The Rebirth Of The Hero’S Party’S Archmage [EN]: Chapter 50

“You little… Grrr!”

Libeni swung the Abyss Scythe haphazardly, and the thieves and guards who jumped out of the darkness were slaughtered and sent rolling across the floor.

“Are these guys stupid? Don’t they know whose head is hanging here? Obyeong? Obingshin? Whatever, it’s those guys.”

Meanwhile, Millek reached into the darkness, using Dark Cross Listening [a technique to send exploratory spirits into the darkness].

“You don’t have to look so hard, Dark Magic Oppa [older brother].”

Just then, Millek skillfully dodged a fire arrow that flew in with violent heat.

On the roof of the half-collapsed wooden building, an archer was aiming at them with a bow. Below, a giant in black iron had a double-edged axe slung over his shoulder.

Up top was the archer Rem, and below was Bart. After a moment of silence, Libeni pointed and shouted, “Millek! Those guys! The bad guys who stole my prey earlier!”

“Funny, who’s calling who bad?”

No sooner had Rem retorted than Bart took a step forward, the weight of his heavy armor cracking the ground.

“Storm Wheel Sword Sect, Bart Yuriuns.”

Stating one’s sect and name was a conventional courtesy shown by disciples belonging to the Empire’s most prestigious sword sects, the One Saint Seven Swords, before engaging in combat.

Therefore, it was traditionally regarded as an expression of intent and a release of murderous intent, a declaration that ‘I will kill you now.’

A slight wrinkle formed on Libeni’s brow, who had been smiling leisurely.

‘Storm Wheel of the One Saint Seven Swords… And Yuriuns? That’s the surname given to the top disciple. Another tough opponent. Annoying.’

The Storm Wheel Sword Sect was a sword sect based in the mountainous regions of the eastern Empire, and the main weapons representing the sect were large weapons such as hammers and axes. Only large and heavy weapons.

「Strongly, only strongly.」

The school motto symbolizing the Storm Wheel Sword Sect was as above. Millek stroked his chin, humming.

“Bart Yuriuns… So, you are the Money Copy Adventure Party of Bart and Rem? The ones who subjugated the Mutant Rat-Spider Queen.”

“Hey, say it right! It’s the Thumping Money Copy Adventure Party of Rem and Bart! My name comes first!”

Rem shouted, and Libeni’s eyes glowed with an ominous dark blue. It was the color of the abyss.

“What, you guys got rid of my cutie?”

“……!”

“In that case, I’ll have to kill you with all my heart for the first time in a while!”

‘That guy, the atmosphere has changed.’ Bart gestured with his chin towards Millek, signaling that he would take care of him.

An intensely amplified sense of urgency filled the air.

Tension that made both hands sweat.

Immediately after, both sides clashed, and it was Rem’s magical arrow that first tore through the space. Millek dodged lightly and narrowed the gap, and Rem shot five arrows overhead.

‘Annoying, is it Choongsusa’s Wood Splitting…….’

One of the arrows that had risen into the sky spread out in countless directions and rained down. It was a combat method created by the Archery Saint Kies, pushing the archer’s close-range response ability to the limit.

However, Millek had abilities specialized in hunting these long-range shooters because he could move through space using darkness as a medium.

“You’ve underestimated this Heavenly Genius Archer Rem way too much, you childless bastard!”

However, at that moment, the arrows that fell on the ground, encircling Rem, turned into flames, completely dispelling the darkness from the surroundings.

‘……He figured out my combat style at some point?’

Rem chuckled and placed a new arrow on the bowstring, and magic swirled crimson around the arrow, with the heat of flames swirling from the arrowhead.

Kaaaaaang─────!

Meanwhile, below, the edges of the axe and scythe clashed, scattering countless sparks along with sharp metallic sounds.

Libeni, who had blocked Bart’s relentless strikes several times without giving him time to chant spells, changed his defensive stance to evasion.

The corners of his mouth gradually twisted as he was nearly blown away several times by the wind pressure caused by the rampaging axe blade.

‘This monster of a hulk, he’s not just a simple disciple?’

