Genius Wizard Hides His Sword Skills [EN]: Chapter 105

105. The Eccentric Merchant (2)

“Oh, oh!”

Irahan exclaimed, immediately reaching out his hand.

He couldn’t hide his excitement at the sight of the Optatio fragment.

“Whoa there, young master.”

Dipone guarded the stone fragment from him.

“It hasn’t been decided yet who will actually purchase it.”

He glanced at us with a sly look.

“I, I said I’d buy it first! You said it was fine earlier too!”

“I’m sorry to say, but I’m just a merchant. I have no choice but to sell to the person who offers the higher price. I hope you can understand with a generous heart.”

“Haa.”

In the end, Irahan glared at me with a fierce look.

“Aren’t you being too much!”

Finally, a shout burst from his throat.

“Dipone said it too. If you want it, just pay more. Don’t you even know such basic market principles?”

“Even so, there’s such a thing as morality! It was like this with that bracelet last time! Are you going to be like this every time?”

He pointed to the Illimita [likely a magical bracelet] on my wrist. A chuckle escaped me at the sight.

“Are you laughing again!”

“No, it’s not that. Are you really that upset?”

“Wouldn’t you be if you were me?”

“Alright. Then you can have this one.”

“……Uh, huh?”

Irahan blinked, surprised by my sudden change in attitude.

“You buy it. I’ll give up.”

“R-Really? Why all of a sudden?”

“Think of it as me giving this up in exchange for you owing me a favor.”

The frown on his face turned into a bright smile.

“Of course! If you give this up to me, I’ll forget everything that happened between us! Not only that, but I, Irahan Killave, promise to be a great help to you in the future!”

Irahan thumped his chest, making grand promises. He really needed that broken stone fragment.

“Hmm. Does the young master of Delema really not need this stone?”

Our conversation made Dipone’s eyebrows twitch. Now that I had given up on buying it, it would be difficult to raise the price any further.

“It seems my friend needs it more, so I’ll concede.”

“Hmm……. You do know the value of this stone, right?”

“The value of the stone?”

“Yes. I’ve heard that if you collect all these fragments, you’ll gain the power to achieve anything. Are you really giving up such a thing?”

He tried hard to reignite the competition, but.

“It’s alright. It’s not like I’ll be able to collect all the other fragments anyway.”

My mind was already made up.

‘He’s trying to sell snake oil.’

[I know, right? This scammer.]

The moment I saw the stone fragment in his hand, I knew it was a fake.

I had seen a fragment of Optatio once a thousand years ago, so I could be sure.

‘Bringing a fake with no energy in it.’

It wasn’t just a simple stone. It was a stone fragment imbued with an indescribable energy. A divine energy that anyone in the world could feel.

[It can’t be real. That’s just a rock.]

That was why I decided to let Irahan have the stone fragment.

“Hmm. I understand. If that’s the case, I have no choice. I’ll have to sell it to the young master of the Killave family.”

Irahan, unaware of anything, had a wide grin on his face.

“Good! Then I’ll send you the 600 gold coins as we discussed!”

He rushed to complete the deal, afraid that I might change my mind.

‘I feel sorry for him again this time.’

[Sigh. Buying just a rock for 600 gold coins. You’re such a bad kid.]

‘There’s no need to tell him it’s a fake. He’s so happy about it.’

If he wanted to buy it, what could I do? Besides, I could gain favor with him, so there was no need to stop him.

‘But this guy is really suspicious.’

Dipone smiled as he drew up the contract with Irahan. I couldn’t stand the sight of his crescent-shaped eyes.

‘The shape of the Optatio fragment is exactly the same.’

The shape of the item he took out matched my memory of it exactly. It didn’t have any energy, but the shape was plausible.

‘And this guy is more suspicious than I thought. He seems to know what kind of item the Optatio fragment is. He said it has the power to achieve anything.’

[Right. It’s not something a normal person would know.]

Dipone was suspicious in more ways than one. He was definitely not an ordinary merchant.

Before long, the two men finished their transaction and stood up. Irahan received the fake Optatio fragment with a broad smile.

“It was a good deal.”

I couldn’t help but ask Dipone, who was shaking hands with him.

“But where did you get that?”

“Are you talking about this stone fragment? I managed to find it after a lot of searching. I’m afraid I can’t tell you the details. Such information is a merchant’s lifeline.”

As expected, Dipone didn’t answer easily.

“I see. I understand. Contact me if you get any more good items.”

“Of course. I’m honored to be able to connect with the young masters of Killave and Delema like this.”

He bowed his head.

“Then I’ll see you again next time.”

Dipone left the restaurant first.

“Ian Delema. It was nice meeting you. See you again, my friend.”

Irahan left with his entourage.

“Yeah. Have a good day.”

After wishing farewell to the swindled guy, I gestured to one of the executives of the Central Council.

“Yes, Preceptor.”

A figure immediately rushed over and bowed.

“Track the merchant who just left. I’m curious about where that item came from.”

“Yes, I understand.”

His figure quickly disappeared.

