The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 225

The next day at lunch,

I was discussing my future plans with my father and Commander Charles.

The main topic was how to identify the spies, starting with the recent incident involving the Phase Shift [a type of magical transportation].

This discussion took quite a long time.

My father, who prefers stability, and Commander Charles, who wants decisive action, had very different opinions, so it took a considerable amount of time to reach a conclusion.

If I hadn’t mediated between them, I don’t think we would have reached a conclusion even after a week.

“Ugh. Seriously, talking to this guy is so exhausting.”

Commander Charles slumped onto the sofa, looking drained.

“For once, we agree. I concur.”

My father maintained his firm posture, but I could see the fatigue in his eyes.

“I’m giving you sincere advice, Shin In-hyuk. You need to get rid of that stubborn belief of yours.”

Commander Charles tapped his head, gesturing for me to be more flexible.

“I’ve only made a conclusion based on objective judgment. You’re the one who needs to stop being so stubborn with your incomprehensible logic.”

“What? Incomprehensible logic? Are you done?”

Commander Charles stood up from the sofa. A vein was slightly bulging on his forehead.

He looked like he was about to charge at my father.

My father, as if daring him to try, crossed his arms and glared at Commander Charles.

‘…Oh, for real.’

I had just finished organizing everything.

I couldn’t help but sigh.

“Both of you, calm down. It’s a waste of time and emotions to keep fighting over something that’s already been decided.”

I stepped between them.

I had to stop them before my head started to ache even more.

We still had a lot to discuss, and I couldn’t let them go back to square one like a hamster on a wheel.

“…Tch.”

Commander Charles looked back and forth between my eyes and my father’s, then sat back down with a look that said, ‘I’m holding back for your sake.’

“Hmm.”

Once Commander Charles calmed down, my father also became quiet.

He wasn’t going to say anything unless the other side started trouble first.

‘…Seriously. They’re not kids, what are they doing?’

In my entire life, I’ve never seen people who are so incompatible.

Their personalities don’t match, their tendencies don’t match. It just feels like everything is wrong.

No, this is beyond just not matching tendencies.

It’s like people with incompatible personalities have been forced to be together, and it’s naturally festered.

‘What on earth happened during the 11 days I was stuck in the training grounds…’

I sighed again, feeling like the ground was sinking beneath me.

How could people on the same team act like this from the start?

Ugh.

I took one last deep sigh and sat back down in my seat.

“Can we move on to the next topic?”

And I immediately brought up the next topic.

“Next topic? What else is there? Weren’t we just talking about the spy issue?”

Commander Charles glanced at me and then at my father.

He was probably checking my father’s reaction, wondering if he was the only one who didn’t know.

“Yes, there is. It wasn’t agreed upon beforehand, so it might be sudden, but there’s something I really want to say.”

“Ah.”

At my words, Commander Charles nodded with a relieved expression.

He was relieved that my father didn’t know either.

How much animosity had built up between them for him to be relieved by something like that?

I could only sigh.

“What is it?”

My father, still with his arms crossed, urged me to speak with an indifferent yet stern expression.

“It’s about me.”

“About you?”

“Yes. You could say it’s about my future.”

The two of them showed different reactions.

Commander Charles looked completely clueless, while my father seemed to have a rough idea.

“If it’s about that, you don’t need to say it. I’ve already prepared a suitable position for you.”

I had graduated from the academy.

I wasn’t an adult by age, but in the world of magic, it was the same as being an adult.

And everyone born into the Mado Shin family takes a suitable position and works for the family as soon as they become an adult.

That’s why my father said that.

He must have thought I would naturally help the family.

“A place where you can learn the work of the family head in earnest…”

“No. Thank you for preparing it, but I would appreciate it if you could postpone that.”

But I had no intention of doing that.

It was something I would have to do someday, but at least not now.

“If you’re worried about your age, you don’t have to be. Everyone will acknowledge your abilities.”

“It’s not because of my age.”

My father’s eyes sharpened.

His eyes seemed to ask what the reason was.

“It’s because I have something else I need to do.”

“Something to do?”

“Yes.”

“Is that… more important than the family’s affairs?”

“Yes. It’s important.”

My father’s brow furrowed.

He had dedicated his life to the revival of the Mado Shin family.

So, my words were unlikely to be received well.

