The Rebirth Of The Hero’S Party’S Archmage [EN]: Chapter 211

211

“So you became a great mage, only to turn into a crybaby.”

I couldn’t understand why.

I felt like I had missed this situation so much, so terribly much.

Has five years been that long?

“Where’s Headmaster Ajumma [Korean for ‘aunt,’ a familiar and affectionate term for an older woman]?”

Even when receiving lavish treatment in various cities of the Empire and the Republic, I always seemed to have been hoping for this scene in a corner of my heart.

Sitting leisurely on the veranda of the Magic Tower facing the pine forest, sharing cheap biscuits and green tea with classmates, secretly from Ajumma.

“Me? Why because of me?”

“Why else? You haven’t lost your knack for subtly showing off, even without any charm! It’s because you became a great mage!”

The classmates rushed in again, pounding my head and hitting my back while laughing.

“Are you really a great mage? Then can you do high-speed calculations for 5-star magic too?”

“Yeah.”

Seeing their doubtful expressions, I constructed the Brain Burst Blood Letting magic circle that I had completed in the South.

I felt inexplicably good at the sight of my classmates marveling and whispering.

Not because of my achievement, but because I can now teach this knowledge to these guys.

“Senior Brother, we’ve produced a great mage for the first time in almost 150 years, so shouldn’t we become a university faction this time?”

“That’s right. And the youngest ever. With the modifier of the great mage of the Hero Party attached.”

“If we become a university faction, we won’t have to eat this secretly from Ajumma, right? They’ll be pouring in donations from all over to look good to us.”

“Ugh, I don’t want to. Even now, there are so many guys lining up to be accepted as disciples that they fill the faction’s courtyard in four rows and still have leftovers. It’s so annoying.”

Amidst the commotion, the Senior Brother, who kept bringing us snacks and tea, smiled as if scolding us.

“Even if we become a university faction now, our skills are too meager. We’ll only be a burden to Rin and the Headmaster.”

“It’s okay. I’ll teach you everything.”

Then the classmates widened the distance with expressions of disbelief.

“Are you really Rin?”

“Isn’t that a demon in disguise?”

“Yeah, our Rin can’t be this mature.”

I had already anticipated this reaction with the brain of a great mage.

“Believe it or not is up to you… But Senior Brother, this is delicious. Can I have two more? I think Aki and Nen would like it.”

“Aki? Nen?”

The Senior Brother tilted his head at the unfamiliar names.

I was the one who was embarrassed.

What are those names? Why are those names suddenly being listed from my mouth? Names I don’t even know.

The classmates showed enthusiastic reactions.

“Companions? Never heard of them. Are they girls by any chance? Did you become a playboy while we weren’t looking?”

“It’s not like that.”

“Rin just got back and looks tired, so leave him alone.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Rin, the Headmaster will be here tonight, so why don’t you rest now? She must have a lot of stories she wanted to share with you.”

Reuniting with Headmaster Ajumma. Reuniting and talking.

How much have I wanted that to happen… Thinking about it made my heart ache uncontrollably.

Wait, why have I wanted it so desperately? ‘Anyway,’ we were going to meet again like this. I even wrote letters often.

“Yes, Senior Brother.”

Honestly, I was a little touched.

For five years, my room had been kept as it was, without being given to anyone else.

Well, the word ‘as it was’ wouldn’t be quite right. The straw bed had been replaced with a feather bed, and the desk had been replaced with one that looked expensive at a glance.

“The Headmaster always cleaned your room herself. Saying she didn’t want to be scolded by Rin when you came back someday.”

There wasn’t a speck of dust or a cobweb in the room.

The sight of Headmaster Ajumma cleaning my room flashed before my eyes, and for a moment my heart ached faintly.

It was around then that I saw a small mirror placed on the desk.

“A mirror? Why this great luxury item…?”

The moment I looked into the mirror with a puzzled expression, a sense of bewilderment and unease washed over me, and I felt suffocated.

Who are you?

