The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 9

[April 30th, 11:28 AM] Two minutes before the duel between Shin Ha-yul and Baek Sa-hyuk began.

“Wow, I never thought I’d meet the head of the Shin family, Shin In-hyuk, here.”

In the VIP showroom, Shin In-hyuk was talking to a man.

“Blue Magic Tower Master.”

“It’s been a while.”

Blue Magic Tower Master, Kim Kang-in.

The best magician in Korea, who succeeded in establishing the first magic tower in Korea.

A genius among geniuses, who reached the 8th circle at the youngest age of 50.

He greeted Shin In-hyuk with a friendly smile.

“Did you also come to see Ha-yul, sir?”

“…Yes.”

Shin In-hyuk doesn’t particularly like this man.

It’s more like he doesn’t approve of him.

He doesn’t like that this man, who is more than 10 years younger than him, is also an 8th circle magician.

He also doesn’t like that there is a magic tower in the small land of Korea that can rival the Mado family [a powerful, influential family of mages].

Most of all, he doesn’t like that he interferes with the Mado family’s actions at every turn.

“Are you here for the same reason as me?”

Of course, Shin In-hyuk is not so naive as to show such feelings on his face. There’s no harm in being friendly with a big shot like the Blue Magic Tower Master.

“The articles were so sensational that I couldn’t help myself. I ended up abandoning my work and coming here. Haha!”

The Blue Magic Tower Master smiled kindly and looked at the arena outside the showroom.

Shin Ha-yul and Baek Sa-hyuk were standing in their positions, waiting for the duel to begin.

“What’s the reality?”

He asked, looking at Shin Ha-yul’s back.

“Reality?”

“I’m talking about the articles about Ha-yul. Is it true?”

Is it really true that Shin Ha-yul overcame the penalty of being an unsuitable person and was resurrected?

If he did overcome it, how did he do it?

Did he develop a new artificial intelligence that works even for unsuitable people?

Or did he fix Shin Ha-yul’s unique constitution?

“…”

Shin In-hyuk didn’t answer.

No, he couldn’t answer.

Shin In-hyuk didn’t fully understand the situation either, so there was no way he could answer.

“Hmm. You can’t tell me, I see.”

Kim Kang-in interpreted Shin In-hyuk’s silence on his own.

“Well, that’s fine. The duel is less than a minute away anyway. I’ll find out for myself.”

He could tell what happened to Shin Ha-yul just by looking.

He couldn’t fool the eyes of an 8th circle magician like Kim Kang-in.

[The second duel of Group H will now begin.]

And just in time, an announcement was made to signal the start of the match.

The two men simultaneously focused their gaze on Shin Ha-yul beyond the showroom.

[Duel Start!]

After a moment of silence, the duel began.

And exactly three minutes passed.

“… !”

“… !”

Kim Kang-in and Shin In-hyuk.

Both of them stood up from their seats with shocked expressions.

“What is that magic…”

The eyes of the two men watching Shin Ha-yul were shaking violently.

* * *

Modern magic is fast.

It’s like how a computer program can produce results in 0.1 seconds for things that humans have to calculate by hand.

The artificial intelligence implanted behind the neck reacts to the user’s mana ‘collection’ and instantly derives results, leading to the result of ‘manifestation’ of magic.

With this development of magic, it was only natural that the magic of the old era would become obsolete.

However, there is one weakness in this modern magic.

That is, you cannot use magic freely.

If you don’t understand what this disadvantage is, it’s easier to understand if you think of it as a game.

Boss monsters in games only repeat attacks with a set pattern, according to a set process.

If they just stretched their arms a little further, if they just swung their swords a little more to the side, they could kill their opponents, but the pre-set process doesn’t allow it.

Modern magic is exactly like this.

For example, there is a magic called Reverse Cutter.

[Reverse Cutter]

[Maximum range 37.44 meters]

[Maximum speed 117km/h]

[Note – The trajectory can be modified once during the attack.]

Modern magic cannot deviate from this set tool.

If the opponent moves 38 meters away, the Reverse Cutter will never reach them.

And since they know that the trajectory can be changed only once, they don’t even think about a second trajectory change.

Most people avoid the first trajectory change and immediately think about counterattacking.

It’s a very obvious rule, like a game’s pattern strategy.

As such, modern magic is too standardized.

That’s why duels between modern magicians are like a game of Go [a strategic board game].

How well you read your opponent’s moves, how flexibly you respond.

This is the greatest charm of personal combat.

Kwaaaang!

“Oh! He dodged it again!”

“Shin Ha-yul’s reading is insane!”

“That’s the fifth time already!”

And this kind of reading battle was one of my specialties since I was young.

“You’re going to beat me with only 1st circle magic? You’re a moron who doesn’t know your place. Try it if you can!”

Baek Sa-hyuk shouted and moved his mana.

In about a second, that mana will turn into a magic and fly towards me.

At that moment, my brain accelerated at an indescribable speed.

