The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 50

After all the classes were over,

I headed to the private training grounds with Adela and Soonchan, as usual.

“Ugh, I’m going to die.”

Soonchan, who had exhausted all his stamina from an hour and a half of full-speed running, mumbled as if he were on his last breath, sprawled out on the floor.

“Good job.”

I handed Soonchan an ion drink to help with his fatigue recovery.

“You give me the disease and then the cure, just like that.”

“Get your words straight. When did I ever give you a disease? I gave you a prescription and the medicine.”

“…Okay. Thank you. I’m so happy that a competent doctor is taking care of me, yeah.”

Soonchan snatched the ion drink from me as if he were grinding his teeth, then gulped it down in one go.

“Hmph. You petty guy. Just because I teased you a bit the other day…”

After drinking all 500ml of the drink, he seemed to have regained some strength. The look of resentment in his eyes intensified.

“Dude. Do you really think I increased your training intensity for that reason?”

“Yeah. You’re totally capable of that.”

Soonchan looked at me with a confident expression. There wasn’t a hint of doubt in his eyes.

“No? I just thought it would be good to increase the training intensity a bit since it’s confirmed that we’re going to the Olympiad?”

“Don’t talk nonsense, man. I know you increased the training intensity more than planned because I was messing around the other day.”

“…Not at all?”

“Look me straight in the eye and say that, you bastard.”

Soonchan’s brow furrowed with annoyance. I ignored Soonchan and got up from my seat.

“Adela. Sorry to bother you while you’re resting, but could you come over here for a moment?”

Then I called out to Adela, who was sitting and resting in the distance.

“…Agh. You petty guy. I’m so frustrated that I have to overcome my lack of stamina quickly.”

Soonchan muttered behind me, grinding his teeth. Even though he says that, Soonchan is more diligent than anyone else. Regardless of whether I ordered it or not, he could just slack off if he didn’t want to, but he’s really running at full speed.

Knowing that, I’m increasing the training intensity even more.

‘At this rate, he’ll really be able to completely overcome his lack of stamina within a month.’

If Soonchan’s will doesn’t falter, it’s not impossible to completely overcome his weakness of stamina within a month.

“What did you want to talk about?”

While I was thinking, Adela approached. Adela also seemed to have had a hard time in the training earlier, as her complexion wasn’t very good.

“Now that the Olympiad selection members have been confirmed, I’m thinking of re-planning the training schedule.”

“Re-plan the schedule?”

“Yeah. Now that we can legally skip classes starting tomorrow, we’ll have more time, so I was wondering if we should change the schedule a bit.”

The Olympiad participants are exempt from all classes until the Olympiad. It’s a consideration from the school to prepare for the Olympiad games instead of taking classes. There’s also the reason to adjust their condition.

“Even if we don’t have to attend classes, special training for the Olympiad starts the day after tomorrow. Is there a need to re-plan the training?”

“That training is only 8 hours a day. I’m saying let’s adjust the training schedule before and after that.”

“Ah, I see.”

The joint special training for 2nd and 3rd graders preparing for the Olympiad only runs for 8 hours, from 10 AM to 6 PM. That means there will be free time in the morning.

“You’re not going to tell me to do this hellish training in the morning too, are you?”

Soonchan looks at me with a desperate expression. He’s begging me not to do morning training.

“Don’t worry, I have no intention of doing this kind of high-intensity training in the morning.”

“…Oh, really?”

Soonchan looks at me as if he’s very surprised. He has an expression that seems to say, ‘What’s wrong with this devil?’

“Anyone would think I’m making you run to torment you, you jerk.”

Exercising too much isn’t always good. Rest is more important than exercise. Doing training in the morning won’t be of much help. If we do this kind of high-intensity training in the morning, we’ll be completely exhausted during the special training at 10 AM. In many ways, morning training is nothing but poison.

“Then what are you going to do in the morning training?”

“Tactical strategy meeting.”

“Tactical strategy?”

