Genius Wizard Hides His Sword Skills [EN]: Chapter 112

112. Hidden Power (4)

“Werewolf.”

Aries’s single word made everyone pause.

“What?”

A rare monster that seldom appeared, making it difficult to even witness. Yet, everyone present had heard of it at least once.

“It’s a werewolf’s heart.”

The weight of that statement, coming from Aries, was palpable.

“You, you! What did you do to my body!”

Angel looked at his chest, groping with his hands.

“You should be honored! I gave you something I worked so hard to get.”

“You crazy witch!”

“Thanks to me, your recovery was faster, and it was effective when you fought that Dipone guy earlier! I did it all for you, and you’re raising your voice at me!”

Only then did everything click into place.

‘So that’s why.’

Every time Angel’s body recovered remarkably, she claimed it was thanks to her. Now, he understood the meaning behind her subtle smile.

[If it’s a werewolf, that makes sense.]

Even if no one had personally encountered a werewolf, its reputation preceded it. It was a monster often discussed due to its superhuman abilities.

‘Its recovery ability is the strongest on earth.’

As if blessed by a life deity, it possessed a formidable vitality that allowed it to recover almost instantly from injuries.

Its absurd regenerative capacity made it a terrifying opponent for many adventurers.

‘Many have suffered.’

[If you can’t cut off its breath in one blow, it’s over.]

Unless you inflicted a fatal wound with a single, decisive strike, there was virtually no way to defeat it.

But was it easy to deliver such a blow against a werewolf?

[Of course, you’d have to be around 9-star to do that.]

Inflicting a fatal wound on a creature with stamina and aggression matching its recovery power was no easy feat.

‘For most, the best they can do is endure until the moon sets.’

Therefore, most adventurers’ only hope was to survive until dawn. When the moon waned and the sun rose, its power would diminish significantly.

“Did you really put a werewolf’s heart in Angel’s body?”

“I’m telling you, I did. I shared something I worked so hard to get!”

“Are there any side effects?”

Aries had essentially performed a chimera experiment on Angel. If the procedure was flawlessly executed, it might not be detrimental.

‘…Then the werewolf’s recovery power has been transferred.’

[Wow. I’m envious of that too?]

If he gained that incredible recovery ability, Angel would possess another formidable weapon.

“Who knows? We’ll have to wait and see if there are any side effects?”

However, Aries simply shrugged, her hands raised in a gesture of uncertainty.

“This damn witch, what are you talking about!”

Eventually, Angel exploded, his aura flaring.

‘Haa…’

A situation where taking either Aries’s or Angel’s side was fraught with complications.

‘It’s fortunate that it’s still okay.’

Aries had transplanted the heart of another species without fully understanding the potential consequences, so Angel’s anger was understandable.

“Ian!”

The voice cut through the tension. Angel, who looked ready to pounce on Aries, and everyone else turned their gaze to the stairs leading to the basement.

“Father wants you to come!”

Karis came running up, panting.

* * *

A cramped warehouse filled with humid air.

“Oh, you’ve come?”

Carles greeted us with a satisfied smile.

Behind Carles was Dipone, kneeling and repeatedly bowing his head.

‘Hmm. He must have been worked over thoroughly.’

The composure he once possessed was utterly gone.

[As expected. A mad dog needs a beating.]

Thanks to Karis’s ability, there were no visible wounds on his body.

Thud- Thud-

Water droplets fell from his soaked hair. One could only assume that Carles had subjected him to water torture.

‘Water torture is quite painful.’

Carles wore a satisfied smile, as if pleased with Dipone’s submissive state.

“Now, this guy says he’s willing to talk to you. Hey. Aren’t you going to answer?”

Dipone promptly opened his mouth at his command.

“Yes, yes. Ask me anything…”

His submissive demeanor, his glibness vanished, was quite a contrast.

“Okay. I’ll ask you a few things from now on. Just answer truthfully.”

“…Yes.”

Dipone lowered his head, appearing utterly defeated. But I felt no pity.

“What’s the reason for making that giant doll?”

“As I said, I wanted to change the world.”

It was a quiet, muttered response, but easily audible in the confined basement.

“Change the world… What and how do you change it with that?”

Dipone slowly raised his head at the question. His dry eyes fixed on me.

“I hated the world dominated by you descendants of the Five Stars [Five prominent noble families] and the wizards of the Magic Tower. So I wanted to create my own army and turn the world upside down.”

A voice that emphasized each word with suppressed intensity.

“…But in the end, it was ended by you, Delemain.”

His voice trembled at the end.

‘He must be very upset.’

Of course, it was true that I had crushed Dipone’s ambition with my own hands.

‘You villain.’

I still couldn’t bring myself to sympathize with his feelings.

I was also a victim of Dipone’s actions. The memory of Jikel, who lost his life, still haunted me.

“You can’t accomplish such a thing alone just because you have those thoughts.”

