Genius Wizard Hides His Sword Skills [EN]: Chapter 33

33. The Inner Circle (2)

Alloy was just as taken aback.

“Stenos, sir?”

Uninvited guests had barged into his lab. Stenos was one thing, but even remnants of the Inner Circle were here.

“You goddamn bastard! Why did you hide your skills?”

The Inner Circle mage cursed as soon as he saw him.

“You son of a bitch, Delema! I’ll kill you for sure!”

The swordsman hurled curses at Ian. Each vented their anger at those who had subdued them.

At least they were bound head to toe with ropes. They could only wag their tongues and couldn’t do anything threatening.

‘……What’s that?’

They were surrounded by some kind of iron bars. It wasn’t a facility that was originally in the lab.

“These guys still haven’t come to their senses.”

Stenos reached out to them. Mana emanated from his fingertips and touched their ropes.

Pazzzz!

Sparks flew from the ropes.

“Kuaaa!”

They slumped over with a final scream.

‘Mana ropes, huh.’

A magical tool that not only prevented the bound from using mana but could also subdue them with sparks.

Once they quieted down, Stenos spoke to Ian.

“Ian Delema, I’m sorry, but could you step out for a moment? I have something to discuss with Associate Professor Alloy.”

“Ah, yes.”

Ian bowed and stepped back out. Stenos quickly cast a soundproofing spell on the door.

“What brings you here without notice? And what’s with the iron bars?”

He pointed to the unconscious remnants of the Inner Circle.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t have a suitable place to interrogate these guys.”

“Wouldn’t it be easier to do it in the Chief Mage’s office?”

“There are too many people coming and going there for Magic Tower business. The Tower Lord saw them and told me to take them somewhere else because it was unsightly for others to see… He’s an unpredictable man.”

“Ah…….”

“So, I came here. You’re the only one I can show the interrogation to. They’ll be sent to the Magic Tower prison as soon as the interrogation is over. Please bear with it for a few days.”

“Understood. It’s for our sake, so we should endure it.”

“Thank you. Oh, and the Commander urgently wants to see you tonight.”

“The Commander? Do you know what it’s about?”

“He didn’t say. He said he’s coming to Ias himself, so make some time tonight.”

“Understood.”

Stenos suddenly looked towards the door.

“Was that child you just hired as an assistant?”

“Yes, he is.”

“The Commander told me to keep an eye on him, right? To have him by your side is an ideal situation.”

“Things worked out well by chance.”

“Good. Then call him back in.”

Whoooong!

With that, Stenos released the soundproofing magic.

* * *

‘What’s the relationship between those two?’

Stenos and Alloy. The two definitely had some kind of relationship. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have suddenly come to someone else’s lab. Especially with two criminals in tow.

That was unheard of among mages who respected each other’s personal space.

At that moment, the door reopened.

“Ian. You can come in now.”

Ian re-entered the lab at Alloy’s call.

‘They were pretty young.’

The black masks of the Inner Circle remnants had been removed. They looked to be in their mid-twenties at most.

Not comparable to Alloy, but they were quite accomplished for their age.

‘The Inner Circle…….’

He couldn’t help but be interested.

Oberon clicked his tongue at their slumped figures.

[Still, it seems like they’re interrogating them in a gentlemanly manner.]

‘I know, right? Just mana ropes. Back in my day, we couldn’t even imagine such a method.’

Compared to the mages of the past, who didn’t hesitate to use all sorts of wicked methods for torture, this was tame.

Aside from the fact that their hands and feet were bound by mana ropes, they were in pretty good condition.

‘Still, there’s some hope.’

[Hope? Hope for what?]

‘Dolph. Ailen Dolph.’

He suddenly thought of Admun’s younger brother. If that child had received this kind of treatment, he would have survived.

As he examined them, Alloy patted him on the shoulder.

“Those guys will be staying here for a while. Don’t worry. As you saw earlier, we can subdue them at any time.”

However, his eyes narrowed at that moment.

‘Is that…’

Alloy’s comforting words didn’t register.

[What’s that guy?]

A necklace slipped out from the swordsman’s clothes. The pendant dangling from his neck caught his eye.

‘Ha. This is getting complicated.’

The symbol in the center was one he had seen a thousand years ago. A shining sword was engraved inside a circle.

[Isn’t that the mark of that pseudo-religion from back then?]

‘You remember too? That con artist.’

Angelos, the cult leader who tried to scam the world a thousand years ago. It was the symbol of his religion.

[Of course, I remember. You beat him to a pulp on a rainy day.]

Of course, he had tried to spread strange nonsense to him, but he had been taught a lesson.

‘There are still people carrying on the lineage.’

In any case, it was a welcome sign. The fact that traces of a thousand years ago still remained seemed to remind him that his existence was not a fabrication.

Moreover, if it was a group that had survived even in the manipulated history of the Five Stars, he might be able to find clues about what the Five Stars had done.

