Translator: Seven
Frey looked around.
Standing beside Dugenjar was a bald man who appeared to be in his thirties who had a sword at his waist and a young man with a gentle expression.
It didn’t seem like these three were in the sa part as there was a subtle distance between all of them.
“Unfortunately, Honor Heinz isn’t here today.” (Note: good…kill him)
Thinking that Frey was looking around for Heinz, Dugenjar gave a snide remark.
However, Frey ignored him and instead turned to the n beside him.
“You are?”
“I am Jero Berner from the Lucid Swords.”
“I am Steve Jacks from the Strow Necklaces.”
“Do you have any business with ?”
“Yes. Well…I think we’re a step too late.”
Steve smiled bitterly and looked over at Beniang.
Frey realised that these people were scouts from the big circles. He beca speechless for a mont when he realised that all of the big circles were interested in him.
As this was happening.
“…”
Dugenjar who had been completely ignored slowly beca redder at the face.
He was the worst possible person to send as a scout.
No. He didn’t have any intention to recruit him in the first place.
Dugenjar looked at Frey and said.
“Are you going to join the Traun Rings?”
“So what if I am?”
“Hmph. Likes attract…”
It was just a murmur, but everyone present was still able to hear it.
Beniang bit her lip.
Frey was sure he saw sothing flash in her eyes for a mont and couldn’t help but feel a bit of relief.
If she had beco submissive here then he would have been very disappointed.
Beniang was timid, but that didn’t an that she was without pride.
For those who walked the path of magic, a certain amount of pride was important.
Maybe even more so than their lives.
“Frey Blake, do you intend to join the Traun Rings?”
Strow Necklaces’ mber Steve asked straightforwardly.
He was nervous inside.
Even though he had hurried as much as he could, he still didn’t arrive first.
‘The internal eting took longer than I expected.’
Besides the Traun Rings’ hideout was much closer to the 3rd Magic Tower.
Anyway, the circle had co to a conclusion.
And that was to attract Frey Blake even if it ant that they had to bleed a little.
The fact that Frey Blake, who was only 20 years old, had defeated an Apostle was already becoming widespread.
As long as it was a 7 star wizard, every circle, including the Big Three would covet them. Besides, look at his age.
In all honesty, Steve still couldn’t completely believe it.
A wizard who beca an Archmage at the age of 20?
Wasn’t that sothing that even the legendary heroes hadn’t been able to achieve?”
“I’m going to take a look around first.”
When Frey said that, both Steve and Jero’s eyes seed to shine brightly.
“So you haven’t decided yet.”
“Yes.”
“Then why don’t you also take a look at our circle after?”
“You an the Strow Necklaces?”
“Yes.”
Steve nodded vigorously.
Frey nodded without thinking about it for too long.
“If I haven’t joined a circle by then.”
“Haha. That’s good enough.”
As he said this, Steve gave Frey a scroll from his bag.
“This is?”
“It’s a scroll engraved with warp magic. The coordinates lead to the entrance of our hideout. If you tell them my na, they will treat you politely. Mana is required to activate it, but at your level it shouldn’t be a problem.”
“I see.”
“Then I’ll take my leave.”
This seed to be his only objective for going there.
Before he left, Steve shot a look at Dugenjar.
‘I hope this fool doesn’t do anything stupid.’
He felt like sothing would happen.
Not only because of Frey, but also Beniang, the Circle Master of the Traun Rings.
Everyone in the Circle knew that the Phisfounder Armlets were especially hostile to the Traun Rings. (Note: probably because of her unrequited love…)
Their pressure had not reduced, even now that the Traun rings were slowly spiralling downward.
No, instead it could be said that their contempt had increased.
Steve shook his head.
He hoped that Dugenjar was able to at least judge the situation properly.
Jero ca forward next.
“…I apologize but I didn’t bring anything like a scroll. If you ever co to Geotanbul or Silkeed in the Luanoble Kingdom, please be sure to visit our circle. If you talk to the nobles or lords in the cities, they will contact us.”
It seed that this was the area where the Lucid Swords was most active.
Again Frey nodded and Jero left not long after.
Naturally, Frey’s gaze turned to Dugenjar last.
“What did you co here for? I don’t think you ca to do the sa thing as the other two.”
“Hmph…there are too many eyes here. Follow . Master Beniang you don’t have to co with us.”
After saying that, Dugenjar turned around and started walking away.
As Frey watched him walk away, Beniang approached him.
“…I’m sorry. I think that I am the reason you are getting into a conflict with Honor Dugenjar.”
It seed that she had misunderstood sothing.
Frey gave her a smile.
“That man was already upset because he couldn’t deal with before. What’s the difference?”
“Yes?”
“Are you going to follow that man?”
“…he said that I shouldn’t co, so I’ll wait here.”
As she said this, Beniang bit her lip.
