Chapter 83: Strategic-Level Mage (Second Update! Subscription and Monthly Votes Requested!)

"Marylin."

Yuri called out to the maid beside her.

The maid didn't say a word but somehow produced a teacup, placing it in front of Rigel and pouring him a steaming cup of black tea.

The aroma of the black tea was delightful, and even Rigel, who usually had no particular fondness for it, couldn't help but brighten up and take a sip.

The moment he did, Rigel immediately regretted it.

This is way too sweet!

It felt like at least a dozen teaspoons of sugar had been added, making Rigel's tongue almost numb from the sweetness!

Rigel's lips twitched a few times, wanting to say something but ultimately gave up.

Because he saw Yuri drinking the same black tea with a look of enjoyment, clearly very satisfied with it.

Rigel wasn't lacking in emotional intelligence and naturally wouldn't deliberately point anything out at this moment.

On the contrary, Yuri seemed to have been observing Rigel all along. Seeing him sit there in silence, she wore a faint smile.

"Seeing you in such good spirits, I'm relieved," Yuri said. "When the servant went to your room to deliver food and knocked but got no response, they thought you were resting and didn't dare to disturb you. But you stayed in your room for a whole day without eating or drinking. If the protective magic system of this mansion hadn't been activated, I would have thought you were in danger again."

One could imagine that if Rigel had appeared any later, Yuri might have ordered someone to break into his room to check on him.

After all, Rigel had been the target of an assassination attempt in this mansion before.

It was only natural for Yuri to be more concerned.

"I made you worry," Rigel put down the teacup and looked at Yuri, saying, "But as you can see, I'm in much better condition now, and there's nothing to worry about."

"I can tell," Yuri scanned Rigel up and down, nodding in satisfaction. "You look much better than you did yesterday."

Rigel no longer looked sickly; his complexion was no longer pale, and he appeared very energetic and in good condition. Even his eyes had changed, sharp and ready like a sword about to be drawn, which surprised Yuri a bit.

However, Rigel's recovery was a good thing.

"What are your plans next?"

Yuri stirred the black tea in her cup with a spoon, asking casually.

Rigel didn't hesitate much.

"Since I'm recovered, I plan to leave and not trouble you any longer."

This was a decision Rigel had made before returning.

The Franzel family was different from the Loki Family.

The Loki Family was Rigel's home, and the members of the family were connected by the blood of the main god, making them family. Rigel was Loki's child and a member of the Loki Family, so staying there felt right.

But the Franzel family was different.

Rigel had no ties to this place, and the original owner of his body had no connection to this marquis family. Otherwise, he would have been overjoyed.

Yuri was Rigel's savior, and she had taken him in to help him recover. This was a kind gesture, but not a reason for Rigel to stay and live off her indefinitely.

The marquis family had already shown great kindness by letting a peasant boy recover in their home. Now that Rigel was healed, it wouldn't be right to trouble them further.

However, Yuri frowned.

"Is that really a good idea?" Yuri stopped stirring her tea and said to Rigel, "There are still people out there who want to kill you. If you stay here, they might be more cautious, but once you leave, they won't have any reservations."

In other words, once Rigel left, he might face another assassination attempt and be in danger again.

Rigel couldn't have failed to consider this.

But—

"This is ultimately aimed at me," Rigel said calmly. "I don't want to trouble you any further."

"I don't mind," Yuri smiled. "It's rare to have a friend I can converse with freely. I would welcome you staying here."

"But I can't hide here forever," Rigel looked straight at Yuri. "I have to face this eventually."

Hearing Rigel's words, Yuri fell silent.

Not just Yuri, but Marylin also glanced at Rigel subtly, seemingly surprised by his words.

"What's wrong?"

Rigel was puzzled by their reactions.

"Nothing," Yuri shook her head, sighing. "I just feel that you're different from what I've heard."

Rigel fell silent.

He knew what Yuri meant.

As a member of a marquis family, Yuri could easily investigate Rigel and learn about his past.

Or rather, she had investigated and learned about the original owner of Rigel's body.

What kind of person was the original owner?

He had the courage to leave his rural home and travel far to the big city to pursue a higher status, which could be considered a bold and ambitious move.

However, once his talent was discovered and people started to fawn over him, he lost his original aspirations and became arrogant, spending his days with a group of noble heirs, completely corrupted by the city's glamour.

How could such a person be viewed favorably by others?

