Genius Wizard Hides His Sword Skills [EN]: Chapter 55

55. Forgotten Time (2)

[This world is so treacherous that I, myself, have appeared to save it. Let all who suffer inequality hear me. I shall create a world united by my hand.]

The first book I picked up.

‘What nonsense.’

It was the doctrine of the Circle, written by Angelus himself. I had no interest in such content, and the book was as thick as my fist.

‘I don’t need this.’

I put it back down.

“Are you not pleased?”

Angel, who had been watching, rushed over.

“No, I was just saying that Angelus would be very pleased.”

I offered a quick excuse, and Angel bowed.

“Thank you. It is the most precious book I have, and I have taken great care of it whenever we moved our base.”

“I figured. Its condition is very good.”

Angel seemed unsure how to respond.

“The ones next to it are records left by the past leaders. They detail the events that have taken place in each generation, as well as major incidents.”

“Alright. I’ve already heard a lot about the doctrine from Angelus, so I should start by seeing what the past leaders have been up to.”

I naturally reached for the book next to it.

‘I might be able to get a clue from this.’

What happened a thousand years ago, after I died? How was the Circle able to survive?

Surely, that forgotten time is also recorded in these records.

“Yes. Then we will wait in the back.”

There were dozens of books. Even just skimming through them would take quite some time.

“Go ahead and go upstairs. You don’t have to wait for me. I plan to look at everything here today and then head back.”

I might have to stay up all night here.

“Sh, should we?”

Aiteo quickly looked around.

“I’m fine. The Preacher might have questions, so I should stay by his side.”

“Me too. I can’t leave the Young Master alone. I’ll go buy you something to eat.”

Angel and Admun were competitively trying to assist me. Aiteo blinked, surprised.

“Ah, ah! I’ll stay here too! I’ll assist you!”

He shouted hastily.

“Well, do as you please. You three can have a discussion about stealth techniques or something.”

Angel and Admun genuinely wanted to stay by my side, so there was no need to dissuade them.

‘It wouldn’t be bad if Admun got closer to those two.’

If he learned more about stealth, it would definitely be helpful.

[They all use different methods of stealth.]

It was an opportunity for Admun to further develop his skills.

‘Then I should focus too.’

I soon picked up the next book and immediately turned to the first page.

[Kargas Imperial Calendar 820 ~ 833. Written by Ailus, the 54th leader of the Circle.]

Angel said he was the 55th leader. This was written by the leader of the previous generation.

‘Are they arranged in reverse order?’

The order didn’t matter much. It would be interesting to look at it as if going back in history.

[To realize the great cause of a thousand years, we are aggressively increasing the size of the Circle.

We are not neglecting to train in magic, as well as nurturing those who have honed their martial arts.

We are raising knights because it is written in the doctrine, but doubts are inevitable. It is true that knights are far weaker than mages. There must be a reason…….]

As Angel said, it was a book recording the work done by the leader. My eyes scanned the page. Their records weren’t limited to just the Circle.

[I can never get used to the Zairo Mountains, no matter how many times I go. It is not easy to set foot in a place teeming with monsters, but if it is to convey the will of Angelus…….]

The record of occasionally visiting the Zairo Mountains caught my eye.

‘Why are they going there?’

A place where no one sets foot except for monsters. A barren place where general life forms cannot survive due to the dense mana [magical energy].

[Did they go there for secluded training?]

In the old days, 9-star knights or mages occasionally visited for training purposes.

‘No. It says they went there to convey the will of Angelus?’

The reason why the 54th leader visited the Zairo Mountains was unknown.

‘There’s nothing else special about it.’

Because it was a relatively recent record, most of it was something I already knew.

Thud. I put the book down and picked up the next one.

* * *

How many hours had passed? I satisfied my hunger with the meal that Admun and Aiteo had bought and continued reading.

The other three were also having a heated discussion. Of course, Aiteo looked like he was about to fall asleep.

“So, Admun, you reduce your presence by making your body as light as possible with body techniques.”

“That’s right. It’s just about hiding the sound.”

“Amazing talent. To be able to control your body so well.”

The level at which Admun controlled his body was surprising even to Angel.

“I don’t know why you say I have a talent for stealth.”

Aiteo did not understand Angel’s words that he had a talent for stealth.

“Don’t you know the reason?”

“No. People just don’t notice me even if I’m just standing still. That’s why I was able to steal so easily.”

“How ironic.”

Angel crossed his arms and scanned his body.

“You have a cursed body.”

“……Yes? What do you mean?”

“Have you ever tried to train magic?”

“When I joined the mercenary group as a child, I tried desperately to learn it.”

“Of course, you couldn’t learn it, right?”

Aiteo lowered his head.

“Yes…….”

“That’s because you have a cursed body.”

Angel touched Aiteo’s wrist.

“As expected, all the blood points in your body are blocked. It’s a body that doesn’t even have room for mana to flow in.”