A handsome young man with aristocratic elegance and a tall height… This is definitely a mirror, so why is something like that being reflected?

Am I seeing things because I haven’t recovered from the journey yet?

No, I feel like I’m forgetting something important. But I don’t know what it is.

Aki? Nen?

What are those? Why did I forget?

* * *

Mangjung Sagok (Delusion’s Evil Tune) [A dark melody that manipulates the soul].

The melody of the abyss, crafted in the form of a tune, penetrates deep into the human soul.

The melody draws out what that soul wants most now, the place it wants to return to most, the day it wants to reclaim most…

The more painful memories a person has, the more deeply immersed in sorrow a person is, the more unable they become to escape this melody.

‘A human who perfectly handles divine magic, yes, if there was a miko [shrine maiden] like that arrogant bitch Toureina, I would have nullified it right away, but that bitch is dead.’

Since it is not black magic, but a miracle of the abyss that only fairies can handle, human mages who train their reason rather than their souls also become good prey.

Those things are supposedly dragons, so they don’t seem to be affected by this melody.

While giving a glance to the red baby dragon, Ruelleya did not stop playing the Sugeum [Korean zither].

‘Humans who stay in that world of obsession for a long time are all doomed.’

The moment the ‘넋 (spirit)’ [Korean word for soul or spirit] that the gods engraved in the human heart is sucked out by the melody, humans will finally return to their ugly old selves.

“Now, it’s time to transform. You trash-like humans. Hehehehe.”

The fishy smell of iron mixed with the salty smell of the sea. Red liquid began to spread over the bridge.

Screams erupting painfully from within the lungs…

The framework of the flesh twisted and meshed grotesquely, and humans with weak mental strength began to transform into something other than human.

“Yes, return to the primitive humans (原始人) [archaic humans].”

Primitive humans referred to the old human race who ran on the ground with both hands and feet like wild beasts, or used both arms like wings like birds.

‘To be exact, it’s the human race that was dominated by the abyss of the Lizard Lord.’

The passers-by who had been scattered all over the place shed their skin one by one, as if peeling off their skin, and began to surround the baby dragons in a disgusting shape.

“At first, I was worried that my melody would be broken at once because they were carrying around a True Dragon, but, heh, that’s not even a dragon?”

If it had been a proper True Dragon, it would have shattered all of this melody with just one Extreme Utterance.

“……!”

Aki, surrounded by primitive humans making bizarre moans, blinked her eyes.

Should I use martial arts?

No. On that island back then, they told me not to attack.

“Are you sure you can hesitate like that? The target isn’t just you.”

Valensidis, who was waiting for immigration inspection at the entrance of the bridge, was also leaning against the railing, immersed in a dream of obsession.

– Kill me with your own hands, Valensidis.

The voice of the master who gave the knife to Valensidis’s hand with a body covered in blood in a room filled with poison that made even breathing difficult.

– We’re already over. Take my head and prove your skills and loyalty to the Black Church.

– But Master.

– If they know you have talent, they won’t kill you and raise you, so at least you have to live.

Perhaps because he had drawn it in his dreams so many times, he realized the moment he saw that voice and face.

– Now is the time to wait.

I’ll meet you someday. A friend who will understand everything about you and walk the same path. How wide is this world.

When the master smiled, Valensidis dug his fingertips into his ribs.

It is touched in the heat of hot blood. The heart of a young day that pulsates vigorously.

Without a moment’s hesitation, the moment he burst that heart, his consciousness immediately awakened and his eyelids were lifted sharply.

“……Valen, Valen, Valen.”

A welcome voice is heard with the hearing that has barely recovered. What filled the field of vision was a tragic scene.

Humans eroded by the abyss were flocking from all directions, and Pipi was stopping their advance with a flight of flames.

Valensidis took out the sacred object of the abyss, Kashasur, from his waist and unfolded it.

“Oh, the power of darkness spreading into the twilight, oh, the karma of the eclipse hanging in the sky, now, according to the order of the caster Valensidis, perform the spirit of binding!”

