Genius Gamer Reborn into a Family of Heroes

Chapter 55

The Mage Days

The knights of Kaladan often had to carry out infiltration missions while concealing their identities.

Because of this, there was a dedicated organization responsible for disguising these knights, commonly referred to by the slang term “Fake Up.” This group would create makeup and attire tailored to the situation at hand, transforming the knights into completely different people.

However, even for “The Elise,” known as a master of camouflage, this particular disguise was almost a first.

“To disguise a pureblood child of Kaladan as a mage…?”

It wasn’t a particularly difficult disguise. Unlike when they had to disguise someone as a native of the jungle or a beastman, no special props or magical tools were needed, and there was no need for arduous preliminary research.

It was simple.

They just needed to dress him in a black robe that reached down to his knees and find a lace shirt, favored by mages, to wear underneath. No necktie was needed; after all, a mage wasn’t a gentleman.

His hair was braided even more neatly and finely than before, with the remaining strands draped over his shoulders, which helped to conceal the prominent shoulder muscles. This completed the transformation into a delicate-looking mage.

“Unbelievable, absolutely unbelievable.”

With 39 years of experience in makeup, Elise found herself covering her mouth in shock, tears welling up as she gazed at the fully transformed Harang.

“Ah, so this is what it feels like to be entranced.”

Simply wrapping his body in a robe to hide his physique and letting his hair fall lightly over his shoulders was enough to give Harang a mysterious aura.

Even though Elise knew he was a man, there was a strange allure that drew her in.

No matter who looked at him, he was unmistakably a mage.

A slender boy who had likely never even held a sword was instantly transformed.

Elise knew that this wasn’t just the result of her handiwork.

“The atmosphere is different.”

Just three hours ago, Harang had confidently entered this place with a sword in hand, exuding the presence of a proud knight.

But the moment he began his transformation into a mage, he immediately suppressed his aura, his gaze becoming calm and composed.

No longer did his eyes carry the intense energy or the threatening presence of a tiger that a knight would typically have.

Now, he was just a frail mage who had spent long years immersed in the study of mysterious magical arts.

“Is it really possible for a person to change so drastically in an instant?”

Elise had disguised countless knights before, but never had she seen anyone so seamlessly blend into their new identity.

“Is it done?”

“What? Oh, yes, it’s done!”

The Kaladan family was known for their exceptional beauty, but even within that family, none had ever possessed such a unique aura as Harang. Elise still hadn’t fully regained her composure.

“If I just maintain this appearance throughout the mission, that’s all that’s needed, right?”

“Yes. As for the makeup… there’s nothing special I need to teach you.”

Elise’s disguise technique was designed for knights dispatched on long-term missions to maintain their cover for extended periods. It didn’t require any complicated or difficult techniques.

Of course, it goes without saying that there are only a few disguise experts in the world capable of perfectly concealing their identity without using complex techniques.

“As long as you keep your outfit in order and maintain the current atmosphere, it seems unlikely that you’ll be discovered.”

“Atmosphere?”

Harang tilted his head in confusion. He had never particularly paid attention to the atmosphere.

He had just been dozing off.

“From this moment on, you will not be Harang Paul Kaladan, but will act under the alias ‘Days’ as you designated.”

“……”

Days. That was the nickname Harang used during his time as a professional gamer in virtual reality.

It was a name that briefly expressed his terminally ill life, with death approaching day by day.

He never imagined he’d be using that alias again, let alone as a pseudonym here.

“How will you carry your sword?”

“I have a way to hide it.”

“Yes, I trust you, young master. Just keep one thing in mind. If you overuse your magic power, the magic lens will be released, and your silver eyes will be exposed. Please be particularly cautious about that.”

Harang nodded as he listened to Elise’s advice.

It was now time to start seriously pretending to be a mage.

* * *

The Harana Canal was a subordinate city of the Kaladan Duchy. At one time, it had been the center of global trade, and nobles had engaged in bloody power struggles to claim even the smallest share of the city. But now, those events had faded into history.

Trying to take control of the Harana Canal now would be tantamount to defying Kaladan.

To put it simply, it would be like publicly declaring, “Please, kill me.”

“Do not expect to be treated as a Kaladan while at the Harana Canal. During the mission, young master, you cannot use the Kaladan name.”

Harang’s mission was a kind of undercover investigation. He was to infiltrate and investigate a certain faction that had arisen within the Harana Canal.

But if he openly displayed his silver eyes and went around saying, “I’m a Kaladan,” who would dare reveal themselves?

Currently, Harang had disguised his eyes to be black again. Brown and black were the most inconspicuous colors.

“They said no one in this world would dare wear silver lenses.”

Certain eye colors could easily lead to trouble if mistaken for a noble’s disguise, so it was better to choose something that wouldn’t attract attention.

“Why do they have such rules? What if some unlucky commoner is born with white eyes?”

The Harana Canal was located in the western part of the Herrael Empire, and in terms of the Astera Continent, it was situated in the center.

Although the canal was less than 100 km long, it connected the ‘Blue Sea’ on the western side of Herrael with the ‘Mermaid River’ that linked to the southern sea of the Astera Continent, providing a critical advantage that allowed access to the entire continent, north, south, east, and west.

