Return of The 8th Class Mage

 ­ Break The Limit (3)

From the 6th class onward, there were only a tiny amounts of records left. There was no one who ‘officially’ achieved the level. Hence there only a few spells that were known for such a class. In his former life, Ian made usable spells by himself, or found out some formulas from old unknown resource books.

“From now on, the best warriors of the Pieric Province will protect Sir Ian with me, Kalian. With the honor of a true warrior, we won’t let even a small mouse approach him. Do you copy?”

At the basement of the Pieric Province castle in the great land lord Kalian Pieric’s abandoned gymnasium, together with the great land lord with his duel axes, his warriors blocked the path completely. To repay Ian’s favor, they were protecting Ian with their best efforts.

“Yes! My lord!”

Inside of such protection, there was Ian’s ‘main body’ lying on the wall, unconscious. With the conducted mage ‘Mary,’ who gave up disguising like a male.

‘If there is any problem, inject mana in my head. Then I will wake up.’

That’s what Ian had asked from Mary. Thanks to that, she was positioned right next to Ian.

‘I have never seen such magic.’

Mary recalled the spell Ian had cast. It seemed similar to the Mirror Image spell, but its characteristics were totally different.

‘What was the name? Puppet Play, was it?’

Puppet Play. Literally, Ian was ‘playing puppets’. While the ‘Mirror Image’ spell only made fake illusions that couldn’t do anything but stand, this 6th class spell was much more than that. Not only could these two puppets freely move, but these puppets could also cast 5th class magic. The main body became unconscious and became the ‘controller’, and that was the weakest point of this spell.

(ED Note: jeezus 2 Tower Lords basically….)

‘Let’s focus, focus.’

Mary stopped thinking deeply. As Ian had asked from her, she paid attention and was alert.

‘He told me to protect him.’

He didn’t tell her what he is doing with Puppet Play, but Ian was her life savior, wasn’t he? Not only her but all those soldiers, warriors and the great land lord owed their life to Ian. To pay back his grace, they all focused on protecting Ian.

(ED Note: …Am I the only one who thinks the spell sounds a little bit… just a little bit dirty?? yes? no?)

“You came! You came!”

The Crown Prince Hayden spoke loudly like an excited child. He was so relieved now. Ian appeared at the best moment. It was a glimpse of hope for the Crown Prince.

“I bet we are connected! I was about to call you. I even asked this to the captain. Haha!”

The Crown Prince only took a few seconds to regain his confidence. Ian didn’t come here to support the Crown Prince, but it made Ian smile. Maybe because he was the man who Ian had spent the most time with not including his family?

‘I might start to like him.’

Ian’s second life was different from his former life in many aspects. After smiling, Ian looked at the Tower Lord and Ragnar. It was exciting to see their embarrassed faces.

‘He made a similar face when I destroyed the mana storage device a few years ago.’

Especially the Tower Lord’s face turned anxious. Ian’s appearance must’ve been way out of his farthest expectations. Although he managed his face quite well, Ian had already seen his facial expressions long enough.

“Ah, it is you, Ian.”

Pretending he was fine, the Tower Lord approached.

He said to Ian like usual.

“I heard that you completed the mission successfully, by the report from the Pieric great land lord. I heard it was so tough that it caused you to faint. You did a great job for the Empire.”

“It is my duty, I did what I have to do.”

Ian replied as usual, as well. It was the typical conversation between the Tower Lord and an Archmage. But soon,

“However, what are you doing here? If you had enough rest, you’re supposed to go back to the Ivory Tower and do your business. Perhaps, you didn’t hear about what happened to your famil…”

“I received a letter from the Ivory Tower. However, I also received a letter from the Emperor, his highness which ordered me to come here and help the Crown Prince, his highness.”

While saying that, Ian showed the Emperor’s letter. It wasn’t the secret letter that Ian had read before. It was the official order document that was attached to the letter.

“May I read it?”

“As you wish.”

It was an order with the Emperor Terry Greenriver’s signet. After checking his signet, the Tower Lord started to read the letter nervously.

‘I knew he would do something, but…..’

He didn’t expect this letter to be handed to Ian successfully, nor that Ian would decide to come here while leaving his family behind.

‘It seems lady luck smiled on you this time, your highness.’

However, the Tower Lord didn’t want Ian to join the embassy, of course. In addition there were many excuses to refuse Ian joining the embassy. He had a back up plan.

“I can see it is an order from the Emperor, his highness, but I’m afraid you can’t join us.”

At the Tower Lord’s calm reaction

“Why? Do you dare go against my father’s will?”

The Crown Prince reacted furiously. Of course, the Tower Lord didn’t care about him at all.

“Your highness. This council is about trust between the three countries. We had agreed to limit the numbers of embassy and guards. We agreed to it, we can’t just change our number of embassy. Hmm Hmm!”

After short pause, the Tower Lord continued his words.

“The basics of diplomacy is trust, my lord, even a single additional soldier would cause a big problem. Then, how can we add an arch mage to our embassy? I am sure the Emperor knows this council’s importance, and he would understand my action.”

What the Tower Lord said was true. Although these three countries weren’t at war, they had contested with each other for a long time. As such the three countries would meet at one place with a retainer, soldiers and embassy from each country. They treated this meeting quite sensitively, and they barely agreed to this meeting with many considering things. If one of the countries tried to go against this agreement, the meeting would be ruined at the very beginning.

“The foundation of diplomacy is trust, indeed.”

