The Book Eating Magician Chapter 219:

Chapter 219 – All-out War (3)

‘The quickest way to end the civil war will be by assassinating Duke Cornwall . ’

Just like how the center of the royal party was Prince Elsid, the center of the nobles faction was Duke Cornwall . He was also the person in charge of negotiations with Lairon and the one with a relationship with Fergana .

In other words, it was all over if Duke Cornwall died .  Additionally, there was no other noble who could take the king’s seat as they would just be torn apart by infighting .  The problem was whether it would be possible to assassinate Cornwall .

“It is hard . I have too many skills,” Theodore clicked his tongue and muttered .

There were around a hundred knights and 30 magicians of the 4th Circle in the vicinity of the elderly man who seemed to be the duke . Additionally, the man in the silver armor was probably a crusader .

In order to deal with this situation, he needed a magic spell like Abraxas . However, the process couldn’t go unnoticed due to the tremendous amount of magic power which would be generated .

Above all, the power of the crusader was unknown .

As a result of observing through Hugin’s eyes, Theodore found out that the crusader was called Ruben . There was a long sword at his waist and an impressive shield at his back . It was difficult for someone to find suitable weapons after reaching master level .

It was because a weapon couldn’t bear the destructive power of a master class unless they were legendary grade .

They would hit without being damaged…

And cut without being cut back .

For that, it was more useful for masters to move quickly and flexibly, rather than wear thick armor and wield a shield . Low-rated aura shields had long ceased to exist in Andras .

‘Maybe this is the difference between a crusader and a sword master…?’

The difference between the two jobs, a sword master who only used Aura Ability and the crusader who used divine power, might be larger than he had thought . Theodore didn’t know if his guess was correct and continued watching Ruben .

It was the first time he had seen a crusader, and the crusader’s presence was different from the fierceness of aura and the grandeur of magic .  Was this called ‘faintness?’ The crusader seemed to be reachable yet unreachable, like he was both close and distant . In a sense, this might be the essence of a ‘god . ’

Theodore felt a yearning from Dmitra and Aiolos inside of him .

“Um, the crusader…” Theodore muttered when he heard a voice .

–A crusader, what is this?! Gluttony woke up and exclaimed . –It isn’t possible for a new divinity to be born after the collapse of the Pantheon, so how does a crusader still exist?

“Pantheon? What is that?”

–The cradle of the gods .  It is a fixed temple for gods who became too close to humans .  I heard that it was destroyed at the end of the Age of Mythology… The frustrated Gluttony spoke incoherent words to Theodore .

The existence of a ‘crusader’ was unexpected in many ways, but Theodore could feel a connection to Gluttony’s consciousness .  However, that unstable consciousness didn’t last long, and the reason soon became known .

-…What… User, are you saying that half-trash over there is a crusader?

If the party involved had heard it, he would be furious at the insult .

“Half-trash?”

–No, it is my mistake .  I said too much .  Gluttony relaxed and picked his words carefully . –That half-man is trash . If he saw a ‘real’ crusader, he would commit suicide from shame .

“Wait, then that man called Ruben is a fake?”

–Of course .  A true crusader is an agent of the gods, a superhuman who is a demigod .

This time, it was Theodore who stopped breathing . A demigod was like Paracelsus, who had been a grand master during the Age of Mythology . Demigods were transcendents who could smash a mountain with one blow, tear the sky apart, and turn the sky upside down .

If Gluttony was right, not just Ruben but all the crusaders were fakes . If they possessed such a large number of transcendents, the entire continent would’ve already been unified by the Lairon Kingdom .

As Theodore thought about it, he realized, ‘No, the crusader’s authenticity doesn’t matter right now . ’

It was certain that a crusader could exert the power of a master, regardless of whether they were genuine or fake . Right now, Theodore needed to think about how he could lead this battlefield in favor of the royal faction .

“Should I wait for the battle to begin before ambushing from behind?”

It wasn’t a bad tactic . A 7th Circle magician alone had the power to collapse an army . Needless to say, an army was unfamiliar with fighting a master magician .  However, Theodore shook his head and rejected the idea . It was thanks to Alfred Bellontes’ experience which remained in his head .

“The military power is too great for me alone . It is hard to pursue an attack within the estate, and the duke will probably be surrounded even in the rear… It won’t work . ”

Additionally, his senses were warning him that there was another danger besides the crusader . Theodore didn’t realize the reason yet, but his instincts unconsciously filtered it out .  He went through the standard procedure, thinking of how to defeat as much people as possible and how to mitigate as much damage as possible…

Then at that moment…

“…Eh?” A short question emerged from Theodore’s mouth as he watched the two camps .  A familiar person jumped down from the walls of Atron Estate just as a crusader walked forward from Duke Cornwall’s side .

“A one-on-one confrontation in this situation?”

Baek Jongmyung and Ruben, a sword master and crusader… The masters of the two camps met exactly at the midpoint .  At first he couldn’t understand the situation, but Theodore soon realized the thoughts of the two commanders .

‘The prince is short on power, so he doesn’t want to waste his troops . Meanwhile, the duke doesn’t want to waste time . ’

If the crusader won, Duke Cornwall wouldn’t have to fight anymore, and he would win the war . Moreover, there was a difference in the number of masters . Even if the crusader lost, Duke Cornwall had Marquis Fergana, so he would still be even with Prince Elsid .

“This might be a good chance for me . ”

As the confrontation between the two masters became fiercer, Theodore moved from his spot .  He needed to change his position in order to implement his envisioned method .

