Genius Wizard Hides His Sword Skills [EN]: Chapter 81

81. Gift from the Merchant Clan

“Lord Grantel, I will see you again tomorrow.”

“I will. You’ve worked so hard today.”

A warm smile spread across Grantel’s face. Although he had lost both arms in the recent incident, his gentle wrinkles betrayed no worry.

‘Let’s go.’

After leaving the Ego Forest and walking for a while,

“Young Master.”

A voice came from the side. Before I knew it, Angel was walking beside me.

“You were unnecessarily nervous, weren’t you? Because I sent the signal.”

Ratatoskr was perched on Angel’s shoulder. He had sent the emergency signal, so he and the rest of the Wonshin Order must have been nervous.

“Did anything happen to you? The person who looked like a beastman seemed threatening.”

“It was almost dangerous, but fortunately, it ended well.”

I reached out to Ratatoskr, who was on Angel’s shoulder.

“Kkyung!”

The little guy rubbed his face against mine before climbing up. Soon, he settled on my shoulder.

“I’m glad there was no bloodshed.”

“Yeah. Besides, the Ego chieftains have started to trust me. They even call me their benefactor.”

“Huh. As expected… The Herald is amazing, making friends with different races.”

Angel looked at me with awe-filled eyes.

“Actually, I was a little doubtful.”

“About what?”

“I couldn’t easily imagine being able to get along with different races.”

“That’s understandable.”

The idea of harmonizing with different races was also written in the Wonshin Order’s teachings.

‘Reality and ideals are bound to be different.’

However, it wouldn’t have been easy for him to accept that fact, living in this generation.

“You really are amazing. How did something like this happen?”

It was hard to believe that a mere 15-year-old boy had accomplished it.

“Of course, it’s thanks to Angelos-nim [referring to a respected figure in the Wonshin Order] watching over me from the side…”

I had no choice but to invoke the name of that pseudo-religious leader.

He nodded, his gaze turned to the Ego Forest.

“Then, is what you were preparing here finished?”

Angel’s question was clear.

‘It’s about time to leave.’

Time to go to the Xylo Mountains. The promised time was approaching.

“Yeah. I can go to the Xylo Mountains now. At least I won’t be a hindrance.”

In the meantime, I had been staying in the hall during the day, imbuing myself with deep Gi-fragrance [a magical energy or aura].

‘At this rate, I should be able to last about a month.’

I was ready to leave right away.

“Let’s go to the inn for now.”

“Alright.”

* * *

The lobby of the inn that the Wonshin Order had rashly purchased. Drew, Admun, and even Angel were gathered in one place.

I couldn’t reveal Angel’s identity to Drew.

“This person is a mercenary who will accompany us to the Xylo Mountains.”

It was the best way to introduce him to the kid.

“Ah, nice to meet you!”

Angel bowed his head.

“Are these two young masters also going with us?”

He gestured towards Drew and Admun.

‘It will be a good experience.’

Both children had been imbued with Gi-fragrance, so there was no reason not to bring them. When I nodded, Angel smiled contentedly.

“Can I really go?”

However, it was Drew who was nervous.

The Xylo Mountains. Known to the world as a place swarming with monsters, a place that should never be visited.

Even a skilled person like Angel couldn’t be at ease, so it was no wonder Drew was nervous.

“Don’t worry. You’ve been heavily imbued with Gi-fragrance for a month.”

“But, I heard there’s a witch there? I also heard there’s a black magician who controls the undead.”

The rumors about the Xylo Mountains that had spread throughout the world mainly spoke of a cursed witch living there, or legendary freaks residing there.

‘That’s ridiculous.’

The Xylo Mountains I knew were not like that. Whether it’s a witch or a black magician, they are still human beings.

‘They can’t even live if they’re not monsters, what are they talking about?’

It was simply a place where people couldn’t easily survive.

“Those are all rumors.”

“Really?”

“They’re just stories made up by people who haven’t even been there. Besides, Angel here is an 8-star magician. He’ll be able to protect us from the monsters.”

Only then did the kid’s face brighten up.

Of course, half of it was true and half of it was false. Angel would be able to deal with the monsters at the entrance of the Xylo Mountains, but he wouldn’t be able to handle the monsters deep inside.

‘Well, we won’t be going that far anyway.’

Moreover, thanks to the Gi-fragrance imbued in our bodies, ordinary monsters wouldn’t even come close.

“Okay! Ego was safe because of what you said! The Xylo Mountains will be fine too!”

Drew nodded with a determined expression.

“I will follow you wherever you go, Young Master.”

Admun agreed without saying anything.

“Then, shall we leave tomorrow?”

Angel’s gaze turned back to me.

“Hmm. Can we stay one more day?”

“One more day is fine. Do you have anything else to do?”

“Yeah. I have something to do in Ego tomorrow.”

The work of imbuing Gi-fragrance was all finished, but.

‘Let’s see what the merchant chieftain has prepared.’

I had to check what kind of favor the merchant chieftain, who had invited me to his village, would bestow.

“Then, I’ll go to Ego tomorrow, so let’s leave around evening.”

* * *

Knock knock.

The place I headed to after waking up early in the morning. I knocked on the door of the inn.

