Genius Wizard Hides His Sword Skills [EN]: Chapter 71

71. The Top Warrior

“You’ve come.”

Grantel greeted me at the entrance of the Ego Forest as usual. His face was flushed for some reason.

“Yes. Let’s go.”

The full moon would rise in a few hours. Today was a nerve-wracking day for him as well.

The Leaf Clan members embraced us familiarly. Guided by them, we quickly reached the hall.

Whoosh….

Even though it was still early, the atmosphere in the hall was different from usual.

“It feels rougher today.”

Drew and Admun seemed to sense the unusual atmosphere as they examined the pit in the hall.

“The hall’s energy gets stronger on full moon days.”

“Then, is it dangerous today?”

“It should be fine while the sun is up. In fact, more energy will be released, making it easier to gather aura.”

“Ah, so it’s a complete win?”

For some unknown reason, the hall reacted strongly to the moon’s energy. Especially on full moon days, it showed an unusual presence from the afternoon.

“You can gather three times as much aura today. Let’s sit down and focus.”

“Really? Let’s hurry!”

Drew looked around for a comfortable spot. Admun had already taken his place and sat down.

* * *

[I should go soon.]

The wind grew stronger as the sun began to set. The shimmering haze, having lost its way, began to flutter about.

‘Grantel is back, just in time.’

He had left the other Leaf Clan members behind for a while.

Whooong!

Grantel frowned at the strong wind.

“Let’s stop now. It’s more dangerous on full moon days.”

“Yes, let’s go.”

Drew and Admun reluctantly got up, looking quite disappointed.

“The aura gathers really well today.”

“I agree. There’s more energy than usual, and it’s easier to feel.”

However, being too greedy always leads to trouble.

“Today isn’t the only chance. Let’s come again tomorrow.”

“Okay!”

“Understood.”

You had to know when to back off.

“You two go back to Aital first. The Leaf Clan members will take you.”

“Huh? Are you going to be late again today?”

“I have some things to do with Grantel.”

“Oh… I wonder what it is. I guess we can’t be there?”

“It might be a bit dangerous.”

Admun was horrified at those words.

“Dangerous? No way!”

He was only thinking about his own safety.

“It’s okay. I won’t get hurt. I have more abilities than you think.”

“Hmm… I can’t help but worry.”

“Well… wouldn’t staying here be much more dangerous?”

The shimmering haze was already swirling violently.

Coo Woo!

Various colors of smoke mixed and began to surge. The energy, empowered by the full moon, began to run wild.

“Gasp! Let’s get out of here!”

Drew and Admun sensed the danger in that sight. Only then did the children start moving.

“Then, we’ll go ahead. Don’t wait for me today.”

“Okay. Be careful.”

“You must come back safe!”

The Leaf Clan members quickly disappeared with the children. Drew and Admun’s worried expressions faded away.

“Then, let’s get going too.”

“Let’s do that. Let’s get there before the Ho Clan [a tribe of strong warriors] and wait.”

* * *

Kwaaaa….

Somewhere in the Ego Forest, a water droplet from the waterfall inevitably soaked my forehead.

“You’ve arrived.”

Klaral, the Leaf Clan’s top warrior, greeted us.

“The Ho Clan children haven’t appeared yet.”

He had been waiting here for a while, keeping an eye on the situation. He volunteered to scout because he didn’t know when the Ho Clan would appear.

“Thank you for your hard work since morning.”

“It’s nothing. It’s for the sake of Ego, I should do this much.”

He pointed to a tree next to the waterfall.

“Chieftain, the upper part of that tree seems to be the best place to hide and watch.”

A huge tree extending its branches towards the waterfall. The lush leaves were enough to hide the three of us.

‘From that position, I can see everything.’

A place where the entire waterfall could be seen at a glance. It was perfect for preparing for the Ho Clan.

“Let’s go.”

At Grantel’s gesture, the tree lowered its branches. We easily hid ourselves on it.

As we settled down, leaves wrapped around us. It was the result of the trees moving according to Grantel’s will.

Now, all that was left was to wait for them to appear. Grantel stroked the tree once and turned his gaze to me.

“Aren’t you nervous?”

“Why would I be nervous? I’m fully prepared. Besides, you’re here with me, Grantel.”

“Hmm. Still, you haven’t had many experiences like this. But I always feel you are extraordinary.”

The way he saw me was just a tender fifteen-year-old boy. Knowing that the opponents we had to face today possessed the martial prowess of an 8-star, it was an inevitable situation to be nervous.

However, I was more calm than Klaral.

‘There is no way you would know that I am a pro gamer.’

In my past life, I had fought battles as if eating meals. In terms of combat experience alone, I was definitely several levels above Grantel. There was a reason why I became a 9-star knight.

[There’s no way you’d know I’m a hardcore gamer.]

Even now, the situation was much more favorable to us. The enemies didn’t know our identities, and we knew their strength to some extent.

“I just trust Grantel and Klaral. They are much stronger and more experienced than me.”

There was nothing to be nervous about.

“Wait.”

At that moment, Klaral put a finger to his lips. His ears were twitching.

‘Are they finally here?’

Naturally, my gaze followed his.

Figures of giants appeared across the waterfall. Five Ho Clan members revealed themselves.

