The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 261

The Rebirth of the Mythical Archmage-262

A black magic tower’s base, hidden somewhere.

A sanctuary where entry is impossible for anyone except the Black Magic King and those he permits.

In the heart of that sanctuary, the Black Magic King rested his chin on his hand, a look of utter delight on his face.

‘……Scary.’

Hermes knelt, head bowed, carefully observing the Black Magic King, who was smiling silently.

It would be better if he were angry. But he just kept smiling quietly without saying a word, which made it even more frightening.

‘Is he going to dispose of me too?’

This incident.

Hermes was also partly responsible for the death of the Doctor, the destruction of the lab, and the loss of research data.

First, he had failed to properly carry out the Black Magic King’s order to ‘care for the Doctor.’

That alone was a huge responsibility.

He not only failed to stop the Doctor’s rampage but also failed to properly grasp what had happened to the Doctor.

The Black Magic King’s disappointment must be immense.

‘It’s all because of that damn Doctor. If only there had been CCTV in the lab, this wouldn’t have happened.’

If there had been CCTV in the lab, he could have known the situation in advance.

It was all because of the Doctor, who had refused to install CCTV with all sorts of excuses.

Even if the CCTV kept getting destroyed by Ignis’s rampage, he should have kept installing new ones.

Not doing so was a lifelong regret.

Regardless of trusting Nuves’s stealth, he should have prepared a way to monitor the Doctor.

Hermes gnashed his teeth, regretting it.

‘To make matters worse, even Shadow…….’

The possibility of Shadow’s betrayal had, of course, been reported to the Black Magic King a long time ago.

Upon hearing this, the Black Magic King ordered Hermes to monitor Shadow.

In other words, not detecting Shadow’s betrayal in advance was also Hermes’s responsibility.

‘If he had just betrayed us, it would have been one thing, but he even helped kill the Doctor…….’

Hermes could not escape responsibility for this incident.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that 40% of the responsibility for this incident lay with Hermes.

‘……It’s unfair. It’s really unfair.’

Frankly, from Hermes’s perspective, it was extremely unfair.

He couldn’t do anything about the CCTV because the Doctor was uncooperative.

And considering Shadow’s abilities, it was impossible to detect his betrayal immediately.

Moreover, those two variables combined.

Who would have expected that Shadow would use that fleeting moment to travel to France and attack the Doctor from behind?

From Hermes’s perspective, it was like being struck by lightning out of the blue.

‘I can’t die like this, it’s too unfair.’

He knew he was largely responsible, but he couldn’t die like this.

He would survive by any means possible and make up for this mistake.

‘Am I going to die before I create my own country?’

Hermes bit his lip, firming his resolve.

“Black Magic King, I am truly sorry. I will make sure to handle the aftermath of this incident…….”

Just as Hermes, having steeled his resolve, was about to make a request, or rather, a plea, to the Black Magic King, suppressing his fear.

“That’s enough.”

The Black Magic King cut off Hermes’s words and replied.

“I will let this matter pass without further inquiry.”

Hermes’s eyes widened.

“Are you… are you saying you forgive me?”

“Yes.”

Hermes looked up at the Black Magic King with trembling eyes.

The Black Magic King was still smiling, as if he was in a good mood.

“This incident is akin to a natural disaster. No one can be held responsible for the occurrence of a natural disaster.”

“Ah…….”

Hermes’s eyes welled up. He looked deeply moved.

“Black Magic King…….”

The Doctor’s uncooperativeness and Shadow’s bizarre actions.

He described an incident that could be seen as Hermes’s mistake as a natural disaster.

Why?

‘The Black Magic King… cherishes me.’

The reason was simple.

To avoid holding Hermes responsible.

To maintain Hermes’s position intact.

In other words, it was because the Black Magic King cared deeply for Hermes.

“I am overwhelmed by your gracious words.”

It was only natural for Hermes to be moved.

“If your report is finished, return to your position and focus on your duties.”

“Yes, I will.”

Hermes bowed his head, stood up, and bowed 90 degrees.