He had heard that Obungyeong were roughly mid-to-upper tier among Gold-ranked adventurers. So, this guy is at least in the upper tier?

‘Tch, annoying, and the compatibility is unfavorable……!’

In an instant, a dense poisonous fog spread out due to Libeni’s rapid left-handed incantation.

Just before his vision was obscured, Bart was already swinging his axe mightily. Bang, the air exploded with an unrealistic roar, and the fog dissipated.

However, for Libeni, all he needed was a very brief opening. He landed on the distant outer wall and bent his left ring and middle fingers backward with a soft groan.

“Oh ancient darkness dwelling in the dark, Ryeon, Joong──!”

Following the incantation, runes of power rose into the air, scattering dark blue light in succession.

If the power of a 3-star spell is augmented with black magic, its power surpasses that of a 4-star spell. Once the spell was cast, there would be no chance of winning.

“……!”

Perhaps to reduce the weight of the axe, Bart threw the axe high above his head and charged forward, leaving huge footprints on the ground.

No, it’s not because of the weight.

This was the Storm Wheel’s secret technique of leading with the body and having the weapon follow, Human-Weapon Guidance.

Originally, holding a weapon would limit the choices in terms of the momentum of the charge or the attack after the charge, but what if you threw the weapon and then grabbed it again just before colliding with the opponent?

Not only would it increase mobility and prevent the opponent from reading your attack, but it would also open up countless options, starting with hand-to-hand combat.

“──I, Libeni, invoke the ancient contract!”

It was a close call.

Bart, who had instantly closed the 50-meter gap in just four steps, twisted his body to the fullest, stepping forward with his left foot.

“Receive my command here and now──!”

The axe, which had been spinning in the air, was now flying towards Bart’s right hand.

“Bart!”

There wasn’t even time to catch the axe.

He put all his strength into his fist.

He would smash the skull by slamming it down as it was.

“Libeni-nim!”

Kooong, the double-edged axe, not receiving its master’s touch, slammed into the ground with a roar, the dark blue runes spewed out seductive darkness, and Bart’s armor stretched out as if tearing through the space in front.

A brief moment of silence, about the time it takes for a heart to beat once.

Bart’s fist tore through the air roughly, but Libeni, who had dodged the fist by a hair’s breadth, smiled brightly and placed his hand on Bart’s chest armor.

“Goodbye, Hulk.”

The ultimate black magic that completely melts away the flesh attached to the bone, and later even melts away the bone itself, causing an explosion.

Before Bart could even react, the power of the forbidden spell ignited from the caster’s palm.

The black mist that stretched out from his grip wrapped around the black iron armor, and the space creaked── and then shattered into countless particles.

“……Huh?”

A moment of confusion.

What is this? Was this such a spell? No, that can’t be. By now, it should have completely wrapped around this hulk’s body like a snake?

The answer was given by a third party’s voice.

“That won’t happen even if you wait a million years.”

A boy staggered out into the death-filled street glistening with blood. His eyes shone crimson between his disheveled black hair.

“Because I erased it.”

Except for Millek, the three people looked at him in bewilderment.

The shock that Rem, Bart, and Libeni received was a shock with different meanings in many ways…….

Libeni, confirming the identity of the boy who had appeared, leading the fiercely dancing magic, raised his eyebrows.

“What, how is that thing alive?”

The boy, Rain Ludwig, threw off his blood-stained gloves. The palms under the gloves were strangely wrapped in bandages.

“Stand back, Rem, Bart.”

As he unwound even those bandages, the oppressive radiance emitted by the unfamiliar rune, §, began to engulf the blood-stained world.

“Know it as an honor.”

And with a movement that even felt reverent, he clasped his hands together to form a seal.

“Because you’re the first to see my Inner World.”

La (羅) [a Sanskrit syllable]. He creates two circles and two rhombuses with his fingers. The moment that seal is formed, the boy’s Inner World is overlaid onto the scenery of the world.

“Inner World Construction, Wandering World Honored One.”

* * *

「Inner World Barrier is not about gaining new power.」

It was clearly written in 『The Truth』, which contained the life of Riot Warden.