‘More than I thought.’

Among them, one existence caught my eye.

‘Is that him….’

A Ho Clan member who was a head taller than the other Ho Clan members exuded an overwhelming presence.

“That’s the Ho Clan’s top warrior.”

Grantel whispered quietly. It was him after all.

“It seems they gathered around him as the center.”

“That must be it. Ho Clan worship strength.”

Given the Ho Clan’s characteristic of not following anyone unless they were stronger than themselves, it was clear that the top warrior was the de facto leader of their group.

‘His energy is stronger than I thought.’

In my memory, the Ho Clan’s top warrior was comparable to an 8-star knight. But his aura seemed to far exceed that.

“That man is Hiray, and there’s a rumor that he’s as strong as the current Ho Clan chief. That’s why some people follow him.”

Grantel continued to explain. He was not an ordinary person after all.

‘I hope nothing goes wrong.’

They simply sat down near the waterfall and stared at the back of the waterfall, without taking any other actions.

“It seems they’re planning to ambush the Gwigwang Clan [a mysterious clan hidden behind a waterfall] when they come out, without any special tactics.”

The Ho Clan were waiting for the Gwigwang Clan, trusting only in their own strength, without any sense of tension.

One way or another, time passed. The moon had already brightly colored the night sky.

“It seems like it’s almost time.”

The full moon was in the middle of the sky.

Coo Woo….

The back of the waterfall vibrated violently. It was the result of the Gwigwang Clan’s barrier moving.

[They’re moving too.]

The Ho Clan rose to their feet accordingly. The bitter smiles on their faces were unsettling.

“Let’s get ready too.”

In that tense moment, Grantel and Klaral’s leaf hands also began to move busily. The moment the Ho Clan approached the back of the waterfall was the best time to attack.

While the Ho Clan were distracted by the Gwigwang Clan, Grantel and Klaral blocked both sides of the passage behind the waterfall.

“Krrr!”

The Ho Clan were grinding their teeth there. They were narrowing the encirclement towards the Gwigwang Clan.

Chwaaaak!

Thick branches shot out towards those Ho Clan. The trees instantly wrapped around the Ho Clan’s arms and legs.

“Leaf Clan?”

Only then did the Ho Clan’s gaze sweep over us. While they were entangled in the trees.

“Heuk!”

“Go back in!”

The Gwigwang Clan hid back inside the barrier.

“Hmph!”

Grantel’s gesture didn’t stop there.

Koo Woong!

The trees filled both entrances of the waterfall. It was a formation that surrounded the cliff without any way out. Because the entrances on both sides were completely blocked, a battlefield without retreat was formed.

If there was only one gap to escape.

Kwaaaa!

It was only to jump down under the raging waterfall.

“…Grantel and Klaral, is it.”

The Ho Clan’s top warrior glared at Grantel. Hiray still had a sense of composure in his eyes. Even if it was Grantel and Klaral, they couldn’t be a match for the five Ho Clan members, including himself.

“What is this?”

As expected, veins popped out on his arm.

Paat!

The tree vines that had wrapped around his arm burst out. The bushes were easily cut off as he put strength into his legs.

“And who is that human?”

His gaze reached me.

“……Huh?”

And it was no coincidence that the eyes of the Ho Clan member behind him widened.

“That’s the guy. The young human who came to Ego a while ago.”

The day Lakhoon’s gang tried to detonate a magic bomb in Ego.

‘That’s the guy.’

He was the Ho Clan who had mercilessly massacred the humans.

“You. You don’t know how precious your life is, and you came here to die.”

At that time, they were intimidated by Grantel’s aura, but this time, there was also the Ho Clan’s top warrior.

“You won’t be able to survive twice.”

He had the advantage in numbers, so he was confident.

As the remaining Ho Clan members easily broke free, Hiray’s mouth opened again.

“Chieftain Grantel… I asked what this is. Not only did you bring a human to the depths of Ego, but you’re also showing your claws to us?”

“That’s what I want to ask.”

“What?”

“Why are you kidnapping the residents of Ego?”

Grantel got straight to the point from the beginning.

“……How much do you know?”

It was the moment when Hiray’s eyes turned cold.

“I heard everything from the trees about what you’re doing in Ego.”

“That strange ability is still there.”

“Why are you doing this?”

“Well, it’s for the future of Ego. There’s no reason for us, who are superior to humans, to live hidden here. We will leave Ego and live in a wider world!”

“Did the Ho Clan chief also agree?”

“Of course not.”

Hiray smiled bitterly. But soon, a cold smile appeared on his lips.

“He can’t tell right from wrong anymore. He didn’t accept our opinion.”

“Don’t you know that your thoughts will bring greater disaster to Ego?”

“You’re saying the same thing as the Ho Clan chief. It doesn’t matter. If you try to stop us, Grantel, you won’t be able to avoid death either. Stand on our side now. Then we’ll pretend this never happened.”

With that, the Ho Clan members revealed their claws. It seemed they had no intention of offering a second chance.

“I’m sorry… But stopping you is the way to help Ego.”

Grantel also raised his hand again.

“Then there’s no choice.”

Hiray nodded and smirked. When his head was raised again, sharp claws had grown on both of his hands.

“Die here.”