His reputation was likely quite poor.

For Yuri, who had seen Rigel's current behavior, this was a significant contrast.

If the original owner had learned that someone was watching him and planning to kill him, he would have been terrified and unwilling to leave even if forced.

Moreover, meeting a marquis family member like Yuri might have seemed like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to him.

If he could curry favor with the marquis family, wouldn't the status and power he sought be within easy reach?

This was what the original owner would have considered.

While Rigel was thinking this, Yuri spoke again.

"Even though you say that, I think it's better for you to stay here for now."

Yuri's words made Rigel look up.

After a moment, Rigel spoke, "Have you found any information on those who attacked me?"

Yuri's reaction made Rigel think of this possibility.

Unfortunately, Rigel was about to be disappointed.

"Still nothing, they've covered their tracks very well," Yuri shook her head. "But because they've covered their tracks so well, I suspect this might not be just about some powerful figure targeting you."

Hearing this, Rigel's brows furrowed. "What do you mean?"

Yuri didn't answer immediately.

She seemed to be lost in thought for a moment, looking down at her teacup before asking, "You know who I am, right?"

Rigel paused, then answered honestly.

"Probably not many people in this country don't know you."

Rigel looked straight at Yuri and continued, "You are the head of the Franzel family, a marquis of the Ginass Kingdom, and the kingdom's chief court mage, one of the strongest mages on the continent with the title of 'Strategic-Level Mage.'"

That was indeed Yuri's true identity and the reason Rigel considered her one of the most remarkable people in the world.

This girl, who looked like a wealthy young lady, was not the marquis's daughter or the next heir but had already taken over the head of the Franzel family and been personally granted the marquis title by the king.

The Franzel family was once a fallen noble family, but with the appearance of this talented girl, they rose to become one of the most powerful noble families in the Ginass Kingdom, second only to the royal family.

The reason for this was that Yuri Franzel was an extraordinary person.

Despite her young age, she had the strength to become the kingdom's chief court mage.

Two years ago, she became one of the strongest mages on the continent, earning the title of 'Strategic-Level Mage,' causing a sensation throughout the Ginass Kingdom.

Thus, she became the brightest and most dazzling star in the kingdom.

But hearing Rigel's words, Yuri laughed.

"The strongest mage on the continent?" Yuri said with a hint of self-mockery. "I'm just a tool for war, using the most advantageous magic for war. How can such a war tool be considered the strongest mage?"

Rigel was speechless.

He understood why Yuri said this.

In this world, magic was generally divided into three levels: Combat-Level, Tactical-Level, and Strategic-Level.

Combat-Level magic refers to spells with low power and a narrow range, suitable for individual combat or small group battles.

Tactical-Level magic refers to spells with greater power and a wider range, capable of destroying a village or a battalion in one strike.

Strategic-Level magic refers to spells with immense power and a vast range, capable of instantly destroying a city or even a small country.

While it might seem that Strategic-Level magic is the strongest and Combat-Level the weakest, this isn't entirely true.

Indeed, Strategic-Level magic is extremely powerful, but its conditions for use are very strict, making it almost impossible to use in a battle. Its only use is as a weapon of mass destruction on the battlefield.

Combat-Level magic, though the weakest, is easy to use and is the mainstream in battles.

Therefore, many in the industry believe that mastering Strategic-Level magic doesn't make one the strongest; it merely makes one a tool of war. The truly powerful mages are those who excel in Combat-Level magic.

However, this view is not popular in the kingdom or among the common people.

The reason is simple.

This is a world with many countries and factions, constantly at war.

What the kingdom values is not someone who can win battles but a weapon that can instantly destroy enemy forces on the battlefield.

Thanks to this, both the Ginass Kingdom and other countries place great importance on mages who can use Tactical-Level and Strategic-Level magic.

If a mage can use Tactical-Level magic, they can be ennobled and recruited into the kingdom.

If a mage can use Strategic-Level magic, they are considered a national treasure, and the kingdom will go to great lengths to recruit them, even granting them noble status and power.

The original owner had this in mind when he left home after discovering his vast magical power.

To cast Tactical-Level and Strategic-Level magic, one needs a significant amount of magical power.

Yuri was a successful example.

She became a Strategic-Level Mage, one of the strongest on the continent, and in return, the Franzel family gained its current status.

However, Yuri seemed unimpressed by this.

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(End of Chapter)