The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 87

“I’m here.”

As I entered the waiting room, nine pairs of eyes simultaneously turned to me.

“What happened?”

“Why did the organizing committee suddenly step in? Was there a problem?”

The seniors immediately bombarded me with questions. They all looked worried.

It was natural for them to be concerned, as I was suddenly summoned by the organizing committee right after the round of 32.

“There’s no problem. I just had to get my magic checked because I bent the trajectory of the magic sphere.”

“Magic check?”

Soonchan tilted his head.

He looked like he was wondering why I had to get a magic check.

“They suspected that I might have used an unfair method to bend the trajectory of the magic sphere.”

“?”

Soonchan’s head tilted even further. He looked like he was saying, ‘Is bending a magic sphere something that would raise suspicion of cheating?’

“The magic sphere in Tie-Break has a magic formula engraved on it to ensure fairness, as it is a sport.”

Adela stepped in to clear up Soonchan’s confusion.

“Because of that, the magic that can be used on the magic sphere is limited. You can either increase the speed or the power using the mana you infuse. Usually, you can only do one of those two.”

“What about bending the trajectory?”

Adela shook her head.

“It’s impossible. In the 50-year history of Tie-Break, there’s no record of anyone bending the trajectory of the magic sphere using the magic formula.”

“……Wow.”

Soonchan stared at me with a blank expression.

He looked like he was saying, ‘You used something so amazing so casually?’

“Since you did something so absurd, it’s natural for the organizing committee to summon you. They were probably thinking you did something to the magic sphere.”

Adela turned her gaze to me, asking with her eyes, ‘Is that right?’

“That’s right. They immediately checked the magic sphere I used. After that, they made me demonstrate it again in front of them.”

I also went through about four other magic checks.

“What were the results?”

“Of course, I passed. I didn’t do anything unfair, so what would there be to catch?”

The faces of the organizing committee officials, who couldn’t believe it even after seeing me demonstrate it right in front of them, are still vivid in my mind.

“For something you ‘of course’ passed, it took a long time, didn’t it?”

“The magic check itself was quick, but after that, I was held up by the people from the International Tie-Break Game Organizing Committee, who made me various offers, so it took a while.”

“Ah. I see. They must have been shocked to see that kind of magic in person…”

Adela nodded as if she understood.

“What is it? What kind of offers did the international committee people make?”

Soonchan, who had only started learning magic at the age of 17, was clueless in this area.

“They asked me to sell the magic formula for bending the trajectory of the magic sphere. They said that if they had it, they could have more diverse game operations.”

“Ah, I see.”

The magic sport called Tie-Break has history and tradition, but it’s not very popular.

No matter how much history and tradition it has, and how deep it is the more you know about it.

From the viewer’s perspective, it lacks the explosive excitement and action, making it less enjoyable to watch.

It’s easier to understand if you think of it like Go [a strategic board game].

They’re doing some kind of strategic battle, but to the average person, it’s hard to understand what’s going on, and it’s so bland that they don’t really bother watching it.

That’s exactly what Tie-Break is like.

“Certainly, if a variable like trajectory modification is added to Tie-Break, it would be much more interesting to watch.”

“Oh. Then maybe I’d watch it too?”

Majinseok and Jin Heeyoon each said a word.

Even those two, who know a fair bit about Tie-Break, are saying this much.

It was only natural that the organizing committee members were anxious.

“But why do they need to buy the magic formula? If they want to bend the trajectory, they can just change the magic formula of the magic sphere.”

Senior Heeyoon scoffed at Soonchan’s words.

“You’re a mage, and you don’t know how hard it is to modify a magic formula? If it were possible, they would have done it already.”

“It’s just bending the trajectory of the magic sphere. Is it that hard to modify?”

“It would be easy if it were just bending the trajectory. But the magic sphere and magic shield for Tie-Break already have 10 magic formulas engraved on them, right?”

Various magic formulas that fit the rules of Tie-Break are engraved on them.

Maintaining those formulas and adding a magic formula to bend the trajectory of the sphere is virtually impossible.

“Ah, I see. It must be difficult.”

“It’s not just difficult. It’s impossible.”

Adela added to Jin Heeyoon’s opinion.

“It’s been 50 years since Tie-Break was created. There have been many attempts to change the game during that time. And they all ended in failure.”

