Report
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Kiteretsu]
[Proofreader - Kyros]
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Chapter 37
"Myorn, what’s your name?"
Kaylen's question made Myorn's fur stand on end, bristling like a hedgehog. Then, abruptly, her fur shifted into a curious "?" shape.
"…What are you talking about? This is my name."
"That might not be true. Isn’t ‘Myorn’ just a Dwarven pronunciation of ‘Meier’?"
"Uh…what…?"
Her large green eyes, peeking out from between the fur, quivered slightly. She had never imagined she’d hear such a thing in a place like this.
"The castle created by the Dwarven queen Kaina, the wife of Emperor Ernstine. Isn’t that right?"
"Wait, how do you know about that?"
"I’m connected to that name as well."
"That’s impossible…"
Connected to the name Meier? Someone like that couldn’t possibly exist anymore. After all, the Meier Empire had fallen a long time ago.
"If you make the Oath of the Volcano to keep my secret, I’ll explain everything in detail."
The Oath of the Volcano. A sacred contract performed by Dwarves using fire or earth spirits as intermediaries. For Dwarves, it was the strongest binding pact imaginable. Breaking it came at a steep price—the loss of significant spiritual power. Because of this, Dwarves treated the oath with extreme caution.
Perhaps that’s why.
Among non-Dwarven races, almost no one knew about the Oath of the Volcano. That Kaylen could even mention it made him all the more suspicious.
"You…you even know about the Oath of the Volcano?"
"I’ve read some of Emperor Ernstine’s records," Kaylen replied with a calm smile.
As she watched him speak so nonchalantly, Myorn sank into contemplation. He knew too much to dismiss this as nonsense. He even knew the origin of her name.
"Ugh. This is so strange…"
She had always assumed his exceptional magical abilities came from his time at the Magic Academy. But on top of that, he could wield aura like a knight, knew the story behind her name, and was aware of the Oath of the Volcano?
It was all too suspicious.
Normally, it would’ve been wise to approach someone like him with extreme caution, especially considering the proposal he’d just made. And yet…
"If all I have to do is keep his secret, this is too good to pass up."
After all, there was no one left for Myorn to share secrets with. Her Dwarven clan had already been wiped out. Even though she lived in the human world and worked at the Fairy Tower of Magic, dominated by elves, she was little more than an outcast.
This was a promise she could easily keep.
"On the other hand, the information he let slip about Emperor Ernstine’s records… I have to know more about that."
With no one to confide in, the risk was practically nonexistent.
"So, the condition of the oath is simply to keep your secret. Is that it?"
"Yes, that’s correct."
"Alright. I swear. I’ll keep your secret."
A flame ignited above Myorn's eyes, forming the shape of a mountain. Her fur burned away, revealing her pale forehead as fiery patterns danced across her skin. Soon, the flames solidified into the image of a crimson volcano.
"By the will of the mighty volcano, I, Myorn, swear to never reveal Kaylen's secret to anyone. Should I break this oath, the wrath of the volcano will descend upon me."
Whoosh!
The flame flared fiercely one last time before vanishing, leaving behind a glowing crimson volcano etched on her forehead. The small red mountain stood vivid amidst her now bare forehead and eyes, though the momentary cleanliness didn’t last.
Swoosh.
The fur around her forehead regrew almost instantly, covering the volcano mark as if nothing had happened.
“You seem to lack spirit energy,” Kaylen observed with a knowing tone. “The way your fur grew back so quickly after taking the Oath of the Volcano—it’s telling.”
Myorn’s fur bristled at his words.
“You even know about that?! It must have something to do with your secret.”
“Yes,” Kaylen replied calmly. “I am…”
***
One Week Later – Semifinals of the Tournament
With the arena restored after the last battle, the second match of the semifinals was ready to begin. If the duel between Princess Violet and Lioness had captivated the public, this match was the one drawing whispers of intrigue among insiders.
Kaylen Starn.
The dark horse of the tournament, his unexpected rise as a formidable contender had everyone talking.
“That’s Kaylen?”
“He’s bigger than most knights.”
“They say he took down a Meister with his bare hands.”
“How could a mage defeat a Meister clad in a mana suit with just his body?”
His feat of overpowering a mana-suited Meister spread far and wide, drawing the attention of foreign magic towers. Even representatives from these towers had come to observe him. Despite the still-ruined spectator stands, many managed to find spots to scrutinize his every move.
