The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 92

The Rebirth of the Mythical Archmage-93

The 10th day of the Olympiad was over.

[Teams Advancing to the Territory Battle Finals]

[Korea, Great Britain, USA, Italy, Egypt, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand]

Only 8 teams remained.

Only the finals were left.

And that night.

“Today’s match was truly impressive.”

It was unusual for Kim Kang-in to visit the lodgings after 10 days.

“To be impressed by a student-level match, thank you for the kind words, even if they are empty.”

I thought he wouldn’t visit the lodgings unless absolutely necessary due to the players’ concentration issues during the Olympiad.

What brought him here all of a sudden?

“Empty words? I was truly impressed. Both how you brilliantly crushed the alliance’s scheme and how you pressured the alliance in cooperation with Great Britain afterwards.”

Kim Kang-in’s eyes sparkled.

His eyes gleamed with curiosity, passion, and a thirst for knowledge.

The moment I saw those eyes, I knew why Kim Kang-in had visited the lodgings today.

“And to top it off, a 6th circle magic at the end.”

6th circle magic.

Kim Kang-in came to the lodgings to satisfy his curiosity about the 6th circle-level output magic I used at the end of the match.

“Do you know how surprised not only I, but also the other tower masters were?”

“Haha.”

I just laughed it off.

Kim Kang-in’s expression became more heated at my nonchalant reaction.

“I’ll get straight to the point. What exactly was that 6th circle magic?”

I thought Kim Kang-in’s TMI [Too Much Information] talk would start again.

My expectations were wrong.

It seemed that curiosity had suppressed his desire to chatter.

Kim Kang-in becomes calm when talking about something he is genuinely curious about.

I’ve learned something new.

I answered the question while thinking that.

“I’ve had some recent achievements.”

Kim Kang-in’s eyes widened at my casual answer.

“Achievements… Does that mean you’ve really reached the 6th circle? At the age of 18?”

An expression of disbelief.

His eyes, looking at me, trembled as if an earthquake had struck.

“To break through the wall of a mage at 18… To renew the record holder for 7 years.”

The 6th circle is also known as the wall of a mage.

To be precise, it should be called the wall of ‘genius’ mages.

The reason for this nickname is that this 6th circle is the point where genius mages, who have been successful since childhood, feel despair for the first time and stagnate.

You can see how high this 6th circle wall is just by looking at the record for the youngest circle achievement.

Before I broke the record, the youngest achiever of the 5th circle was 19 years old, while the youngest achiever of the 6th circle was 25 years old.

There is a difference of 6 years.

It’s no wonder he’s surprised that I reached that 6th circle at the age of 18.

Of course, it’s not just the 6th circle that’s particularly difficult.

As with all academics and sports, everything in the world becomes more difficult as achievements increase.

The same goes for magic.

From the 6th circle onwards, the achievement of magic slows down drastically.

It’s not for nothing that the title of archmage is given from the 7th and 8th circles.

“First of all, to clear up any misunderstandings before you misunderstand further. I haven’t reached the 6th circle.”

“…Misunderstanding?”

“Yes. It’s a misunderstanding.”

6th circle, what a joke.

I haven’t even properly woven the 5th circle yet.

The reason I was able to use 6th circle-level magic was because I succeeded in weaving ‘another type’ of small infinity circles, similar but subtly different from the rings of mind and resonance, while weaving the ring of truth.

As the second ring of mind settled in my body, the overall magic output increased by about 0.15 circles.

As the second ring of resonance settled in my body, the mana output amplification performance of [Resonance] increased by about 0.35 circles.

Thanks to this, a total of about 0.5 circles of output was added, allowing me to produce 6th circle-level output.

“Then what was that magic from earlier? That magic from earlier was clearly 6th circle-level output.”

Kim Kang-in’s eyes turned crimson.

“There’s no way you’re not a 6th circle user if you used such magic…”

Kim Kang-in examined my body with his ruby eyes activated.

And at the same time as his gaze turned to my heart, Kim Kang-in lost his words.

He stared blankly at my chest for about 30 seconds with a dazed expression.

“…You’re really not a 6th circle.”

Only after another 10 seconds had passed did he seem to regain his senses.

Kim Kang-in said with a hollow laugh. My head tilted slightly.

“What were you looking at around my chest?”

It’s a well-known fact that the ruby eyes can identify 5th circle users through the presence or absence of mana veins.

