The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 223

“So, you just wanted to sort out your thoughts quietly by yourself?”

“Yes.”

“It wasn’t like your mental state was broken or anything?”

“Yes.”

“……”

The same expression as usual.

The same answer as usual.

Adela was very, very fine.

“Then why didn’t you answer the phone?”

“Well, I left my phone at home. I kept getting calls from people I didn’t know, so…”

“The press?”

“Yes.”

“……I see.”

In a situation where things were already chaotic, if the press kept contacting me, I would probably leave my phone at home too.

“Still, you could have at least contacted me, couldn’t you?”

“……”

Adela slightly lowered her head and hesitated.

She fidgeted with her fingers, looking at my eyes, then lowering her head again.

“…I didn’t know what to say.”

And then she lowered her head and spoke in a barely audible voice.

“I thought I should say thank you. But then I felt resentful for no reason. I know I shouldn’t be resentful, but my mind wouldn’t settle…”

Resentment.

She must be talking about me killing Wi Sanghyun.

She must have hated me for preventing her from taking revenge.

“I get angry thinking, ‘Why do you judge me so arbitrarily?’ But then I realize it’s true, and I get depressed again…”

What I said to Adela at the time was, in a way, unnecessary meddling.

From Adela’s perspective, there must have been many things that would have hurt her pride.

“When I think about that… I also realize that you were thinking so deeply about me, and I feel grateful… As grateful as I am, I also feel resentful…”

Her actions and voice clearly revealed her complex feelings.

“As those thoughts kept repeating, I didn’t know what to say to you.”

Her father’s death.

Her uncle who killed her father.

And me, who killed that uncle.

Adela was caught in the middle.

She was tormented by grief, consumed by anger, and overwhelmed by a sense of powerlessness.

Adela’s anguish must have been more severe than I could imagine.

“That’s why I couldn’t contact you.”

“……I see.”

Listening to her, I understand.

She speaks so casually now, but on the first day she set foot in this hotel, she must have been in a much more devastated state than she is now.

Adela at that time would have been reluctant to contact me.

“Then are you feeling a bit better now?”

“Yes. I’ve shaken it all off now.”

Adela met my gaze again. Beyond Adela’s eyes, I could see resolve and determination.

She definitely seemed to have regained her composure to some extent.

“Good. If you’ve shaken it off, that’s all that matters.”

Whatever it was, it was a good thing.

“Then you’ll come back to training too?”

“Yes. I was planning to go back today. My condition has recovered to some extent.”

Come to think of it, Adela was wearing workout clothes.

There’s a private training room in the basement of this hotel, so she must have been training there.

“If you’re not fully recovered yet, you can rest a little more.”

“No. I’m fine. I’m not in my best condition, but… I need to train. The advancement exam is just around the corner.”

A different light shone in Adela’s eyes.

It was a burning gaze that conveyed a strong will.

However, it wasn’t the passionate gaze with a radiant light that I had seen before.

‘Revenge…’

The fuel currently burning Adela’s will is revenge.

It’s completely different from when she used to be fueled by competitiveness, the desire to rise, and a sense of accomplishment.

‘I think I know roughly what she’s thinking.’

Pass the advancement exam, safely inherit the Mystical Lineage, and then move in earnest to eliminate the Black Magic Tower guys.

I think that’s roughly what she’s thinking.

‘If that’s the case, I’m worried she might be getting impatient.’

I was worried about that, so I casually brought up the topic.

“Still, it’s not good to overdo it. I’ll create a curriculum focused on recovering your condition.”

“I’ll leave everything about the training schedule to you.”

Looking at her answer like that, she doesn’t seem to be particularly impatient.

And the fact that she doesn’t seem impatient even though she has revenge deep in her heart means that she has definitely finished organizing her thoughts.

‘Then I don’t have to worry.’

Adela has found her own path.

She won’t be shaken unless something major happens.

Judging by the hesitation, she might struggle a bit.

But she won’t waver.

Those eyes are that kind of eyes.

“Okay. I’ll prepare it.”

I let out a sigh of relief inwardly and got up from my seat.

“Are you leaving?”

“Yeah. I have to go. You need to go up, wash up, and get ready too.”

I had been holding onto someone who had just finished exercising for too long.

Her sweat must have dried, making her feel uncomfortable.

“……Yes.”