It was the most respectful bow Hermes could offer.

“Regardless of responsibility, I will definitely capture the traitor Shadow and bring him before you, Black Magic King.”

“Very well. I will be waiting.”

Hermes’s emotions surged.

He would be waiting.

In all his time as a member of the Black Magic Tower, he had never heard such words.

‘He has realized that I am the most trustworthy among the executives.’

Hermes clutched his chest and smiled brightly.

The dream of becoming the second-in-command of the Black Magic Tower and later establishing his own country by receiving a part of the world did not seem so far away.

“Then, I will see you again.”

With that, Hermes left the room with a dreamy expression.

The Black Magic King, as if he had no interest in Hermes, rested his chin on his hand, gazing leisurely into the void.

“……A natural disaster.”

As if the Doctor’s death, Shadow’s betrayal, and Hermes’s mistakes were nothing compared to what he had gained this time.

He smiled with a look of utter delight.

“I thought I would die of old age waiting.”

The Black Magic King’s description of this incident as a ‘natural disaster’ was not particularly for Hermes’s sake.

It was simply because that was the truth.

“Welcome, Ray Bell Bytenner. And…….”

The Black Magic King’s smile deepened.

“……It’s not far now.”

The day to fulfill his long-cherished wish was not far away.

* * *

Time passed quickly.

As the heat of the incident began to cool down somewhat.

I arrived at Paris International Airport in France.

For the record, I didn’t come to the airport to return to Korea.

I came to the airport to pretend that I had just arrived in France.

“Okay, kid. Kim Seok-hyun said he’s in position. Go to gate 7 through the back path.”

After rechecking the stealth artifact I was wearing, Commander Charles lightly patted my back.

“It’s unlikely you’ll get caught, but be careful just in case. If you think you’re about to get caught, just pretend to slip away from the crowd. We’ll take care of the rest.”

“Yes.”

My current fake identity, ‘Ruan Palatia,’ has been processed as deceased.

In other words, I am currently an illegal alien with no identity.

It’s quite difficult to enter Korea in this state.

That’s why I planned this operation.

It’s called the Shin Hayul France Visit Grand Operation.

Or, the Phantom Shin Hayul Delivery Operation.

The plan was to make it seem like I had just arrived in France, making it natural for me to be there.

This way, I could regain my Shin Hayul identity.

And after killing some time, I could return to Korea.

This way, I wouldn’t have to give additional information to the brokers.

What a perfect plan.

I send endless applause to Mr. Seok-hyun for devising such a brilliant plan.

“Then go.”

Commander Charles gently pushed my back.

I moved forward and headed towards gate 7 through the side path.

Since I was using a side path for staff, I didn’t encounter anyone.

I was worried about meeting staff, but it seemed that had already been taken care of.

Mr. Seok-hyun’s work skills are truly something.

As I admired Mr. Seok-hyun’s abilities and walked along the path.

“Young master. This way.”

At the end of the passage, Mr. Seok-hyun appeared.

“Mr. Seok-hyun.”

Having come this far, I could now relax.

I took off my hood and artifact and stood next to Mr. Seok-hyun.

“You’ve worked hard.”

“No, you’ve worked hard, Mr. Seok-hyun. It must have been difficult to make it seem like I was in Korea.”

It wasn’t easy to make a non-existent person exist.

And he did it so perfectly.

If it weren’t for Mr. Seok-hyun, it would have been impossible to avoid Hermes’s eyes.

I was truly impressed.

“Let’s go. We need to get out before it’s too late.”

“Yes.”

Mr. Seok-hyun turned around and headed towards the exit of gate 7.

I followed Mr. Seok-hyun and exited through gate 7.

And without any suspicion, I came out into the airport lobby.

In the midst of the crowd in the airport lobby, Adela’s figure was clearly visible.

My trip to France was partly to visit Adela and check on her, so she had come to greet me.

“Welcome.”

No, to be precise, she was pretending to greet me.

I began to act, observing the expressions of the people around me.

