The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 39

Sunday night.

I received a call from Kim Kang-in.

―I saw the test footage. I was surprised. I never thought you’d take down an Emerald Turtle on your own.

“I just got lucky.”

―That alone was interesting enough. But to fight on par with Adela, who reached the 4th Circle! It was so fascinating that I couldn’t focus on my research that day. Haha!

“Thank you for seeing it so positively.”

―How on earth did you break through the Emerald Turtle’s shell? No, that’s not all, how did you refract Adela’s magic? I thought it was a mana distortion field, but after analyzing the footage closely, it wasn’t that either…….

Kim Kang-in’s TMI [Too Much Information] talk was as long as ever. No, it seems worse than before. I guess that means he’s that intrigued by my magic.

“I’m really sorry to say this, but I can’t talk about my magic.”

―Ah. Of course. If it was an uncomfortable question, you don’t have to answer. Mages have the right to keep their secrets.

Kim Kang-in smiled kindly.

―I’ll try to figure out your magic myself, Ha-yul.

Just as mages have the right to keep their secrets.

Mages also have the freedom to observe and analyze the magic of others.

Kim Kang-in is confident that he can figure out my magic.

―I look forward to the day I get to see your magic in person.

“Haha.”

He has the ‘Ruby Eye,’ the world’s best detection-type magic eye.

If he gets a chance to observe my magic directly, he’ll figure out the interference magic right away.

His eyes won’t miss the way my mana seeps into the opponent’s magic formula.

―Ah, my bad. I got carried away. Sorry.

Kim Kang-in finished his preamble and got to the point.

―The reason I called you today is to talk about the artifact production.

Artifact production.

He’s talking about the Elemental Mana Light I entrusted to him.

“Is it good news? Or bad news?”

―Good news.

Thank goodness it was good news.

―As of now, all preparations are complete. We’ll start production tomorrow.

“Are all the accessory selections done?”

―Yes. All compatibility checks are complete.

Artifact production is not easy. First of all, selecting the right accessory materials for the properties of the mana stone is a chore.

Especially when the material is a high-purity mana stone, the difficulty of selecting these accessory materials increases significantly.

You have to compare the selected materials one by one and observe if there are any side effects, including mana rejection reactions.

You also have to adjust and refine the materials to maximize the synchronization rate with the mana stone.

It was inevitable that the preparation would take a long time.

“Isn’t it done incredibly fast?”

―Yes. It’s done very quickly.

Considering the special nature of the Elemental Mana Light, I thought it would take at least two months.

It took less than a month.

This means one of two things.

Either Kim Kang-in ground down the artisans of the Magic Tower, or he’s being sloppy with the artifact production.

“Aren’t you all overdoing it? You can take it easy.”

Given Kim Kang-in’s personality, there’s no way he’d slack off on artifact production, so he must be grinding down his subordinates.

―Haha. They’re all artisans to the bone who go crazy for new mana stones. They don’t listen even if I tell them to rest.

“Ah…….”

Well, if they’re doing it because they like it, there’s nothing I can say.

―Anyway, you don’t have to worry about the artifact. As I said before, everyone is as passionate as they can be. Of course, me too.

Kim Kang-in’s voice is 120% full of excitement.

―I think you can look forward to it.

“Yes. I’m looking forward to it.”

An artifact that Kim Kang-in is so confident about.

My already high expectations have risen even higher.

―Then, I’ll hang up now. See you later…….

“Ah, wait a minute.”

I stopped Kim Kang-in from hanging up.

―Do you still have something to say?

“Yes. I have a favor to ask.”

―Hmm. A favor? Not a payment for the last time?

A payment for the last time.

He’s talking about the time the Blue Magic Tower benefited from my information by arresting Leng Smith of the Black Magic Tower.

“I think that depends on how the Tower Lord takes it.”

―……Indeed. I’m already looking forward to what kind of extraordinary proposal you’ve prepared this time. Let’s hear it.

Kim Kang-in’s voice lowered with anticipation.

―Let’s hear it.

