Genius Wizard Hides His Sword Skills [EN]: Chapter 142

142. Awakening (2)

[Juan Delima!]

His eyes, bloodshot as if in a fit, at the mention of that name. The pressure he emitted in that instant was enough to make it hard to even come to my senses.

‘How did that bastard Juan seal away someone like this…’

The presence exuded by the Constellation with all its might.

It hadn’t even done anything to me, yet it was something a human body couldn’t endure.

[I’ve been calming my mind for a thousand years, but I can’t find peace with that name! Child! How dare you speak that name before me!]

The overwhelming energy made it hard to even gather my wits.

“…Hey. It won’t do you any good to act like this towards me.”

I managed to utter those words towards the bloodshot eyes.

“I don’t know the details, but aren’t you ultimately parasitizing my body?”

[What did you say?]

“If that weren’t the case, you would have left my body long ago and gone your own way.”

The eyes simply stared at me without a word. However, the pressure that had been constricting my body had lessened considerably.

“Besides, judging by how you only appear when I’m in danger… there must be a reason why you have to stay inside me, right?”

Surely, there must be some story behind this guy.

“Is it because of the seal Juan placed on you?”

[…You have quite the insight.]

Before I knew it, the bloodshot in his eyes was fading; he had regained quite a bit of composure.

[Yes. It’s because of that damn bastard. The thing he placed on me wasn’t just a simple seal.]

“…It seems like there was a curse involved as well.”

Typical sealing magic only involves trapping the target in a medium, but this guy’s case was a bit different.

He was transferred from the Black Magic Card into my body. And he seemed to only be able to appear in specific situations.

[Yes. That bastard also placed a curse on me. Do you know what it entails?]

A massive gaze directed towards me. A bit of blood began to reappear in his eyes.

[It dictates that I be transferred to the one who chooses the Black Magic Card and protect that body.]

“…Does that mean you’re protecting me?”

[Yes. I placed a curse on myself so that I can only appear when your body is in a dangerous situation.]

Only then did I nod in understanding.

The times when I used Oberon’s Authority, and when the energy of the Hall was tearing my body apart.

Each time, this guy appeared and soothed the internal energies as if calming them.

“In other words, you can’t do anything that would harm your own body?”

It had become much easier to look at those massive eyes. If the purpose of the curse was to protect me, then he wouldn’t be able to harm me.

[…Your intentions are impure, child.]

However, the Constellation’s pupils began to shrink.

[How dare you try to deceive a Constellation!]

With that, his eyes turned red once more.

‘……!’

The pressure that had disappeared was constricting my breath once again.

[Juan Delima overlooked one thing. If I trap you here as well, it’s over! You too will now be trapped here with me forever. I’ve been waiting for this day. I’ve been bored for a thousand years, I’ll have to torment you and enjoy the entertainment!]

The guy widened his pupils again. Accordingly, the pressure gradually intensified.

“…Let’s talk for a moment.”

[Talk? Are you trying to wag your insignificant serpent’s tongue?]

“It’s not that…”

It was difficult to even make a sound due to the intensified pressure.

“Why don’t we… undo your curse together.”

At the fragments of words I barely managed to utter, the guy lessened his energy a bit.

[Undo the curse?]

“Yes. If there’s a seal, you can undo it. If there’s a curse, you can undo it. After that, you can return to the world of Constellations, or choose another human, do whatever you want.”

[How amusing. In the first place, you are a descendant of that bastard Juan. You’re going to reject the gift he left you with your own hands? Nonsense!]

The pressure surged again.

[I’ll have to make sure you can’t wag that three-inch tongue!]

I had to quickly continue speaking.

“I will also take revenge!”

The words barely squeezed out through the tightening breath. Fortunately, that name made the rushing energies falter.

[What?]

“…I also owe him a debt. That’s why I’m living so desperately.”

[A descendant of Juan from a thousand years ago owes him a debt?]

“Yes. Perhaps you know a knight who fought him several times a thousand years ago? If you were his Constellation, that is.”

Then the guy’s pupils narrowed.

[…Adonis Kahn? Are you talking about that young squire?]

“Yes. It seems you know him.”

[Why did you suddenly mention his name? No, how do you know him?]

The guy had withdrawn all the pressure he had been exerting. Only then could I speak calmly.

“Actually, that’s me.”

[…What?]

“That young squire from a thousand years ago is me.”

At that moment, the eyes began to blur. Like the way the guy had appeared in the first place, it began to scatter into particles of light.

“Umm.”

Soon, it had transformed into the figure of a person.

[Adonis Kahn…]

The swordsman who shook the continent a thousand years ago. My figure stood there.

[Is that really you?]

However, the voice that came out when his mouth widened was not mine.

[That’s absurd.]

It was an illusion created by the guy.

“I can’t believe it either. But it’s true. Otherwise, how would I know that name?”

Adonis Kahn. No, the brow of the nameless Constellation furrowed.

[…Then are you saying you were reincarnated? As a descendant of Juan?]

