The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 54

“Ugh, the more I think about it, the more it pisses me off.”

Five minutes before the start of the team match.

Jin Hee-yoon gritted her teeth, recalling Shin Ha-yool’s words.

It was a statement that made her blood boil, no matter how many times she thought about it.

“What? He said he wouldn’t lose, so I can set the conditions however I want? Wow, I’m so dumbfounded.”

“Relax, Hee-yoon. Calm down for now.”

Unlike Jin Hee-yoon, Ma Jin-seok, who had managed to quell his anger, calmed Jin Hee-yoon down.

“I know it’s natural to be angry. But there are less than five minutes left until the start. Calm down and focus on the friendly match.”

“…I know.”

As Ma Jin-seok said, she understood in her head that now was not the time to give in to anger.

But understanding with your head and putting it into practice are two different things.

She knew she had to calm down, but that was all she could do. Her anger showed no signs of subsiding.

She wanted to punch Shin Ha-yool in the face right now.

“…Ugh, this is so frustrating. So what if he wins? He told me to apologize for saying I was below his level? What kind of double standard is that?”

After making such a wide-ranging provocation, how could he say that?

“I said calm down.”

“I know! I’m going to calm down!”

Ma Jin-seok sighed deeply at Jin Hee-yoon’s appearance, which showed no intention of calming down.

‘…This is troublesome.’

Ma Jin-seok glanced at the other third-year students.

Except for Kang Shin-woo, they were all as hot-headed as Jin Hee-yoon.

It was a natural reaction.

Even Ma Jin-seok, who was known for being calm and collected, had exploded with anger.

There was no way the other third-year students would be able to maintain their composure.

‘Even if I wanted to calm them down, there’s not enough time.’

There were about two minutes left until the start of the friendly match.

There was nothing he could do in just two minutes.

‘We’re completely screwed from the start.’

Ma Jin-seok clicked his tongue.

It was very unsettling that the situation seemed to be unfolding exactly as Shin Ha-yool intended.

‘So, what should I do? Telling them to calm down any more will only backfire.’

If you tell a crying child to stop crying, they will cry even harder.

In this situation, telling them to calm down any more would be counterproductive.

‘Now that it’s come to this, it’s better to use Hee-yoon’s anger.’

It was true that anger was poison in battle.

But even poison can be medicine if used correctly.

‘Anger is the best doping agent that pushes a person’s power to the limit.’

A strategy that erases the disadvantages of anger and fully utilizes only its advantages.

Ma Jin-seok devised a new strategy.

“I’m sorry to do this with only two minutes left until the start of the battle, but let’s change the strategy a bit.”

Anger makes people lose their composure and clouds their judgment.

That was the disadvantage of anger as an energy source.

How could this disadvantage be eliminated?

The answer was very simple.

Just eliminate the situation where judgment would be clouded.

“Hee-yoon, don’t think about anything else, just focus on taking the opponent’s flag.”

An unconditional offensive.

A charge that doesn’t require judgment.

In fulfilling that role, anger is not a poison, but a strength.

“So, you’re telling me to just empty my head and focus on devouring the opponent?”

“Yeah. Why? You don’t like it?”

“No.”

Jin Hee-yoon smiled like a wild animal.

“It’s perfect.”

* * *

Three minutes passed, and the friendly match began.

“I found the opponent’s flag.”

Jin Hee-yoon, who had gone on the offensive, found Shin Ha-yool’s team’s flag.

It was a feat achieved just five minutes into the match.

—Good job. Who’s guarding the flag?

Ma Jin-seok’s voice came from the radio.

As Ma Jin-seok had to consider the opponent’s offensive and defensive balance, who was guarding the flag was more important than the location of the opponent’s flag.

“I only see one person. Ji Soon-chan is guarding the flag alone.”

In front of the opponent’s flag, Ji Soon-chan was on guard, looking serious.

It didn’t seem like there was anyone else around.

—…Ji Soon-chan alone?

Ma Jin-seok was surprised.

They had entrusted the defense to Ji Soon-chan alone, of all people?

It was an incomprehensible decision.

—Are you sure no one is hiding around?

“I don’t know. It doesn’t seem like it, but…”

She checked again, but there were no signs of anyone nearby.

—Be careful. They might be using Ji Soon-chan as bait, and both of them might be hiding.

However, there was also a possibility that the opponents, being Shin Ha-yool and Adela, were using a stealth magic that completely concealed their presence.

They couldn’t let their guard down.

“I’ll try to attack as carefully as possible.”

—Okay. I’m counting on you.

With that, the radio communication was cut off for the time being.

“Let’s go.”

The two others who were on the offensive, like Jin Hee-yoon, nodded.

“Junior, are you guarding the house all alone?”

Jin Hee-yoon appeared in front of Ji Soon-chan.

“Yes. It just turned out that way.”

Ji Soon-chan answered calmly.

