Illusion Sword Master

＜ The Tool Does Not Blame the Craftsman (5) ﹥

After the duel with Deimbert Zach, I had to spend a week in bed. This was also thanks to the expensive medicine sent by the emperor and the third prince, which greatly shortened the recovery period.

Although the other wounds were not severe, my arm, which had been used as a medium instead of a sword, was in a pitiful state.

“Ahh. It still hurts.”

Even though I hadn’t fully recovered, I left the hospital room and was walking on the streets of the imperial capital.

[Not only did you save my granddaughter, but also other dwarves. I’m grateful. The black iron I left with you is a masterpiece I crafted with my skills, so come visit me when you’re free.]

The dwarf craftsman was confident in his masterpiece.

The letter from the dwarf master, delivered by Roland, who had come to visit me in the hospital, made me feel like a child on the eve of a festival.

I was on my way to the workshop to retrieve the Black Thunder I had left there.

“Newspaper! Newspaper!”

A boy with a stack of weekly newspapers from Hwangdo was calling out to customers in a loud voice, touting his wares on the street corner.

Come to think of it, I hadn’t read this week’s newspaper yet.

“How much?”

“Yes, three coins.”

“Keep the change.”

I handed the newspaper boy one silver coin. After returning from the western front and receiving the title of Viscount and the 4th-Class Military Merit Medal, I could afford such luxuries.

“Thank you, sir! Oh, is it… Mr. Edan?”

The newspaper boy, who had been handing me the paper, suddenly recognized me and was startled. Shh. I made a gesture, bringing my index finger to my lips.

“It’s okay, it’s okay. Don’t make a fuss.”

I didn’t want to draw attention to myself, and I didn’t want people to recognize me and swarm around me.

“Yes, yes! I’m sorry. I’m just too surprised to see the revered hero in person… Could I get an autograph?”

Living as an idol was always burdensome, but it was also hard to be cold-hearted in front of a boy who admired me.

I signed my name on the newspaper he handed me.

“Don’t live like me. You can’t die from fame. Even if you roll around in the mud, you’ll still be rolling around in this world.”

I added a heartfelt piece of advice, taking advantage of the opportunity.

“Thank you!”

The boy’s face was filled with emotion, as if he understood the deep meaning behind my words.

” Weekly Empelium”

After sending the boy off, I unfolded the newspaper.

“What’s the story behind Magic User Edan’s duel with Knight Deimbert?”

As expected, the article about my duel with Deimbert took up the entire front page.

The Imperial Administration’s propaganda newspaper had, of course, distorted the content of the article.

It was true that Deimbert had engaged in human trafficking and had challenged me to a duel, but…

“Edan pointed out Deimbert’s corruption, saying, ‘If we want to work for the empire, we must also protect the non-human races.’ He claimed to be their guardian.”

I didn’t remember saying that.

No, I hadn’t actually said it.

“Edan, who developed a mysterious new magic, won the duel against the knight and showcased his bravery…”

The part about how I barely escaped with my life after being pushed to the brink of death was also omitted.

“Professor Dars, former professor of magic at the Imperial War College and researcher at the Imperial Magic Tower, said, ‘Edan-Dars-style magic has only just begun to sprout. The applications of magic are endless…'”

Even Professor Dars, who was out of the loop, was mentioned in the article. He was a truly consistent person.

“He has already gained fame as a hero on the western front, and his judgment of the noble’s corruption is the second since Marquis Merzel two years ago. His future actions after graduating from the war college are highly anticipated.”

“Ugh…”

My unwanted fame had grown even more. Now, everyone in Hwangdo would be interested in my post-graduation assignment.

“Why are they doing this to me?”

The reason was revealed in the continuing article.

“First Prince Benedict: ‘Deimbert is a subordinate of the Second Prince. An investigation into the Second Prince’s faction and the nobles must be conducted…'”

“Third Prince Dietrich: ‘In order for the empire to leap forward, we need to form alliances with all the demihuman races beyond humanity…'”

The First Prince, who was vying for power with the Second Prince, was using this opportunity to criticize the Second Prince, and the Third Prince also added his two cents to the situation.