“Yeah. There are more than one or two Olympiad games, right? We need to analyze the changed rules this year and think about how to win.”

“Ah, I see. So you’re going to start preparing for the Olympiad in earnest.”

Soonchan was convinced.

“Then, how about we also analyze the strengths of other countries at the same time?”

Adela, who had been listening quietly, raised her hand and suggested an idea.

“I’m planning to do that when the participating members of other countries are completely confirmed.”

There are still countries whose participant lists have not been confirmed. It’s not too late to analyze the strengths of other countries after the participating members of those countries are confirmed.

“Shouldn’t we gather information on key figures from now on?”

“You don’t have to worry about that. I’m already gathering information whenever I have time.”

“Already?”

“Yeah.”

“You should have said so. Then I would have helped you…”

Adela said with a look of half disappointment and half apology.

“You don’t have to feel sorry. Actually, I’m not doing much. Ms. Jung Soo-ah is in charge of gathering information right now.”

“Ah~”

The analysis of key figures is currently entrusted to the Blue Magic Tower. Now that the Blue Magic Tower has officially decided to support the Korean team, it feels like they’re doing everything they can.

“That’s what it was.”

Adela nodded as if she understood.

“Do you have any other questions? Then, starting tomorrow, we’ll have a strategy and tactics planning meeting in the morning?”

“Wait a minute. I have one question.”

Soonchan quietly raised his hand.

“What is it?”

“Well, it’s good that we’re planning tactics, but will the 3rd-year seniors follow our plans?”

That’s a good question.

“Of course, they won’t just follow us.”

The seniors also have their pride, so they won’t easily follow the words of us, their juniors.

“Then what are you going to do?”

“I have something in mind.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. You don’t have to worry about it.”

The way to convince the seniors is already prepared.

“…You’re really something. You’ve prepared everything.”

Soonchan clicked his tongue. It was a strange remark that sounded like both an insult and a compliment.

“Anyway, is that settled? Then, starting tomorrow, we’ll have a strategy and tactics meeting every morning from 7:30 AM for 2 hours?”

“Yeah.”

“Yes. I have no objections.”

The two nodded, expressing their agreement.

“Ah, and I’m sorry to say this, but let’s shorten the evening training time a bit.”

“Why suddenly the evening training?”

“There’s something I want to do alone.”

“Alone?”

Adela asked, as if surprised.

“Yeah.”

“Isn’t the only thing you can train alone the mana circulation training?”

In modern magic, the only thing you can quietly train alone is mana circulation, as Adela said.

“That’s right. I’m going to do some mana circulation training.”

“Every day?”

“Yeah.”

“…”

Adela tilted her head even more with an expression that said, ‘Why?’ It’s an expression that asks if there’s a reason to spend the evening training time doing mana circulation training.

“I see a wall of enlightenment.”

“…Huh?”

“What?”

At my nonchalant words, the two showed a strong reaction.

“A wall of, a wall of enlightenment? So, you’re saying you’re seeing the wall of the 5th Circle right now?”

To other people, including Adela, I’m known as a 4th Circle mage. That’s why Adela is talking about the 5th Circle.

“Yeah. That’s right.”

In fact, I’m preparing to break down the wall of the 4th Circle, but there’s no reason or need to explain it, so I just agreed vaguely.

“A 5th Circle at 18…? Are you really crazy?”

Soonchan showed an even stronger reaction. Adela’s surprise also grew.

“If you succeed, you’ll be the world’s first and youngest to reach the 5th Circle…”

I shrugged my shoulders, appropriately accepting the gazes of the two people focused on me.

“Anyway, for that reason, I think I need to have some time alone for a while. I’m sorry, but please understand.”

“Hey, why are you sorry? You said you saw a wall of enlightenment.”

“That’s right. If that’s the reason, you can skip the evening training altogether.”

“No. Even if you see a wall of enlightenment, if you keep staying in your room, it’ll be counterproductive.”