「Inner World Barrier is a mirror reflecting one’s inner self, and in the end, it is merely a barrier that maximizes the power one already possesses.」

The powers of the Wandering World Honored One, which I realized through in-depth research in a short period of time, are four in total.

1. Wandering (流) : The essence of flow.

It is the power to convert runes engraved in magic into other runes as if water flows.

2. Reckoning (量) : The essence of reckoning.

It is the power to instantly calculate the runes and mathematical formulas required for the desired magic.

3. World (世) : The essence of the world.

It can be said to be the most fundamental power for deploying the Wandering World Honored One’s barrier.

4. Honored (尊) : The essence of augmentation.

It is the simplest yet most powerful force that unconditionally enhances the power of any magic, as long as it is magic constructed through the Inner World Barrier.

These four runes are deployed clockwise around me, and light emanates from the corresponding rune when power is exerted.

As the barrier unfolds now, brilliant rays of light are emitted from the World (世) rune.

World (世), a mysterious magic that can only be described as vast, spreads rapidly around me, constructing a barrier.

It is a magic circle (方陣).

A mysterious world that only I can create. In the circles spread out to the east, west, south, and north around me, each rune of the Wandering World Honored One shines brilliantly.

“An Inner World Barrier?”

Millek, who was always calm, blinked blankly. An Inner World? Wasn’t that the domain of sages who had reached the rank of 6-star? And this kid?

“Don’t be ridiculous, it’s obviously a bluffing illusion!”

After a moment of panic, a fierce vortex of destruction created by the negative incantation that burst from Libeni’s mouth covered Rain.

“The form of the magic circle is two overlapping triangles, the runes to be engraved are Wandering (游) and Field (場).”

It grants the properties of ‘levitation’ and ‘barrier deployment’ to fire magic.

Originally, it was not a power that could be blocked with a 2-star magic, but…… Woong, as the Honored (尊; augmentation) rune in the Inner World Barrier scattered its miraculous light, the story changed.

The fiercely soaring wall of fire flickered with a heat that could not be called a 2-star magic, and then parried the vortex of destruction.

“Rune Engraving Conversion. Ru (瘻), Tan (彈).”

The moment Rain crossed his hands, Woong, a beam of light soared from the Wandering (流; flow) rune of the barrier, and Libeni and Millek’s entire bodies trembled uncontrollably.

The wall of fire splits.

Into countless sparks.

Then…… How could they not be shocked as those sparks rained down?

“A transformation of the inscribed runes?!”

“How can he do that……?!”

Changing the runes in an already activated ability was an extremely advanced technique.

In history, only five people have done it, including the Empire and the Republic.

In the Empire, two sages and the Archmage Lynn, and in the Republic, the priestess Friede of the Hero Party and her disciple Tureina.

– It’s a failure. If you can’t do this, you can’t call it a success.

Tureina, Libeni’s creator and mother, said that.

After it was determined that she could not perform rune engraving conversion, she, who had been called a success, instantly became a failure…….
Millek, who had hastily recited a water attribute spell (black magic is incompatible with fire magic) to block the bullets of sparks, said urgently.

“We have to get out of here!”

“Shut up, shut up, shut up! I’m going to kill that thing. I, I!”

“Libeni-nim!”

Now the puzzle is solved. I see. The owner of the 4-star magic that eliminated the Rat-Spider Queen was that guy. Not a scroll or anything…….

There is no chance of winning here.

The runes to be engraved in the incantation are Evaporation (蒸) and Field (場), and after completely blocking the five senses with a hazy mist, they can only escape through the darkness.

The moment the steam exploded fiercely and spread out, Rain stretched out his left hand, and light emanated from the Reckoning (量) rune.

“Rune Creation. Jun (撙), Seon (搧).”

Using the Six Principles of Rune Formation, he combines basic runes to create the runes Jun (撙; suppressing) and Seon (搧; fanning).

At the same time, five examples emerge from the tens of thousands of mathematical formulas inscribed in the Reckoning (量) rune. These are the mathematical formulas for using this rune.

