Genius Wizard Hides His Sword Skills [EN]: Chapter 70

70. Suppression Operation (4)

I explained the operation to protect the Gwigwang Clan and ensure Ego’s peace.

“This operation is only possible with the help of the Gwigwang Clan. I sincerely ask for your cooperation.”

Though the Gwigwang Clan remained cautious.

‘This explanation should be sufficient for the Gwigwang Clan to understand,’ I thought.

Fortunately, the worry etched on their faces seemed to lessen somewhat.

“That’s a reasonable method.”

“We can rest assured knowing that.”

“Hmm. Still, the Hojok are intimidating.”

However, they were still hesitant and couldn’t readily commit.

“Our Leaf Clan will also participate,” Grantel declared, stepping forward.

“This is for the future of Ego. If we don’t root them out now, a greater disaster may strike. If you’re afraid of the Hojok and back down now, even your barrier won’t last forever.”

With Grantel’s support, the mood shifted.

“Those Hojok bastards are definitely plotting something dangerous.”

“Let’s prevent the disaster that will inevitably strike someday.”

“We’ll get the jump on them.”

“If the Leaf Clan helps us, it’s worth a try!”

The majority of the Gwigwang Clan voiced their spirited agreement, their gazes turning to one individual.

“Elder! What will you do?”

The Gwigwang Clan Elder, Huakin, nodded slowly.

“Yes. If those guys are planning to ruin Ego anyway, it’s better for us to prevent it in advance.”

Even if they escaped this immediate danger, the repercussions would eventually threaten all of Ego.

‘It’s better to prevent it now,’ I thought.

It was clear that the repercussions would eventually affect the Gwigwang Clan again.

“Besides, we have reliable allies now…”

Huakin’s gaze swept over me and Grantel.

“Let’s work together to stop them.”

In the end, he extended his hand to me, acknowledging that fighting against the Hojok now was the only way to protect themselves.

[He’s not a complete idiot.]

‘Would he have become an Elder for no reason?’

As I grasped his small hand, his earnest words followed.

“Please, make sure to execute the operation properly.”

“Of course. I’m also a member of the Gwigwang Clan’s family.”

Now, only one thing remained.

‘All we have to do is wait for the full moon to rise.’

We had to wait for the Hojok to raid this place three days later.

[Let’s diligently gather Aura in the hall until then.]

‘Of course.’

Grantel also seemed satisfied with the conversation, smiling.

“Then, let’s head back now. It’s late, so I’ll personally escort you back to Aital.”

Just as his leaf-like hand was reaching out to me, I interjected.

“Just a moment.”

I turned back to Elder Huakin again.

“Is there anything else you need?”

“There’s one more thing I’d like to ask.”

“What is it?”

With a serious expression, Huakin looked equally grave. Oberon also circled around, seemingly curious.

[What is it? Is there something to add to the operation?]

However, Oberon chuckled at the words that followed.

“Could you perhaps change the barrier password you made for me before?”

* * *

“Go in safely, and I’ll see you again tomorrow morning,” Grantel said.

“Yes. Thank you.”

After saying goodbye to Grantel at the entrance of Ego’s forest, I walked towards my lodging.

‘What’s the reason for not being able to change the password?’ I wondered.

Huakin had said that once a barrier password is set, it can never be changed again. That made me sigh.

[But why are you trying to change the barrier password now? You’re not going to use it anyway, are you?]

Although I wasn’t currently using the barrier, it was a space too valuable to simply abandon.

‘If I could change the password, I was going to use it as the Central Council’s base later on.’

Like a secret organization, there was no space more fitting than that.

[Kyak! Then all the Central Council members would praise you.]

However, all 20 questions were filled with praise for Adonis Khan. For now, it was just uncomfortable to use.

‘That’s why I wondered if I could change it.’

[I can’t tell the guys who believe in Angelos to praise Khan.]

In the end, Huakin shook his head, so it seemed like I had to leave it as it was for the time being.

Squeak.

I arrived at the inn before I knew it, opening the door that I was now quite familiar with.

‘Why are there so many people?’

Unlike usual, the restaurant was filled with a dozen or so people.

“Ian!” someone called.

The one sitting in a corner waved his hand.

“Drew.”

It was Drew and Admun, who were still eating at the table.

“There are a lot of people today.”

The innkeeper was nowhere to be seen, for some reason. A woman I had never seen before was constantly serving food.

“I know. It was already full when we arrived. I wonder if there’s some kind of event.”

“An event in Aital…”

It wasn’t a city known for hosting events. It was a place that even adventurers avoided visiting.

[Who are all these people?]

Just looking at the auras I could sense, they weren’t ordinary people.

‘So many skilled people suddenly gathered…’

[Did they come to enter Ego?]

‘I don’t think it’s just that. Don’t you smell something fishy?’

The suspicious circumstances weren’t limited to just the crowd.

“Hmm. It seems like they’re glancing over here,” Drew observed.

“I know. It seems like they’re looking at Young Master Ian,” Admun added.

The people who had been occasionally looking over were now staring at us openly.

