I AM A MAGE BUT WITH MILF SYSTEM

Chapter 782: The exchange of compliments

"Captain Voss," the Duke repeated. "Please, be seated. We have prepared a place for you and your men. After you have rested, we can discuss the details of the King’s upcoming visit."

Captain Voss bowed once more before leading his three knights to the seats prepared for them on the side of the raised platform. The hall remained silent as they took their places, the oppressive aura surrounding the four men making everyone feel slightly on edge.

Louisa watched the captain closely, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. There was something off about him, something that made her instincts scream caution. She glanced at Liam again, but her husband’s attention was still partially fixed on Olivia.

She suppressed a sigh of frustration.

Julian had noticed as well.

Unlike the Duke, who could only sense something strange and heavy within the captain’s mana, Julian could easily see through the false aura that Captain Elandor Voss was emitting.

He closed his eyes for a brief moment, centering his consciousness and delving deeper.

The first layer of aura surrounding the captain was a carefully crafted reddish veil. It was dark and oppressive, yes, but not quite evil—it seemed designed to intimidate and unsettle those around him without revealing too much.

Most mages in the hall would stop their analysis here, assuming this was simply the man’s natural presence.

But Julian pushed further.

Slowly,

The reddish layer gave way to another... purplish in hue and significantly darker. This one carried a colder, more malicious intent and felt like shadows that had learned to hunt and corrupt over the years.

It was stronger than the first layer and clearly meant to conceal what lay beneath.

Julian did not stop there.

He delved even deeper, using his own powerful will to cut through the layers like a blade. Finally, after passing through the second veil, he could see it clearly.

The captain’s true aura.

It was black.

Pure, abyssal black that swirled menacingly like a thick cloud. The aura moved with a lazy, almost sentient rhythm, as if it possessed a will of its own—constantly shifting and coiling around the captain’s core like a living parasite. Julian remained silent for a long moment as he realized that this energy undeniably carried the stench of death.

It also seemed to be the aura that he had felt this morning, yet something about it felt... diluted.

Julian found it strange.

He had died to the energy of death, so to some extent, he knew exactly how it felt to stand before it.

Earlier, just the thought of having to face that energy again had been enough to make his very soul tremble in fear. The memory of those black flames consuming and erasing his existence without mercy had left a scar deeper than any physical wound. He had expected the same reaction now.

But now, as he stood face to face with this manifestation, there was no such reaction.

His soul remained steady. His heart did not race. His body did not tremble. There was caution, yes, and a sharp awareness of danger, but not the soul-deep dread he had anticipated.

Is this not the energy of death? he thought to himself.

But the energy definitely carried the stench of death. So how could it feel so different in its effect on him?

As Julian’s mind raced to find an explanation, he could only reach one logical conclusion.

Maybe this captain was someone under the Servant of Death. Or perhaps he was being controlled by it. And from how it seemed, the Servant of Death taught a lesser form of death energy to its subordinates.

This realization brought both relief and new concern.

Relief, because it meant he was not facing the full might of the entity that had ended him before. Concern, because it confirmed that the Servant was actively spreading its influence.

If it was teaching this corrupted energy to chosen individuals, then the corruption was spreading like a plague throughout the kingdom. How many more "captains" like this existed? How many nobles, knights, or even commoners had already been tainted?

This was growing larger and more dangerous with every passing moment.

**

The Duke, unaware of the deeper truth, spoke with measured courtesy.

"Captain Voss, we welcome you and your men to the Astran Duchy," he said, his voice warm yet authoritative.

He paused for a moment, studying the man carefully, then added,

"But it seems that you are a man of great power. I have heard of your name, but you have exceeded my expectations."

The captain smiled politely and bowed his head slightly.

"Your Grace, you flatter me. I am nothing compared to a man like yourself, known throughout the kingdom for your wisdom and strength."

The Duke laughed lightly, the sound echoing through the hall.

"You are simply being humble."

The captain shook his head, maintaining his respectful demeanor.

"I would not dare. Your Grace’s achievements in the war against the beasts from the northern forest are an inspiration to thousands of knights."

He then turned to face Liam, his expression remaining courteous.

"Lord Liam himself is one of the kingdom’s greatest assets. He has quelled many rebellions and cleared countless bandit-infested regions."

His eyes met Liam’s for a brief moment, and he offered a small nod with a faint smile. Liam nodded back as well but said nothing, his face remaining carefully neutral.

The captain then finally turned to Olivia.

"And our beautiful Duchess here seems to have broken through as well. This family is truly blessed by the gods above."

The hall’s mood lifted noticeably at the captain’s words. And why would it not? An envoy representing the king himself was praising their family, and that clearly suggested that the king had not fallen out with them. Something important must have taken place for such high praise to be given so openly.

The Duke chuckled and responded, "You missed the most important member of our family. He has brought us the greatest achievement, and we could never hope to catch up to him."

The captain’s brows rose at that.

"What do you mean, Your Grace?" he asked.

The Duke gestured toward Kraven, clear pride shining in his eyes.

"My son here has reached the rank of Arch Mage."