Reincarnated with the King’s Power

Chapter 72

After resting for another day, Killian was guided by Sharle to the Secret Repository.

On the 10th floor of the Magic Tower was a large archive called the library, and it seemed the Secret Repository could only be entered from there.

As I crossed the gate, a man in a simple violet robe was waiting.

“This is Brother Toneri, the one in charge of the Secret Repository. He manages the 10th floor.”

Sharle introduced him with her characteristically gentle smile.

“It is an honor to meet the Annihilation Squad Leader of Eurasia.”

I shook the hand offered by Toneri, who looked to be at least ten years older than me.

Celot Cornelia's first son.

He was Sharle's cousin and seemed to have already stabilized his 6-star.

“I heard you are the hero who ended the Lord's confinement alongside my father.”

“If it weren't for Sir Celot, I would not be here.”

“Wouldn't that be the same for my father? More than anything….”

Toneri looked back and forth between Sharle and Killian and let out a meaningful laugh.

“I too am cheering for the relationship between you two.”

“……”

“……”

The parties involved weren't paying it much mind, but I felt like the rumor was spreading uncontrollably.

‘I need to clear up this misunderstanding as soon as possible… but for now, entering the Secret Repository is the priority.’

“Sharle? Do you have business in the library as usual?”

“Yes. It looks like I’ll have to stay for at least a day.”

“I thought so, so I've informed the librarians. Feel free to look around as much as you like.”

Toneri reacted as if it was a familiar occurrence.

It seemed Sharle often visited the archives.

“In that case, Young Master, Brother Toneri will have to guide you from here. I hope you achieve what you desire.”

Killian responded with a nod.

As Sharle stepped onto a nearby gate, violet mana enveloped her.

“A gate within a gate. This is quite a place.”

“According to the records, it was created during the time of the kingdom by the first ancestor and an unknown Arch Mage. And I heard it was later expanded during the time of Queen Diana.”

This was something Killian already knew.

Diana Cornelia.

A mage who was, without a doubt, called the strongest in all of Cornelia's history.

Indeed, her hobby was collecting magic books.

‘Time magic and summoning magic. In her later years, she took an interest in the application of creation magic.’

Unlike Edan, who utilized mana for combat, Diana enjoyed wielding mana creatively.

“Normally, you wouldn't have been able to enter even with the Lord's permission.”

Toneri continued as we headed toward the gate leading to the Secret Repository.

“The ancestors of the family set it up so that only direct blood relatives could enter.”

“The Lord said so as well.”

That it was a measure taken by the Cornelia, which had been demoted to a family, to build their strength.

Although it was a magic engraved by the Lord who was at a 7-star level at the time, I heard that after the Secret Repository was moved to the Magic Tower, it had been protected by 8-star level magic.

“So, this situation is a first for me as well.”

“It seems you desire a union between Eurasia and Cornelia.”

“Hahaha. I suppose I've put too much pressure on you. To be honest, yes. I wish for Sharle and you, Young Master, to be joined.”

It was a different kind of reaction from Hegel's.

There was no need to ask for the reason.

“Even during the time when we were the center of the Kingdom Alliance, we could not surpass the Empire.”

“……”

“I believe that this time, Cornelia and Eurasia must unite.”

Cornelia, with its Magic Tower and numerous outstanding mages, and Eurasia, which rose as a martial family.

Though they were on the frontier, if the two families who reigned as the rulers of the west and east were to unite, they might be able to surpass the Empire this time.

So Toneri said, but he was half right and half wrong.

‘He’s still a greenhorn.’

In the past, Eurasia fell not because it lacked absolute military power, but because of the variable known as Grotesquery.

Moreover, the two families had survived on their own on the frontier for a long time.

If they were to have a clumsy exchange now, with Eurasia's knights learning magic and Cornelia's mages learning swordsmanship, it could damage the essence of both families.

‘We were able to survive in harsh conditions because of our identities as knights and mages. It’s not a matter of efficiency.’

The moment two families with different natures tried to awkwardly take each other's benefits, there was a high possibility they would become a group that was neither here nor there.

Toneri was overlooking that point.

“That is a matter for the family elders to consider.”

“Of course. I heard that my uncle will soon be sending a letter to the Lord of Eurasia.”

By uncle, he must have been referring to the Lord, Hegel Cornelia.

‘What is this nonsense now.’

“I hope the day comes soon when we can congratulate you both on your happy occasion.”

‘These Cornelia folks, they don't seem to have a proper grasp of what kind of person our Lord is.’

He was a man who prioritized Eurasia's great cause above all else.

He would not waste time on a useless event like a marriage at such an important time.

“I seem to have put an unnecessary burden on you. Now, here we are.”

Toneri, who had been leading the way, stopped in front of a gate shimmering with purple mana.

“In the Secret Repository, the flow of time is different from here. The moment you enter, you synchronize with the Magic Tower's mana and may gain some enlightenment.”

“What kind of enlightenment did you gain, Sir?”

“I entered when I was a 4-star, just starting to lose my way. Thanks to that, I was able to discover my aptitude for dark magic.”

When Toneri showed his palm, a handful of mana rose.

It was clearly violet, but I could tell at a glance that it was a manifestation of darkness.

‘Quite impressive.’

Dark magic was rare even in the past. To have learned such magic was as good as being recognized for having the qualities to become a great mage.

