Genius Wizard Hides His Sword Skills [EN]: Chapter 3

3. Ah, I’m a Baby! (2)

The unfortunate event of bursting into tears at this crucial moment did not occur.

“What’s wrong, Ian?”

It was thanks to Titania, who quickly put the pacifier back in his mouth. However, it didn’t soothe my bewildered heart.

‘……Oberon, it couldn’t be, right?’

I had no choice but to ask Oberon. The appearance of the family head was surprisingly similar to ‘that guy’.

[Huh, well. I’m surprised too. He looks exactly like Juan Delema.]

Huan Delema.

The name of one of the Five Stars, that damn old man who gave me death.

[But it can’t be him. By now, even his bones would have rotted away.]

‘Well, it’s been a thousand years.’

A millennium of blank space occurred between closing and opening my eyes. Thanks to that long time, Juan Delema couldn’t possibly exist. Come to think of it, he seemed a bit younger than the last time I saw him.

‘Why is this family’s blood so assertive [dominant or strong]?’

[Tell me about it! It’s been a thousand years, but I can still see that guy’s face. How can that be? Ptooey! I don’t even want to look at that unlucky mug!]

The irony of cursing the Delema in the middle of the Delema family was happening. While Oberon and I were exchanging curses at him, Titania brought her mouth close to my ear.

“That person is Ian’s grandfather. He’s also my mother’s father…….”

Her eyes looked somehow sad as she spoke.

‘This woman has a story too.’

Anyone could see it in her eyes.

[I know, right? Maybe domestic violence? Did she grow up being beaten by that guy?]

‘……Was she beaten?’

I sighed and stared at the white-haired old man who was walking.

The lined-up family members stood motionless.

Step-.

Just as the head of the family took five steps.

“We greet the head of the family!”

“We greet the head of the family!”

They shouted at the same time. Their emotionless shouts were like those of well-trained knights.

‘Wow, the hierarchy is quite something.’

[It’s tougher than most knight orders, isn’t it? Is this really a magic family?]

‘It’s not for nothing that they’re a prestigious family.’

At this moment, Helena and Titania were no exception. They greeted the head of the family with firm expressions. There was no wavering in their eyes, but there was emotion.

Fear.

Yes. The emotion of fear. A look that I, who had cut down countless enemies as a knight, could never not know. The fear of a herbivore facing a predator.

[That family head has a lot of dignity.]

Oberon was feeling the same way. It wasn’t just because he was strong. The power that the head of the family held in this family was that great.

He passed the lined-up people and settled into the innermost sofa.

“I heard there are two children born this year.”

He asked the man at the very front, as if tossing out a careless remark, without even looking this way.

“Yes. That’s right. They are Helena and Titania’s children. Today, the appraisal ceremony will be held for both children at the same time.”

The man who stood beside Helena answered calmly.

‘That woman’s baby is doing it together today.’

[That’s why she treated him so harshly.]

Helena was still glaring at this side even after the head of the family passed by.

‘Seriously. What did I do wrong?’

If I weren’t in a baby’s body, I would have cut her in half.

“Now, let’s begin the appraisal ceremony.”

The event proceeded in order. A man who introduced himself as the third son of the head of the family, Liu Delema, was in charge of the event.

When asked to say a word before the event, the head of the family said, ‘I don’t have anything to say, so hurry up and proceed to the next order.’ He looked quite indifferent.

And so, a boring ceremony flowed by.

“Now, the highlight of the appraisal ceremony. We will have time to find out the children’s talents.”

The head of the family, who was sitting on the sofa, took something out of his arms.

‘Now it’s the real deal.’

The attendants quickly ran to receive the item. They brought it as if they were carrying a sacred object. It was a bundle of cards.

[Why cards all of a sudden?]

Twenty cards the size of an adult’s palm. The attendants laid the cards out in a row on the floor.

‘Are we choosing that?’

[I guess so.]

‘I thought they’d bring out some kind of sacred object.’

It was just a bundle of cards from the most successful magic family on the continent. Moreover, there were very trite [commonplace] words written on it.

Fire, water, wind, earth…….

‘Are they magic attributes?’

[That’s right. I guess they give you something if you choose one?]

However, it didn’t take long to realize that they weren’t ordinary cards.

“Now, it’s time to proceed with the real main event.”

As if he were a professional emcee, Liu Delema skillfully continued his speech.

“As you all know, these are cards inscribed with ancient languages. It is the masterpiece of Juan Delema, who is said to be the best magician in the family.”

I was surprised twice by his words.

‘Juan Delema?’

It was made by the sly old fox of the Five Stars.

‘What’s with the ancient language?’

And the ancient language. I couldn’t understand it easily. Only ordinary letters were visible to my eyes.

[Ah……. It’s a long story.]

Oberon’s voice continued, overlapping with the emcee’s comments.

“These ancient languages each represent a magical attribute. The cards are emitting intense energy of each attribute.”

[After you died, the Five Stars started running wild.]

“Children instinctively choose familiar attributes. In other words, they are finding the potential inherent in their bodies.”

[They killed the promising knights indiscriminately, and later they even started manipulating the records.]

“In addition, the blessing left by Juan Delema is bestowed upon the chosen card.”

[I don’t know why. However, they not only manipulated the records, but also started changing the language.]

“As you know, the content of the blessing is different for each child. It may improve resistance to the corresponding attribute, or it may speed up learning ability.”

[That’s how the letters of 1,000 years ago became a legend called the ancient language.]

The two people’s short explanations ended like that.

‘So, the language I used disappeared?’

[Yes. The pronunciation is the same, but the shape is completely different.]

