The Genius Magician Hides His Swordsmanship - Chapter 13

Chapter 13. The Delemar Library (2)

The Delemar’s library. In the end, after the first day had come to an end, I came back with little profit.

“How is it? It’s still hard to understand right? If you have any questions, just ask.”

Rio was standing at my back, so I couldn’t openly look at the books with ancient language. I had no choice but to pick up a book in the official language of the Kargas Empire and read that.
However, now that I’ve discovered endless possibilities, I laid down on my bed. The corner of my mouth went up.

‘It was absolutely awesome.’
[I know, it’s not a joke even if you just glance at it.]

The library was filled with spell books. I could see that Delemar’s power was great, not to mention.

‘Ancient languages…’

The ancient languages were clearly very important to me. Ancient language books will definitely give me bigger wings.

‘Let’s go, Oberon.’

I hurriedly got up.

[Where?]
‘The library, I have to go again.’
[Eh? I thought Rio asked you to go with him once a week.]
‘What are you talking about? Idiot, if I go once a week, when will I finish all the books there?’

Besides, when I’m with Rio, I won’t be able to read the books in ancient languages.

‘I’m going every day from now on. Before going to the Mage Tower, I should read as many books as possible.’

At this moment, a new routine was added to my daily schedule.

* * * 

Whoosh!
As Rio said, the magic he cast also reacted to my mana. I easily managed to open the door from the ordinary warehouse.

‘This is really amazing.’
[Wow, it’s good that mages are like this.]

Instead of the farming tools that should have been there, the scenery of the library unfolded. It was as if I had opened a portal and moved on.

‘For now, let’s pass the ones written in Kargas.’

I can look through them when I come with Rio. I immediately stood up and headed inside.

‘Woah, ancient language.’

The strings I read and wrote with in my last life for the past 30 years were greeting my eyes.

[A study of the source of fire and the magic of explosion.]
[Applied magic combining brain and water.]
[Ah, where all life begins.]

From books for dealing with various elements.

‘Wow, that’s crazy. Isn’t this a pretty famous magic family?’

To even books containing the rituals of various prestigious families. They were jaw-dropping magic books. Among them, there were families that I could recognize as well.

‘Oh! Isn’t the Ereb family famous for their telekinesis?’
[Yes, a thousand years ago, they were the ones who cut down quite a few swordsmen with one telekinesis technique.]
‘There’s also the rituals of the water master Suseur… Wow! The Chernobians have one too? It was really tough dealing with their electricity magic!’

It got to the point where I was worried about where to keep my gaze.

‘But why are all these family’s rituals gathered here?’
[All of those families fell after you died, so it must be the Pentagram’s doing. I can’t believe they’re all here.]
‘Pentagram? Didn’t they only harm the swordsmen’s families?’
[I don’t know, but perhaps the families here were all against the will of the Pentagram.]
‘Hmm…’

I didn’t know exactly why,

‘Just looking at the titles makes my heart race.’

In any case, it was good news for me now. Because each and every one of the families here was a place that left a name for themselves at that time.

‘I’ll learn them all.’

Even though they were ruined by the Delemars, the essence of each family could not be ignored.
In particular, I had quite a hard time dealing with some family rituals.

[Hey, but aren’t you too excited about magic books? Did you forget that the sword comes first?]

Oberon twitched one eyebrow.

‘Hey, that can’t be the case. I’ve been training my sword too. I’ve started accumulating muscle mass, and has anyone seen someone who accumulated this much at the age of 11?’
[…Fine, but keep in mind! The sword always takes precedence over magic!]
‘Uh-huh. Of course, of course, my lord. No matter what.’

Although Oberon, the constellation of swordsmanship, did not seem to like it.

‘What?’
[What now?]

There was a momentary tug on my body. It felt familiar.

‘Huh, there’s no way?’
[What’s wrong?]

No matter what Oberon said, my footsteps kept moving further away. It was an instinctive pull.

‘Something’s pulling me in.’

My footsteps stopped in front of another bookcase.

[Pulling?]
‘Yeah, it feels familiar.’

I reached out. I didn’t know if I was reaching out or if the book was pulling me in.

[What is this? Is it a familiar book?]

It was just a plain leather-bound book, but my full attention was drawn to it.

‘Oh!’

I realized after flipping through the cover, what the pull was that tugged at me.

It was forbidden magic, dark magic.

‘It was the same sensation I felt at the judgment ceremony.’

The attraction created by the card on which the word ‘dark’ was written 7 years ago, was also at work in this book.

[Wow, there really is a dark magic book?]

‘I know.’

A total of three books with no author were sitting on the bookshelf.
Ignoring the introductory text, I went straight to the next page.

‘What the hell…?’

However, it didn’t take long before my expectations collapsed.

[It wouldn’t be fun if it was solved that easily.]

There were a lot of expressions that I couldn’t understand. White is blank, black is type.

‘I can’t figure out anything.’

