The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 137

I was dreaming.

A dream so real that I couldn’t tell if it was real or fake, reality or a dream.

‘Asran. Are you really going to choose the Labyrinth of Desire?’

A man with long golden hair, reminiscent of gold, reaching below his waist.

The aura emanating from his eyes was extraordinary.

Looking into those golden eyes, one could not utter any falsehoods.

They were eyes so intense and profound that such a thought naturally arose.

‘Yes. If I am to be placed on the fifth trial page, I wish to be placed with the Labyrinth of Desire.’

A man entirely in black, contrasting with the gold.

He knelt on one knee and lowered his head.

‘What is the reason?’

‘The Labyrinth of Desire is a labyrinth that can test the mind, spirit, and body simultaneously, and it is also a blessed testing ground where one can confirm the hidden nature of humans. If we are to test the future successor, I thought there would be no better place.’

The man raised his head.

Short black hair that was clearly grown haphazardly.

His eyes were filled with undisguised loyalty and respect.

‘I acknowledge that it is a blessed testing ground. However, the Labyrinth of Desire is too dangerous for a successor who is only at the 5th Circle [a level of magical power].’

‘Yes. I am aware.’

A different light flashed in the black man’s eyes.

‘That is why I intend to reorganize the Labyrinth of Desire.’

‘Reorganize. Does that mean you will remodel the labyrinth to a level that the future successor can also break through?’

‘Yes.’

‘It won’t be easy to remodel a labyrinth to that level.’

‘I know. But I will make it happen.’

‘Don’t misunderstand. I don’t think you will fail. If it’s you, you will succeed no matter how long it takes.’

‘……I am honored.’

The black man lowered his head again. He looked like a vassal moved by his lord’s trust.

‘What I’m worried about isn’t your failure, but the time.’

The golden man raised his left hand and spread his palm.

The man’s hand was trembling.

As if he had some kind of disease.

‘I don’t know if my body can hold out until you remodel the labyrinth.’

‘……My lord.’

The black man bit his lip.

His face and eyes were distorted.

His expression seemed to embody regret and anger.

‘……Before that. I will make it happen no matter what.’

The man swallowed his dark emotions and put on a rather bright expression.

He couldn’t further disturb his lord’s already troubled mind with his own emotions.

Thinking that, he smiled desperately.

‘Besides, there’s nothing for me to do in the current Vaitener Empire… I will definitely complete it within half a year.’

‘There’s nothing to do, you say…’

The golden man turned his head with a subtle expression.

A huge glass window hung on one side of the magnificent room.

The view of a beautiful metropolis came into view.

The market was full of life, people were laughing, and adventurers were full of energy.

An ideal world where complete peace had settled.

Beyond the glass window, happiness was embodied.

‘Indeed. There is nothing for either of us to do in the current empire.’

‘……My lord, please don’t say such things. The empire still needs you.’

The black man said with a somber expression.

‘Don’t look at me with that expression. It’s peace that we fought so hard to achieve. I also intend to enjoy this peace to the fullest.’

‘……Yes.’

The black man lowered his head.

He didn’t want to show his lord the expression he was making now.

As if knowing the black man’s feelings, the golden man turned his head again.

‘Then, I’ll leave it to you.’

He said casually, looking at the beautiful scenery outside the window.

‘Make the Labyrinth of Desire a great testing ground that can help the future successor, that you can evaluate the future successor with.’

‘Yes. Please leave it to me.’

The man rose from his seat with a determined expression.

‘Then, I will head straight to the Labyrinth of Desire.’

The black man’s mana moved.

Mana that seemed to affect the space itself. Was he trying to use space-time magic?

‘On your way, please give my regards to Elena.’

‘……’

The black man’s expression crumpled.

Elena Ro Greenwood, the forest mage located in the Greenwood Forest.

The black man was very awkward when dealing with her.

‘……I think it would be better to ask Mimir to do that instead of me.’

The golden man smiled at that reaction.

‘No. I will ask you. The two people I love and trust shouldn’t be awkward with each other forever.’

‘……Yes. I understand.’

The black man answered with a ‘hmph’.

That appearance was so funny that he couldn’t help but laugh.

‘Then, I will really take my leave.’

‘Okay. I’m counting on you.’

