The Rebirth Of The Hero’S Party’S Archmage [EN]: Chapter 24

Objectively speaking, Rain’s physical talent for magic is several levels below Lynn’s, in terms of both stamina and mana.

It’s unfortunate that the noble lineage of a magical family is inferior to that of an orphan.

The biggest obstacle to growth is the innate amount of mana, and Rain’s current body has less than half the mana that sixteen-year-old Lynn possessed.

‘So, I need to think carefully about mana allocation when using magic……’

With my current mana, I can use a total of three 3-star spells. But what if all three fail? First, I need to accurately identify the enemy.

“Bell Sidious.”

With a rustle, a silver-white starburst bloomed brilliantly in the boy’s eyes, transforming the laws of the world into mathematical equations and transmitting them to his mind.

┏ 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 ┓

The magic circle consists of 2 rhombuses and 1 decagon.

The runic symbols used are a combination of incantation-type Altigma and forbidden-type Orbios, with a combination ratio of 3:7.

Size 189 Axel [an obscure unit of measurement], range 284 Gimite [another obscure unit of measurement].

┗ 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 ┛

Cold sweat beaded on his forehead. A 3-star black magic… If I tried to interfere with this using Bell Sidious, my brain might be consumed by dark poison with my current skill level.

‘Then, even if I risk a backlash, I have to obliterate it with magic….’

One shot.

Putting everything into a single shot.

‘A black magician might be watching….’

Hiding behind a rock that wouldn’t attract attention, he spread out his palm, and a ring of light denying the established equations of the world formed there, scattering an alluring glow.

“The shape of the magic circle is four overlapping triangles.”

Simply four fire attributes.

Light and fire have been the natural enemies of the abyss since the age of the old gods.

The abyss’s minions don’t die when you cut or stab them. They scatter into a viscous liquid and then reform and revive.

You have to completely burn them to erase their very existence.

“Rune engraving. Yul, Pok, Gyun, Rae.”

Grant the fire magic the qualities of ‘Yul: binding’, ‘Pok: scattering like a shower’, ‘Gyun: tying’, and ‘Rae: extending like a horn’.

Rune were engraved as if fire was blazing in the center of the light figures rotating on his palm, emitting an even more intense light.

No, it wasn’t just light.

Immense mana swirled around Rain, frantically shaking the bushes and trees in the field, making them wail like ghosts.

‘The mathematical equations to solve are fourteen polynomial functions and seven rational expressions.’

0101010001010010101, a vast amount of mathematical equations were being mentally calculated in his head, causing a pain as if his brain was burning white.

At the same time, a sharp pain arose in the magic core as he squeezed out mana to the extreme limit, and hot blood gushed from his nose and mouth.

Coordinate equation calculation in progress, completed.

Power equation calculation in progress, completed.

Entering calculated coordinate values for all variables.

As the mental calculation proceeded, the 4-star magic circle, engraved with countless mathematical expressions so delicate that they were complex, was a work of art in itself.

‘Please.’

*Chaeng*, the magic circle shattered in his grasp, emitting a clear cracking sound.

All the mana in his body that had been connected to the magic circle was sucked out, and Rain collapsed against the rock as a wave of dizziness washed over him, turning his vision yellow.

And that small magic circle unleashed a huge wave of fire upon the world.

“Go……!”

Rae.

The storm of fire, rising in the form of horns, scorched the atmosphere and the surrounding forest black as it rushed towards the queen.

Yul.

A wisp of fire separated from it, forming a barrier around Bart’s body in a circle. The queen writhed in agony from the intense heat, pulling her maw back.

Gyun.

A rune with the quality of concentrating and binding.

At that moment, the source of the fire concentrated as if swallowing the queen’s entire body, and Pok, scattering sparks like a shower, exploded, momentarily erasing color from the world.

*Kwagwagwagwagwa─────!*

Following that, an explosion that seemed to rupture eardrums reverberated through the mountains and valleys in multiple echoes.

The wedge of fire scattered the leather, bones, and internal organs that made up the queen’s body into ash, and even the aura of the abyss writhing within her was extinguished.

Scorching heat and explosive smoke swept low across the ground as an aftershock, engulfing the adventurers and rat-spiders.

The reek of melting fat and flesh wafted all the way to where he lay.

‘How pathetic. It’s a magic I used to cast seven times and still be energetic……’

Rain clicked his tongue in self-deprecation for his lack of ability rather than self-praise for his success.

‘Still……’

In the newly formed crater, Bart was seen staggering to his feet, looking at the queen, charred into a cremated corpse. Rem was also seen collapsing to the ground, relieved by the sight.