“From the east and west, expensive furs from beasts raised by the Beastkin and crafted jewels come in, while from the southern plains, plants cultivated by Elves and exotic spices are brought in. From the north, iron ore, magic stones, and Dwarf-made equipment are sent down.

In other words, all the cultures of the world converge through the Harana Canal, spreading the culture and influence of Kaladan to the world.

‘Oh…’

Upon arriving in Harana, Harang let out a breath of admiration as he looked at the tall, white buildings towering above.

‘I can see why they call this a water city.’

The entire city’s roads were lined with canals, with boats floating along them, and dozens of bridges were laid out like a maze across the roads.

The streets were bustling with a variety of races: there were Orcs towering over three meters tall, Dwarves only as high as a human’s waist, Elves with pointed ears, and even Beastkin with cat ears occasionally appeared.

‘Now it really feels like a different world.’

At White Night Castle, which was mostly populated by humans, Harang rarely encountered other races.

Feeling a rare sense of enjoyment, Harang relaxed a bit as he watched the boats gliding through the canals.

‘Since I’m in such a beautiful city, I might as well take it easy and enjoy some sightseeing.’

Inside the city, there wasn’t a single carriage to be seen. Occasionally, there were people riding on horses, unusual types of summoned creatures, or familiars.

Then, Harang noticed some travelers ahead of him boarding a boat as soon as it docked at the canal. After watching them tell the boatman their destination, he realized it was similar to a taxi and decided to follow their example.

“Where would you like to go?”

“To Rondel Cathedral.”

“Haha, not exactly a place for a mage, is it?”

“There’s no reason I can’t go.”

“You’re a pretty one, aren’t you? Are you an Elf? I’ve had many Elf customers, but I think you’re the prettiest of them all! Are you one of those noble High Elves?”

“I’m human.”

“Traveling alone? Where are your parents?”

Is it universal—no, dimensional—that taxi drivers talk too much?

Harang regretted getting on the water taxi.

It wasn’t just because of the snail’s pace, which barely reached 10 km/h.

In fact, the slow speed allowed him to leisurely take in the city’s sights, which was nice, but there was another reason that was more troubling.

“Are you attending a magic school? Or perhaps the Magic Tower? I hear there are a lot of aspiring mages visiting this place. Haha.”

“……”

“You must be about thirteen or fourteen? Such a tender age! But what’s your gender?”

“……I’m male.”

“Why do you look so confusing, then?”

“……”

Instinctively, Harang wanted to curl up in his seat and hug his Cheongwolheun for comfort. Holding it usually brought him peace of mind, but it was currently stored in his subspace, so he couldn’t.

“What brings you to the cathedral? Mages don’t usually believe in gods. The churchgoers aren’t too fond of mages either. Well, unless you donate generously, that is.”

“……”

The boat was unbearably slow, and the boatman’s incessant chatter was making it even more agonizing.

Harang wasn’t particularly sociable. He was naturally quiet.

When he was younger, he had made a poor impression during interviews and received criticism for appearing on variety shows, where he was often compared to a wallflower.

Afterward, he attended a speech academy and practiced diligently, and when he forced himself to speak, he could become as eloquent as a flowing river. However, it was mentally exhausting.

It felt even more tiring than wielding a sword and using magic simultaneously.

“How about it? The city is pretty, isn’t it?”

The boatman kept glancing back, trying to continue the conversation, but Harang had no intention of engaging.

‘I could run faster than this.’

Unable to endure the snail’s pace of the water taxi, Harang eventually decided to get off halfway.

As he looked around at the bustling crowd, Harang gently touched the backpack slung over one shoulder.

He had heard that there were agents from the Kaladan main family stationed in the Harana Canal, working undercover to investigate a certain incident.

Of course, he had also been told not to expect much information, as the agents weren’t there to investigate a drug case or anything of the sort, but he still planned to meet them since he was told it was necessary.

The problem was that the agents were undercover as members of the “Harana Canal Inner City Guard.”

Honestly, when he heard the term “undercover investigation,” he imagined something like a bartender at a tavern or running an inn to gather information, but it seemed that wasn’t a very effective method.

‘They say you should hide a tree in the forest. It’s fascinating that they’re posing as guards to investigate the city’s underworld…’

But how exactly was he supposed to approach the guards without drawing attention?

Harang pulled a small memo from his pocket. It was filled with a list of criminals frequently reported in the area and their sketches.

Since he had already done his homework, he figured it wouldn’t be too hard to recognize a criminal with a record.

‘Looks like the only way in is to join the guards legally.’

* * *

Mike Licton.

This man, known as “Artist Mike,” was a broker and artist making a living on Harana Canal’s Art Street.

He was famous in the area for his knack for introducing clients to artists in various fields—pottery, metalwork, painting, sculpture, musical instruments, and more—then forcing them to make high-priced purchases.

‘There seem to be a lot of people on the streets today. Hmm.’

Though he had no artistic talent himself, his ability was so exceptional that he was known as the “artistic extortionist” among the artists. Today, Mike was once again on the prowl, looking for his next victim.