“Pardon?”

“It’s so serious that it’s amazing you didn’t die at birth. You can’t even dream of magic.”

Aiteo’s expression froze in shock.

[Angel knows exactly what’s going on.]

The reason why Aiteo’s energy was not felt well. Oberon and I had already noticed it.

“But don’t be too disappointed. Thanks to that, you can specialize in stealth. Since there is no energy accumulated in your body, it means there is no energy to hide.”

“Ah!”

Aiteo finally understood Angel’s intention.

The measure of how much one conceals their energy is the measure of the level of stealth. Since there is nothing to erase in the first place, Aiteo has tremendous talent in that regard.

“That’s why people around you couldn’t feel your presence well. Humans unconsciously feel the energy of others.”

“I see.”

“Now, even that cursed body can fully demonstrate its talent in the Circle. We will help you relieve your past grievances.”

“……Thank you.”

“We exist for those who have grown up discriminated against like Aiteo. Everyone has their own value, but like you, sometimes they can’t shine and are broken.”

Aiteo was soon immersed in Angel’s serious expression.

“The world is too harsh, shouldn’t we fix it?”

“That’s right.”

Aiteo’s expression became resolute. He seemed to be getting brainwashed.

‘He’s not a leader for nothing.’

[He’s quite good at manipulating people.]

Angel touched on Aiteo’s painful circumstances and shifted the blame to the world. He was naturally drawing out Aiteo’s loyalty.

‘Well, that’s up to them.’

I looked down. The talk about stealth was enough for them to share among themselves. I had to quickly continue reading about the past.

‘I’ve almost seen this too.’

Already, the record of the 11th leader was in my hand.

[Why do all the leaders go to that damn Zairo Mountains?]

‘I know, right. What did Angelus do there?’

From the 54th leader to the 11th leader I just read. They all visited the Zairo Mountains.

‘Well, I’ll know if I see the next one.’

The record left by the 11th leader. It was a record from the 3rd to the 22nd year of the Kargas Imperial Calendar.

From the 10th leader, you can get a glimpse of the story of Brasel, the destroyed empire.

The 200-year gap until the Kargas Empire was built after my death. The history between the change of the empire and the change of language was not left anywhere.

[Let’s take a look quickly.]

Even Oberon didn’t know. As I was about to reach for the next book.

‘Huh?’

[What.]

I could finally notice the strangeness.

‘Why is this all there is?’

There were no more books left on the bookshelf.

‘There should be ten more?’

There should be records from the 1st leader Angelus to the 10th leader. My eyes scanned the empty bookshelf.

Eventually, my head turned back to Angel.

“Are these all the books here?”

Angel, who was giving a long speech to the two, nodded.

“Yes. Those are all there are now. The records up to the 10th leader are kept elsewhere.”

“What? Why didn’t you…….”

The records of that period were what I wanted to see the most.

‘How frustrating.’

I frowned without realizing it.

“I’m sorry. Anyway, they are written in ancient language, so they are enshrined in our temple.”

“Temple?”

“Yes. Angelus built a temple deep in the Zairo Mountains.”

I finally understood a little. That’s why the leaders visited the Zairo Mountains, risking their lives.

“Then do you also visit the temple?”

“Of course. I visit it once a year. I plan to go in about 6 months this year.”

In other words, I would have to wait half a year to see the rest of the records.

[That’s too bad. I was curious too.]

What can I do? I had no choice but to take comfort in the fact that there was still data on the forgotten time.

“Then, let’s go together then. I’ll stop by the temple and see the rest of the records.”

However, Angel’s expression hardened. He always bowed his head to my words, but he was showing denial for the first time.

“I don’t think that would be safe. I can assist you up to the entrance of the mountains, but after that, it’s hard enough to take care of myself.”

“Is the temple that deep?”

“……Yes. You may or may not know, but the Zairo Mountains are divided into 15 zones.”

Of course, I knew.

“It’s in the zone called Hepta.”

I finally understood why Angel was showing discomfort.

‘That Angelus. He made it so deep.’

15 zones. The 7th zone was ‘Hepta’.

‘Half a year later……. Will that be enough?’

One method flashed through my mind.

[What are you going to do?]

‘If I stop by Ego within half a year, I might be able to go. With their help, I might be able to get into Hepta.’

[Just tell him to bring the rest of the records. Don’t push yourself.]

‘Let’s go to Ego first and decide. I’m also curious if the monsters in the Zairo Mountains are still the same.’

The monsters full of the Zairo Mountains. And the elixirs like white jade apples among them.

‘I should follow when a master like Angel is next to me.’

I wasn’t going to miss out on that.

“I’ll find a way to take care of myself first.”

In the end, Angel had no choice but to nod.

“Hmm. I understand.”

“Ah, right. Angel. I have another favor to ask.”

Before going to the Magic Tower, there was one more thing I had to ask him.