Genius Gamer Reborn into a Family of Heroes

Chapter 62

Mage Days

Originally, Alehardin’s Executioner was a 6-star spell, but Natalen had modified it so that even lower-ranking mages could use it.

For example, the original spell summoned dozens of guillotines to fall, but it could be downgraded to a 3-star spell by making only a single guillotine drop.

While this was significantly less powerful compared to the original secret spell that supposedly executed Alehardin, who had multiple heads, it was still a force to be reckoned with if even one blade hit its target!

“Ugh… Damn brat…!”

Galik clutched the severed area of his right arm with his left hand.

Thanks to the multiple layers of shields he had hurriedly cast, the guillotine had slightly missed its mark, but he couldn’t prevent his arm from being completely severed below the right shoulder.

‘…So that’s what it was.’

The moment his spell struck Galik, Harang realized something new.

For a brief moment, a silver halo enveloped Harang, and his hair fluttered as if defying gravity.

‘No matter how fast your reaction time is, if you can’t analyze the magic, it’s hard to respond…’

Why hadn’t he realized this simple fact before? In hindsight, it was something anyone could have thought of.

The reason why mages are so obsessed with secret spells.

The reason why they hide their magic within the boundaries of their families, keeping it tightly sealed.

This was precisely it.

The moment their spells are exposed to others, countermeasures would immediately be developed!

‘Come to think of it, swordsmanship was similar.’

To defeat opponents far stronger than himself, Harang had concealed his sword techniques as a bluff.

It was unusual in duels between knights, but for Harang, who was a gamer, it was as natural as breathing!

Feigning the use of a skill to bait out the opponent’s movement skill, or pretending to move backward while actually advancing to cause the opponent to miss their attack…

Since everyone used the same techniques and had similar reflexes, these kinds of psychological tactics were essential for a gamer.

‘It’s impossible to keep developing secret spells that others won’t catch on to… Especially since I’m just memorizing these spells through rote learning. I lack creativity, so once I use up all the spells I have, that’s it.’

Unless he found and learned new spells, Harang’s resource known as “magic” would eventually be exhausted.

Mages constantly pursue and evolve their magic, but in his current state, Harang couldn’t do that.

“You…!!”

Galik unleashed a dark crimson aura, intending to shred Harang’s body with spinning blades, but his magic only sliced through empty air.

[Mirage Distance]

“An illusion? There’s no way I’d fall for such a petty trick…!”

The opponent didn’t know the magic. It was magic that the opponent couldn’t comprehend. If he could keep using such magic indefinitely, the entire magic system as it currently existed would change.

‘Ah, that’s right…’

Though Harang didn’t realize it at the moment, his mind was spinning faster than ever before.

His silver eyes were shining so brightly that they seemed to be engulfing the red aura of the altar.

‘It’s impossible to hide sword techniques and skills. But what about magic? Is magic also impossible to hide? Why not?’

The moment magic was used, a magic circle would appear. Most mages would read and analyze the formulas, runes, and patterns of that magic circle to grasp the spell. Or, they simply memorized all the magic circles!

Hiding a magic circle was theoretically impossible.

But then.

‘What if I plaster unnecessary codes all over the magic circle, to confuse the opponent…?’

Though it was impossible with skills and sword techniques, there was a way that was possible only with magic.

A magic circle might appear to be perfectly constructed, but the way each person used it was different.

Some would draw the hexagram from right to left, while others would draw it from bottom to top.

‘The fact that everyone uses the same formula but in different sequences…’

Current magic had been overly simplified and optimized. It had been that way for hundreds of years since the era of the Magi.

So, what if he deliberately made the formula more complex?

1+1 equals 2.

But the answer to 1²+2×1-1 is also 2.

If he added small details one by one and inserted messy dummy formulas and codes that didn’t interfere with the essence of the magic…

“Damn it, I won’t fall for it this time! Rise up!”