It felt pitiful for a Circle Master to listen to the words of a circle executive of another circle.
She felt ashad to show sothing like that to Frey, who was an outsider.
Frey, who was following Dugenjar, noticed the contempt that was on Beniang’s face.
They didn’t stop walking until they left the city.
Not far away from the city was a large forest. Only after arriving there did Dugenjar turn around.
His face was filled with ridicule.
“Show your skills, I will judge you.”
It was completely unexpected.
Frey took a while before answering.
“Judge?”
“That’s right. To see if you really have the ability to take down an Apostle!”
“So you don’t believe what I said?”
If so, it was beyond absurd.
He was probably among the group that had gone to the sight of the fight between Frey and Lukes to clean up.
If he had any doubts then wouldn’t they all be cleared up if he examined the traces that were left behind?
“That’s why I’m telling you to prove your strength. Don’t make repeat myself.” (Note:…Lava Blast…)
“What about the Blacktooth’s testimony?”
When Frey recalled Camille and asked, Dugenjar simply snorted.
“How could I believe the words of other races? I have to see it with my own eyes. It’s not that difficult. You just have to prove it.”
Thud.
Dugenjar took out a long staff from his bag which knocked against the floor.
Roar.
At that mont, mana was released from his body explosively.
The visible mana fluttered like a haze before gathering to put pressure on Frey.
“…”
This wasn’t the pressure that one would use to scare a rookie.
Such a large amount of mana could be practically suffocating. If the person was weak willed, it would be enough to stop their heart.
“I’m going to enlighten you on how big the world really is. You need to be educated, so I’ll help you.”
As he said this, Dugenjar slowly began increasing the pressure on Frey.
“Don’t get proud just because you beat Lukes. Even within the 7 stars level, there are different classes.”
That was the truth.
Although both Lukes and Dugenjar were considered 7 stars, Dugenjar was actually stronger than Lukes.
Unlike Lukes, who could be considered to be in the middle stage of 7 stars, Dugenjar could be considered to be close to the peak.
Although the difference between them might not seem that large on paper, in reality, it was actually enormous.
It was almost impossible for Dugenjar to lose a fight against Lukes.
And maybe Frey had entered the 7 star stage by luck.
With his amount of skill he should not have much control over his mana.
‘I can’t kill you because the Circle already has eyes on you. But I’ll make you crawl on the floor here.”
At that mont, when Dugenjar had just started smiling.
Crack Crack.
White, cold air seed to billow out from Frey’s body.
Dugenjar shivered unconsciously.
‘What is this?’
The mana felt cold.
…cold? The mana was cold?
‘He could imbue attributes? Into his mana?’ (Note: yes these were two separated sentences)
His expression stiffened. This couldn’t be true.
It was impossible.
It was impossible for even him to imbue attributes into his mana so naturally.
Frey spoke softly.
“You’re right.”
“Wh-, what…”
Dugenjar didn’t even realise that Frey was speaking to him informally.
“Even if it’s the sa level, there are still different classes.”
Frey’s face was as cold as ice.
He was angry.
It wasn’t at Dugenjar who was picking a fight with him.
To him, all he felt was mild displeasure and contempt.
No, the reason that Frey was angry was because garbage like this could still confidently call themselves 7 stars.
Crack crack.
The cold air easily pushed Dugenjar’s mana aside.
However, it didn’t stop there. Instead, it began to slowly apply pressure to Dugenjar.
Dugenjar hurriedly cast a barrier while exclaiming.
“Bu-, bullsh*t!”
Frey looked down on Dugenjar.
At that mont he realised that all this while he had been overestimating these modern 7 star wizards.
Being able to maintain a calm mind without being frustrated regardless of the situation.
That was the Archmage that Frey knew.
An Archmage should never lose their composure.
This didn’t only refer to pain, but anything that could cloud one’s judgent.
Including emotions like anger, sadness and joy.
This didn’t an that they had to suppress those emotions. Because humans were not dolls.
It ant being able to feel every emotion clearly, but still being able to maintain one’s composure and think of a way to get out of any adverse situations.
But this man before him.
When the opponent who he was trying to trample suddenly began to pressure him instead, he could not accept the reality and his mana began fluctuating.
This was evidence that he was so agitated that he couldn’t even get his own mana under control.
Frey couldn’t understand how he’d reached his current level.
He couldn’t know.
Maybe he had taken many elixirs like Frozen River or he began deteriorating after reaching 7 stars.
Frey’s eyes were frozen on Dugenjar.
Dugenjar felt his heart quiver.
He suddenly felt that those eyes were incredibly scary.
More than the Circle Rounder or even the Circle Master.
“I…I am an Archmage! A, a great wizard!”
Dugenjar’s face was filled with rage.
Frey simply responded in a cold voice.
“If you subtract your level of mana, you are below the standard in every way. A wizard who just happens to have 7 star mana. There’s no better expression to define you than that.”