“Herald-nim [term of respect]. Please come in.”

Angel appeared. As if he had sensed my presence, he opened the door as if he had been waiting.

“Do you have anything else to say?”

There was a reason why I sought him out before heading to Ego.

“I have one more favor to ask before leaving here.”

“Please, speak.”

I pointed to the general store outside the window. It was Dorn’s general store across the street.

“I’d like the Eccentric’s Society to take over that store.”

“You mean Dorn’s general store?”

“Operating our store through his infrastructure would be helpful.”

Dorn had been doing business all over the continent. He would have quite a few clients and information.

“That’s reasonable. It would be a good stepping stone for our business. I will do as you say.”

“I’m counting on you.”

“The Eccentric’s Society will cover the money needed for the acquisition.”

But I shook my head.

“No. You don’t have to do that.”

“If it’s to help the Herald, we can certainly use that much money.”

“That’s not what I mean.”

Angel looked like he didn’t understand. I smiled at him.

“You saw Dorn being dragged away yesterday, right?”

“Yes. I was watching from a distance.”

“He will probably be interrogated in Ego and either lose his life or be imprisoned for life. He will never return here.”

“…Ah!”

Angel smiled in agreement.

“You can just go and take over. I understand what you mean.”

It was a store without an owner anyway. It would be easy for the Eccentric’s Society to kick out Dorn’s employees.

“And there are probably other races trapped inside. Send them back to the Ego Forest.”

“I will obey.”

I left Angel, who bowed his head, and stepped out the door again.

[I wonder what that elephant bastard has prepared. Is he really going to give me a gift like Grantel said?]

‘Well, I’d be grateful just for the friendly treatment.’

I headed straight to Ego.

The city’s scenery was now very familiar. I couldn’t help but see Aital in a positive light.

Not only did I imbue Gi-fragrance to go to the Xylo Mountains, but I also gained the trust of the Ego chieftains.

‘Already 5-star Aura.’

This month here had brought remarkable progress.

[It looked like it was almost 6-star? Isn’t it too fast at the age of fifteen? Adonis in his previous life couldn’t have imagined this.]

‘Isn’t it all thanks to my greatness? Because my conduct is usually upright, I even encounter a fortuitous opportunity like the Hole.’

Oberon shook his head.

[Tsk. I can’t argue with that.]

Of course, I knew that his help was significant. If Oberon hadn’t pointed it out, I wouldn’t have even tried to gather Aura in the Hole.

“You’ve come.”

I arrived at the Ego Forest. Grantel himself came out to greet me with members of the Leaf race.

“You came out yourself. Shouldn’t you be recovering?”

“Well, this much is fine. And do you know why the Leaf race is the most fearsome race?”

“Yes?”

His sudden question caught me off guard.

Clal, who came with him,

Swish!

unwrapped the bandage that covered Grantel’s shoulder.

“Cough!”

A gasp escaped my lips.

[…Was it regrowing?]

Inside the bandage, a small, sprout-like leaf hand was emerging.

“How is it? We can regenerate if we get treatment in time. It takes a while, though.”

A fresh, green leaf that didn’t match the wrinkles on his face. The branches that made up his arm also looked like they had just grown, not even a hand span long.

“I was just covering it with a bandage because it looked unsightly.”

“…Ah, I see.”

I had to hide the laughter that was about to burst out.

[Kehehehe!]

‘…So, was that why Kabun’s arms were different lengths?’

I finally understood why the chieftain of the Leaf race from a thousand years ago had different arm lengths.

“Then let’s go. The Merchant Chieftain is waiting.”

I took Clal’s hand. The forest scenery quickly passed by. We were shot out in a different direction than usual.

[There are a lot of stone piles here.]

The forest scenery changed again after a while. The number of trees gradually decreased, and huge piles of stones took their place.

Thud!

At that moment, an explosion was heard from the front.

Step. Step.

The steps of Grantel and the other members of the Leaf race stopped.

“It seems like they came out to greet us.”

Thud! Thud!

The cause of the continuous loud noise was soon revealed.

‘It’s huge.’

A Merchant race with a huge body appeared from the crevices of the stones. His footsteps echoed through the forest.

[It looks twice as big as the chieftain I saw yesterday?]

‘Indeed. It’s much bigger than the Merchant race I saw a thousand years ago.’

Truly a giant. Even with a rough estimate, his height was likely over 3 meters, and his size was enough to resemble an elephant.

“Don’t be surprised. That is the number one warrior of the Merchant race.”

At the same time as Grantel’s explanation, the figure arrived in front of us.

“Chieftain Grantel, it’s been a while. Welcome to the Tomb of Stone.”

He showed proper respect to the chieftain, but his tone was full of confidence. It wasn’t just confidence from his large size.

‘He seems to be higher level than Hillaire.’

[Indeed. This guy is more of a monster.]

There was no doubt that he was a highly skilled person.

“This boy is the human that the chieftain asked to bring.”

“That’s right. Did you come to guide us?”

“Yes. This way, please. He is already waiting inside.”

Thud!

The Merchant race deliberately stomped his feet even louder, as if to show off. Following his deeply imprinted footprints, we headed into the Tomb of Stone.