In the VIP section, Irene, sitting with a slight grimace, broke the silence.
“Wow, so many scouts have shown up.”
“Well, he is special,” someone beside her replied.
“Ah, that’s right. Myorn, didn’t you… experiment with him? How was it?”
At Irene’s question, Myorn smirked faintly.
“I can’t say. I made a promise.”
“What kind of promise stops you from talking about it?” Irene pouted.
“Just watch the match. You’ll understand.”
“Tch. Fine.”
Irene shifted her gaze back to the arena. Kaylen’s opponent was already standing in the middle, clad in a fully equipped mana suit.
“His opponent is Robin, the prodigy from the Tower of the Sky.”
“You know him?”
“He’s a well-known student. A commoner with incredible talent, fully sponsored by the Tower of the Sky.”
The Tower of the Sky, one of the top three wind-based magic institutions, didn’t extend its full support lightly. For someone to earn their backing meant they were undeniably exceptional.
The crowd grew silent as the duel was about to begin. All eyes were on the combatants—Kaylen, the enigmatic powerhouse, and Robin, the rising star.
"Ready for Battle"
“Looks like they’ve heard about the quarterfinals. Their preparations are flawless.”
“Unlike back then, Robin is already wearing a mana suit.”
“Yes. This won’t be an easy match for Kaylen. A Wind Meister’s greatest strength is their mobility. Unlike Zaik, the Earth Meister, Robin is far more formidable in aerial combat.”
In the quarterfinals, Kaylen had dominated Zaik by maintaining an aerial advantage, bombarding him from above. However, using the same strategy against a Wind Meister would likely backfire, as Robin excelled in the skies.
“The semifinals aren’t going to be easy, given the matchup.”
“Well, care to make a bet?”
“A bet on the winner? Hmm... no, thanks. Myorn, you seem like you know something.”
“How about betting on the time, then? I wager Kaylen wins in under five minutes.”
“Five minutes?”
That seemed extreme, even for Kaylen. Irene tilted her head but eventually nodded.
“Alright, fine. What are we betting?”
“Let’s keep it simple—a mana stone.”
“A mid-grade one?”
“Yup.”
“Given your financial situation, Myorn, that’s hardly a ‘light’ bet…”
Though a skilled blacksmith with substantial income, Myorn was perpetually short on funds due to her costly experiments with mana suits. For her to wager a mana stone was no small matter.
“It’s light enough for you. Let’s do this.”
“…Fine. I’m in. I’m curious about where your confidence is coming from.”
“Excuse me, can I join your bet as well?”
Just as the two were about to seal the deal, a clear, melodic voice interrupted them. Turning to look, they saw Princess Violet, seated in the adjacent VIP box, her eyes gleaming with amusement.
“Princess… you too?”
“Yes, it seems like fun. I’ll bet that the match lasts longer than five minutes.”
“Uh… I don’t have a mana stone, though.”
“What?! Myorn, you don’t even have a single mana stone?!”
“Nope. Not one.”
Caught off guard by the princess’s interest, Myorn confessed an embarrassing truth. Irene stared at her in disbelief.
“You mean to tell me you don’t even have one mid-grade mana stone?!”
“Hey, I was sure I’d win. But now that the princess is joining, I figured I should come clean.”
“Unbelievable. This is a scam.”
“Don’t worry, Myorn,” Violet said with a light chuckle. “Instead of a mana stone, how about you make something for me later?”
“I’m expensive, you know.”
“Just knock 5,000 gold off the commission fee for my next request.”
“Deal.”
Without hesitation, Myorn agreed to the princess’s terms, casually settling the bet even with royalty. Now, the odds were set at 2:1.
Then, the signal came.
“Let the match begin!”
The match had already begun.
[Fly.]
Whoooosh!
Robin’s sky-colored armor soared into the air. His focus was unwavering as he committed fully to the battle.
‘I just need to follow the fundamentals.’
As a Wind Meister, his greatest advantage was mobility—an advantage that was unparalleled in the air.
[Circle Reload. Wind Cannon.]
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Robin unleashed gusting wind projectiles from above.
“Earth Shield.”
Kaylen’s voice rang out calmly as a wall of earth rose to block the attack effortlessly. As expected from the opposing element, the earthen barrier held firm against the wind’s onslaught.
‘Of course, he blocked it.’
Robin wasn’t surprised. His opponent was a mage capable of wielding all four elemental attributes. Naturally, a straightforward attack wouldn’t suffice.