“I’d like you to dispatch the Blue Magic Tower’s artifact artisans as engineers for the Korean team in this Olympiad.”

―Olympiad. Are you talking about the World Academia Olympiad?

“Yes.”

―You’re asking us to send our artifact artisans as engineers for that competition. Is that what you’re saying?

“That’s right.”

―That’s a very sudden proposal.

Kim Kang-in’s voice lowered even more.

―You must know the value of our artisans, Ha-yul. May I ask where the Blue Magic Tower benefits from this proposal?

The value of the Blue Magic Tower’s artifact artisans is very high.

I’m asking for such expensive manpower to be provided for free, so it’s natural to get that kind of reaction.

“It’s about honor.”

―Honor?

“Yes. The honor of creating the winning team of the Olympiad. The Blue Magic Tower will be able to gain that glory.”

―……Winning?

“Yes.”

I put all my strength into my voice.

“Korea will win the gold medal in this Olympiad.”

―……Interesting.

Kim Kang-in’s voice over the speaker had a faint smile.

―Keep talking.

* * *

“Yes. Then I’ll be waiting. See you later.”

After ending the call with Shin Ha-yul.

Kim Kang-in took a sip of the tea on the table.

The tea had gone cold because the call had been so long.

“Shall I brew a new one?”

Jeong Su-ah, who was sitting in front of him, got up from her seat.

She thought she would brew a new one since the tea had gone cold.

“No, it’s okay.”

Kim Kang-in smiled and made Jeong Su-ah sit back down.

Then, he downed the cold tea in one gulp and put it back on the table.

“Then let’s get back to the meeting. Sorry for making you wait so long.”

“It’s alright. I don’t mind at all.”

“Hmm. Where were we?”

The call with Shin Ha-yul was so long that he forgot where they had left off.

Kim Kang-in quickly scanned the documents, retracing the previous conversations.

“Um, Tower Lord. Before we go back to the production talk, may I ask you one thing?”

“What is it?”

“I’m curious about what kind of proposal Shin Ha-yul made to you and how.”

What did Shin Ha-yul say to make him actively consider the request to sit in a position that would be a huge loss, like being the main sponsor of the Olympiad?

Jeong Su-ah was curious about that.

“It’s nothing much. He just asked us to send our artisans as engineers for this Olympiad.”

“Our artisans?”

“Yeah.”

“……That’s a sudden request. What’s the payment? Considering the preparation period for the Olympiad, it’s about a month. The value of their work during that period would be astronomical.”

Kim Kang-in’s eyes flashed.

“I don’t know about money. He said he’d repay us with honor.”

“Honor?”

“Yeah. The honor of creating the winning team of the Olympiad, or something like that.”

“……Huh?”

Jeong Su-ah was dumbfounded.

Kim Kang-in also laughed at Jeong Su-ah’s rare change of expression.

“Isn’t it funny? He’s only a second-year student, yet he’s talking about winning a gold medal at the Olympiad, and he’s so sure he’ll win it.”

“……Yes.”

Jeong Su-ah quickly composed herself. As expected of Jeong Su-ah, the master of the poker face, she quickly returned to her expressionless state.

“If we do win the gold medal, our benefits would be immeasurable, but…….”

“Right. We’re a newly established Magic Tower, so we need such tangible results.”

“That’s right.”

However, Jeong Su-ah’s expressionless face was immediately shattered again by Kim Kang-in’s next words.

“So I said I’d actively consider it.”

“……Huh?”

Kim Kang-in burst out laughing at Jeong Su-ah’s dumbfounded expression.

It had been a long time since he had seen Jeong Su-ah so flustered.

“Why… why would you give such an answer to such an absurd proposal……?”

“It’s fun.”

Kim Kang-in’s lips slowly curled up.

Jeong Su-ah sighed, holding her forehead.

“……Your bad habit has resurfaced again.”

Kim Kang-in’s bad habit.

That is, when he sees a talented mage, he helps them regardless of the pros and cons.

“Tower Lord. I’ll give you some serious advice. Please refuse. Considering the projects that the Blue Magic Tower is currently pursuing, we don’t have the leeway to send our artisans out.”

