Sword God in a World of Magic

The Mage King quietly waited for an answer.

Luckily, he didn't need to wait for long.

"Hey, Samuel. Nice to talk to you! How are you?" said a friendly voice coming from the Communication Crystal.

The Mage King gulped once. '"Not very well, sir."

"Oh? Are you having trouble? Do you need some help?" the friendly voice asked.

Samuel laughed bitterly. "Sir, I don't feel very well because I think I know why you are calling."

"We can talk about that after this. So, there are no problems at home or with your meditation? Everything outside of work is okay?" the person asked with a concerned voice.

"Everything's alright, sir," Samuel said.

"Good, good," the voice said. "Hey, listen, I've been hearing a couple of things, and I want to hear your side of the events. Could you tell me, from your point of view, what happened within the last hour?"

Samuel gulped another time. "Of course, sir."

Then, Samuel recited everything he had experienced.

"Good, good," the friendly voice said. "Now, I don't need to tell you that what you've delivered wasn't the greatest performance of your career, right?"

"No, sir," Samuel said quietly.

"You should know that, as the Judgment Palace, we represent a certain prestige. I know that this entire war business is quite complicated and that the Lightning Manor is delivering quite a formidable performance, but we can't have one of our Mage Kings be fooled by some warrior in the Sixth Realm. Do you get what I mean?" the voice asked.

Samuel wanted to protest and say that the opponent couldn't possibly have been fooling them. After all, the warrior had fought against someone with a fivefold Spirit Sense and a Death Affinity. It was already surprising enough that he had won. Samuel couldn't believe that all of this had been an act.

And yet, he couldn't protest.

Even though the voice seemed quite friendly and professional, all the Mage Kings knew the truth.

The person behind that voice didn't even know the concept of true empathy and respect.

He was simply talking in such a polite and friendly manner because this was the best way to get others to follow his orders.

He had no problem handing out compliments and having a bit of small talk if it helped him in keeping everything under his control.

Under this person, one would find oneself drawn to them.

The person was so charismatic, funny, friendly, and respectful.

The person would even listen to their trouble, give them emotional support, and give them a shoulder to cry on.

Yet, the people that truly knew this person could see the truth.

There was nothing.

There was no concern, disregard, love, hate, admiration, disdain, or care inside that person.

They were empty.

There was just nothing.

without meaning any of it

ever seen this

how they were

made them mad

had ever seen them fight or kill anyone, but everyone knew whom they

but no one had ever seen

ever seen them sad, angry,

They were always nice.

smile or a concerned expression on

And yet...

people

fine, and that person still appeared

person

For seemingly no reason.

didn't matter

had even killed Mage

was nothing anyone could

this was King Sanctified Death, the

suppress him were Mage Emperors, and they

the end, Samuel

I know my mistake, sir," he

friendly voice came from the Communication Crystal. "I know that you've done a lot for the Judgment Palace, which is also why I trusted you with leading the assault. I know that you are not someone that easily cracks under pressure, and I know that you are not

recent couple of minutes have been troublesome, Samuel. You know that,

I understand, sir," Samuel

this any more than you, but I think it would be better for everyone involved

Samuel's heart rate increased.

know why King Sanctified Death had killed them, but all the

once led, invested in, or something similar before they had become

and treated it well. But as soon as there appeared a significant loss, King Sanctified Death would rather

didn't help him become richer or more powerful, there

didn't hate them

to keep them around anymore,

a

him away from the frontlines, the fear

Samuel said. "I've committed a grave mistake today, and I am deeply sorry. I will do my best to repay everything as quickly as possible. There are still other areas in which I can

You had this entire investigation thing going on, and I essentially pulled you

don't you

doom appeared in

"I can go back to my investigations! I can also just

I know that you feel guilty about this entire thing, but this was your only mistake. Humans make mistakes.

in

Death hadn't said "first"

said

it's fine," King Sanctified Death said. "Just take a century off, and you will see that your concentration and efficiency

Samuel's breathing intensified.