The black man placed his hand on his chest and bowed with dignity.

‘Glory to Ray Bell Vaitener.’

The golden man smiled wryly at that slogan.

‘How long are you going to use that slogan?’

A military slogan that had continued for decades.

It was time to change that too.

‘I think it’s about time to change it.’

The war was already over.

The glory of Ray Bell Vaitener was now over.

‘No.’

A different light flashed in the black man’s eyes.

‘I will not change it. No. I will not let it be changed.’

The man spoke in a strong voice, as if swallowing some great emotion.

‘Ray Bell Vaitener. Your glory will be eternal.’

‘……’

The golden man.

No, Ray Bell Vaitener.

My teacher gave a faint smile.

‘Okay.’

As if he had many thoughts.

As if this situation was sad and happy at the same time.

‘Thank you.’

It was such a wistful smile.

* * *

‘You’re awake.’

When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was the black man from my dream.

It was the face of Asran Polohamruin.

‘What happened… Ugh!’

I tried to get up, but a sharp pain stopped me.

It hurt. It hurt so much that I couldn’t even make a sound.

‘Stay still. If you don’t want to become crippled.’

Asran placed his hand on my body. The pure white mana emanating from his hand enveloped my body.

Was it healing magic?

The intense pain that was gnawing at my body began to subside rapidly.

‘It’s pain relief magic. It doesn’t mean your injuries are healed, so don’t move.’

‘……Yes.’

The pain that was pressing down on my body quickly eased.

I couldn’t say it didn’t hurt at all, but it was enough to endure.

‘Th-thank you.’

‘The thanks are unnecessary.’

The man took his hand off me and began to focus on what he was doing again.

I don’t know what he’s doing.

It’s not in my view while lying down.

From the angle, I could see if I turned my head slightly, but I’m a seriously ill patient who can’t even turn my head right now.

Therefore, I can’t confirm what he’s doing.

No, more importantly, it’s not what Asran is doing that matters.

‘May I ask what happened?’

What’s important is why I’m here like this right now.

‘How much do you remember?’

The man answered casually, still focused on what he was doing.

‘……I remember trying to decipher the magic formula engraved on the iron door.’

‘Did you succeed in deciphering it?’

‘I remember. I succeeded in deciphering it, and while the iron door was opening… I lost consciousness…’

At that moment, something vaguely came to mind. The voice I heard before losing consciousness.

‘Is a tiger’s cub still a tiger, even across eras?’

That was definitely Asran’s voice.

‘……You saved me.’

‘No.’

Asran raised one corner of his mouth.

‘You passed the first gate with your own power. I only subdued the two rampaging monsters as a supervisor.’

Saying that, he glanced at me.

‘I just brought you here temporarily because you were getting in the way of dealing with the two of them.’

‘……Isn’t that helping me?’

‘Well. If you think so, then it is.’

The man looked down again and focused on what he was doing.

‘……That’s unexpected. I heard that no matter what happened, you wouldn’t help me.’

‘Did you hear that from Mimir?’

……Mimir?

Why did he add ‘nim’ [a Korean honorific suffix]?

Is Mimir higher in status than this man?

‘Answer.’

‘Ah, yes. I heard it from Mimir.’

‘I see.’

Asran chuckled.

‘……Mimir knew more about me than I thought.’

He seemed to have many thoughts.

‘Yes. As Mimir said, I wasn’t going to save you no matter what happened.’

‘Then why…’

Did you save me?

I let the last words trail off.

‘Because a variable occurred.’

‘A variable?’

‘Yes.’

Asran began to talk about the variable.

He explained in detail what structure the first gate was made of, how to pass it, and why he, as the supervisor, had to step in.

‘……So, you’re saying I went through unnecessary hardship. Is that what you’re saying?’

‘Yes. That’s how it is.’

Asran chuckled.

He had an expression that showed he found this situation very amusing.

‘By the way, it’s strange. You know that Horus and Darkness are in an antagonistic relationship, but you don’t know about the Gumiho [a mythical nine-tailed fox]. Why is that?’

‘……Why or what. It’s the first time I’ve heard of it. That the Gumiho is not a monster but a divine beast, and that divine beasts are not always hostile to humans. No, I’ve never even heard the word divine beast in the first place.’

