Genius Wizard Hides His Sword Skills [EN]: Chapter 13

Dellema’s Archive (2)

Dellema’s archive. In the end, I had to return on the first day without any significant gains.

“How is it? Still hard to understand, right? Ask me if you’re curious.”

With Liu standing behind me, I couldn’t openly look at the ancient language books. I had no choice but to pick a book written in the common language of the Kargas Empire and return.

However, I discovered endless possibilities. As I lay down on the bed, the corners of my mouth naturally lifted.

‘Totally awesome.’

[I know, right? Even a quick glance shows it’s no joke.]

The magic books and scrolls filling the archive. I could see Dellema’s power was there. And.

‘Ancient language…….’

It was definitely a crucial place for me. Ancient language books would give me even bigger wings.

‘Let’s go, Oberon.’

I quickly got up.

[Where to?]

‘The archive. I have to go again.’

[Huh? Liu said we’d go together once a week.]

‘What are you talking about? Don’t be such an amateur. How am I supposed to read all the books there if I only go once a week?’

Besides, when I’m with Liu, I can’t look at books written in ancient languages.

‘I’m going to go every day from now on. I need to see as much as possible before going to the Magic Tower.’

A new routine was added to my fixed daily life.

* * *

Whoosh!

As Liu had said, the magic he placed reacted to my mana. As I opened the door to the ordinary warehouse.

“This is really amazing.”

[Kuh. Mages are good at this kind of thing.]

Instead of the farming tools that should have been there, the scenery of the archive unfolded. It was as if I had opened a portal and moved.

“Let’s pass on the ones written in Kargas for now.”

I could see those even when I came with Liu. I headed straight into the archive.

“Kuh. Ancient language.”

The strings of characters I had read and written for over 30 years in my previous life were welcoming my eyes.

[The Origin of Fire and Research on Explosion Magic.]

[Applied Magic Combining Lightning and Water.]

[Earth: The Place Where the Life of All Things Begins.]

From scrolls dealing with various elements.

“Wow, this is crazy. Aren’t these pretty famous magic families?”

To scrolls containing the secrets of various prestigious families. These were mind-blowing magic books. Among them were families I could recognize.

“Oh! Isn’t Ireb famous for telekinesis?”

[They were. A thousand years ago, they were guys who could slice and dice decent swordsmen with just telekinesis.]

“There’s also Susser’s technique, the master of water… Wow! The Chernov guys too? Those guys were really tough to deal with when fighting their electric magic!”

I was struggling to decide where to rest my gaze.

“But why are all these families’ techniques gathered here?”

[These families all fell after you died. That must be the work of the Ominous Star. I didn’t know they were all gathered here.]

“The Ominous Star? They didn’t just mess with knight families?”

[I’m not sure, but maybe the families here opposed the Ominous Star’s will?]

“Hmm…….”

I didn’t know the exact reason, but.

“Just looking at the titles makes my heart race.”

In any case, it was good news for me now. Each of the families here was more than enough to dominate the era.

“I’ll master them all.”

Even though they fell because of Dellema, the essence of each family was not to be ignored.

In particular, I had quite a hard time dealing with the techniques of some families directly.

[Hey. Aren’t you getting too excited about magic books? You haven’t forgotten that the sword comes first, have you?]

Oberon twitched one eyebrow.

“Ehehe. How could I? I’m training hard with the sword too. I’ve started gathering Aura in my muscles. Anyone seen someone gather this much Aura at eleven years old?”

[……That’s true. But still! The sword always comes before magic!]

“Yes, yes. Our Constellation. Is there any doubt?”

Oberon, the Constellation of the Sword, didn’t seem pleased.

“Huh?”

[What is it now?]

A force suddenly pulled at my body. It was a familiar feeling.

“Could this be?”

[What’s wrong?]

Regardless of what Oberon said beside me, my feet moved. It was an instinctive pull.

“That’s pulling me in?”

The steps stopped in front of another bookshelf.

[Pulling you?]

“Yeah. It feels familiar.”

My hand reached out involuntarily. It was a strange feeling, not knowing whether I was reaching out to the book or the book was pulling my hand.

[What is it? Do you know the book?]

It was just a shabby leather book, but all my attention was focused there.

“Ah!”

I knew after turning the cover what the attraction was that pulled me.

「This book is the first volume of magic books for learning forbidden magic, and if you are not prepared to shed blood, please close the book.」

Forbidden magic, black magic.

“It was the feeling I felt during the appraisal ceremony.”

The attraction created by the card with the word Black written on it 7 years ago. It was also working on this book.

[Wow, awesome. There really was a black magic book?]

“I guess so.”

The book, which didn’t even have an author, took up a total of three volumes on the bookshelf. I couldn’t just pass by this stroke of luck.

Ignoring the introduction, I immediately turned to the next page.

“What is this saying…….”

But it didn’t take long for my expectations to collapse.

[It wouldn’t be fun if it was that easy.]

The incomprehensible expressions were all over the place. White is the margin, and black is the letter.

“I can’t understand any of it.”