Maintaining existing magic formulas and adding something on top of them is an indescribably difficult task.

“And in that situation, Hayul just went and did that wicked thing of bending the trajectory of the magic sphere 13 times?”

“That’s right.”

“Wow. It’s no wonder the organizing committee members are anxious.”

Soonchan nodded, now understanding.

“So, what did you answer? Did you say you’d share it?”

“No. Of course, I said I wouldn’t. To share the trajectory-changing magic formula, I’d have to reveal all my secret magic formulas. Why would I share it?”

“Ah, I see.”

The bending of the magic sphere’s trajectory was done using the power of the Vaiternar style [a unique magic style].

Sharing it is obviously impossible, and even if I did share it, it couldn’t be used by anyone who doesn’t have the same constitution as me.

“Anyway, everything worked out, right? It’s practically safe to say that you’ve won the Tie-Break, right?”

Jin Heeyoon asked casually.

“That’s right.”

“Then that’s good enough.”

The multiple simultaneous protection stone break using the magic sphere’s trajectory modification.

No one can stop this.

I will definitely win this game.

“By the way, it’s a shame. The US and the UK should have sent out Dahlia and Kyle.”

The list of participants is submitted the day before the game starts.

Of course, the participants of the opposing team are not known until the day of the game.

“I agree. I personally hoped that one of them would come out.”

If Kyle or Dahlia had participated in this game, I could have made the US and the UK waste one of their most important cards.

It’s a shame.

Personally, since it’s a one-person game, I thought they would both participate.

My guess was wrong.

“Well, it’s a shame, but it’s okay since we won.”

With this, I’ve won two out of four games.

It’s definitely not a result to be disappointed about.

‘And with today’s events, Dahlia and Kyle’s minds will be even more complicated.’

The two teams, already confused about whether I’m a 6-circle mage or not, will have their minds further complicated by today’s events.

Strategically, this means we’ve taken a step ahead.

And above all, the current situation is very good.

‘Now that it’s come to this, I can put the nail in the coffin in the next game.’

I smiled inwardly, thinking about the fifth game that would start the day after tomorrow.

* * *

That night.

In the grand hall of the accommodation where the US team was staying, Dahlia and the rest of the US team were wearing serious expressions.

“As you all know, the situation is not good.”

The woman standing in front of the podium.

‘Sarah Ceylon,’ the brain of the US team, unfolded a PPT [PowerPoint presentation] with a serious expression.

It was a document analyzing the results of the Olympiad over the past seven days and the direction of the future.

“The results of Tie-Break haven’t come out yet, but the Korean team will most likely win. Our US team will meet the Korean team in the round of 16 and lose.”

Even though she stated that they would lose in a match that hadn’t even happened yet, no one complained.

There was no one among them who didn’t know that they couldn’t beat the Korean team in the Tie-Break event.

“And the UK has a good bracket, so they’ll make it to the finals. They won’t be able to beat Korea either, though.”

While the US was unlucky, the UK was quite lucky.

If the UK doesn’t make any mistakes, they’ll make it to the finals safely.

“If that happens, the overall standings will be like this.”

[1st Place: Korea]

[2nd Place: UK]

[3rd Place: USA]

The US, which was in first place, will drop to third place in an instant.

The difference in points with the UK in second place is small, but the gap with Korea in first place will be quite large.

“I won’t bother mentioning the 4th place and below here. They’re not really our opponents.”

Everyone nodded at Sarah’s words. Germany in 4th place is doing quite well, but it doesn’t mean much.

Germany, which doesn’t have top-tier power like Kyle, Dahlia, and Shin Hayul, cannot rise above this.

“The top power of these three countries has 4 remaining entry cards each.”

As Sarah manipulated it, the PPT screen changed, and the number of appearances for each team member appeared.

Apart from Shin Hayul, Dahlia, and Kyle’s two appearances each, the only notable point was that Adela Stewart had already appeared three times.

“And there are 6 games left.”

Next, it moved to a page with a list of the remaining games.

“How we divide the participants for these six games. This will greatly affect the outcome.”

To be precise, the outcome will change greatly depending on whether Kyle, Dahlia, and Shin Hayul participate.

“The best thing is to avoid overlapping as much as possible with Shin Hayul’s appearances.”

It’s best to avoid fighting against an unknown power like Shin Hayul as much as possible.

