The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 305

“Anyway. Congratulations on passing.”

Tey clapped awkwardly, halfheartedly congratulating me on passing the trial.

“Passed… you mean?”

“Yeah. You passed.”

“…I see. I thought you’d tell me to go through the trial again properly, following the regular route.”

Whether this world is a virtual space or not, a trial is a trial.

It wouldn’t be strange for the examiner to tell me not to use tricks and to go through the trial by the book.

‘I thought he seemed like a stickler for rules and would definitely find fault with something.’

He’s just letting me pass like this.

“If that’s what I was going to say, wouldn’t I have said from the start that Factio was forbidden because it would interfere with the test?”

“That’s… true, I guess?”

That’s the logical thing to say.

If he wanted to stop me from using Factio, he didn’t even need to warn me that my life was in danger.

‘He could have just said that using Factio would result in disqualification.’

If he had, I wouldn’t have even thought about using Factio.

Even if I had realized that this world was a fake world created by Tey, I would never have used it.

‘Why did he give such an ambiguous warning?’

I don’t know.

“From the beginning, there were two ways to pass this trial. One was to complete the trial as I had prepared it, and escape from this space…”

The first was the standard way to pass.

“The other is what you just did, using Factio to stop this space itself.”

“…Huh?”

Using Factio was a legitimate condition for passing the test?

“For you to use Factio in that situation, quite a few things are required.”

Tey said, counting off on his fingers.

“A 100% understanding of Factio’s structure, knowledge to be sure it wouldn’t threaten your life. The determination to ignore my warning and act. The observational skills to notice suspicious points in my actions and words. The reasoning skills to gather the necessary information from your suspicions.”

Tey folded his fingers back and focused his gaze on me.

“The fact that you used Factio in that situation is proof that you are a suitable person to possess the Book of Dante Roa.”

That makes sense.

But…

“Those are all supplementary qualities, aren’t they? Don’t you need to check my magical achievements separately?”

“We finished that at the beginning.”

“Ah, the infinite loop…”

“Yeah. If you successfully created the Mobius pattern in that situation, it means there’s nothing more to learn below the 6th Circle. Your magical achievements are already close to perfect.”

That was high praise.

…But.

Maybe it’s because his expression doesn’t change, but it sounds like he’s being sarcastic.

So, I feel a bit strange.

“Then, if I had gone through the trial normally, there wouldn’t have been a trial to check my magical achievements?”

“Yeah. It was designed as a trial that excluded all magical elements.”

“So that’s why Ignis…”

So that’s why Ignis couldn’t use any power.

Certainly, what was needed in the situation just now was accurate observation and the ability to grasp the situation, not magical achievements.

“You’ve already proven your qualities enough. That’s why I said you passed.”

“I see.”

I feel a bit dazed.

Honestly, I thought I would have to take the test again, no matter what secrets I uncovered.

I never imagined that using Factio itself was one of the ways to pass.

“I did think it was strange. If Factio was a risk to collapsing this trial, they could have just prevented Miho from entering this place, but I wondered why they allowed Miho to come in with me.”

Factio is the reward for passing the fifth trial page.

It’s a mythical magic that I naturally possess.

There’s no way my teacher wouldn’t have considered the variable of Factio.

If he wanted me to go through the trial normally, he could have just blocked Miho’s entry.

Considering the previous trial pages, it wouldn’t be impossible to create a structure that only I could enter.

“So, it was because using Factio was one of the ways to pass that you deliberately allowed Miho to come along.”

“Yeah. That’s right.”

“Then, when you suddenly appeared and said you weren’t planning to show yourself, that was also…”

“Yeah. It’s all a lie. I was planning to show myself at that timing from the start.”

“I see.”

By saying that he had no choice but to show himself because of Factio, he planted the idea in my head that I shouldn’t use Factio.

After that, by showing some of his power as a hint, he further diverted my attention.

It was a more elaborate design than I had thought.

It must be my teacher’s design, right?

He’s really amazing.

I was still marveling when…

“Then… here you go.”

Tey handed me a book.

“This is…”

A book with a strangely familiar feeling. There was no need to ask what it was.

“The Book of Dante Roa… is it?”

“Yeah. That’s right. A passing gift.”

Tey tossed the book to me.

The Book of Dante Roa fit perfectly in my arms.

The cover had ‘The Book of Dante Roa’ written on it in my teacher’s handwriting.

“Then, see you later.”

Tey waved his hand with a still flat expression.

“I…”

I didn’t even have time to reply.

The next moment, I was standing in the corner of Baekrokdam, where I had been standing just before.

‘I’m back where I was?’

As sudden as the meeting was, the ending was just as sudden.

‘This isn’t the last goodbye, is it…’

Based on my experience so far, this can’t be the end.

I’m sure I’ll be able to meet him again when I enter the Book of Dante Roa.

‘He’s really unpredictable…’

I’ll just talk to him again then.

* * *

However, contrary to my expectations.

