The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 120

The schedule for the top 4 matches was over.

Now, the only remaining event in the individual matches was the final match tomorrow.

[Individual Match Finals]

[AM 11:30]

[Korea VS United States]

As everyone expected, Korea and the United States advanced to the finals.

There were no upsets.

Adela and Dahlia won their semi-final matches by a landslide and advanced to the finals without difficulty.

[Korea, one step away from breaking the record.]

[Is history changing after 137 years?]

Now, Korea’s record-breaking achievement was truly within reach.

Major portals around the world were flooding with such articles.

It was only natural.

It was a record-breaking achievement after 137 years.

It would be more unreasonable to ask people not to be interested.

[Adela Stewart. Defeats the British genius, Kyle Bentia!]

[How did Adela Stewart defeat Kyle Bentia?]

[4-Circle VS 5-Circle! A spectacular victory, breaking through a 7.3% win rate!]

Moreover, the content of the match was exceptionally good.

Adela, a 4-circle mage, achieved victory against Kyle, a 5-circle mage.

It was a literal upset.

The world cheered for the emergence of a new genius.

[That was awesome.]

Among them, the hottest place was undoubtedly Korea.

Korea was burning tens of times hotter than the world’s cheers.

[The record-breaking achievement is really within reach.]

[I’m definitely watching the finals tomorrow, no matter if I have work or not.]

[To think I’d see such a sight in my lifetime. Huff huff.]

Korea was the one about to break the record.

The Korean player was the one who defeated Kyle.

It was only natural for Koreans to feel their hearts burning with passion.

[Guys, let’s all calm down for now. It seems like we’re getting too ahead of ourselves.]

[Even if we win against Dahlia tomorrow, there are still two more matches left. Getting ahead of ourselves now is really jumping the gun.]

[Yeah. Nonsense, right? If we win the individual match tomorrow, it’s practically a record-breaking achievement, right?]

[Dahlia and Kyle have one remaining chance to participate. Shin Hayul has two. One of the open raid or dungeon exploration is 100% guaranteed to win.]

[And in the remaining match, with Shin Hayul and Adela’s one-two punch, they can never lose to Kyle or Dahlia.]

Shin Hayul, who single-handedly crushed the alliance of Kyle and Dahlia.

And Adela, who defeated Kyle.

If these two joined forces, winning the remaining two matches wouldn’t be that difficult.

[Honestly, Shin Hayul could win even if he went alone, right?]

[Shin Hayul is a god, and Korea is the strongest.]

[It’s like the victory is being copied, you know?]

Koreans were taking Shin Hayul’s victory for granted to the point where such words were being plastered everywhere.

[The problem is the finals tomorrow, before the dungeon exploration and open raid that Shin Hayul will participate in.]

[Honestly, it’s incredibly disadvantageous. It’d be a miracle if we win.]

[Agreed. Honestly, Adela is a lower-tier version of Dahlia, right?]

Adela and Dahlia are both long-range mages who prioritize firepower.

Since they are the same type, the difference in circles is an absolute difference [Circles refer to a mage’s level of power, with higher circles indicating greater strength].

If you think about it rationally, it’s impossible to win.

[Hey. If you think like that, was Kyle easy to beat?]

[Our Adela-nim has it all figured out~ That’s what I’m saying.]

[Dahlia is at least a lower-tier version, but Kyle was an extreme counter. If she beat a counter, is there anything she can’t beat just because it’s a lower-tier version?]

[Will a miracle happen twice?]

[If I put aside my personal bias, honestly, I think we’ll lose.]

On the internet, there was a constant debate about Adela’s victory or defeat.

[Sigh. Whatever happens, don’t leave hateful comments if Adela loses.]

[Those who leave hateful comments for this should all die. It’s a match where winning is practically impossible.]

[Even if she loses, I honestly won’t be disappointed. We’ve already secured the gold medal, lol.]

“Sigh.”

Ji Soonchan, who was watching the community’s reactions in real-time, let out a sigh of relief.

“Thankfully, it seems like she won’t become a traitor even if she loses.”

“What?”

Jin Heeyoon, who was also looking at the internet reactions next to Ji Soonchan, tilted her head as if asking what he was talking about.

“Tomorrow’s match. I was worried that everyone would be so blinded by the record-breaking achievement that they might say she’s a traitor if she loses.”

It was no exaggeration to say that the record-breaking achievement depended on Adela’s victory or defeat.

As such, there was a chance that Adela would be criticized by everyone if she lost.

