How to Survive as a Mage Inside a Game-Chapter 58: Sky Sword Castle (3)

A problem that couldn’t be ignored.

I figured it out immediately.

Considering the way she’d barged into the guest estate like she owned the place earlier, the answer was obvious.

"Arrogance... maybe?"

"Exactly. To put it more broadly, it's the emptiness and void that comes from having no one equal to her. That’s what breeds arrogance and laziness. And for a martial artist, those are fatal flaws."

Bashon furrowed his brow and continued.

"She’s never once experienced defeat. From the moment she first held a sword, there was no one among her peers who could match her. At ten, she beat a formally knighted—albeit low-ranked—fighter. A few years later, by fifteen, even mid-level knights couldn’t handle her.

And before she even came of age, she’d already surpassed the high-tier level... Hm, I suppose that doesn’t mean much to you."

I shook my head.

"I understand just fine. And I’ve already met her, so you don’t need to explain."

"...What? You met her? When?"

Bashon’s eyes widened in disbelief.

I told him what had happened earlier in the day.

"She pulled that stunt again..."

He clicked his tongue softly.

"To do something like that to a guest... She’s always been impossible to rein in. Anyway... so, what did you think of her?"

He was asking for my evaluation.

I answered honestly, without even a hint of exaggeration.

"A monster. You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone her age on the entire continent who could compete."

Bashon burst into laughter at that.

"Yes, that’s what I thought too. But turns out I was wrong!"

His gaze locked onto me without wavering.

"Meeting you reminded me that the world is still wide, and that geniuses exist everywhere. You have no idea how shocked I was when I saw you earlier."

"...I think you're overestimating me a little."

Feeling awkward, I scratched the back of my neck.

"Anyway, you want me to beat her in the duel, right?"

"Haha! You’re not saying you can’t, huh?"

"..."

"Good, my instincts were right. The more overwhelming, the better. Don’t worry about appearances—just crush her completely. That’s all I ask."

I mean... that’s still your daughter.

For a second, I worried whether this would come back to bite me later.

But the anticipation shining in his eyes made it seem like I was overthinking it.

Either way, as long as I could get a Fragment of Dimension out of it, I had no reason to refuse.

"Understood."

Bashon nodded, clearly satisfied.

Then, I suddenly thought to ask,

"By the way, what’s her name?"

Someone that strong... It didn’t make sense that I couldn’t remember her.

Bashon replied.

"Akion."

"...!!"

I was stunned.

Akion.

That name was familiar. Very much so.

But not as the daughter of the Sky Sword Lord—no, she had a far more sensational title attached to her name.

‘...Sword Saint Akion.’

One of only three living Sword Saints on the entire continent.

She was destined to become the fourth holder of the Sword Saint title.

I turned my eyes back to Bashon.

[Lv.68]

[Lord of Sky Sword Castle]

Level 68.

An absurdly high number, but still not at the level of a Sword Saint.

And even in the future, he never would be.

Bashon Hexer was never known as a Sword Saint in my memory.

Just a 2-level gap from level 70, but the distance between them was far too great to be expressed by a mere number.

‘But unlike Bashon, Akion did reach it.’

Even in this world overflowing with monsters, the Sword Saint rank was worthy of being called "absolute."

Akion Hexer, the heir of Sky Sword Castle, must be the future Sword Saint Akion.

I mean, there’s no way two different people with that name and that kind of talent could exist.

There were countless stories about her.

Especially during the second Great War against Black Magic, she personally slaughtered more black mages and demons than anyone.

Her battle against the high-rank demon Vegados, which lasted three days and nights before she finally cut off its head—that story alone became a favorite among bards for years to come.

‘But why...?’

Naturally, a question followed.

I had no memory of her being connected to Sky Sword Castle, let alone being its successor. That information had never been public.

Did she leave this place because of some falling-out?

Or maybe she left entirely of her own will?

There was no way to know now—it hadn’t happened yet—but given how free-spirited she seemed, the latter felt entirely plausible.

In any case, I felt ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) a growing weight pressing down on me.

Of course I did.

‘Am I changing the flow too much?’

She was far too important a figure to mess with lightly.

