The Genius Magician Hides His Swordsmanship - Chapter 2

Chapter 2. Oh, I’m a baby.

The woman with red eyes looked down. The warm smile on her face was unconcerned.

‘…She’s a lady of the Delemar family.’

Her red eyes captured my attention.

‘That’s surprising.’

However, there was another scene that was even more surprising. The reflection in her clear eyes. The figure I saw there was that of a baby.

‘What the hell?’

The situation that unfolded was difficult to comprehend.
But one thing was clear. There was nothing I could do about it. I didn’t have any freedom to resist her touch.

And so a day went by.
I was vigilant, because that was all I could do.

My blanket fell over.
I became vigilant again, for it could be a trap planned by the Pentagram.

Three days passed, then a week.
The red-eyed woman still didn’t hurt me. I still didn’t like her warm gaze nor her touch though, because she is of the Delemar family.

A month passed.
Even then, she was still gentle and sweet.

‘What kind of fate is this?’

For a month, the emotion in her red eyes was clear.
They were full of affection.
She was as committed as if she were my mother.

“Ian, would you like to go on a walk today?”

It was frustrating and overwhelming.
But I couldn’t bring myself to ask what was going on. I couldn’t even speak because of this body of a newborn child.
It was another month before I received a ray of hope.
During the time the woman was away, like any other day, I was sucked in and immersed in contemplation.Then, someone whispered in my ear.

[I’ve found you.]
I thought I didn’t hear it right.

‘I must be hallucinating.’

No matter how mentally resilient I was, anyone would go crazy if they were put in this situation.

[You’re not hallucinating Adonis.]

I wanted to turn my head but this body is still too fragile to be able to. The second time I heard that voice, I tried to turn my head, but it wouldn’t work no matter how hard I tried.

‘…No way, it’s Oberon!’

I knew that voice all too well, a voice I’d heard countless times in my past life. It was so familiar that I could never forget it.

[Yeah dude, I came here as soon as you died. Heh, you bastard, you’re literally lying down without a care in the world.]

Oberon, my star, with whom I had a contract with when I was Adonis, came to me.

This is a chance to take charge.

* * * 

If you ask those who dream of becoming knights or wizards.

‘What is the thing you want to achieve the most?’

Nine out of ten people will answer like this.

– I want to become a great wizard comparable to the Pentagram.
– I want to become the best swordsman in the continent.
– I want to have 9-star level skills.

But, if you rephrase and ask.

‘What do you want most?’

Then most will change their answer to this.
– I want to be chosen by a constellation.

Constellations
To be chosen by a constellation was like a dream. Especially for those who deal with mana or aura.
Just because they made a contract with that unknown being! It would mean that they are being recognized for their talents. Because constellations see the contractor’s potential before approaching them.
The path they walk on would change completely. They gain the ability to borrow powers from the constellation they’re contracted with.
Most of them are chosen by…

‘Most of the time it’s Cancer.’
[Why must you say such hurtful things?]

Oberon, who had been seated next to me before I knew it, frowned. It didn’t look very suitable watching him being chased by those men.

‘Now that I think about it, you didn’t even show your nose back when I was being chased by those old men. Where were you then, and suddenly you’re back?’
[Hmph, don’t talk to me like that. Do you know how hard it was for me?]

‘There was nothing hard for you, you ran away as soon as you saw them. It makes me doubt that you’re even a constellation.’

I had nothing good to say. My constellation disappeared as soon as the Pentagram appeared.

[I was surprised too].

However, Oberon’s expression was also unusual.

[They did something strange to me too.]
‘Something strange?’
[Yes. I’m not sure what they did, but it’s like they hit me with a cue ball. I couldn’t even get close.]

That’s strange, humans can only see their own constellations. They can’t directly affect another’s.
In other words.

‘You ran away, and now you’re writing a novel for no reason.’

That was the only conclusion that could be reached.

[You’ve been hiding for a thousand years, yet this is how you are talking to someone who’s been looking for you the entire time?]

Oberon vents his anger. I had no choice but to listen to his muffled voice.

‘What?’
[Is that something to say to a noble constellation like me?]
‘No, that’s not it.’
[Then what else is there?]
‘Did you just say that a thousand years have passed?’

Oberon’s expression turned grim. His normally unwavering pupils vibrated slightly.

[You really don’t know anything, do you? You’ve appeared after a thousand years.]
‘…What?’

A thousand years.
I only closed my eyes and opened them, but it’s been such a long time. Ever since I was reborn, questions keep piling up.

[We’ve got a lot to talk about. You’re lucky I’m a constellation.]
‘Yeah, but how did you know I was here?’
[I’ve been able to sense your energy for two months now. I didn’t show up until now because I was nervous.]

That should be the case. According to him, a contract suddenly appeared after years.