“Why are you worrying about such useless things?”

“It’s better to be safe than sorry. It’s good to prepare, right?”

“……You’re just like Shin Leader’s friend. You’re quite the type to live a tiring life, aren’t you?”

Jin Heeyoon let out a hollow laugh.

No matter how extreme the Korean media was, they wouldn’t criticize a player who had worked hard in the match.

“More importantly, are Ji-soo and Shin Leader still holed up in their room?”

“Yes.”

Immediately after returning to the hotel, Shin Hayul had locked himself in his room with Adela.

Two hours had passed since then.

The two still hadn’t shown themselves.

“What on earth are they doing that they haven’t even eaten dinner?”

“I know, right?”

“I want to go ask, but they told me not to come so firmly…….”

Jin Heeyoon pouted.

She was feeling upset at Shin Hayul and Adela for doing something in secret from her.

“There must be a reason they can’t tell us. They’ll tell us when the time comes…….”

Just as Ji Soonchan was trying to soothe Jin Heeyoon’s feelings, it happened.

Whoooosh-!

Thump-!

“Kyaa!”

“Ugh!”

Suddenly, the hotel grounds trembled, and a strong wind blew.

“Wh-what’s going on all of a sudden? Is it another mana disaster?”

The unnatural tremor and gust of wind that didn’t feel natural at all.

Jin Heeyoon was horrified and jumped up, seeing the situation that looked suspicious at first glance.

Considering that the hotel they were staying at last time had collapsed due to a mana disaster, there was no guarantee that such a thing wouldn’t happen this time.

“Soonchan! Let’s get out of here!”

“…….”

“Soonchan?”

Ji Soonchan didn’t answer.

He was just staring blankly in one direction.

“Isn’t this, Adela’s mana?”

“……Huh?”

Jin Heeyoon’s eyes also widened.

“It’s real?”

The mana that filled the entire hotel was surprisingly similar in nature to Adela’s mana.

And this feeling was…….

“It feels similar to the mana from the day Adela was said to be breaking through the wall of enlightenment.”

“Now that I hear it…….”

Jin Heeyoon’s pupils grew even larger.

“I think you’re right?”

The two stared blankly at the direction of Shin Hayul’s room, the direction where the mana was flowing out.

“Then what is it? Is she breaking through the wall of enlightenment again?”

“I guess so?”

“……Are you kidding me?”

Jin Heeyoon and Ji Soonchan let out hollow laughs one after another.

* * *

Adela was sitting comfortably on the floor, closing her eyes and concentrating her mind.

Mana was rotating around Adela’s body at a constant speed.

The mana circulation was perfectly stable.

‘Good.’

I could tell even without activating my Divine Eye.

Currently, a new ring was slowly forming around Adela’s heart.

When Adela opened her eyes next, she would be a 5-circle user.

I left Adela behind and headed out of the room.

I slowly opened the door, stepped outside, and closed the door.

“Young Master.”

As soon as I closed the door, Mr. Seokhyun appeared.

“Could it be that Miss Adela is again…….”

“Yes. This time, she’s completely breaking through the wall of enlightenment.”

At my answer, Mr. Seokhyun’s pupils trembled slightly.

“When you say completely breaking through, does that mean she’s surpassing the wall of the circle……?”

“Yes. Currently, Adela is weaving the fifth ring in real-time.”

“Oh my goodness…….”

Kim Seokhyun opened his mouth halfway and was shocked.

“Therefore, could you contact the Shadow members and block everyone coming here? So that Adela’s concentration isn’t broken.”

“Yes. Of course. I will give the order right away.”

Mr. Seokhyun gave instructions to the Shadow members through a small walkie-talkie he was holding.

“It’s done.”

“Thank you.”

Now, the 3rd floor was a complete safe zone. From now until tomorrow morning, no one could enter the 3rd floor.

“By the way. To so readily give out a potion with this much efficacy…….”

Kim Seokhyun stared at me with a surprised expression.

“So, you were a man after all, Young Master.”

“……Pardon?”

Then he said something completely out of the blue. Suddenly, a man?

“To be able to give such a precious thing as a gift. I guess all men are the same when it comes to love.”

“?”

I couldn’t understand the flow of the conversation at all.

“But it was a mistake not to show it at all. Love is established when you show it. When giving a gift like the Tears of the Earth, you have to create a dramatic production to make a sufficient appeal…….”

“Wait a minute. Wh-what do you mean by Tears of the Earth?”

