The Sage that the Sword Saint is Obsessed With

13 – 4. Reunion (1)

1.

Three years had passed imperceptibly.

During that time, the world had seen various changes.

First and foremost was the formation of a new front. Until now, there had been only one demon gate, hence a single front line. However, with the emergence of a new demon gate in the south, a southern front line was established.

Already struggling to defend the northern front line, the empire sought the aid of adventurer unions and several mercenary groups to protect the southern front line.

As a result, the southern front line is now guarded by a coalition of imperial forces, adventurer parties, and mercenary bands.

In this process, a mercenary group had begun to make a name for themselves.

The Star Knights.

Initially, they were just a local guard protecting rural villages, but their influence grew, and now they are the backbone defending the southern front line.

And within their ranks, there was one figure drawing attention.

The leader of the knights or the chief of the guard.

A woman referred to as ‘Gyumsung’ by all the knights on the southern front line.

Leowen.

Some might call it an extravagant title, but those who had witnessed her swordsmanship on the battlefield deemed it perfectly fitting.

Countless demon beasts and demons had fallen by her hand.

Her prowess had reached even the capital of the empire, and rumors circulated about her potential as a new hero or a member of a heroic party.

“The emergence of a new hero!”

Some described Leowen’s presence as such.

But this was not the only change.

In three years, there had been far greater transformations.

Immediately, the sage officially appointed the next sage.

The hero who sealed the demon king.

Idol of the mage tower.

The greatest magician.

When he announced that he was seeking a successor, thousands of mages flocked to the Sage’s Tower. Among them were mages who were still famous in the world.

So, who would be chosen as the successor became a heated topic within the Mage Society.

Everyone had their own speculations.

Some believed that one of the mages from the mage towers would be chosen.

Some believed that it would be a palace magician.

However, the person who actually became the successor was someone completely unexpected.

He was a young adventurer.

Evan.

He was a magician with no known background.

Some mages within the Mage Society began criticizing the sage for this decision, but the sage paid no attention. He was not the type of person to listen to others and be swayed by their opinions.

2.

The day of the sage’s summoning spirit, Chrona, started early in the morning.

The first thing to do was to wake up the sage’s disciple.

“Evan, it’s time to wake up.”

Without even knocking, Chrona forcefully opened the bedroom door and entered. However, once again, there was no one in the bedroom.

“Sigh…”

Chrona let out a sigh.

Looking at the neatly made bed without a single wrinkle, Chrona could tell that Evan hadn’t used the bedroom yesterday either.

Chrona immediately headed towards the study.

The study was cluttered with books and scrolls.

No matter how much cleaning was done, it would turn into a mess like the laboratory of the mage tower after a day.

The culprit who had made a mess of the study was standing there, stroking his chin and drawing magic circles.

“It’s morning.”

Chrona opened the blackout curtain that covered the morning sunlight.

As the influence of the candle that had been illuminating the darkness receded, the morning sunlight filled the study.

Evan made a face as the sudden sunlight flooded in.

“Did you not sleep last night too?”

“…huh.”

Evan stretched and yawned.

“I didn’t realize time was passing while I was researching.”

“It’s good to do research, but you need to sleep well when it’s time.”

“It’s not like I’ll die from not sleeping for one day, right?”

“Just one day without sleep won’t kill you. But you haven’t slept for two days now.”

“It’s not like I’ll die from not sleeping for two days either.”

“I can make you die with my own hands, though.”

Evan smirked.

“…You’re brutal.”

As fatigue, which Evan hadn’t noticed while focusing on his magic research, overwhelmed him, he yawned so much that his mouth nearly tore apart.

Krona stared at Evan.

He still looked like a cripple, but he seemed less crippled than when he first arrived at the Sage’s Tower.

When they first met, he was a drunkard, showing withdrawal symptoms if he didn’t drink for even a day, but now he exhibited obsessive behavior as if he would die if he didn’t do magic research for even a day.

But that’s not all.

His immature and immature face had matured over the past three years, becoming a fully grown man’s face.

If Krona weren’t a spirit but a human, he might have fallen for that dignified face. Even if he liked that face, he wouldn’t because he knew the irritating personality of that human.

“I’ll take a short nap and then continue.”

Evan got up from his seat.

As soon as he felt drowsiness, he felt a soreness under his eyes and the weight of his eyelids.

“You can’t.”

Krona grabbed Evan, who was about to go to the bedroom.

“Why?”

