Genius Wizard Hides His Sword Skills [EN]: Chapter 91

91. Aries Delema

The old woman’s name brought silence to the temple.

‘Aries Delema…’

The sudden appearance of the name Delema stopped my thoughts.

[A strange connection.]

I couldn’t believe that the witch I met deep in the Xylo Mountains had roots in Delema.

‘Whether it’s a good or bad connection remains to be seen.’

The old woman’s eyes were dyed red, as if to prove she was a Delema.

[She seems to have the ability to change her eye color like that guy Liu.]

‘Looks like it.’

Of course, I was also hiding my red eyes with Liu’s help. There was no reason why an old woman who practiced forbidden magic couldn’t do the same.

[But is this hag really a Delema?]

‘Maybe. Maybe they’re originally black but she changed them to red.’

I couldn’t simply judge her without trust.

“Does Delema keep books on black magic? In the great Delema?”

It was a question to test Aries. If she was truly from Delema, she would know about the Delema library.

Anghel and Admun also remained silent, simply staring at the old woman.

“Hmm. Yes. It’s hard to believe since Delema is praised as a great family in the world.”

“Are you really saying that Delema deals with black magic?”

“To be precise, it’s not that Delema deals with it.”

“Then?”

“There is a library within the Delema territory where old books are collected. It contains not only the secret books of various families but also books related to black magic.”

Aries knew about Delema’s library, which only family members could enter, as well as the types of books inside.

‘…It doesn’t seem like she’s lying.’

Information that only someone from Delema would know. There were no loopholes to think she made it up on the spot.

“Is it okay to reveal such facts?”

“Ha!”

Aries let out a loud laugh at the following question.

“Of course, you can’t trust my words. I have no proof to make you believe my story.”

Her voice, filled with regret, continued to echo through the temple.

“But what would I gain from lying, having already been expelled from the family? Rather, I am an old woman living with resentment towards Delema. Revealing their truth to the world is my lifelong wish.”

“Delema’s truth… So, everything you learned in the library before you were kicked out was self-taught?”

The old woman slowly looked around the research facility inside the temple.

“Yes. I conducted experiments relying only on the memories I had at that time. Because it was forbidden magic, I moved from place to place. I thought I was finally settling down in one place, but it seems this is the end. I apologize for disturbing your temple.”

Aries bowed politely. She didn’t seem to care that a sharp sword was hanging next to her wrinkled neck.

[Hmm. She’s definitely a capable witch. To have implemented this much based solely on what she saw in the library.]

Aries’s abilities were more than I expected. High-level black magic and various forbidden magics. It was quite complete to be considered a self-taught area.

‘Delema is Delema, huh?’

However, there was one question that arose.

‘But then, does this old woman also know how to read ancient languages?’

Aries knew ancient languages, no matter how she learned them.

[That’s right, the black magic grimoires were written only in ancient languages.]

Naturally, curiosity arose, and she was asked again.

“Where did you learn ancient languages?”

The old woman’s eyebrows twitched at the question.

“How do you know I learned ancient languages? I never said the books in the Delema library were in ancient languages.”

Aries hadn’t mentioned that the black magic book in Delema’s library was written in ancient languages.

‘Hmm.’

I was a little embarrassed, but my expression remained calm.

“What are you talking about? Didn’t you say you stole a look at the books in this temple earlier? Those were written in ancient languages.”

“Hmm. I see.”

Aries nodded. Her lips parted again after a moment.

“I’ve had a strong rebellious streak since I was young. Or rather, I was very curious about things I wasn’t supposed to do.”

She closed her eyes and continued her story, lost in reminiscence.

“To study ancient languages, I secretly worked for 20 years without the family’s knowledge. I gathered scholars and like-minded magicians from outside the family.”

“Is that how you found out?”

“Yes. I don’t know it perfectly, but I’ve become able to understand the meaning to some extent.”

“That’s quite a passion.”

The journey to decipher the language that the old men of the Pentagram [a council of powerful mages] had deliberately hidden must not have been easy.

“Then how do you know ancient languages? You accurately read the inscriptions written on the black stone.”

“Well, let’s just say we have people who do that kind of research.”

“Hoo. You’re not just any cult group.”

Anghel’s eyes flashed at the word ‘cult.’ He barely held back after seeing me shake my head.

‘There’s still a lot to ask.’

Aries, who was from Delema and used black magic. There were still many things I was curious about her, but there was something I had to ask before that.

“So, what happened to the books that were here?”

The biggest reason I came to the Xylo Mountains.

The only clue about what happened a thousand years ago that wasn’t left anywhere else. Finding it was the priority.

“Ah… Those books.”

Aries was somehow stuttering.

[Something’s fishy.]

She avoided my eyes.

“Actually, I got rid of them all. I thought they were useless…”

“Huh?”

I was speechless. However, this time, Anghel couldn’t hold back either.

“You crazy witch! How dare you!”