As Harang unfolded his magic circle, Galik hastily raised four earthen barriers around himself.

This time, the magic circle seemed somewhat familiar, but the formula was complex enough that Galik thought it must be a new spell he’d never seen before!

However, the magic that Harang cast… wasn’t anything special.

[ Icicle Shower ]

A simple and basic three-star spell that summoned icicles from the sky to rain down from above!

‘Wh-What…?’

Galik, who had surrounded himself with barriers on all sides, failed to defend against the attack from above. In a moment of utter helplessness, his entire body was pierced by the falling icicles, and he dropped to his knees.

“Kugh…!!”

Unable to withstand the onslaught of icicles embedded in his back, Galik vomited blood and trembled all over.

He hadn’t even been able to properly use his proud black magic. In the end, the final blow wasn’t even from his opponent’s secret magic, but just an ordinary spell. The mental anguish hit him harder than the physical pain.

Splash! As Harang approached, Galik forced himself to look up, enduring the agony. He wanted to scream out, but…

“Ugh!”

The moment his eyes met those silver-white pupils that resembled a morning star, Galik felt his chest tighten, his knees go weak, and his breath catch in his throat.

He was completely overwhelmed by those eyes.

In that instant.

Galik’s trembling body suddenly stilled.

For some reason, he found himself staring blankly at the magic circle spinning around Harang’s wrist.

‘…Is this… the true form of magic?’

Up until now, to Galik, magic had always been nothing more than a tool—a means to survive, nothing more, nothing less.

A highly effective weapon that allowed him to fight efficiently against back-alley thugs.

Galik had studied magic for that purpose. He was naturally weak, afraid of fighting, and the only way he could survive after foolishly becoming a gangster to make a living was by utilizing his relatively smart mind.

Magic was a tool. That’s why he had trapped magic within the small framework of a “tool” and used it as such, never once questioning his own beliefs.

Because, after all, not just him but most of the magicians in the world thought the same way!

But immediately after witnessing Harang’s magic, the foundations of his beliefs began to shake and twist in his mind.

‘Ah… yes… this is what magic was.’

Galik recalled the first time he learned magic. The awe he felt the day he could ignite flames from his hands and control lightning.

However, as he gained companions and siblings, who were so weak and vulnerable, unable to use magic or aura, they became a burden to him.

To protect them, Galik honed his magic into a more deadly weapon.

From the day he began wielding magic as a lethal tool to protect his siblings, Galik could no longer feel that awe when learning magic.

He thought… he would never feel it again in his lifetime.

“P-please… just once more…”

“…What?”

Harang, on guard, thought Galik might be trying to cast a spell, but he noticed a change in Galik’s gaze.

“My… final moment… with that magic of yours…”

Despite his body being shredded by icicles, leaving him with no strength to even speak, Galik requested magic.

Harang had been preparing a wind blade to sever Galik’s neck, but hearing Galik’s words, his resolve wavered, and he decided to use ‘Descent of the Divine.’

Heavenly Retribution Form 1

With a light gesture of Harang’s hand, a golden magic circle appeared on the dark ceiling of the cave, and a blinding ray of sunlight poured down.

“Oh… oh… To grant such glory to trash like me…”

Galik, as if witnessing a divine miracle, reached out toward the light.

Before he knew it, a single tear had rolled down his cheek.

“Thank you… truly…”

Confession, Call of Light.

Soon, a beam of light, as thin as a person’s arm, shot out, piercing Galik’s heart precisely.

In that moment.

“Ah…!”

Galik’s mana circle, having gained sudden enlightenment, multiplied to six.

Ziiiing-!!

And so.

The magician Galik met his end.

* * *

Wee-oo! Wee-oo! Wee-oo!

In this world, there was something akin to an ambulance. Although it wasn’t a car, a carriage would arrive to transport the injured.

The altar had completely collapsed due to the clash of magic between Galik and Harang, and the arriving Inquisition witnessed an unbelievable scene.

