The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 266

For a knight, the words ‘lost honor’ are the ultimate insult and degradation.

Shin Ha-yul had said those words.

Moreover, he hadn’t just degraded the knights.

Shin Ha-yul had said that even the swordsmanship of Vinoche had lost its honor.

This was a statement that had truly touched Sein Vinoche’s raw nerve.

If anyone else had said such words to Sein, their torso and head would have been separated on the spot.

“It means exactly what it sounds like.”

Sein Vinoche’s brow furrowed at Shin Ha-yul’s sharp words.

Did ‘exactly what it sounds like’ mean that it was indeed an insult?

Sein’s eyes grew even more murderous.

‘If that’s what he meant….’

If he had said those words simply to degrade the knights and the Vinoche family, then even if it was Shin Ha-yul, even if it was Luan Palatia, she would not forgive him.

Sein stared at Shin Ha-yul with eyes as cold and sharp as a Siberian storm.

“Sein-nim, you are a knight. What do you think is the most important thing for those who wield a sword?”

“It’s impossible to choose just one.”

Sein answered without hesitation.

“The physical ability to support swordsmanship. A mana core to assist that physical ability. A brain that can utilize that excellent physical ability and mana core to 100%. Combat experience and sense to make the most of that brain. The calm judgment to make cool-headed decisions in any situation. There is nothing that is not important to a swordsman. Everything is important.”

To wield a sword, one must be proficient in everything.

If one aspect is weak, the others will also be weakened.

Therefore, there is no single most important thing for swordsmen.

Each and every aspect is important.

“That’s a textbook answer. But it’s not correct.”

However, Shin Ha-yul shook his head.

“What you mentioned are all important things. But those are all just supplementary. There is something else that is most important for a swordsman.”

Sein, with her eyes narrowed, glared at Shin Ha-yul.

Shin Ha-yul calmly met Sein’s gaze and continued to speak.

“It’s like a ‘mana circle’ for a mage.”

If the same question had been asked to mages, everyone would have answered ‘mana circle.’

Because the most important thing for a mage is the mana circle. [A mana circle is a structure within a mage’s body that allows them to manipulate mana.]

It’s not that other supplementary factors are ignored, but the mana circle is the core and origin of magic.

Magic exists because of the mana circle.

“Are you trying to say that the mana core is the most important?”

If mages have mana circles, knights have mana cores. [A mana core is a source of mana within a knight’s body.]

Judging from the flow and logic of what he just said, it seems he wants to say that the mana core is the most important.

However.

“Nonsense. A mana core is different from a mana circle. A mana circle grows as the number of rings increases, but a mana core doesn’t. The number of cores doesn’t increase, nor does the density or volume change much.”

Since Sein Vinoche first completed her mana core at the age of 12, the volume she has increased through about 50 years of training is only about 20%.

The growth potential of a mana core is not comparable to that of a mana circle.

“A mana core is not about the growth of the mana core itself, but a structure that maximizes efficiency in conjunction with the complex growth of other things. Therefore, the mana core cannot be the most important. Your idea is wrong.”

Try to deny it if you can.

She looked at Shin Ha-yul with that expression.

“No. My idea is not wrong.”

But what was this?

Shin Ha-yul denied Sein’s words without a moment’s hesitation.

Sein’s eyes became even sharper.

“…I’ve lived long enough to see this. I never thought a guy would appear to try and teach me about swordsmanship.”

Alright. If he’s going that far, let’s hear him out.

That was the expression on her face.

“Explain. Why is the mana core the most important?”

The two made eye contact and fell silent.

Sein was waiting for Shin Ha-yul to speak, and Shin Ha-yul was intentionally pausing to give more weight to his words.

“Before that, let me correct something.”

After about three seconds of silence, Shin Ha-yul slowly opened his mouth.

“What I think is most important for a knight is not the mana core.”

“…What?”

Sein frowned.

He wasn’t talking about the mana core?

