Genius Wizard Hides His Sword Skills [EN]: Chapter 2

2. Ah, It’s a Baby’s First Cry!

The woman with crimson eyes looked down at me. I couldn’t even notice the warm smile on her lips.

‘…A daughter of Delema.’

Those red eyes. They captivated all my senses.

“Ian, were you surprised?”

But there was an even more astonishing sight. The reflection in her clear eyes. My appearance there was unmistakably that of a baby.

‘What is this?’

The sudden turn of events was hard to grasp.

However, one thing was clear. There was nothing I could do with this body. I had no freedom to refuse her touch.

And so, a day passed.

I was wary. That was all I could do.

Two days passed.

I remained wary. In case it was a trap set by the Ominous Star.

Three days passed, and then a week.

The woman with red eyes still didn’t harm me. But I didn’t welcome her warm gaze or touch either. She was of the Delema bloodline.

When a month had passed.

Even then, she was endlessly kind and gentle.

‘What a peculiar fate this is.’

For a month, the emotion reflected in her red eyes was clear.

Love. And affection.

She was as constant as if she were truly my mother.

“Ian, shall we go for a walk today?”

I felt stifled and frustrated.

But I couldn’t even ask what was going on. In the body of a newborn, I had no chance to speak.

It was another month later when a ray of hope shone upon me.

At a time when the woman was away, as I was idly sucking on a pacifier, lost in thought as usual, someone whispered in my ear.

[I’ve finally found you.]

At first, I thought I had misheard.

‘Am I starting to hallucinate now?’

It was inevitable. No matter how strong my mental fortitude as a warrior, anyone would go mad in this situation.

[It’s not a hallucination, Adonis. No, should I call you Ian now?]

When I heard that voice for the second time, I wanted to turn my head. Even though my head wouldn’t turn no matter how hard I tried, I kept trying.

‘…Could it be Oberon!’

I knew that voice too well. The voice I had heard so much in my past life. A voice so familiar that I could never forget.

[Yeah, it’s me. I went through hell to find you. Hah. Look at this guy. Lying down, sucking on a pacifier, living the good life.]

My constellation. That is, Oberon, the constellation I had a contract with when I was Adonis. He had found me.

* * *

I ask those who dream of becoming knights or wizards.

‘What is the achievement you most want to attain?’

Then, nine out of ten will answer like this.

– I want to become a great wizard comparable to the Ominous Star.

– I will become the greatest swordsman on the continent.

– I will reach the level of a 9-star mage.

Then, I change the question.

‘What is it that you most desire?’

Then most will change their answer.

– I want to be chosen by a constellation.

Constellations.

They were like dreamlike beings, especially for those who wield mana or aura.

Just making a contract with that unknown being! It was like having one’s talent recognized. Constellations approach based on the potential of the contractor.

Just making a contract with that unknown being! One walks a path of success because one can borrow the unique powers of the constellations.

Most of them are like that. Most…….

‘Yeah, most of them are, indeed.’

[There’s a bone in your words?]

Oberon, who had settled next to the mobile [a hanging toy for babies], frowned. It didn’t suit the huge guy to be playing with the mobile.

‘No, it’s just… When I was being chased by those old geezers, you didn’t even show your face. Where did you go, and now you show up?’

[Hoo……. Don’t even mention it. Do you know how hard it was for me?]

‘What’s so hard about it? You ran away as soon as those guys showed up. Are you even a constellation?’

I couldn’t say anything nice. The guy who was supposed to be my constellation disappeared as soon as the weasels from the Ominous Star showed up.

[I was surprised too.]

However, Oberon’s expression was also unusual.

[Those guys did something strange to me too.]

‘Something strange?’

[Yeah. I don’t know what it is either. I couldn’t even approach because they had set up a barrier around me.]

It was strange. Humans can only see the constellation they have a contract with. One cannot directly affect the other’s constellation.

In other words.

‘You ran away, and now you’re making up stories, aren’t you?’

That was the only conclusion I could draw.

[Agh! Seriously. Is that what you say to someone who has been hiding for a thousand years, looking for you?]

Oberon expressed his resentment. I couldn’t help but listen to his impassioned voice.

‘What?’

[Is that what you say to a constellation as devoted as me!]

‘No, not that.’

[Then what else?]

‘Did you just say it’s been a thousand years?’

Only then did Oberon’s expression stiffen. The pupils of the guy, who wouldn’t budge easily, were trembling slightly.

[You really don’t know anything? You appeared after a thousand years.]

‘…What?’

A thousand years.

I had only closed and opened my eyes. Had so much time passed? It was hard enough to accept being reborn, but doubts piled up.

[Ha. We’ll have a lot to talk about in the future. You should be glad I’m a constellation.]

‘…Okay. Let’s find out little by little. But how did you know I was here?’

[I started feeling your energy about two months ago. I was doubtful then too.]

That must have been it. According to him, I was a contractor who suddenly appeared after a thousand years.

[So I came looking, just in case.]

