The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 19

My daily life had changed so drastically in the past week; it was like the difference between heaven and earth.

“Shin Ha-yul, training room, monster rush training. Perfect score.”

“……Shin Ha-yul got another perfect score?”

“That’s insane. Isn’t this his third time getting a perfect score in this training?”

The training sessions that were once so difficult to even clear were now as easy as pie.

I guess it’s because the training was designed for 2nd and 3rd Circle users, but it was just too easy for me.

“Is he using a physical acceleration spell right now?”

“Looks like it? How is that normal human speed?”

“But there’s no change in his other magic?”

“He must have cast a weaker acceleration spell. He was always a freak when it came to physical abilities.”

“Ah, is that so?”

Listening to their whispers, it seemed like everyone thought my movements were due to a physical acceleration spell.

‘I didn’t even use that.’

But in reality, I didn’t even use a physical acceleration spell, nor did I properly circulate mana through my body.

It was just pure physical ability.

‘The Infinity Circle is really something.’

The physical enhancement effect of the Infinity Circle. It seems my physical abilities have increased by about 1.5 times because of that effect.

‘Will I get stronger when I reach the 3rd Circle?’

I probably will.

There’s no information about the increase in physical enhancement based on Circles in Idred’s Book, so I can’t say for sure.

If the high-purity mana circulation of the Infinity Circle promotes physical enhancement, then it’s natural that the physical enhancement rate would double with each Circle increase.

“Ah, should I learn Memorize when I become a 4th Circle?”

“Why all of a sudden?”

“Well, seeing Shin Ha-yul use it, it seems like a really good spell.”

“Hey, hey. Give it up. I asked my grandfather about it. Memorize isn’t that great of a spell. He said it’s just that his senses are insane.”

“Ah, right. My dad said the same thing. It’s not Memorize, but the arcane magic he possesses that’s a cheat.”

“That arcane magic. What was it called again?”

“Was it called Modification Magic? Something like that?”

The arcane magic that I falsely presented to hide the Vaitener-style magic.

The ability to freely change magic formulas was revealed to the world under the name ‘Modification Magic.’

After the information about this Modification Magic spread overseas, it caused an uproar.

After watching the video of my mid-term comprehensive evaluation, they called this magic revolutionary and said they would pay a fortune to acquire it.

Thanks to that, the phone at the Mado family is still ringing non-stop.

“Is Shin Ha-yul going to end up competing in the Olympiad?”

“Assuming this potential is maintained, and he doesn’t mess up in next week’s battle survival test, there shouldn’t be any problems.”

“Wow, you really never know how life will turn out.”

“He went all the way down to rock bottom and then climbed back up.”

I could hear exclamations from all around. It seems my winding life story is quite interesting.

Well, it doesn’t seem like they’re saying it with bad intentions, so I decided to let it go.

I also admit that my life story is interesting.

‘But those guys are still the same as ever.’

I looked at the group gathered on the opposite side, a group that clearly had a suspicious aura.

“……That unlucky bastard.”

“That cripple is showing off.”

“He’s going to fall again soon anyway.”

Whether I get good grades or not, the guys who badmouth me will keep badmouthing me.

Even if I win the Olympiad, they’ll say it was just luck.

I’m 100% sure of it.

There’s no need to pay attention to those kinds of guys. Just let them badmouth me from behind.

‘I don’t even have time to pay attention to those guys in the first place.’

It’s much more constructive to focus on my own training than to pay attention to those guys.

‘Let’s focus again.’

I closed my eyes and focused all my attention on the two Infinity Circles.

The Ring of the Mind and the Ring of Resonance.

Two mana engines that seem the same but are subtly different rotate through my entire body.

‘Lower the vibration value and rotation rate of the Ring of Resonance by 12.33% and 4.63% respectively, and increase the mana purity of the Ring of the Mind by 8.98%.’

To completely synchronize two different engines, it’s necessary to make the performance of both completely one.

To do that, each Infinity Circle needs to be customized separately.

Thump, thump.

The two rings rotate roughly in sync with my heartbeat.