The mathematical formula to be solved is an improper integral. It is a formula that calculates coordinates by taking only the limits in the integral region of the definite integral.

“No……?!”

“Where did those runes come from……?!”

At that moment, the wind seemed to be fanning from above, and the mist was pressed flat against the ground by the wind pressure, completely opening up the field of vision.

That powerful wind pressure that pressed down not only affected the mist but also people.

Millek, who was forcibly suppressing the rampaging Libeni and trying to take her into the darkness, became heavier, and his actions were momentarily stopped.

“T, this……!”

The moment Rain pointed at them with his index finger, vines of fire wrapped around their limbs.

A sudden silence came to the world, which had been a mess with rampant abilities, and Rain, who was finally spitting out blood, bent one knee.

‘Barely, it was really close.’

With this, I have now consumed all my magic power……. Hiding his rapid breathing, he raised his knee.

“If you try to move, that fire will dig into your bodies and kill you instantly, so don’t do anything foolish…… Ugh.”

Rem hurriedly approached and supported the staggering Rain.

“I told you not to overdo it, you little brat!”

Bel Cideus, which had been shining in Rain’s eyes, lost its light, and the Inner World Barrier shattered like cherry blossoms in spring and scattered faintly.

Even the power source for the Inner World Barrier…….

It was a fight where he had to use all his strength beyond his limits. If it hadn’t ended here, he would have surely died. Libeni gritted her teeth.

“You, what the hell are you……!”

“Questions? I’m the one asking the questions. Who made you into that… appearance?”

Libeni, who had been glaring at Rain as if to kill him since earlier, seemed to laugh hysterically but then changed her expression.

“Don’t act up just because you can do rune engraving conversion! The real one is me! My appearance is exactly the same, and my skills are amazing! My mother’s successful creation to receive Lynn’s soul is me!”

The moment I understood the meaning of those words, my eyes and mouth widened involuntarily.

A vessel for my soul?

Who the hell would do that…… Just as I was about to ask that, a strange rune that I had never seen before spewed out black smoke from the roof of Libeni’s mouth.

“This is the last……!”

Knowing that it was a last-ditch resistance, Rem placed an arrow on the bowstring, but strangely, Libeni looked up at the distant sky and began to beg frantically.

“M, Mom! I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I, I was wrong! I’ll do better, so please, Mom, please, please, please───!”

If I had the magic power to use Bel Curious, could I have eliminated that? But even if I had eliminated it, I wouldn’t have been able to function as a person.

Because the body of Libeni, touched by the smoke, began to rot horribly and melt away, emitting a foul odor.

Whether it was judged that the opponent had used an ability, the flames of the fire prison ignited on their own and burned the body of Millek, who had closed his eyes as if in resignation.

“Wow, crazy bastard. He didn’t even scream once.”

Rem, who had been watching the scene of the cremation with his lips bitten, shook his head as if he was disgusted.

“Are you okay, Rain?”

Bart approached and asked, but Rain was just blankly looking down at the burning corpses.

‘A vessel to contain my soul? What the hell are those black magic bastards up to…….’

I couldn’t even make a light guess. Ever since I had swallowed black magic twice with Bel Curious, my brain had long since exceeded its limits.

Thud.

After staggering greatly once, Rain collapsed in a faint, and Bart supported him. Rem took off his cloak and wrapped it around Rain’s body.

“His body is as hot as fire. It’s the same as before.”

“He must have overdone it again.”

“Well, he used such ridiculous power, so he can’t be okay. But what is an Inner World Barrier?”

“I don’t know the details, but… I remember it was the ultimate in magic.”

Rem crossed his arms and squinted his eyes as if he was troubled, then tilted his head.

“Ah, um, I really don’t know. I think I said the same thing last time, but what the hell is his identity?”

The cold wind of the underground blew bleakly. The wind was lukewarm and unpleasantly lukewarm because it contained the warmth of the dead.

“Whatever his identity, Rain is our comrade.”

Bart said briefly and started walking towards Sammy, carrying Rain on his back, and Rem followed behind, laughing in disbelief.

“Funny, who said otherwise?”