They had come to apprehend the wanted dark magician Galik, only to find that a young boy had subdued and killed him.

What was even more shocking, however, was…

“Archbishop Manfred, you are under arrest for blasphemy and heresy.”

Archbishop Manfred of Rondel Cathedral had conspired with heretics, committing sacrilege!

It was further revealed that he had attempted to offer a child as a sacrifice to a demon, and this was promptly reported to the authorities of Saint Benedis.

This wasn’t just a matter of public interest—it was a sensational headline. The fall of an archbishop was an incredibly shocking and almost unbelievable story.

“You’ve done well. Truly remarkable. People will remember the name ‘Days’ for a long time.”

“…”

The person who approached and spoke was Maltiren, an intelligence agent from Kaladan.

Harang, seeing him, displayed a slightly apologetic expression. Maltiren noticed and expressed his curiosity.

“Why do you look like that?”

“I feel sorry for all the hard work you’ve put in until now.”

“…What do you mean?”

He gestured towards Bishop Manfred, who was being led away in custody.

“That guy. You all spent months working to capture him, didn’t you? You even managed to cut off most of his operations.”

If it hadn’t been for Maltiren and the agents completely dismantling the group of magicians following Manfred’s orders, Harang wouldn’t have had this great opportunity.

Though Harang was likely to be highly regarded within the family for not only capturing the dark magician but also uncovering Archbishop Manfred’s crimes, he couldn’t help but feel sorry.

After all, Maltiren had harbored resentment towards the Kaladan family for unfairly taking credit for their hard work and gaining fame.

That was why Harang had offered an apology in the first place.

“Haha…”

Maltiren responded with a simple laugh. Harang didn’t quite understand why he was laughing, but Maltiren’s smile was one of genuine happiness.

‘…What kind of noble from a knight’s family cares this much about those beneath them?’

Harang was too young to have learned the art of politics and persuasion, having spent most of his life in White Night Castle.

How could someone like him, who only knew how to wield a sword, possibly use such advanced social tactics to charm an experienced intelligence agent like Maltiren?

Nonsense…

The look Harang was showing now was undoubtedly a genuine expression, born purely from the depths of his heart. That very expression was the true essence of a knight and a king, one that could stir the hearts of others.

“No.”

Maltiren smiled softly and bowed his head.

“Rather, I should be the one thanking you. You solved in a single stroke what had been troubling us for months. We were getting sick of the sea air as it was.”

“What? Even so…”

“If it weren’t for you capturing Archbishop Manfred just before he could make his midnight escape, we would have failed to secure the critical evidence of his collusion with heretics. Thanks to you, we were able to complete our mission successfully.”

He subtly glanced behind him.

Archbishop Manfred was being escorted away under the orders of Inquisitor Ezakt. Most likely, he would be transported to the authorities of Saint Benedis to face judgment.

He certainly wouldn’t go peacefully.

“You mentioned repaying the debt of information, but I never imagined you’d keep your word so thoroughly.”

“……”

Harang was slightly taken aback by Maltiren’s words, not expecting such gratitude. However, the compliment brought a small smile to his face, lifting his spirits.

“Thank you for saying that.”

Harang twirled a strand of his hair, staring at the ground, then suddenly remembered something and asked,

“By the way, what was Archbishop Manfred’s goal? Ah, is it something you can’t talk about?”

“No, not at all. You have every right to know.”

Maltiren pulled out a photograph from his coat and showed it to Harang. The image depicted a bizarre gemstone, covered in a mixture of bright red and pitch-black stains.

“This is a ‘Bloodstone.’ It’s an artifact created by sacrificing pure human life force.”

“What’s it used for? Summoning demons?”

“No. While demons require sacrifices as their price, the Bloodstone is much more highly concentrated and refined. Usually, these are used to…”

His expression darkened slightly.

“…to form contracts with the ‘Evil Guardian,’ who sided with demons in the ancient war against the Demon King.”

