consisting of three basic forms, the simplest and most fundamental of all sword techniques.
As such, it served as a basis for all other martial arts.
Just as she said, the essence of Leo’s technique was an advanced refinement of the Three Talent Sword Technique.
“If that’s the case, there should be a third technique remaining. Show it to me. It would be too much of a shame to end it here.”
Test. That was the most fitting term.
She was giving him the chance to attack, a chance to muster his utmost strength.
“…Since you’re offering the opportunity, I have no choice but to accept.”
Leo lowered his stance, adopting a position akin to that of a crouching leopard.
Lightning surged through every corner of his body. It was a physical enhancement spell, an improved version of the Lightning spell at 3 Circles.
Right now, Leo’s physical and reflexive abilities surpassed even those of Ariasphil.
“…You mentioned the Three Talent Sword Technique? Prepare for something beyond that.”
What he was about to demonstrate wasn’t limited to swordsmanship.
“Oh…!”
Finally, Leo assumed his stance and initiated the technique he had prepared.
• Tenth Form of the Throw Technique: Precision Throw
It wasn’t a thrust, a block, or even a swing.
In an instant, the lightning coursing through his body shot out in the form of a spear.
“…This is…!!”
Eilyn quickly condensed her barrier into a single focal point. What she had anticipated was swordsmanship, a close-range attack through a charge.
However, what Leo unleashed was spearmanship—a ranged attack using a thrown spear.
‘…But it’s not something I can’t block.’
Although it was unexpected, the spear throw didn’t seem particularly threatening. Concentrating several layers of her barrier, she braced herself as the thrown spear…
‘…The spear is gone…?’
Yet another surprise awaited her. The spear that had flown at her wasn’t a physical object created from the transformed black stone, but rather a mass of residual lightning energy.
“Then…!”
Eilyn quickly surveyed her surroundings. With Leo nowhere in front or behind her, she raised her gaze to the only remaining direction.
‘…Above…!’
Leo, who had leaped into the air, now held a black bow. An arrow, crafted from stone magic, was nocked and ready to be fired.
“I never said it would be a single strike…!!”
• Ninth Form of the Shooting Technique: Precision Shot
In the brief moment of his aerial suspension, a rain of arrows cascaded down from above. Though their power was relatively low, even a single arrow finding its mark would be nothing short of a humiliation for Eilyn.
“How audacious.”
[Tempest Blast]
The barrage of arrows scattered before the tempest. The force of the wind then redirected toward Leo.
“…Not yet…!”
Transforming the black stone back into a shield, Leo dove forward, charging into the wind.
• Seventh Form of the Striking Technique: Straight Punch
The seventh form, a technique originally designed as a straight punch, could also be used as a parrying strike when a shield was overlaid onto it.
The force of the wind was deflected as Leo accelerated his descent.
“…With this…!”
He concentrated his aura into the edge of his hand. Though not as powerful as a thrust with a spear or sword, this hand strike could now pierce through steel.
• Sixth Form of the Thrust Technique: Hand Blade Thrust
The barrier layers shattered one by one. True to her meticulous nature, Eilyn had surrounded herself with no fewer than five layers of protective barriers.
Crack, crack, crack!
One layer, two layers, each barrier crumbled before Leo’s hand blade. The remaining distance was less than a hand’s breadth.
“…Haa… Huff…!”
Despite his desperate effort, Leo’s attack failed to reach its mark.
“Well done.”
Indeed, his hand blade had shattered all the barriers.
However, the layered barriers had been tilted at precise angles, diverting the trajectory of his attack entirely.
“The only mistake you made was not using magic due to your lack of mana…”
Eilyn countered by swinging her staff, deflecting Leo’s assault.
“…and underestimating me in close combat simply because I’m a magician.”
Her large, heavy staff was also effective as a blunt weapon. Her proficiency in staff techniques was more than enough to counterattack the exhausted Leo.
“Yet, your skill is rare, even among the magicians of my family or the knights of Reinhardt. Considering your age, such talent is almost unheard of.”
She caught Leo as he began to collapse, supporting him with one arm.
“You’ve impressed me. That’s enough.”
As Leo drifted into unconsciousness, she held him steady and spoke.
“From now on, I’d like you to become one of mine. There are too many people here, so let’s change locations first.”
Eilyn swiftly activated a teleportation spell, transporting both herself and Leo to a different location.
Watching this scene, Ariasphil drew her sword, her eyes filled with a murderous intent.
Fortunately—or unfortunately—Eilyn’s teleportation was faster.