There was no language barrier. Even though it is an ancient language, I could read it very clearly. However, I was able to read it, but the problem was being able to understand it.

‘It will take quite a while to figure this out.’
[Isn’t it the same for swordsmanship? You can’t gain enlightenment just by reading the secrets of flying and stealth arts as a 3 star swordsman. That’s how it is.]
‘Ha…’

Shut!
I closed the book and returned it to its original place.

‘Okay, let’s not be greedy for now, let’s try it one by one.’

I moved to the books containing the principles of attribute magic.

Usually, in childhood, time flows slowly. But, is it because I have the mind of an adult?

‘Time is flying.’

I finished another book and put it on the bookshelf. By now, I was at the end of a shelf.

[At least you’ve read the whole book.]

More than 3 years have passed. I’ve only scratched the surface of the books in the library, but it’s already been four and a half years since I entered the academy.

[On the bright side, you’ve transcribed the most important ones.]
As Oberon said, I’ve transcribed three books of dark magic and the rituals of several families. Since I didn’t know the rest, I figured I’d have to copy those.

‘But there are still so many things I don’t understand.’

With my low magical attainment, I can’t help but be slow. I couldn’t make it my own just by reading the letters.

[You’re pretty good for your age, though, aren’t you? You’ve already fulfilled the requirements to enter the mage tower.]
‘That’s right.’

Possessing at least 3 stars worth of mana and mastering at least 3 types of elemental magic were the requirements for entering the mage tower.
After entering the Delemar library, I had been able to use the basic magic of each element to some extent.

‘I can safely say I’m a 4 star mage now.’

No one could have known that the books I had read in the Delemar library were behind this, and all of the academy’s children were overwhelmed by my accomplishment.

“Wow, that’s crazy.”

Drew said.

“Is this the difference in talent…?”

It was the same for Ariel.

“You’re talented too.”

Drew could barely control three elemental spells now, but his aura sensitivity had been perfected.

‘What is it?’

Ariel had excelled at water elemental magic. Although her understanding of the other elements was mediocre.

‘What kind of kid is so crazy about water elemental magic…’

Probably, if one were to evaluate Ariel’s water magic alone, it would be comparable to that of a 4 star mage.
They were just discouraged kids who didn’t realize how talented they were.
Suddenly, Drew threw up his hands and shouted.

“Oh! Next week, we’re finally going to graduate from the academy.”

Ariel’s eyes lit up at the mention of it.

‘Examinations…’

A ceremony to literally see if one is worthy of graduating from the academy. Only those who have proven themselves worthy of entering the mage tower would graduate.
One more person responded to Drew’s cheerful shout.

[Oh! Are we finally going to the mage tower?]

Oberon’s eyes lit up.

‘Yes, now we can get out of the Delemar house.’

It meant we’d have a little more free time.

[Do you know how desperate I was when you said you weren’t going to be judged last year and the year before?]

The academy’s graduation examination is an annual event. I had already fulfilled the requirements for graduation the previous year.

‘Back then, I hadn’t even seen a fraction of the books in the library.’

I needed more time to go through the books. I still haven’t seen half of the books in the library, but I’ve written down the ones that seem important, I can now somewhat leave.
Although, I couldn’t explain to Drew and Ariel that I need to see more books in the Delemar library.

“Ian, I didn’t expect you to postpone taking the graduation exam just for us. We really are friends!”

I explained a slightly different reason to them.

“Hm? Oh, yeah. It would be nice to go to the mage tower together.”

Drew thought I had been waiting for them to go to the mage tower

* * * 

‘Okay, let’s do our best today…’

That day, I headed to the Delemar library.

[You’re just going to copy and paste today?]
‘I hope so, because I don’t have much time left.’

I decided to stick to transcription until graduation. After a week of diligent copying, I had everything I needed.
With light steps, I reached the front of the warehouse.
The doorknob was now familiar.
Hwaak.
I used my fingertips to release mana. The door turned blue for a moment.

‘Let’s go in.’

Creak!
I stepped through the door with a small creak of hinges. I took in the view of the sprawling library for a moment.

‘…’

Suddenly, my body went stiff.
No matter how young a child’s body may be, I could still feel it. Even if I didn’t have the senses of a swordsman like I used to.

‘Who is it?’

I noticed I couldn’t hear the door moving. The door that had been rattling while closing, stopped.

[That guy…]

Unable to turn my head, Oberon looked at the door.

[It’s Raxon Delemar.]

Sweat rolled down my brow at the name. Raxon Delemar, a name that baffles even me, a man who has seen it all.
The first son of the current patriarch.

[He’s the one who kept Helena quiet at the trial.]

A man who was said to be the strongest Delemar other than the patriarch.

“I wondered who the rat was that had been coming in and out of here for three years…”

I slowly turned around to face him. Raxon was standing there holding the door to the warehouse.

His cold gaze was fixed on me.

“Ian Delemar. So it was you.”