“I don't know if you're aware, but Sharle mastered creation magic, and Arles mastered light magic.”

‘All of them are rare forms of magic. Even with the help of the Magic Tower, talent is a frightening thing.’

“It takes about two days, but I can't say for certain when you will come out.”

It seemed the longest anyone had ever stayed was a week.

“Entering the Secret Repository is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so everyone tends to try and stay for a long time, but it doesn't seem like doing so necessarily guarantees enlightenment.” It seemed there was some kind of mechanism in place.

Toneri personally activated the gate using his mana.

Gooooo.

The gate, more stable than ever, emitted a quiet pulse.

Without hesitation, Killian stepped into the gate.

“My father said that if you try to take the easy path, you will only obtain easy things.”

For a moment, Toneri's voice faded into the mana's pulse, and Killian realized that he had entered the Secret Repository.

***

When I opened my eyes, a familiar scene appeared.

A field with not a single blade of grass, three spheres floating among the clouds, and hundreds of swords stuck in the ground.

“Is this the Carpe Illusion.”

It didn't take long to figure out that it was a system that connected to the intruder's psyche.

Killian looked at the sword hilts filling the space.

The clue to using the Secret Repository must be among them.

As I enhanced my mana, a few swords began to emit a particularly strong presence.

Hwarururu.

The Cheonghwageom he used before reaching Superhuman was spewing flames.

Tzzzzz.

The one sucking in the mana of the area was Aether.

Besides these, White Night, which Demian used, the Uncheolgeom I received from the Lord after the subjugation, and Escardo Schtenberg's Sword, his signature weapon, were also radiating their presence.

All were swords of Killian Eurasia, or swords of those related to Killian Eurasia.

“And this is….”

Killian, who had been looking around, stopped in front of one sword.

Tetillon.

“The Lord's sword.”

Tetillon was the finest masterpiece created by the current Master Swordsmith, and nothing was known of its abilities.

There was only a rumor that Simon Eurasia had never been defeated by anyone after he started using Tetillon upon reaching Superhuman.

Killian, who had been staring at Tetillon, stepped back.

Famous swords exuding an unusually strong presence.

I had a strong feeling that I had to choose one from among them.

“This is strange. Seeing as swords that aren't even mine are mixed in, it wouldn't have been strange for Adamas to be materialized as well.”

If Adamas had materialized, I would have chosen that sword without hesitation.

Being given only choices of such renowned swords, I couldn't figure out the connection.

“So this is a test.”

Tzzzzz.

I enhanced my mana and tried to take control of the space.

I was able to gain control of the Carpe Illusion without difficulty.

The Total Solar Eclipse was originally a technique created to seize the opponent's control over a space, and the Total Lunar Eclipse, which could be called its enhanced version, was a form that maximized mana absorption.

The mana of the area began to converge on the three spheres.

The mana enveloping the famous swords was no exception.

From the Cheonghwageom to Tetillon, all the swords lost their light in less than a minute.

“This is troublesome.”

At this rate, it wasn't a matter of narrowing down the choices; they had all disappeared.

It was when Killian was contemplating what to do.

“My father said that if you try to take the easy path, you will only obtain easy things.”

The words Toneri had said just before I completely crossed the gate flashed through my mind.

‘If you try to take the easy path, you will only obtain easy things.’

It was a cliché, but it held many meanings.

‘It could also mean that what you see here is not everything.’

Sssss.

Using the mana absorbed into the three spheres, I created a single sword.

A sword of mana in the shape of a sword, without imaging a specific form.

Just by holding the sword, the space wavered.

‘It’s here.’

I cut the space that had begun to bend right in front of me.

Swish!

Beyond it, another space appeared.

The passage was getting narrower.

Without hesitation, I passed through the space and reached a small room where magic tools and magic books were displayed.

“So it was here.”

The corners of Killian's mouth curled up as he looked around.

The magic imbued in the magic tools was at least 6-star level.

The same went for the magic books displayed on the shelves.

They all contained records of Shiks that were nothing short of being called rare magic.

Secret Books that could be sold for a fortune if traded, and could make one a mage renowned throughout the continent if learned.

“As expected, this place is worthy of the name Secret Repository.”

From Hegel, Celot, and Kiel, who could be called the pillars of the current Cornelia, to the next generation of Arles, Sharle, and Toneri.

Besides them, the countless mages who had left their names in Cornelia must have all reached this place and acquired knowledge.

‘Well, there are probably many among the direct bloodline who couldn't even get this far.’

Killian put the Secret Manual he had picked up back on the shelf.

He was a knight.

‘For now, I have a usable sword and sheath.’

If I had to take one thing, a magic tool would be more useful.

“A magic tool engraved with 7-star magic would be perfect.”

It was when Killian was examining the magic tools and looking around the small room.

Jiiing-

Violet mana condensed before my eyes and formed a human figure.

[It's been a while since a new one has appeared.]

‘Illusion magic?’

A 6-star magic whose vividness and realism depended on the caster's ability.

Since it was magic cast with the Magic Tower's mana, its precision would be no less than that of an Arch Mage.

[I'm looking forward to seeing what this Cornelia is like.]

“……”

Killian was at a loss for words at the form created by the fully cast magic.

[What, you're not a Cornelia?]

The violet-haired mage tilted her head and examined Killian's face.

Belatedly.

Killian uttered the name of the woman who had appeared before him.

“Diana.”