The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 383

The Mythical Archmage’s Rebirth-384

Why doesn’t the mythic magic I wield have the same impact as the mythic magic my teacher used?

I had that thought once.

It must have been when I first used mythic magic without incantation after reuniting with Mimir.

Both the power and output had increased, but why did it feel so lackluster?

The mythic magic my teacher used against Veil Stole in Mimir’s grimoire didn’t feel like this.

What’s the difference between my mythic magic and my teacher’s mythic magic?

…I wondered.

The conclusion to this concern was ‘lack of achievement’.

It was just that this difference existed because my achievement was insufficient.

That it would resolve itself when I reached the 8th or 9th circle.

That was the conclusion I had reached back then.

“That wasn’t it. The reason my mythic magic seemed lacking wasn’t because my achievement was insufficient. It was simply because my mythic magic lacked substance.”

But it wasn’t.

The reason my mythic magic seemed weaker than my teacher’s wasn’t because my achievement was insufficient.

It was simply because my mythic magic was lacking.

“Successor. Calm down and explain in more detail. I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

Mimir moved his hand slowly from top to bottom, with an expression that showed he couldn’t understand at all.

It was a gesture telling me to calm down and explain step by step.

“Basically, our approach to mythic magic itself was wrong.”

Right after reuniting with Mimir, when I was pondering the difference between my mythic magic and my teacher’s.

I had confided this concern to Mimir as well.

I told him that my mythic magic felt far inferior, and asked what he thought.

Mimir’s answer to this question was the same as the answer I had come up with myself.

‘Isn’t it because the successor’s achievement is insufficient?’

Mimir had told me that on that day.

Because it was Mimir’s words, and because it was the same conclusion as mine, I naturally thought it was correct.

But it wasn’t.

“The reason our mythic magic felt lacking was because we thought of mythic magic as simply a high-level magic that maximized power and output, and we modified it accordingly. Because the substance is missing, it was bound to be weak.”

Just as I was wrong, Mimir was also wrong.

Our mythic magic was a clumsy imitation of mythic magic, born from our misunderstandings and delusions.

“…Explain in more detail.”

Mimir’s expression became serious.

A completely different expression from before.

Until just now, he couldn’t understand my words at all, so he couldn’t react.

Now, he understood to some extent.

That was the expression he was making.

“What is the substance of mythic magic that we missed? And why did we miss that substance?”

However, he still didn’t understand 100%. He understood the nuance, but he had no idea how it had happened.

I had a rough idea of what wasn’t clicking in Mimir’s mind.

“Incantation. We completely missed the essential element contained in the act of incantation. The fundamental power.”

“The fundamental power of incantation?”

An inconvenient tradition.

The moment I heard those words, my heart sank.

Because it was a spot-on remark.

It felt as if those words had pierced my heart sharply.

“Incantation wasn’t an unnecessary act that was good to omit. It wasn’t an inconvenient custom that naturally changes with the flow of time, but a tradition that must be upheld even as time passes.”

Onko Jishin [Learning from the past to understand the present].

I had forgotten this saying.

The Bytheiner Style itself was the epitome of Onko Jishin.

Yet, I had concluded that incantation, one of the structures of the Bytheiner Style, should be discarded altogether.

How foolish and arrogant that thought and judgment were.

I am ashamed even thinking about it again.

“Incantation…”

Mimir’s expression became complicated.

He was re-examining the structure of incantation, thinking about what the ‘foundation’ we had missed was.

“When I analyzed it, I didn’t see any such element. According to the calculation formula, incantation is just…”

“Incantation is not something that can be judged by such a calculative approach.”

However, that approach was also wrong.

“That’s exactly why we missed the core.”

We were looking at the Bytheiner Style too calculatively.

Even though the magic of the Bytheiner Style itself was a dimension away from calculations.

We were looking at it rationally. Mathematically. Calculatively. As if we were looking at modern magic composed of 1s and 0s.

“…I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

Mimir shook his head.

The expression that he seemed to understand a little had completely disappeared. He had returned to an expression of ‘I don’t understand at all.’

“It’s natural that you don’t understand. Mimir isn’t a user of the Bytheiner Style.”

The uniqueness of the Bytheiner Style is something that only I, who uses the Bytheiner Style, can know.

It’s a realm of emotion, not reason.

It’s understandable that Mimir can’t understand.

“…”

Mimir frowned, looking utterly displeased.

It was an expression filled with many emotions.

He was upset that there was something he didn’t know, and he was also displeased that his hypothesis was wrong…

“The fact that it’s a concept I can’t understand no matter what I do… does that mean there’s nothing I can do to help?”

More than anything, he seemed frustrated that there was no way he could help me.

He must have thought that unless he could understand the foundation contained in the act of incantation, there was no way he could help me.

“No. That can’t be.”

But that was a wrong thought.

Certainly, Mimir can never understand the true meaning contained in the act of incantation.

But that doesn’t matter at all.

“I’m going to re-modify mythic magic from now on.”

“Re-modify?”

“Yes. Focusing on what I realized after seeing my teacher’s mythic magic this time. And adding the mythic magic algorithm you established. This time, I’m going to create real mythic magic.”

We are partners.

I can fill in the gaps in my partner’s shortcomings.

If Mimir can’t understand the true meaning of incantation, that’s just a problem that I need to fill.

“Perhaps, even a 0.01% error won’t be tolerated in this adjustment. I can’t succeed without your help.”

And the opposite is also true.

I can understand the true meaning of incantation, but that’s all.

It’s impossible to refine the detailed structure of mythic magic as 0 and 1 data, and to modify it accordingly.