“Come on. Even if it’s me, would I move on such a large scale based on emotions alone?”

Kim Kang-in’s smile deepened.

“I set a condition.”

“……A condition?”

“Yeah. If he’s so confident, I told him to show me proof that he can win the gold medal.”

Even if it’s Kim Kang-in, this is not a matter that can be moved by emotions alone.

That’s why Kim Kang-in set a condition.

“What kind of condition is it?”

How should he prove that he can win the gold medal?

Jeong Su-ah couldn’t think of a suitable method.

“To defeat a 5th Circle mage in a 1:1 fight.”

“Huh?”

This time, Jeong Su-ah’s poker face was completely broken.

“D, defeat a 5th Circle mage?”

“Yeah.”

Kim Kang-in shrugged and answered nonchalantly.

“There are two 5th Circle users among the students participating in this Olympiad, right? If he’s going to talk about winning a gold medal, he should be able to do that easily.”

* * *

“So you’ve decided to fight a 5th Circle user?”

“Yeah. It just turned out that way.”

Mimir pursed her lips and pondered.

She seems to be thinking about whether I can beat a 5th Circle user right now.

“No matter how I think about it, I don’t think you can beat a 5th Circle user. What are you going to do?”

“I can’t beat them now. So I got a ten-day grace period.”

“Ah, I see. You’re going to master the countermeasure in the meantime and then take on the match?”

“That’s right.”

“Hmm. If you have a countermeasure, you can somehow manage it…….”

Mimir nodded slightly with her lips tightly closed.

“It won’t be easy to master the countermeasure in ten days either?”

“I have to do it even if it’s hard. What else can I do? The deadline for submitting the Olympiad participant list is in 11 days.”

I have to get a definite answer within ten days.

“But why do you have to go so far as to ask the Blue Magic Tower to send engineers? Can’t you just ask for support from your family or your friend Adela’s family?”

“No. That wouldn’t make sense.”

“Why?”

“The only place in our country that can adjust and customize competition artifacts to meet the competition regulations is the Blue Magic Tower.”

“The Blue Magic Tower seems to be quite impressive in many ways?”

“Yeah. It’s on a different level.”

“How much of a performance difference is there?”

“At least 10%.”

If you compare what the artisans of the Blue Magic Tower have adjusted with what ordinary artisans have adjusted, there will be at least a 10% performance difference.

The artisans of the Blue Magic Tower are that different.

“That’s enough to justify getting their support.”

“Right. Since it’s a team battle, the difference in artifact performance will affect the overall win rate.”

“I understand. So, whatever happens, you have to enter the 3rd Circle Master within ten days?”

“That’s right. That’s why I’m reading these books about countermeasures.”

I emphasized the title of the book I was holding.

“When are you going to enter the page of the third trial?”

“Hmm. I’m going to enter after I’ve read all the books you’ve prepared. You told me to do that in the first place.”

The entry conditions for the page of the third trial are different from the page of the second trial.

[When you think that interference is perfected, activate the magic circle on page 214 and enter the page of the third trial.]

That’s what it said on page 81 of Idred’s Book.

“But why is it so different from the page of the third trial?”

If the entry condition for the page of the second trial was 2nd Circle Master.

The entry condition for the page of the third trial is 3rd Circle Runner. That is, just before Master.

Why did this change happen?

“It’s a secret. It wouldn’t be fun if you knew in advance.”

Mimir smiled.

It was a sinister smile that made me feel uneasy.

“You’re going to suffer a bit when you go there. Just keep that in mind.”

Mimir chuckled and said.

“Oh, right. When you enter the page of the third trial, please give my regards.”

“……Regards?”

She wouldn’t be asking me to give her regards to a magical persona like Alpha or Beta.

“Is there someone you know waiting for you in there?”

Is someone waiting in the page of the third trial?

“Yeah. There is.”

“……Mimir?”

“Mimir is doing well. Just tell them that much. They’ll understand.”

Mimir’s expression as she said that looked very sad.