Reincarnated as a Genius Mage-Chapter 57: Like Him

"I am K." He speaks with a weird sounding accent.

Huh? What?

"K the Enigma? The S-rank mercenary?" I ask, my stance’s still lowered, and my senses are still wary.

"Ah, that’s the nickname I was given. The Enigma. Yes, that’d be me." He replies with his weird accent. And his eyes.. they’re gold, a sharp contrast to his tan skin. And they reflect under the sunlight— piercing through me like he can read everything about me.

When was the last time I felt something like this? This kind of pressure? No, it’s not pressure. It’s just.. something about him is sharp. Threatening me calmly, and making me feel like I won’t be able to touch him no matter how hard I try.

Ah yes. I remember the last time I felt like this. It was the first day I met Alexander. Back then I could barely stand. But now, my head feels a little bit dizzy, that’s all. And if Alexander was a walking body of pure heat. Then this guy, he’s...

My eyes peer deeper— fixating on his wide grin.

He’s a sharpened blade forged to cut down everything.

Is this an S-rank? Are all S-ranks on Alexander’s level? No. That’s impossible.. but..

I immediately activate my mana sight. And..

I see..

There are pingpong balls— all colorless, emitting a faint glow akin to moonlight— and there’re eight— revolving around him.

An eight core swordsman.

And then I turn the mana sight off.

"Why did you follow me?" I ask, my voice low but loud enough for him to hear.

He scoffs, "follow you? This is my spot. I stay here everyday. You are the one who walked in here. And, I’ve been up here the whole time.. watching you."

All the hairs in my body stands as goosebumps flood my skin.

I never.. I never detected his presence. Not even a small change of the mana in the atmosphere. How..? And now that I think about it...

I still can’t feel his presence. I only feel that pressure from looking at him. It’s like he has no presence at all. Like he’s a ghost.

"Wha— you.. you’ve been here?"

He shuts his eyes, and raise his head up. And then opens his eyes— staring directly at the sun. "Of course. And you’re a real diligent mage, boy. But, the mana I feel from you. It’s of two elements. You’re a dual affinity mage. And that blank, black mask. You must be one of the four rising stars in the guild. The one they call ’The Nightmare’. Blank? If I’m correct." He speaks.

And I nod, "yes. That’s me. I’m Blank."

"Hmm, so.. Blank. That blade, where did you get it?" He asks as his gaze descends downward to lock with my bag.

"What do you mean?" I ask. Moving backward with my bag clenched in my palm.

"Hmmm." He mutters. And in that moment, he sheathes his sword hanging on his shoulder back on his waist.

And he blurs.

Woosh!

A cool and calm breeze blows in front of me, and.. K is standing next to me. His hand’s on my bag. Bringing out my blade.

How? What was that speed?

He’s wearing a long white robe, one that’s reaching his toes, and it’s tied at his waist with a belt-like golden lace.

"Hmm. This steel.." he touches the frame of the circle blade. Raising it to his eye level to observe it. "It doesn’t look like normal steel. It feels.. different."

"Hey! Stop touching my stuff!" I growl— stretching my hand to collect my blade. But he raises it up, too high for me to reach. And I see it now, he’s tall, really taller than me. In fact my head, no matter how I jump, can only reach his lower chest area.

And I jump higher— aiming to drag it from him.

But with a wide grin on his lips, he kicks me on my stomach— causing me to flyback, and I crash on a tree.

"Nng! What the hell?! Is this how S-ranks behave? They take the stuffs of their juniors?!" I yell at the top of my lungs, and veins bulge on my forehead.

"Hmm, that body of yours. It’s like it was reforged or something.. it’s stupidly strong." He mutters.

Okay. That’s it.

A green sigil forms on my palm immedia—

"Don’t even think about it, boy."

And I pause.

Tsss

The sigil dissolves on my palm. It was like he gave me an order I couldn’t disobey, and my body followed blindly.

My heart surges, beating wildly as it spread unrestrained surges of blood.

"Hmm, with that body of yours, you could become a swordmaster in just twenty years.. why do you walk the path of an elemental mage?" He puts the circle blade back inside my bag, and scratches his beard— slowly walking towards where I’m etched into the tree I crashed in. "I get that having a dual affinity is a big deal for mages and all, but... Hmmm, I might just be biased because where I’m from, mages are seen as... weaklings." He stops— crouching low to lock his eyes with mine. And my red eyes glow with a red hue of luminous fury.

But I just can’t do anything to this guy.

"Wait. How about this, kid? No one knows this but, I’m a grand master swordsman. I stand at the pinnacle of swordsmanship." His grin grows more wide, "so, would you become my apprentice? It doesn’t even have to be something formal. I’m not even gonna teach you swordsmanship. Just, I’ll temper that body of yours. And maybe teach you how to wield that blade there." He points his thumb at the direction of my bag on the log.

"Quit the bullshit. Get out." I say, as my voice rise with undeterred spite. And I shove my middle finger in front of his face.

Finally satisfied my urge to flip a middle finger today.

"Hoho! You remind me of that time.. and those red eyes and that fiery temper.. indeed! Interesting. You’re just like him.." he grabs my middle finger, and..

Crack!

"Ouch!" He twists it. Breaking the bone. But it’ll heal back.

"Like Alexander."

His widened smile is the second last thing I see.

And his fist moving like a rocket toward my face is the last thing I see before I..

Black out.

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