I didn’t meet Tey Rovain again in the Book of Dante Roa.

After that, I went straight down the mountain and returned to my room.

I opened the Book of Dante Roa and entered inside.

But there was no one inside the Book of Dante Roa.

Not even Tey Rovain, nor even a single bug.

The only things alive and moving inside were me and Miho. Just the two of us.

‘So that was the last goodbye?’

I can’t help but laugh at the absurdity.

It was such a short meeting that there was no time to build any attachment.

To just say ‘see you later’ so casually and end it like that.

He could have at least listened to my words of gratitude.

What’s the rush?

‘What kind of person is he…?’

Tey Rovain.

He was a man I couldn’t understand in many ways.

‘If you’re going to leave, at least tell me what kind of magic you used to create that virtual space.’

I was most curious about how he created that virtual space.

That it would remain a mystery in the end is so frustrating.

‘Since Aslan is the only space magic user besides my teacher, it can’t be space creation. And since my teacher is the only one who can handle time magic, it can’t be time-related either. It can’t be creation magic…’

Did he just receive the right to control the virtual space created by my teacher without any special magic?

No, he seemed too familiar with the manipulation to see it as a world he had received.

His near-miraculous control over my senses and even my mana circuits.

Could he show such skill through a world he received from someone else?

That’s impossible.

That world was clearly created by Tey Rovain’s own abilities.

‘Ah, it bothers me.’

I have a condition where I can’t stand this.

It’s so frustrating.

Even though I got the Book of Dante Roa in just one day, I’m this frustrated.

I sighed deeply.

‘Haa. I don’t know. Let’s put aside this unanswerable question for now…’

Anyway, I managed to get the Book of Dante Roa safely.

‘For the remaining time, I’ll focus all my efforts on weaving the 7th Circle, the ‘Neutral Ring,’ using the books here.’

About a month and a half.

Until Sophia’s side finishes all the preparations, and the gaze of the Black Magic Tower focused on me fades to some extent.

I just need to focus on weaving the Neutral Ring.

* * *

The next morning.

I was having breakfast with Terun.

I was originally going to eat quickly and focus on training, but Terun said he had prepared breakfast himself, so I made time.

“You’re a good cook?”

He seemed so clumsy and like he wouldn’t be able to cook, but it’s quite unexpected.

“You have to when you don’t have money.”

Terun finished his meal and said self-deprecatingly with a strangely sad expression.

I felt sad for no reason.

I’ve also gone through all sorts of hardships because of money for a year.

“Next time, if I buy tofu, I’ll make tofu dishes for you. That’s my specialty.”

“Tofu is cheap, delicious, and filling…”

I feel a strange sense of kinship.

I also used to live on tofu alone.

“How do you know that?”

“I also have some knowledge about tofu.”

“You? Why? You shouldn’t have been short on money.”

“When I first entered the academy, my wallet wasn’t in good shape.”

“Ah. I see.”

Terun nodded as if he understood.

“I guess I’ve been doing too well recently. I completely forgot. You also had a dark period.”

“Yes. A pitch-black dark period.”

A very, very dark dark period.

Remembering that time, the stir-fried fish cake I’m chewing feels bitter.

“So, what are you going to do after this?”

Terun, who finished his meal first, asked me about my schedule.

“I have to train.”

Now that I’ve obtained the Book of Dante Roa.

I need to focus all my efforts on weaving the Neutral Ring.

“Until when?”

“I think I’ll focus on training until dinner.”

From the moment I obtained the Book of Dante Roa yesterday until this morning, I was dedicated to finding information about the seventh Infinity Circle, the Neutral Ring.

As a result, I succeeded in finding the essential training method necessary to weave the Neutral Ring.

‘Mana Reverse Circulation.’

A training method that seems like a suicidal act of reversing mana.

I need to be able to do this naturally first before moving on to the next step.

I have to train every day until I get used to it.

‘Since it’s mana circulation training, training for too long will be harmful.’

That’s why I’m only going to do it until dinner time.

Assuming I take breaks in between, about 8 hours is just right.

“Then, what about after dinner?”

Terun asked me with sparkling eyes.

He has an expectant look on his face.

I think I know what he’s going to say.

“I don’t have any specific plans.”

I do need to go to the Book of Dante Roa and study the Neutral Ring.

But I can do that later at dawn.

“Really? Then, can you spare some time? It’s just that…”

“Brainstorming. It seems like you’re stuck on something.”

“…Exactly.”

Completing the ‘Mimir Thesis’ that Terun is in charge of is as important as completing the Neutral Ring.

If it’s time spent for that, it’s not a waste. I can invest enough time.

“Okay. Then, after dinner. Would 7 o’clock be okay?”

“Perfect.”

Terun smiled as if he was very satisfied.

“I understand.”

I finished the rest of my meal and put the dishes in the dishwasher.

“Then, I’ll go straight to training.”

“Ah, okay. Good luck.”

I said goodbye to Terun and headed to the yard.