Genius Wizard Hides His Sword Skills [EN]: Chapter 131

131. Germination (3)

A look of regret filled Titania’s eyes.

“So, you’re not going back to the family?”

“No. I want to see the world for a few years.”

It was because of my statement that I wouldn’t return to the family right away.

“Hmm…”

Titania was lost in thought, but it didn’t take long for her to nod.

“Yes, that’s a good idea. The world outside the family and the Magic Tower is very different from what you’ve seen and grown up with. See a lot, feel a lot.”

Titania reached out and swept back my hair.

“Then your perspective on the world will change. You’ll come back a better adult.”

A faint smile lingered around her regretful eyes.

‘That was easier than I thought.’

[She really is an enlightened woman.]

If she had been like Helena, she would have made me jump into the family’s political battles.

‘Well, at least I have a good mother in this life.’

Unlike other Delemas, Titania had no desire for power. Even though I hated Delemas, I couldn’t help but smile at her.

[Why? There’s someone else you like besides Titania, isn’t there?]

‘Me? Who?’

[Don’t you like Liu too?]

‘Hmm. Liu is a pretty good guy.’

Aside from Titania, he was the only one who looked at me without prejudice. I had good feelings for him too.

[Hehem. At this point, aren’t you starting to like Delemas?]

‘…What nonsense!’

Of course, it was only as a person. My hatred for Delemas had not subsided at all.

[I was just asking. It could happen.]

‘I will destroy the Delemas with my own hands, no matter what. I still can’t forget that bastard, Juan.’

However, I couldn’t reveal my feelings towards the Delemas to Titania in front of me.

“Thank you for understanding.”

I simply bowed my head.

[But where did Liu go?]

‘I don’t know. Did he leave first? I was going to say goodbye.’

[You’ll see him again. He’s family, in a way.]

He had been talking to McDuff for a while, but he had already disappeared.

‘McDuff will probably go back to the family, right?’

[Probably. He needs to start establishing himself in the family.]

McDuff was already leaving the Magic Tower with Helena.

‘That life is a little sad.’

McDuff left alone, without a single friend to wish him well.

[That’s how noble families are.]

It may look glamorous on the outside, but on the inside, they have to walk a lonelier path than anyone else.

“Let’s go now.”

“Okay. You’re going with Drew, right?”

Titania pointed behind me. It was Drew, who had been waiting for his farewell with her.

“Yes. We’re going to travel together.”

“Okay. It’s good to see you maintaining the connections you made at the Delema Academy. Drew, take care of yourself too.”

Titania raised her head towards Drew.

“Yes. I’ll take good care of Ian, so don’t worry.”

Drew replied with a bright smile.

“Okay. I hope you both have a bright future.”

We had spent about five years in the Magic Tower. Finally, we were leaving the confines of the Magic Tower.

* * *

After seeing Titania off, the first place we visited was…

“Come this way!”

“We’ll treat you better than the place next door!”

“Come and taste the seafood, a specialty of Ias!”

It was the bustling market of Ias.

‘The atmosphere here has changed quite a bit.’

There were even more visitors than before.

[It’s all because of you.]

Most of the crowd was heading to the innermost restaurant in Ias, which was my shop.

‘Well, thanks to that, the market is revitalized, so it’s a good thing.’

The restaurant business, which started on a large scale in Anti, was flourishing because of my excellent cooking skills.

Eventually, it spread throughout the continent along with general stores over the past five years.

[You can’t miss the main branch.]

People were constantly visiting the Ias market to visit the main branch.

In the innermost part of the market, there was a large five-story building that had never been seen before.

“Everyone, please take a number and wait! If you just wait without a number, you won’t be able to enter!”

It was the largest restaurant in the market.

[But still, what’s with the name?]

‘What’s wrong with it?’

The sign above the huge entrance of the restaurant.

[Who names a restaurant after themselves? What’s with ‘Restaurant Ian’?]

My name from a thousand years ago was prominently displayed.

‘What about it? I’m still going strong after a thousand years.’

[Ugh. I’ve never seen anyone as narcissistic as you. You did the same thing with the Barrier Question, and now you’re naming your store after yourself?]

After smiling at Oberon, who was grumbling, I approached the entrance of the restaurant. At that moment, someone grabbed my shoulder from behind.

“Hey, everyone here is taking a number and waiting in line.”

It was a man waiting to enter the restaurant.

However, his confident expression was soon replaced with embarrassment.

“Ah, I’m the owner here.”

“Ah, yes?”

My red eyes turned to meet his.

* * *

Restaurant Ian, bustling with people.

“You’ve arrived.”

A member of the Wonshin Council [Inner Circle Council] came out to greet Drew and me.

Afterward, he led us to a separate space in one corner of the restaurant. Layers of security facilities were located there.

“Please wait a moment. I will disarm it.”

It was a facility that only authorized members of the Wonshin Council could access. Inside, there was a space that no one could have expected.

After a while, the security magic was deactivated.