‘You were sure it was me even though I was a baby?’

[We’re connected by a contract of souls. The shell doesn’t matter.]

‘I see. I don’t know what happened… But thank you for finding me anyway.’

I was truly grateful.

The questions had increased, but I felt relieved. I realized how precious it was to have someone to talk to.

How could one live the life of an infant with the mind of an adult? It was truly a bleak thing. In the midst of that, his appearance was like a ray of light.

[Yeah, yeah! We got along so well a thousand years ago! Let’s do well again! Oh, and I’ve been feeling this since a while ago. There’s one thing I’m sure of.]

‘Something sure? What is it? Is it related to reincarnation? Or is it related to this family?’

Oberon brought his beast-like face closer.

[I think you were right to be reborn. I used to think, ‘What kind of bandit is that?’ But now you look quite cute. That pacifier suits you so well too. Ooh la la! Peek-a-boo! Should I shake this mobile for you?]

‘…….’

I can’t even kill this guy.

* * *

They say humans are creatures of adaptation. I was gradually getting used to the body of a child.

Ah, except for one thing.

“Young Master! You’ve been waiting long. I’ll change you quickly!”

As soon as the nanny came into the room, she sniffed.

‘…Don’t laugh.’

Shortly after, the nanny’s touch reached me.

‘How dare you touch me!’

I shouted, resisting fiercely.

“Bwaaa!”

It was only replaced by a cry. I couldn’t convey my intentions properly. No, not even properly, this nanny is interpreting my intentions in the opposite way.

“Oh my! Are you uncomfortable because it’s wet? I’ll change you quickly!”

The nanny’s touch became even busier.

Swish-.

The pieces of cloth that had been covering my crotch fluttered. They were stained yellow.

‘Haa…….’

[Kyak! To think that the great Adonis is changing diapers!]

‘…Stop laughing.’

As that time, which I couldn’t adapt to at all, passed.

Squeak-.

The door opened once again.

“Ian! Mommy’s here!”

It was her whom I had met as soon as I opened my eyes.

Titania.

That was her name, which I learned after hearing the nanny call her.

“Oh my, you pooped a lot today?”

Of course, Titania is also checking my bowel movements as soon as she arrives.

‘…….’

The nanny smiles brightly at her.

“What will Young Master choose at the Pyeolbansik [a traditional Korean ceremony celebrating a child’s first birthday] today?”

“Well, anything is fine. I just hope he grows up healthy. Oh! It’s already this late.”

“Oh my! You have to go quickly.”

Titania’s smile reached me.

“Ian, Mommy will be going out with you for a while today. There will be quite a few people, is that okay?”

Titania, holding me in her arms, left the room. Of course, Oberon was with us too.

‘Pyeolbansik…….’

One of the most important events held in magical families. They say it’s to judge the potential of their children. Wizards have great intellectual abilities, but paradoxically, they have a corner of their minds that believes firmly in superstitions.

‘Even after a thousand years, that tradition is still going on?’

[That’s right. Those moronic wizards. Sometimes they seem more ignorant than knights.]

‘I wonder how Delema will proceed with the Pyeolbansik.’

[Well, usually, other places use sacred objects…….]

And so, we moved for a long time.

Passing through a garden of such a vast scale that even the modifier ‘mansion’ seemed shabby.

Squeak-.

The place we entered after opening the huge iron gate.

‘There are many people.’

Dozens of pairs of eyes were focused on us.

[At this point, all of Delema’s bloodline must have gathered.]

‘That means it’s an important event.’

The thirty or so people lined up on both sides were all shining with red eyes. Among them, there was one who was sending a particularly hot gaze.

“Titania, why are you so late?”

A woman standing at the far end on the left made a low sound.

“I’m sorry. I prepared in a hurry, but it turned out that way.”

“Do you still think you are receiving favor? You should have attended later than the Lord.”

A woman who doesn’t hide her hostility. It was an obvious situation. She also had a child of my age in her arms.

‘Since we’re of similar age, she sees me as a rival.’

[That’s right. Originally, prestigious families have fierce succession battles.]

‘The jealousy is immense. It’s not like she’s late.’

Titania only smiled awkwardly, but the woman tried to open her mouth again.

“Helena.”

A voice that stopped her. It was that of a middle-aged man at the innermost part of the lined formation.

“Lower your voice. The Lord will be here soon.”

A low-pitched voice. It contained a power that overwhelmed the audience. It was an intimidation that only those who had trained for a long time could emit.

[That guy is quite strong.]

‘That’s right. It seems he has some power within the family.’

At his words, Helena also lowered her tail [backed down]. Of course, judging from the fact that she bit her lip without being noticed by him, she seemed to be full of dissatisfaction.

‘Serves you right.’

The silence was broken not long after.

Squeak-.

The iron gate we had entered through opened again, and sunlight began to shine through. Two attendants entered through the gap. And behind them, an old man with white hair moved his steps.

‘Uh……?’

I spat out the pacifier at that sight.

“The Lord is here!”