Because of that, Kim Kang-in was given the strange nickname ‘circle discriminator’ on the internet.

However, this is only a discrimination method limited to the 5th circle.

I’ve never heard that Kim Kang-in can distinguish mages above the 6th circle with his ruby eyes.

“When you weave more than 6 mana circles, a mana disconnection phenomenon is observed near the mage’s heart. It’s a phenomenon caused by the mana circles over-absorbing mana.”

“Mana disconnection phenomenon… Such a phenomenon is observed in 6th circle mages.”

“Yes. It’s a subtle reaction that can only be seen with something like the ruby eyes…”

Mana disconnection near the heart.

It was information I was hearing for the first time.

“For your information, this is a fact that has not yet been disclosed to the media or other tower masters. Please keep it confidential.”

“Yes. Of course.”

I have no intention of sharing such high-level information with anyone.

Maybe just Mimir?

“Anyway, no mana disconnection phenomenon is observed near Hayul’s heart. Therefore, it is true that Hayul is not a 6th circle.”

“Yes. As I said, I am not a 6th circle yet.”

Kim Kang-in laughed hollowly again.

“Then what was the magic you used in the match earlier? For a 5th circle to use 6th circle-level magic. Without ignoring the first law of magic…”

Kim Kang-in’s eyes widened as he spoke.

“…Could it be that you ignored the first law of magic?”

The first law of magic.

The law of conservation of absolute circle quantity.

It is the basic law of magic that one cannot use magic that exceeds the level of their own circle.

“Yes. I can ignore the first law of magic and use magic that surpasses my own achievements by one step.”

Kim Kang-in’s eyes widened as much as they could.

* * *

After finishing his conversation with Shin Hayul, Kim Kang-in returned to his hotel and sat on the sofa, lost in thought, without even taking off his coat.

‘A magic that increases output by ignoring the first law of magic.’

Even thinking about it again, all that comes out is a hollow laugh.

To be able to use magic that surpasses one’s own achievements.

‘I can’t believe it.’

Shin Hayul, who does not have the mana disconnection unique to the 6th circle, used 6th circle magic.

In other words, Shin Hayul is a 5th circle user who used magic with 6th circle-level output.

These two facts are clear truths confirmed by Kim Kang-in’s secret magic, ‘Ruby Eyes.’

In other words, it is true that Shin Hayul broke the first law of magic.

‘What the heck is Hayul’s magic?’

My mind is going blank.

It feels like the common sense I took for granted has been shattered.

It’s like hearing that the sun, which is supposed to rise in the east, actually rises in the south, and even being presented with proof of it.

The shock Kim Kang-in is currently feeling is that great.

‘Enabling free modification of magic formulas.’

Kim Kang-in recalled the battle between Baek Sa-hyuk and Shin Hayul in April of this year.

The image of Shin Hayul mocking Baek Sa-hyuk with a single Wind Spear is vividly recalled.

‘Being able to interfere with the opponent’s magic.’

At the time of the Emerald Turtle’s defeat. Shin Hayul interfered with the Emerald Turtle’s carapace, weakening its strength.

‘Being able to completely neutralize the opponent’s magic.’

During the friendly match with Joo Han-wook.

He annihilated Joo Han-wook’s Inferno.

‘Possessing the ability to see mana, and even the detection ability to distinguish the opponent’s mana by color.’

He also possesses a detection ability that seems to be related to the annihilation of magic.

‘This is amazing enough, but now he even ignores the first law of magic and enhances magic.’

What is Shin Hayul’s magic? What kind of magic does he possess that allows him to do such unbelievable things?

‘……Once this Olympiad is safely over, I need to do a proper investigation based on the information I’ve gathered so far.’

Kim Kang-in closed his eyes, contemplating Shin Hayul’s magic.

* * *

Day 11 of the Olympiad.

30 minutes before the start of the Territory Battle finals.

Before heading to the waiting room, I headed to the vending machine to quench my thirst and get some drinks.

And I encountered an unexpected person.

“Hi?”

Dahlia Salentia.

“…Shin Hayul.”

And Sarah Ceylon.

The duo in charge of the literary and martial arts of the US team.

I never expected to run into them like this.

“Hi. It’s been a while, both of you.”

I greeted the two lightly and got a drink from the vending machine.

I got 15 drinks, not just for myself, but for my teammates as well.

Clunk, clunk.

The sound of sports drinks falling from the vending machine rang loudly.

Since there was no way to carry all 15 bottles, I used magic to float all 15 sports drinks in the air.