‘What were the Five Stars up to?’

My question was short-lived. Liu Delema’s mouth opened again.

“Then, Helena. Put down McDuff.”

Helena carefully put the baby down. The baby was innocent, but she seemed more nervous.

McDuff Delema.

The one-year-old crawled towards the magic cards. Soon he arrived in front of one card. He giggled and put his hand on the card.

‘Is it fire attribute?’

[That’s right.]

The lined-up people were exclaiming.

“Oh! It’s a mainstream attribute!”

“Excellent.”

“Good quality.”

Although it was an ancient language, it seemed that magicians could read the attributes.

Woo-oong!

A vibration arose with the people’s commotion. Red light poured out from the card McDuff had chosen and enveloped his body.

‘Is that a blessing?’

I didn’t know exactly what it did, but there was no doubt that Juan Delema had left it directly for the family’s successors.

‘His skills were real.’

Helena smiled and hugged McDuff.

Next was my turn. As soon as Titania put me down on the floor, I crawled towards the cards.

[What are you going to choose?]

‘Well. Fire? Water? Or lightning?’

Although the cards exerted attraction, I had the will. I could crawl and choose the attribute I wanted.

‘Of course, a mainstream attribute would be better, right?’

I was thinking about the attribute that was most difficult to deal with when I was a knight.

‘……This?’

Woo-oong!

Something strongly pulled my body. Naturally, my head tilted. An unusually strong attraction was acting on one card.

‘Huh, did that attribute exist too?’

The letters clearly visible in both eyes. The only word written on the card was…….

Black(黑).

It was written alone without any modifiers, but it was enough to captivate my eyes.

[Don’t tell me that’s pulling you in right now?]

Oberon’s eyes widened like lanterns.

‘Yeah. Very strongly too.’

Of course, ignoring that attraction. I could have crawled towards another card. But now that I had seen that word, my mind was already made up.

‘I have to do that.’

[There are many other attributes, why that one?]

‘That was the hardest to deal with. It was different from other magics.’

[Still, wouldn’t it be better to choose another mainstream magic? Although a thousand years have passed, black magic is still forbidden. You can’t use it anyway.]

Oberon’s words made sense, but my heart was already captured.

‘Oberon. After I reached 9 stars in my previous life, was there a magician I couldn’t defeat?’

[There wasn’t. Except for the Five Stars.]

‘That’s right. Those old men were definitely using black magic. Maybe there will be a time when I have to deal with black magic again.’

[Hmm. That’s true, but…….]

‘The emcee said earlier that resistance to the chosen attribute may occur. Isn’t it good to be immune to black magic? Besides, if you want to know what the Five Stars did, you need to know about black magic.’

[Well. I can’t guarantee that there will never be a black magician. Do whatever you want.]

So I put my hand on the word black. People reacted greatly this time too.

“Huh……. It’s a cursed attribute.”

“Oh, dear.”

“Why did Juan Delema leave something like that behind!”

However, the reaction was close to lamentation.

Of course, I didn’t care.

‘You morons.’

As a knight, I had faced many magicians, but black magic was the one I couldn’t even use my hands properly.

‘The real scary thing is this.’

Even the fire attribute, which was so full of dominance, the elegant wind attribute, and the relentlessly pouring lightning attribute.

Everyone had to give way to black magic. There is a reason why it is designated as a forbidden area.

Woo-oong!

The card in front of me also vibrated. Black energy was blooming from there. It was engulfing my body.

[What does it feel like?]

‘Hmm. I don’t know yet?’

I didn’t feel anything special. It had entered my body, so I just assumed it had settled somewhere. That’s when Titania lifted my body.

“……Now, let’s end the party.”

Even though there were a few more items left on the schedule, the head of the family got up from his seat. In the family, his words were law and truth.

“I understand. Head of the family.”

Liu Delema had no choice but to organize the event without complaining.

“And from next year, you guys do this boring event among yourselves.”

It was a white-haired old man who left his seat with cold words.

‘Why is he suddenly like that?’

It was difficult to read his intentions from his indifferent expression. As the head of the family left, the seat was quickly cleared.

Most people shook their heads at me once.

They were the nice ones. There were even people who clicked their tongues.

“Titania.”

Helena approached, holding McDuff. She was not the type to stay still in this situation.

“Helena, sister.”

“Because your child chose a cursed card, Father’s mood has soured!”

At the scolding, Titania hugged my body tightly.

“Titania. You were more talented than me and were loved, but I don’t think our children are.”

An emotion that goes beyond competition between children. It was clear inferiority. Helena was full of jealousy towards Titania.

‘What a pathetic woman.’

When Helena’s gaze reached me.

Smirk-

I raised one corner of my mouth.

“Y-You! You wicked thing!”

Only laughing at her was all I could do for her now.

* * *

Even after the appraisal ceremony, Titania’s attitude did not change. She seemed a little thoughtful, but she always smiled when she looked at me.

Rather, I was the one who was wondering.

‘Why are they doing that?’

The real power of Juan Delema was in black magic. I had experienced it myself, so I couldn’t help but know its power better than anyone else.

‘A cursed attribute…….’

They were people who didn’t even know where the power they were enjoying came from.

Bang!

The door opened wide at that moment.

‘What is it?’

The nanny, who had rushed in, was breathing heavily.

“What’s going on without knocking? It’s not like you.”

Even in Titania’s calm voice, the nanny couldn’t hide her embarrassment.

“H, Head of the family!”

“Head of the family?”

“The head of the family is coming here!”

“What?”

Only then did Titania, holding me, approach the window.

‘Why is that guy here……?’

Outside the window, a white-haired old man was walking this way.