The Rebirth Of The Hero’S Party’S Archmage [EN]: Chapter 226

226.

“My luck is definitely on heads… No, no, he must have thought of that too. That bow had that kind of ability.”

I’ll kill him for sure this time.

I was trying to kill him in a hurry earlier, so I aimed for his side, but this time I’ll aim precisely for his head, neck, or heart….

Then, as Rem gripped Serwayvon tightly, Serwayvon pulled in the vines that were covering his eyes.

‘Everything is felt.’

I can feel him stringing the bow now.

Those muscles, those tendons, and the vibrations of the bowstring being pulled, the vibrations emitted by the arrow.

Everything was felt and seen, so there was no need to open my eyes. In that state, I weaved a magical arrow.

“This bastard dares to….”

That greatly disturbed Pell, who had always maintained a nonchalant attitude, both before and after the start of the duel.

Is it because of the archer’s most important sense, sight, being blocked, and the arrogant intention to shoot?

That’s part of it, but the real reason was elsewhere. It was because he had experienced this exact situation before.

– Are you the famous Human Archsaint?

The day he tasted defeat in archery for the first and last time.

At the time, Pell, at the peak of his pride, had secretly infiltrated Master Chwijung’s dojang [traditional Korean martial arts training hall] to shatter the old legend.

As Pell strung his bow, the 90-year-old Archsaint took out a bow from the rack. It was an ordinary practice bow, crudely carved from yew.

– Let’s see which is superior, my innate luck or the skill you’ve built up over a lifetime.

The gold coin flipped before the fight came up heads five times in a row. Luck was definitely on my side.

In the first exchange, my shoulder was pierced the moment I tried to release the bowstring.

I drew first, but the old man, who could die at any moment, was faster than me, who was enjoying his youth.

‘And he shot with his eyes closed.’

Even before releasing the string, I could sense that the second arrow would pierce my heart, neck, or wherever, and I would die.

Is this what an overwhelming difference in skill, untouchable even by luck, means?

But that guy stopped.

With the words “I’m tired of killing now” scrawled crookedly on the ground.

It was so humiliating that just thinking about it made me shudder.

“Are you mocking me in the same way as that old man? Did you pass down that story to your descendants and boast about it?”

My mind has changed.

I won’t kill you in one go. I’ll make you feel the difference in skill to the point of self-disgust.

From the bowstring, a sinister poison swirled so densely that it was suffocating.

Its size was so enormous that it was closer to a wedge than an arrow, and anything exposed to the poison emitted by that wedge melted helplessly.

‘Reading the vibrations.’

At that moment, a brilliant light of pure azure was woven into an arrow on the bow of the White Changbow [a type of Korean longbow], Serwayvon.

‘This is the world our ancestor saw.’

The vibrations of the arrow are visible.

The path that arrow will take to target me, the vibrations of the poison permeating that arrow, tell me.

Thung, Pell’s bowstring rang first.

Even before the sound of that bowstring could be heard, the arrow of poison had already reached within three steps of Rem, and the aftershock of the poison it released was melting everything around it.

Two steps ahead, just before reaching Rem, light exploded and the arrow left Serwayvon….

【Old Archsaint’s Oneness.】

Was it just a coincidence that the past defeat overlapped in Pell’s mind at the moment the chillingly beautiful flash exploded?

‘What—’

The arrow of light accurately pierced the weakness in the vibrations of the arrow of poison.

The poison, having lost its magical center axis as the arrow vanished, also crumbled. Like light swallowing darkness.

In the meantime, Pell had already fired a second and third curved shot.

As if some will resided in the light, the light rays twisted their trajectory, swallowed the arrows, and aimed the arrowheads back at Pell.

This is a fragment.

A partial bloom of the Chwijungsa’s ultimate technique, the Thousand Oriole Kill (千鶯虄) [a complex archery technique], which only those who have achieved perfect harmony with Serwayvon can use.

‘—is it?’

Although he relied on luck, Pell had not been using archery solely with luck.

With the skill honed over a dozen years, he nimbly moved his body, dodging the light rays while continuing to fire arrows, but….

The light of the light rays became so brilliant that it blocked his vision, and the next moment, it pierced Pell’s body.

“……”

To the eyes of others, it would have seemed that the match ended the moment the flash erupted from Serwayvon.

When the light cleared, the brilliant light ray that had left Serwayvon’s bowstring had already created a huge hole in Pell’s body and flown far beyond.

It was easy to recognize the path the arrow had taken. The land melted by the poison was purified, and countless sprouts were growing there.

“Ah……”

As if only now realizing his defeat, blood trickled from Pell’s mouth.

“Today’s fortune….”

The words he left before staggering and falling were the same as that day 200 years ago.

“It was… heads….”

Only then did Rem open his eyes.

As he quietly opened his eyes and exhaled a long breath, his ice-cold body soon faltered.

Serwayvon’s recovery had saved him from death, but it had not completely removed the fatal wounds.

