438 SUB Old Sorcerer

438.

The current carrying Blade’s body flowed for a long time. He couldn’t even guess where he was being swept away. Unable to move due to the paralysis poison, he could only pray to be carried to a safe place.

,That’s… light…!’

The water that had been flowing underground for a while was fortunately connected to the surface. The water that Blade was swept away in wasn’t natural, but rather a kind of drainage facility. Blade was flowing along the stream of water being discharged into the river. Finally, when his body touched the riverbank, Blade felt a little relieved.

But if that’s the case, there was a possibility that Rhea would send pursuers. It was necessary to leave as soon as possible. Since he couldn’t move, if only someone who could help would appear…

,Oh, another corpse?’

It was an old man. He seemed to be a resident living around this river. He was holding a large bucket, seemingly for holding fish, and a fishing rod. The old man approached Blade, who was motionless in his black armor.

,Oh, he’s alive. Are you okay, young man? Are you injured somewhere?’

,I’ve been poisoned. With a poison that makes me unable to move… Old man, please. Call someone who can use healing magic nearby! I’ll pay you any amount as a reward.’

Blade was also wanted. If he rashly appeared in front of people, there was a risk of being caught. But more than that, being able to move was the priority right now.

Hearing the word ‘poison,’ the old man’s eyes gleamed.

,Hmm, poison… Excuse me for a moment.’

The old man placed his hand on the core near the chest of Blade’s Black Armor. After a moment, the Black Armor shattered into pieces.

,What…!’

Blade, suddenly exposing his face and bare skin, was flustered. But what was more disconcerting was that the Black Armor had been forcibly解除(haeje)d. To remove the equipped Black Armor required a considerable level of physical or magical power. This meant he was no ordinary old man.

Looking at Blade’s face revealed from under the Black Armor, the old man showed an interested expression.

,An elf? A real elf? It’s my first time seeing one in person.’

,W-wait a minute… Old man, ugh…!’

The old man pressed here and there on Blade’s body. It was like he was performing a diagnosis. Soon, the old man’s brow furrowed.

,This is… I see, that’s how it is.’

Muttering to himself as if he had understood something, the old man effortlessly hoisted Blade onto one shoulder. He neatly stacked the解除(haeje)d Black Armor parts into the bucket and lifted it with his other arm. It was an extraordinary strength. And then he immediately started back the way he had come.

,Don’t worry about your body, I, Genfu, will take responsibility and fix it for you.’

,Ge, Genfu…?’

For some reason, it was a name he had heard before. The name of the old sorcerer who had harassed Selena in the Sorcery Academy was Renfu. Considering the power he had just shown, could he be related to that creepy old pervert? He couldn’t help but think that.

But unable to move, he had no means of resistance. He had used up all his Blink charges as well. He could only be carried on old man Genfu’s shoulder like a piece of luggage.

While imagining the ominous things that might happen to him from now on.

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The old man’s house was a small wooden cabin. The smell of herbs was thick inside. Blade thought that his words about fixing his body might not have been empty words.

Laying Blade’s body on the bed, Genfu sat down close beside him. Blade watched with uneasy eyes as his hand approached his body.

,Is he really going to heal me? A detoxification method that involves directly touching the body, I’ve never even heard of it…’

You can’t let your guard down just because he’s an old man in this world. Blade knew that fact well. It was a healing method that looked suspicious to anyone.

But he was planning to endure it for a little while. Even if he became this old man’s plaything, avoiding Rhea’s pursuit was the priority right now. He didn’t want to cause a commotion by unnecessarily provoking the old man.

,Ugh, it’s really going to be like that…!’

Sure enough, the old man’s hand was approaching Blade’s chest. Blade felt like closing his eyes tightly.

But the place the old man’s hand was heading wasn’t Blade’s chest. The old man’s finger pointed just below it, near the solar plexus, and then stabbed deeply with a strong shock.

