[Translator - Kiteretsu]

    [Proofreader - Kyros]

    Chapter 47

    Those who reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship all possessed a unique domain of their own.

    The “Sword Area.”

    A space where they could fully unleash their martial prowess.

    Even if a Sword Master tried to conceal it, most of them couldn’t erase the final traces of this domain.

    And its origin point was their body—an unavoidable mark, no matter how much they attempted to hide it.

    ‘Thanks to that handshake, I identified it easily.’

    The drunken, staggering one-eyed elf, Eldir, hardly looked impressive at first glance.

    He wasn’t pretending to be drunk. He was genuinely intoxicated, stumbling as if he could barely keep himself upright.

    There wasn’t a shred of composure in his demeanor.

    If not for the handshake, it would’ve been nearly impossible for Kaylen—at his current level—to recognize him as a Sword Master.

    But once they made physical contact, the truth became clear.

    Eldir was a Sword Master.

    Not someone who had lost his strength, but a true Sword Master, complete with an active Sword Area.

    ‘So, Sword Masters aren’t extinct after all.’

    Sword Masters, long relegated to legend.

    In modern times, while wizards had transitioned to the rank of “Meisters” and flourished with their compatibility with mana suits, knights had been left behind—stuck as Sword Experts and demoted to mere escorts for the wizards.

    And yet, unexpectedly, here in the Fairy’s Tower, Kaylen had encountered a Sword Master—someone thought to be extinct.

    “Agh, my lips are itching. I feel like spilling everything!”

    “Brother, please, just shut up.”

    “Eheheh. Hey, human. You know, doesn’t the Fairy’s Tower seem a little suspicious to you? Huh? I mean, they’re lending out mana suits without engraving marks? Heheh. There’s a hidden story behind all this, you know...”

    “Ugh, for the love of—!”

    Smack!

    Eldir’s back was struck again, causing him to sway before letting out a drunken laugh.

    At a glance, he looked like a lunatic.

    If Kaylen hadn’t detected the power of a Sword Master, he would have questioned why someone like this was even here.

    But now that he knew Eldir’s true identity, he couldn’t dismiss the elf’s words so easily.

    “That ‘hidden story’ you mentioned... I’m curious to hear it,” Kaylen said.

    “Whoooa~ really? You wanna know?”

    “And that drink of yours looks quite intriguing.”

    “Hah! Finally, someone who gets it! This, my friend, is none other than Eldir’s Special Brew. A masterpiece I created to cope with the pain of heartbreak... You see, it requires something rare to make—like mermaid tears, you know, and—”

    “Enough!”

    Eldir’s rambling was abruptly interrupted as Irene hurriedly pulled him away.

    “Ahaha! My brother is very drunk and tends to say all sorts of nonsense when he’s like this. Please, Lord Kaylen, pay him no mind.”

    “Hey, Irene! Why are you stopping me? Huh? Are you ashamed of me?”

    “...Lord Kaylen.” Irene turned to him with an expression that, for once, was devoid of her usual pretense. “Please, I beg of you. Don’t entertain my brother any longer. Just head to the Hall of Glory and leave us here quietly. I’m asking you sincerely.”

    Behind her, Eldir raised his bottle, heckling, while Irene’s face was etched with genuine desperation.

    For the first time, Kaylen saw a glimpse of true emotion behind her typically artificial demeanor.

    From her expression, Kaylen could feel Irene’s deep embarrassment.

    If that was an act, then elves truly were the gods of deception.

    “...Understood,” he said at last.

    But did she truly not know her brother was a Sword Master?

    The question lingered in his mind, yet he decided to spare Irene further humiliation for now.

    After all, the reason he’d come this far was to examine an A-rank Mana Suit in person.

    He was curious about why they lent out mana suits without engraving marks, but...

    For now, he resolved to focus on seeing the A-rank Mana Suit itself.

    The Hall of Glory

    Located at the center of the Fairy’s Tower, the Hall of Glory was already bustling with elves.

    Most of them were female.

    Eldir’s lips curled into a sly grin as he surveyed the room.

    “Well, well. Looks like we’re in a field of flowers.”

    “Brother, please... shut your mouth,” Irene hissed.

    “Heh, you don’t belong here, Irene. You’re a withered flower—reek of decay, you do.”

