Emotionless Swordsmanship Genius

Chapter 68: Absorbing Magic

Count Fillmore leapt toward Karon, his hands gathering a fiery sphere at his core. Intense heat radiated in all directions as he hurled the flaming energy, aiming a punch directly at Karon.

This dense, high-powered magical attack would annihilate the entire area if it struck full force, an outcome the Count counted on to create chaos and make his escape. But Karon quickly understood the Count’s intentions, his recent experience with magic alerting him to the imminent threat.

Standing protectively in front of the unconscious child, Karon extended his right hand toward the incoming fireball. He had no choice but to reveal his strange ability, even if it meant others would witness it.

As the fireball met Karon’s hand, an incredible sight unfolded.

With a blazing glow, the flames were absorbed into Karon’s hand, and his body seemed to glow with a crimson hue, his muscles swelling with the influx of energy. The intense magic concentrated in his left hand, creating a visible, pulsing force.

Count Fillmore, fist extended, felt the rapid drain of his own energy as Karon absorbed the fireball. Panic flashed across his face as he tried to pull back, only to find himself unable to move, as though magnetically bound to Karon.

Feeling the immense energy building in Karon’s hand, he quickly muttered, “Shield!” and summoned all his remaining magic into a defensive barrier around himself.

Boom!

The condensed magic collided with the shield, erupting into flames that flared briefly before dying down. Count Fillmore, unable to scream, was thrown backward, crashing into the rubble, his body smoldering as he lay motionless.

The onlookers were stunned.

“What… what just happened?”

The crowd was left in utter disbelief. Not only had they witnessed powerful magic, but they had also seen someone absorb and redirect it with a physical strike, defying every rule of magic they knew.

Is this even possible?

All the assumptions they’d held about magic seemed to unravel before their eyes.

Meanwhile, on a pile of debris, the leader of the Peacemakers stared at Karon, eyes wide with fascination.

Who is this man?

In all his years, he’d never encountered anyone like Karon. He was clearly young, but his abilities were extraordinary. The only conceivable explanation was the use of a demonic stone, but there was no sign of one, and Karon’s body itself seemed to absorb the magic.

Lost in thought, he suddenly snapped back to reality, only to realize Karon had vanished from his view.

“Looking for your comrades?”

The Peacemaker leader shivered as he heard Karon’s emotionless voice from behind.

How did he…?

The leader’s senses had always been sharp, yet he hadn’t felt Karon’s approach. Although he was skilled, Karon had slipped past his defenses as if they were nonexistent. Frustrated and startled, he slowly turned to find Karon standing before him, his gaze fixed on the documents in the leader’s hands.

“Fascinating… How do you do it?” the leader asked, voice filled with curiosity.

Karon ignored the question. “Your men have been freed from the prison. Take them and leave that evidence here.”

The leader chuckled, recognizing Karon’s disinterest in answering. “Fine, take it. We won’t be needing it anymore.”

The leader handed over the evidence, documents incriminating Count Fillmore, without hesitation. He’d already seen his own men escaping, securing the safety of their operation.

As Karon turned to leave, the leader called after him. “Aren’t you curious who we are?”

“It doesn’t matter if you’re not a threat to me.”

“Fair enough. But your actions here have complicated things for us,” the leader muttered, scratching his head. “We finally had their trail, but now the mage has gone underground. We’ll be hard-pressed to find them again, especially with our cover blown.”

Karon’s reply was cold. “Sorry for the inconvenience.”

“You don’t sound sorry at all.”

“Think what you like,” Karon replied, brushing off the leader’s frustration.

The leader, though hidden behind his demon mask, felt his face tighten in irritation. Karon was unfazed and impossible to read, yet this fueled the leader’s curiosity more than his irritation.

Suddenly, Karon asked, “So, who are these people?”

“Curious after all?” the leader smirked, but Karon remained silent, prompting him to relent.

“We’re not supposed to talk about it, but… they’re agents from the magical nation of Kolima. That’s all I can tell you.”

The leader drew an imaginary line in the air, indicating the limit of his disclosures. Not that Karon was all that interested. His curiosity stemmed from his first experience with magic rather than any genuine interest in the people involved.

“You plan to keep pursuing them?”

“Probably. If the altar’s magic circle was intact, it’d make things easier, but with the explosion, it’s gone. We’ll have to start from scratch.”

“Magic circle?” Karon repeated.

“Yes. By studying its structure, we can identify where it originated,” the leader explained.

Karon’s face remained neutral as he replied, “I remember the magic circle.”

“What? You remember the circle’s design?” The leader’s voice betrayed his disbelief.

“Yes.”

“Could you… draw it for me?”

Karon didn’t hesitate. The leader quickly handed him a notebook and pen, watching in amazement as Karon sketched the complex magic circle from memory.

When Karon finished, the leader was speechless.

“Are you a mage?”

“No.”

“Then how can you remember such a complex design?”

Karon simply shrugged. “Who knows?”

The leader shook his head, astonished.

The Devil Mask wanted to ask more questions, but as the surrounding attention gradually focused on the two of them, he felt burdened.

