The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 0

The Reincarnation of the Mythical Archmage – 1 (1/466)

Tradition is forgotten in the name of convenience.

It’s actually quite obvious.

With the advancement of technology, old and inconvenient things are bound to be phased out little by little.

Just like how heavy brick-like cell phones became smartphones, and steam locomotives became KTX high-speed trains [Korean high-speed rail].

Things that were once great soon become outdated and disappear.

It’s a natural law of the world.

“The 21st century. Magic has made groundbreaking advancements. Of course, none of the students here are unaware of this, right?”

Magic is the same.

“Come on, Instructor. Who here doesn’t know that?”

The first archmage who defined mana and created the study of magic.

The magic he created might have been revolutionary and groundbreaking technology at the time.

But not anymore.

“The development of artificial intelligence that supports magic is the turning point of magic studies.”

[Gathering – Heating – Conversion – Condensation – Transfer – Expansion – Amplification – Manifestation]

This was the order of using magic that was common sense until 100 years ago.

How does it sound? Doesn’t it sound complicated?

“Yes, that’s right. In the 21st century, with the development of technology and artificial intelligence, magic has reached a new horizon.”

Of course, this is just common sense from 100 years ago.

“The development of artificial intelligence has led to the shortening of magic activation formulas, and the refinement of magic formulas has further strengthened their power. It goes without saying that it has become easier.”

Now, magic is just Gathering – Manifestation.

These two steps are all it takes.

The caster simply needs to gather mana.

Then, the artificial intelligence automatically adjusts the intermediate magic formulas and completes the magic.

Next, the caster simply shoots the magic as they will.

This is modern magic.

How does it sound? Isn’t it convenient?

“Oh, I’ve been rambling on for too long. Before I introduce myself, let me start by congratulating you. Congratulations. You are among the elite of the elite, representing 1% of the world’s population.”

Of course, just because the magic system has become simpler doesn’t mean anyone can use magic.

Magic is still the exclusive domain of the chosen few who possess talent.

Must have an affinity for mana.

Must be able to absorb mana.

And must be able to release that mana externally.

And so on.

Only 1% of the total population meets all the conditions to become a mage.

“Life is best when it’s easy.”

“I’m so happy to be born with a mana spoon in my mouth.”

“Hahaha!”

Laughter echoed throughout the classroom.

Mana spoon.

A term derived from the phrase ‘gold spoon,’ referring to people who are born with the ability to feel mana.

“If you graduate from this school, your lives will be on a smooth path. You will be on the road to success.”

Of course, mages are highly skilled professionals in this world.

They are versatile individuals who are helpful in combat and also greatly beneficial in daily life.

That is what modern mages are.

And this school we have entered is the top class among the schools that train such mages.

It is a prestigious academy that ranks among the top ten in the world.

As the instructor said, graduating from this school is practically a victory in life.

And I was one of the elites belonging to that 1%.

Yes.

I ‘was’ one of them.

“Instructor! Are you sure you can be so confident?”

“I think you forgot that Shin Hayul is in this class!”

Laughter was heard again from all directions.

Mocking laughter filled with ridicule, completely different from the laughter a moment ago.

At the same time, all eyes are focused on me.

“Shin Hayul is so pathetic.”

“How can a mage with such legendary talent fall so quickly?”

Eyes gleaming with a low sense of superiority, thinking, ‘I’m better than him.’

Eyes filled with pity and sympathy.

And eyes of joy, reveling in my downfall.

Those blatant emotions pierce through me.

“Who would have known? That the supernova of the Mado Shin family, Shin Hayul, would be incompatible with artificial intelligence.”

“A mage who can’t handle artificial intelligence. Hehe.”

As I said before, magic in this world has made revolutionary progress.

However, not everyone can benefit from that revolutionary technology.

Just like how only 1% of the total population has mana.

There are exceptions who are not compatible with the pinnacle of modern magic, artificial intelligence.

“Fate is so cruel. How could Shin Hayul be in that 0.00002%?”

0.00002%.

I am an incompatible person who belongs to that small percentage.

“Wow, the more I think about it, the more pathetic it is.”

Despite having legendary talent, an incompatible person who was not chosen by modern technology, the only defective product of the Mado Shin family.

That is the world’s assessment of me, Shin Hayul.

“……”

But who would have known?

That being incompatible was actually luck, not misfortune.