As expected, Adela looked down at her body, making a face that showed she felt uncomfortable.

When she was engrossed in the conversation, she didn’t notice, but now that she’s aware of it, it must be quite uncomfortable.

“Then let’s meet in an hour. I’ll tell Soonchan in advance.”

“Yes.”

Adela also got up from her seat.

“Um…”

“You don’t have to see me off. You should go up and get ready.”

“No. It’s not that…”

Adela hesitated again.

Then, with a determined look, she stared straight into my eyes.

“Um… well, that…”

But that was only for a moment.

“…Thank you.”

She lowered her head with an embarrassed expression.

“What’s with you all of a sudden?”

Her cheeks were flushed red.

She fidgeted with her fingers, looking very shy.

“I know it seems too late now. But I felt like I had to do it, even if it’s late.”

Adela took a deep breath and met my eyes again.

“Thank you so much. Thank you for saving my life. Thank you for thinking so much about me. Thank you for continuing to worry about me. Just… thank you for everything.”

Adela’s face became more and more flushed.

It must be because she was aware that she was saying embarrassing things.

“T-that’s all. Then, please go now.”

Immediately after that, Adela lowered her head, looking flustered.

“I, I’ll go up now too. See you, see you later!”

Then, she looked around and turned her body 180 degrees, running quickly towards the elevator.

I smiled faintly as I watched Adela’s back quickly disappearing.

* * *

Time flowed quickly.

A week had passed.

In that time, quite a lot had happened.

Adela’s safe return.

The scheduled talk show appearance.

Soonchan’s minor injury.

And other things.

I don’t know how surprised I was when Soonchan actually got hurt.

With only three days left until the exam, he made such an absurd mistake of falling while showering.

It was so ridiculous that I was speechless.

If the Blue Magic Tower Lord hadn’t obtained a high-grade potion separately, he might not have been able to take the advancement exam.

If he has any conscience, Soonchan should bow towards the Blue Magic Tower Lord every day.

Anyway, Soonchan’s heart-stopping injury ended as a minor incident.

It was a truly fortunate thing.

And today is finally the day of the long-awaited advancement exam.

“I’m going to go greet the Magic Tower Lord before the exam starts.”

“Okay. Don’t forget to bow nine times.”

“…Is nine times enough?”

“Just do 108 bows. Whatever you do, don’t do it twice like last time. If you do it again, it’ll be a real disaster.”

“I told you to forget about that…”

In Korea, bowing twice is a bow for the dead.

But Soonchan didn’t know that, or maybe he forgot, and he did it to the Blue Magic Tower Lord.

He probably thought, ‘It’s not good to bow just once, so I should bow twice.’

“No. Even if I can somehow understand bowing twice. Don’t do a half-bow after that.”

“No, I’m telling you, that was a mistake!”

He bowed twice, and then lowered his head and did a half-bow.

It was a perfect ancestral rite bow.

At that time, Secretary Jung Sua’s aura was really something.

The murderous intent to kill that ungrateful person right away was felt through the air.

Even if you used the highest-grade magic freezing device, it wouldn’t freeze the surroundings that quickly.

“…You did that?”

“Noooo! I’m telling you it was a mistake!”

“Even if it was a mistake, that’s a bit…”

“Right? The Blue Magic Tower Lord even got that expensive potion to heal his broken leg. And the greeting he gave in return was…”

“Ah, come on! How long are you going to keep bringing that up!”

“Until you die?”

“Ah. Please.”

Soonchan was huffing and puffing with a bright red face.

I think I’ve used it about three times already, and the reaction is still good.

It’s such an epic black history, I think I can use it for a long time.

Later, when Soonchan has kids, I should casually mention it in front of them.

They’ll be so happy, right?

“Let’s make a deal. What do I have to do for you to forget about that?”

“Hmm. How about you confess to Senior Hee-yoon today?”

“No, that’s…”

“Why? You were going to do it soon anyway. She said she’s coming to cheer you on today. Show her a good side and then just go for it.”

“…Would that be better?”

“If you’re going to confess anyway, that’s much better. It’s a good scenario.”

“Ugh…”

Soonchan was groaning and lost in thought.

He looked like a poor lamb facing the choice of a lifetime.

“…Okay. I’ll think about it positively.”

“You thought well.”

“Anyway, I’ll go to the Magic Tower Lord before it gets too late.”