Woo-oong!

A blue portal was rippling. It was a portal leading to my underground residence.

[You have a portal in the restaurant.]

‘The darkest place is under the lamp [a common saying meaning the most obvious place is often overlooked].’

When expanding the restaurant building, I merged it with the existing general store. It was the place where the portal to my original residence was located.

And next to it, there was even a small office.

“You’ve arrived.”

Angel and Aries were sitting there with serious expressions.

“Why are you so serious? Did you fight again?”

Angel slowly shook his head.

“Have you seen today’s newsletter?”

He handed me a stack of papers he was holding.

“Ah, I couldn’t see it today because of the graduation ceremony.”

It was a newsletter that I had been checking every day since killing Hustaaf, but I couldn’t see it. I accepted the newsletter that Angel handed me.

[Oho.]

At the same time, Oberon’s eyes widened.

‘The Magic Tower caught the tail of Revoluca?’

It was impossible not to be interested.

‘Did they finally find it?’

The Magic Tower had not been able to find any traces of Revoluca for the past five years. At best, they had caught some underlings.

Each time, they committed suicide without revealing anything, and Revoluca simply let it pass without any particular response.

“This time, they caught evidence of a noble family being involved?”

“Yes. The core members of Revoluca are from noble families, so it seems they have found something.”

“Oho. The Magic Tower did something this time. So, who was caught?”

“The Magic Tower hasn’t caught anyone specific yet. They’ve only found evidence of involvement.”

However, I was suspicious of Angel’s hardened expression. It wasn’t a problem that he would take seriously.

“But why are you so serious? It has nothing to do with us.”

“Actually, the children we infiltrated into the Magic Tower sent us information just before you arrived.”

He picked up the black powder on the table.

It was the powder containing the usual telecommunication magic that the Wonshin Council used.

“Hmm. Is there bad news? What’s the content?”

“It’s not exactly bad, but… The first place the Magic Tower decided to infiltrate is the general store in Anti.”

“The general store in Anti?”

“Yes. It’s the store that the Precursor operates.”

“Hmm.”

The news that the Magic Tower was going to infiltrate our base. Only then did I understand Angel’s serious expression.

‘A search of noble families…….’

Our general store had become famous among noble families. It was no longer just a place to buy and sell simple items.

[It’s the first place the Magic Tower would approach. All sorts of noble families gather there.]

It was a meeting place where you could not only find rare items but also make connections with people from various families.

Before long, it had become a social gathering place for noble families.

“Okay. We can’t just sit still.”

“What are you planning to do?”

“Let’s hold an auction in a week. Contact all the nobles who frequent our general store. Tell them that there will be amazing items.”

“Wouldn’t it be okay if people flock to it? The Magic Tower will also leak information.”

“That’s what I want.”

If we gather people through large-scale promotions, the Magic Tower will be interested.

“If a guest comes to our house, we have to greet them directly. Whether it’s Revoluca or someone infiltrated from the Magic Tower, we have to welcome them, right?”

It was a means to attract them.

‘I can’t just wait.’

Revoluca and the Magic Tower were moving secretly. Since we didn’t know when and how they would act.

‘Come and make a fuss.’

It was better to lay the groundwork for them to move.

“You’re throwing bait. That’s a good idea. Then I’ll prepare as you said.”

“I’m counting on you.”

Revoluca, who had been holding their breath, and the Magic Tower, trying to chase them. It would be a game for both organizations.

* * *

“Ah, I ate well again today. Thanks to having a good friend, I don’t have to wait in line every time.”

Drew patted his stomach with satisfaction on one side of the restaurant. He was still looking at the long restaurant queue.

“I have to do this much, right? I’m your best friend, who is also the boss.”

Dozens of plates were piled up in front of him. As his size increased, so did the amount he ate.

“I don’t know if it’s okay to keep getting free food like this.”

He gave a friendly smile. I didn’t hate that look.

“Instead, you share my vision.”

After graduating from the Magic Tower, he could have gone his own way, but he stayed by my side as if it were natural.

“Come on. You’ve been coaxing me since I was young, and now you’re saying that. I have nowhere else to go without you.”

Oberon was giggling at that statement.

[That’s right. You’ve been gaslighting him since the academy.]

I had nothing to say because it wasn’t wrong. If he said he wouldn’t follow me, I was going to visit the Gibson family and persuade them.

“Hmm hmm. But didn’t your family say anything?”

“Our family?”

“Yeah. They didn’t come to the graduation ceremony.”

Drew shrugged as if it was nothing.

“The head of the family told me not to go to the family and to follow you.”

“The head… did? Directly?”

“Yeah. Actually, I talked about you a few days ago.”

“You talked about me?”

“He was curious because I said I was going to wander with you after graduation.”

He leaned forward and lowered his voice. Soon, that playful expression disappeared.

“…But then the head of the family told me what kind of family our Gibson is.”

Only his serious eyes were directed at me.

“Adonis Khan.”