I Became a Magical Genius After Regression

Chapter 46

‘Sooner than I thought?’

Information Guild.

I thought they wouldn’t find it or it would take a long time because I didn’t pay much when I requested it.

However, upon hearing the news that part of the request had already been completed, Randel hurried his steps.

He was heading to the guest room of the lord’s castle.

Although Randel now lived with his family, the room he used to stay in was still kept vacant.

It was one of the small considerations of the lord, who wanted Randel to think of the lord’s mansion as his own home.

“Hello? Nice to meet you.”

As he entered the room, a large man greeted him.

The man had a large build and a long scar on his face, but his friendly smile created a sense of cognitive dissonance.

Randel narrowed his eyes as he looked at him and asked,

“Are you from the information guild?”

“Yes, regarding the request you made earlier.”

“I see.”

“It’s an honor to meet the renowned Randel in person.”

“Renowned?”

“I heard you reached the 2nd circle in less than a year since you started learning magic. And they say you demonstrated an unbelievable casting speed.”

Seeing him speak so confidently, it seemed that everyone in the territory who needed to know already knew.

Well, it made sense.

As the old saying goes, a secret known by more than three people is no longer a secret.

Considering how many people had seen Randel spar with the trainees, it was likely that even the merchants in the marketplace knew by now.

Moreover, the man was from the information guild.

“…Are you alright?”

The large man asked with a slightly awkward expression.

It seemed he had tried to shake Randel with this information, but Randel just shrugged his shoulders without reacting, so it appeared to have failed.

“What do you mean?”

“It seemed like you were trying to hide it, but I guess I was mistaken.”

“It’s true that I didn’t want it to be known, but well, there are advantages to it being known too.”

“Advantages, you say.”

“Yes, like how the branch manager came personally for such a trivial request?”

“Haha, branch manager?”

“The blue mark on the back of your neck is quite vivid… If you don’t want to talk about it, we can move on.”

At those words, the large man took a short, sharp breath.

The sound was small, but it did not escape Randel’s ears.

He was clearly caught off guard.

Indeed, the giant subtly changed the subject.

“It’s not that, but I have partially completed the request you mentioned, so I came to inform you.”

“I thought it would take longer, but that’s good.”

“I was lucky.”

Randel sat in the chair next to him, taking a listening posture.

Then the giant began to explain.

“We found the item in an auction catalog. Three years ago, a collector put the item up for auction.”

“I see. Did you find out who won the bid?”

“No, the auction was canceled because the seller refused to sell it at the final bid price.”

“I see.”

“But after the collector died, his children put it up for auction again. This is the catalog.”

Randel looked at the paper the giant handed over.

Inside were brief illustrations and descriptions of the items to be auctioned.

And then.

‘This is it!’

Randel was convinced as soon as he saw one of them.

A round shape with an unknown pattern engraved on the surface.

Except for the lack of a base, it looked exactly like the artifact Randel had found in the lord’s repository.

Randel tried to calm himself and asked.

“Has the auction ended?”

“No, it is scheduled to be held in a month.”

“Where is the location?”

“At Molbet Castle.”

“Molbet… Do you mean that commercial city?”

“Yes.”

Randel recalled.

It was a city he had been to before.

A place about 20 days away from here.

‘One month until the auction. If I want to get to the academy after that, I’ll have to run like crazy, won’t I?’

But no matter how crazy it gets.

I must get my hands on the artifact.

‘I wonder what I can get this time.’

Randel’s eyes sparkled invisibly.

* * *

Three days later.

A time when the sun had not yet risen.

A boy on a horse appeared through the dimness before dawn at the back gate of the lord’s castle.

It was Randel.

Today was the day he was leaving for the academy.

Originally, he wanted to spend a little more time with his family, but due to sudden circumstances, he had no choice.

He had to hurry to participate in the auction.

The people seeing Randel off were few.

His eldest brother and Manwellin, just the two of them.

His eldest brother asked with a worried face.

“Are you really okay?”

“Huh? What?”

“Leaving without seeing father and mother…”

“I’ll be back during the holidays anyway, so what’s the point? Seeing them off would just make it harder.”

“Hmm, I see. I won’t worry anymore. No matter what anyone says… you are my proud little brother.”

Randel smiled shyly at his eldest brother’s words.

Usually more stoic than their father, it was unusual for him to say such embarrassing things.

His serious expression made it even more awkward.

But with these words, Randel could finally say what he had been hesitant to bring up.

“Take good care of the family.”

“Of course.”

“If something difficult comes up, don’t stubbornly try to solve it alone. The safety of the family is much more important than a man’s pride, you know?”

“I will.”

Randel listened to his eldest brother’s answer and glanced at Manwellin.

Manwellin nodded and said.

“I’ll go and check it out from time to time. I’m not just saying this, but your bread is really delicious.”

“Thank you. You’re the only one I can rely on.”

