The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 6

April 21st.

After all the tedious indoor classes on Tuesday were over,

I returned to my room and was once again thoroughly reviewing [Ray Bell Bytenner].

I’d already read it several times, but I wanted to check if I had missed anything.

I was rereading it to double-check if I had made any mistakes.

I also carefully reviewed the ancient language interpretations, just in case I had made any errors.

“Hmm. Nothing unusual.”

Fortunately, it seems I didn’t make any mistakes or miss anything.

I closed [Ray Bell Bytenner] and placed it on the corner of my desk.

Then, the calendar nearby caught my eye.

Among the densely packed schedule, the last schedule for April was visible.

[April 30th]

[★ Midterm Comprehensive Evaluation]

“It’s not far off.”

From this midterm comprehensive evaluation, a new rule was implemented: students who fail to meet the standards will be expelled.

The person who came up with this new rule, which was clearly aimed at me, was none other than my father.

‘Now, I will force you to come back.’

It was an action that showed such a firm resolve.

“If I hadn’t encountered the Master’s book, I would have been expelled, wouldn’t I?”

I would have certainly been expelled from the midterm comprehensive evaluation.

No matter what I did, my magic activation speed would never have reached the standard.

Well, it doesn’t matter now.

The possibility of me receiving a ‘below standard’ is 0% now.

‘Far from being below standard, I’ll actually be ranked in the top tier.’

I gained confidence yesterday while training with the Blood-Claw Wolves and all sorts of other things.

Even if reaching the top 3 is impossible, I should be able to make it into the top 10 at least.

“The timing is perfect too.”

The midterm comprehensive evaluation is a day when the eyes of major magic corporations in Korea and around the world are focused.

Many people visit in person to scout and secure promising talents.

There couldn’t be a better stage to announce that I, a fallen genius, have risen again.

“Top 10. I’ll definitely make it.”

That day.

I will reclaim everything I’ve lost.

My dreams, my status, and even my honor.

* * *

The next morning.

“Student Shin Hayul.”

While heading to school, I happened to meet Instructor Go Changsoo in the hallway.

“Good morning.”

I greeted him with a formal bow.

The instructor waved his hand slightly in acknowledgment.

“I was just looking for you, so this is good.”

“Me… you were looking for me?”

“Yes.”

Instructor Go Changsoo gestured for me to follow him.

“You have a visitor.”

“A visitor…”

There aren’t many people who would come to see me.

And if Instructor Go Changsoo is coming to find me personally at this time, right before class starts, it must be a very important visitor…

“Could it be that my father has come to visit?”

Shin Inhyuk, the head of the Mado Shin family.

It could only be my father.

“Yes. Head Shin Inhyuk has come to see you.”

“…I see.”

Considering the new system that will be applied from this midterm comprehensive evaluation, I thought he might come soon.

“Where should I go?”

I also had something to say, so I thought this was good timing.

“You can go to the reception room.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

There was no trace of anxiety in my steps as I headed to the reception room.

* * *

Shin Inhyuk, the head of the Mado Shin family.

At the age of 63, he is a businessman who has further grown the Shin family into the best in Korea, and at the same time, he is a high-ranking mage who is also an 8th Circle user [a high-level mage].

His current goal, having already become the best in Korea, has shifted to becoming a prestigious family recognized worldwide.

It’s actually progressing quite well.

He is building good relationships by interacting with globally renowned families, and the family’s stock price is also rising day by day.

However, there was one concern for Shin Inhyuk, who seemed to have no worries.

His youngest son.

The precious jewel of the Mado Shin family.

A prodigy with a brilliant mind and quick learning ability.

A once-in-a-century genius.

So talented that the Blue Magic Tower Master even gave him the title of ‘Supernova’.

“It’s been a while, Father.”

…His son, who ‘was’ all of that.

But now, his son, Shin Hayul, has become a sore spot.

“Tsk. Does it make you feel better that this father came to see you in person?”

“I’m sorry.”

Shin Inhyuk stared intently at Shin Hayul, who was sitting across from him.

“You seem to be doing quite well. Your complexion is better than when I saw you a year ago.”

“Yes. I’ve recently achieved some small accomplishments…”

He had achieved something.

As a mage father with a mage son, it was a heartwarming thing to hear, but Shin Inhyuk was not happy at all.

“Accomplishments, accomplishments. You still haven’t given up on your vain dreams.”

For Shin Hayul to have achieved something in magic meant that he had not given up on his dream of becoming a mage.

For Shin Inhyuk, who wanted Shin Hayul to give up on his dream of becoming a mage, the words ‘he had achieved something’ were not pleasant to hear.

“Yes. I will become a great archmage who will dominate the era.”

Shin Inhyuk sighed softly.

His eyes, looking at Shin Hayul, were filled with a myriad of emotions.

Pity, regret, resentment.

An indescribable mix of emotions swirled within him.

“After wandering for about a year, you should have come to your senses.”

He sighed deeply once more.

“Even with that brilliant mind and those eyes, you still can’t see yourself objectively.”

It has always been said that there is nothing more difficult than seeing oneself objectively.

It seems that this is also the case for the genius, Shin Hayul.

“No. I am evaluating myself very coldly.”

“And the result of evaluating yourself coldly is the vain delusion of becoming a great archmage?”

“Yes.”

Shin Inhyuk frowned as if he was frustrated.

“Hayul, my son.”

