The Master of Language - T.M.L Chapter 22 (Part 1):

A tingling sensation spread throughout my body.

Fortunately, it wasn’t as severe as what I had felt with Kalasta in the past, where I couldn’t move my body at all.

I looked down at my body.

Everything in the world except my body seemed to be already under the control of that mage.

And that control was pressing against my entire body, threatening to take over.

I instinctively knew that there was nothing I could do with my psychokinesis right now.

But I shouldn’t let that feeling dominate me.

After all, psychic power is an invisible force.

The boundary between what’s real and what’s illusion is blurry.

I gripped my staff and magic book tightly with both hands.

“Move.”

As I muttered softly, I felt the pressure ease a bit.

That’s when the mage spoke.

“My name is Keren. By the way, that staff you’re holding. Isn’t it just a whittled piece of wood? You’re still an apprentice, aren’t you!”

I nodded in response to that question.

“That’s right, Senior Keren. I’m Ran, an apprentice.”

Keren smirked.

“Don’t tell me my magic was blocked by an apprentice? Even if I’ve been trapped in water for over a month, my magic couldn’t have weakened this much! Ran, was it? Are you a mage from the New Continent?”

“I suppose so. My master is from the New Continent.”

At those words, Keren’s gaze softened a bit.

Master Abana had taught me several ways to survive in the cruel and merciless world of magic.

The first was to mention one’s master.

Just look at the case with Speria, you can see how well it works.

Even if they were about to kill you, it makes them think twice.

Keren looked back and forth between me and the Count, then said:

“Hmm, I didn’t expect to encounter a mage when I came out into the world after so long.”

He folded his arms and glanced behind him.

The screams of what might be soldiers or pirates could be heard from time to time.

At that moment, Count Furst stepped forward.

“I’ve heard you’ve been hired by Franche. I’ll offer you better terms in Baritone. What do you say?”

Keren turned his head back to the Count and growled.

“Do you think I took this job because I needed money from ordinary people?”

“Then what do you need?”

“It goes without saying. Something you ordinary people can’t even obtain. Franche Kingdom happened to get it and promised to give it to me.”

“Even so, just in case, if you could tell me, I might be able to…”

Keren swung his right hand sharply. At that moment, I extended my staff to the side, shielding the Count.

Pashht.

A collision of psychokinesis powers that could only be sensed mentally occurred in front of us. And it created a small shockwave, making Count Furst step back slightly.

I could block it.

“You blocked it again? Are you sure you’re an apprentice?”

Hostility rose again in Keren’s eyes.

I spoke politely.

“He’s my employer, so I have to protect him.”

“Ha. Is that so? What, are you trying to get paid? You’re certainly an apprentice alright. Just looking at you, I can tell you’re a failure who gave up the path of magic and returned to the ordinary world.”

Look who’s talking, employed by ordinary people himself.

“……”

When I didn’t say anything, he slightly raised his head and asked.

“I get how you blocked the first one. You probably gathered moisture. But that second one. What was that? You used water magic, right? That’s why the ship sped up?”

“Yes.”

“How did you do that? I’m not completely ignorant of water magic, but your magic seems a bit strange. It doesn’t seem to be mixed with wind magic either.”

Is this why he appeared like this?

I answered in a low voice, not relaxing my tension.

“I minimized water resistance as much as possible.”

“Wouldn’t the ship sink then?”

“I left the surface tension.”

Keren tilted his head once and said.

“Is that even possible? No, even if it were possible, it would just slip. It wouldn’t get that fast.”

“I only did that for the parts of the ship touching the water. I left resistance for the oars.”

“Really? How do you distinguish that?”

“The oars are dipped into the water once and then pulled out. That’s how you distinguish it.”

Keren opened his mouth slightly and said.

“You controlled all that?”

“Yes.”

He quietly looked at me.

It was probably possible thanks to the herb water I had been taking frequently, but there was no need to tell him that.

He soon spoke in a low voice.

“I’ll be honest. It would be a waste to kill you. So, come under me willingly. I’ll spare your life. Walk the path of magic again under me.”

“I’m sorry, but that’s difficult, senior. I already have a good master.”

“Don’t lie. Working for ordinary people just for money is a disgrace to mages. If you really had a master, they wouldn’t have allowed such a thing.”

“It’s not because of money. It’s because of a connection, just like you.”

“Your lie is clumsy. Are you just saying whatever comes to mind based on what I said? Besides, using water magic while being human. It’s obvious you awakened magic on your own. Even if it’s true that you have a master, they’re already insignificant for teaching you water magic.”

“My master is an elf.”

At those words, Keren’s face contorted as much as it could.

“Enough. There’s a limit to bragging. It’s because of that poor character that you couldn’t get past being an apprentice and gave up the path of magic. I’ve changed my mind. I’ll just kill you.”

Dangun

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