I was once again caught up in their media play and had the hero frame thrust upon me.

“Just leave me alone.”

The plan to quietly sneak away had already fallen apart, but getting caught like this was really frustrating.

“A newspaper with the Empire’s Hero Ethan’s autograph! Get it for three silver coins!”

Meanwhile, a newspaper boy who had been standing far away shouted. He was trying to resell the autograph I had received.

I didn’t even think about how ridiculous this was. But who would pay three silver coins for it?

“Really? You got Ethan’s autograph? Give it to me right now.”

“Wait! I’ll buy it. I’ll give you three silver coins and one more!”

“Four silver coins and two copper coins! Take it, and I won’t haggle!”

There were many people like that.

“Hey, kid, where did you meet Ethan-nim? I heard he’s busy with his training?”

“Hey, isn’t that person Ethan?”

I had to quickly leave to avoid being surrounded by people who recognized me.

#

I arrived at the blacksmith’s.

“Ethan! Our dwarven friend!”

The old blacksmith welcomed me with open arms. His attitude was 180 degrees different from when I first met him, when he was all rough and tumble.

“Wow, I’m really touched. After being chased out of our hometown and flowing into the Empire, I’ve experienced many unspeakable things, but I never thought someone would do this for us.”

The old man patted me on the back as he spoke. Due to our height difference, it looked a bit awkward, but I didn’t mind and responded politely.

“It’s just something I had to do. I’m glad to see your granddaughter is healthy too.”

I said, looking at the other dwarves working in the blacksmith’s. They seemed to be the dwarves I had rescued from Deimbert’s mansion, and one of them must be the old man’s granddaughter.

“What are you talking about? My granddaughter isn’t here right now. These friends are her boyfriends.”

The old man looked puzzled and asked.

Whoops. I had unintentionally made a big mistake, since dwarves all look similar, regardless of gender.

“Ah, it’s a human joke.”

“Really? That’s a strange joke.”

“Hahaha… Yeah, it is. How’s my Black Thunder?”

“Hehehe, it’s amazing. Follow me.”

I followed the old man into the blacksmith’s.

‘As expected, dwarves are different. They’re going to kill me with their craftsmanship.’

As I entered the deepest part of the workshop, surrounded by all sorts of excellent weapons, the old man proudly said,

“Look! This is the sword you entrusted to me.”

“Yes?”

It was a reunion with my long-awaited Black Thunder, but I couldn’t help but react with a stupid expression.

The elegant black sword blade, which seemed to pull me in just by looking at it, was still my Black Thunder, but it had undergone a dramatic size-up.

Black Thunder was originally a longsword that fit perfectly in my hand, but now it had become a massive greatsword that I would have to carry on my back.

A longsword was the most suitable form for me to efficiently use my swordsmanship.

“How did this happen?”

When I asked, the blacksmith looked embarrassed.

“Well, to be honest… I got carried away while working with black iron, and it just turned out like this. We dwarves just kept tinkering with it, and it ended up like this. But isn’t it cool?”

Other dwarves, who had been following behind, chimed in.

“If it’s the Hero’s Sword, it should be at least this big.”

“That’s right, that’s right. It’s much better than the small knives humans use.”

The words of these dwarves, who didn’t know the taste of a standard longsword, only made me feel half-hearted.

The old dwarf, who had seen my expression in real-time, hastily said:

“Ah, just give it a try. You’ve put all sorts of good things into the black iron, so its performance should be fine!”

I let out a sigh.

“Okay, let’s give it a try.”

If it didn’t feel right, I could just melt it down and remake it to its original size. And I could ask for the sword I saw in the upper dimension as a bonus.

With a slightly more at ease heart, I activated the Black Thunder’s magic.

“Huh?”

Boom. The Black Thunder gently floated in the air with its massive body. Despite its changed form, its movement was even more natural than before.

The connection between the sword and mana had become more flexible and robust.