There’s efficiency in concentration. Just focusing on one thing doesn’t always lead to good results.

“Anyway, I’m going to ask for your understanding for a while.”

The remaining time is one month. I have to somehow link the fourth circle before that.

* * *

That night.

After all the training was over, I headed to the Magic God family’s mansion. As soon as I arrived at the mansion, I went to see my father. My father was, as always, working on documents in his study.

“I apologize for visiting you late at night without contacting you.”

I bowed my head to my father, who was sitting at his desk as usual, checking documents.

“It doesn’t matter. I was going to call you anyway.”

My father took his eyes off the documents and got up from his seat.

“Sit down.”

Then he sat down at the guest table in front of the study and spoke. I sat opposite my father.

“Do you have something to say to me?”

He said he was going to call me, so that must mean he has something he wants to say to me.

“Hmm. My words can be postponed. Tell me your business first.”

My father looked at me with shining eyes. It was an expression as if he was expecting what kind of interesting business I had brought today.

“I have a request for you, Father.”

“A request. What is it?”

I handed my father a note that I had written in advance.

“I need the materials written here.”

My father scanned the note he had received.

“The horn of an Octa-Beast, the heart of a Catastrophe, the eye of a Leviathan?”

My father’s eyes became a little sharper.

“All three are ridiculously expensive materials.”

“…Yes.”

“What are you planning to use these for?”

All three materials are high-priced materials worth hundreds of millions. Even if my father thinks well of me, they’re not things he would get for me without any questions. At least, I need a reason to convince my father.

“They are necessary for my magical achievements.”

And I know the best way to convince my father.

“Magical achievements?”

“Yes.”

“…Explain exactly what you mean.”

I stared straight into my father’s eyes and said.

“Currently, I am facing a wall of enlightenment.”

“…What?”

My father’s eyes trembled.

“Did you say a wall of enlightenment?”

“Yes.”

“You’re ready to overcome the wall of the 5th Circle?”

“Yes. Those materials are necessary for me to overcome the wall of the circle.”

The materials written on the note I gave my father are materials that help me link the Ring of Expansion. To be precise, they are some of the materials for making the elixir written in the book I read in Mimir’s Well.

‘An elixir that helps link the Ring of Expansion.’

I can somehow get the other things on my own, but I have no way to get these three materials on my own. That’s why I came to see my father. Because the only way for me to get these expensive materials right now is to rely on my father.

“…It’s not a lie, is it?”

“No. It’s not.”

I spoke clearly, staring straight into my father’s eyes as if he were testing me.

“You know better than anyone else that there’s no reason for me to lie right now, don’t you?”

“…”

My father stared intently into my eyes as if trying to grasp my true intentions. My father’s heavy gaze seemed to pierce through my depths.

“It doesn’t seem like a lie.”

“Yes. It’s the truth.”

My father was immediately convinced, as if he felt the sincerity in my eyes.

“Then, are these materials for making an elixir?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

I told the truth. There’s no reason to lie, and I shouldn’t. Lies don’t work on my father.

“It’s a recipe I’ve never heard of before. Where did you get the information about this elixir?”

“It’s information I got from an ancient book.”

“…An ancient elixir?”

“Yes.”

Ancient elixirs. They are elixirs with special combinations recorded in old books. They are characterized by having far superior effects than existing elixirs.

“I see. An ancient elixir.”

My father was convinced.

“If that’s true, I can get you these materials as much as you want.”

“Then…”

“Yes. I’ll get them for you.”

“Thank you.”

In the past, I wouldn’t have been able to convince him with this much, let alone have him listen to me. But now, I’ve built up quite a solid trust. Considering what I’ve shown so far, I thought he would give them to me right away.

“By the way.”

My father laughed as if he found it very interesting.

“…Is it an ancient book again this time?”

Then he looked at me with a very meaningful gaze.

“Hayul, it seems you’re incredibly lucky.”

“…”

It was a statement that contained a lot of meaning.