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 and without

had ever seen this person

knew how they were when they

made

ever seen them fight or kill

had killed many people, but no one had ever seen them

more, no one had ever seen them sad, angry,

They were always nice.

either a smile or a concerned

And yet...

people

everything still seemed fine,

the next, that person had killed the other

For seemingly no reason.

didn't matter

killed

there was nothing anyone

this was King Sanctified Death, the strongest

him were

the end, Samuel

know my mistake, sir," he

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,

couple of minutes have been troublesome, Samuel. You

understand, sir,"

I really don't like this any more than you, but I think it would be better for everyone involved that you leave the frontline

Samuel's heart rate increased.

didn't know why King Sanctified Death had killed them, but all the Mage Kings

led, invested in, or something similar before they

kept paying dividends, he was happy and treated it well. But as soon as there

was just an object to King Sanctified Death, and if they didn't help him become richer or more powerful, there

them or

wasn't the best idea to keep them around anymore, which was why

was a

the frontlines, the

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 be

a bit overworked recently. You had this entire investigation thing going on, and I essentially pulled

why don't you take a

dark feeling of doom appeared in Samuel's

do not need a break," Samuel shouted with an urgent and almost pleading voice. "I can go back to my investigations! I can

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

dread in Samuel's heart

Death hadn't

had said "only"

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

Samuel's breathing intensified.