At my words, Kim Seokhyun’s smile deepened.

“You don’t have to pretend you don’t know. The potion that Young Master gifted to Miss Adela. I know that it’s the Tears of the Earth.”

Tears of the Earth.

One of the three best potions among the existing potions.

Its value was said to be enough to buy a small country.

I gave such a great potion to Adela?

Where and how did such a rumor even start and spread?

Could it be that they mistook the Grace of God for the Tears of the Earth?

Certainly, the taste and texture are similar to the Tears of the Earth, but…….

“Personally, I’m a little disappointed that you didn’t take it yourself, but if I think that it was taken by the person who will eventually become the mistress of the house, then in a forward-looking way…….”

Mr. Seokhyun, who seemed to have already imagined my children with Adela, had a very vivid expression.

It was the first time I knew that Mr. Seokhyun had such a side to him.

“Whatever the case, please leave this matter to me. The Shinbi Group is also looking favorably upon Young Master Hayul. And since the relationship with Miss Adela isn’t bad, I’ll talk to the head of the family and…….”

“…….”

I just stared at the rampaging Mr. Seokhyun and could only let out a hollow laugh without being able to answer.

* * *

1 AM that night.

After leaving the room where Adela was circulating mana, I was resting in a new room.

[Sender: Father]

[Come to my room right now.]

I was summoned by my father and headed to the top floor room where he was staying.

“You called for me.”

He was wearing a suit, as if he had just returned from an important task.

“Sit down.”

“Yes.”

I sat across from the sofa where my father was sitting.

“I heard. Adela has reached the 5th circle.”

“Yes.”

“I also heard that the power of the potion you gifted was great.”

“……Yes.”

My father’s smile deepened.

It was a smile that made me feel uneasy.

“So. You have feelings for Adela?”

As expected.

My uneasy premonition was right.

“It’s a misunderstanding.”

I was half-expecting it, but I didn’t think they would have said even that.

“You don’t have to deny it. I understand.”

His face clearly showed that he didn’t understand at all.

“Father. That’s really a misunderstanding…….”

“That’s enough. Let’s talk about this after we return to Korea.”

“So, I’m not…….”

“Hmm. Sangcheol is the problem. I wonder how that guy who only cares about his daughter will react…….”

“…….”

My father didn’t seem to have any intention of listening to me.

No, he wouldn’t even listen to me no matter what I said.

From the moment I gifted the world’s best potion, ‘Tears of the Earth,’ to Adela without taking it myself, my heart was set on Adela.

If love wasn’t the reason, there was no reason for me to give that potion to Adela.

That’s what my father must be thinking.

‘I just gave it to her because it was meaningless for me to take it…….’

But since I couldn’t explain about the Grace of God, there was no way to refute it.

“Well, if Adela has become a 5-circle mage, she’ll likely win the individual match tomorrow.”

“Yes. She will definitely win.”

The strategy to defeat Dahlia was already complete. Even when she was a 4-circle mage, her win rate was 50%, so there was no need to mention it now that she was a 5-circle mage.

No, in the first place, Adela’s win rate would be high even if she fought without a strategy now.

Adela’s talent, who had perfectly absorbed the Grace of God, would be incomparable to Dahlia Salentia.

“The gold medal is confirmed. The record-breaking achievement is also a sure thing.”

“Yes.”

My father’s eyes sharpened.

“And if we break the record, Ji-han won’t be able to stay still either. He’ll definitely show some action this time.”

“Yes.”

He was holding back now, but if the record-breaking achievement was right in front of him, even Shin Ji-han would have no choice but to make a move.

He wouldn’t be able to sit still and hand over the position of the next head of the family to me.

“And if you show something even more amazing in the dungeon exploration that will start tomorrow afternoon, it would be even better…….”

My father’s eyes gleamed meaningfully.

“That’s what you called me for.”

Show something in the dungeon exploration that will start tomorrow.

Shake Shin Ji-han’s mind with that and make him move.

That was what he meant.

“I understand. I’ll do it.”

I stared into my father’s eyes with a confident expression.

“It can’t be something mediocre. You have to show something even more amazing than what you’ve shown so far.”

“Yes. I know.”

To make Shin Ji-han anxious, something ordinary wouldn’t do.

I knew that much.

“I will show a magic that will surprise not only Ji-han hyung but also Father.”

My magic, which had evolved further by reaching the 5th circle.

The ‘Chanting’ using the Ring of Truth.

The moment the place to show that power was decided.