He didn’t show the slightest bit of agitation, as if he had expected Jin Hee-yoon to appear.

“Did you know I was coming?”

“Yeah, well.”

In fact, Ji Soon-chan knew in advance that Jin Hee-yoon would appear like this.

“How?”

“Ha-yool told me. She said that Jin Hee-yoon is very angry, and she definitely won’t be able to control her anger even by the start of the match. So, it would be a bit much to entrust the defense to Jin Hee-yoon in that state, so she’ll definitely be on the offensive.”

“…”

Jin Hee-yoon’s eyebrows twitched with annoyance.

“You expected me to come, and yet you entrusted the defense to just one person?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Why do you think?”

Ji Soon-chan shrugged nonchalantly.

“It’s because I can block it well enough on my own.”

Jin Hee-yoon’s brow furrowed.

“…They say birds of a feather flock together. You two are the same. Equally arrogant.”

It was a provocation that she would have scoffed at and ignored under normal circumstances, but for Jin Hee-yoon now, it was a top-tier provocation.

“To be compared to Ha-yool. That’s the best compliment.”

Ji Soon-chan smiled with a rather unpleasant expression.

“Ha.”

Jin Hee-yoon’s head became even hotter.

“Junior, just because you’re hanging out with those two, you seem to be mistaken that you’ve become great.”

Flames rose around her.

“Don’t be mistaken. You’re just an ordinary person.”

Jin Hee-yoon.

A 4th-circle user [A mage who has reached the fourth level of magical mastery].

Her specialty magic was fire attribute magic.

The flames flickering around her seemed to show her fiery nature.

“Hey. Why would I be mistaken? I know very well. I’m nothing compared to those two. But…”

Mana surged around Ji Soon-chan as well.

It fluctuated violently, as if responding to Jin Hee-yoon’s flames.

“…So, you know your place.”

Jin Hee-yoon raised her right hand and spread it out.

At that moment, the flames concentrated at one point.

‘4th-circle fire attribute magic.’

‘Flame Sniper.’

A magic bullet of flame created by condensing the flame to the maximum.

It flew towards the flag behind Ji Soon-chan.

A fire attribute magic that is highly rated for its power among 4th-circle magic.

Among that fire attribute magic, the most powerful one-point breakthrough compression magic. Flame Sniper.

This magic was not something that a mere 3rd-circle mage could block.

‘What a futile end.’

The Flame Sniper would pierce through the flag along with Ji Soon-chan.

Then it would be over. That would confirm the victory of the 3rd-year team.

However.

KAAAAAAANG-!

Contrary to Jin Hee-yoon’s expectations, the Flame Sniper did not pierce through the flag or Ji Soon-chan.

“…You blocked it?”

A unique octagonal shield unfolded in front of Ji Soon-chan, perfectly blocking the Flame Sniper’s advance.

KIIIIIIIIING-!

The Flame Sniper, blocked by the barrier, rotated fiercely.

The two magics collided and rubbed against each other, and a loud roar echoed.

“Ha-yool told me.”

Ji Soon-chan’s voice rang out through the roar.

“You think you’re a dealer, but your nature is a tank [A character specialized in defense].”

A smile played on Ji Soon-chan’s lips.

“Your main attribute is non-attribute. Among them, you show outstanding talent in defensive magic.”

Mages each have their own main attribute.

Kim Kang-in, the Blue Magic Tower Master, has water as his main attribute, and James Filler, the Red Magic Tower Master, has fire as his main attribute.

Similarly, Jin Hee-yoon also has fire as her main attribute.

These main attributes have the characteristics of consuming less mental power and having high power and output.

And Ji Soon-chan’s main attribute was none other than non-attribute. Among them, he was specialized in ‘defense’.

“Your main attribute is defensive magic?”

“Yes.”

Flicker, flicker…

The Flame Sniper, having lost all its power, scattered and disappeared.

“I said earlier, didn’t I? That I’m nothing compared to Ha-yool or Adela. That’s right. I’m really nothing compared to those two. But…”

Ji Soon-chan raised one corner of his mouth and smiled, full of provocation.

“I think I’m good enough to compare to you, senior.”

“…You.”

Jin Hee-yoon’s brow furrowed again.

Her head, which was already full of blood, became even more full of blood.

“Don’t be cocky!”

Jin Hee-yoon jumped up.

In response to her, the other two also jumped up.

Ji Soon-chan was surrounded in an instant.

“Let’s see if you can block this too…”

Jin Hee-yoon cast a spell right in front of Ji Soon-chan.

“Let’s see!!”

A burning fist.

A 4th-circle close-range fire attribute magic that Shin Ha-yool had used before.

It was Blast Impact.

KWAAAAAAANG-!

A tremendous explosion resounded as it collided with Ji Soon-chan’s barrier.

“Ugh…!”

But even this time, Jin Hee-yoon failed to break through Ji Soon-chan’s barrier.