“The queen in one shot…….”

“Who is it? Magic of this level…….”

“To use magic of this level, you’d have to be at least an Atlas (3-star) mage, right……?”

The voices were filled with bewilderment, and awe, as if they had witnessed a masterpiece… Then someone shouted.

“The rat-spiders are running away!”

“Don’t let a single one of those damn rats escape!”

In an instant, the silence was shattered by chaos, and Rain slid down against the rock, gasping for breath.

‘I can’t, I can’t lose consciousness……’

Black magicians exist even in this era. Not that there was ever an era without those cockroach-like bastards, but I was still a little relieved.

‘I was thinking of living a peaceful life of studying……’

They might have been watching this situation. They might have been watching me. I can’t be defenseless when they appear…….

‘If I lose—’

But his vision was gradually turning black… For some reason, the world was tilting to the side… Everything in the world was gradually becoming blurry… blurry…….

‘—I can’t……’

* * *

“Bart! Are you okay?”

“Brother Bart, I’ll heal you right away!”

As soon as the situation was under control, Rem and Sammy rushed over.

Even though his armor was dented and blood was seeping from the seams, Bart was staring blankly at the queen’s cremated body.

Perhaps because the tension that had been stretched taut had been released, Rem, swayed by the rapidly amplifying intoxication, staggered and retched.

“Crazy… I never dreamed the queen would have this kind of ability… Isn’t this something that’s not even in the Alliance [Adventurer’s Guild] database?”

Is it really just an individual trait?

Bart remembered the chilling sensation he had felt a moment ago, when all the nerves in his body had twitched in the face of a life-threatening danger.

‘The power to melt iron and ultra-high-speed regeneration… Could there have been some kind of spell power involved?’

To annihilate such a threatening being with a single spell, who on earth is he?

Unlike most rootless adventurers, Bart was a disciple of the Namryun Sword Sect, one of the eight venerable sword sects called the One Saint and Seven Swords in the Empire [a prestigious martial arts organization].

Even he wondered what would have happened to him now if it hadn’t been for Rain’s shout earlier…….

“Wait, where’s Rain?”

Rain is nowhere to be seen.

Could he have been attacked by a rat-spider in this chaos? Then Sammy hesitated for a moment and pointed to the rock over there.

“I saw him hiding behind there earlier… It seems Brother Rain cast that magic just now.”

“What?”

“The magic came from there. I don’t know why he hid when there weren’t any rat-spiders around.”

Then Rem tilted his head.

“That’s strange, why hide it? If you want to make a name for yourself, you should be active at times like this.”

Bart pulled himself together and immediately ran over there.

Rain was curled up below the rock, collapsed. His whole body was drenched in cold sweat and trembling spasmodically.

Tearing off his cloak and covering Rain’s body, Bart murmured blankly.

“This is mana overload.”

Does that mean this young man really used that magic, in that short amount of time?

As if to prove it, all the bushes in the area had been sharply cut by the flow of mana spreading around Rain.

Rem swallowed hard, unable to believe it.

“Then he, um, so, he really, did it……?”

* * *

“I don’t want to be recorded as a member of the Hero’s Party?”

For the first time in a long time, I had a dream from the distant past.

“So don’t use my name.”

The Empire’s propagandist, who had come all the way to a foreign land at the time, stammered in embarrassment at those words.

He had been entrusted with the Emperor’s will to extol the glory of the Empire by praising the four warriors who were dedicated to humanity, but what kind of reaction was this……?

However, more than that, the Hero’s Party members seemed even more bewildered.

“Why? Lynn, do you hate us?”

“……!”

“Or are you just playing another prank? You troublemaker.”

It wasn’t a matter of hating or playing pranks. With an awkward cough, he pushed away the comrades who were pressuring him from three directions.

“Look, I don’t have a good personality, right? I’m far from being self-sacrificing. In the first place, I followed this party because of personal curiosity.”

“So?”

“If someone like me is recorded as the Hero’s Party’s mage… well, what do you call it, it’ll have a negative impact on you guys too…….”

So I don’t want to be recorded.

“Don’t get me wrong! It’s not because I’m thinking of you guys, it’s because I feel uncomfortable.”

Then the three of them looked at each other for some reason, smiled, and then.

“Ugh, what! Stop it!”

The mute archer Keyes stroked Lynn’s head dozens of times more vigorously than usual.

“You little rascal. Aren’t you getting too cute these days?”

Friede, the Fire Dragon’s priestess, hugged Lynn’s head to her chest as if she couldn’t help but find him cute.