Ian admitted the Tower Lord’s excuse. Archmages were like war machines. Already 2 Archmages and one Tower Lord was involved in the embassy. What would happen if one more Archmage was added to the list?

‘The meeting will be ruined completely.’

The emperor also didn’t want Ian to join the embassy. He just wanted Ian to watch over the Crown Prince, not let him do anything foolish, and control him, or give some simple advice to him. The Emperor already knew that the Crown Prince always listened to Ian’s advice carefully.

“I understand what you are worrying about, Tower Lord.”

However, Ian had a plan, a decent plan where he could join the embassy without causing any diplomatic problems.

“Then, please return. Even your existence in the city might cause severe diplomatic problems. I am sorry for your effort, but I can’t help it.”

The Tower Lord said as if he really felt sorry for him. His voice was full of confidence. He never lost his gentle manner. The more he stands higher than his opponent, the more gentle he acted.

“I will explain to the Emperor, his highness by myself…..”

“But, what if-”

Ian cut down the Tower Lord’s words. Still, the Tower Lord didn’t reveal his unpleasantness. Yet.

“If one of the Archmages decides to leave the embassy, may I replace him instead? The Emperor ordered me previously, so I think that it may be allowed flexibly.”

With Ian’s words, the Tower Lord glanced at the Archmages who came as members of the embassy. They followed his orders like an emperor. There was no chance for them to betray him.

‘Indeed. No chance.’

He had been the Tower Lord for more than 30 years. He had known every single Archmage for a long time, and he poured in a lot of time and effort to persuade them to stand on his side. Some took a few years, some took more than 10 years.

‘Except those youngsters.’

It seemed, as an idol of young mages, Ian Page became arrogant due to his young followers.

“Haha. If so, yes you can. But who……”

When the Tower Lord said with laughter,

“I-”

An Archmage, Ronan, who was one of the members of the embassy, said while stepping out. It was an old man who passionately suggested to put a shackle on Ian’s neck a few years ago during the council of the Ivory Tower.

“I will be absent for the embassy meeting.”

“…… What are you saying, Ronan?”

Again, the Tower Lord said with gentleness on his face. Ronan used to be one of the most strict and powerful allies to the Tower Lord.

“As I just said. We are people of the Empire, aren’t we? There is no person who can go against the order of our Emperor, his highness. Even if it is about a diplomatic problem.”

With a solid attitude, the Archmage Ronan continued his speech.

“I had learned that the mission of the embassy is a very sacred mission. However, if I can fulfill this diplomatic agreement and the Emperor’s order at the same time by leaving my position, I would gladly give my position to Ian.”

After that, Ronan approached the Crown Prince. Soon, he bowed to him by kneeling down on one of his legs.

“This old man humbly asks the Crown Prince, your highness, to pass over this sacred mission to Ian Page. Please allow me to do so, your highness.”

It was the Crown Prince who had all authority officially. Although he only had title of authority, his word was powerful enough to solve this issue.

“Of course! You can go back to the royal palace.”

The Crown Prince didn’t hesitate for a single moment. There was no consideration needed since Ian would replace the vacancy.

“Ah, just a moment.”

The Crown Prince searched through the carriage as he remembered something. Soon, he brought out a few jewelries and accessories and handed them to Ronan.

“Use it whenever you need money for your journey. Go and buy some carriages, hire some horsemen as well, okay?”

“…… I- I appreciate your grace, your highness.”

The first present from the Crown Prince embarrassed Ronan for a short moment. Soon after, Ronan approached Ian. Since he turned his back to others, only Ian could see the clear smile on Ronan’s face.

“Ian, from now on, you will replace my position as emissary. Please follow the Emperor’s order carefully.”

The middle aged Archmage, Ronan. He was one of the ‘can be persuaded Archmages’ according to his former experience. Although he was always extremely strict and straight, his action wasn’t focused to show ‘loyalty’ to the Tower Lord, nor ‘stand’ on the side of the Ivory Tower,

‘He only moves for his individual magical talent development.’

Every mage liked to be developed, but Ronan was obsessed with it. Most of the other Archmages stopped training themselves hard while instead going through an easy and supported life from the Empire. But his thirst of magic was getting bigger and bigger as he got older.

‘I knew he would be persuaded by simply teaching him my enhanced mana breathing.’

He didn’t like Ian due to feelings of inferiority. However, after he learnt magic from Ian individually, he didn’t feel inferior to Ian any more. Instead, he wanted to learn more from him. Especially after he learnt Ian’s special mana breathing, he completely turned to ‘Ian’s side.’ It was just because learning from Ian enhanced him much faster than learning under the Tower Lord for 15 years.

“Thank you, senior.”

“No problem at all, It is our duty as the people of the Empire, isn’t it?”

After meaningless talk, Ronan whispered to Ian.

“After this event finishes, teach me more of that.”

‘That’ must mean mana breathing. After Ian nodded, Ronan left the place quickly. And he didn’t forget to recite what the Tower Lord had said.

“Then, this old man may leave this area quickly. Even my existence in the city might cause severe diplomatic problem……. As the Tower Lord said.”

It wasn’t in the Tower Lord’s plan. His plan had been ruined fluently. Ian appeared suddenly, Ronan betrayed him suddenly, and Ian joined to the embassy all of sudden.

“Ha, Haha…..”

With a complicated mind, the Tower Lord laughed. There was deep, sinking, feeling and anger in his laugh.

Re-edited by yo boi, FlawFinder