Even I, who was busy suppressing my anger at this time, did not know.

Until I met that book a year later.

Really.

I had no idea, not even in my dreams.

* * *

The Mado Shin family, a renowned mage family in Korea, famous for producing outstanding mages in succession.

I was born as the youngest of three sons and two daughters in that family.

I was called a supernova for starting to play with mana at the age of four.

I used magic for the first time at the age of seven.

I succeeded in using double casting at the age of ten.

And I succeeded in using triple casting at the age of fifteen, and my reputation grew higher and higher.

‘Now, all I have to do is synchronize with artificial intelligence at the age of 17.’

‘As expected of my son. Finally, a mage who will dominate the world is appearing in our family.’

Naturally, my family’s expectations grew day by day.

Even though I was the youngest, it was said everywhere that I was practically the next head of the Mado Shin family.

‘I wish I could synchronize with artificial intelligence right now.’

‘Honey, be patient. You know that if you synchronize with artificial intelligence before the age of 17, before their personality is properly formed, there could be side effects.’

‘I was just saying it because I was feeling impatient.’

It was no exaggeration to say that my 17 years of life existed solely for magic.

Sometimes the expectations around me felt heavy, but it didn’t really matter.

In the first place, I loved learning magic too much.

I get to do what I love and receive praise from those around me.

What could be better than this?

Let’s continue down the path of magic and become the best mage in the world.

That’s what I thought.

However.

My hopes were shattered on the day of my high school entrance ceremony at the age of 17.

‘Kuaaaak! My, my head! Uwaaaaaaak!’

‘Ha, Hayul!’

Right after the entrance ceremony.

On the day of the artificial intelligence conferment ceremony.

I lost consciousness with excruciating headaches.

‘Student Shin Hayul is an incompatible person who cannot synchronize with artificial intelligence.’

‘It’s a rare condition that only exists in 0.00002% of the world, but to think that Student Shin Hayul would be…’

I found out that I had a unique constitution that prevented me from obtaining artificial intelligence.

It felt like the world had collapsed.

What was my life up until now? Were my 17 years all meaningless?

All sorts of negative thoughts consumed my mind.

‘…You useless thing.’

It didn’t take long for my father’s expectations to turn into disgust.

In the first place, he was a person for whom the growth of the family was everything in his life.

With the downfall of a genius like me, all sorts of ridicule poured down on the family, so there was no way he would look at me favorably.

‘I knew you would turn out like this.’

‘I knew it. What was the youngest doing, aiming to be the head of the family?’

My brothers, who had secretly envied me, poured out criticism as if it was a sweet revenge.

‘Look over there. It’s Shin Hayul.’

‘That defective genius?’

‘Hey, he can hear you.’

It was the magic school entrance I had dreamed of, but all that awaited me was despair.

Everyone pointed fingers at me behind my back, pitied me, and looked down on me.

That’s how a year passed.

‘You’ve worked hard for a year.’

‘Congratulations on advancing to the next grade.’

‘Wow. Shin Hayul somehow managed to advance too?’

Even after a year, I am still being ignored by everyone.

“Hehe. Shin Hayul is next.”

“I wonder what score he’ll get?”

“Wanna bet? I’m betting on him failing the standard.”

It’s only natural.

They’re probably relishing it.

My downfall, who had been called a genius for over 10 years, must be a sweet treat.

Since we are the same age, they must have been secretly compared to me in their respective families, so it must be even sweeter.

I understand.

I understand everything.

“Ugh, that’s so unfair. It’s obvious he’s going to fail the standard.”

“We should bet on how much he’ll fail the standard by.”

…I understand, but I can’t help but feel like crap.

“Next. Shin Hayul.”

While I was suppressing my anger, the instructor called my name.

“Yes.”

I can’t let it get to me.

I’m in the middle of practical training right now.

Focus!

I tried my best to shake off the negative emotions.

“You’ve seen the other students do it, so I don’t need to explain it in detail, right?”

“Yes.”

The instructor checked my information on a tablet PC.

“Second year. Shin Hayul. I will begin the practical training for the provisional magic rank calculation.”

With the instructor’s words, a countdown appeared in the center of the test area.

[10]

[9]

.

.

.

[Start!]

With the start notification, I moved my mana according to the 8-step activation formula of magic.

* * *

[Report Card]

[Shin Hayul, a second-year student at Obelisk Academy, a Korean mage training school]

After the practical training, I was sitting on my dormitory bed, checking my report card.