“Are you mocking me?”

He had talked about something like a mana circle for a mage, and now he says it’s not the mana core.

Is he making a fool of her?

“Of course not.”

Shin Ha-yul shook his head with an expression that showed he had no such intention.

“It’s natural that you thought of the mana core when I talked about something like a mana circle for a mage. Because that’s the common sense of this era.”

“……”

Sein’s head tilted very slightly. Common sense of this era? She had no idea what Shin Ha-yul was trying to say.

“The most important thing for a knight, something like a mana circle for a mage, is….”

Shin Ha-yul dragged out his words again.

Sein’s gaze focused on Shin Ha-yul’s mouth and eyes.

“It’s honor.”

“……”

Sein’s expression twisted as much as it could.

“I wondered what you were going to say, but all you came up with was an abstract answer based on idealism.”

She looked very disappointed.

“That’s quite amusing. After all that, you’ve come back to ‘honor’ again.”

The corners of Sein’s mouth turned into a cold smile.

“Tell me more. How does the honor that is most important to a knight connect to the statement that the swordsmanship of the knights and the Vinoche family has lost its honor?”

Sein’s eyes said, ‘This is my last mercy.’

If he didn’t give a proper answer here, he would really have to be prepared.

Her eyes were full of that warning.

“In the past, magic and swords were so perfectly divided that it was impossible to say which was superior.”

Shin Ha-yul suddenly started talking about the past.

Sein was about to ask what he was thinking, but stopped herself.

Let’s see what he’s trying to say.

That was the expression on her face.

“A time when there were more than a dozen 9-circle mages, who are now hard to find even one in a century. And there were just as many swordsmen who rivaled them.”

“…Hoo.”

It was more interesting than she thought.

Swordsmen who could compete with 9-circle mages. [9-circle mages are the highest level of mages, possessing immense magical power.]

How did he know that there were ten of them?

“Isn’t it strange?”

“What do you mean?”

“That swordsmen who boasted such powerful strength are in this position.”

“……”

Is he degrading them for falling so far despite having such great ancestors?

No. There was no such sign.

There was another meaning.

“Explain what you mean.”

“The development of AI has had a significant impact on the development of mages. However, that is only limited to mages below the 8th circle. The development of AI has not had a significant impact on 9-circle mages.”

“Why is that?”

Since Sein only had a superficial understanding of magic, such talk was completely new to her.

“Because 9-circle mages can freely manipulate magic even without AI.”

The magic processing speed of 9-circle mages is comparable to that of a supercomputer.

There is no significant difference between the magic they use alone and the magic they use with the support of AI.

For 9-circle mages, AI or mana cores are the same.

When the efficiency of magic is quantified, it is only about 4%.

It’s not a small number, but it’s not a big number either.

“In other words, there was no difference between the 9-circle mages of the past and the current Sophia-nim.”

“If that’s the case, then that’s how it would be.”

“Then, by the law of syllogism, there were more than a dozen knights at the level of the current Sophia-nim.”

This is also true.

That is, if all of Shin Ha-yul’s information is true.

“But why did it turn out like this?”

“……”

Sein closed her mouth.

She had a 100% understanding of what Shin Ha-yul was trying to say.

“The strongest person of this era. The fact that there were swordsmen comparable to Sophia-nim means that the growth potential of swordsmen is not inferior to modern magic. But why have knights fallen so far? As it has become easier to enter the path of a mage due to the magic revolution, it is inevitable that they would be somewhat pushed back, but the difference shouldn’t be this big. Why?”

“……”

Sein was silent.

She was mulling over Shin Ha-yul’s words and organizing her thoughts.

But she couldn’t come to a conclusion.

There was too little information.

“…I don’t know. What’s the reason?”

If all of Shin Ha-yul’s words were true.

Why did this situation unfold?

“The answer is already in what I said. Two hours ago, when I contacted Sein-nim.”

Two hours ago.

Sein frowned as if she was displeased.