“…So it’s similar to the Cheongmok Fossil.”

The Cheongmok Fossil is a key item for contracting with a Guardian. It is said that if you find these fossils hidden around the world, you can request a contract with a Guardian.

However, the Cheongmok Fossil is naturally occurring, fundamentally different from the artificially created Bloodstone.

“So, he was willing to give up his position as archbishop just to contract with an Evil Guardian?”

“His ambition exceeded his abilities. He probably hoped to obtain a higher rank than the Archbishop of Harana Canal, but with no chance of achieving it through his faith and divine power, he sought to become a ‘Guardian Contractor’ instead.”

A Guardian Contractor not only gained special and mysterious powers but could also become a symbol of authority in their own right.

‘I myself gained Dragon Speech, Eyes of Truth, the Silver Heart, and even a skill window in exchange for contracting with a Guardian…’

Of course, Kalantatis was the strongest Guardian, making its abilities far more exceptional, and most Guardians were not nearly as powerful.

“Officially, contracts with an Evil Guardian aren’t recognized as ‘Guardian Contractors,’ but because their power is so unique and overwhelming, there are cases where nations secretly cultivate them or recruit external contractors,” Maltiren explained.

“I can understand that. Even Kaladan’s national strength was severely shaken after losing Kalantatis,” Harang responded.

“…Unfortunately, that’s true,” Maltiren said cautiously, aware of the sensitivity surrounding Kaladan’s weakened state, though Harang didn’t seem bothered.

“It doesn’t matter. When I become the head of the family, I’ll rebuild our strength so that not even the Three Great Sword Clans, the Four Great Noble Families, or the Five Great Magic Houses can challenge us.”

Though spoken lightly, Harang’s words carried a powerful determination that made Maltiren instinctively bow his head in respect.

“So, what happened to the Bloodstone?” Harang asked.

“Well… we managed to track down some of it, but some was lost. It seems likely that the mysterious organization that had a pact with Archbishop Manfred came and took it,” Maltiren replied.

“Hmm, it got lost, huh.”

“I apologize. We should have moved faster… But based on the traces left, a pursuit team has already been dispatched, so we should recover it soon.”

“That’s good to hear.”

Harang stretched his arms wide as he stood up, feeling a bit of relief. While losing the Bloodstone was unfortunate, it was no longer something he needed to worry about.

“Anyway, you did well. If we meet on another mission in the future, let’s help each other out again. Of course, while paying each other the appropriate price,” Harang suggested.

“Uhm…” Maltiren hesitated for a moment, a bashful expression crossing his face before he seemed to make up his mind.

“…Young Master. I’m sorry, but that won’t be necessary.”

“Huh? That’s disappointing. Are you saying you don’t want to work with me?” Harang asked, feeling a bit awkward.

Maltiren shook his head. “No, that’s not it… It’s just that, from the start, I’ve been loyal to the family. The idea of a ‘transaction’ with a member of the bloodline is truly embarrassing to me. Now, I deeply regret and reflect on it.”

“You don’t have to go that far…”

“Young Master.”

Maltiren knelt on one knee, lowering his head respectfully.

“I wish to serve you as my lord. I truly believe that you are the rightful future overlord of Kaladan, its destiny.”

“…”

Harang silently watched Maltiren for a moment before standing up and placing a hand on his shoulder.

Though he had yet to build any reputation, was only at the level of a four-star swordsman, and had no solid foundation, this knight was swearing loyalty to him after just one encounter.

For Harang, this carried a significant and profound meaning.

“I’ll do my best to become a knight worthy of your expectations. I look forward to working with you,” Harang said, smiling.

Looking up at Harang, Maltiren couldn’t help but feel his heart race.

As the dawn broke.

Sunlight illuminated Harang’s face.

That smile seemed somehow more radiant and beautiful, captivating Maltiren’s soul.

It was an almost unbelievable, irresistible force that kept drawing him in.