Magic Weapons

More than half a month passed in the blink of an eye.

Jonathan knew that pondering things all day was useless. Some people grasped a level of understanding in a single instant, while others spent their whole lives trying.

So he devoted just two hours a day to it. The rest of the time, he studied Micro Magic Arrays, Magic Core Power Conversion Arrays, and Magic Conversion Arrays.

Over the past few days, Canina's money had been transferred to Jonathan's Magic Crystal Card.

Jonathan planned to put the Magic Weapons he'd made on the market and see how they did. Cesar saw him heading out with three weapons and Hilton, and asked curiously, "Where are you going?"

"To take this greatsword, Great Axe, and dagger to auction."

"They look pretty flashy. How much do you think they're worth?"

"These aren't ordinary weapons," Jonathan said. "They're Magic Weapons inscribed with Micro Magic Arrays. Even without being infused with magic power, they can unleash attacks like magic."

Cesar raised an eyebrow. "Show me."

Jonathan didn't refuse. He took the greatsword and handed the other weapons to Hilton.

He raised the greatsword and made a simple downward swing. A pale red glow spread across its surface, and a half-meter-wide path of flames shot straight ahead at such speed that an ordinary person would have no chance of dodging it.

Cesar's eyes lit up. "The attack isn't very strong, but it'd be quite useful to warriors below Level Seven."

"If the wielder knows even a little fire control, they could make the attack take many forms instead of having it shoot straight ahead like this."

"Impressive!" Cesar said. "How long did you spend developing this?"

"Just a few months. I'm mostly building on the work of those who came before me. If I had to start from scratch, it would take decades, maybe even a century, and I still might not manage it."

"Weapons like this are rare, but their attacks are much more powerful than yours. If you can mass-produce them, they could have a huge impact on everyone below Level Seven—even bring about a revolution."

"Lord Cesar, you're joking," Jonathan said. "Just mastering Micro Magic Arrays and being able to inscribe them requires the mental strength of a Level Seven Mage or higher."

"A warrior above the Saint Realm might be able to manage it if they studied the subject."

"But whether they're mages or warriors in the Saint Realm, why would they bother with this kind of thankless research?"

"I just happen to find it interesting."

"What do you say, Lord Cesar? Would you like to come to the auction house with me?"

"I've got nothing better to do. Let's go."

When they arrived at the auction house, a sale was just getting underway. After Jonathan explained what the weapons could do, the person in charge immediately added all three to the auction.

"Next up is a very special lot, one that was added at the last minute. It's a weapon, but no ordinary one. Even an ordinary person can use it to unleash an attack on par with second- or third-level magic."

The crowd erupted in chatter, their voices full of disbelief.

Then the auctioneer demonstrated it himself, and the crowd was convinced.

"This weapon is called a Magic Weapon. Its magic comes from the Magic Crystal in the handle, which is itself inscribed with a Magic Array. It can absorb Heaven and Earth Elements on its own and replenish its energy."

"According to the consignor, it takes seven days to recharge after being completely drained. When fully charged, it can unleash dozens of magical attacks."

"The weapon also has a Sturdiness Magic Array, making it far more durable than an ordinary weapon."

"Weapons of this kind are extremely rare, and very difficult to make."

"Flame Greatsword. The starting bid is one hundred thousand gold coins, and each bid must increase by at least five thousand. Let the bidding begin!"

The Flame Greatsword sold for two hundred and fifty thousand.

The Great Axe with a Sharp Stone Array went for two hundred and eighty thousand.

As for the dagger, not many people used them, so it sold for just one hundred and eighty thousand.

The raw materials for each weapon cost only around a thousand gold coins, but turning them into Magic Weapons multiplied their value dozens of times over.

That was the magic of innovation and technology!

In the future, if he could inscribe Micro Magic Arrays of the fifth or sixth level, he could make weapons nearly on par with divine artifacts—ones worth tens of millions of gold coins.

To those in the Saint Realm, weapons like these were quite useful. They valued things that could increase their strength far more than money.

From that day on, Cesar thought even more highly of Jonathan.

For three months, Cesar personally demonstrated the Laws of Darkness to him and let him experience them firsthand. Then, as soon as the three months were up, he left without hesitation.

Jonathan still hadn't grasped the concept of force, and the Laws remained beyond him. But if he really had understood them, Cesar would have thought he was seeing ghosts.

Even so, he'd gained something.

He already had a sense of the Heavy as Light technique. He figured he'd master the basics soon, and once he did, he was confident that his aptitude would help him improve quickly.

"It's time to deal with the Bred Family."

Jonathan looked up at the sky, then went to the Saber branch and asked Cross to tell Canina that the mission had failed because the information she'd provided was inaccurate.

At a hotel.

"What? I've waited all this time, and you're telling me the mission failed?"

"I'm starting to doubt your Saber's abilities!"

Cross said, "My Saber always dispatches assassins suited to their targets' strength. But the information you gave us was inaccurate, which led to the failure. I told you beforehand that if that happened, you'd be held mostly responsible, and my Saber would keep fifty percent of the payment."

"Impossible. Everyone knows that kid is only a Level Six Mage, and he only reached that level recently."

"But the assassin my Saber sent reported that Jonathan isn't just a Level Six Mage of two elements—he's also a Level Six warrior at the peak."

"He was careless and nearly died at Jonathan's hands."

"Your mistake nearly cost my Saber a gold-medal assassin. How is that not your fault?"

"A dual practitioner of magic and martial arts, and both at Level Six?"

"Just how talented is he?!"

"Patriarch Bred," Cross said, "do you want to go ahead with this? If you don't, my Saber can refund the remaining fifty percent of your payment."

Canina's face darkened as she paced around the hotel room. After a long while, she said, "I'm calling off the assassination. I can't afford to provoke a genius like him. As long as he doesn't know I was behind it, he won't come after me."

Cross smiled. "No problem. But if you want a refund, you'll have to wait a month or two."

"We've already paid the gold-medal assassin. He's hiding alone while he recovers, and we can't find him. But he'll be healed within a month or two. When he comes back, I'll have someone return your money."

Canina frowned and gave Cross a long look. "I trust your Saber's reputation. Don't let me down!"

"Don't worry. My Saber's reputation speaks for itself!"

On her way back to the Bred Family estate, Canina heard people everywhere on the streets talking about Jonathan.

"Have you heard? The top magical genius at Ulada Magic Academy isn't just a Level Six Mage—he's also a Level Six warrior at the peak."

"That's not all. I heard he was attacked a couple of days ago and got hurt."

Canina's expression changed, and she hurried back to the Bred Family estate.