[The power of magic is passable, but the magic activation speed is close to the worst. It is more than 27 times slower compared to the magic of a newly enrolled freshman.]

[And it’s not like the power of magic is outstanding either. Compared to the magic preparation time, the power is also significantly lower. It’s like looking at a broken faucet.]

[Overall: A pathetic magic skill that is hard to believe for a second-year student.]

I can only sigh.

Each line is hitting me right in the bones.

It feels like they’re making a mace out of facts and smashing my skull.

[Overall Evaluation: Below Standard]

[Cannot be evaluated]

[P.S. I recommend looking into other paths.]

“Below standard……”

The sentence written in pen at the end felt like a sharp awl piercing my heart.

“I know. I know I’m lacking……”

Incompatible with artificial intelligence.

Because the magic formula cannot be shortened, my magic activation speed is bound to be significantly slower than others.

And because there is no backup from artificial intelligence, the magic formula is not precise, so the power is bound to be weaker.

It’s only natural to receive such an evaluation.

I keep getting calls from home, telling me to give up and come back.

They tell me to stop disgracing the family and come back quietly.

That’s what my father said.

“……One year.”

He also added that if I had been wasting my time for a year, wasn’t that enough?

It’s not just my father.

Everyone urged me to give up.

What’s the point of having magic talent?

When the most important thing is missing.

Why is a defective product who cannot learn modern magic struggling so hard?

They said that I haven’t improved at all in a year, so what more can I expect?

From their point of view, it’s natural for them to say that.

But.

“I haven’t stagnated.”

Even if I don’t know anything else, I can deny that I haven’t improved.

I am definitely growing.

A year ago,

I could use magic that took 10 seconds to activate in 8 seconds.

Accordingly, the magic formula has become more solid, and the power has increased.

I can now use double casting without the magic formula wavering.

My magic has not stagnated.

From the perspective of those who benefit from artificial intelligence, it may be a change that is not much different.

But I am definitely growing step by step.

“I won’t give up.”

I haven’t stopped, so I can’t give up.

I will definitely become a mage.

To show those who ignored me what I’m made of.

To achieve my long-held dream, to reach the end of the path of magic.

I will never give up.

“……Hoo.”

With that determination, I put away the report card.

After taking several deep breaths to calm my chaotic mind, I got up from my seat.

‘Let’s train.’

There’s no time to be lamenting.

I need to refine my magic formula even a little bit during the time I would be lamenting.

If I’m lacking, I have to work harder.

‘I also bought new textbooks.’

Alright.

Let’s start anew with a fresh mindset!

I shouted ‘Fighting!’ inwardly and took out the books I had recently purchased.

These are the books I bought from an old bookstore.

The textbooks provided by the school and famous reference books are not helpful for me, who is incompatible.

That’s why I had no choice but to buy books that recorded the magic systems of the past from places like old bookstores and study them on my own.

‘What should I look at first?’

I picked up the old books one by one and looked at the covers.

Which one would be the most beneficial?

“Hmm?”

That’s when it happened.

Suddenly, one book caught my eye.

“This book……”

Among the books that were over 100 years old and completely worn out. A red book that was unusually pristine.

Is it because it’s a hardcover? It looks very luxurious.

‘Did I buy this book?’

I don’t remember.

Did it accidentally get mixed in when I was putting the books away?

As I looked at the book, the title caught my eye.

Scrawled in cursive.

It was written in an ancient language, and on top of that, the handwriting was bad, so it was quite difficult to read, but it wasn’t impossible to read.

“Ray Bell Byteiner?”

Compared to its unique appearance, the title of the book was quite ordinary.

Ray Bell Byteiner, the first archmage in human history.

‘It’s been a while since I’ve seen this.’

This book is a kind of autobiography and myth that records the life of that hero.

There is no aspiring mage who has not read this book.

Of course, I read it too.

Not in this kind of paper book, but as an e-book.

‘Is this like a first edition?’

That’s what I thought as I casually opened the book.

Whoosh!

Light emanated from the book.

“Ugh!”

Suddenly, my head spun.

A tingling pain as if someone was directly stabbing my brain.

Immediately after.

‘To the descendant who has the same constitution as me, who can hear this voice, I, Ray Bell Byteiner, leave this book.’

A voice I had never heard before directly pierced my mind.