“Anyway, the situation is settled, so I should be going. Thanks for the magic circle.”

As the Devil Mask was about to leave, Karon stopped him this time.

“Do you know anything about the Blue Raven Clan?”

The Devil Mask’s body flinched for a moment. Then, he slowly turned toward Karon and replied in a serious tone.

“They’re also one of the groups we’re monitoring.”

“I see.”

Karon nodded lightly. He felt they probably wouldn’t meet again as enemies.

Why was that? This strangely comforting feeling.

It seemed the other person felt the same.

“Thank you for looking out for my comrades. Somehow, I have a feeling we’ll meet again. Well then, farewell.”

The Devil Mask, cloak billowing, descended and disappeared with two members by his side.

Karon nodded to Hinshan, signaling him to step aside.

Descending from the rubble, Karon watched as Count Fillmore, bound and dragged out, was escorted. Beaten and tattered, he would be sent to the capital, where he’d be thoroughly investigated about where he learned magic and what he’d done with the kidnapped children.

The same went for his personal knights and subordinates.

At that very moment.

“Huh?”

Noticing a faint presence, Karon looked down and saw a child clutching the hem of his pants, staring up at him.

‘?’

Karon was typically sensitive to even distant presences.

Yet he hadn’t noticed until the child was right at his feet, clutching his clothes.

This was unthinkable from Karon’s perspective.

Karon, slightly dumbfounded by the unprecedented experience, stood silently, staring at the child.

A pale face dotted with freckles beneath dark red hair. Eyes gazing at him impassively, black and steady.

In a flash, Karon saw a faint red glow flicker in the child’s eyes.

As the silent standoff continued, Hinshan, who had returned from wrapping up, gently placed his hands on the child’s shoulders.

“Are you okay, child?”

But the child remained quietly staring at Karon.

“Where are your parents? Where is your home?”

With Hinshan’s continued questions, the child silently hid behind Karon’s legs.

Realizing there was no response, Hinshan decided to verify the child’s identity through Baron Johan.

But no one knew who the child’s family was.

“There’s no other choice. We’ll have to entrust him to the villagers. Take the child, please.”

“Yes, Lord Hinshan.”

Following Hinshan’s instruction, the subordinates pried the child away from Karon. Yet, as the child was led away by the soldiers, he continued to gaze intently at Karon.

Karon’s expression shifted ever so slightly as he watched the child go.

Was it sympathy? Or perhaps a hint of inner conflict?

Perhaps he was reminded of himself when he was orphaned and dragged off to the coliseum.

“Wait.”

At last, Karon called out urgently, drawing everyone’s gaze.

Karon, who usually spoke quietly, had raised his voice for the first time.

Hinshan, puzzled, looked at him questioningly.

“The child has absorbed the energy of the orb. If left alone, he might go berserk. We’ll take him with us.”

He fixed his gaze on Hinshan.

After a moment’s hesitation, Hinshan seemed to understand and shouted to Baron Johan.

“Ah! The child’s condition is critical. We’ll take him to the capital for treatment.”

“Understood. Please proceed.”

Without hesitation, Baron Johan returned the child to Hinshan. Only then did a sense of relief appear on the child’s face.

“What’s your name?”

“Andrew.”

Karon spoke to him first, and surprisingly, the child responded obediently.

Hinshan and Baron Johan couldn’t help but find it strange since the child had ignored everyone else’s questions.

‘Interesting. Does he favor Karon?’

Hinshan tilted his head, then dismissed the thought. There was no need to question Karon’s decision.

He then began preparations for departure. Count Fillmore and the remaining followers would be transported under the care of Baron Johan and the imperial forces.

Meanwhile, Karon was bidding farewell to the Condor Mercenary Group.

“I appreciate the offer, but as you can see, we prefer the freedom.”

“I see.”

Karon had suggested they accompany him, but Utallo refused without hesitation, and Karon didn’t push further.

“Where do you plan to go?”

“Not sure. We’re considering heading north, maybe to Tamauli. They say that country hires mercenaries to hunt down monsters.”

Utallo and his comrades had apparently already discussed this.

“If fate allows, we’ll meet again someday. Thanks for the help, as always.”

In response to Utallo’s words, Karon nodded slightly.

With that, the Condor Mercenary Group set off northward.

Soon, Hinshan returned, ready for departure.

As Karon mounted his horse, Andrew jumped up behind him, as though it were his rightful place.

“Oh?”

Hinshan looked on, slightly surprised.

Though Andrew seemed around ten years old, too small to mount the horse on his own, he had effortlessly jumped up by placing his hands on the saddle.

Even more surprising was Karon’s calm reaction, unbothered by Andrew’s presence behind him.

“Well, that’s convenient.”

Hinshan nodded approvingly and mounted his own horse.

Then, unable to contain his curiosity, he asked Karon, “So, how did you manage the magic?”

Karon glanced casually at his hands.

Perhaps, he thought, the energy of the black orb with its absorption ability had somehow integrated into him.

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