Compared to four days ago, I can definitely feel the improvement.

However.

‘This ratio isn’t it either.’

It’s just that it’s improved.

It’s not 100% synchronized.

The consistency rate is probably around 99%.

“Hoo.”

I released my focus and took a deep breath.

‘100%……. It’s really difficult.’

2nd Circle Master.

The realm of resonance is so incredibly difficult that it’s beyond my imagination.

It’s been tormenting me for the past four days.

The circulation of a Circle is due to the complex interaction of various factors. If you modify one side, problems arise on the other side.

In this situation, it was impossible to make the two rings 100% consistent.

‘Ah, I feel like I’ll get a proper grasp of it if I just do a little more.’

Thinking that, I focused my mind again.

And so, my trial and error to reach the realm of resonance continued until the end of training.

* * *

Saturday of the second week of May.

Today, after lightly finishing my morning physical training, I headed to my room amidst everyone’s shock and admiration.

‘Ah, I need to stop by the convenience store.’

Today, I was planning to hole up in my room again and focus on the trial and error for synchronizing the Infinity Circles.

Before returning to my room, I decided to buy some snacks and sports drinks.

As I changed my destination and walked towards the convenience store.

I encountered an unexpected person.

“……Shin Ha-yul.”

Baek Sa-hyuk.

The eldest son of the Baek family, a Santa Claus-like man who went out of his way and spent his own money to prepare the best stage for me.

He was glaring at me, grinding his teeth.

“Why aren’t you home on the weekend?”

At my words, the sound of his teeth grinding became much clearer.

“Ah, are you perhaps in a period of self-reflection and can’t go out even if you want to?”

“……Shut up.”

“Well, you used your family’s power so much for personal reasons, and the result was a disgrace to your family. Even if it wasn’t a period of self-reflection, it would be hard to go home because you’d be too embarrassed.”

“Shin Ha-yul, you……!”

Baek Sa-hyuk lost his temper and rushed at me.

I could even feel the flow of mana.

‘This crazy bastard, he’s using magic over this little provocation?’

I was being sarcastic, but I never thought he’d actually use magic in the middle of the street.

‘Red.’

The fleeting red color around Baek Sa-hyuk filled my vision.

Red, the color of fire attribute.

If Baek Sa-hyuk, in his irrational state, were to use a fire attribute spell, it would be his specialty and most lethal spell.

‘Conclusion. Burning Impact.’

The most powerful spell among 3rd Circle close-range fire attribute spells.

But spells with strong power have penalties that come with them.

I raised my fist straight up,

And knocked his right arm upwards.

Whoosh-!

The explosion that started from Baek Sa-hyuk’s hand soared towards the sky, where his palm was pointing.

“You bas……!”

Burning Impact, instantly nullified.

I turned around behind Baek Sa-hyuk, who was about to shout something, grabbed his head, and slammed it into the ground.

“Let go, let go! You son of a bitch!”

“Are you crazy?”

I pressed down on Baek Sa-hyuk’s head with even more force.

“It’s a good thing there weren’t any people around. If there had been any casualties, you would have gone straight to jail.”

“…….”

At my cold words, it seemed that his reason was slowly returning, and Baek Sa-hyuk’s resistance began to subside.

“There! You two! What’s going on?”

Two instructors, having heard the explosion, rushed over in a hurry.

“Shin Ha-yul and Baek Sa-hyuk?”

“What was that magic just now?”

The two of them glared at us with very serious expressions.

“……Shit.”

Baek Sa-hyuk muttered a curse from below. I took my hand off Baek Sa-hyuk’s head, stood up straight, and greeted the two instructors.

“Baek Sa-hyuk used magic on me.”

“What?”

“The detailed circumstances are over there…….”

I pointed to the CCTV near the street.

“It’s all recorded on the CCTV, so you can check it.”

“……Okay. I understand.”

The instructors nodded with very serious expressions.

“……Shit.”

Baek Sa-hyuk’s curse could be heard faintly from the ground.

He was probably more worried about the scolding he would receive from his father than the penalty he would receive.

“Why……why me……why……?”

