The Swordmaster Who Returned After 1,000 Years

[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]

Chapter 79

Whisper, whisper.

"Whoa, is that person really Kaylen?"

"No way!"

The academy’s auditorium was already packed with students.

As the reports and rumors about the completely transformed Kaylen continued to spread, more and more curious eyes gathered.

"Wow, someone like that was at our academy? Who are they?"

"...They’re saying it’s Kaylen."

"What? What kind of nonsense is that?"

Hearing the rumors, Lioness crossed his arms and scanned his surroundings.

The mages, typically too engrossed in research, magic training, and a mountain of assignments to pay attention to such things, were...

“Creating such a commotion over whether someone is real or not?”

For most people, such an event wouldn’t draw a crowd, nor would it warrant a test here.

But the man standing before the testing device was different.

An appearance transcending the world itself. More beautiful than even an elf, yet exuding an untouchable majesty.

"How can a person look like that?"

For the first time in his life, Lioness felt a sense of defeat in terms of appearance when looking at another man.

Up until now, he’d never even entertained the thought of being outshined by another man’s looks.

But now...

"I thought Lioness was the most handsome person in our academy."

"Me too, me too."

"Wow… just wow…"

The voices of female students murmuring from the back.

Even though it was something that could have been annoying, Lioness merely gave a bitter smile.

"Should I be thankful that they even consider us on the same level?"

It wasn’t even a fair comparison.

"Eugh, why are so many people gathering here?"

Watching the students flock like clouds while the Meister Measuring Device was being set up, the academy's dean clicked his tongue in disapproval.

For the kingdom's most brilliant talents to abandon their studies and gather here over such gossip—it was irritating.

If it were up to him, he would have dispersed the crowd immediately.

But…

"There are simply too many people. Not to mention, even the heir of the Oblaine Ducal House is here."

Even as the academy's dean, it was burdensome to tell the child of such a powerful noble to leave.

If there were a valid reason, perhaps he could...

But kicking them out just for skipping their studies and being here didn’t sit right.

"On second thought, this might be for the best. Everyone here will serve as witnesses."

The crowd gathered here would testify whether this man was truly Kaylen or not.

Yes.

"It’s not that I can’t disperse them because of Lioness."

"It’s because I need witnesses, so I’m letting them stay."

The dean convinced himself with this reasoning as the test began.

"Now, Kaylen?"

"Yes, Dean."

"As I mentioned earlier, I trust Professor Irene. You are indeed Kaylen, correct?"

Though he was inwardly skeptical, the dean began his speech with a composed demeanor.

"But you can hear it too, can't you? People asking if you're really Kaylen. Saying it makes no sense. The claim that your appearance resulted from a failed magic experiment… it's hard for the public to believe."

A failed magic experiment caused that appearance?

Hearing those words, the students were dumbfounded.

"Come on. I wouldn't mind a failure like that."

"I tried to enhance my fire affinity and failed, leaving me with a permanent burn on my left arm… What kind of experiment did he do to end up looking like that? That's a failure?"

Kaylen caught the shifting reactions of the students around him.

As expected, the excuse of a changed appearance due to failure seemed unconvincing.

"But there's no need to convince them."

After all, he was the only Meister with the talent of a 6th Circle mage.

Once he displayed that talent here, proving himself would be a matter of course.

"Understood. I’ll take the test."

"Good. You’re the Water Meister, correct?"

"Yes."

"The mana affinity measurement device is ready. Now, aim an Ice Arrow at that red target."

The mana affinity measurement device had a simple design.

A magic circle was drawn on the floor, with a large red target floating in the air above it.

"Ice Arrow."

Kaylen glanced at the target and conjured an ice arrow from his fingertips.

No, it wasn’t an ice arrow.

It was more like a massive spear, reminiscent of a ballista bolt.

Without even performing a Circle Reload, an enormous chunk of ice materialized instantly, leaving the audience breathless.

They were all mages themselves and understood how absurd it was for a 1st Circle spell to manifest like that.

"What… is that…? That’s supposed to be an Ice Arrow?"

"Is he really a 4th Circle Meister?"

"Is that truly Kaylen? Even if it is, how could he summon something like that?"

For a moment, the audience’s focus shifted from Kaylen’s face to the Ice Arrow.

The colossal projectile didn’t just hit the target—it crushed it entirely as it flew toward it.

Flash!

The target, made of light, disappeared in an instant.

The light then ascended and began to coalesce, forming numbers.

[155]

"One hundred and fifty-five…"

The academy dean’s mouth hung open in shock.

155?

The benchmark score to qualify for the talent of a 6th Circle mage was 125.

"Didn’t Kaylen score 129 previously?"

Back then, the measurement conducted by the Tower Lords had recorded his score at 129.

Of course, that was also due to the limitations of the device used at the time.

Even so…

"One hundred and fifty-five…"

It was an unimaginably high score.

"Does this prove it now?"n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Y-Yes, it does."

Kaylen’s 6th Circle talent was unique to him.

