The Rebirth Of The Hero’S Party’S Archmage [EN]: Chapter 268

268

#13 The First Disciple’s Epilogue.

Five years into my role as Archmage.

Just as I was feeling lonely with Aki, Nen, and Miria all away for their training, ‘that plague’ began to sweep through the North.

Like the cold wind that ends autumn and opens the door to winter, a harbinger of disaster appeared.

“Special Task Force Chief, Lillian Karain, will address the Imperial Council. It seems this is no ordinary plague.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Under the Archmage’s orders, I investigated the events beyond the Wall and found several occurrences that felt like omens of the Abyss.”

“Omens of the Abyss?”

“The activities of the dead have become active again, and the old ones have occupied the Shen Highlands.”

A brief silence fell inside the conference room.

Everyone needed time to process this information.

After a silence that felt both short and long, the ministers spoke up.

“What was that?”

“Is that true?”

“Yes. Also, the beastmen have withdrawn from Harbardonia, leaving only the white wolves, which is causing significant difficulties in investigation and security.”

After seven years of long peace, the Imperial Council had become a venue for ministers from each department to report on their current status.

Therefore, when Special Task Force Chief Lillian Karain brought the urgent matter to the Imperial Council, the faces of all the ministers turned pale.

Among the Hwangha Administration, Bart and Rem also attended, except for the Sword Saint, who had left for a mission.

The Emperor’s Stars rarely showed their faces at regular meetings unless it was an extremely urgent matter (except for the Prime Minister, the Archmage), so everyone had a vague sense of tension even before the announcement.

“What do you think of this, Archmage?”

As Emperor Raida Aegin turned his gaze to the Archmage, Yonghyun Rein Ludwig raised his head.

“I have personally witnessed the signs of the Spider Lord in Harbardonia before. That power awakened Shar’kas and Beshansidug. The beastmen eventually had to retreat below the Wall.”

“I know that. I’m asking about the plague now.”

The plague that Elamas spread in the Solond Kingdom, and the horrific consequences it had, flashed before my eyes.

“The power of the mighty Abyss is like a plague. We can only assume that the strange phenomena beyond the Wall are affecting the North.”

As the conference room grew noisy, Rem tapped the table with his finger, drawing Rein’s attention.

“Could it be the First Pillar?”

“We can’t deny that possibility.”

“Hiyah, I’ve been looking for him so hard, but he hasn’t even shown his face. He’s making an artistic appearance again.”

Bart, who had been silently listening with his arms crossed, raised an eyebrow.

“But isn’t it strange? I remember that the First Pillar in Rein’s memory had definitely gone down below .”

Yes, Bart’s point is valid in this case.

In the Dragon Slayer’s memory, the First Pillar had definitely gone down below .

“Then is it Zernyx?”

“No, I completely annihilated even his soul.”

It means that resurrection like the old nobles is impossible. The same goes for Elamas.

‘If something is happening now without even a minion like the First Pillar…’

That would be even worse.

“Archmage, what countermeasures have you come up with?”

“Currently, there is nothing specific to list. I will head to the North immediately today for investigation and treatment. Your Majesty, please request assistance from the Republic.”

“I understand. Thanks to you, exchanges with the Republic are much more active than before.”

Thanks to the witches’ healing magic, the Republic was several times ahead of the Empire in the development of medicine.

“Scribe, implement the Archmage’s words immediately.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Scribe, will you deliver this letter to the Solond Kingdom as well? It’s for my friend.”

“I shall obey, Your Majesty.”

“Logan, prepare the Special Magic Unit and the Anti-Magic Army. We don’t know what will happen.”

Logan, the commander of the Imperial Army’s Special Magic Unit, bowed.

The Anti-Magic Army was a unit created when beastmen soldiers were formally incorporated into the Imperial Army.

It is being operated on a trial basis, and it is hoped that their performance will dispel the public’s prejudice against beastmen.

“I shall obey, Your Majesty.”

“Contact Seigan Wolf Blado, the leader of the Magic Alliance. We will need the Magic Alliance’s support as well.”

“Vice-Leader Doran Slade is currently in the Imperial City. I will summon him.”

When I went there myself, the situation in the North was even more serious than expected.

But something was fundamentally different from the time of Solond. There was no catalytic magic circle.

I caught a few black mages, but they were all nobodies. They were trash who couldn’t even compare to the heads of the Black Church, let alone Elamas.

“Who’s behind this?”

“Heh, hehe, heh heh heh…”

“I’m not a very nice person to you black mages. If you don’t open your mouths, I’ll make you the most painful in the world.”

“Your reign is coming to an end soon. A king that even you cannot stop, the true king of this world, will soon awaken. Then, then everything, everything will collapse and be rebuilt!”

They didn’t seem to have any connection to this incident, but during the interrogation, they all muttered, ‘The true king is awakening,’ foamed at the mouth, and died.

– The true king is returning.

Ominous.

Is it as Beshansidug said?

Most of the North was in the plague zone, and the plague was slowly spreading to areas where it had not yet broken out.

“Vice-Minister, is control being properly maintained?”

