The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 234

The sounds of swords clashing echoed continuously.

Along with that, the sounds of something kicking off the ground and trampling it.

The sound of something cutting through the air, and so on.

All sorts of sounds proving the fierce battle vividly filled the world.

“…Good heavens.”

Someone muttered with a dazed expression.

Looking at the two people causing these noises, a hollow laugh involuntarily escaped.

“Even though it’s a penalty match where mana isn’t used, it seems like it’s the first time I’ve seen someone last more than 20 exchanges with Sein-nim.”

“That man. Who is he anyway?”

“Ruan Palatia. I need to remember that name.”

The officials added a word or two with serious expressions.

They weren’t so much engrossed in the battle itself, but rather were cheering at the appearance of a new face who was fighting on par with Sein Vinoche.

That’s why they were able to exchange words as if they were holding a review session.

“…”

“…”

Stella, Adela, and Lillian were the proof of that.

These three, deeply engrossed in the battle, were watching the duel, having forgotten even to breathe, let alone talk.

Clang! Clang, screech, screech!

Swords clashing in units of seconds.

The wind swirling around those swords.

Sein’s blue hair and Ruan Palatia’s blonde hair fluttered in the wind.

It was a sight as if blue and gold were harmonizing to create a new art.

All three were captivated by the beautiful symphony of swords created by the two swordsmen.

“Ssshh.”

At that moment, the sound of someone swallowing loudly rang out.

It was the sound from Stella’s mouth.

Saliva was dripping from her half-open mouth.

Normally, she would have blushed and looked around, but now was not the time to be concerned about her surroundings.

If she had any spare time, she needed to capture even a little more of that battle in her eyes.

She needed to learn even more.

‘Even blinking is a waste of time.’

In a trance, Stella was pouring all her attention into watching the battle.

‘…What in the world is going on?’

Meanwhile, unlike Stella, who was in a trance, Adela’s mind was extremely complicated.

Shin Ha-yul was clearly a mage.

A genius mage with six mana circles [a mage’s power source].

And it was common knowledge that mages couldn’t weave mana cores [a physical manifestation of magical power].

‘How can Ha-yul have a mana core…’

But as if possessed by a ghost, Shin Ha-yul had a mana core.

He wasn’t using mana circles, but was using only his mana core to engage in combat as a knight.

Moreover, he wasn’t just imitating a knight’s combat.

Shin Ha-yul was currently putting up a fight on par with Sein Vinoche.

Not just any ordinary knight, but the Sword God, who was called the best in the world.

‘How in the world…’

Adela couldn’t understand this situation at all.

Everything from start to finish was a question.

“That man. What was his name?”

At that moment, Lillian broke the silence and opened her mouth.

With an expression full of uncontrollable interest, she asked the name of the man who was fighting on par with Sein.

“Ruan Palatia,” Stella answered casually, still keeping her gaze fixed on the battle.

Though she didn’t show it outwardly, she was internally annoyed.

‘This is the most important time, why are you talking to me?’

Regardless of whether she was a VIP or not, Stella was annoyed at Lillian for breaking her concentration.

“…Ruan. Ruan, you say. I need to remember that name.”

Lillian’s eyes sparkled.

Knights weren’t generally well-regarded, but if they were at that level, it was a different story.

It wouldn’t hurt to build a connection.

“Hahahaha!!”

At that moment, Sein’s laughter echoed loudly from across the arena.

He was laughing heartily with an expression that showed he was enjoying this situation so much that he couldn’t contain himself.

Stella’s eyes widened in surprise.

‘It’s the first time I’ve seen Mother laugh like that.’

Her mother, who had always maintained a lazy and expressionless face, was laughing so heartily.

Could it be that she liked that man that much?

“Good. Good. Very good!”

Sein deflected the incoming sword and, in the same motion, spun around to launch a counterattack.

“Try to block this!”

It was a near-perfect spinning slash that returned the opponent’s power.

If it were an ordinary swordsman, they would have realized their defeat at this point.

However.

Shin Ha-yul was not an ordinary swordsman found anywhere.

