Genius Wizard Hides His Sword Skills [EN]: Chapter 98

98. Healer (3)

A giant of a man appeared, opening the clam-shell door. A muscular figure, easily two meters tall, shifted his gaze between Karis and me.

His appearance instantly froze the room’s atmosphere.

[His aura is quite something.]

He looked to be middle-aged, but the white fur thickly covering his chin and the golden trident he wielded hinted at his identity.

‘The current Suwang Clan Chief, huh.’

It was the figure Karis had described before.

“Karis, I cannot allow you to go to the world where humans live.”

The Suwang Clan Chief shook his head firmly.

“But, Father! He is a righteous person. It’s my turn to help him this time.”

However, Karis was just as unyielding.

“Ahem!”

Eventually, the Suwang Clan Chief slammed his trident onto the floor.

Kugugugung!

It was just a single motion, but it was enough to gauge his might.

‘He’s full of vigor.’

The vibration spread as if the coral reef colony would collapse entirely.

Surely, he was sending me a warning message.

“Suwang Clan Chief, it is an honor to meet you.”

I approached him and bowed my head.

“So, you are the righteous man of Ego, I presume.”

The Suwang Clan Chief knew of my existence, as if he had already been informed.

“My abilities are too meager to be called that, but the other clan leaders have called me so.”

“I, too, am grateful to you. Not only for saving Ego this time, but I heard you also saved my daughter last time?”

Karis’s voice quickly followed.

“That’s right! He is the benefactor of my life. Ignoring his request is unacceptable.”

“Karis, be quiet.”

However, the Suwang Clan Chief continued without looking back at Karis.

“No matter how much of a benefactor you are to us, I cannot allow Karis to be sent to a human village.”

I could understand well enough. Karis had already been kidnapped by Dorn once, and her life was in question. No parent would want to send her to a place with humans again.

“I will take full responsibility for Karis’s safety. I will bet my life on it.”

But I, too, desperately needed her help.

“Karless, this boy is trustworthy. I guarantee it.”

Grantel also lent his support.

“Trustworthy, you say… I don’t think so. I still can’t trust him.”

“He is a boy who fought for Ego at the risk of his life. What reason is there not to trust him?”

“I’m not talking about his mindset. I’m just saying I can’t trust this boy’s skills.”

The Suwang Clan Chief briefly glanced at Grantel. His gaze was once again directed at me.

“You’ll risk your life to protect my daughter? Does risking your life mean you can beat someone as skilled as me or Grantel? It’s not that I don’t trust you, but your skills are still far from sufficient.”

He wasn’t wrong. He must see me as a mere puppy. But I couldn’t give up and turn back like this.

“I have followers. By human standards, there are dozens of skilled individuals above 7-star [referring to a high level of power or skill]. I will bring them along on the journey.”

I wasn’t alone.

If I gathered the powerhouses of the Circle of Origin, it would be enough to invade an ordinary kingdom. It would be more than enough to escort Karis.

“Hmm. Still, as a father, I can’t easily allow it. Do you have a means of transportation to get there?”

“If you are with me, you can use the portal without difficulty. Fortunately, my family has some influence.”

The identity verification of the Portal Management Bureau was notoriously strict, but it was not a problem for Delemain.

‘If it’s red eyes, they’ll unconditionally pass us.’

They were administrators who had never properly checked the identities of my companions, including me. If I just put a robe on Karis, we could move easily.

“Hooh. Is that so?”

The Suwang Clan Chief’s lips twisted strangely. Nevertheless, he shook his head in the end.

“What if, by any chance, those called great mages among humans attack? Or what if the imperial army strikes? There’s no guarantee she won’t be kidnapped again.”

The Suwang Clan Chief shook his head with a strange smile. At this point, it was starting to get weird.

[Why would the Great Mages or the Imperial Family attack Ninel? That’s too much of a stretch.]

‘What’s his purpose? Is he just being difficult?’

The Suwang Clan Chief’s nuance seemed to be making unreasonable excuses. I soon realized the reason.

“Ahem! So, a reliable person must come along. I’d feel more at ease if I went with you. I can’t send my daughter alone unless that’s the condition.”

His lips curled up slightly. Only then could I realize it.

‘I’ve been had.’

From the beginning, he intended to come along. The Suwang Clan Chief’s hearty laughter seemed to shake the coral reef.

“Hoo. You’re too playful.”

Grantel sighed only then. Karis also shook her head.

“You said we have to go right now, right?”

“Yes. Her condition is very bad.”

“Good. Let’s go right away. Karis, quickly pack your bags. I’ll breathe the air outside of Ego for the first time in a while.”

The Suwang Clan Chief seemed more excited than anyone else.

* * *

“Karless. Be careful on your journey.”

Grantel came to the entrance of Ego’s forest to see us off, worried.

“Who are you worried about!”

The giant man next to him shouted loudly. It was Karless, the Suwang Clan Chief, who had already put on a huge robe and concealed his appearance.

“You can’t use your original abilities outside the water, though.”

