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.

nicely without meaning any of it and without caring whether the other

this person be

knew how they

one that made

fight or kill anyone, but everyone knew whom they had

people, but no one had ever seen them do

one had ever seen them

They were always nice.

either a smile or a concerned expression on their

And yet...

person killed people without any

fine, and that person still

the next, that person had

For seemingly no reason.

matter who

had even killed Mage

there was nothing anyone

King Sanctified Death,

could punish or suppress him were Mage Emperors, and they didn't

end,

know my

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 being

been troublesome, Samuel. You know that, right?" King Sanctified

I understand, sir," Samuel

any more than you, but I think it would be better for everyone involved that you leave the frontline to

Samuel's heart rate increased.

King Sanctified Death had killed them, but

people that he had once led, invested in, or something similar

as soon as there appeared a

to King Sanctified Death, and if they didn't help him become richer or more powerful,

didn't hate them or despise

around

a necessary

him away from the

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 be useful to the Judgment Palace. Is there anything where you want me to help

Death said with his friendly voice, "I think you've been a bit overworked recently. You had this entire investigation thing going on, and

don't you take

feeling of doom appeared in

almost pleading voice. "I can go back to my investigations! I

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

in Samuel's

Sanctified Death hadn't said

had said "only"

King Sanctified Death said. "Just take a century off,

Samuel's breathing intensified.