Genius Wizard Hides His Sword Skills [EN]: Chapter 52

52. Shadow of Anti

A magic stone with a faint greenish glow.

This stone, containing a much denser mana than a blue magic stone, was a rare find, occasionally discovered in mana-rich ley lines [naturally occurring lines of energy].

When placed next to the egg of Ratatoskr.

Woooong!

It vibrated gently, emitting mana little by little. It was a highly concentrated mana, accumulated over an unknown period.

‘Good. Eat it all without leaving any.’

The released mana flowed ceaselessly into Ratatoskr’s egg, as if the egg was absorbing it.

“……Was it not a jewel, but an egg of a magical beast?”

Angel Bremen was startled by the sight.

“A magical beast… You could say that.”

He recognized this strange phenomenon. Generally, magic stones were used as nourishment to hatch magical beasts.

For a magical beast to hatch naturally, it would take decades to absorb natural energy and mana. However, with the energy of this dense magic stone, that time could be condensed.

“If it needs a green magic stone, it must be quite something.”

Most magical beasts respond sufficiently to blue magic stones, but that was not enough for Ratatoskr.

‘Considering its power, you could consider it a divine beast.’

It needed a green magic stone, which concentrated the dense mana of a ley line.

Woooong!

The egg reacted as it did now. The mana emanating from the magic stone gradually increased, soon pouring out intensely enough to illuminate the room.

After a few minutes of that.

‘Is it finally coming out?’

Thuk-.

A crack began to form on the top of the egg.

[Definitely a good reaction.]

The crack quickly engulfed the entire egg.

Thuk. Thudduk!

Angel and I focused our attention on the intermittent cracking sounds.

Jjeok!

Eventually, the golden egg shattered and scattered in all directions.

[Oh! Finally!]

Among the fragments, there was a creature curled up.

‘It’s out.’

In everyone’s attention, Ratatoskr finally revealed itself before our eyes.

The moment when the gazes of Oberon and Angel, as well as mine, were focused. The creature from the egg made a small sound, as if announcing its existence.

“Kkyuung?”

* * *

Angel could not hide his bewilderment.

“……Is this the magical beast that the Herald spoke of?”

The small creature that appeared from the egg was too pathetic to be called a magical beast.

‘What is this…….’

A creature covered in fluffy fur. The soft fur extended to its tail.

“It looks like a… squirrel.”

Of course, it wouldn’t be a common squirrel. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have been born from an egg like this.

‘Heo……. Could it be?’

Only then did Angel’s mind race.

‘Ratatoskr?’

The only magical beast resembling a squirrel was the hideous monster known only in legends: Ratatoskr.

Among the magical beasts that filled the Xylo Mountains, there were a few that were considered top predators. Ratatoskr was second to none.

‘No way…….’

Angel could only speculate. He couldn’t be sure.

‘Ratatoskr was said to be extinct.’

The existence that could occasionally be seen in the documents passed down in the Central Council was said to have been wiped out by the allied forces of humans and other races.

There was no way it would suddenly appear now. Especially in the form of an egg.

“Come here.”

Ian carefully picked up the squirrel from the floor. The small squirrel, barely a hand span in size, settled on Ian’s shoulder.

“Kkyung!”

Angel could be sure of what followed.

‘……!’

Crunch!

The squirrel was slowly chewing on the unicorn horn that Ian handed over. Its seemingly fragile teeth were easily cutting through the supposedly hard unicorn horn.

The unicorn horn was so tough that it was said to be difficult to even scratch with ordinary weapons.

“Is that perhaps Ratatoskr?”

Ian’s nonchalant reaction left Angel with no choice but to nod.

‘It really is.’

He was facing a creature that had only been passed down in legends. A magical beast that had massacred countless humans.

“I heard it was originally a very famous being.”

It was currently in such a cute form, but Angel couldn’t even imagine what it would look like when it grew up.

“I can’t believe it even when I see it. Ratatoskr.”

An entire kingdom was said to have been destroyed because of one Ratatoskr. The creature before him was simply amazing to Angel.

He reached out his hand to its cute appearance. “Kyak!” The creature wrinkled its nose. Even as a young individual, its ferocious nature seemed to remain intact.

“You shouldn’t do that. It thinks the first person it sees after being born is its mother. It hates everyone else.”

“I see.”

“Oh, and can you get me a lot of these horns? Ratatoskr’s favorite food is unicorn. Of course, it eats other food too, but it needs to eat food with magical energy to grow quickly.”

“Yes. I will get them even if I have to catch the unicorns myself.”

Ian seemed to know a lot about Ratatoskr for some reason.

‘As expected of the Herald of Angelos.’

He thought that Angelos next to him must have told him. No matter how much Delema was, there was no way this young boy would know so much about the legendary magical beast.

“Thanks to you, I got this guy easily.”

“You’re welcome. Is Angelos satisfied?”

“More than enough. He’s grinning from ear to ear.”

Ian smiled contentedly, looking somewhere in the air. Angel’s lips also curved upward at the sight.

‘All of this must be to realize the great cause.’

It was an infinite honor to be able to realize the great cause left by Angelos a thousand years ago in his generation.

“Ah, right. Where is that Aiteo?”

Ian, who was stroking Ratatoskr, changed the subject.