She played one of the biggest roles in the future Great Black Magic War.

If I went through with Bashon’s request and dealt her a crushing defeat here... and that somehow altered the future...

‘...No, that’s a pointless worry. I’ve already meddled enough.’

I decided not to think too deeply.

I’d already messed with the story more times than I could count since falling into this world.

The future was already twisted beyond recognition from what I knew. No point in worrying about it now.

After chatting a bit more with Bashon, I returned to my room.

‘Sword Saint, black mages, Fragments of Dimension...’

A night filled with heavy thoughts.

I lay on my bed, staring blankly at the ceiling until I eventually drifted off.

In the dream I hadn’t had in ages, I was walking the streets of Earth.

* * *

Morning came, and I stepped out of my room.

As with yesterday, the Sky Sword Castle attendants came to deliver breakfast.

The duel was now only a day away.

Just today left for rest—tomorrow would be the official friendly match that was the whole reason for our visit.

The members of the school who would be participating were each preparing in their own way.

Some were meditating, others were sweating buckets as they practiced mana control, and some were even exchanging casual magical duels.

"Hmm..."

Having nothing in particular to do, I wandered around the estate before returning to the building.

That’s when I noticed someone out in the training yard.

It was Sharon.

She was practicing control by levitating multiple mana orbs in the air.

She seemed completely focused—hadn’t even noticed me.

"...Hoo."

Eventually, she let out a long breath and dismissed the orbs.

Then she flinched in surprise as she realized I’d been watching.

"Ah, sorry. Wasn’t trying to interrupt."

I waved apologetically and turned to head upstairs.

"Wait...!"

Sharon called out in a voice barely louder than a whisper.

I turned back and looked at her.

"You just call me?"

"......"

She stared at me with a slightly pained expression, then opened her mouth.

"How can you do that?"

"...?"

"While you were wandering off outside the school for no good reason, I’ve been training nonstop. I cut my sleep time in half, locked myself in the practice room, and pushed myself to the brink."

Realizing what she was getting at, I folded my arms and tilted my head.

"So?"

"...This isn’t fair. Why is the gap not closing? What the hell did you do to already reach the 5th Circle? I... I..."

Her voice, full of frustration, gradually weakened.

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It even began to tremble slightly, like emotion was bubbling up beneath it.

‘How did I reach the 5th Circle, huh...’

I stared at her, thinking.

If she knew the truth, there’d be no reason for her to feel inferior to a fake like me.

This isn’t normal talent—it’s just the system’s power.

When your level goes up, your Circle goes up.

Mana, casting, control—every damn stat goes up like a game mechanic.

Of course, I couldn’t just say all that.

She’d never believe it, let alone understand.

Instead, I decided to offer something that might actually help her.

"Frustrated? That you can’t catch up to me?"

"..."

"Well, I don’t think you have any right to be frustrated."

Her face contorted in surprise.

Clicking my tongue, I continued.

"You're blessed with magical talent. You’ve got the best possible background—granddaughter of an Altius Elder. You had everything handed to you. How many other mages do you think have looked up at you feeling the same way you're feeling now? Imagine how many people with not even a quarter of your potential felt robbed just watching you."

"..."

"There are plenty of mages in this world who work their asses off for years and still can’t even join a minor school. No talent. No backing. But you—you’ve got both. And now, after just a few months of hard work, you're whining that you still haven’t caught up?"

Sharon’s face turned bright red.

She looked like she wanted to argue, but her lips just twitched—because none of what I said was wrong.

"Well, not that I’m in any position to preach... I’m just saying, it’s all relative. Don’t be so damn bitter. However you think I look to you, you probably look the same to a whole lot of others."

"..."

"Life’s unfair. Always has been. You’ve enjoyed that unfairness for years—so how about working even harder now? Maybe someday, you’ll catch up."

Of course, that was almost impossible.

I left that part unsaid and turned to go upstairs.

But her voice made me stop again.

"...Training."

"What?"

"Help me train! It’s not like you don’t have the time!"

Her face was even redder now as she shouted.

I stared at her for a moment, then gave a dry laugh and walked back down the stairs.

At the very least, it was a decent way to kill time until the duel tomorrow.