The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 231

‘Why do I sense Ignis’s energy in two places?’

The powerful fire mana that was detected in the basement of the Palace of Versailles.

And the powerful fire mana that I feel now, from beyond this passage.

Ignis’s energy is emanating from two places simultaneously.

What on earth is going on?

‘Was the mana Adela felt in the basement of the Palace of Versailles not Ignis’s mana?’

Was the powerful fire mana detected in the basement of the Palace of Versailles not Ignis, but some other separate energy?

Adela doesn’t know much about Ignis, so it wouldn’t be strange if she was mistaken.

‘No. That can’t be it.’

The place where Adela sensed the powerful fire mana was none other than the Palace of Versailles.

One of the places where Miho pointed out that Ignis was located.

There’s no way the fire mana detected there wouldn’t be related to Ignis.

‘Location, situation, timing. Considering all the factors, it’s highly likely that both are real.’

The basement of the Palace of Versailles.

And this secret passage in the shopping district.

The fire mana emanating from both places is very likely to be Ignis.

‘So, let’s assume that the possibility of one of them being fake is excluded.’

What could be the reason why Ignis’s energy is being detected in two places at the same time?

I pondered the reason.

‘Two things come to mind. One is if Ignis’s medium is divided.’

If the medium itself is split, it makes sense that energy is emanating from two places simultaneously.

‘And the other is if the passage in the basement of the Palace of Versailles and this secret passage are connected.’

What if Ignis is sleeping in the underground of Paris?

And if the paths to that place are the basement of the Palace of Versailles and this secret passage?

It’s not impossible for Ignis’s energy to flow out at the same time.

‘Then, if I add the information that Miho sensed Ignis in three places at the same time, and that she can’t find the exact location…’

The hypothesis that Ignis is split gains more credibility.

If Ignis remained in its complete form, there’s no way Miho wouldn’t have been able to sense it.

Instead of sensing three places at the same time, she would have pinpointed Ignis, which is buried deep underground.

Therefore, it means that Ignis is really divided…

‘No. No, it’s not.’

It’s too early to conclude.

There’s still something bothering me.

‘This secret passage. It has an excellent shielding ability, enough to completely block my and Miho’s senses.’

I don’t know why.

But this secret passage has a level of shielding that cannot be detected by my Divine Eye or Miho’s soul detection.

If all three areas are protected with this level of security, it’s not that strange that Miho sensed Ignis at three entrances simultaneously.

‘If Miho sensed the soul energy that slightly leaked out each time the three passages opened…’

The theory that Ignis is intact underground also makes sense.

‘Tsk. This brings me back to square one.’

My thoughts made a big circle and returned to the starting point.

Then it’s time to continue thinking in a different way.

I continued my contemplation in a new direction.

‘Whether Ignis’s medium is split or not, it’s certain that Ignis’s medium is beyond this secret passage.’

I put the contemplation about Ignis’s state aside in my mind.

And started contemplating about this secret passage.

‘And this secret passage was made or is used by the Black Magic Tower.’

This incident is related to the Black Magic Tower.

It was a conclusion that didn’t need much thought.

‘If there’s a connection between Ignis’s medium and the Black Magic Tower…’

Then the next point of discussion is what kind of relationship the Black Magic Tower and Ignis’s medium have.

‘One possibility. The Black Magic Tower has discovered Ignis’s medium and is experimenting on it.’

There are various possibilities, but this is probably the most likely.

‘They’re the guys who even found and experimented on the Spirit Core. If they found an artifact with a powerful force like Ignis’s medium, whether by chance or not, there’s no way they wouldn’t use it for experiments.’

According to this hypothesis, this secret passage is a passage to a laboratory.

‘The key here is whether this passage is connected to the large research lab in the middle, or to a small research lab nearby.’

If it’s connected to the large research lab in the middle, it means that it’s highly likely to be connected to the Palace of Versailles side as well.

In that case, it means that Ignis is not split.

If it’s connected to a small research lab.

It means that Ignis is split, and the Palace of Versailles and this secret passage are not connected to each other.

‘In the end, even with this hypothesis, it’s impossible to conclude whether Ignis is split or not.’

My thoughts have progressed a bit, but the conclusion about Ignis’s current state, which is the most important, is still up in the air.

‘This is a headache. I need to confirm what Ignis’s current state is to make the next plan.’