I looked at the old man, who was giving a thumbs-up and saying:

“That’s because you’re a mage, right? So we used our clan’s secret technique to raise the mana transmission rate of the black iron. It got a bit bigger in the process, but what do you think?”

There was no need to say anything.

I also gave him a thumbs-up.

It felt good to have become friends with the dwarves, the guardians of other species.

#

After the series of commotions, I returned to the War University and devoted myself to training.

The four of us, Na, Roem, Sera, and Mecnar, from the 427th Magic Research Association, still dominated the open training room available to all students.

We didn’t exclude other students or bully them.

[You guys just leave.]

[Um… We’ll be back later.]

[Kyaah!]

The students who saw us training in magic ran away in fear, and it naturally became like this.

Well.

The training of the Magic Department and the Troika had become much more brutal compared to last year.

It was because the geniuses who had experienced life-and-death situations in real battles were fiercely devoted to training to reach an even higher level.

─ Kwaaa!

Today, Sera’s purple electricity clashed with Roem’s barrier, creating a loud noise.

─ Hwaruruk!

Meanwhile, Mecnar was putting on a spectacular fire show that had been going on for hours.

And I was wielding the now-refined Black Thunder in the midst of it all.

I had felt it when I fought against the orc tribe leader, Grola, but my body, which couldn’t withstand the aura, was too weak.

In a situation where I didn’t have a usable sword, I became a mere ordinary person who couldn’t even use magic.

“I can recognize my body as a sword, allowing me to use magic on my body as a target.”

I had found a solution to this problem through my duel with Deimbert’s self-made sword last time.

I expanded the realm of my mind, which could recognize ‘word’, to include my own body.

So, I’m becoming a sword.

I prioritized physical training and swordsmanship practice over other magical skills for this purpose.

It was a task to make my body like a well-forged sword.

“Huff… huff…”

The process was simple.

I used a moderate amount of magical power that my body could withstand, increased the gravity imposed on me, and activated my physical abilities to the maximum by wielding the sword in various stances.

“Wow. Ethan, is this a new training method? You’re always thinking of ways to get stronger. I really admire you.”

Rohem, who had approached, exclaimed.

He trusted me so much that he would believe even if I said I could make flour out of beans, so he didn’t find the bizarre scene unusual.

It wasn’t humility.

“Huff… this is still far from enough. I need to get stronger to survive.”

“Right. You’re right. We need to keep working hard.”

Rohem nodded in agreement, but from my

“Where are you going?”

As I distanced myself from Menka, who was chasing me at full speed, her gaze shifted to Roem and Sera.

“You two…”

Next, Sera and Roem’s screams echoed.

#

It was a day near the end of the last year at the War University.

A young man stood in front of the Magic Department’s free training room.

“Calm down, Allen. You’ve gotten a lot stronger over the past year.”

His name was Allen Gadus, a student who was once known as “Just Ordinary Allen”.

“I’m different now.”

Allen grasped the door handle tightly.

It had been a painful year.

As soon as the semester started, he went to the western front for practical training.

In the face of the endless orc army, he could only flee helplessly.

In contrast, the geniuses of the 427th Magic Research Association defeated the orc leader Grola and slaughtered the orcs, earning them great achievements.

As a result, all four of them who participated in the battle received the unprecedented honor of the Mu Gong Medal.

It was the first time he felt so insignificant.

How did I, the pride of the Gadus family, end up like this?

After that, Allen whipped himself into shape to get stronger.

He didn’t even spare time to sleep, dedicating himself to magic training.

He was so focused that he received a breakup notice from a fellow student who couldn’t stand his obsessive behavior.

After intense effort, he finally earned the nickname “Hardworking Allen” from his fellow students, a far cry from “Just Ordinary Allen”.

“Can I stand alongside them now?”

Allen thought back to the same time last year.

He had also faced them beyond this door back then.

But he was overwhelmed by the geniuses and fled.

“I can do it. I’m not Just Ordinary Allen, I’m Hardworking Allen.”

