Genius Wizard Hides His Sword Skills [EN]: Chapter 62

62. The Turncoat

“What do you mean? Become the Khan…”

It was hard to understand. I had already introduced myself as the Khan.

“As you know, our rift with humans is deep. Humans treat other races as different groups and even kidnap and traffic them.”

I fully agreed. It was also the act I hated the most.

“But the problem isn’t just between humans and other races.”

“Then what is it?”

“As you saw earlier, discord is growing even among the residents of Ego. Other races don’t look kindly on each other either.”

I could guess, given the conflict with the Tiger Clan. No matter how warlike the Tiger Clan was, the residents never bared their claws at each other.

‘Everyone used to get along so well….’

However, there was one thing I was curious about.

“But didn’t you say that the residents made a pact earlier? It seemed like they agreed not to attack each other.”

“You heard correctly. It’s a pact made by the chieftains hundreds of years ago. Never touch each other inside Ego.”

“So that’s how order is maintained.”

“Yes. It’s the minimum rule. But these days, some guys seem to be trying to break the pact. Like the Tiger Clan you saw earlier, they are increasingly disrupting the order.”

“…I see.”

It was a sad reality. To think that the other races I loved so much were living like this.

‘How did it come to this?’

His mournful eyes reached me again.

“So, I’m asking for a favor, swallowing my shame. Like your ancestor did in the old days, can you unite us?”

Of course, I wanted that too.

“I don’t have the power to do that yet.”

I shook my head. Just a 4-star mage. I didn’t have the skills to fight even the number one warrior of the Leaf Clan, let alone the Tiger Clan.

‘I’d just be ridiculed.’

In particular, to embrace those with strong competitive spirits like the Tiger Clan, I would have to show them martial prowess to match. It was impossible for me now.

“Of course, I’m not asking you to do something right away. But…”

Grantel stroked the tree he was leaning against. A huge tree that twenty adults couldn’t fully embrace with their arms.

“This tree is telling me. It says it feels a similar aura from you to what the Khan of a thousand years ago had.”

“This tree?”

“Yes. Our Leaf Clan can talk to trees. Don’t think it’s too crazy. The reason I trust you so readily is also because of this tree.”

It was one of the Leaf Clan’s abilities. Of course, I already knew about that ability through Kubeun.

‘My past life’s feeling is coming from me….’

It was a bit ironic. My mind is me, but my bloodline is completely different.

[Is it feeling the soul, or something like that?]

‘Well, you said you recognized me by my soul.’

[That’s right. What does appearance matter to a ghost?]

I could accept it. Oberon recognized me right away too.

‘So, this tree remembers me from a thousand years ago?’

However, the fact that this old tree in the back was a thousand years old was a bit interesting.

“Has this tree seen my ancestor?”

“So it says. It’s an old tree that’s over a thousand years old.”

“So, you knew the events of a thousand years ago in detail.”

Grantel wore a small smile.

“Yes. It’s an indispensable tree for the Leaf Clan. It’s literally a living witness to history. That tree is telling me to put hope in you.”

Grantel strokes the tree. New branches were growing where his hand touched.

‘They’re a mysterious race.’

A race that cherishes trees and desires peace. Someday, I wanted to fulfill their wishes.

“I see. I understand. Someday, if I have the ability, I will work hard for the residents of Ego.”

Even though the other races should be united, they’ve grown apart. That was something I didn’t want either.

“Thank you. I’m sorry for asking too much.”

“No. I’m just sorry that I can’t fulfill it right now.”

He smiled faintly and got up from his seat.

“It’s late, so I’ll take you back to the village. Let’s go.”

Grantel holds out his leaf hand to me.

“Yes. Thank you.”

I took his hand.

* * *

Thanks to the Leaf Clan members, we arrived back at the entrance of the forest. They escorted us to the edge of the forest so we wouldn’t run into other races.

“Did the story end well?”

Drew, who was relieved, stroked his chest.

“Fortunately, they were kind.”

“So, we solved it in one day?”

“Yeah. We found the Leaf Clan right away. I’m going back tomorrow and going deeper into Ego with them.”

“…Huh? It’s not over today?”

Drew’s eyes widened. He was expressing his embarrassment with his whole body.

“Now that we’ve found the Leaf Clan, we have to get help and wander around. We haven’t gotten anything yet. You have to get some elixirs too.”

“Ah, that’s true….”

I understood why Drew felt uncomfortable. The appearance of the other races must still be unfamiliar to him.

‘He even saw humans dying in front of him.’

The sight of them killing invaders without hesitation. Because they looked different, it was natural for the fifteen-year-old boy to be intimidated.

“But if we just follow the Leaf Clan, we won’t run into other races. They are the race that knows this forest best.”

“Really? Well, when I was with them, I didn’t run into other races. The Leaf Clan were kind, as you said.”

“Did they treat you well?”

“Yeah. While you went to talk to the chief, they gave me a strangely shaped fruit. It was really sweet and delicious, as you said!”

As expected, delicious food was immediately effective for Drew.

“Hmph……. I want to eat it again.”

He quickly shook off his anxiety about Ego. That’s when we were leaving the Ego forest.

‘What is it?’

Sarak.