The plan has to change depending on Ignis’s state.

Whether Ignis is split or in a normal state.

Since I have to get Ignis, the method of acquisition will inevitably change depending on the state of the target.

What to do with the Black Magic Tower, which is involved in this matter, is a problem for later.

‘How should I confirm it…’

I shifted my thoughts again.

This time, contemplation about the solution.

Based on the hypotheses and questions I’ve made so far, I’ll find a reasonable answer.

The answer came faster than I thought.

‘One method. Infiltrate the secret passage as it is and gather information.’

This is a method that doesn’t even need to be considered.

There’s a suspicious passage in front of me, and I know how to open it.

Then I just need to go in and investigate.

‘The advantage of this method is that if it goes well, all questions can be resolved. The disadvantage is that if it doesn’t go well, my life could be in danger.’

It’s a high-risk, high-return method.

‘Second method. Investigate the National Knight School, which I haven’t investigated yet.’

If Ignis is split, the energy of Ignis flowing out from the National Knight School is likely to be different from the energy flowing out from this secret passage.

Unless it’s perfectly divided into three equal parts, there will be at least a slight difference.

If I can sense that, everything will be solved.

‘The advantage of this method is that it’s safe. The disadvantage is that there’s a high probability that I won’t get any hints.’

Finding this secret passage was purely luck.

Even if there’s a secret passage on the National Knight School side, it will be quite difficult to find it.

There’s no risk, but it’s hard to get a return.

‘Which method should I use?’

Both methods have their pros and cons, so it was hard to decide right away.

‘Actually, the best thing to do is to go to the basement of the Palace of Versailles myself and sense the fire energy that Adela felt.’

That’s difficult.

The basement of the Palace of Versailles is not a place you can enter just because you want to.

Adela might be able to, but someone like me can’t enter.

‘What should I do?’

Just as I was about to fall into contemplation again.

“You just have to guard the entrance, why do you have to patrol?”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

I felt people who seemed to be guards approaching from behind.

‘Have I been here too long?’

The energy of a mana circle is detected around my heart.

It’s a mage.

About 4th or 5th circle, I guess.

‘Let’s leave this place for now. I can think about it after I go back.’

My stealth is not perfect yet.

I might be able to fool a 4th circle mage, but a 5th circle mage is likely to detect my stealth.

I have to run away now, while there’s still some distance.

I immediately took my hand off the secret passage and flew up into the sky.

* * *

After that, I returned to the accommodation and told Mimir about what happened today and the conclusions I had reached.

10 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes.

Since the situation was serious, the talk was very long.

It was about 35 minutes before my story was over.

“……”

Mimir, who had heard everything, was lost in thought with a serious expression.

She must be organizing the things she heard.

“It’s a situation that’s both difficult and fortunate.”

“That’s an accurate expression.”

It’s difficult because the Black Magic Tower is involved.

And it’s fortunate that I noticed it by luck.

“You’ve organized the situation neatly. I don’t think I have anything to add to the successor’s hypothesis.”

Mimir, for once, didn’t argue and gave an okay sign.

Mimir seems to think the same way as me.

“Mimir, which method would you use?”

“I would start with the second method. Investigating the National Knight School. It’s not like we’re short on time, and it’s not like we don’t have any connections there.”

“I thought so.”

Mimir tends to prioritize safety when making decisions.

It was natural for her to choose the latter.

“But isn’t this something you don’t need to ask? You can investigate the National Knight School first. And if there’s nothing there, then you can infiltrate the secret passage.”

“That’s true.”

As Mimir said, the two methods are compatible.

As Mimir said, investigating first and then infiltrating is the most efficient and safe.

“While investigating the knight school, you can also ask Adela to collect some mana in the basement of the Palace of Versailles.”

“Ah. That’s right. I can use the mana flask.”

That was a blind spot.

When I think about it, there’s no reason for me to go to the basement of the Palace of Versailles myself.

I have a good item called a mana flask.

“While you’re at it, contact Shadow and Charles. Get some information from them too.”

“That’s difficult. Shadow is being monitored by Hermes, so it’s hard for me to contact him first, and Commander Charles is also conducting a diversionary operation in Korea, so it’s hard to contact him separately.”

“I see. It’s pointless to contact them. They can’t help anyway.”

“Right. In the first place, Shadow doesn’t seem to know about this matter.”