As he waved the fan wrapped in the power of the incantation, a whirlwind of dark blue poison spread out radially.

Darkness (暗), determines the attribute of the spell.

Binding (縛), blocks the movement of primitive humans.

Eclipse (攝), binds the spirit to the flesh so that the mutation does not progress further.

This is originally a widespread divine magic that blocks the transmission of the abyss. It is a high-level spell that can only be cast when several witches gather in one place.

‘I controlled nearly a hundred people with magic, but…’

I could see that the situation had not improved at all.

“Ugh, ugh…….”

Prince Ovin, who had collapsed next to Valensidis, was not in good condition.

The Yulgwang Stone (律鑛石) [a mystical stone] and Cheonpasikjeok (千波息笛) [a magical flute], known as the legacy of the great mage League Wind, were emitting a faint light to protect his flesh, but…

The skin on the fingertips began to peel off. As long as he can’t escape from that dream, the rate of change will accelerate more and more.

‘I have to find the caster and stop this tune.’

If I have the loyalty to do that. Rather, if he dies here, it might be helpful to lighten the load.

– Try teaching it once. It will be an experience you can’t trade for anything in your life.

Tsk, Valensidis, carrying Ovin on his shoulder, looked back at the other side of the bridge, which was turning into a hell.

Is Lane Ludwig safe?

No, if he was, he would have ended this situation right away… Something must have happened.

‘Before the situation spirals out of control, what I have to do is.’

The whirlwind that rose from the end of Valensidis’s fan cleared the sound barrier that was transparently covering the sky above the bridge.

Five lines, beams of light similar to the strings of a geomungo [Korean zither], were revealed.

And Ruelleya, sitting in the middle of the strings and playing the Sugeum, caught his eye… Valensidis sprang up and landed on the opposite string.

“You’re quite something for a human? You’re the first one to wake up from my dream at once. You don’t have many happy memories?”

“That’s my pride.”

The musician of nightmares, Ruelleya.

One of the members of the Dawn Brigade, who deals with the miracles of the old kings…

Confrontation with a strong enemy, he calmly calmed the subtle cramps in his fingertips.

“Or are you a skilled caster? Not quite a miko, though.”

While Valensidis and Pipi were confronting the mastermind of the situation, Aki was slowly reaching her limit.

In the first place, she was trained one-on-one by Celine, so she lacks experience in one-to-many situations. Not to mention special situations like now where she shouldn’t harm the enemy.

And with Setsunen on her back and Lane and Miria behind her…

“Guaaaaa…….”

She rammed the chest of a fiercely rushing primitive human with her head.

Just when she thought she was going to fall over, the primitive human grabbed Aki’s shoulder with a hand that barely had bones left.

Pulled by that force, her center was disturbed and the moment she floated in the air, fingers flew in from all directions and grabbed Aki and Setsunen’s bodies.

As if trying to steal the warmth of the life she had lost.

Numerous arms crossed and she couldn’t see the top, and the strings of her uniform were torn by some force and Setsunen was dragged somewhere, and when she looked back, she couldn’t see the back either.

[Wake up.]

Appeared.

Into Miria’s dream.

Those distant childhood memories, walking along the beach where the waves danced with her father, mother, and sister, laughing.

[You have to wake up.]

A woman with long white hair fluttering in the middle of the sea, a woman with an indescribably poignant beauty.

At first, I thought she was beautiful.

And I thought she looked like someone.

And the realization that that someone was herself when she grew up suddenly flashed through her mind.

[Rin is in danger.]

Me as an adult?

Yes, I’ve definitely grown up.

Then this, ah, yes, this happy day’s scenery… It’s all a dream.

[Help Rin.]

The moment those words ended, the scenery of memories shattered and her body moved on its own.

Standing up, she drew the demon sword from the sword belt, and as the blood vessels in both arms holding the hilt burned red, an almost omnipotent power spread throughout her body.