‘I need to dig deeper into those guys.’

It was the moment he became curious about the Inner Circle, which he had previously had no interest in.

“Ian. First, unpack your things.”

Of course, now was not the time.

“You can use that desk over there. I cleaned it this afternoon, so it should be clean.”

* * *

“How is it? Is the spot okay?”

Alloy sat at his desk and looked at him. The desks were set up facing each other.

“Yes. The chair is more comfortable than I thought, and it’s great.”

Stenos told them not to worry about him and continued talking to the remnants of the Inner Circle.

‘I have no idea what they’re saying.’

He wondered if they had cast a soundproofing spell around the bars, as they only seemed to be moving their mouths.

Instead, Alloy’s voice filled the silence.

“You can also do research here. It’s an assistant-only perk. As you know, research and magic development are important elements in the Magic Tower.”

That was true. Other kids would have to rent a shared practice room for research.

‘I’m enjoying the luxury thanks to doing well on the exam.’

Not only did he get a place to research in peace, but he also had a professor next to him to give advice, which was an undeniably good environment.

[But are you really going to be his assistant?]

Oberon gestured towards Alloy.

‘Yeah. Why?’

[That guy has some ulterior motive too. Are you sure it’s okay? Stenos seems to be in on it too.]

It was rare for them to be on the same page.

‘It’ll be fine. I don’t know what Alloy’s purpose is, but if he was planning to harm me, he would have killed me long ago.’

[That’s true. I wonder what these guys are hiding.]

‘If Delema sent someone to watch me, it’s better to be close to him.’

[If you’re going to be watched by Alloy anyway, you’ll watch him too?]

‘Of course.’

Alloy, who was working as an associate professor at the Magic Tower while hiding his skills. There was one variable that even Alloy could never know. That his mind was not that of a nine-year-old novice, but of a Sword Emperor who had experienced everything.

‘I’ll get more information from Alloy than Alloy gets from me.’

It was better to stick around to find out his hidden purpose.

“As promised, I won’t make you do any trivial errands.”

Moreover, Alloy was giving him personal time, so there was no reason to refuse.

‘And one thing is for sure, this guy doesn’t seem like a bad guy.’

[He was a bit mischievous from the academy, but he was always on the kids’ side.]

‘Besides, he revealed his hidden power to save the children this time. He’s definitely a good-hearted guy.’

Alloy, who had no idea he was being evaluated, was just looking at him with satisfaction.

“Associate Professor. Then, can I choose any research topic?”

“Yes. You can use all the tools here freely.”

Alloy looked around. Following his gaze, he saw numerous research instruments.

“If you don’t know what to research, you can work with me on what I’m doing. Ah, don’t worry, I’m not trying to trick you into doing chores.”

“What are you researching?”

“I’m very interested in soil. Because it’s the source of all things. So, I was researching how to use earth magic more flexibly.”

It was quite an appealing topic.

‘Well, earth magic does have a particularly rigid feel.’

Not all of it, but most earth magic was like that. Once cast, it was difficult to change its form. It was a difficult attribute to create flexible movements like water or wind.

“Um. I’ll think about what topic I want to do first. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll do what you suggested.”

However, he had to refuse for now. He had an ulterior motive like Alloy.

‘First, I need to be able to move freely on my own.’

If he did joint research with Alloy, his activities would inevitably be restricted.

“Okay. Do as you please.”

As promised, Alloy granted him freedom. At that moment, another voice chimed in.

“Associate Professor Alloy. Let’s go now.”

Stenos had already released the soundproofing magic.

“Ah, it’s already this late.”

Alloy checked the clock on the wall.

“Ian. You should head out for today too.”

“Ah, already?”

“Stenos and I have plans for this evening.”

His eyes lit up at those words.

“Then, can I stay here and think more about research?”

“Really? Starting today?”

“Yes. Looking at the research equipment, I feel like starting right away!”

Of course, his purpose for staying here was not for research.

‘Angelos. Let’s see what that guy did to maintain the group until a thousand years later.’

[You’re going to dig into those guys?]

‘Yeah. I don’t know how long the Inner Circle guys will be interrogated here. I have to seize the opportunity when I have it.’

However, Alloy looked troubled.

“The Inner Circle guys are here. Wouldn’t it be better to leave together?”

“Stenos put mana ropes on them anyway. Of course, they won’t be able to break through those bars either.”

“Hmm. That’s true, but…….”

Alloy still looked reluctant. Rather, it was Stenos who agreed with him.

“It’ll be fine. It’s impossible for them to break the mana ropes, and they’ll faint the moment they touch the bars. I personally cast electric magic there.”

“That’s true.”

“A Magic Tower assistant wants to do research, and a professor is getting in the way. Let’s hurry, we have to go soon.”

“……Understood. Ian, if those guys do anything strange, activate the mana ropes. You remember the method I taught you, right?”

“Yes. Of course.”

He looked at the guys in the bars with satisfaction.