Genius Wizard Conceals His Origins

T/N: Re-edited 9/3/24.

An expressionless face. An angular posture. Though her cap was pulled down, obscuring her features, her jawline alone suggested a refined appearance.

“Pleased to meet you. I’m Second Lieutenant Dorothy Oslo.”

Remy’s gang immediately realized – she was an officer, a real one in the flesh. 

Her demeanor was different from the other laidback officers.

She spoke again:

“From now on, all search operations will be conducted with an escort from headquarters. Do you agree?”

There were no objections.

Shortly after, two infantry platoons appeared from nowhere and lined up. A total force of 40 soldiers, each armed with a pistol – genuine military personnel.

The gang found it hard to swallow. What started as a personal vendetta among neighborhood thugs was escalating too far.

But they had already committed the act. [Only on Galaxy Translations! / Axiomatic]

There was no going back.

At last, the full-scale search operation began with one lieutenant, 40 infantry soldiers, and four neighborhood thugs – an all-out effort to hunt down a single rat.

Step. Step. Step.

After distributing maps and designated areas, the troops departed the camp.

“Disperse.”

“Disperse!”

At that command, the infantry forces scattered in an orderly manner.

The only one left beside the gang was the lieutenant.

As eyewitnesses, it seemed the officer would accompany the gang directly.

Remy thought that even fate was on their side.

Finally, they could capture and crush that bastard Eugene.

Money was no longer the issue. Remy actively began scouring the streets, determined to seize that scoundrel with his own hands… 

…oblivious that the lieutenant was closely watching his every move from behind.

The 40 troops conducted systematic patrols.  

Efficient routes. They narrowed down areas based on eyewitness accounts and detained anyone suspicious – they had that authority.

The same applied to the gang accompanying the officer. A lieutenant was no low-ranking position. Those who showed no fear when the thugs threatened them cowered at the sight of the accompanying officer’s insignia.  

Every process was perfect.

…Except for the result.

‘That bastard Eugene, you fucking rat.’

“Son of a bitch…”

He muttered a deep curse under his breath, loud enough not to be overheard. Veins bulged on his forehead.

His subordinate named James, walking beside him, spoke up nervously. [Only on Galaxy Translations! / Axiomatic]

“Remy. Keep your voice down. They’ll hear you.”

“It’s fine, you idiot.”

There was more than one thing bothering his mind.

Glimpses of Eugene here and there from witness accounts were heard, but that wily rat kept evading them.

His incompetent underlings were as useless as ever.

Everything was stressful. Moreover…

“By the way, that lieutenant woman’s routes are kind of fucked up.”

“Shh—”

“She’s up ahead, she can’t hear.”

James turned his trembling head. About ten paces ahead was a view of Lieutenant Oslo from behind. 

Doesn’t it seem like she heard? 

Catching his breath, James asked back.

“Are you fucking stupid? I saw her giving firm orders to the soldiers earlier.”

“It’s just a feeling.”

“What?”

“A feeling, I can’t put my finger on exactly what, but something feels off. Our goal is to catch that rat bastard and beat him senseless, right? But it doesn’t seem like that’s her goal.”

“…So, what are you planning to do?”

Remy didn’t answer. 

Because there was no way to do anything.

The soldiers stationed at Leman were also military police, and a lieutenant was right there. Even indulgent soldiers wouldn’t tolerate unruliness right in front of them.

“Damn it…”

He could only mutter curses quietly to himself.

They continued the search for another hour in that manner.  

Just as the light drizzle stopped and the dark clouds turned reddish, the moment they’d been waiting for arrived.

They spotted someone peeking their head out from an alley gap.

Ashen hair. Ragged clothes. A rat-like face and scrawny build from malnutrition. That was, without a doubt, Eugene.

The lieutenant then commanded:

“Target confirmed. Everyone, pursue him.”

The four gang members simultaneously sprang into action. There was no need for stealth. They dashed straight across the main road in pursuit. 

Around then, the target also noticed Remy. He whipped around and took off running.

“After him—!” 

Remy yelled. He didn’t care about the perplexed stares from bystanders.  

50 pounds were waiting!

Once they entered the alleyways, it was no longer a pursuit – it became a battle of wits.

Due to the Empire’s shoddy urban planning, the alleyways were a veritable labyrinth. Frauvians frequently got lost because of this.

But not Remy. No one knew this area’s geography better than him. [Only on Galaxy Translations! / Axiomatic]

“James, block off the alleys near the shopping district. Nora, you follow me. Peter and Bray, each of you take one of the two alleys near the riverside.”