* * *

After the brief commotion at the restaurant, we revisited the inn.

Creak-

Opening one of the doors and entering.

“Oh, you came at the right time!”

Karis greeted us.

Her face was full of smiles as she wiped the beads of sweat from her forehead.

“Angel has completely regained consciousness!”

Beyond her, Angel was lying down. His eyes were fixed on me.

“……You’ve come.”

His words made it difficult for me to speak.

“Angel…….”

I couldn’t believe that he was really alive. He didn’t seem to have fully recovered yet, but he was definitely alive and breathing.

“The progress is very good. There are still many areas to treat, but I don’t think you need to worry anymore.”

There was no reason to doubt Karis’s words.

“Thank you. Thank you so much, Karis. It’s all thanks to you.”

“It’s nothing. It’s all thanks to Ian.”

Angel also spoke again.

“I heard that the young master worked incredibly hard. For this lowly body……. I am so grateful.”

He spoke slowly, as if it was still difficult for him.

“No. I’m grateful that you’re alive.”

A voice interrupted our conversation.

“Why doesn’t anyone thank me!”

Aries approached with narrowed eyes.

“I’m the one who transplanted the heart! Thank me!”

Angel squeezed his eyes shut at the sight. They had been at odds since their first meeting, so he didn’t want to thank her.

“You would have died if it weren’t for me, you know? I should have just let you die! I don’t know why I saved you!”

Angel cautiously opened his mouth at Aries’s repeated nagging.

“Tha…….”

Aries’s eyes curved into a smile at the word that finally came out of his mouth. They had become enemies, so she felt a sense of victory just by suppressing Angel’s pride.

However, Aries’s expression crumpled at the following words.

“……Don’t yell so loud. I’m a patient.”

“What? You crazy bastard!”

Angel couldn’t bring himself to say thank you.

“Ugh! I should just take the heart out again!”

Aries gritted her teeth.

‘Sigh.’

It wasn’t so bad watching the two of them bicker. Either way, Angel had survived.

“Aries. Just bear with it this time. Angel is definitely grateful too. He’s just too shy to say it.”

“Hmph!”

Aries turned her head away. She muttered, ‘I’ll curse him someday,’ and stepped back.

“Angel, how do you feel?”

Was it because he didn’t thank Aries that Angel was smiling for no reason?

“Not bad. My heart is throbbing, but it seems to be trying to adapt to my body. The rest of my body is recovering quickly thanks to Karis.”

Karis nodded repeatedly.

“Your recovery is amazing. You’re getting better so fast it’s unbelievable. At this rate, you’ll be able to move within a few days.”

“That’s a relief.”

Then Aries started grumbling again.

“It’s all thanks to me, you know? My recovery is fast thanks to me. Hehe.”

The corner of her mouth curled up.

“Alright. Thank you. Thank you, so stop bragging.”

Angel finally gave his thanks. Angel threw up his hands. Aries’s expression, who burst into laughter, was unusual.

[She looks suspicious.]

Oberon narrowed his eyes as he approached Aries.

‘She’s always been like that. Leave her alone. Angel survived thanks to her, so she needs to feel a sense of accomplishment.’

[Hmm. I think she’s up to something.]

That wasn’t the important thing right now. Angel had woken up. That alone made my heart swell.

“Then, Karis. Please take care of Angel.”

“Of course.”

“I’ll be back in a bit. Everyone, rest.”

I had taken a load off my mind, so I could step outside with a light heart.

* * *

Whoosh!

An empty lot on the outskirts of Laptel Village. A golden spear cut through the air, flying wildly.

‘Ugh!’

I had come out to train with Carles. The golden spear was swung quickly, aiming for my waist.

Woo-oong!

I hurriedly tried to use my aura to block it.

‘……This!’

Carles’s spear, which had been fired, changed its trajectory in an instant. The spear flew towards my neck instead of the waist I had expected.

I didn’t even notice when the trajectory changed, so there was no time to react.

“Haa.”

Thud.

In the end, I felt the cold sensation of metal on my neck. If Carles hadn’t controlled his speed at the last moment, my head would have been cut off.

“How was it? This is the technique I’m going to teach you.”

A technique that would have been difficult to figure out even with my abilities in my prime.

‘……As expected of the Suwang Clan.’

It was the Yusu (流術) [Flowing Technique], passed down to the Suwang Clan. Literally, it was the Suwang Clan’s secret art of handling weapons like flowing water.

“Are you really going to teach me that?”

“Yes. If I’m going to teach you, I have to do that much, right? That way, I can call you my disciple anywhere.”

I couldn’t help but be amazed by his words. It was an opportunity to further develop my already complete swordsmanship.

They were residents of Ego who were bestowing so much grace simply because I was their benefactor.

“Thank you so much.”

“First of all, it won’t happen overnight, so I’ll teach you slowly from now on. Let’s go in for today.”

The sun was already setting. I had been crossing swords with him all day.

“Alright. It was a good lesson today.”

I was about to return to the inn with Carles.

“Young master!”

A figure ran from afar.

“What’s the matter that you’re in such a hurry?”