Baek Sa-hyuk was lamenting his fate pitifully. I didn’t feel an ounce of sympathy.

‘He got what he deserved.’

There was no situation that fit that idiom better than this one.

What filled my mind right now wasn’t sympathy, but suspicion and caution.

‘Even so, he wasn’t so short-tempered that he’d use lethal magic over this level of sarcasm.’

I narrowed my eyes, looking at Baek Sa-hyuk’s face, which was deeply bowed as he was helped up by the instructors.

‘In that state, he might do something.’

It seems I need to be extra careful.

* * *

The penalty for Baek Sa-hyuk’s unauthorized use of magic was quickly decided.

Since the evidence was so clear and the instructors had witnessed it firsthand, the conclusion was bound to be quick.

‘Student Baek Sa-hyuk is given 10 penalty points.’

It was very unexpected.

Despite using a lethal 3rd Circle spell on a public street where magic use was not permitted, it only ended with penalty points.

Even if there were no victims, it should have been dealt with at least with expulsion. Not even suspension, but just 10 penalty points.

It was a slap on the wrist that could not have happened without outside intervention.

—You moron!

“……I’m sorry.”

Over Baek Sa-hyuk’s phone, Baek Man-sik, Baek Sa-hyuk’s father and the current head of the Baek family,

His curses echoed in a thunderous voice.

—I told you to stay quiet until you graduate! Can’t you even follow that simple instruction?

“……No, sir.”

The reason why Baek Sa-hyuk’s incident ended with a slap on the wrist was because of the Baek family’s intervention.

Since the Baek family was a major donor to the Obelisk Academy, they were given preferential treatment.

—To call this thing my eldest son…….

“I’m…sorry.”

Baek Sa-hyuk bit his lower lip.

He bowed his head and his hands trembled.

All sorts of emotions flashed through him.

—Hah. I’ll say it again. Just graduate quietly without causing any problems. Like a dead mouse, okay? Just get your diploma from the Obelisk Academy.

“……Yes.”

Baek Man-sik had given up all expectations for Baek Sa-hyuk.

Not only the incident at the youth tournament five years ago, but the disgrace he showed this time was too great.

—This is your last warning. If you do anything again that would bring shame to the family or your younger sibling…….

Baek Man-sik didn’t bother to finish his sentence. But there was no need to think about what would come after that.

“Yes. I will keep that in mind.”

—……You pathetic bastard.

With those words, the call ended.

Baek Sa-hyuk’s grip turned white.

He had clenched his fist so hard that blood was dripping down.

“Don’t do anything that would bring shame to my younger sibling? Haha.”

Those words were practically the same as saying he would pass the Baek family to his younger sibling.

It meant not to cause any harm to the Baek family that his younger sibling would inherit.

Those words were a shock to Baek Sa-hyuk.

“Why…….”

The shock soon turned into murderous intent.

“It’s all because of Shin Ha-yul…….”

All of this was Shin Ha-yul’s fault.

If he hadn’t been there, he would have been living a glorious academy life as a promising official successor of the Baek family, receiving applause from everyone.

“Shin Ha-yul. If only that guy wasn’t there……!”

It was when Baek Sa-hyuk’s eyes began to turn red with murderous intent.

“As expected, he has a lot of resentment towards Shin Ha-yul.”

Someone opened Baek Sa-hyuk’s door without a care and entered.

“……Leng Smith?”

A man with a weasel-like mustache, wearing a sly smile.

“You need to be assigned an instructor, don’t you, student Baek Sa-hyuk.”

A French instructor.

He approached Baek Sa-hyuk with a meaningful expression.

“Don’t you want to get revenge on Shin Ha-yul?”

Baek Sa-hyuk’s shoulders twitched.

“Revenge……?”

“Yes. Revenge.”

Leng made eye contact with Baek Sa-hyuk.

The two’s eyes were less than 5cm apart.

“A very sweet and delightful revenge.”

Around Leng Smith, who was muttering those words, black mana was swirling.

The black mana, unique to corrupted and tainted black mages, the symbol of the Black Magic Tower.