He turned the door handle and opened the door.

─ Flash!

A blinding light filled his vision.

Next.

─ Rumble! Boom!

A purple lightning bolt suddenly struck from the air, producing an earsplitting sound.

It was the Empire’s top-ranked lightning magic, a specialty of the Zephyr family. Sera Zephyr’s handiwork.

“Ah, calm down. I expected this much.”

As Allen calmed his racing heart.

─ Rumble! Boom!

Another lightning bolt struck from the same spot.

“Sera! Can you please hold back a bit? Why are you doing this again!”

Someone screamed at the point where the lightning bolt struck.

It was Roem.

Despite the destructive power that could create a deep crater on the ground around him, the 3M radius of the transparent barrier he had set up remained unscathed.

“Then I surrender! Before graduation, I have to acknowledge that the Zefer family is superior to the Carlen family!”

“That’s absolutely impossible!”

Kwaaang! Kuung! Kwaang!

Every time the two proud geniuses’ brain magic and defense magic clashed, a loud noise pierced their ears. The room shook, and their insides churned with dizziness.

Although he wanted to flee, Allen gritted his teeth and didn’t look away.

Just then, Sera targeted the side of the defense barrier and fired a lightning bolt.

Roem dismantled the original circular defense barrier and reconfigured it into a diagonal shape to block the attack.

The refracted brain magic was heading towards Allen.

“Uh?”

He was on the verge of being electrocuted.

─ Whirrwhirr

Something blocked Allen’s path.

‘A sword?’

A large sword, too big for Allen to handle, was rapidly spinning and deflecting the lightning bolt.

─ Zztzit!

The mana-infused sword spun, disrupting the constructed mana of the lightning, and eventually neutralized it.

The sword, having completed its task, flew back to its original position and landed in someone’s hand.

“Are you okay?”

It was Eitan.

“Uh… yeah, thanks.”

Allen unconsciously replied with polite language.

‘How can he be a fellow student?’

It was due to Eitan’s intimidating appearance.

With his upper body exposed, his muscular physique was covered in numerous scars, and the massive sword was slung casually over his shoulder.

It was hard to believe he was a fellow student in the magic department. No, if not for the four floating swords hovering behind him like guardians, Allen wouldn’t have even thought of him as a mage.

“What’s going on here? The other students don’t usually come here.”

“I came because I wanted to train with you.”

“Really? It’s nice to meet you, but as you can see, this place is quite dangerous. Are you sure you’re okay?”

Eitan’s concern was genuine. However, Allen, who felt belittled, became even more defiant.

“Of course, I’m fine. I’m a student in the same magic department as you.”

“Then there’s nothing we can do about it. But there’s one thing you should be careful about…”

“Who’s this?”

Just then, Menca, who was passing by, inserted herself between the two, interrupting Eitan’s warning.

“I’m Allen, Allen Gadus.”

Allen introduced himself and extended his hand. Menca smiled faintly and shook his hand.

“I’ve heard you’re not sociable, but you’re not bad.”

She said.

“Do you want to spar with me? Just a simple one.”

It was a direct and straightforward proposal. As Allen, who had been interested in her flame magic, it was what he had been hoping for.

“Why is she doing this?”

Behind Menka, Ethan sent Allen a strange signal, shaking his head quickly and drawing an X with his hands, indicating rejection with his entire body.

“I won’t back down now.”

Allen, who had already developed a sense of pride, ignored the signal and accepted Menka’s proposal.

“Okay, that’s fine. Let’s keep it simple.”

···

That day, Allen, a hard worker, realized that there were things in the world that couldn’t be solved with effort alone.

─ Whoosh!

For example, a massive wave of flames that threatened to engulf him.

“Ahh! Wait! It’s just a simple duel!”

“Okay, I won’t kill you. It’s just a duel.”

From then on, the rumor of a student who went crazy just by looking at a candle spread throughout the 427th class of the Magic University.

＜ Tools don’t blame the craftsman (5) ﹥ End