“Yes. If you don’t believe me, I can tell you everything that happened with Juan Delima. I still vividly remember the memories of being defeated by him.”

The anger and humiliation I felt back then were something I couldn’t forget, no matter how much time passed.

Moreover, although it was a thousand years ago, it was only about 20 years ago for me. There was no reason not to tell him.

[Haa… Enough.]

However, the guy slowly lowered his head with a sigh.

[I suspected it, but it really turned out that way.]

He nodded as if he understood what was going on.

“Do you have any idea what’s happening?”

[Yes. Of course. You, like me, have become that bastard’s sacrifice.]

“What? A sacrifice?”

[Yes. He trapped you in the cycle of time.]

The guy stared intently at me.

[Juan Delima. That bastard must have been trying to become a Constellation.]

I couldn’t help but narrow my eyes at his next words.

“A Constellation?”

[Sealing me, and offering you as a sacrifice of time. All of that is just material to become a Constellation.]

His lips twitched slightly. It was probably the most bitter smile he could make using my face.

[As you might have guessed, I am the Constellation of Black Magic. My name is Baal. And I taught Juan that Black Magic about 50 years ago. Before I knew it, there was no more Black Magic left for me to teach him.]

“…And then?”

[Finally, I told him about the method to become a Constellation.]

“A method to become a Constellation… Is there such a thing?”

[Yes. It was just a joke. It was something humans couldn’t do anyway. However, I overlooked the fact that his eyes sparkled more than I had ever seen before.]

I couldn’t help but doubt my ears. I could understand that Juan had used me as some kind of sacrifice.

‘To be able to become a Constellation.’

I had never heard of or imagined such a thing.

“So, you and I were the sacrifices for that?”

[Yes. Many sacrifices are needed, but the two biggest ones would be us. Sealing someone with a clear presence. And trapping someone in the cycle of time. Those are the biggest factors.]

“Trapped in the cycle of time?”

I could roughly understand sealing someone with a clear presence.

Constellations like Baal would have the clearest and most intense presence of anyone.

However, being trapped in the cycle of time was not easily understood.

“Are you saying that reincarnating me is trapping me in the cycle of time?”

The guy shook his head.

[That’s not nearly enough.]

One side of his mouth curled up.

[This life is just the beginning.]

“What?”

[You will repeat reincarnation forever, retaining the memories of your past life. The extinction of your memories is not allowed for you. Do you know how great a curse that is?]

It was a story that couldn’t help but make me frown. I couldn’t even imagine it right now.

‘Reincarnation forever?’

Even imagining it vaguely, it would be a cycle that could only be lonely and painful.

“Then, is it also Juan’s doing that I was reincarnated as his descendant?”

[No. That is definitely not what he intended. That’s something that can’t be determined unless you’re a god.]

Baal, using my face, gave off a bitter smile.

[But coincidentally, you were reincarnated as his descendant. Juan would never have expected that.]

“…So, it’s just a coincidence?”

[It must be. What a twist of fate!]

And then the guy laughed loudly. It was the guy’s laughter that dominated the dark space for a while.

‘Juan Delima…’

However, there was something more bothersome than that.

“Then, did that bastard really become a Constellation?”

The guy who offered a Constellation as a sacrifice to become a Constellation. I was curious about the result.

[I’m not sure, but he probably hasn’t become one yet.]

“How do you know?”

[Isn’t my soul still alive like this? If that bastard had become a Constellation, my soul would have been extinguished long ago. He would have had to take away my presence for him to become a Constellation.]

“Ah, I don’t know exactly what it is, but that’s a relief.”

I didn’t want to hear the news that my mortal enemy had become a Constellation. I nodded in relief.

And one more question came to mind.

“…Then is that bastard still alive?”

The question of whether Juan Delima was still alive. Since he was a guy who was trying to become a Constellation, I couldn’t rule out the possibility that he was still alive even after a thousand years.

[I don’t know either. He may have died trying to become a Constellation, or he may still be wandering the heavens, consumed by his desires.]

Those words ignited a hot spark in my heart.

“I see…”

I could only hope that he was still alive.

‘Juan Delima.’

It meant that there might still be a chance for me to take revenge on him with my own hands.

[Young squire.]

However, Baal smirked as he looked at me.

[You should hope that bastard is dead.]

“Why?”

[He gained much stronger power after killing you. He gained the power to seal a Constellation.]

Juan Delima, who had possessed a power that I could only look up to when he killed me. The fact that he had become much stronger than that made me frown.

“Then, shouldn’t I just become as strong as him?”

I wasn’t particularly worried.

In the first place, I was fighting an impossible battle against the world.

[Ha! This guy is still fearless. Do you even have a plan?]

“If you help me, I can take revenge on that bastard in a spectacular way. Don’t you want to avenge him and undo the seal too?”

Baal narrowed his eyes at those words.

[What’s the plan?]

I extended my hand to him.

“…First, let’s cooperate with me.”