…How could he let the father of his fellow disciple die?

 

*     *     *

Baek Jongmyung, now Marquis Atron, looked a little bit different from before .  He wore a chest piece of a mithril-like material as well as all types of artifacts to enhance his body . Baek Jongmyung didn’t like it, but he knew it wasn’t his place to fight ‘unarmed . ’

So, Baek Jongmyung pulled out his sword with a slight sigh .

“I don’t like competing in a place like this… but I will duel according to the will of my master . ” Baek Jongmyung greeted his opponent first, “It is nice to meet you, foreign religious guardian . In my hometown, there were people like you who defended the doctrines of God . ”

“What?” Ruben uttered .

It had been spoken without any malice, but this stabbed at the Lairon fanaticism .  They didn’t admit the existence of any **** other than Lairon .  People who didn’t serve the will of Lairon would be judged .  It was blasphemy that a heretic from the East, a land of savages not recorded in the temple, would dare refer to a ‘God . ’

Ruben’s expression hardened . “A heretic from the land of barbarians… You dare to mention the existence of God with that filthy mouth? An infidel dares speak such **** to me, Ruben? I will tear you apart a thousand times!”

Woong woong woong woong!

Due to his fury, power rose from his body like steam . The **** was different from aura or magic . It was the power of a **** that had long since vanished from the material world .  The power became a golden haze which dyed Ruben’s silver armor, sword, and shield .  It was truly a fantastic sight .

“First, I will cut off that tongue!” Ruben’s eyes became bloodshot .

“…Um, he is insane . ” As he watched the rabid Ruben, Baek Jongmyung clicked his tongue . He didn’t know what mistake he’d made, but Ruben didn’t look like he was in a normal state .  This was close to the demonic state of madness which sometimes appeared in Eastern martial arts .

Kakiing .  Baek Jongmyung started using his Soft Sword .

“Atone with your life, heretic!” Simultaneously, Ruben jumped forward .

Hwaaak!

The air currents exploded, and a shockwave occurred, causing the soil on the ground to scatter .

The principle behind it was unknown, but Ruben launched into a godly acceleration with just a single step . His speed was faster than that of a flying arrow and was closer to that of a lightning bolt, making the gold armor look like a comet .

His charge contained enough destructive power to smash a gate! In response, Baek Jongmyung stood still while raising his sword . He pointed the tip of his sword toward Ruben, as if responding to a frontal match .  He closed his eyes and muttered, “Pierce the Moon Style . ”

A silver colored aura gathered like moonlight on one point and then…

Chaaeng! A metallic sound rang out .

“Ugh?”

“Cough . ”

Two people made a sound at almost the same time . Ruben, who had performed the mysterious acceleration, also received a corresponding shock from Baek Jongmyung’s sword .  It was probably a coincidence, but the two incidents coincided .

They weren’t able to break through?

Ruben was someone who destroyed the fortified walls of a fortress with a single dash, while Baek Jongmyung was someone who killed his enemies with a single blow . Both of them were in shock at having their attacks blocked because they were confident in their own strength .

Baek Jongmyung had fought against several masters in his hometown, so he recovered from the shock first .

‘If he blocked my first blow, how about this?’

There was a rain of sword energies . As soon as the sword blurred, a silver showdown between the two masters began .

Pipipipiping!

There were horizontal and vertical slashes .

36 strikes stabbed with the accuracy of a needle stabbing through a hole . It was more powerful than what he had used while competing with Theodore in the past . Once he activated his Aura Ability, this stabbing was close to invincible .

It was faster and sharper than before . The terrifying sword technique contained the essence of the Baek Family .  Ruben seemed like he would be turned into a beehive .  However, instead of having a triumphant smile, Baek Jongmyung’s expression was dark .

‘…Why?’

Despite attacking relentlessly, he was the one pushed back .

It was as he said .

Ruben stepped forward one step at a time while facing the shower of death, while Baek Jongmyung had to step back . Due to the nature of his Soft Sword, it was necessary for him to secure a certain distance with Ruben .

Kaaang!

Once again, Baek Jongmyung’s stab was blocked by Ruben’s golden shield . It was a stab which contained the power of a master, yet it couldn’t pierce through the metal . Baek Jongmyung’s eyebrows twitched as he was forced to go on the defense .

‘That shield is a problem!’ He could tell with his discerning eyes .

Baek Jongmyung was able to tell with one glance that all of Ruben’s equipment was unusual .  The equipment must be part of Ruben’s body . Otherwise, it wouldn’t be able to defend against his Aura Ability .

“…!”

It might be a coincidence or a trap… but the shield which defended Ruben’s entire body was momentarily pushed outward by a few centimeters . The gap was only a few fingers wide and couldn’t really be called a gap, but it was good prey for Baek Jongmyung .

Baek Jongmyung was troubled for a moment . He wondered if he should take advantage of this gap, and if it would cause him to win or lose .

‘I can do it . ’

He felt an instinctive anxiety and confidence that he had accumulated over the decades . In the end, the latter won .  Baek Jongmyung breathed in and gathered the momentum for a deadly blow .

Piii-ik .  The sound pierced through the air .  At a speed not even visible by a master’s eyes, a single strand of silver struck the gap between Ruben’s golden shield and longsword .  This was a blow he had trained for half a century .

Baek Jongmyung thought reflexively about his victory because his timing was too precise .  Then Ruben’s sword shone gold half a beat later .

Flash!