Evan with a sleepy face looked at Krona while yawning continuously.

“Master has summoned you, Evan.”

“You mean the great inspiration?”

Krona’s eyebrows twitched.

No matter how much he speaks, that human doesn’t listen.

Even if he asks to be called with even more reverence, he always says “Master.”

The sage claimed not to care, but the title “Corona” bothered him too much.

“Ugh….”

But he didn’t nag.

After all, there was no point; he knew the sage wouldn’t listen.

Just a sore mouth.

“Yes, you said there was something important.”

Evan, who was about to go to the bedroom, nodded and turned around.

“…Alright. I’ll come right away.”

Evan led his tired body towards the sage’s room, shuffling along.

Although he was a man who didn’t listen and did as he pleased, if it was the sage’s words, he followed without question.

“Master, I’m coming in.”

Having arrived at the sage’s room, Evan knocked.

-Creak

The door automatically opened as if granting permission for entry.

“What’s the matter from this early in the morning?”

Evan approached the sage, Arahan.

Arahan lay in bed.

In the past three years, his body had weakened considerably, as if to prove that the illness was not a lie.

Starting from his legs, his body stiffened slowly, and as a result, he spent most of his day in bed.

Evan brought a chair and sat down next to the bed.

“Did you stay up again?”

“There’s a problem that’s not easily solved.”

Arahan chuckled.

“Still, unresolved problems?”

One magic circle per day.

About 1095 spells.

For three years, Evan had crammed an enormous amount of magic into his head.

In addition, to solve the blocked problems, he ended up reading all the spell books in the sage’s library.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the sage’s library was now inside Evan’s head.

“I’m researching the highest-level magic.”

“Transcendent Magic.

It’s magic that transcends hierarchies.

A theoretically impossible magic, but Evan is researching it to give it a try.

“Well, it seems that wretched one is right.”

At the sound of the derogatory remark he hadn’t heard in a long time, Evan offered a faint smile.

“I’m always grateful.”

If it weren’t for Arahan, Evan might have been living just by drinking. No, perhaps he would have had an accident or died suddenly from excessive drinking.

Because he had learned magic under him and constantly thought only of magic, he could be this healthy.

“If you’re thankful, take a little trip to the Southern Front for a while.”

“What?”

“How long are you going to be stuck in the study, only researching magic? You should go out and make a name for yourself.”

“Is that necessary?”

“Oh, this guy knows nothing but magic.”

It’s not a false statement.

The current Evan knows nothing but magic.

Regardless of how the world turns, he turned a blind eye and focused only on magic.

Arahan looked up. Then, Corona, who had somehow entered the room, lifted Arahan to his feet.

“If you want to become a sage, you need recognition. Even if I designate you as the next sage, if other magicians don’t acknowledge it, it’s just wishful thinking.”

“I don’t particularly need acknowledgment.”

Arahan sighed and grabbed the back of his neck.

“This guy is trying to repay kindness with enmity. Are you planning to disrespect me?”

“I wouldn’t do that.”

“Then get recognition from other magicians. That way, when you become a sage, I can close my eyes comfortably.”

He senses that death is approaching.

The stiffness of his body is accelerating.

Sometimes, it’s so difficult to move a single finger that he drops a cup.

He has fulfilled his role as a teacher.

The guy had more genius talent than he expected, so his magical adaptability was outstanding.

He thought he wouldn’t be able to teach everything before dying, but he ended up teaching everything and reached a point where there was nothing more to teach, leading to solitary research.

Creating a gem from a stone that had not seen light made him proud, but he also worried that he had created a monster.”

This damn bastard would never do such a thing…

If his heart twisted enough to desire the destruction of the world, he could bring about that destruction without hesitation.

“…Evan.”

In response to Arahan’s tired voice calling his name, Evan straightened up.

“Yes, Master.”

“If it is my wish, I hope that you will continue my will and protect the world.”

“That seems like too much for someone like me.”

“Not at all.”

Arahan placed his hand on Evan’s back.

“You are my disciple, and the next sage recognized by me.”

“…”

“Go to the Southern Front. I hear the Imperial army is being pushed back there. Go and protect the people.”

Arahan, who had been speaking seriously, smiled mischievously.

“And, you’re feeling restless, aren’t you?”

“…”

“You want to try using the magic you’ve learned properly, don’t you?”

Although Evan wasn’t inclined to head to the front line, he nodded.

“…Understood.”

In response to Evan’s answer, Arahan nodded satisfactorily.