‘I can’t block that attack in this stance. Then…’

Shin Ha-yul brought the end of his sword hilt forward.

‘I’ll go with a variation.’

Claaang-!

A loud collision sound rang out as the sword hilt and sword clashed.

“…With the sword hilt!”

Stella stood up in shock.

Goosebumps were rising all over her arms.

To think he would block that counterattack in such a way.

It was a method Stella could never have imagined.

“You have good sense. But…”

Sein twisted his sword path.

“It’s clumsy.”

Blocking a sword with the sword hilt.

It was a good method, but it had many openings.

The end of the sword hilt had a small surface area and a gentle curve.

Blocking a sword with such a part was practically suicidal.

Even if the sword’s trajectory was slightly altered, the sword would move along the gentle curve.

The sword would naturally cut off the arm holding the hilt.

“I’ll praise your momentary wit.”

Sein’s sword moved along the trajectory of the sword hilt, heading towards Shin Ha-yul’s wrist.

If this continued, his wrist would be severely injured, and the battle would end.

“It was a rather enjoyable battle.”

Just as Sein’s sword was about to reach Shin Ha-yul’s wrist.

“It’s not over yet.”

Shin Ha-yul let go of his sword.

Sein’s sword cut through the air without slicing Shin Ha-yul’s wrist.

For the first time, an emotion of bewilderment appeared on Sein’s face.

‘From the beginning, he was planning to let go of his sword…!’

That wasn’t momentary wit.

With momentary wit, that reaction speed was impossible.

This man had been preparing to let go of his sword from the moment he defended with the sword hilt.

Thud!

Shin Ha-yul kicked the ground hard with his right foot.

A near-perfect advance.

‘He’s also skilled in unarmed combat!’

Sein shouted inwardly.

He had realized what Shin Ha-yul was trying to do.

But it was too late to stop it.

Sein’s center of gravity was currently leaning towards the sword he was swinging.

Defense was impossible in this stance.

‘Iron Mountain Strike!’

Shin Ha-yul used his shoulder to attack Sein.

It was truly a perfect Iron Mountain Strike [a powerful shoulder charge] that started from a perfect advance.

The air trembled as if proving its destructive power.

‘It landed properly.’

Just as Shin Ha-yul was inwardly sensing his victory.

“Hmph!”

Sein snorted as if it was nothing.

And then, just like Shin Ha-yul had done a moment ago, he let go of his sword.

“…!”

“That wasn’t a bad counterattack. But you were too hasty.”

The center of gravity, which had been leaning due to the sword, had regained its axis to some extent.

It was only a little, but it was enough to evade.

Sein took a step back with a lighter body.

“The weakness of the Iron Mountain Strike is its short reach.”

And an additional 1/3 step.

Whoooosh-!

A powerful aftershock swept through Sein’s entire body.

“You were too greedy.”

A paper-thin difference.

If he had been 3mm further forward, he would have been hit directly.

It was truly an admirable body movement.

“Instead of trying to knock him down in one blow, you should have thought about accumulating damage.”

Shin Ha-yul’s expression hardened.

On the other hand, Sein’s expression brightened.

And immediately after that.

Clack!

Clack!

The two grabbed the swords that were floating in the air and took their stances.

Shin Ha-yul grabbed the sword that Sein had let go of.

Sein quickly grabbed the sword that Shin Ha-yul had let go of.

“This is… a real knight’s battle…”

Adela took a deep breath.

She hadn’t even been breathing while watching that exchange just now.

In Adela’s mind, impatience and anxiety had long since disappeared.

The two’s battle was so thrilling that there was no time to think about anything else.

“…! …!!”

Of course, Stella’s reaction was even more intense.

She was feeling a thrill that couldn’t be described in words, stomping her feet.

‘Yes! This is it! This is a real knight’s battle!’

She was happy.

She was so happy that she felt like she was going crazy.

‘Even without releasing mana, just fighting with pure swordsmanship and physical abilities, the intensity is this great. Ah, really… I love it so much!’

Just watching it made her feel so excited and nervous that she felt like she was going to die.

If possible, she wanted to watch this match forever.