“What did I do…”

Manwellin mumbled in a voice that was uncharacteristically shy.

Then, as if trying to change the subject, she babbled.

“Well, it’s a good thing you learned to ride quickly. I’ve never seen anyone learn to ride as fast as you.”

“Come on. What’s harder, horse riding or magic?”

“Huh? Of course, magic.”

“Well, I learn magic easily, so horse riding is nothing.”

“…Sometimes, I feel like hitting you.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

Randell was riding a horse provided by the lord.

Of course, it wasn’t an expensive thoroughbred, just a bit better than a mule that pulls a cart.

Still, horses are quite expensive, so even this was a blessing.

‘I used to ride horses so much that I could do it with my eyes closed.’

Mercenaries also ride horses a lot.

Whether it’s escorting someone or especially when dealing with monsters, speed is crucial. They have to arrive before the client gets killed by the monster.

If the client dies, who will pay?

“I’ll be off then. Hyah!”

Randell lightly greeted and pulled the reins.

With that familiar yet gentle touch, the horse started running steadily along the path.

Clip-clop. Clip-clop.

“…That guy, he doesn’t even look back once.”

“Cold-hearted. But that’s just like Randell.”

The eldest brother and Manwellin mumbled as they watched Randell.

Meanwhile, Randell’s figure, bathed in the shadow of the rising sun, stretched long between the morning dew-covered grass.

Snort.

Randell stopped the horse as he reached the hill.

He had already run a long way, crossing several mountains.

So, even though it was impossible to see the lord’s castle, Randel turned around and stared for a long time.

“……”

Suddenly, he remembered a play he had seen before.

Watching a play with different acts, the nobles said it was like a human’s life.

When the first act ends, the second act begins, and when the second act ends, the third act… and so on until the curtain falls.

But that was the opinion of the nobles who had enough wealth to watch plays.

Randel thought that a person’s life was more like the waves on a beach than a play.

If you avoid the incoming wave, the next wave crashes in.

No matter how well you block and avoid it, your pants’ hem or sleeves are bound to get a little wet from the splashing seawater.

And after dozens or hundreds of waves, you end up no different from having fallen into the sea.

That’s how life is, struggling to stay afloat.

‘But…’

Was it because he had lived once and failed?

He felt a little different.

No matter how the waves and turbulent currents raged, beneath the surface, it was calm between the currents.

That’s how Randel felt now.

Not just wet, but completely submerged in the sea, looking up at the incoming waves.

Then the waves were no longer hardships.

They became the refreshing coolness itself, breaking into foam.

‘Is it because the planned things were resolved well?’

He had perfectly blocked the first wave in his hometown mountain village.

He had defeated the goblins and taken care of his family.

And now, Randel was heading towards the continent.

Not to block the waves, but to ride on them.

‘Ah…!’

Randel suddenly realized something.

The reason his mind was like a black sea.

Maybe…

“Let’s go!”

Neigh!

Randell shouted out impulsively.

The horse neighed loudly in response.

The sea began to advance inland.

* * *

“Has he left?”

“Yes, he left early this morning.”

The branch manager of the Information Guild was trimming his nails with a dagger as he received the report from his subordinate.

However, he seemed unable to concentrate, so he put the dagger down on the table and let out a heavy sigh.

“Is something bothering you?”

“I can’t stop thinking about it.”

“Are you talking about that wizard boy? He is indeed remarkable, but he’s only just turned 14.”

“You fool, do you still say that after seeing his talent? The emperor who first unified the continent in ancient times conquered another country for the first time at the age of 14.”

“Even so…”

The branch manager raised his hand to silence his subordinate.

Then, after pondering something deeply, he asked,

“Did you check the requested item thoroughly?”

“Yes, it was nothing special. They said it was just an ancient ornament.”

“So it’s not an artifact.”

“Two guild-affiliated wizards cross-checked it. If you’re still uneasy, should we retrieve it now?”

“No, just leave it. But keep a close eye on what that kid does with it if he gets his hands on it.”

“Understood.”

The branch manager quietly observed his subordinate.

Overwhelmed by the serious atmosphere, the subordinate straightened his previously lax posture and focused.

“Don’t take it lightly. Do you remember that the kid requested it be entrusted to a specific person? He wanted it given to the mute.”

“Of course. I was the one in charge of the request.”

“That mute killed twenty guild members and fled two days ago. We’re currently pursuing him.”

“…!”

The shocked subordinate quickly regained his composure and asked,

“Isn’t it a coincidence? It seems suspicious, but if we look at it objectively, there’s no connection.”

“Yes, it’s likely a coincidence. More importantly, the boy has no reason to do such a thing, nor would he gain anything from it. But… something feels off.”

The branch manager started trimming his nails again.

Blood slowly oozed from under his nails, perhaps from a cut by the dagger.

But the branch manager didn’t notice it and muttered with a dark expression.

“This is really unusual…”