Following his precise instructions, the gang scattered.  

The block Eugene had fled into was Leman’s largest and had alleys tangled like a spider’s web. He likely judged it would be difficult to find him here.

However, this block’s key feature was that it had few entrances.  

If they just blocked those, they’d definitely catch him.

“Got you cornered now, you bastard.”

Straining his eyes, Remy dashed through the alleys and could hear the tramp of military boots from various directions. The lieutenant must have rallied the troops.

He didn’t want the prize snatched away. They could claim he did nothing and deny him the reward money.

Remy moved even more swiftly. Then…

A dead end.

At last, he had successfully cornered Eugene like a rat in a trap. 

A laugh escaped Remy’s lips unbidden.

“Eugene. It’s been so damn long. Did you miss me?”

“No.” 

“But I missed you. Ah, I can’t help but laugh.”

“Why keep chasing someone who doesn’t want to see your face? I thought you might be a manhunter from how persistently you pursued me, but seeing you bring soldiers, too, you’re even worse than that.”

Eugene spoke with a mocking tone. Remy’s forced laughter vanished in an instant.

“You little… Just hand over that magic book right now.”

“I don’t have anything like that.”

“I know you’ve got it hidden. Hand it over now and—Ugh!”

“[Move].”

A potted plant fell from the sky. Instinctively leaning back, a pot the size of Remy’s head whizzed past his face.

SMASH!

The ceramic pot shattered, the soil leaving a crater – a brutal sight.

Had he not dodged, his skull surely wouldn’t have remained intact.

Yet rather than fear, Remy’s expression brimmed with elation. [Only on Galaxy Translations! / Axiomatic]

“Hey! You really are a wizard!”

“Tch.”

Wielding a grimoire and chanting the activation words…

The inexplicable event of the falling pot…

He was, undeniably, a wizard. 

In other words, if Remy caught him, he’d have 200 pounds in his hands.

Remy bared his teeth in a wide grin and drew a dagger from his pocket. Though rusted in places, the blade itself was honed to a wicked edge.

He pointed it at Eugene and charged.

“Uwooooah!!”  

Just stab enough not to kill him. Remy aimed calculatingly for Eugene’s right arm – the one holding the grimoire.

Eugene seemed caught off guard, likely not expecting Remy to wield a blade.

The next moment, the wizard chanted another activation phrase.

“[Rotation]!”

“Ugh?!” 

The dagger handle moved of its own will.  

It was as if it tried to rotate and slash Remy’s hand open.

But…

“Too weak!”

His iron grip overpowered that paltry force.

Remy gripped the dagger handle with both hands again and lunged at Eugene.

‘Closing in. Closing in.’

‘Got him!’

Shlick—

The rusted dagger pierced Eugene’s shoulder.

Simultaneously, Eugene’s fist struck Remy’s face.

WHAM!

“Kughh!”

The sudden impact made him drop the dagger’s handle. With a clattering sound, the dagger rolled across the ground.

But it was fine. 

He had stabbed the bastard in the shoulder, and this was a dead end. Soon, Nora would bring the military forces this way.

Remy picked up the dagger, declaring confidently:

“Just a glancing blow, brat.”

And yet.

Something was off. [Only on Galaxy Translations! / Axiomatic]

Eugene’s lips, contorted in pain, gradually curled into a smile.

“I’m never seeing you again.”

Eugene chanted a new activation phrase.

“[Levitation].”

Immediately after, Eugene was lifted off the ground. 

A few minutes later, when Nora, the gang’s third-in-command, led the military forces into the dead end, they encountered Remy gripping a bloodstained dagger, cursing a storm at the empty air.

The soldiers immediately trained their pistols on the armed man.

After the incident was resolved, Remy’s entire gang was detained in the military camp. As a gang that had committed numerous misdeeds, this added to their established “record.”

Locked behind bars, Remy insisted he had seen him, but no one believed the words of the boy who cried wizard. 

Meanwhile…

Following the trail of blood, Dorothy discovered an unconscious boy underneath a bridge.

“……”

The ashen-haired boy was taking ragged, labored breaths. 

The area around his shoulder was soaked red from profuse bleeding, and there were bloodstains all around.

The weapon beside him was a rusty dagger. Leaving the wound untreated like this without any first-aid could lead to infections like tetanus.

The boy moaned softly. [Only on Galaxy Translations! / Axiomatic]

“Ungh…”

“Don’t move. Don’t open your eyes.”

Dorothy gently lifted the boy into her arms and began walking slowly.