Genius Wizard Hides His Sword Skills [EN]: Chapter 69

69. Suppression Operation (3)

“There’s a way to undo the Gwigwang Clan’s barrier?”

“Yes. My ancestors were very close with the Gwigwang Clan. They even made a barrier for my ancestor.”

The Gwigwang Clan made a barrier for me. They must have had a deep connection, as deep as the Ipsapgi Clan.

“Oh. They made a barrier for a human. That’s not a common thing… They must have owed you a great debt.”

Grantel’s words reminded me of a moment from a thousand years ago.

‘A debt…’

The Gwigwang Clan was an especially cautious race.

Perhaps it was because of their small numbers. They valued their lives greatly. It wasn’t just the level of valuing life that normal people had.

It was as if they had a mission to survive. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say they lived only to preserve their lives.

‘They were unique guys.’

The Gwigwang Clan showed an almost obsessive dedication to continuing their lineage.

However, their combat abilities weren’t that great. Developing barrier magic was probably a natural result. It was a means to protect themselves.

[Your existence must have been a great strength to those guys.]

The reason why the Gwigwang Clan treated me as a benefactor.

‘Thanks to that day, I was recognized as one of their family.’

While repairing the barrier, they were attacked by mages. I saved them from them, so I became the only human they could trust.

‘They even let me enter their barrier.’

A trust beyond friendship.

Family. That was the feeling they had for me.

“Let’s go. I can enter the barrier using the method I learned from my ancestors.”

“Hmm. The Gwigwang Clan told a human how to enter their barrier… They don’t even open their hearts to the residents of the Ego. It’s hard to believe. Let’s try it as you say.”

Even if we couldn’t undo the barrier, there was no reason not to try.

If we succeeded, we could make a plan before the Horan Clan took action. Even if we failed, we wouldn’t lose anything.

“Then, let’s have only Grantel and me go right now.”

“Alright. Your friends will be sent back to the village by the Ipsapgi Clan members.”

* * *

The Ego’s lush forest.

“This way.”

Following Grantel’s guidance for a while.

Kwaaaa….

The sound of water gradually grew louder.

“We’re almost there.”

It indicated that we had reached the Gwigwang Clan’s residence. Their barrier was located near a huge waterfall.

“You really know everything about the Ego.”

He said it in amazement, but Grantel’s expression was calm. It was natural for someone who could undo the Gwigwang Clan’s barrier to know about their residence.

“I only know that they live near the waterfall near the hole.”

“Knowing that is knowing everything.”

Grantel chuckled. At his gesture, the trees in front of us continued to clear the way.

‘We’re here.’

Thanks to that, the sound of the waterfall quickly grew louder. Soon, one of the trees blocking our view moved aside.

Swaaaa!

A cold energy hit my face, tiny droplets splashed from the waterfall.

[It’s still the same.]

A fairly large waterfall unfolded before my eyes. The waterfall spread out among the primeval forest was quite a sight.

“It’s a wonderful place.”

“Isn’t it? You’ve only heard about it, but it’s your first time seeing it in person.”

Of course, I had seen it with my own eyes, but I couldn’t reveal that.

“This way. Let’s go.”

The place I headed to with Grantel was a small path along the cliff behind the waterfall.

“It’s as I heard.”

After walking along the path for a while, what appeared was…

Woo Woong!

An orange barrier that was too familiar to me. A barrier that emitted the same energy as my residence in Ias. However, the barrier drawn on the cliff was much grander in scale.

[I’m amazed every time I see this.]

A sight that even Oberon would be mesmerized by. A huge barrier with a diameter of 10 meters was located behind the waterfall.

What the Ego’s waterfall was hiding was the pinnacle of barrier magic that even the greatest archmage couldn’t help but be amazed by.

“What do you think? Can you undo this?”

Grantel’s voice was still questioning. However, I confidently stepped forward.

Sreung!

With a dagger drawn from my chest.

“What are you trying to do?”