“As you said, the Central Council decided to take him in.”

“Good. We can afford to show that much favor. Is there any suitable job to entrust him with?”

“Yes. Despite his size, he moves very discreetly when stealing things. He seemed to have quite a talent for erasing his tracks.”

“Oh, really? That’s good. I was just going to take him in, but it’s a relief that he’s even useful.”

“Yes. The Herald has found an excellent talent.”

It wasn’t just flattery. Aiteo had really caught Angel’s eye.

‘If I teach him a little, he’ll be very useful.’

Of course, Aiteo, who wanted to live a thin and long life under the shadow of the Central Council, didn’t know that.

“Ah, and the Central Council’s residence has also been newly established.

“Oh, already? You’re fast as always. Where to?”

“We decided on Ias.”

Ian’s brow furrowed at the casually spoken words.

“You’re going to set up base where the Magic Tower is?”

He must be worried about them. Since the Central Council was being pursued by the Magic Tower, he must be worried that they would get caught.

“You don’t have to worry. They will never find out.”

However, Angel was confident. The darkest place is always under the lamp [a common saying meaning the most obvious place is often overlooked].

“Hmm. I understand. Well, it’s almost time for the children to come, so leave. Let’s talk about the rest in Ias.”

“Yes. I understand.”

* * *

Before heading to the Magic Tower, we decided to take one last look around the market. I left the hotel with Admun and Drew.

“What’s that squirrel?”

Attention was focused on Ratatoskr, who was perched on my shoulder.

“I’m going to raise it. I found it near the accommodation last night.”

“Hoo.”

Drew, drawn to its big eyes, reached out his hand.

“Kyak!”

As expected, Ratatoskr bared its teeth and hissed.

‘What a temper.’

It was just a newborn, but its teeth were sharp.

“Be careful. You’ll be in big trouble if you get bitten.”

“Ugh, okay.”

Drew scratched his head, looking embarrassed.

‘Is it because it’s still a baby? It’s very wary.’

Once it starts to understand my words, it won’t be wary of other people indiscriminately.

‘It’ll get better.’

I stroked its head, feeling the soft texture.

“Kkyung.”

It was still only accepting my touch quietly.

“But, pets are prohibited in the Magic Tower. What are you going to do?”

“I’ll have to hide it.”

“Oh? Could it be there?”

Drew pointed to my wrist. He had already witnessed Illimita’s subspace over the past three days.

“Yeah. There’s no place like it.”

Woooong!

A small portal appeared on my wrist as I injected mana. Fortunately, Ratatoskr didn’t seem to dislike the energy emanating from the subspace.

“Kkyuung!”

Rather, it wagged its long tail as if welcoming it.

“Go in.”

“Kkyung!”

The creature jumped off my shoulder and jumped straight into the portal.

‘I’m glad it likes it.’

Even if there were no pet prohibition regulations, it would have been better to hide its appearance.

Angel had recognized its identity. There was no way the Magic Tower’s prominent wizards wouldn’t notice it.

“That’s always amazing to see.”

Drew stared intently at the portal in the air.

“If you need something next time, I’ll let you put it in here too.”

“Oh, really?”

“Of course. You’ll need a subspace soon too.”

The knights of the Gibson family wielded huge Zanbatos [large, often ornate, Japanese swords] and commanded the battlefield. There was no way Drew, as a magician, could carry such a crude weapon. It would be like openly advertising, ‘I’m a knight.’

‘I should give him one as a gift if I see something like that again.’

[Good idea.]

It was a necessary item for Drew to grow into a knight.

The Anti’s market was close. No, rather than close, it was fair to say that the entire city was a market.

‘There are shops everywhere.’

The market unfolded without even moving a few steps from the hotel.

“Wow, that looks really delicious.”

Drew’s nose twitched incessantly.

“It’s quite a scale. Those equipment must be quite expensive, right?”

Admun’s gaze also couldn’t stay in one place. He peered around, showing interest. However, he had only looked at the items for the past three days, without touching them.

“Tell me if there’s anything you want. I’ll buy it for you.”

“No. The shoes you bought me on the first day are already too much. You’ve already spent a lot of money.”

Admun definitely had many things he wanted. Drew could use his family’s money, but these many things would feel like a mirage to him. After all, he wouldn’t have the money to buy them.

[The more he looks, the more deprivation he’ll feel.]

‘I can’t let that happen.’

How could I let a descendant of the Dolph family feel that way? I wouldn’t mind paying 500 gold coins right away for him.

“Don’t worry. You know I have a lot of money. If you don’t choose something yourself, I’ll buy everything you’re looking at.”

“Heuk!”

Only then did Admun pick out a few items.

‘He should have done that sooner.’

He was uncomfortable, but at the same time, there was joy in his eyes.

[Looks good.]

The sight made my lips twitch. Giving the best treatment to my people. That was something that increased my satisfaction.

“Okay, okay! Coming through! Please move aside!”

At that moment, a hurried voice came from behind. My head naturally turned to the voice that was disturbing the pleasant moment.

‘……Iron bars?’

The commotion was starting from a carriage. A carriage carrying a large iron cage was blocking the road. Naturally, the gaze was bound to be directed into the iron cage.

And the sight inside.

“That crazy bastard!”

It made me blurt out swear words.