“Yesterday—”

Just as I was about to leave, Dahlia spoke hesitantly.

“The magic you used in the first match yesterday. It was 6th circle.”

I turned to look at Dahlia.

Dahlia’s eyes were trembling slightly.

“Are you really a 6th circle user?”

“Well, maybe I am, maybe I’m not.”

I replied casually with a smile.

They probably see it as a hateful smile.

“…That annoying personality is still the same.”

Sarah said with a disgusted expression.

I’ve met Sarah Ceylon before.

We clashed a total of 4 times at the International Academic Conference. And I won all 4 times.

From their perspective, they probably don’t see me in a good light.

“Why did you bother using 6th circle magic in yesterday’s match? No, why did you bother giving us information about 6th circle magic?”

Sarah asked with a somewhat sharp expression.

“Do you think I’ll answer?”

“…No.”

In the first match of the second round yesterday.

Against the alliance, I used 6th circle magic only at the end.

I used 6th circle magic even though I could have finished it with a simple 4th circle magic.

From Sarah’s point of view, this would have looked like a ‘show-off 6th circle magic.’

It’s true that it was a show-off magic.

I intentionally showed 6th circle magic to Great Britain and the United States.

‘Since I can’t use 6th circle magic in actual combat anyway, I should use it for a feint like this.’

As I said, the reason I could use 6th circle magic was because I succeeded in weaving two small infinity circles while weaving the ring of truth.

As a result, I can use 6th circle magic by raising the resonance frequency of resonance to the limit and accelerating it.

But that’s just being able to ‘use’ it.

It’s not to the point where I can ‘utilize’ it in actual combat.

Since it’s forcibly using an incomplete ring, the side effects are strong.

It also requires a lot of preparation time, and the stability is greatly reduced.

It’s not a power that can be used in a battle with Dahlia or Kyle.

That’s why I devised a strategy to use 6th circle magic for show, and I actually put it into action.

The result is this situation.

Sarah is making an expression as impatient as possible.

Dahlia was no different.

The situation is probably the same for Great Britain.

My bluff completely shook the minds of the opposing team’s aces.

“…Then, when attacking the alliance. Why didn’t you bother to occupy the bases of other countries and immediately go to support Kyle Bentia?”

Sarah didn’t give up and asked again.

That persistence is still the same.

Once you refuse to answer, you wouldn’t normally ask a second question.

“If you rejected the alliance’s proposal, it would have been a much more rational choice to immediately occupy and eliminate one of the alliance teams. But you chose to join Kyle right away, leaving that easy path behind. It’s a decision I can’t understand with my head. What’s your purpose?”

“My answer is the same. Do you think I’ll answer?”

“…No. Of course, you won’t.”

Sarah shook her head at my question.

“You don’t have to answer. I was just asking just in case. It’s worth a shot.”

It seems like she didn’t expect to get an answer from the beginning. Sarah said with an expression that didn’t show any disappointment.

“Sorry for taking up your time before the start. Then in the match…”

“Shall I answer?”

“…You’ll answer?”

At my answer, Sarah’s eyes widened like a startled rabbit and she turned her gaze back to me.

“Yeah. It’s a coincidence that we met like this. I feel like I should give you a small gift.”

“…Are you serious?”

Are you really going to answer?

That’s the expression she’s making.

I chuckled and said.

“I did that to get information about Kyle Bentia.”

“…What do you mean?”

“I didn’t intentionally reduce the alliance’s power to gather information about Kyle.”

“You didn’t occupy the alliance’s territory on purpose to gather information? To drag out the battle?”

“That’s right. Because the opportunity to observe Kyle directly, and that close, doesn’t come easily.”

“…Was there a reason for Korea to do that in that situation?”

If the battle is prolonged, and Korea gains additional information about Great Britain, it also means that Great Britain gains additional information about Korea.

The same goes for the United States. As our battle dragged on, they would have acquired a lot of data on Great Britain and Korea.

In other words, the benefits of me dragging out the battle are in the order of [USA > Korea ≧ Great Britain].

But.

“There was.”

That’s just the story when considering only the superficial data values.

My power that Great Britain and the United States don’t know about. If you include the Byetener formula in the calculation, the inequality of benefits is reversed.

“You’ll see in today’s final. Why I made that choice.”

The opportunity for me to see Kyle Bentia’s battle directly, and that close, is a great benefit that cannot be compared to anything else.