“Ugh, ugh-sshaaaaa!”

He shouted and thought.

I won, I defeated the one who was called the greatest archer in the generation after Ancestor Keyes.

Of course, it wasn’t a victory achieved solely by my own strength. Just like our ancestor, I only fought together with Serwayvon.

As Rem pressed his head against Serwayvon’s bow and trembled with the thrill of victory, Serwayvon emitted a warm light as if encouraging the descendant of his friend.

‘Are Rain, Bart, and Goth unharmed? Judging by the weakening of that power, it seems Valensidice succeeded somehow….’

I have to go quickly.

But can I be of help if I go?

Against the pillar of the Black Church, in this condition….

* * *

When I came here, the power of the flames that had fiercely covered the area was now as weak as a bonfire.

「I, Shalesarum, have taught this child everything I could during the last time the gods have allowed me.」

That is Shalesarum’s flame of life.

That fire extinguishing means that his last life, even a fragment of his soul, is disappearing.

「Now is the time to go out into the world, go where you are needed and share your fire. Become the fire of the world.」

Now, the last handful of strength must be used to send this admirable and lovely nephew out into the world.

Even as he stood before the end of his long life, there was no regret on Shalesarum’s lips.

Was the somewhat lonely smile caused by the fact that he would soon be separated from this nephew?

「You must always keep this in mind and be careful of your actions.」

No.

It might not be such a simple emotion.

That child also grew up like this child, raised to love the world and care for the weak….

“Aki knows it, Uncle.”

As if to ease Shalesarum’s worries, his nephew, who resembled his sister’s smile, smiled brightly and held Shalesarum’s hand tightly.

“We are the fire of the world, so if the fire loses its heat and light, what will warm and brighten the world… You always said that!”

This child, yes, this child will truly become a great dragon.

The delusion that flashed through Shalesarum’s mind for a moment was a delusion that could never be realized.

Alakish coming here with Akilea, and Elamas meeting them. Tears welled up in Shalesarum’s eyes.

「Go now. You have already delayed greatly.」

“Then Aki will be back, Uncle.”

「There is no need for that. This will be the last for me.」

“Aki doesn’t know what you mean!”

「But there is no need to grieve. My heart dwells in your soul and is always with you. Just like your mother.」

Shalesarum left the words of sad farewell and touched Aki’s forehead with his index finger.

Just like in the distant past, when he entrusted his will to Elamas and left.

Elamas cried at that time and begged Shalesarum not to go.

But the mission given to the True Dragon is absolute, Shalesarum had to leave Elamas behind….

What will this child be like, will he react like Elamas, and if so, if that happens….

Clack.

Then Aki put his hands together and politely performed a pogwanjilye [a formal Korean bow].

The etiquette learned from his first teacher, a posture shown to those who express respect.

“So if Aki acts according to Uncle’s words, Uncle will always be with Aki!”

Shalesarum couldn’t hide the overwhelming laughter from the depths of his soul.

‘I can tell that his mind has grown greatly just by looking at the body that has gone from being an infant to a child, but this child always surprises me.’

Behind Aki, Alakish’s illusion, who was also smiling contentedly, could be seen. It must be the sincere joy revealed by the mother’s Yeouiju [a mythical wish-fulfilling orb].

At this moment, did Akilea’s great words reunite the siblings after a thousand years….

Alakish smiled and nodded, and Shalesarum opened his mouth.

「Your heart has already reached the path of the dragon, so what more can I teach you? Now, go.」

As Shalesarum pressed his forehead against Aki’s forehead, his body was engulfed in flames and soared into the sky and disappeared.

Only two people remained in this world, in the soon-to-be-collapsed world of souls.

The eldest daughter and eldest son, who reunited after more than a thousand years. Shalesarum watched the sky where Akilea had disappeared and opened his mouth.

「I don’t need to say it, but it seems he will become a greater fire than my sister.」

「…….」

「He will become a fire that warms and illuminates this world. Not only with that power but also with his heart. Many will see hope and find salvation in that fire…….」

Perhaps it was a vision created by a desperate wish at the end of life.

Just as he was thinking that he was talking to himself, Alakish placed her hand on Shalesarum’s shoulder.

And as in the distant age of origin, she gave a kind smile.

「I pray that your daughter will also see that light and escape from the darkness.」

It was the comfort and last wish that Shalesarum wanted to hear, and his sister’s eyes, which had read even that heart, were so warm.

Shalesarum lowered his head.

The old dragon shed tears, forgetting even the dignity of the True Dragon, and Alakish patted Shalesarum’s shoulder.

Shalesarum may also have been saved from the light of the young dragon at the end of his life.

This may also be the providence of good that KarenDen had prepared for them.

Originally, the will of God is something that creatures cannot know or even fathom, but the emotion that Shalesarum felt before this world of souls disappeared was….

「Thank you so much, sister. Now I can comfortably return to the fire. I have entrusted all my heart and will to Akilea.」