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.

simply acted respectfully and nicely without meaning any of it and without caring whether the

ever seen this

they

made

kill anyone, but everyone knew whom they had

no one had ever seen them do

ever seen them

They were always nice.

or a concerned expression on

And yet...

people without

seemed fine, and that person still appeared

that person had killed the

For seemingly no reason.

didn't matter

killed Mage

yet, there was

Sanctified

punish or suppress him were Mage

end,

know my

the Communication Crystal. "I know that you've done a lot for the Judgment Palace, which is also why I trusted you with

the recent couple of minutes have been troublesome, Samuel.

understand,

any more than you, but I think it would

Samuel's heart rate increased.

why King Sanctified Death had killed them, but all the Mage Kings

led,

as something kept paying dividends, he was happy and treated it well. But as soon as there appeared a significant loss, King Sanctified Death would rather get rid of it since he viewed this as a sign of

Death, and if they didn't help him

didn't hate them or

best idea to keep them around anymore, which was why

was a

Death pulled him away from the frontlines, the fear 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

on, and I essentially pulled you out of that and pushed you

don't you take a

feeling of doom

a break," Samuel shouted with an urgent and almost pleading voice. "I can go back to my investigations! I can also just create Rank Eight

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

dread in Samuel's

Sanctified Death hadn't said "first"

had said "only"

"Just take a century off, and you will see that your concentration and efficiency will return

Samuel's breathing intensified.