Shin Hayul cannot participate in two of the six games, so we should aim for those games.

“Even if we don’t overlap, we don’t know which game Shin Hayul will participate in.”

A man raised an obvious question.

“Fortunately, we can predict it to some extent.”

As Dahlia manipulated the computer, the names of three of the six games turned black.

[Battle Survival]

[Open Raid]

[1:1 Duel]

“These three games have higher scores than the other games. As such, all teams will send out their best power for these three games. Of course, Korea will also send out Shin Hayul.”

Shin Hayul will definitely participate in these three games with high scores.

“Then that means he won’t participate in two of the remaining three games.”

[Maze Exploration]

[Magic Quiz Battle]

[Territory Capture]

Three games that are less important than the previous three games.

If we choose well in these three games, we can win 2 games without meeting Shin Hayul.

“And I think Shin Hayul will probably not participate in the Magic Quiz Battle.”

“Why?”

“Shin Hayul is smart. If he participates in this game, victory is guaranteed.”

There’s no reason not to participate in a game where victory is guaranteed.

“……Sarah, you can’t compete with him either?”

“Yeah. I hate to admit it, but I’ll lose.”

Dahlia had never seen anyone as smart as Sarah among her peers.

For Sarah to say that much, I knew Shin Hayul was smart, but I didn’t know he was that much.

“Therefore, I think it would be a good idea for Dahlia to participate in the Maze Exploration and Territory Capture to secure 2 wins first.”

“Giving up one of the three games with the highest scores?”

“Yeah. Even if the scores are high, the difference isn’t that big. Considering stability, I think it’s right to secure two of these games first.”

“Hmm…”

It was a valid opinion.

“What if Shin Hayul anticipates our thoughts and doesn’t choose the Magic Quiz Battle?”

“Then I’ll win the Magic Quiz Battle.”

Sarah is second to none when it comes to quizzes.

If it’s not Shin Hayul, an out-of-the-box monster, she’s confident she can beat anyone.

“What about the UK team’s movements?”

“I hate to admit it, but Maya has a similar tendency to me… I think she’ll probably come to a similar conclusion as us. But Kyle has that personality, so he won’t accept that opinion.”

“There’s no way Kyle would avoid a fight.”

That battle maniac would never avoid an opportunity to fight Shin Hayul on his own will.

“That’s right. Therefore, the UK will send Kyle to all three games: Battle Survival, Open Raid, and 1:1 Duel. And they’ll send Kyle to only one of the remaining three games. And considering Kyle’s personality, he’ll probably participate in this game.”

Sarah circled [Territory Capture].

Kyle would definitely participate in this game.

“If we defeat Kyle in this game and take first place. And then take first place in the Maze Exploration, which is likely to be empty, we can definitely get ahead of the UK. At least a silver medal is guaranteed.”

If this happens, the US will win 3 games, and the UK will win 1 game.

In fact, the silver medal is as good as confirmed.

“If we beat Korea in the remaining two games and win, we’ll have 5 wins, and Korea will have 4 wins…”

“Gold medal.”

“That’s right.”

Dahlia smiled with satisfaction.

“Yeah. That sounds good.”

A best-case scenario that considered both aiming for victory and ensuring safety.

It was a very satisfactory plan.

“Let’s do that.”

“Thank you for trusting me.”

Sarah smiled brightly.

She was very grateful to Dahlia for trusting her and choosing to give up the highest-scoring game.

“Then the [Territory Capture] game the day after tomorrow is the key.”

The fifth game of the Olympiad, the Territory Capture.

It’s most important to beat the UK in this game.

If we lose here, we’re screwed.

“I’m counting on you. Make Kyle’s nose flat.”

“Of course.”

Dahlia smiled fiercely.

She was already annoyed to the point of boiling over because of Kyle today.

She was going to show him what’s what.

That’s what she thought.

However.

Predictions are just predictions, and thoughts are just thoughts.

Day 9 of the Olympiad.

[Territory Capture]

[List of Participants]

[USA]

[Dahlia] [Sarah] [Maylee]

[Korea]

[Shin Hayul] [Majinseok] [Kang Shinwoo]

[UK]

[Kyle] [Maya] [Naif]

As if mocking the US’s thoughts, Korea put Shin Hayul’s name on the list of participants for the [Territory Capture] game.