And Rista.

The woman with snow-white hair and golden eyes knelt down in front of Lynn, met his gaze, and smiled gently.

“Lynn, is that what you were worried about?”

“It’s not that I was worried. This is just through logical probability calculation of mathematics…….”

“You don’t have to try to be someone else. You don’t have to change like that. Rather, that kind of thing doesn’t suit Lynn.”

Always with those prim eyes, always with that bored expression, but in fact, more tender and more enthusiastic than anyone else doesn’t suit you.

“But if you’re still worried, you can develop a very small habit.”

“……?”

“Help the people around you. I’m not saying throw yourself into helping or donate all your wealth to helping. Just lend a hand, even slightly.”

Then, Lynn.

Everyone will remember Lynn like this, explain Lynn like this to their descendants, and pass Lynn on to posterity like this.

– As the Archmage of the Hero’s Party.

The warmth of tears dragged his consciousness from the mist of dreams into reality.

The scenery of the city of , bathed in twilight, filled his faintly opened vision.

The footsteps of busy passersby, the hawking of merchants… But the eye level was unbelievably high than usual, and his body was moving forward on its own.

“Oh, he’s awake, he’s awake.”

A voice was heard from far below. It was the archer Rem.

“Where am I…… Huh?”

“I was going to keep you asleep, but you guys have a curfew, right? Bart is carrying you to the front of the school because he’s worried you’ll be late, that’s what I’m saying.”

“Keep me?”

Then Sammy, who was walking next to Rem, smiled gently.

“Brother has been sleeping ever since he collapsed yesterday.”

“That’s right! I even called a carriage and put you to sleep, but how could you not wake up even once until we got back here.”

His body was still aching all over as if pricked by needles, and his head was hazy with a headache. Excessive use of mana puts a huge burden on the body.

‘I’m glad a rebound didn’t happen……’

And I’m glad the black magician didn’t appear…….

As he breathed a sigh of relief, Bart, who had one hand wrapped in bandages, opened his mouth.

“Was that magic really cast by you?”

“…….”

“Don’t lie. Sammy saw you hiding behind the rock and casting magic.”

“……It’s not like I’m hiding it.”

“What?”

Then Rem flinched and scratched his head awkwardly.

“Damn it, I said you used a scroll instead of your magic because I was worried about what you’d say to me, but this is a disaster. Should I change my story?”

“No, it’s okay. It’s not like I’m hiding it, but it’s better to keep it hidden for now.”

“What are you talking about?”

Neither my body nor my magic is in order yet… I’ve managed to avoid the black magician’s retaliation, which might have happened. It’s better this way.

“I won’t ask why you’re trying to hide your strength. The important thing is that you used your strength for us even though you have such circumstances.”

Don’t say it like that.

I just needed money.

“I will never forget your name or what you did for us. I promise. I don’t know when it will be, but I will definitely repay you when you need us.”

I really just… Anyway, that’s all.

“By the way, Brother, you should take all the subjugation reward money. Your achievements should be yours…….”

“Okay, I understand.”

As soon as he answered, Rem seemed to flinch for a moment, then bit his lip painfully.

“Why are you making that face? It’s my rightful claim.”

“No… To be honest, I was expecting a natural fair distribution? I was expecting you to say something cool like, ‘No, this is all of our work’?”

“Why are you suddenly talking like this?”

After saying that, Rain and Rem burst into laughter almost simultaneously.

“Just kidding. I only need five coins. The three of you can divide the rest among yourselves.”

“There’s no need to take it out. This is your rightful claim.”

“No. I’m just paying the price for taking me from the Red Mountains to here.”

Instead of just abandoning me or selling me off somewhere… I’m already in a lot of debt just for this.

“But…….”

As Bart tried to spoil the mood again, Rem quickly stepped forward and raised his thumb.

“You’re good at this? Bart and I are going to be the best adventurers. It’s not bad to invest in connections like this! Right, right, right.”

Rain laughed openly.

I really didn’t intend to create this situation… But sometimes it’s okay to just accept these words with a good feeling, right?

Like you did, Rista.

“Um, Brother Rain?”

“……?”

“You asked about Toureina earlier, right? Um, ah, it’s not accurate, and it’s a particularly sensitive topic, so I don’t know if I should say this, but… I owe you my life, so, um…….”

When Sammy carefully looked around and opened his mouth, Rain’s mouth also opened in amazement.

“It seems she turned to black magic in her later years. I don’t know the details because I only overheard the high priests talking about it when I was in the parish.”