If he knew, he would have given me a hint when I said I was going to France.

Since there was nothing like that, it means that Shadow doesn’t know about what’s happening in Paris.

“Whatever the case, it means that the successor has to solve this problem alone.”

“That’s right.”

There are no external factors that can help me.

“Of course, if you investigate and see that the Black Magic Tower’s movements are unusual, you should contact them, but for now, it’s right to do it alone.”

Currently, my only support is Adela.

“Then I think it’s even more right to start by investigating the National Knight School.”

“You think so too?”

I was thinking of infiltrating the secret passage even if it was a bit reckless.

But the risk is too high.

There’s still plenty of time, so it’s right to start by investigating.

“Then I need to meet Stella Vinoche first?”

“Right. I’m going to call her as soon as the sun rises today.”

First, I need to meet Stella Vinoche and find a way to get into the National Knight School.

This is the top priority and an indispensable condition for this operation.

* * *

At 11:30 AM local time.

I was waiting for Stella in a private room cafe near the National Knight School.

The seat I’m currently sitting in is by the window on the second floor.

It’s a seat with a very good view of the school gate.

It seems that many students are eating outside during lunch break, as a large crowd is coming out.

‘That’s why she told me to meet at this cafe.’

Considering Stella Vinoche’s popularity, it would be impossible to have a proper conversation in an ordinary cafe.

“I’m sorry I’m late. Did you wait long?”

As I was looking out the window, Stella appeared.

It was an unexpected appearance.

I didn’t see her coming out.

Did she not come out of the school gate?

“Where did she come out from?”

“Ah. I secretly came back through the back gate. It’s a bit embarrassing to say it myself, but I have a face that can’t help but attract attention.”

Unlike when I met her at the airport or the shopping district, Stella has her hair down.

Her blue hair reaches down to her waist.

It definitely stands out.

“I thought you wanted to talk quietly, so I came back as quietly as possible.”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

“You’re welcome.”

Stella smiled softly.

“Did yesterday’s matter end well?”

“Yes. It was resolved well.”

Stella began to talk about the follow-up to yesterday’s matter.

To summarize, everything was resolved well.

There’s nothing to worry about.

That’s about it.

“You have good skills.”

“You flatter me.”

Stella, while pretending to be indifferent, smiled as if she was secretly pleased.

“So, um… did you come today to hear about the follow-up to that incident?”

Stella asked slyly with an expectant expression.

She wants to learn from me.

She wants to cross swords with me, even just once.

That was the expression I could see.

She’s expecting that I came today to have a light sparring match with her.

“No. I came to ask you for a favor.”

But unfortunately, that’s not why I came.

“A favor… you say?”

A hint of disappointment flashed across her face.

But it was only for a moment, and she soon returned to a bright smile.

“What kind of favor is it?”

It doesn’t seem like she’s going to refuse unless it’s an unreasonable request.

It’s probably because she owes me a debt.

“I’d like to ask you for a tour of the National Knight School’s facilities.”

“You want a tour of the facilities… does that mean you want a temporary pass?”

“Something like that.”

Stella’s expression became subtle.

An expression that says she doesn’t know why I’m trying to get into the school.

An expression that says she’s wondering if I have some ulterior motive.

“What are you planning to do after entering the school… may I ask?”

A hint of suspicion was in her eyes.

‘She’s suspicious after all.’

It wasn’t an unexpected reaction.

Even I would be suspicious if someone suddenly asked me to let them into the school.

“I’ll tell you in advance before you misunderstand. I don’t have any bad intentions.”

So I prepared a separate explanation.

“I’m curious about the skills of the students at the French Knight School, which is called the last ark of knights.”

Stella’s eyes widened slightly.

“That means…”

She has an expression that says she knows what I’m going to say next.

She’s quick-witted after all.

“Yes, I’m looking for a disciple.”

“I see…”

The suspicion quickly disappeared from Stella’s eyes.

“Then, what the temporary pass means is not a visitor’s pass…”

“A temporary instructor’s pass.”

A temporary instructor.

It’s a kind of external lecturer.

The only difference is the duration.

Unlike external lecturers who take on one-time classes, temporary instructors work for a period of about one to two months.

“What do you think? Is it possible?”

The temporary instructor’s pass is a master key that allows me to freely investigate the inside of the National Knight School for a month.

It’s a right that I need right now.