    “Ugh, honestly!”

    Smack! Smack!

    The mention of the oracle sharply deflated Irene’s fervor.

    Among the elves, it seemed the oracle carried significant weight.

    “Heh. Then I’ll be the guide from now on, Irene,” Eldir said, staggering toward Kaylen and linking arms with him.

    “But before that... how about a banquet, my friend?”

    “No banquets. Let’s just go.”

    “Aw, come on. Look, that one over there—Mary, isn’t she pretty? Slim, but curvy in all the right places. Just your human type.”

    “She doesn’t catch my eye.”

    “Oh-ho. High standards, huh? Alright, then... how about Bella? Mary does look a bit fierce, but Bella’s got that sweet, innocent vibe, doesn’t she?”

    “Innocent-looking ones often hide volcanoes inside.”

    “Heh. As long as you don’t set it off, it’s fine.”

    “If I could control when it erupts, it wouldn’t be a volcano, would it? Volcanoes erupt on their own.”

    “Ha... How’d you figure that lady had such a nasty temper?”

    Among the elves Eldir was trying to connect Kaylen with, each seemed to have quite the personality.

    From Kaylen’s experience with countless women in his past life, none of them appeared simple to deal with.

    “Enough with the nonsense. Please lead the way.”

    “Alright, alright. Was thinking of grabbing a drink at the banquet, but... guess you’re no fun.”

    “Then entertain yourself while you guide me.”

    “How, exactly?”

    “Didn’t you say earlier your mouth was itching to talk?”

    “Ah-ha.”

    Eldir perked up his one remaining ear, clearly amused by the suggestion.

    “Brother! Watch your words!” Irene scolded.

    “Hey, this guy’s part of our Fairy Tower now. Why should I watch what I say?”

    “Ugh... At least try to keep it respectful! It wasn’t easy bringing him here.”

    “Of course. He’s one of us now. Don’t worry.”

    Step, step.

    Eldir walked through the Hall of Glory and exited the space. Kaylen and Irene followed closely behind.

    “Why are you tagging along, Irene? Ignoring the oracle, are you?”

    “The oracle said you should guide him, not that you should guide him alone. There’s no rule saying I can’t come along, is there?”

    “Heh, what kind of wordplay is that? You’re worse than me, ignoring the oracle like that.”

    Eldir chuckled and kept moving, staggering slightly as he went.

    They passed through the Hall of Glory, heading deeper into the Fairy Tower. Even from its innermost point, Eldir led them further downward, into the subterranean depths.

    “So, human friend, how much do you know about Mana Suits?”

    “This man faced off against an S-Rank Mana Suit, Glacia,” Irene interjected.

    “As for Mana Suits... I still have much to learn.”

    Step, step.

    “Well, if you went up against an S-Rank Mana Suit, you’ve got a pretty good idea already. There are only four S-Rank Mana Suits in existence—one for each elemental attribute.”

    “Yes, that’s what I’ve been taught.”

    S-Rank Mana Suits.

    Said to choose their own masters, these rare artifacts existed as one per elemental affinity.

    “S-Rank Mana Suits... are something else. They’ve got a ton of restrictions, but their performance is unmatched. Sure, Mana Suits range from A, B, C, D, all the way to F, but S-Rank is on a completely different level. S-Rank operates in a league of its own, like it’s playing in the heavens.”

    “That seems to be the case.”

    “And because of that, every Magic Tower has its aspirations. Minor Towers aim to create A-Rank suits, while the major ones dream of crafting S-Rank Mana Suits. Our Fairy Tower is no exception.”

    Whiiiiir.

    Deep within the underground chamber, a faint blue glow illuminated the darkness.

    Five pieces of equipment hovered in midair, bathed in streams of blue light.

    - Helmet

    - Chestplate

    - Gauntlets

    - Boots

    - Staff

    Each piece emanated immense water mana, surging within the luminous beams.

    “That’s...”

    “The Guardian—an A-Rank Mana Suit crafted by the Fairy Tower.”

    Eldir, who hadn’t touched a drop of alcohol on the descent, finally took a swig before speaking again.

    “This is the Mana Suit you’ll be borrowing... and the one that will rob you of your future.”

    [Translator - Kiteretsu]

    [Proofreader - Kyros]