When power spread through her body, a blood-colored blade was serenely forged over the broken blade, scattering a chilling light.

‘My body is moving on its own…….’

I had never moved so fast in my life. As if the sword was guiding her body.

Like the moment when she accidentally used sword energy for the first time in the Red Mountains.

To the eyes of ordinary people, it only felt like a red flash had flickered for a moment.

When that flash disappeared, the primitive humans surrounding Aki had all been hit in their vital points by the back of the sword and were collapsing as if collapsing.

It was only when she snatched Setsunen, who had been grabbed by a primitive human’s hand, in the air and held her in her arms that the unknown force that had been moving her body disappeared.

“Aru.”

Aki, with tears welling up in her eyes, ran to her and clung to her legs. So cute.

“Aboo…….”

“I’m sorry, Mom is too late?”

Mom? Only after Aki raised her eyes and tilted her head did she feel her cheeks burning hot and she began to ramble.

“No, I mean, it’s because I’ve gotten so used to acting for three days that it’s become familiar to my mouth. That’s how people are.”

That was the first and last time she had the leisure to have such a conversation.

Because other humans were finishing their transformation into primitive humans from all directions, and the primitive humans she had just knocked down were also getting up one by one.

When Miria grabbed the demon sword and swallowed a dry saliva, Setsunen urgently pointed behind her.

“Aruoo!”

The moment Miria saw Lane, who was lying on the floor, in the direction Setsunen was pointing, her eyes shook.

“No way.”

Without even having time to collect her mind, she ran towards him. Lane’s hand, the tips of his fingers, were burning in flames, giving off a foul smell.

“Wake up!”

“Aboo!”

The Yeouiju (여의주) [a wish-fulfilling orb] residing in the flesh and soul, which had begun to be invaded by the abyss with Mangjung Sagok, were causing a repulsive reaction to each other.

“Wake up quickly, you idiot!”

The flames that instantly burned the fingertips black began to chase the trajectory of the abyss invading the flesh.

“You can’t be eaten! Get a grip, please!”

The soul is a dragon and the flesh is human.

At this rate, the entire body will burn up… and eventually turn into a cremated body.

Even though Miria frantically shook his collar and Aki bit his head, Lane’s consciousness did not recover.

“If you go like this, what about Aki! What are you going to do with Nen! Wake up, Lane──!”

* * *

What is it…….

My head is ringing loudly…….

When I opened my eyes on the bed, the curtain of scenery reflected outside the window was black.

………Lane, Aboo, Aru………

While I was blankly watching it, there was a list of unknown words shaking my head.

Aboo? Aru? Hot liquid flowed down my face.

A certain scent permeated that fishy smell… like firewood with the scent of winter…

“Aki.”

Aki is not here. Setsunen is not here.

Yes, this is… With the awakening of consciousness, I jumped up.

The world reflected in the mirror on the desk is the Lanoa Bridge, and Aki and Setsunen were urgently shouting something while holding onto me in a state of unconsciousness.

‘Those things swarming around them like bees, could they be primitive humans (原始人) [archaic humans]?’

The abyss of the Lizard Lord?

Tense breathing tightened my abdomen. Cold sweat formed on my temples.

‘I have to get out of here, right now.’

But how?

The nightmare created by the caster cannot be escaped without the help of divine miracles.

Unlike ordinary dreams, you can’t get out just by realizing it’s a dream and awakening your consciousness.

“Bell Curious.”

The visual image that forms on the retina remains the same. Is it because it’s set as Rin’s body?

‘I feel bad.’

I had received this kind of attack 300 years ago as well.

‘Each time, I was fine because of Frida’s help, but.’

Then someone knocked on the door.

“Rin. Are you awake?”

My heart leaped.

I was so surprised that I instinctively constructed a magic circle on the palm of my hand.

But this voice, now I can’t meet it. My Senior Brother… My heart felt heavy.

“The Headmaster is coming back. Why don’t you go out to greet her and surprise her? She’ll be really, really happy.”