The clash of Wind and Earth was destined to be a war of attrition.
The Wind Meister relied on agile aerial maneuvers to evade and strike. Meanwhile, an Earth Meister would fortify their defenses and retaliate with overwhelming power. The battle would ultimately hinge on whose mana ran out first.
Kaylen, however, wasn’t bound by the limits of a Meister—he could take to the skies if necessary.
‘If he flies, all the better.’
The air was Robin’s domain, after all. If Kaylen chose to join him there, it would be an advantage for Robin.
[Circle Reload. Wind Press.]
A crushing gust of air bore down from above.
[Wind Arrow.]
Countless arrows of wind filled the sky, pelting Kaylen’s Earth Shield. Though they couldn’t pierce the barrier, they limited his movements.
The match was unfolding as the inverse of Kaylen’s quarterfinal battle. While his attacks hadn’t connected, the flow of the match was firmly in Robin’s favor.
“Robin has an impressive grasp of the power of wind. Truly worthy of being called a Wind Meister,” Irene remarked.
“For you to give such high praise, Lady Irene... Perhaps I’ve underestimated him. I should adjust my evaluation,” Princess Violet replied.
“Indeed, Princess. With such talent, I doubt he’ll lose quickly—certainly not within five minutes.”
Irene’s confident statement made Myorn’s fur bristle slightly. As a summoner of wind spirits, her opinion carried significant weight, making her prediction all the more convincing.
At this rate, Myorn thought, she was going to lose the bet.
“Kaylen! Hurry and finish this! I’ve got a five-minute wager riding on you!”
Myorn’s shout echoed from the stands.
Hearing her voice, Kaylen smirked. He lowered his hand, which had been channeling the Earth Shield, and focused on his gauntlet.
“Well then... let’s end this.”
The prototype mana suit gauntlet—nicknamed Prototype-Normal by Myorn—suddenly shifted. Its metallic sheen turned a deep crimson as an enormous surge of mana began concentrating within it.
“No way.”
“This is…
“A mana suit?”
“I’ve never seen one like that before.”
The scouts’ attention shifted immediately to Kaylen’s gauntlet, their curiosity piqued.
But their fascination was quickly replaced with astonishment as the scene unfolded before their eyes.
“Fire Wave.”
Kaylen raised his hand toward the sky, and the gauntlet erupted into flames, blazing like an inferno.
The fire surged outward, spreading into a massive wave of flames, consuming the air as it hurtled toward Robin.
[Fly.]
Robin instinctively ascended higher, predicting a counterattack. If he climbed high enough, the flames would eventually dissipate—or so he thought.
But the flames moved too fast. Faster than he could ascend.
A Wind Meister, outpaced and cornered.
[Tch… Wind Shield! Reload, Wind Press!]
Robin summoned a shield of wind to protect himself and unleashed a burst of air to push back the flames.
But it was futile.
The fiery wave continued its relentless advance, unhindered by his efforts. Like a gentle breeze against a roaring tide, his wind spells proved powerless.
Whoooosh!
The shield of wind shattered.
The flames enveloped Robin’s mana suit entirely.
[Aaaaargh!]
A scream of pain tore through the arena as Robin plummeted from the sky.
[Re-reload… Wind… Wind Shield. Fly…!]
Desperately, he chanted spells mid-fall, trying to extinguish the flames and stabilize himself.
But it was no use.
The fire had already consumed him, leaving him helpless.
He could not escape on his own.
[Argh…! I surrender! I yield!]
At Robin’s frantic declaration of surrender, Kaylen finally spoke.
“Fly.”
Just before Robin crashed into the ground, Kaylen lifted him back into the air with a calm gesture.
[Th-thank you…]
Robin stammered, his gratitude evident as the flames subsided.
“Well fought.”
Robin, narrowly avoiding becoming the first fatality of the tournament, collapsed onto the ground, utterly spent. His sky-colored mana suit was charred black, its once-pristine surface now unrecognizable.
From the stands, Irene watched with wide eyes.
“Myorn, that gauntlet… Did you make it?”
“Yes,” Myorn replied simply.
“Wow, that’s incredible! You built something that powerful?”
“No.”
At Irene’s enthusiastic praise, Myorn gave a wry smile.
“The incredible one… is him.”
She couldn’t help but recall the events of a week prior.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Kiteretsu]
[Proofreader - Kyros]
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