Genius Wizard Hides His Sword Skills [EN]: Chapter 104

104. The Eccentric Merchant

“Will you use the wish right away? If you can’t think of anything right now, you can use it later.”

Irahan finally admitted defeat. He lowered his head as if he had given up.

“Is there any need to postpone it? I’ll use it right now.”

Irahan was surprised by those words.

“R-Really?”

Usually, people saved it and used it years later.

A duel between prestigious families meant that.

Since they would become the backbone of each family someday, the value of the wish would only increase over time. They could even use the wish against the family later.

“Yeah. There’s something I want to ask right now.”

However, since I said I would use the wish right away, he couldn’t help but be surprised.

‘He must have a separate purpose for coming here….’

I was curious about the reason he came to Laptel, the most deserted village on the entire continent.

[Did he come to find something rare again this time?]

‘Yeah. There’s a high probability of that.’

It was a hunch.

I had already clashed with Killauf twice. They had accurate information about the Egg of Ratatoskr and Illimita.

‘They wouldn’t have come here without a reason.’

Moreover, Irahan didn’t leave the restaurant even after suffering humiliation, which made me even more suspicious.

[But isn’t the wish a bit of a waste? He might become the head of Killauf later. It would be a great help if you used it then.]

‘You never know what will happen in the future. By then, we might be in a situation where I can’t use the wish on him.’

Anyway, my goal was to uncover the secrets of the Pentagram and destroy them all.

‘It’s better to use it now.’

There was no need to save the wish. It was better to get the information I needed right away.

“Y-You’re just going to ask a question? Not asking for an item or demanding gold? Really?”

Irahan asked again. He must have been shocked, but I had no intention of changing my mind.

“That’s right.”

This reaction of mine made Irahan smile.

“What do you want to ask? I’ll tell you anything!”

Irahan shouted loudly. He could have made a grand wish, but he must have been happy that it ended with a simple question.

“It’s simple. Tell me the purpose of you coming here.”

However, his expression hardened at my question.

“…W-What purpose are you talking about?”

His sudden embarrassment made the corners of my mouth curl up.

‘He definitely has an ulterior motive, right?’

[Smells fishy.]

He definitely had another purpose for coming to Laptel.

“Why did the young master of Killauf come to such a remote place?”

“What do you mean why! I just came for a trip.”

“Hmm. You came for a trip, but you frequent a regular restaurant here? Who are you trying to fool?”

He couldn’t say anything and just rolled his eyes. His brow was furrowed deeply.

“Don’t lie. Do you want to tarnish your family’s honor?”

“W-What? Family honor?”

“Yeah. I’m using the wish I got from the duel now. The sacred God of Mana is watching, so how can you lie?”

“Tch!”

Irahan gritted his teeth. He could never tell a lie. Wizards always followed the rules of a duel made with mana. If they broke it, the God of Mana would curse them or something.

‘Seriously, they’re such an unpredictable bunch.’

From the doljabi ceremony [a Korean tradition where a child chooses an item to predict their future] to duels, the culture of wizards who believed in superstitions was still going on even after a thousand years.

“Haa. Okay, I’ll tell you.”

Irahan finally started to confess.

“Actually, I came here to find something.”

“What is it?”

“…A stone fragment, but I don’t know exactly what it is either.”

“Uh-huh! Even with the God of Mana watching?”

“Really! I’m just looking for it because the family told me to. I only know that it’s a broken stone fragment with strange patterns on it.”

“A broken stone fragment?”

“Yes. I don’t know anything else about it. I don’t even know what it is.”

Irahan was sincerely appealing. Since he even mentioned the God of Mana, he really didn’t know what the item was.

‘A broken stone fragment….’

However, my brow narrowed just from the explanation I heard.

[Could it be? It can’t be, right?]

‘If Killauf is trying to get it directly, then it’s likely.’

A broken stone fragment with various patterns. I could guess its identity.

‘Is the fragment of Optatio here?’

The fragment of Optatio. The item that the old men of the Pentagram desperately searched for even a thousand years ago. It was clear that they were still searching for it even after a thousand years.

[Hmm. It seems like these guys are trying to do something again.]

‘Right. They’re trying to find it again….’

The fragment of Optatio, which was said to have great power with just one piece. It was a stone fragment that contained the power to achieve anything when all the pieces were gathered.

‘What are they up to?’

Since it was a legendary item that could destroy the entire continent depending on how it was used, it was only natural to be curious about Killauf’s intentions.

[But it’s in Laptel?]

That was also a question. How could the fragment of Optatio be in a quiet town with few residents? In the end, I had no choice but to ask Irahan.

“You don’t even know what it is, so how are you going to find it here?”

“I’m just following the family’s orders. They told me to buy it if I saw it.”

“Hmm. They told you to buy it? From where?”

“D-Do I have to tell you that too? It’s a secret the family told me.”

A chuckle escaped my lips.

“Why are you laughing!”

“You can get it at the restaurant, right?”

“W-What?”