“Uh, uh…”
Dugenjar struggled and tried to cast a spell. Frey shook his hand.
Paat.
“,,,!!”
Dugenjar wasn’t even able to make a sound.
‘My, my spell…he negated it before I even began casting it…’
It was unbelievable.
Dugenjar once again tried to use a spell.
“F-, Fla Wave!”
Paat.
It was negated once again.
“I, I don’t believe it…t-, to negate m-, my spells with such precision…th-, this…”
It shouldn’t be possible without reading his mind.
He needed to know exactly what spell he was going to use, know how to cast said spell, speed and instantaneous computational ability to negate a spell.
Above all, he needed to have a lot of self confidence.
It was incredibly difficult to negate another person’s spell.
If they failed at even one step, the person who tried to negate the other’s spell would have to bear a very heavy burden!
At that mont, for the first ti, Dugenjar ca to a realisation.
He had believed that it was just a weak Apostle.
Lukes was originally a wizard so he should not have been too adept at using divine power.
That was why he believed that this rookie had been lucky enough to defeat him.
But that wasn’t the case.
The man in front of him definitely had the ability to subdue an Apostle.
Crack crack.
Frey’s cold mana covered Dugenjar’s body and he slowly began to freeze from his toes upwards.
Dugenjar’s face was tainted with a trace of fear.
“You, are you going to kill ?”
“It might happen.”
“You are out of your mind! I am a Force Honor of the Phisfounder Armlets! Don’t do anything that you’ll regret!”
If he went missing then the doubt would definitely fall to Frey.
There were also witnesses like Beniang, Steve and Jero.
However, he wasn’t certain of his safety.
Frey was confident that he would be able to completely wipe away any traces, given the need.
However, he had no intention to kill Dugenjar. (Note: although I expected it, it’s still very disappointing)
There was a much better way.
“Stop it! What do you intend to do?!”
“Honor Dugenjar, your life might be in my hands but I have no intentions of killing you. I don’t think you would’ve shown such rcy, but…I’ll give you one chance.”
He could still change. (Note: the author put this twice…but I figured one ti was enough)
Dugenjar would have to make a critical choice.
And if he couldn’t change himself in the end then he wouldn’t be able to lt the ice.
“What are you talking about…”
“It’s a trial. If you can’t lt the ice, you will die.”
Dugenjar’s gaze turned to the ice that entombed his body.
He imdiately realised that it wasn’t ordinary ice.
“H-, how…”
“Don’t panic. The more you do that, the faster the ice will devour your body. You said it yourself. You’re an Archmage. If you can truly act like a 7 star Archmage, then you will be able to lt it.”
“I…are you testing ? With what qualifications?”
“I am qualified.”
Dugenjar didn’t know why, but he was not able to deny Frey’s words at that mont. (Note: maybe the part with him being frozen in ice…)
Instead, he just looked at Frey with a slightly dull gaze.
“You…”
“You have one day. In order to lt the ice, you have to let it burrow into your heart. This is my sincere advice.”
“…”
“I hope you get through this.”
Great. He’s too Great.
Dugenjar felt that Frey was incredibly amazing.
There was a ripple deep in his mind.
Great sha and regret filled his heart.
“Kuk.”
Dugenjar bit his lip.
Imdiately after, he closed his eyes and began activating his mana. At the sa ti, the rate that the ice covered his body slowed.
He did not pay much attention to the advice.
Right now, it didn’t matter.
The important thing right now was the ti.
At that mont, a day did not seem that long. And Dugenjar could not afford to waste any ti.
Frey hoped that he would overco the challenge and change himself.
There was a chance, because regardless of how arrogant he was, he had, in the end, managed to reach 7 stars.
The ice would not kill Dugenjar.
After a day, it would cover Dugenjar’s entire body, and after two days, it would lt away on its own.
Of course, Dugenjar didn’t know that.
Even if he managed to survive this, he would be filled with sha and keep it a secret of his own volition.
He was the type who would risk his life for his pride. Therefore, he would never willingly talk about his sha.
Of course, that didn’t matter.
If he revealed it, Frey would be able to determine what kind of circle the Phisfounder Armlets was depending on their response.
Honor Dugenjar.
If he was able to abandon his useless stubbornness and arrogance then he had the potential to be a good wizard.
If he was able to abandon his conceited self, he would be reborn as an even better being.
Frey knew how precious a 7 star wizard was.
That was why he didn’t want to kill him unless he was truly determined to be an enemy or betrayed humankind like Lukes.
There are two kinds of humans in the world.
Humans who could change and humans who couldn’t.
Frey hoped that Dugenjar belonged to the forr.
(Note: Soone pointed out my inconsistency when capitalizing ‘circle’ so from now on when referring to a specific circle it will be ‘circle’ and when it refers to the organization as a whole it will be ‘Circle’ - which is what I intended but probably forgot at tis
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