She wanted to enjoy this emotion all day long.

‘And someday…’

She wanted to engage in such a battle herself.

That desire filled her mind.

“…”

“…”

The silence continued longer than expected.

The two were looking for openings in each other.

“Gulp.”

The sound of someone swallowing dryly rang out loudly.

Everyone was holding their breath, waiting for the next move of the two.

“Hoo. I guess not. It seems like the duel should end here.”

At that moment, Sein suddenly released his stance.

He threw the sword he was holding to Shin Ha-yul and gestured for him to throw his sword back.

Shin Ha-yul also threw his sword back.

The two’s exchanged swords returned to their original owners.

“If we go any further, I feel like I won’t be able to hold back.”

Sein, having retrieved his sword, sheathed it with a satisfied smile.

Shin Ha-yul followed suit and sheathed his sword.

“Next time, let’s do it in a better place, where we can both go all out.”

“With all due respect, I was already going all out.”

“Hahaha! You’re good at jokes too.”

Sein laughed heartily.

“Anyone would think I can’t even use sword aura [a technique that enhances a sword with magical energy].”

Until now, Sein had only fought with sword and sword.

He hadn’t used the Vinoche family’s swordsmanship, nor had he used sword aura.

And the same was true for his opponent.

“Too much humility can be heard as arrogance. It’s better to refrain from it.”

“…I will keep that in mind.”

And then, he slowly approached Shin Ha-yul and patted him on the shoulder.

“Anyway, you pass. Ruan Palatia.”

No, it wasn’t just a pat.

He was patting him strongly on the shoulder as if he was very pleased.

“I like you. I like you very much. From head to toe. There’s nothing I don’t like.”

The speed of patting his shoulder was getting faster and faster.

Accordingly, the intensity was also getting stronger and stronger.

“Where did such a guy come from? I want to ask where you’ve been and what you’ve been doing until now.”

“I am overwhelmed by your excessive praise.”

Shin Ha-yul desperately endured the pain and expressed his gratitude.

“Ah, right. Ruan. Do you have a spouse?”

Sein raised and lowered his eyebrows, giving a sly smile.

“Why are you suddenly asking that…”

“Answer.”

“…No. I don’t.”

“Hmm. Is that so? Perfect.”

Sein laughed heartily with an even more pleased expression.

“Then, how about our Stella?”

“…Pardon?”

“Oh, Mother?”

Stella jumped up from her seat and shouted.

Her face was as red as a persimmon, and she was stammering.

“Even though she looks like that, she’s quite the romantic. She takes after me, and her face is outstanding. Although it’s a bit faded, her family is quite decent. What do you think? I think she’s a blue-chip stock worth investing in.”

“Mom!”

Stella ran out with an even redder face.

And then, she quickly jumped into the arena.

“W-What are you talking about!”

“Why are you making such a fuss? As if I said something strange.”

“You did say something strange! What are you suddenly talking about!”

She shouted with a face as red as a ripe apple.

“Why? Don’t you like Ruan?”

“Huh? N-No, it’s not that…”

Stella rolled her eyes around, stammering.

“I mean, there’s also an age difference…”

“Hmm. I think an 8-year age difference is nothing in this day and age.”

“…Pardon?”

Stella’s eyes widened.

“8… 8-year age difference?”

“Yes.”

“That means, Ruan-nim’s age is…”

“It’s written as 27 years old on his records.”

Stella gasped.

She had an expression that said she couldn’t have imagined it.

“What is it? You didn’t know?”

Sein’s smile deepened.

“You guaranteed his status without even knowing his age?”

Her smile deepened to the point where it turned into a sly snake.

“Indeed. I see. I understand. You don’t have to answer anymore. I know very well what your heart is like.”

“No, that’s not it…”

Stella gestured wildly, stammering.

“She’s also a girl with such a cute side, what do you think, Ruan?”

“No, I mean, Mom!”

Stella shouted loudly.

“Hahaha!”

Seeing Stella’s reaction, Sein laughed as if she was in the best mood.

“…”

And Adela was watching the three of them with a bored expression.