“Because the knights have lost their honor?”

“Yes.”

“……”

Is he going back to degrading the knights again?

‘No.’

That’s not it.

Judging from what he has said so far, Shin Ha-yul has no intention of degrading them at all.

If his purpose was simply to degrade them, there would be no need to say all this.

There is another meaning.

“Don’t bother going around in circles, and explain properly.”

At Sein’s urging, Shin Ha-yul slowly opened his mouth.

“Earlier, I asked what is to a knight what a mana circle is to a mage.”

“Yes.”

“That is honor.”

There it is again.

Honor. Honor, huh.

“Judging by the logic of your words, it doesn’t seem like you mean honor in an abstract sense.”

“Yes. It’s not.”

Shin Ha-yul activated his mana core, increasing the density of his mana.

“In the first place, the mana core is not exclusive to knights. As you can see from the fact that I have a mana core right now.”

Sein could feel it too.

“In the past, all mages who did not have AI had mana cores in their bodies.”

Even looking at it again, the mana density was enormous. Frankly, in terms of the completion of the mana core, he was superior to her.

“A mana core is literally a core. A nucleus that enhances the efficiency of the mana circle and….”

A mana core is a base.

It doesn’t matter if you are a swordsman or a mage.

In the past, everyone equally wove mana cores.

Therefore, the mana core is not the origin or identity of swordsmen.

“A nucleus that elevates the honor of swordsmen.”

The identity of swordsmen is honor.

“Let me say it again. Modern knights have lost their honor. The swordsmanship of the Vinoche family has also lost its honor and degenerated into half-baked swordsmanship.”

Honor, oaths are not just conceptual things.

Something as important as a mana circle is to a mage.

It is the core of swordsmanship.

“……”

“I want modern swordsmen to regain their honor, their oath of glory. That’s why I’m saying this. Because only those who are aware of the current situation can make improvements.”

“That means….”

Sein’s eyes trembled slightly.

“Yes. I know what the honor that the knights have lost was.”

Shin Ha-yul’s eyes shone with determination.

“Would you please give me the opportunity to restore the glory of the swordsmen?”

Shin Ha-yul knew about the honor they had lost.

The Mimir’s Scroll also contained definite information about it. [The Mimir’s Scroll is likely a reference to a source of ancient knowledge.]

‘I can restore their glory.’

And.

“Sein Vinoche-nim. I want to be the catalyst for you to become even stronger.”

Sein Vinoche.

A strong person who overwhelms even an average 8-circle mage, despite having lost her honor.

The strongest swordsman who can now be called an ally.

Her growth would be of great help in eradicating the Black Magic Tower.

“Hmm. You’re going to become the benefactor of all knights?”

“Yes.”

The strengthening of the knights would be of great help to Shin Ha-yul’s goals.

Furthermore, if he could become their benefactor, there would be nothing better.

“I need people who will be on my side.”

The Black Magic Tower is more enormous than imagined. To deal with such guys, I need to make as many people as possible on my side.

If they are knights, if they are knights who have regained their past glory, they will surely be good partners.

I am sure of that.

“You’re like an onion.”

Looking at Shin Ha-yul, Sein smiled faintly.

“No matter how much you peel, something new keeps coming out! Hahaha!”

Then, she laughed heartily as if she was very pleased.

“If that’s the story, there’s no reason to refuse. No, rather, I want to ask you.”

Sein-nim’s eyes shone much more sharply than the famous sword hanging on one side of the room.

“They say strike while the iron is hot. Let’s start right away.”

Sein-nim got up from her seat, put on her coat, and took the sword hanging on one wall and hung it on her waist.

“Show me what you call honor… what an oath is.”

“Yes.”

I also got up.

“I will show you clearly what a true knight, what the true swordsmanship of the Vinoche family is like.”

It’s only half-baked knowledge learned superficially from the Mimir’s Scroll, but it’s enough to surprise Sein-nim.