“Tell me. What is this thing that’s more important than the family?”

My father’s eyes became even sharper. It was a scary look that reminded me of my father in the past.

“It’s about my growth.”

“…Your growth?”

“Oh…?”

Commander Charles, who had been listening quietly, exclaimed.

My father glared at him, a silent pressure to be quiet.

Commander Charles smiled and pretended to zip his mouth shut.

It was a gesture to say he would be quiet, so I should continue.

“…Keep talking.”

My father refocused his gaze on me.

“Yes. For my growth, I need to temporarily leave the family.”

“If it’s about magical growth, you can do that while learning the family’s affairs.”

“No. It’s impossible.”

I took out Aeth [a magical artifact] from my pocket in a familiar motion.

And I took out the Book of Idred from my subspace [a personal storage dimension].

“That book is…”

“Ray Bell Bytenner. It’s a book left by my master.”

“A secret book…!”

My father’s eyes widened.

Commander Charles also looked very surprised.

“You’re both so surprised. You both knew I had inherited Ray Bell Bytenner’s legacy.”

“Well, we knew, but we didn’t expect you to take out the book so confidently.”

A secret magic book is a treasure among treasures.

Even if it’s family, you shouldn’t show the original.

That’s common sense.

“…You’re not doing this anywhere else, are you?”

“Of course not. This is the first time I’ve taken out this book.”

At my words, Commander Charles looked touched.

“Wow. So you trust me that much. I’m proud.”

“…Tch.”

Looking at Commander Charles, my father clicked his tongue.

He couldn’t understand why I would show the book to that rascal, let alone himself.

“That’s one reason, but… this book is no longer what you would call a secret magic book.”

“…Huh?”

“What do you mean?”

Seeing the two of them expressing their confusion in their own ways, I opened the Book of Idred.

“…Blank?”

My father muttered with wide eyes.

“What? Why is it blank?”

Commander Charles, on the other hand, looked intrigued.

“This book has already fulfilled its purpose. That’s why it’s blank.”

“…Was there a magic engraved that disappears upon acquisition?”

“Yes.”

The Book of Idred turned blank as soon as I passed the fifth trial page.

Now, it’s just a fancy hardcover book.

“I need a new textbook to move forward.”

“If you don’t get information about magic beyond the 6th circle [a level of magical power], there’s no way to grow further?”

My father muttered with a serious expression.

“Yes. The structure of the magic I use is different from modern magic.”

“…I see.”

My father immediately looked convinced.

“So. Is there a way to get this new textbook?”

“Yes, there is.”

I closed the Book of Idred and put it back into Aeth.

“Before the contents of this book turned blank, I received a final hint. I know the approximate location.”

To be precise, I got the hint from the Book of Mimir, but there’s no need to go that far.

“That’s why I said I couldn’t take on the family’s affairs. Finding that book comes first.”

“…I see. If that’s the reason, it’s natural to prioritize it over the family’s affairs.”

My father’s expression relaxed.

He looked like he understood everything.

“I understand. If that’s the reason, there’s no helping it. I’ll postpone your full return to the family. If you say you want to train a little more because of your age, everyone will understand.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

My father nodded with a proud expression.

“Okay, so.”

Then, Commander Charles, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, leaned in towards me.

“Where is the important book, exactly?”

The story he had just heard was interesting, but he looked much more interested in the new secret magic book I was going to get.

“It’s in France.”

This was a lie.

The magic book containing information about the 7th circle and beyond is not in France, but in Egypt.

What’s in France is the medium for myth magic, Ignis.

“France? Overseas?”

“…Hmm.”

The expressions of the two of them hardened instantly.

“Can’t someone else go instead of you? Like me?”

“No. Unfortunately, it’s not possible. Oh, it’s not that I don’t trust you. It’s a special magic book, so it’s structured so that only the heir can find it. I have to go myself.”

“…Okay. I thought so, but it’s still like that.”

Commander Charles sighed deeply.

Then, with a worried expression, he started biting his nails.

My father was the same.

He stared blankly into the air with a very worried expression.

His mind must be complicated.

“…If it’s overseas, shouldn’t we be more cautious now?”

“I know what you two are worried about.”

The reason they were reacting like this was simple.

“It’s definitely dangerous for me to go overseas right now.”