“Yes. Grand Duke Duren is also focusing on prohibiting passage to the plague zone. But how is it spreading…”

“This is different from a normal disease. This kind of disease is not transmitted through people, but, hmm, we need to investigate.”

Even if I wanted to treat everyone suffering from the plague, the North was the most vast region of the Empire’s five regions.

My schedule was already tight just treating those who came day and night, and it seemed impossible to tour various parts of the North through the sleet that had begun to scatter little by little.

‘We have to eliminate the source. No matter how much we treat, the plague will only break out again like this.’

But it was extremely difficult.

Isn’t Harbardonia an even more vast region than the North?

What about those left here while I go to that land to investigate and eliminate the source?

Can I only wait until Ovin and the witches come?

“Inefficient judgment, cannot comprehend.”

It was Mirngardia who stepped up at that time.

And perhaps, it was the moment when Mirngardia first illuminated the world with her light.

Mir preferred to read books in the library or wander in nature and contemplate, so she had never been to school.

She began to release the spring of wisdom that she had accumulated in overwhelming amounts to the world for the first time.

“Mir, this is…?”

Mirngardia began to translate the Dragon Scripture’s Sutra Pitaka [a collection of sacred texts], the scrolls used by witches for sacred magic, into the Imperial language.

The Sutra Pitaka is the most difficult of the three Dragon Scriptures to acquire and use, and only a few witches can perfectly control its power.

She lightly and concisely unraveled such power (although the power was reduced) so that anyone could use it, and made each one like an amulet.

“How did you do this?”

“Not difficult. Rather, the Dragon Scripture has been irrationally complex until now. Presumed to be for humans to use the power of dragons. Originally, the Scripture of Genesis was said to be simple enough for anyone to read.”

“No, I know all that, but, no, hot, Mir, you’re really…”

As the amulet could be supplied to the entire North, the plague in the North entered a new phase.

People from cities and towns where the plague had not yet spread came to Mir to receive amulets.

Everyone shed tears and bowed to Rein, but when Rein announced that it was Mir’s achievement, the bow turned to Mir.

“No thanks needed. For the purpose of satisfying Mir’s intellectual curiosity.”

She said that with a straight face, but Mir spurred on the interpretation of the Dragon Scripture even more.

Seeing that figure, that admirable figure who worked so hard through the night to create the amulets that people needed, brought tears to my eyes.

As if she were atoning for the sins she had accumulated as Toureina in a past life that she couldn’t even remember.

‘If.’

If I could have properly said goodbye to Toureina, or if I could have returned to Toureina.

Wouldn’t Toureina, not Mir, have become such an existence?

Such bitter, sorrowful fantasies kept stimulating my tear glands.

‘No.’

Because I lived as a human.

Because Toureina’s knowledge is accumulated in my soul.

That’s why I can achieve this kind of thing that blurs the boundaries between dragons and humans.

‘My proud disciple and son.’

Rein watched Mir with great satisfaction, but Mir’s eyes became increasingly sunken as if she were getting sick, and ten days later, she abruptly said to Rein.

“Mir herself desires greater teachings. I confess that I am feeling the limits of my own wisdom, although it is difficult to admit.”

“Hmm?”

“The gist of the matter is this, I will go to the World Tree.”

The Water Dragon Yeriserika had told Mir to call her to the World Tree as soon as she was ready.

– This is a pure white horn for that day. Tell Mirngardia to blow this when she wants wisdom. That will send the white dragons wherever, whenever.

Mir was always calm, composed, and never expressed emotions.

Is that why?

Three days later, a white dragon flew in, and until just before the farewell, the daily life proceeded as usual.

The fact that only one came seemed to teach me the reality of the White Dragon Corps, which is currently the most declining of the three corps, making me feel uncomfortable in one corner of my heart.

「Pa toos, please get on my back. Wise offspring of pure white.」

Before getting on the back of the white dragon, who was giving a respectful salute, Mir suddenly tugged at Rein’s sleeve.

“I will receive all of the Water Dragon’s wisdom and come back to provide greater assistance.”

“Hmm?”

“My current wisdom is, in vulgar terms, pathetic, severely lacking, and, to borrow Setsunen’s low-level expression, evil.”

Rein laughed.

At that time, Mir seemed embarrassed to continue speaking, and for the first time, she blushed on her cheeks and whispered in a barely audible voice.

“I want to make it clear that I am not tired of Father.”

That was so lovely.

That was so exciting that my heart fluttered.

Rein hugged Mir tightly in the early winter chill that swept through the North. Unlike Aki, her body was not warm, but it was still warm.

I had already realized long ago that warmth and temperature are different.

“Mir, I know you like me more than anyone else, so don’t worry.”

Even though she seems taciturn, emotionless, and doesn’t express affection at all, that’s just because she doesn’t want to bother me when I’m busy.

Because she likes me.

Because she likes her father as much as her two older sisters.

The reason why she stayed by Rein’s side even after her sisters left for training, and the reason why she is going to the World Tree now, is all because of that.

“Then Mir, I will go now. I promise to devote myself to the training of wisdom.”