Anghel was about to summon Sand Spears. Admun was barely holding him back.

“…Do you remember the contents?”

It was the last hope. She still remembered the difficult contents of black magic, so she might remember what happened a thousand years ago…

“No. I only looked at the doctrines and thought it was a cult, so I threw them all away.”

There was no possibility.

‘Ha. I thought I was finally getting a clue.’

The situation was utterly absurd. How much effort did I put into coming here?

I caused a commotion in the Ego Forest to apply the scent, and I crossed the rugged Xylo Mountains for days.

“I’m really sorry.”

What awaited me here was not the history of a thousand years ago, but only a mysterious old woman.

‘Is there really a god…’

[What? What are you talking about all of a sudden?]

‘If there wasn’t a god, there’s no way he’d give me this kind of trial.’

It wasn’t just me who felt frustrated by Aries’s words.

“…It seems like any further conversation is meaningless. It would be better to just kill her.”

Eventually, Anghel took out Sand Spears.

‘Ha. I want to do that too, but…’

I stopped him again.

“Just calm down for a moment.”

Although she was the one who made me lose the purpose of coming here.

‘I can’t leave like this.’

It was too early to kill her. If we killed her now, we would have to turn back without getting anything.

[Let’s at least squeeze out everything we can get from this hag.]

I steeled my heart and looked at Aries.

“Hoo. Okay. Let’s put the responsibility for what happened aside for now. Let’s talk more about you.”

“…Is there anything else you’re curious about me?”

“Of course. First of all, what black magic can you do?”

“Black magic, huh? Are you becoming interested in black magic? You’re as much of an oddball as I am.”

Aries recited the magic she could do without hesitation.

Various undead summons.

Offensive magic.

And basic-level curses.

‘She can do more than I thought.’

I had also read black magic grimoires [books containing magical spells and rituals]. I didn’t have the understanding to use black magic, but I could grasp the level of black magic she was using.

Not understanding magic and knowing the types of magic were different issues.

“How is it? You wouldn’t understand even if I told you, would you?”

Of course, Aries had no way of knowing that.

“Hmm. To have achieved that much on your own, you’re quite amazing. Then what kind of magic were you researching here?”

“You can’t understand even if I explain it.”

“I have some knowledge, so don’t judge hastily. Of course, I can’t use it like you.”

Aries finally nodded.

“Okay. The research I was conducting is related to contracts.”

“Contracts?”

“Yes. It can be said that it is making a promise that cannot be broken through a contract with the other party. If you break it, your soul will disappear.”

I nodded involuntarily.

‘I’ve seen it in the black magic grimoire.’

A method of making a contract with the other party with blood. The word that the soul disappears meant death.

‘It’s quite useful research?’

Various people I will have to face in the future. Of course, it would be best if everyone formed relationships based on trust.

[That’s the magic you need.]

There are times when not everyone can be reasoned with. There would definitely be those who would have to make forced contracts at times.

‘I should learn this much.’

I wasn’t particularly interested in summoning undead or curses, but I wanted to make magic related to contracts my own.

“So how far has the research progressed?”

Aries’s eyes were filled with worry at the question.

“I thought all the preparations were done… But the magic circle isn’t activating.”

“You didn’t draw the magic circle wrong, did you?”

To use black magic, a magic circle and materials were needed.

The magic circle could be drawn when the understanding of the magic was supported. The material was like a medium to activate the magic circle.

“The magic circle shouldn’t be wrong. I’m confident in that much.”

Aries pointed to one corner of the wall.

“Is that the magic circle?”

There was a black, unidentifiable drawing on it.

“Yes. Doesn’t it look beautiful at first glance? The magic circle is perfect… I can’t remember what material is missing. So I was trying to put in various things.”

The serious attitude towards magic was no different from any other magician. Soon, she forgot the situation and worried about her research.

“Hmm. What were the materials you originally prepared?”

“There aren’t many materials needed for a contract. Chicken blood. The hair of the blood contractor. And…”

An explanation of the materials continued for a while.

Aries was excited and chattering as she explained the magic.

‘Hmm. It’s absurd.’

A hollow laugh came out as I looked down at the sight.

Aries was lost in thought about the materials, as if she had forgotten that a sword was pointed at her neck.

“Aries. Let me ask you one more thing.”

“What is it?”

“Can you really assure me that you are only telling me the truth?”

“Of course.”

“Then will you continue to tell me only the truth and cooperate with me?”

“…I’ll do that much. If you save me and let me out of here.”

“That’s about it.”

I nodded slightly.

‘I’m getting bored, should I end it?’

[What?]

‘I’m going to cut off her head.’

[Huh? What are you talking about all of a sudden? I was going to talk more… wasn’t I?]

Before Oberon could finish speaking.

Sreung!

Fragarach [MC’s sword] twisted towards Aries’s neck.

“G-, Young Master?”

Along with Anghel’s flustered voice.

Puhwak!

Crimson blood splattered.