Currently, I was completely marked by the Black Tower [a shadowy organization].

Why haven’t the Tower’s assassins been dispatched to me?

Is it because I’ve packaged my power as strong through Shadow [a magical technique]?

Of course, that’s one reason.

Since I’m a powerful being, it’s become quite difficult to send assassins.

But that’s just a secondary reason.

The main reason is that I live in the capital of South Korea, a country with excellent public safety.

That’s why the Black Tower can’t send assassins recklessly.

If I were in some European country instead of South Korea, they would have sent assassins to me all the time.

It would also be easy to obtain weapons and other items that would help with all kinds of terrorism overseas.

They could easily deploy high-ranking members. What would be the problem?

In other words, me going overseas is the same as giving the Black Tower an opening.

To put it bluntly, it’s like standing in front of a shooter who has loaded and aimed his gun.

That’s why those two are reacting like that.

“But you don’t have to worry. I don’t plan on going overseas openly.”

“If you’re not going openly… Ah. Is it that?”

Commander Charles exclaimed.

He looked like he had thought of something.

“Is that why you asked about illegal immigration last time?”

My father frowned and muttered, ‘Illegal immigration?’

He looked very displeased.

“Yes. That’s right. I plan to enter France illegally. I’ll create a fake ID and enter France disguised as a third person.”

“Illegal immigration. If you do that, the Black Tower won’t be able to track your location.”

Commander Charles stroked his chin and his eyes lit up.

He looked like he was thinking, ‘That’s not a bad idea.’

“What about funds? Considering the abilities of a high-ranking member like Hermes, you can’t move the family’s money.”

“I’ve prepared the funds in advance. It’s black money from an unknown source, so there’s a 0% chance they’ll be able to identify me through that money.”

“Black money? Where did you get that?”

“Didn’t you hear it from Commander Charles? I thought you would have told him since you said you talked about Mount Baekdu.”

“I didn’t hear it.”

My father glared at Commander Charles.

“Uh… Did I not say it?”

Commander Charles whistled and looked away.

“…Tch.”

My father clicked his tongue, looking very displeased with Commander Charles.

“Well, to put it briefly, I caught a Thunder Bird on Mount Baekdu. The money I got this time is from smuggling that Thunder Bird.”

“Smuggling a Thunder Bird… If it’s the connections of the Hunting Dog [a group of smugglers], it must be a considerable broker. There’s definitely no chance of being noticed by the movement of money.”

“Yes.”

My father was lost in thought again. He understood the situation, but he still didn’t like the idea of black money and illegal immigration.

“Then I have to go with you?”

Commander Charles put his hands behind his head and leaned back on the sofa.

“No. Commander Charles, you need to stay in Korea.”

“…Stay?”

“Yes. If Commander Charles comes with me, there’s a high chance that we’ll be exposed to them.”

The Black Tower has a rough idea that Commander Charles is with me.

In that situation, I need to avoid going anywhere with Commander Charles.

“Commander Charles, please stay in Korea and pretend that I’m still in Korea.”

Commander Charles’s role is a decoy.

It’s a role that’s as important as protecting me.

“A decoy, huh. It’s a good method, but… then you’re going to France alone?”

“No. I’m going with two people.”

“Who is it?”

“Adela has agreed to help.”

“Adela Steart…”

Commander Charles frowned with a strangely dissatisfied expression.

“Since her maternal family is the prestigious Steart family in France, she won’t be suspected. Since it’s a family, it’ll be easy to back you up.”

“Yes.”

“It’s not a bad choice. As for the escort, you don’t need to worry too much unless your identity is revealed.”

My father also showed a not-bad reaction.

“But, in the end, you told her everything?”

“Yes. I told her.”

“Really? Well, it won’t be a hindrance…”

Commander Charles pouted with a look that said he didn’t like something.

“Far from being a hindrance, she’ll be a great help even now. Not to mention in the future.”

Just like with this trip to France.

She’ll be a great help in the future too.

I’m sure of it.

“Okay. Well, if it’s your choice, I have to respect it.”

Commander Charles still had a lukewarm expression.

“Anyway, I understand the situation. So, I just need to prepare a fake ID and illegal immigration, right?”

“Yes. Could you do that for me?”

“Okay. Leave it to me. I’ll prepare a suitable identity for you.”