,Ugh…!’

A purplish liquid gushed from Blade’s mouth. The old man took a towel and wiped it away.

,How is it? You should be able to move a little now.’

,Uh, uh…?’

Genfu’s words were true. His body, which hadn’t moved at all like the nerves were cut off until just now, was moving with difficulty.

,I, I can’t believe it… Thank you, old man. I’ll give you a reward. I’ll pay you any amount of money…’

,No, I don’t want money. I’ll take something else.’

,Ah… Is it really that kind of pattern…?’

The ominous imagination started again. He could move now, but his body was still uncomfortable. If this extraordinary old man attacked him, he would be helplessly subjected to all sorts of things…

,It’s not much of a reward, but tell me your story. Judging from the direction you were swept away from and the poison used on your body, you must have been attacked by Rhea. But unlike other unfortunate people, what made you oppose Rhea?’

,Ah, is that not it…? Maybe I’ve been too influenced by the hero Elena… The original me wouldn’t have been such a pervert…’

Putting aside the lewd thoughts he had been having until just now, Blade blushed for a moment. Soon, returning to a calm mindset, Blade began to think about the old man.

This old man knew Rhea. Moreover, he even knew that Rhea used spiders. It was clear that he was deeply involved with the royal family. So, even though he had saved him for now, he shouldn’t carelessly speak his mind. It was when he had thought that far.

,You seem to be suspicious of me. I won’t hide it. I was a kind of teacher who taught Rhea sorcery. Well, I’ve been kicked out now, though.’

Genfu spoke as if he had seen through Blade’s thoughts. But the fact that he was Rhea’s teacher only strengthened Blade’s警戒心(gyeonggyesim). Seeing Blade, who had firmly closed his mouth, Genfu sighed deeply.

,Yes, it’s my fault for teaching that child too much about the deep parts of sorcery. But I wanted that child to feel pride in herself wherever she was. Under such a perfect mother and eldest son, that child had always struggled. But I never thought she would twist in such a terrible direction…’

Regret was felt on the old man’s deeply wrinkled face. Blade felt a little more willing to talk. Not completely, but a little.

,I am a companion of the hero who came to this country.’

,A hero? Are you talking about the hero who defeated the Black Demon God?’

,Yes.’

,I see… Maybe it’s fate that we met like this. If it’s you guys, maybe… Come to think of it, I haven’t heard your name. What is your name?’

,Blade.’

,Good, Blade. Do you know why this country’s land is particularly fertile and why high-quality magic stones are produced here?’

,The reason? There’s no special reason for the偏向性(pyeonhyangseong) of resources by country…’

,No, that’s not the case for this country. It’s because of the blessing magic that has been passed down in this country’s royal family for generations.’

After that, the story that Genfu told made Blade’s mouth drop open. Listening to the story, Blade could also guess why Queen Stella coveted the hero’s body. The hero who used Overdrive was a suitable body for the sacrifice of the blessing magic.

Even after Genfu finished the story, Blade was still pondering his words for a long time. They were stories that were hard to believe from beginning to end. But Blade had directly faced divine beings before. There were no stories that were hard to believe now.

,It’s all true. Maybe even the people of the royal family don’t know the exact details. Only the current court sorcerer and Queen Stella would know about it. Do you have any more questions?’

Questions… There was something that bothered Blade.

,It’s not related to the story from earlier, but… Do you happen to have any siblings? I think I’ve heard a similar name before…’

,Ah, my name? The name Genfu means ‘leisurely old man’ in this country’s old language. It’s like a name that an old sorcerer gives himself.’

,Then the name Renfu…?’

,Renfu? If it’s Renfu… it means ‘clever old man’… Could it be that you knew that guy? No, wait a minute…’

Interrupting his words, Genfu looked out the window. His face changed seriously. Blade, who followed his gaze, also hardened his face.

Outside the window, countless swarms of spiders were surrounding the cabin.