“You stayed in the restaurant even after being humiliated by me. The restaurant owner probably won’t sell it. Is the restaurant the meeting place?”

“T-That’s….”

Irahan glanced around for a moment. He finally sighed and continued.

“Haa. I received information that an eccentric merchant in this area has it. He frequents this restaurant, so I’ve been coming here every day. We didn’t make a separate appointment.”

Only then did I understand why he had been holding out in the restaurant.

[So that’s what it was.]

‘An eccentric merchant….’

He couldn’t leave because he didn’t know when the merchant would come.

[Who is it that has the fragment of Optatio?]

‘I don’t know. Since he comes here often, I should plant some people from Wonshimhoe [MC’s organization].’

I was also interested in the item.

[Are you going to get it too?]

‘Of course.’

Beyond simply using it for my own purposes, I had to get the fragment of Optatio to interfere with the unknown schemes of the Pentagram family.

“I see. I understand.”

“Is the question over now?”

“You don’t even know anything. What’s the point of asking more?”

“Tch! Anyway, I’m trusting you not to blab about it!”

Irahan glared at me. He suddenly asked.

“…Um. But how did you do that?”

“Do what?”

“The magic you used in the duel earlier.”

“Ah, Water Ball?”

“No. I’m curious about that too, but I’m talking about the one you used before that.”

“The one I used before?”

I couldn’t understand what he was talking about at all. I would have been interested in Suser’s Water Ball, but the only magic I used before that was a normal shield.

“No! The moving magic. You couldn’t have used Blink [a teleportation spell]. I saw a yellow light flickering on your feet?”

Only then did I realize what magic he was asking about.

[He must have seen the Aura.]

The Aura that I quickly deployed to avoid Chain Lightning. He must have seen that golden energy.

‘He must have mistaken it for magic.’

[That’s understandable.]

In Irahan’s mind, he couldn’t have thought of anything other than magic.

“That’s a secret. Don’t try to find out.”

“That’s unfair! I told you everything!”

“That’s because I won the duel.”

“Tch!”

“It’s a secret technique passed down within the family, so don’t try to find out.”

If I said it was a family secret technique, he would have no choice but to accept it.

‘Rather, it’s a good thing.’

[I agree.]

I was feeling uneasy about using Aura, but it was fortunate that he mistook it for magic.

“Oh, there are a lot of people in front of the restaurant today.”

The voice came at that moment.

Someone was walking between the members of Wonshimhoe and Irahan’s attendants.

“Hup!”

Irahan’s eyes widened at the sight. It was a blonde man with a bundle full on his shoulder.

Judging from Irahan’s reaction and his appearance, it was not difficult to recognize his identity.

‘Is that guy the merchant?’

Irahan, who was looking at me, ran to him.

“Excuse me! Are you the merchant named Dipon?”

The eyebrow of the man with the bundle twitched.

“Oh ho. A young master who knows my name. Do you want to buy something?”

It was clear that he was the eccentric merchant who had the fragment of Optatio.

* * *

“Let’s eat first since I’m hungry and then talk.”

The merchant Dipon. He wasn’t intimidated even in front of Delema and Killauf.

Rather, he led us to the restaurant table and naturally led the conversation.

“So, what are you looking for, young master of Killauf?”

Irahan was rather impatient.

“I heard you have a broken stone fragment with strange patterns on it. Sell it to me.”

“Ho ho. You recognize valuable items. Of course, I have it.”

Dipon rested his chin on one hand.

“How much are you thinking of paying?”

His eyes curved like a crescent moon.

“Hmm. How about 500 gold coins?”

Dipon’s eyes wavered at the large sum that came out of Irahan’s mouth. Of course, it was only for a fleeting moment, and he quickly maintained a blank expression.

“Hmm. You have to give me 700 gold coins to make it worthwhile.”

At those words, Irahan nodded slowly.

“…Okay. However, I can’t give it to you right now, so I’ll send it from my family.”

It must be something he desperately needed. Just as Dipon, who nodded, was rummaging through his bundle.

“I’ll give you 800 gold coins. Hand it over to me.”

When I intervened in their conversation, it was only natural that both of them were flustered.

“W-What? What are you talking about! Are you trying to take my things again this time!”

In the end, Irahan got angry and stood up from his seat.

“I’m just a little interested.”

However, if it was the fragment of Optatio, I had no intention of giving it up either.

“What is that! Don’t you have any business ethics! I told you that our family needs it!”

“Sorry. I’m not a merchant, so I don’t have any business ethics.”

“T-Tch! You bad!”

Dipon’s gums bloomed at the sight.

“Oh oh. It seems that the young master of Delema is also interested. Then shall we hand it over to the person who offers the higher amount between the two of you?”

He naturally shifted the atmosphere to an auction.

“Good. However, show me the item first. That way, we can make a deal.”

“Ah ah! That’s right. I forgot. Just a moment.”

Soon, a stone fragment was taken out of Dipon’s bundle.

“Here it is.”

A fist-sized stone fragment was held in Dipon’s hand.