‘What is this so solid!’

An octagonal barrier of a form she had never seen before.

It certainly seemed to be a 3rd-circle level output, but she didn’t know why it was so solid.

‘But, even so, he can’t block all three simultaneous attacks. We won!’

She could see her teammates over Ji Soon-chan’s shoulders.

Soon, they would unleash their attacks on the flag. Ji Soon-chan alone wouldn’t be able to block all of those attacks.

Jin Hee-yoon was sure that they had won this time.

But then.

“…16-66. 13-26.”

Ji Soon-chan muttered something.

And the next moment.

SWEEEEEEEEK-!

A sound of something cutting through the wind was heard.

The sound of the wind of mana cutting through the air.

Jin Hee-yoon’s eyes widened.

Two wind cutters were flying towards her teammates in the distance.

“Dodge!”

“…!”

At Jin Hee-yoon’s shout, the two jumped away at the same time.

The wind cutters cut through the space where the two had moved away from.

“16-77.”

Ji Soon-chan muttered again.

At that moment, the trajectory of one wind cutter changed.

The wind cutter that had changed its trajectory chased after the man who had moved away.

“Kuh!”

The man hurriedly used a barrier to block the wind cutter.

The wind cutter shattered into wind as it hit the barrier.

A moment of silence passed.

“…Shin Ha-yool.”

A wind cutter that changed its trajectory.

This was most likely Shin Ha-yool’s magic.

“Everyone be careful! Shin Ha-yool is hiding nearby!”

Jin Hee-yoon stepped back and took a defensive stance.

‘Where is he?’

Then she quickly scanned her surroundings.

A region with a lot of trees and bushes.

Shin Ha-yool was hiding among them.

‘Where exactly…’

While Jin Hee-yoon and the two others were on guard.

Ji Soon-chan muttered again.

“21-83.”

Rustle!

At that moment, the sound of leaves rustling was heard from behind Jin Hee-yoon.

Jin Hee-yoon, sensing danger instinctively, jumped to the side.

WHOOONG-!

A gray sphere swept through the place where Jin Hee-yoon had been standing and flew high into the sky.

“…Moonlight Bullet!?”

Moonlight Bullet.

A moon attribute magic that Shinbiwiga was proud of.

“Damn it!”

The fact that they used Moonlight Bullet meant that Adela was also hiding nearby.

Jin Hee-yoon stepped back with a greatly flustered expression and shouted into the radio.

“Ma Jin-seok! All three of them are here! I need backup!”

Looking at Jin Hee-yoon, Ji Soon-chan twisted the corners of his mouth and muttered meaningless numbers again.

“19-32. 6-22.”

One Moonlight Bullet and one Wind Spear flew towards Jin Hee-yoon, who had moved away to create distance.

“Don’t hide and come out! You cowards!”

Looking at Jin Hee-yoon shouting, Ji Soon-chan twisted the corners of his mouth.

* * *

3rd-year base.

Ma Jin-seok was guarding the flag alone.

‘They’re reducing our forces by having all three of them defend, and then they’ll divide the offense and defense. Was that their plan?’

Until a minute ago, there were four defenders. But at Jin Hee-yoon’s request for backup, he sent three people, including Kang Shin-woo, to the offensive team.

Since all three of them were over there, there was no need for four people to guard the flag.

Ma Jin-seok wanted to go and support them as well, but he stayed behind in case of an emergency.

‘It wasn’t a bad plan, but they were unlucky. The distance between the bases is less than 3 minutes…’

If the bases were more than 10 minutes apart, it would have been dangerous.

Jin Hee-yoon’s side would have been annihilated before their backup arrived.

‘Whatever, it’s over.’

Soon, the three people, including Kang Shin-woo, would join Jin Hee-yoon’s side.

Then, the power difference would be two to one, 3:6.

It was practically a victory.

It was then.

WHOOOOOONG-!

A sound of something flying was heard.

A warning bell rang in Ma Jin-seok’s head.

‘An attack?’

He immediately used a shield to protect the flag.

KAAANG-!

The wind was blocked by the shield and disappeared.

‘…Silence Assassin?’

A blade of wind flying silently.

This magic was most likely Silence Assassin.

“You have a good sense.”

A voice was heard from the direction where the Silence Assassin had flown.

“Shin Ha-yool?”

Shin Ha-yool walked out.

“…How are you here?”

Ma Jin-seok’s eyes trembled.

—That damn wind cutter! Shin Ha-yool! Where the hell are you hiding!

According to the voice coming from the radio, Shin Ha-yool shouldn’t be here.

How was Shin Ha-yool here?

“I wonder.”

A voice came from the in-ear that Shin Ha-yool was wearing.

—11-22.

In response to Ji Soon-chan’s voice, Shin Ha-yool moved his mana.

“How do you think I’m here?”

Shin Ha-yool’s smile deepened.