“Okay.”

Soonchan left the waiting room.

Only Adela and I were left in the waiting room.

“Do you think he’ll succeed if he confesses today?”

“Who knows? But if he was going to do it within a month anyway, now is the best time, that’s for sure.”

A passionate confession right after passing the advancement exam. In my opinion, this has the highest chance of success.

“You’re not planning to make fun of Soonchan for getting dumped in a conspicuous place after passing the advancement exam, are you?”

“……”

I subtly turned my gaze away.

She caught me.

Her intuition has gotten much sharper lately.

“Ahem. How’s your condition?”

“Judging by how you’re changing the subject, I guess that’s a yes.”

Adela gave a wry smile.

* * *

The advancement exam was over.

“Exam results. All three applicants are deemed to have the proper qualifications. I declare them passed.”

The exam results were, of course, all passed.

It was a very obvious result.

It was such an obvious pass that I didn’t feel any particular emotion.

It’s not like I’m just an ordinary 6th circle mage. There’s no way I, a Bytenner-style 6th circle mage, wouldn’t pass an advancement exam.

It’s not surprising at all.

…But.

It wasn’t like there was nothing surprising.

“This is actually happening…”

Unbelievable.

It’s so amazing.

“Wow, that wild child is actually dating.”

Senior Ma Jinseok chuckled as he looked at Senior Jin Heeyoon.

“I know, right? That tough one is actually dating.”

I also chuckled as I looked at Soonchan, who was grinning next to him.

“…This is really happening.”

Really.

Surprisingly, Soonchan’s confession was successful.

Senior Jin Heeyoon accepted Soonchan’s confession.

The two became the first couple in our Olympiad group.

“Sigh. Poor Soonchan. He’s going to have a hard time.”

Senior Ma Jinseok looked at Soonchan with eyes that showed he genuinely felt sorry for him.

He genuinely looked like he thought Soonchan was too good for her.

“Isn’t Senior Heeyoon more of a loss than Soonchan?”

“What’s so great about that wild child? Soonchan is much more of a loss.”

I always feel like these two are like real siblings.

Even this is like a younger brother who doesn’t admit that his older sister is pretty.

“Well, if they like each other. I guess I have to congratulate them. But still. Ugh. What a loss. What a loss.”

Senior Ma Jinseok repeated ‘what a loss, what a loss’ and walked towards Senior Heeyoon and Soonchan.

Immediately after that, Senior Ma Jinseok mumbled something to Senior Heeyoon.

“What, you little punk?”

Immediately after that, Senior Heeyoon’s expression changed to that of a demon, and she started beating Senior Ma Jinseok like dust on a rainy day.

“Okay. Let’s die together today.”

“Hey! Time out! You, showing such violent behavior in front of your boyfriend… Ugh!”

“Shut up and die!”

And laughter echoed loudly around them.

“They’re as lively as ever.”

Adela approached me and spoke.

“Yeah, that’s how they are.”

She seems to have a lot on her mind.

“…What are you going to do now?”

“What do you mean?”

“Your future plans. Are you going to inherit the affiliate company, manage it, and start preparing to become the head of the family in earnest?”

“Well, not in earnest yet. But I need to start preparing. Build my own people, establish my position…”

Since Hyung-nim [older brother] Minhyuk gave up the competition for the next family head, there aren’t any other competitors.

But I still need to prepare in advance. That way, there won’t be any problems later.

“You’ll be busy.”

Adela answered calmly.

“What about you?”

“I, on the other hand… I’ll be moving busily. While my mother is acting as the head of the family, I’ll increase my influence and solidify my position so that I can become a family head who is supported by everyone. And I’ll raise the position of the Mystical Lineage to a place that can’t even be compared to before.”

Adela’s eyes shone sharply.

“And then, I’ll have to prepare to fight the Black Magic Tower guys.”

Adela clenched her fist tightly.

She seemed to be suppressing her anger as she thought of the Black Magic Tower guys.

“I see.”

After my words, there was a moment of silence.

Of course, even if it was silent, it was just that Adela and I were quiet.

The surroundings were still noisy.

“Can you spare some time tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow?”

“Yeah. I have something to say.”

I turned to Adela and looked her straight in the eyes.

“If you’re going to keep fighting the Black Magic Tower, it’s better for you to know about the story between the Black Magic Tower and me.”