No matter how much his appearance had changed, his unmatched magical talent confirmed that he was indeed Kaylen.

Lioness stared at the score, unable to believe his eyes.

"Is this even real?"

Since the invention of the measurement device, had there ever been a score like that? Even if the earlier scores had been unmeasured or underestimated, reaching 155 points seemed unimaginable.

The students gathered in the auditorium appeared to share Lioness's disbelief.

"Wasn’t it said that Kaylen is already a 4th Circle Meister?"

"Didn’t they pay an astronomical price to bring him from the Tower of the Elves? Seems like that investment wasn’t wasted."

"I thought the greatest mage of our generation would be Princess Violet or Lioness…"

"With his talent, he might actually become a 6th Circle Meister. Does that mean we’ll witness a 6th Circle spell soon?"

"Even if he’s talented, could he actually cast 6th Circle magic? Isn’t that impossible?"

True to their nature as mages, they delved into discussions about the implications of 6th Circle magic.

However, it seemed that the proof provided by the score was enough for everyone to acknowledge that he was indeed Kaylen.

"Thank you for arranging this opportunity, Dean," Kaylen said.

"Yes… It seems you truly are Kaylen. Your talent is astonishing."

"Now that the proof is complete, I assume I may join the academy?"

"Of course."

Kaylen silently left the auditorium. Shortly after, the academy dean formally declared to the students that Kaylen’s identity had been verified.

Lioness, meanwhile, watched the door Kaylen had exited with a complicated expression.

In both appearance and talent, Lioness had never found himself lacking before. But now, for the first time, he felt as though he had encountered an insurmountable wall.

He suppressed the unfamiliar emotion as best as he could.

"…I must bring him into the Second Prince’s faction."

Bormian Magic Academy Library

"Wow. Who is that? Have we always had someone like him at the academy?"

"They say he’s Kaylen."

"Kaylen? What are you talking about?"

"Didn’t you hear about the commotion today? It’s been the talk of the academy."

Kaylen's appearance had stirred such a buzz that even the normally quiet library was abuzz with murmurs. Yet Kaylen himself remained completely composed.

His focus lay elsewhere.

"The third mana circle is complete."

The mana circles etched into his skin were now three. For Kaylen, each mana circle allowed him to wield up to 2nd Circle magic. Previously, with two circles, he had been capable of 4th Circle spells. Now, with three, he could theoretically cast 6th Circle magic.

This realization prompted him to begin mastering 6th Circle magic in earnest.

"Still, it won’t be easy to cast."

The 6th Circle was a realm few mages in history had reached.

6th Circle spells not only combined two elemental attributes but also required a deep understanding of each spell's intricacies.

"And there's another challenge—operating the mana circles themselves seems integral to 6th Circle magic."

As Kaylen read a book analyzing the spell Blizzard, he came to this conclusion.

The text emphasized controlling the flow of mana within the heart’s mana circles for each segment of the spell.

To cast a single 6th Circle spell like Blizzard, a mage needed to manage 36 distinct flows of mana.

"It’s no wonder casting such magic is so difficult."

To reach the level of the 6th Circle, one had to not only chant a lengthy incantation and understand the spell but also maintain perfect control of the mana circles' flow throughout.

Kaylen let out a wry smile.

He felt a twinge of guilt about how effortlessly he had sliced apart a spell that must have been painstakingly cast. The overwhelming power of the Six Swords Technique had left no room for the magic to stand a chance.

In truth, now that he had mastered the fourth sword, he didn’t necessarily need to sit in the library studying 6th Circle magic. The sheer destructive force of his swordsmanship alone was more than sufficient.

But there was something else on his mind.

"The potential of Infinity’s expandability… It feels like it would be far more efficient if integrated with magic."

He had been captivated by the new characteristic of Infinity—expansion—demonstrated by his descendants, the Hellmeier family. Kaylen felt certain that this trait would synergize better with magic than with swordsmanship alone.

"Now that I’ve returned to my former body, I can afford to reduce my focus on sword training."

When he was in his original body, he had tirelessly honed his skills to achieve the perfect union of his physical form and swordsmanship. But now, in Ernstine’s body, such training was unnecessary. Ernstine’s body was already perfectly attuned to the Six Swords Technique, leaving no need for further alignment.

This allowed Kaylen to allocate more time to studying magic instead of his sword.

"Before I rebuild the Meier Sword Clan, I need to grasp the secrets of the 6th Circle."

Having completed the fourth sword, there was no longer any need to hold back. As a Sword Master, he was ready to reveal himself to the world at any moment. However, Kaylen was waiting for the perfect opportunity.

The reappearance of a long-lost Sword Master would serve as the best possible advertisement. But instead of unveiling himself now, Kaylen planned to align this revelation with the completion of Myorn’s Mana Suit.

With its debut, the Meier Sword Clan would rise again in full glory.

Until then, he resolved to dedicate his spare time to mastering the 6th Circle of magic.

After days of research back at his estate, Kaylen finally decided to put his studies to the test.

"Blizzard."

He invoked the 6th Circle spell.

[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]