It wasn’t a language barrier. Although it was ancient language, the phrases were reading so clearly to me. However, the problem was that reading was all I could do, and I couldn’t understand it.

“It’s going to take a while to understand this.”

[It’s the same with martial arts manuals. Just because a third-rate knight reads a high-level secret manual doesn’t mean he’ll gain enlightenment.]

“Haa…….”

Thud!

I closed the book and put it back in its original place.

“Okay. Let’s not be greedy for now and do it one by one.”

I moved to the books that contained the principles of elemental magic.

* * *

Usually, the time of childhood flows slowly. But is it because I have the mind of an adult?

‘Time flies so fast.’

I finished reading another book and put it back on the shelf. Before I knew it, my position was at the end of a bookshelf.

[But you’ve read all the principles.]

Over three years had passed. I had only seen the basic content of the books in the archive, but already four and a half years had passed since I entered the academy.

[But you’ve transcribed the most important things.]

As Oberon said, I had finished transcribing the three black magic books and the techniques of several families. I had to copy those at least, even if I didn’t copy the rest.

‘But there are still so many parts I don’t understand.’

Since my magical achievement was low, the speed was inevitably slow. Simply reading the letters didn’t make it mine.

[But aren’t you pretty great for your age? You’ve already met the Magic Tower’s admission requirements.]

‘That’s true.’

Holding more than 3-star mana and handling more than three elemental magics. That was the admission requirement for the Magic Tower.

After entering the Dellema Archive, I was able to use the basic magics of each element to some extent.

‘Now that I have four mana circles.’

No one knew that the books I had read in the Dellema Archive were behind it. Thanks to that, all the children in the academy were just admiring my achievements.

“Wow. This is really unbelievable.”

Drew, of course, and.

“Is this the difference in talent…….”

Eriel was the same.

“Your talents are just as good.”

Drew could only use three elemental magics, but he was completely familiar with Aura sensing.

‘What is she, really?’

Eriel was outstanding in water magic. Her understanding of other attributes was just so-so.

‘What’s with this kid being crazy about water magic…….’

Perhaps, if Eriel’s water magic was evaluated alone, it would be comparable to the magic cast by a 4-star mage.

The children were disappointed, not knowing how great their talents were.

Suddenly, Drew clapped his hands and shouted.

“Oh! Next week is finally our academy graduation exam.”

Eriel’s eyes were also shining at the words.

‘Exam…….’

An event to see if you are qualified to graduate from the academy as the name suggests. If you can prove that you have achieved enough to enter the Magic Tower, you can graduate.

There was one more being reacting to Drew’s cheerful shout.

[Oh! Are we finally going to the Magic Tower?]

Oberon’s eyes were shining.

‘Yeah. Now we can get out of Dellema.’

It meant that we would have a little more free time.

[Do you know how desperate I was when you said you wouldn’t take the exam the year before last and last year?]

The academy graduation exam is an event held once a year. I had already met the graduation requirements since the year before last, but…….

‘At that time, I hadn’t even seen 10% of the books in the archive.’

I needed more time to look at the books. I had only seen half of the books in the archive, but I had transcribed the ones that seemed important. Now I was somewhat ready to leave.

Of course, I couldn’t explain to Drew and Eriel the reasons such as ‘I have to see more books in Dellema’s Archive’.

“Ian, I didn’t know you wouldn’t take the exam last year because you were waiting for us. We’re real friends!”

I explained a slightly different reason.

“Huh? Uh, yeah. That’s right. It would be nice to go to the Magic Tower together.”

Drew knew that I was waiting for them to go to the Magic Tower together.

* * *

‘Okay. Let’s work hard to copy it today.’

That night, my steps headed to the Dellema Archive as usual.

[Are you just going to copy it today?]

‘I have to. Because there’s not much time left.’

I decided to just copy until graduation. If I diligently copy for a week, I’ll be able to write down everything I need.

I arrived at the warehouse with light steps.

Now familiar doorknob.

Whoosh-.

As I released mana with my fingertips, the door turned blue for a moment.

‘Let’s go in.’

Creak!

I stepped into the door with a small hinge sound. I was about to move my steps while looking at the unfolded scenery of the archive.

‘…….’

Soon my body stiffened.

Even if it’s a child’s body. Even if I can’t feel all the signs of all things in the universe like before.

‘Who is it?’

I could tell that the sound of the door closing wasn’t heard. The sound of the door that always closed with a thud didn’t continue.

[That bastard…….]

Oberon was looking at the door instead of me, who couldn’t easily turn my head.

[Was his name Laxon Dellema?]

The name that came out of his mouth made sweat form on my back. The name that even made me, who had gone through all kinds of situations, flustered, Laxon Dellema.

The first son of the current head of the family and.

[He’s the one who silenced Helena during the appraisal ceremony.]

The appearance of the man called the strongest in Dellema except for the head of the family.

“Hoo. I was wondering who the rat that had been coming and going here for three years was…….”

I slowly turned around to face him. Laxon was standing holding the warehouse door.

His cold gaze was fixed on me.

“Ian Dellema. It was you.”