On the more expensive First Street of the Art District, which mainly catered to nobles and wealthy merchants, he couldn’t easily snag a target.

So, Mike usually hunted for prey on Second and Third Streets, where cheaper souvenirs were sold. Today, he spotted a rare catch that he hadn’t seen in a long time.

A small figure with long black hair, cloaked in a robe, was browsing crystal carvings.

Keeping a slight distance, Mike moved sideways, pretending to examine another shop while keeping the child in his peripheral vision.

The kid seemed to be attempting to blend in with the commoners, but no real commoner would wear such a robe.

Moreover, the child’s pale skin suggested they had rarely been exposed to sunlight, and the serious way they were staring at the common crystal carvings, found on every street corner, was a clear sign that this kid was naive about the ways of the world.

‘It’s obvious—this kid’s from a noble family. Maybe their bodyguard stepped away for a moment? It seems they don’t realize the trouble they can get into wandering around alone. Time to teach them a life lesson at a bargain price.’

With a sly grin, Mike made eye contact with the crystal shop owner. When Mike winked his left eye, the shopkeeper responded in kind.

The deal was sealed.

‘This one’s going to be ridiculously easy.’

As Mike got closer to the child, he estimated the kid to be around fourteen years old. The kid’s androgynous appearance made it difficult to tell if they were a boy or a girl, but that didn’t matter much.

Mike casually moved next to the child, pretending to examine the crystal carvings as he bent down. The shopkeeper seized the moment to speak.

“Does that piece catch your eye? You’ve got a good eye. That’s one of the few genuine crystal carvings in my shop.”

“…Are the others fake?”

“Well, real crystal isn’t something common folk like us can afford. But many people buy the imitations as souvenirs. Would you like to hold it? With the real ones, the moment you touch them, snowflakes dance, and music begins to play.”

The shopkeeper handed the genuine piece to the boy, who hesitated for a moment before reluctantly taking it.

“Oh…”

The piece, known as a “Crystal Bubble,” was famous for producing music and an illusion of falling snowflakes or cherry blossoms with just a slight touch. It was a popular gift among nobles.

Of course, such pieces were imbued with various magics and were incredibly difficult to craft, making them outrageously expensive.

However…

‘Those are failures.’

The shop dealt in pieces created by real artisans, pieces imbued with magic, but they were all defective, incomplete products.

Not just selling them, but at a markup several times their worth.

‘First rule of extortion: No matter how expensive, make sure the customer feels they have no choice but to buy it.’

Any shop that tried to force a sale just because someone touched an item would quickly be reported and shut down by the city authorities.

But what if the customer found themselves in a situation where they really had to buy it?

Mike sidled up right next to the boy and braced his legs.

With a quick shove to the boy’s shoulder, pretending it was an accident while looking at the carvings, he made his move.

Given the boy’s frail frame, which looked like it had never seen a day of physical activity, that was all it took to send the Crystal Bubble tumbling.

“…Huh?”

However, the boy didn’t seem to notice Mike’s presence at all, continuing to stare intently at the Crystal Bubble.

‘What’s going on? Did I push too softly? It felt as solid as pushing against a wall.’

He brushed it off as his imagination.

This time, Mike pretended to reach for a carving further away and outright pushed the boy with his leg, putting his full weight into it. Surely, this would push the boy off balance.

But the boy didn’t budge an inch, merely brushing his shoulder as if swatting away an annoying mosquito.

Thud!

With a light flick of his hand.

“W-What…?”

Normally, Mike hadn’t applied enough force to be pushed back hard. But since he had been leaning forward, focusing all his weight on trying to push Harang, when Harang casually swatted at him like an insect…

“Ugh?”

He found himself tipping forward, right towards the display stand.

‘Wait a minute…?’

In that brief moment, Mike locked eyes with Harang.

And he realized something with absolute clarity.

The boy had been watching him the whole time.

And he had done so with complete awareness.

‘No way…?’

Mike’s mind flashed with the thought of all the fame, glory, wealth, and art he had accumulated in this place.

Was he reminiscing?

…Or was this his life flashing before his eyes?

As he toppled towards the Crystal Bubbles, he couldn’t find an answer.

Crash! Tinkle! Clatter! Thud!

One disaster after another.

The shopkeeper stood with his mouth agape, unable to speak, while Mike lay dazed among the wreckage, staring blankly up at the ceiling.

One of the Crystal Bubbles rolled toward him, coming to a stop against his head.

Thud! Crack!

It split in two upon impact.

♪~♪

Even as the music played, it was clear that this was indeed a genuine masterpiece, crafted with all the skill of a true artisan.

“…Miiiiiiike!!!”

As the furious shopkeeper finally found his voice and screamed, Harang calmly pressed his foot against the back of Mike Licton’s neck, pinning him down as he spoke.

“Mike Licton. You threw yourself into your final piece of performance art. Indeed, you are truly an artist.”

Then, as handcuffs clicked around his wrists, Mike let his head drop to the ground in defeat.

The moment he realized that the boy had been targeting him all along, he knew all hope was lost.

‘I’m done for…’