Asran stroked his chin.

‘So, the concept of divine beasts has completely disappeared in modern times?’

‘Yes. I haven’t seen it in any literature.’

‘Hmm. Considering the time, that might be the case.’

Asran nodded a couple of times.

‘Well, anyway, that’s why. I judged that you didn’t know anything about divine beasts, and I judged that it was impossible to evaluate you any further. That’s why I stepped in.’

‘……That’s how it was.’

Ignorance stemming from the difference in eras.

This was not an element that could be evaluated.

Therefore, Asran, the examiner, moved.

To make a proper evaluation.

That’s what he meant.

‘But…’

A different light flashed in Asran’s eyes.

It was a very intriguing look.

‘To think you would pass the first gate in such a way. You’re quite something.’

I gave a wry smile.

‘……Well, I don’t know if you can call it passing.’

I didn’t even notice that there was a magic circle engraved on the iron door.

If it hadn’t been for Horus’s breath, I wouldn’t have noticed it at all.

I was lucky that I was able to decipher the magic circle on the iron door.

‘Moreover, I even lost consciousness after deciphering it…’

Despite such good fortune, I didn’t pass perfectly.

Deciphering a magic circle that exceeded my capabilities caused a huge burden, and I lost consciousness.

If Asran hadn’t intervened, I would have died.

Therefore, it cannot be said that I passed the first gate.

‘No. It’s a pass.’

‘No. I…’

‘Shut up. If the supervisor says you passed, then you passed. Don’t talk back.’

Asran frowned and glared at me.

His expression said to try and say another word.

‘The fact that you realized that Horus’s shelter and Darkness’s shelter were next to each other with only a wall between them. The fact that you fixed magic in Horus’s shelter and set it to activate with Darkness. And finally, the fact that you destroyed the wall by concentrating the attacks of the two on that wall. Your strategy was commendable.’

‘……Th-thank you.’

‘Although your level was insufficient, and you made a mistake at the end. Even considering that, it’s enough to give you a passing grade. That’s what I judged. Therefore, the first gate is a pass. Any objections?’

‘……No, I don’t.’

‘Good, then.’

Asran snorted at my answer.

‘Yes.’

Somehow, his impression is very different from what I expected.

I imagined a slightly more rigid, knightly image.

‘Hmm. Whatever, this is my mistake. Not considering the difference in knowledge between eras. I should have remodeled the first gate appropriately.’

Asran muttered with a somewhat regretful expression.

‘Remodel…’

‘Why?’

‘No. Well, I… While I was unconscious… I had a dream.’

Remodeling the Labyrinth of Desire.

These were the words I heard in my dream.

‘A dream?’

‘Yes. It was a dream where Asran and my teacher were talking in the royal palace.’

‘……By teacher, do you mean the lord?’

‘Yes.’

‘The lord’s dream…’

Asran’s brow furrowed.

‘Tell me more. What kind of conversation did I have with the lord?’

‘You said you were going to remodel the Labyrinth of Desire to put it on the fifth trial page…’

‘I see. So it was then.’

Asran narrowed his eyes as if he had remembered something.

‘Does that mean… that the dream I had was real?’

‘Yes. It probably is.’

‘How is that possible?’

Asran answered and got up from his seat.

In Asran’s hand was a small potion with a beautiful blue light.

I thought he was focused on making something since earlier, and it seems he was making that.

‘Before I explain, drink this first.’

‘Ah, yes.’

Asran brought the potion close to my mouth.

I gulped down the potion that flowed into my mouth.

‘Ugh!’

A tingling pain pressed down on my entire body.

‘Endure it. It’s the recovery pain that inevitably occurs as your twisted internal body and Infinity Circle [a core of magical power] return to normal.’

‘……Yes.’

Asran returned to where he was sitting and sat down.

‘Anyway, to continue what we were talking about earlier, you experienced my past as a dream.’

‘Experiencing someone else’s memories as a dream…’

How is it possible to experience someone else’s past as a dream?

‘It would have been impossible in another place. But this is the Labyrinth of Desire. A place where people’s desires and mental images become reality.’

Asran crossed his legs and chuckled.

‘I directly infused my mana into you for your treatment. It’s only natural that you would experience my past as a dream through my mana.’