“Still, it’s not enough to be troubled by humans.”

Karless pounded his chest with his large fist.

“Yes. Who can handle you? It would be fortunate if you didn’t cause an accident.”

“Ahem! Don’t worry about unnecessary things and protect Ego well.”

A faint smile appeared on Grantel’s lips.

“Hey, boy. Let’s go!”

Karless, wearing a robe, boldly led the way out of Ego’s forest.

“Um, Karless-nim [a respectful title in this context].”

“Why? Do you have anything else to say? You said we have to go quickly.”

I had no choice but to stop him, who was twitching his blue eyebrows.

“It’s not that, but the Portal Management Bureau is in this direction.”

He was confidently heading in a strange direction, not to Aital.

[……Is taking him a right choice?]

‘Well, what could go wrong?’

I scratched my head and took him to the Portal Management Bureau on the outskirts of Aital.

After tidying up the two people’s robes for the last time, we entered.

“Oh, Young Master Delema. You’re traveling here and there often these days.”

It was the portal manager I was now familiar with.

“I’m going to Raphtel again this time.”

“I’ll prepare it for you right away!”

The manager approached the portal generator and manipulated the device. His gaze turned behind me.

“But, have your escorts changed this time? They seem a bit different from the ones I saw before….”

Karis, who was so small, and Karless, who was about two meters tall, would have been enough to catch their attention.

“Ah, it’s nothing! We’re just going to Raphtel.”

Karless flinched unnecessarily. I quickly opened my mouth before he said anything strange.

“Delema is secretly carrying out a project. I’ll just say that much.”

The manager’s expression hardened at the mention of Delema on purpose.

“H, Heup! Ah, I understand! I didn’t see anything, and I didn’t hear anything!”

He froze at the words that Delema was secretly carrying out. He didn’t want to get involved in a large family’s affairs and be in a difficult situation.

“Then, please take care of the portal.”

“Yes, yes, I understand!”

After that, the manager activated the portal without a word. The sound of him swallowing was like thunder.

“See you again next time, Aital manager.”

“H, Heup. Yes!”

I headed to the portal, leaving him behind, who was very nervous.

* * *

“As you said, humans can’t stand up to you.”

We had already arrived in Raphtel. We had passed through five portals without being stopped even once.

“Didn’t I tell you? I will safely take Karis with me.”

“Haha! It’s fun. To be able to roam the world so easily!”

On the way from Raphtel’s Portal Management Bureau to the accommodation where the group was staying, Karless’s mouth was hooked to his ears, as if he was so happy.

“And it would be better to lower your voice a little.”

Raphtel had a small population. His loud voice was attracting the attention of everyone here.

“Ahem. I’ll refrain. I’m just in a good mood because I came out after a long time.”

Karless nodded awkwardly.

We arrived in front of a building. It was not a large-scale inn.

Squeak-

The person we faced with the sound of old hinges.

“You’ve arrived. It’s an honor to meet you.”

It wasn’t the hotel owner who faced us.

‘Did the Circle of Origin buy this place too?’

The symbol of the Circle of Origin hanging around his neck allowed me to recognize his identity.

[Looks like it. It’s the place where the leader stays, so they must have paid attention to it.]

Information must have spread inside the Circle of Origin through Andy and Rica. They must have acquired this place like they did in Aital.

“Where is Angel?”

“He’s upstairs. Please come this way.”

The young man went up the stairs first. The room on the 3rd floor that he guided us to was full of people.

“Oh? You’re already here?”

Drew turned his head first, of course.

“Oh! You’ve returned safely.”

Admun immediately ran over and checked my body.

“Ugh, I’m so tired! Come quickly!”

Even Aries, who was maintaining black magic next to Angel. Everyone was gathered in the room.

“Hmm. I guess that’s him.”

Karis noticed Angel’s seriousness at a glance. She immediately ran to him.

“Who is this little kid? Hey! Don’t tell me she’s the healer? You brought such a kid?”

Aries glared at Karis, who had squeezed in next to her.

Sreung!

At some point, a long object was aimed at her neck.

“What did you say? How dare you look down on someone!”

Karless, who had taken out a trident from his arms at the remark that belittled Karis. It was a spear with magic that controlled its size, so he always carried it in his arms.

“H, Heuk! What is this again! Who is this person!”

Aries was horrified by the sharp golden blade. I had no choice but to stop Karless instead of her.

“Clan Chief. He is my colleague. Please put away the spear.”

Only then did Karless’s momentum subside a little.

“But that child looked down on Karis first.”

“That’s just how she talks. It’s because of the side effects of magic. She has no malice, so please understand.”

“Side effects of magic, huh. What a pitiful child.”

Eventually, Karless retrieved the spear. Aries, who took a breath, asked.

“…Clan Chief? Are these people from some primitive tribe? Ah! Are you trying to heal this guy with shamanism?”
The voice heard next to her.

“It’s not shamanism.”

Karis took off the robe that covered her head.

“We are the Suwang Clan.”