“We can only succeed if we complement each other… in short, it’s a soul collaboration.”

“That’s right.”

“…I see. So that’s how it is.”

A different light shone in Mimir’s eyes.

An expression that he was very excited.

“That sounds kind of fun.”

Mimir licked his lips with a flushed face.

* * *

After that, we returned to the Luminescent Mana Stone Cave.

We returned and explained everything.

“So. We’re going to separate and focus on research.”

For reference, Mimir did the explaining.

It seemed better for one person to explain than for two people to explain.

I entrusted all the explanations to Mimir.

“…Re-modifying mythic magic. You’re taking a difficult path.”

Elena looked at me and Mimir alternately, with an expression that was half worried and half expectant.

“Hmm. I did think that your mythic magic was somehow different from the mythic magic that my lord used. It wasn’t my imagination.”

Aslan had a rather bright expression, as if his questions had finally been answered.

“However, aside from the questions. Is re-modification even possible?”

“Hmm. Honestly, I don’t know.”

It wasn’t that difficult to change the formula under a calculative approach.

I had Mimir, a genius of calculation, by my side.

“This time, it’s a difficult task that requires both emotion and reason. It won’t be easy.”

What we are trying to do now is like trying to express art with a calculation formula of 0 and 1.

It’s definitely not easy to insert a calculation formula into something that is only allowed in the world of emotion and sensation.

“But… we have to try.”

It’s not an easy task, but it’s worth trying.

“There’s a saying. ‘Light will never come to those who do not challenge.'”

Elena smiled and said.

“It’s a saying I like. It means that the act of challenging itself is valuable enough.”

Elena’s smile became even brighter.

“I’ll cheer you on.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

Her eyes were filled with a feeling of pride as she looked at me.

“Hmm. I don’t think it will go well, but try your best.”

Aslan crossed his arms and said something that was hard to tell if it was a curse or encouragement.

Considering Aslan’s personality, he must have been encouraging me indirectly.

“Yes. I’ll try my best.”

Aslan nodded slightly.

“Then…”

“Yes, yes. Please leave Adela and Soonchan to us.”

Elena’s lips curved into a playful line.

It was an expression that seemed to say, ‘You wanted to say this, right?’

“…Yes. I’ll leave it to you.”

I smiled wryly and looked at Soonchan and Adela.

My two friends who still haven’t woken up because of my mistake.

I have to do my best to help them to cover up my mistake. But I’m leaving my post like this.

The feeling of guilt, which was already big, grew even bigger.

“You don’t have to feel too sorry. Like I said. The result isn’t that bad.”

They crossed the wall.

That’s how she expressed it.

“If they’re in that state now… they’ll be able to overcome the trial of the Luminescent Mana Stone within a week.”

“Adela Steart would be able to do it.”

It was impossible for Soonchan in a week.

Aslan seemed to want to say that.

“Oh my. Soonchan will be able to do it too, you know?”

“…Hmm. That half-wit? I think he’ll need at least ten days.”

“I think he’ll be able to do it within five days at the earliest.”

“You’re still optimistic.”

“You’re the one who’s pessimistic.”

The two made eye contact.

The gaze was so sharp that it seemed like electricity was sparking between them.

“Do you want to bet?”

“Bet?”

“Yes.”

Elena grinned.

“If Soonchan passes the trial within a week, it’s my victory. If not, it’s your victory.”

“…Ho ho.”

A different light shone in Aslan’s eyes.

“That’s interesting. What does the winner get?”

“Well, it’s not good to bet too much.”

A different light shone in Elena’s eyes as well.

“Until we leave the Halamanium site, not to argue with the other person’s words. How about that?”

“Not a bad condition.”

The corners of Aslan’s mouth slowly rose upwards.

“If I win, I don’t have to listen to your chatter…”

“Yes. If I win, I don’t have to listen to your sarcasm.”

Instead of electricity, flames began to flicker between their gazes.

Their eyes were so hot that it felt like I was going to burn just by looking at them.

“Okay. I accept.”

“Good. No taking back your words later.”

Aslan and Elena smiled at each other with the same expression.

Both of them had expressions that they were sure they would win.

“Well, anyway.”

After glaring at each other for about a minute.

Elena, once again armed with a smile, turned her gaze towards me.

“Like this, we are full of motivation. So, leave this side to us. Hayul and Mimir, go do what you have to do.”

Aslan also gestured with his chin without saying anything.

Get lost.

That was the expression and gesture he was making.

“Yes. I understand.”

I bowed to the two of them and turned around.

“Elena. Aslan. See you later~ Don’t fight too much~”

Mimir also waved briefly to the two of them and followed behind me.

And so, we returned to the edge of the Luminescent Mana Stone Cave again.

In front of the door of the trial.

“Mimir. Let’s start.”

“Okay.”

And sitting down in a suitable place, I activated the hologram program built into my choker.

“But… even if we start. How do we start?”

The core of this modification is the true meaning contained in the act of incantation.

I have to lead this modification.

“First…”

I wrote on the hologram monitor that had completely finished booting up.

“I’m going to divide Ignis’s incantation into its smallest units.”

Ignis’s incantation floated up on the hologram monitor.

“…Is there any meaning in dividing the incantation like that?”

“There is.”

Incantation is not simply an act that replaces magic processing.

“Words have power. To keep that power intact, we have to start by breaking it down and analyzing it.”

Words. More precisely, the ancient phrases of the mythic era that make up the incantation.

First, I have to understand these phrases 100% and make them my own.

“The power contained in words…”

Mimir muttered with an interesting expression.

“It’s kind of like a dragon’s dragon language.”