“Don’t worry. I’m trying to call out the Gwigwang Clan.”

The method of undoing the barrier here was a little different from my residence. Their barrier… couldn’t be opened with just some simple questions.

Hoo Woong!

The dagger was swung, cutting through the wind.

Toong!

It strongly struck the surface of the barrier.

The action didn’t end with just one.

Toong! Tudung! Tuwooong!

The dagger was continuously struck. Grantel was just listening to the irregular reverberations.

“Is this really how you open the barrier?”

“Yes. A signal will come soon.”

After a while of slashing at the barrier.

Kuuuuuu….

The cliff behind the waterfall began to make a crying sound.

[Oh, it still works.]

It was only natural that Grantel’s expression hardened at the phenomenon.

“…You really can undo the barrier.”

It was a phenomenon that occurred when the Gwigwang Clan undid the barrier and appeared.

‘Strictly speaking, I didn’t undo the barrier.’

The Gwigwang Clan was releasing the barrier from the inside after hearing the signal I sent. In other words, I was knocking in their way. They were opening the door from the inside.

Soon, the orange barrier began to rotate violently.

Hoo Woooong!

A small gap, just enough for a fist to enter, was created on the barrier.

“…Who?”

The existence that peeked its head out through the gap. A small figure that could be mistaken for a spirit was wary of us.

It was a Gwigwang Clan member who came out of the barrier.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Grantel, the Ipsapgi Clan Chief.”

Grantel approached him first. It was probably to ease the wariness as a resident of the same Ego.

“How does the Ipsapgi Clan Chief know our signal? Did you steal it from somewhere!”

The Gwigwang Clan member put his head back in and only shouted. He seemed even more wary.

“It wasn’t Grantel who sent the signal, it was me.”

Before he closed the barrier again, I hurriedly spoke.

“What?”

The Gwigwang Clan member frowned and peeked his face out again. Then, the existence scanned my face. However, it didn’t take long for his brow to furrow.

“There’s no human like you among our family. What’s your identity?”

Hesitation. That was the most appropriate word to describe his expression.

‘You must be curious.’

The timing of slashing the barrier with the dagger. The seemingly irregular reverberation was an essential noise for them. It was the second language used by the Gwigwang Clan, Jin-eon (Vibration Language).

The cautious ones often mixed Jin-eon with their voices. A method of expressing their intentions by creating a certain vibration, just like when slashing with a dagger.

“I learned Jin-eon.”

Of course, I couldn’t properly use their language. I couldn’t memorize all those numerous cases.

However, I had definitely memorized one word. That was ‘Open the door.’

It was the first time they had seen a human using their language.

“…How did you do it?”

He couldn’t help but be embarrassed.

He couldn’t just ignore my existence. He had to know the route through which the Gwigwang Clan’s language was leaked.

“Khan. That’s my name.”

And, the only name that could ease such wariness. That was mine.

* * *

The Gwigwang Clan members who rushed in in an instant. A dozen small people gathered on the cliff behind the waterfall.

“Khan… a descendant of Khan.”

“This can’t be.”

“Is he really our family?”

The Gwigwang Clan members chattering around. Their large ears, contrasting with their small bodies, were impressive.

“I am a descendant of Khan. The barrier you made is being used well in Ias.”

Of course, I had taken all the items out of there, but there was no need to say such a thing.

“Hmm. He even knows that information….”

“He’s a descendant of Khan!”

“It’s certain.”

Only then were everyone nodding their heads.

“Besides, he even used Jin-eon? I definitely heard it.”

The existence that first showed his face emphasized Jin-eon again.

‘In fact, that alone is enough.’

The elaborately made Jin-eon of the Gwigwang Clan was not a simple thing that could be combined by coincidence. There was no room for doubt in the first place.

“So, what’s the reason you came to us? Even after a thousand years.”

It was the oldest among them.

“Are you perhaps the Elder?”

Unlike other alien races, the Gwigwang Clan did not use the title of Chief. Instead, they only used the expression Elder.