“It’s been a while. How have you been?”

“I’m fine.”

“How’s your body? I heard you were injured in the recent incident?”

“I’m okay. I was unconscious for about two days, but some kind people helped me, and I recovered completely without any aftereffects.”

For the record, Adela’s two-day disappearance was explained as her being unconscious for two days.

While unconscious, Adela, who was on the verge of death, was helped by a kind couple. After waking up, she immediately returned to the mansion.

That was the scenario.

For the record, the kind couple was played by members of the Hunting Dog Mercenary Group.

There was an issue with their identities, so they pretended to be illegal aliens who couldn’t come out in the open.

Actually, there were more illegal aliens in France than expected, so they just went along with it.

“Hey, you two. Is that them?”

“Yeah, it is. I heard she was injured. Did he come because he was worried?”

“Wow. Shin Hayul is so sweet.”

“Are they really together?”

The murmuring around us grew louder.

It’s a bit awkward to say it myself, but Adela and I are quite famous.

Our performances at the Olympiad were so big that our faces were well-known.

‘……Okay. This way, the fact that I just arrived in France will spread through social media. Perfect.’

Now, no one will doubt that I just arrived in France.

With this, the perfect crime is complete.

“We need to leave before the crowd gets bigger. Come this way. I’ve prepared a car.”

“Thank you for your concern.”

Adela, judging that it was enough, took me and Mr. Seok-hyun and headed out of the airport.

And we got into the limousine parked near the entrance.

Mr. Seok-hyun sat in the passenger seat, and Adela and I sat in the back.

“Driver, please depart.”

“Yes.”

As soon as we got in, the car started moving.

Adela and I simultaneously let out a sigh.

A sigh of relief.

“It worked out well.”

“Yeah.”

Now, I could confidently say that I am Shin Hayul anywhere I go.

It felt like I had finally regained my name.

“You’ve worked hard. It must have been difficult to act.”

“Well…….”

Adela smiled wryly.

Her expression said that she couldn’t even say it wasn’t hard as a formality.

“Thank you so much. I will definitely repay you.”

From helping me entirely in France to saving my life at the end.

I had a mountain of debts to repay.

“You don’t have to worry about it. It’s natural for friends to help each other, right?”

“Even if we’re friends, I’m still grateful. I’ll repay you somehow. If you need anything, just tell me. I’ll do my best to help within my power.”

“Well, if you say so, I won’t refuse.”

Adela and I looked at each other and smiled softly.

“When are you planning to return to Korea?”

“In four days.”

“You’re staying longer than expected? I thought you would go back right away.”

“It would be strange to go back too quickly. I thought that would be the right amount of time.”

“That’s true… Then what are you going to do about the Black Magic Tower? In four days, they could send dozens of assassins……”

The reason I didn’t come to France as Shin Hayul was to avoid the eyes of the Black Magic Tower.

“Well, it’s okay now. It’s also a time when the French security is as strict as Korea’s because it’s right after the incident…….”

Currently, the security in France is too strict.

It’s not the right time for the Black Magic Tower’s assassins to come and go.

“With the Doctor dead and Shadow betraying us, it’s unlikely they’ll send anyone to target me in this chaotic situation.”

The situation is very different from a month ago.

Now, it’s okay to be openly in France.

I could just relax in France for four days and then return to Korea.

“Anyway, you don’t have to worry about my safety.”

“That’s a relief.”

Adela smiled faintly, as if relieved.

“Ah, and this…….”

After glancing at the front seat, Adela handed me a book.

“I don’t know if it will be helpful. I found this book while searching the study in the early morning.”

The title of the book Adela handed me was written in ancient characters that were very familiar to me.

[The First Sol Lunari]

“I just found it, so I haven’t translated it yet. But if I guess from the title of the book…….”

“It seems to be an autobiography.”

“Yes.”

The only kind of book that would have one’s name plastered on the cover like that would be an autobiography.

I slowly opened the book.

The very first sentence of the book was this:

[My life began at the age of 19, with my meeting with my lord.]