As soon as we left Ego’s territory, I felt presences on both sides. Something was approaching us quickly from both sides.

‘……!’

Reflexively, I infused my dagger with aura and swung it.

Swish!

The sensation transmitted to my fingertips. I definitely felt something being cut by the dagger.

‘Who dares!’

[Did they weave a magic rope?]

What fell to the ground was a dense net. The side I quickly responded to was safe, but the net shot from the other side covered Drew as it was.

“Ugh!”

The guy just fell to the ground. Unfortunately, I couldn’t pay attention to him.

‘Who are they.’

It was more important to be wary of those who threw the net at us.

Soon, silhouettes were reflected in the moonlight. Six or seven figures were walking towards us.

I immediately followed Drew and lay down on the floor.

[Huh? What are you doing? Why are you lying down? You should be getting ready to fight.]

‘I have to pretend to be caught.’

Because it was late at night, there was a high probability that they didn’t see my actions.

Moreover, it was a magic rope that was hard to cut without aura.

[Well, it’s hard to think that you cut it off.]

The guys who think they caught me with the net. I had to take advantage of their weaknesses because I didn’t know their skills.

‘What is their purpose for targeting us?’

With a dagger in my right hand. As I waited, chanting Thundercloud in my mind. A voice broke through the tense atmosphere.

“You guys, you threw it wrong!”

It was a voice full of embarrassment.

“Hey! Pick it up quickly!”

The people who rushed to pick up the net.

‘Huh?’

I was also embarrassed by the unexpected development. Those who hurriedly picked up the net.

“Oh, I’m sorry, kids. We made a mistake because we misidentified you.”

The man who shouted first raised us up with a dumbfounded expression.

“Ah, yes. Well.”

There was nothing else to say. We were just as dumbfounded.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

I put the dagger back and nodded.

“I’m sorry. But are you two coming out of Ego at this hour?”

“Ah, we got lost inside. Luckily, we didn’t run into any other races.”

When I made up an excuse, a man with shaggy hair scratched his head.

“Hmm. I see. I guess they’re not around here. It’s late, so go back to Aital quickly.”

“Ah, yes.”

It was a bit awkward, but the man admitted his mistake. He bowed his head first, so there was nothing to say. I didn’t want to cause trouble.

“Let’s go, Drew.”

Away from the men, on the road to Aital.

“Oh, I was so surprised.”

Drew stroked his chest when they were out of sight.

“Are you hurt?”

“Yeah. But what kind of people are they?”

“I don’t know.”

An absurd thing that happened in the middle of the night. I decided to just move on because there was no damage except for being a little surprised.

“Let’s just think we stepped in poop.”

After walking for a while, we arrived back at Aital. Because it was late at night, most of the buildings were dark. It was a natural phenomenon because it was a small town with a small population. Only our lodgings were brightly lit.

“Oh? But that place is lit up too?”

Just as we were about to head to the lodgings, Drew’s gaze stopped at a place.

A building across the street. A faint light was leaking through the tightly closed door.

‘Is that the general store from earlier?’

The place I heard about in the conversation between the innkeeper and Rakhoon. Dorn’s general store that sells to other races.

‘They said they bought a magic bomb there too.’

All the other stores were closed. I couldn’t help but be interested in that place that was still lit.

“Drew, let’s stop by there for a second.”

“Okay. It’s fun to look around the general store.”

I immediately turned my steps and arrived at the place.

Creak-

As soon as I opened the door and entered.

“Uh, uh?”

The employee who was dozing off at the counter wiped his saliva. A young man staring blankly at us as if he was sleepy.

“Are you still open?”

“Ah, ah. Yes…….”

He seemed a little embarrassed, but I didn’t care.

‘Let’s see what they sell.’

The things they handled stimulated my curiosity enough.

The inside was quite spacious. The items on display were also quite numerous to match. It wasn’t a scale that suited a small city like Aital.

[Are all these things consumed here? There aren’t many people in Aital.]

‘Since they’re running a pop-up store anyway, they’ll sell it elsewhere.’

That’s how I scanned the items in the store.

Only for a moment. I couldn’t help but have doubts again.

‘These are for deception.’

The items on display were only those that could be seen in any general store. Only items that were easy to obtain were on display.

[It seems like they keep the ‘real’ ones separately?]

‘That’s right.’

It was a common method used by stores that usually deal with black market goods or prohibited items. They put out items for deception and only sell the items they really want to distribute to customers who have proven their trust.

“Hey.”

I went back to the counter. The employee scratched his head with lifeless eyes.

“Y-yes?”

“I’m looking for something more interesting. What should I do?”

“Hmm. The items on display are all there is.”

Of course, it was inevitable that a fifteen-year-old boy would look unpleasant. He wouldn’t want to show me the hidden items.

‘Should I reveal Delemain’s thing?’

If I borrowed the power of the continent’s best family, they might accept me as a customer. Just as I turned my head to the side and was about to turn my eyes red.

Creak-

The store door opened again.

“Ah, boss!”

The employee jumped up and greeted the newcomer.

[Oh. It’s going to be fun.]

Where I turned my head.

“Oh? Isn’t that the young master from then?”

The mustached host I saw at Dorn’s auction house was entering.