Mir, who had climbed onto the back of the dragon, shyly waved her hand.

The dragon flapped its wings greatly and soared into the sky, and Mir continued to wave her hand until she completely left the area.

And Rein also continued to wave his hand even after Mir disappeared, just as Headmaster Atlante did in the distant past.

Children leave the nest someday.

The more precious they are, the more we should let them leave the nest, not bind them to it.

So that they can freely spread their wings and roam this beautiful world in the distant sky.

“See you later, Mir.”

It took about half a day to recover after leaving Mir.

Anyway, thanks to Mir, I was able to secure time until the witches from the Republic came.

Rein left the scene to them and crossed . Kiran Wolf Blado, the commander-in-chief of the Wall, greeted him.

“You’ve really made it big, Kiran.”

“I don’t know who’s saying that to whom. That little kid back then. Is this teasing me? No, will I be executed if I don’t use honorifics?”

“I’m not that kind of person. I’ll only execute you if you hit on Aki.”

“Your playfulness has increased. I heard you saved my sister, I don’t know how to thank you.”

“I’ve repaid the favor. Kiran helped me first.”

After hugging each other and patting each other on the back, I received supplies from the white wolves and crossed the Wall.

The goal is the Byeongseon base [a naval base or ship construction facility].

The Dragon Bone Seal erected in its front yard, the tomb of the benefactor who gave his life to send me to the future.

“Alakish. How have you been?”

I blankly stroked the sacred bones with a voice filled with joy and sorrow.

“I kept my promise. Aki is now in for training. She’s grown up so beautifully, admirably, and wonderfully, you know? It would be nice if you could see it with your body, not your soul.”

“…….”

“I’m really, really sorry. If you could have gone that path together, so you could have seen Aki’s growth with me…”

What more can I say?

Now that Alakish’s Yeouiju [a mythical orb signifying authority and power] has completely passed on to Aki, Alakish’s heart is not felt.

“Thank you so much for giving me a new life, and for entrusting Aki to me…”

Even so…….

In an instant, when the swirling snowstorm scattered, it was as if I saw a hallucination of Alakish smiling above that tomb.

I couldn’t respond to that Alakish with a smile.

Just as I was turning around, swallowing my miserable tears, a face as welcome as Kiran’s appeared.

“Heh, why would such a precious person come to this humble end of the earth.”

Frisbia.

A former Platinum rank 1, now pushed down to 9th place.

Rein was excessively polite in a theatrical manner.

“I don’t know what to say when I hear that from a truly precious person. Princess.”

As an Aein [a race with slow aging] with slow aging, many of her old features remained, but her dignity as a veteran who had experienced the ups and downs of life had grown even greater than before.

“Cut it out. I abandoned the position of princess a long time ago. Heh, Eldvih, you must have told him? Heh.”

“I’m sorry, Princess.”

Eldvih, who was standing next to her, gave a disapproving look, but Rein was just happy to see him after a long time.

“I’ll buy you a meal later, Eldvih. You guided me before.”

“I don’t need it. Anyway, you went to the ends of the north and south and returned safely. I applaud your luck that defies common sense.”

“Thank you.”

This is probably the best compliment Eldvih can give. While Eldvih was opening the door to the Byeongseon base, Frisbia asked.

“So, what’s going on?”

“You probably know. I read the report you sent at the Imperial Council. The plague is spreading throughout the North. What do you think?”

“Heh, I also know the story that the power of the mighty Abyss eats away at the body like a disease. Hehehe, in fact, half of my subordinates have caught the plague or something.”

“Are you talking about Aein?”

“Hehehehe, you seem to know. As much as Aein cannot handle miracles or magic, their resistance to the Abyss is stronger than any other race. I sent back those who were unable to use it because they were in such a state.”

“What about treatment?”

“There’s no need to treat them. What do you feel when you face a powerful being? Fear? Heh, yeah. It’s similar to getting goosebumps when you feel fear.”

Frisbia rattled off incomprehensible stories and then called Rein over with a gesture.

“What does that mean?”

“It means that it will be cured on its own if you go outside the realm of presence. In the first place, there is no need for the concept of treatment.”

“Yes?”

Her legs, which were going down the iron stairs of the Byeongseon base, seemed to be made of some kind of machinery.

Chik, kiririk, chik, strangely, steam escaped from the exhaust pipe every time she walked.

The legs she lost while protecting me… Seeing that made my heart ache for no reason.

“I have a strange power, should I fix it for you?”

“You can heal the missing parts, heh, the witches would cry and leave. Although had such technology.”

“I’m saying it sincerely.”

“I don’t need it. This is my experiment. Can you see it? Steam. All the equipment used by has such generators.”

“Is it the core of power?”

“Yeah. But right now, Aein’s technology only knows how to use steam. This is the culmination of my exploration, heh, I think it was good that I lost my legs back then. Right?”

Frisbia said that while opening the door to the lower deck of the Byeongseon base, the laboratory.

The target of that word was not Rein. It was a beautiful woman who was checking the test tubes lined up in that vast space and writing something down.

The two froze as soon as their eyes met.

“Rein……?”

“Miss Kasena…….”