‘Hmph…’

An unsettling atmosphere. Feeling an immense sense of discomfort, my hand naturally reached for the dagger in my pocket.

[Oh!]

At that moment, the inn door opened again.

‘Angel!’

I couldn’t have been happier to see him enter. Whatever the purpose of the people in the restaurant, Angel would be able to handle them all.

‘Huh?’

At that moment, all the people in the restaurant stood up.

“For the One!” they exclaimed.

They bowed their heads towards him.

“For the One!”

Everyone in the inn was a member of the Central Council. Angel nodded lightly and walked towards our table.

“Have you arrived?”

He stopped in front of our table.

At that sight, the people who had been watching us carefully bowed their heads towards us as well.

“We greet the Herald!”

Only then did I understand the situation.

‘They’ve never seen me in person, so they must have been unsure,’ I realized.

The members of the Central Council had seen me but were unsure if I was the Herald.

[Well, they would have only heard about it verbally from Angel.]

They couldn’t rashly judge the sacred person who was the Herald of Angelos. That’s why they were even more cautious.

But now, seeing Angel treating me with such respect, they could be certain.

‘When did the kids…’

Before I knew it, Drew and Admun had fallen asleep. Someone must have done something.

[His work is definitely thorough.]

It must have been to hide my identity from the children.

“Are they all members of the Central Council?” I asked.

“Yes. We have gathered the most skilled people who could be assembled from all over the continent.”

“That’s quite a force.”

“We are simply grateful that you see it that way.”

He was sincere. The auras they exuded were enough to make even me nervous.

‘Each and every one of them is no ordinary person.’

Although they weren’t as strong as Angel, none of them would be in a position to bow their heads to anyone. With this kind of scale, even a single kingdom would tremble in fear.

“With this many people, you could destroy Dorn’s shop and still have people left over.”

“Yes. We have gathered as many as possible because we don’t know what might happen. Ah, right. And Dorn is currently being watched by Maria.”

“Maria?”

“She’s a friend who runs the Aital branch here. You’ve already met her once.”

“Ah, you mean the owner of the general store.”

She was the one I had visited to contact Angel before.

“Yes. She has enough skill to monitor Dorn, so you don’t have to worry.”

“You’ve been through a lot.”

If Angel acknowledged her, there was no room for doubt.

“Then where are the innkeeper and the civilians who were here?”

The fact that they openly revealed the Central Council’s slogan, ‘For the One!’, meant that there was no one else here but them. The Central Council would never reveal their identity to civilians.

“We bought this place with the Central Council’s funds.”

I couldn’t help but frown at Angel’s words that followed.

“You bought this inn? Why bother…?”

Even though it was where I was staying, it was clearly an excessive measure.

“You don’t have to feel burdened. Of course, it’s also because it’s where the Herald is staying, but…”

Angel smiled slightly. His lips parted again.

“In fact, it’s one of the ways our Central Council has been able to grow its power. It’s about investing funds in the right places.”

“Invest funds?”

“Yes. It’s a way to manage more funds. We buy places that will increase in value in the future, and then earn more money in the future.”

“Are you saying that this inn will become more valuable?”

He nodded.

“Aital is still a place that people don’t visit. That’s why we were able to buy the inn at a fairly cheap price. However, it seemed like it would be crowded with people in the near future.”

Of course, if things went as Angel said, it wouldn’t be a bad choice.

“Why did you think there would be more people here?”

I was just curious about the reason he thought that. Most people were avoiding Aital.

“Actually, I saw a record of this place from a thousand years ago. Back then, the relationship between the different races and humans wasn’t like this. This place was also bustling with people.”

That’s right. Even after I brought the residents of Ego out into the world, this place was transformed into a tourist attraction.

‘There’s no place as good to live as here.’

With a warm climate all year round and various resources surrounding it, there was no reason for humans not to flock to it.

“Besides, Angelos has also preached in his teachings that we should be close to the different races. No one should be discriminated against.”

“So, you thought this place would prosper again?”

“Yes. It seems that the Herald’s work here is to uphold the teachings and improve the relationship between the different races and humans… I dared to make the prediction that it would regain its appearance from a thousand years ago.”

The corners of my mouth lifted slightly.

‘That’s how it should be.’

It wasn’t because of the teachings that Angelos had conveyed, but in the end, I would improve the relationship between the different races and humans. Either way, the result would be the same.

“That’s good insight. As Angel said, this place will be constantly visited by people. I’ll make it happen.”

“We will assist you well from the side.”

Angel bowed his head. Then, the rest of the Central Council members shouted in unison.

“For the One!”

That’s how the night deepened.

* * *

“We can gather a lot of Aura again today!” Drew exclaimed.

“I want to go to Ego quickly,” Admun added.

Before I knew it, Drew and Admun had lost their aversion to gathering Aura. Rather, they seemed to have become greedy now.

There was no doubt that it was a natural reaction, as they had come to know that Aura was real. It was an opportunity to easily gather Aura.

“Yes. Let’s gather a lot again today.”

My fist clenched tightly as well. Today was a special day for me and the residents of Ego.