In the end, all I could do was utter a cold rebuke.

“Didn’t I tell you? There was an organization. At first, I thought they were on the same page because they said they would change the world too.”

“But?”

“But later, they didn’t understand my intentions. When I told them about the future I dreamed of, they said it was crazy.”

Dipone shook his head. He sighed and continued.

“Is it wrong to bring down the existing vested interests and stand above their world!”

Dipone raised his head, venting his anger.

“Cough! Where are you shouting!”

Carles’s scolding was immediate. Only then did Dipone shrink back.

“You just answer what Ian asks.”

“…Yes.”

Dipone had momentarily forgotten his precarious situation.

“Then what kind of world did they want?”

In response to the repeated question, only Dipone’s subdued voice continued.

“They said their only purpose was to bring down those who have.”

“Bring down those who have?”

“Yes. They said that’s how they can create an equal world.”

Dipone shook his head.

“It’s all just hypocritical nonsense. Even after bringing down the vested interests, they have no desire for power, which is ridiculous.”

My brow furrowed at that answer. The ideology espoused by the organization Dipone mentioned bore a striking resemblance to a certain group I knew.

[It’s very similar to the Wonshin Association.]

‘That’s right.’

The Wonshin Association, which championed the voices of the underprivileged and discriminated against. And a group of people trying to bring down the vested interests.

Ultimately, both groups aimed for the same thing: an egalitarian world.

“So what’s the name of that organization?”

At that moment, Dipone’s eyes flickered. His lips parted cautiously.

“…Revoluca. It is a revolutionary group that calls itself Revoluca.”

It was a name unfamiliar to me.

‘There are more than one or two forces trying to change the world.’

[That means there are that many dissatisfied people.]

The existence of other organizations like the Wonshin Association, striving to overturn the established order, was evidence of widespread discontent with the current state of affairs.

“Revoluca… It must be quite large.”

If they possessed talents like Dipone, it was not an organization to be underestimated. As expected, Dipone nodded.

“That’s right. If they emerged from the shadows, they could obliterate any kingdom in an instant.”

“What was your role there? Did you hold a key position?”

His lips twitched at the question. Dipone slowly shook his head.

“There’s no way.”

“What?”

“Someone like me is nothing there. I can’t even raise my voice or argue. I couldn’t exert any influence on the organization.”

Now it was my turn to frown, utterly perplexed.

‘This guy is nothing?’

Although I disliked him, he was a skilled individual comparable to Angel. His magical prowess at 8 stars, along with his ability to control strange dolls, was undeniable.

Dipone was at a level where he could command the magic unit of an ordinary kingdom.

[Does that mean all the other executives are archmages?]

It was incomprehensible that he wielded no influence.

Perhaps he sensed my confusion.

“Ah, it’s not just because my skills are lacking that I was relegated to a low position.”

Dipone continued.

“Then what is it?”

“It’s because of the influence of the members of Revoluca. I was just a commoner, and the executives there had tremendous sway in the world.”

“…Then does that mean there are nobles or people from prestigious families?”

That was the only logical conclusion. Individuals who were not commoners, those who could exert influence on a global scale. That would be the existing elite.

“That’s right. It’s no exaggeration to say that it was originally founded by the children of prestigious families.”

But I still didn’t understand.

‘Why?’

Clearly, Revoluca’s stated purpose was to dismantle the established power structures.

‘Do they want to destroy their own families?’

[Hmm. There are always one or two guys like that. They are either truly enlightened thinkers… or young masters who don’t know how scary the world is and are playing heroes.]

Oberon’s eyes, which had been calm, were now contemplative. Dipone, reflected in his gaze, lowered his head once more.

“Was there anyone from Delema there?”

This question was crucial.

“Of course. That person is the spiritual pillar of Revoluca.”

“…What is that name?”

A tense moment. I couldn’t help but wonder if such a person existed among the current members of Delema.

All my attention was riveted on Dipone’s lips.

Bang!

The basement door was violently thrown open.

The intruder, disregarding any semblance of courtesy, barged into the space occupied only by Carles and me.

“Hey!”

It was Aries, her eyes wide with urgency.

“What’s going on? I told you not to let anyone come.”

“Hoo. It’s not that. It’s related to that guy, so.”

“What is it?”

Despite her usual wilfulness, there must be a compelling reason. She gestured towards the stairs behind her.

“Bring what you found earlier! I’m sure your herald [Official messenger] or whatever will like it?”

At her urging, one of the executives of the Wonshin Association approached hesitantly. It was Jurant, who had volunteered to search the giant doll Dipone had created.

“I’m really sorry to interrupt, even though you said no one should come in.”

“It’s okay. What’s going on?”

“I found this near the head of that doll earlier.”

What he produced from his arms, his head bowed….

“It’s a stone fragment that looks similar to the one Kilabga’s son bought earlier.”

It was a broken piece of stone, radiating a faint light.