[I came to see you because I needed to confirm it.]
‘And you were sure it was me even though I am now a baby?’
[Our souls are contracted, not our bodies.]
‘Okay, I’m not sure what happened, but… Thank you for finding me.’

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
I now have even more questions, but at least I feel like I have some room to breathe. I now realize just how important it is to have someone who has your back.
How can I be an adult inside an infant’s body? It is indeed a good question. The appearance of Oberon was like a bright light in my current situation.

[That reminds me, we worked so well together all those years ago! Let’s do it again! Oh, and there’s one thing I’ve been thinking of…]
‘Something you’re thinking of? Do you think my reincarnation is somehow related to this family?’

Oberon pushed himself forward.

[I’m glad you were reborn. I was thinking you looked like one of those bandits, but now you’re quite the cutie and the milk looks good on you too. PEEKABOO! Do you want me to shake your cradle a bit?]

How I wish I could kill him.

Humans are creatures of adaptation. This body will gradually grow.
Oh, except for one thing.

“Master, you’ve been waiting a long time, I’ll change you right away!”

The nanny sniffs the room as soon as she enters, and Oberon snorts in amusement.

‘…Don’t laugh.’

After a while, the nanny’s hand touched mine.

‘How dare you touch me!’

I screamed in defiance.

“Wahhh!”

It was taken as crying. I couldn’t get my point across. Instead, this nanny is actually interpreting my meaning in the opposite way.

“Aww! You’re uncomfortable because it’s damp down there, isn’t it? I’ll change your diaper quickly I promise!”

The nanny’s hands started working.
Ssst-
The scraps of cloth wrapped around my crotch fluttered. It was stained yellow.

‘Sigh…’

[Wow! The great Adonis is getting his diapers changed!]

‘…heheheh.’

After a while, it just didn’t feel right.
Creak-
The door opened once again.

“Ian! Mommy’s home!”

She was the first person I saw when I opened my eyes.
Titania.
That was her name, which I got to know after I heard the nanny call it.

“Gee, I bought a lot of stuff today, didn’t I?”

Of course, Titania started checking my bowel actions as soon as she arrived.

‘…’

The nanny smiled brightly at her.

“What do you think the master will pick at the judgment ceremony today?”
“Well, I don’t care what it is. I just want him to grow up healthy. Oh! It’s time already.”
“Oops! I better get going.”

Titania’s smile touched me.

“Hey Ian, you’re going out with your mom for a little bit today, and there’s going to be a lot of people around, is that okay?”

Titania walked out of the room with me in her arms. Oberon, of course, came with us.

‘It seems we’re heading to the judgment ceremony…’

It’s one of the most important events in any magical family. They say it’s a test of a child’s potential. Mages were highly intelligent, but paradoxically superstitious.

‘A thousand years later, and the tradition is still there huh?’
[That’s right, wizards are stupid. Sometimes I think they’re more ignorant than knights.]
‘How is the Delemar family going to handle the judgment ceremony?’
[I don’t know, usually other places use an orb…]

And so, we walked there for a while.
We passed by gardens with such enormous proportions that even a mansion pales in comparison.
Screech-
We got to a place where a huge iron gate was opened and then we entered.

‘There’s a lot of people.’

Dozens of pairs of eyes turned to me.

[I guess all the relatives of the Delemar family are gathered here.]
‘That’s how important this event is.’’

About 30 people were lined up on both sides and all of them had red shining eyes. There was one person who gave me a particularly mean look.

“Titania, why are you so late?”

The woman standing on the far left let out a low sound.

“I’m sorry, I was busy preparing, that’s all.”
“Do you still think you’re getting pampered, why don’t you just show up later than the family head?”

A woman who didn’t hide her hostility. It was obvious, she had a child my age in her arms.

‘We’re the same age, so I assume she must see me as competition.’
[That’s right, big families are always fighting for ranks.]
‘That’s a lot of scrutiny. We’re not even late.’

Titania could only smirk, but the woman was about to open her mouth again.

“Helena.”

A voice stopped her. It belonged to a middle-aged man, at the back of the line.

“Lower your voice, the family head will soon arrive.”

The voice was low, but it carried a power that overwhelmed the entire audience. Only those who have practiced for many years can produce it. It was a very overwhelming power.

[He’s a bit of a d**k, isn’t he?]
‘I see, he seems to be the power behind the family.’

With his words, Helena also shut up. Of course, she seemed to be full of displeasure, seeing as he silenced her in public.

‘It’s a pain.’

It didn’t take long for the silence to be broken.
Creak-
The iron gates we’d entered through opened once again, letting the sun shine through. Two attendants stepped through the gap, followed by a gray-haired old man.

‘Huh…?’

The sight made me spit out blood.

“The family head has arrived!”