Then, he glared at Shin Hayul with a sharp expression.

“I’ll say it again. You cannot become a proper mage.”

He repeated the same words he had said a year ago when he found out that Shin Hayul was unsuitable.

“No matter what achievements you have now, or what achievements you will have in the future, you can never compete with other mages. As long as you lack the most important thing, you will never be able to.”

No matter how smart a person is, they cannot keep up with the processing speed of a computer.

“But it’s not like there isn’t a field where you can use your brain. Artificial intelligence magic. This field can make the most of your brilliant mind. If you just give up on your vain delusion of becoming a great archmage, everything will be resolved.”

For Shin Inhyuk, Shin Hayul is a sore spot.

A finger that he can’t cut off because it hurts, and can’t cure because it has an incurable disease.

“Father.”

Shin Hayul called out to Shin Inhyuk calmly.

“As I said before, I have no intention of entering the field of artificial intelligence magic.”

Shin Inhyuk’s brow furrowed sharply.

He was even angered by his son, who still couldn’t come to his senses even after all this.

“It means I refuse to be just a component of the family, following the rails that my father has prepared.”

Shin Hayul’s eyes gleamed coldly.

“What I want is only the position of the family head. Not a part of the family that is happy or sad while taking orders from someone.”

Lightning flashed between the eyes of the two men.

“…Your ambition is worthy of the next family head.”

“That’s how I’ve been taught and raised.”

Shin Hayul doesn’t particularly resent his father.

What about the harsh words he said a year ago when he found out that Shin Hayul was unsuitable?

He thinks it’s understandable.

His father is also human, so it’s possible for his emotions to explode.

What about sending the potion to nullify his circle [a mage’s core power source] half a year ago?

He understands.

It must have been his father’s extreme measure to make his son give up the vain hope of being a mage and focus on a new field like artificial intelligence magic, which doesn’t require a circle.

The expulsion issue this time is also the same.

Expulsion for failing to meet the standards.

This was also a kind of extreme measure to make his son come to his senses.

It was a way of scolding him for having the vain delusion of becoming a great archmage when he was a mage who failed to meet the standards.

In the first place, even if it wasn’t Shin Hayul, failing to meet the standards was enough reason for expulsion.

He might feel disappointed in Shin Inhyuk for not believing in him, but he doesn’t hate or resent him.

“But neither a great archmage nor the head of the Mado Shin family can be achieved with ambition alone.”

“Father.”

Shin Hayul just wanted to show him.

“I will prove that my dream is not a vain delusion.”

That he was not dead yet.

That the mage Shin Hayul was still alive and well.

That the genius Shin Hayul, whom his father had so cherished, was still growing.

He wanted to prove that.

“Prove it? How? Surely you’re not going to claim that not failing to meet the standards in this midterm comprehensive evaluation, not being expelled, is proof, are you?”

Shin Inhyuk’s gaze sharpened.

“If you’re going to claim that your delusion is a realistic dream just by avoiding failing to meet the standards…”

“I have no intention of doing that at all.”

Shin Hayul said calmly.

“In this midterm comprehensive evaluation, I will be in the top 10 based on practical skills alone.”

“…10? Are you saying 10 out of the entire second year?”

“Yes.”

“You think it’s possible for you to be in the top 10 of the grade right now?”

“Yes.”

Shin Inhyuk stared intently into Shin Hayul’s eyes.

“If I fail, I will follow my father’s words, drop out of the academy, and dedicate myself to artificial intelligence magic.”

“…”

“But if I succeed, then acknowledge that I have value as a mage and promise me full support, including financial support.”

It was the first time in a long time that he had seen his son’s bright eyes.

The eyes that exuded the confidence he had seen 5 years ago when he won the youth magic competition.

Where on earth did that confidence come from?

“…Come to think of it, you said you had achieved something earlier.”

“Yes. I had a small realization.”

“So that achievement is the source of your confidence.”

Shin Inhyuk’s eyes gleamed suspiciously.

No matter how great a realization he had, an unsuitable person is still an unsuitable person. They can never approach modern magic.

“Just in case, I’ll ask, but you didn’t implant an illegal modified artificial intelligence, did you?”

If it was an illegal modified artificial intelligence that disregarded human safety, then even an unsuitable person like Shin Hayul might have been able to somehow obtain artificial intelligence.

“Of course not.”

Shin Hayul showed his neck. It was a silent gesture to check the number of the artificial intelligence if he was suspicious.

“…If not, then it’s fine.”

If he was that confident, then he probably didn’t implant an illegal modified artificial intelligence.

In the first place, his brilliant son wouldn’t lie about something that would be easily exposed.

For the same reason, it was unlikely to be a bluff.

He wasn’t stupid enough to lie about something that would be exposed in just 8 days.

That meant he had really achieved something great.

“May I ask what that achievement is?”

Shin Hayul shook his head slightly.

“Even if I try to explain it now, you won’t believe me.”

He could show him Bytenner-style magic right here, but that would be a bad move.

The effect of a card depends on when you reveal it.

“April 30th. You’ll see it with your own eyes?”

And there is no better place to reveal Shin Hayul’s card, Bytenner-style magic, than the midterm comprehensive evaluation.

“Seeing is believing, as they say.”

Shin Hayul’s eyes were filled with confidence.

“That day. I will prove everything.”

Shin Hayul was confident that he could do it now.