‘The current distance between me and Baek Sa-hyuk is about 25 meters.’

‘My current posture is broken because I dodged the previous Fire Missile.’

‘Due to the evasion of the previous five magics and the 1st circle declaration before the start, Baek Sa-hyuk is currently furious.’

‘There are doubts about Baek Sa-hyuk coming from the audience.’

‘From Baek Sa-hyuk’s point of view, it would be humiliating to have used magic five times against an unsuitable person like me.’

My brain is special.

Not only because I’m an unsuitable person, but my brain has been outstanding since I was young.

It’s like my information processing speed is different.

My brain processes dozens of thoughts simultaneously in the blink of an eye.

So it’s no wonder that this kind of mind game is my specialty.

‘In this situation, the magic that Baek Sa-hyuk can use is…’

And my brain also has an extraordinary memory.

My head contains information about all currently existing ‘open source magic’.

When analyzing all this magic information, Baek Sa-hyuk’s personality, and the current situation.

‘3rd circle magic. Among them, Baek Sa-hyuk’s specialty. Explosion. Or Wind Tempest.’

This is the conclusion.

But it’s not enough yet.

Explosion and Wind Tempest.

Both are instant-activation 3rd circle magic that target space.

If I can’t pinpoint one of them, it’s impossible to completely break through it.

I need one more hint.

I stared intently at the mana fluctuating around Baek Sa-hyuk’s body.

‘A fleeting red color.’

And I could confirm it.

[Bytenner-style magic allows you to see mana depending on your achievement. In the case of the 1st circle, you will be able to see a very momentary mana as a ‘color’.]

It was just a fleeting moment, but I saw the mana glowing red.

‘Conclusion. Explosion.’

The magic Baek Sa-hyuk is preparing is the 3rd circle fire-type magic, Explosion.

Having reached a conclusion, I immediately moved my mana.

It was the first magic I used since the start of this match.

‘1st circle magic. Water.’

My magic, which was activated 0.5 seconds later than Baek Sa-hyuk’s, quickly enveloped my surroundings faster than Baek Sa-hyuk’s Explosion.

“Die, Shin Ha-yul!”

Baek Sa-hyuk shouted with bloodshot eyes.

At the same time, his mana burst out.

Now that mana will act in the air in an instant and cause an explosion around me.

But.

“…What?”

Pshshshshsh-!

The Explosion didn’t activate.

Only smoke rose around my body.

3rd circle magic. Explosion. A decent attack magic with the characteristic of being a spatial ignition type skill that targets space, with a fast activation speed and difficult to avoid, but it’s not without its drawbacks.

‘Explosion does not activate in a space filled with water.’

If you know that he’s going to use Explosion, it’s not that difficult to block it.

“…Water?”

Baek Sa-hyuk frowned and muttered as he checked the vast amount of water swirling around me.

“You blocked my Explosion with 1st circle magic? No, more than that, your magic speed just now…”

“Why? Is it strange that my magic activation speed is fast?”

“…”

Silence fell over the arena.

Everyone seemed shocked that I, an unsuitable person, used magic without any chanting or preparation.

Baek Sa-hyuk was the same.

He had a rather shocked look on his face.

I didn’t miss that moment when Baek Sa-hyuk was off guard.

‘1st circle magic. Wind Spear.’

At the same time as the 1st circle wind-type attack magic, Wind Spear, was created at my fingertips, it flew towards Baek Sa-hyuk.

“This bastard…! Do you really think you can beat me with 1st circle magic!”

Baek Sa-hyuk quickly regained his senses and deflected the Wind Spear using a barrier.

He released the barrier as if he didn’t care what happened to the deflected Wind Spear and pulled up his mana.

“Don’t get cocky just because you can use magic! You piece of trash… !”

Thud!

At that moment, a gruesome sound of flesh tearing echoed on Baek Sa-hyuk’s shoulder.

“Kuaaak!”

Fortunately, no blood flowed out due to the safety settings inside the arena, but he must be experiencing pain equivalent to that.

“You, you bastard! What did you do… !”

Baek Sa-hyuk doesn’t seem to know what just happened.

“Don’t you know? Shall I show you again?”

I cast Wind Spear again and threw it at Baek Sa-hyuk.

Clang!

Baek Sa-hyuk formed a barrier again and blocked my Wind Spear.

It seems that Baek Sa-hyuk has some learning ability, this time he didn’t release the barrier.

Baek Sa-hyuk’s gaze followed the deflected Wind Spear.

The Wind Spear slowly rising into the sky.

Right then, when the Wind Spear reached a certain height.

“Th-that’s!”

The Wind Spear stopped in mid-air.

Then, it spun around and pointed its tip back at Baek Sa-hyuk.

Swoosh!

And it fired.

Clang!

Of course, this Wind Spear was blocked by Baek Sa-hyuk’s barrier and disappeared.

“The Wind Spear… re-fired in the air after being deflected…?”

“Good eye.”

Baek Sa-hyuk’s eyes trembled with confusion.

“There’s no way a Wind Spear would have a double-firing characteristic…”

My Wind Spear is special.

No, it’s not just the Wind Spear.

My ‘magic’ is special.

“This time, there are four.”

This time, I cast four Wind Spears.

The Wind Spears floating above my head flew towards Baek Sa-hyuk.

Baek Sa-hyuk quickly created a barrier to block the Wind Spears.

However.

Thud-!

“Kuaaak!”

Baek Sa-hyuk only blocked three Wind Spears.

The Wind Spear that avoided Baek Sa-hyuk’s barrier, changed its trajectory to the back, and aimed for his back, he couldn’t avoid it.

“H-how did only one Wind Spear change its trajectory… !”

“It’s good to have questions, but.”

I sneered, looking at Baek Sa-hyuk groaning in pain.

“There are still three left, can you afford to be so distracted?”

“… !”

Baek Sa-hyuk immediately scanned his surroundings.

As expected, the deflected Wind Spears were once again pointing their tips at Baek Sa-hyuk.

Baek Sa-hyuk immediately moved away.

‘In modern magic, magic that has been activated is like a bullet that has already been fired.’

It is magically impossible to change the trajectory of a Wind Spear that has already been designated.

That’s why Baek Sa-hyuk chose to flee.

“It’s a good decision, but.”

But that’s just common sense in modern magic.

It’s not common sense that works for me, who uses Bytenner-style magic.

“What!?”

With my will, the Wind Spears that were loaded in the air changed their trajectory again.

The target is the place where Baek Sa-hyuk is moving.

‘Penetrating that distance is not enough with the mana that the Wind Spear currently holds.’

That’s why I decided to combine the three Wind Spears.

‘Combine.’

The Wind Spear, which instantly became one, flew towards Baek Sa-hyuk in an instant.

Thud!

“Kuaaaaak!”

It hit Baek Sa-hyuk’s stomach.

“M-magic fused in the middle? What is this…”

This is the horror of Bytenner-style magic.

Free magic that completely shakes the foundation of modern magic.

The opponent’s ‘common sense’ is only converted into a disadvantage in front of my magic.

‘Like Baek Sa-hyuk, who recalled the characteristics of the Wind Spear and released the barrier after deflecting it once as if it was natural.’

Wrong information becomes a fatal poison.

That’s the horror of my Bytenner-style magic.

Baek Sa-hyuk groaned and got up from his seat.

“This bastard! Your magic speed and… what kind of sorcery did you use to make 1st circle magic do this… !”

He shouts with a face distorted by pain.

“1st circle magic, you say.”

I chuckled.

“You underestimate 1st circle magic too much.”

Even 1st circle magic is different.

“Sa-hyuk, do you know?”

I smiled and focused my mana on my lower body.

“You don’t need a fancy sword to kill someone.”

At the same time, I kicked off the ground.

I reached Baek Sa-hyuk’s side in an instant and said, releasing the remaining mana of the Infinity Circle.

“You can kill someone with just a pen.”

“What nonsense are you talking about again…”

Baek Sa-hyuk tried to use magic right away, but.

My magic casting speed is incomparable to Baek Sa-hyuk’s.

‘1st circle magic. Water.’

The released mana soon became a water droplet the size of a human head.

“Ugh! Keheop!”

Fluffy-

It came to cover Baek Sa-hyuk’s face exactly.

“Magic is the same.”

Baek Sa-hyuk, who couldn’t breathe, frantically scratched his mouth and nose.

“You don’t need fancy magic to kill someone.”

I grabbed Baek Sa-hyuk’s trembling shoulder and pressed him down to the floor.

“Safety zone? Barrier magic that protects the body is meaningless.”

I whispered in Baek Sa-hyuk’s ear, who was still writhing in the agony of not being able to breathe.

“People can easily die with just water.”

“Ugh! Keogeok! Keheok!”

Baek Sa-hyuk, whose trachea was blocked, thrashed wildly.

“Just like you right now.”

At the same time, Baek Sa-hyuk’s body gradually lost strength.

It’s only been 30 seconds, but his face is already pale.

If I maintain the water any longer, he might really die.

I lightly released the water and got up from my seat.

I spoke to the instructor, who was staring at me with a shocked expression.

“Instructor. Is there any need to fight any further?”

“…Ah, ahem.”

The instructor, who had been staring at me blankly, finally came to his senses.

“Duel over! Winner! Shin Ha-yul!”

With the instructor’s declaration of victory, a moment of silence flowed.

And exactly 3 seconds passed.

“Waaaaaaah!”

“Awesome! Did you see that just now?”

Cheers erupted.

“What was that Wind Spear?”

“For a moment, I thought it was Reverse Cutter.”

“Seriously, I got goosebumps.”

“Damn. Is it real that he beat Baek Sa-hyuk with only 1st circle magic?”

I smiled in the center of the cheers.

“…It’s been a while. This feeling.”

The taste of victory and cheers that I tasted after a year was quite… no, it was quite sweet.