The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 1

My mind went blank for a moment.

What did I just hear?

Ray Bell Byteiner.

I’m pretty sure that’s what I heard.

Ray Bell Byteiner is leaving this book to a descendant with the same constitution as him.

“…….”

They say that when people are too flustered, they become calm instead.

That’s exactly how I feel right now.

Very calm.

“……Another prank.”

I saw a news report recently about voice phishing using magic.

This book could be one of those things.

No, if I think about it calmly, that’s highly likely.

It doesn’t make sense logically.

Why would the great hero Ray Bell Byteiner leave a book like this?

It’s already surprising that his autograph exists, and that it’s in my room, whether by chance or not.

What? He’s leaving this book to a descendant with the same constitution as me?

That’s a bit much.

It’s too much.

“Aish.”

Something like this happened half a year ago.

Someone left a fake magic textbook in front of my door to mess with me.

The book was armed with such flimsy theories that I knew it was a prank after reading the first page, but the feeling of hope plummeting to the depths was…

It was an indescribable pain.

‘This time, it’s a much more elaborate prank than last time.’

I checked the cover of the book in my hand again. ‘Ray Bell Byteiner.’

Even after looking at it again, the cover has a certain feel to it.

How can someone write these ancient characters so stylishly?

To go this far just to mess with me. I almost want to applaud them.

‘Let’s see what they wrote.’

I opened the book casually.

The voice transmission must have been one-time use, because there was no voice this time.

“Oh?”

The inside has the same stylish handwriting as the cover.

Wow, they really put in the effort.

I admit, this prank is impressive.

How much do they hate me to go this far?

I deciphered the book, which was a trinity of bad handwriting, cursive, and ancient characters.

[This book can only be opened by a descendant who has the same constitution as me.]

It’s ridiculous from the first line.

Isn’t this the perfect setup to trick gullible people?

[Therefore, the fact that you are reading this book means that you, like me, have an extremely rare and special brain.]

Brain, huh?

Bringing up the brain confirms it.

“They did a lot of research.”

My brain can’t accept artificial intelligence. The reason is unknown.

They just said that my brain structure is subtly different from others.

In other words, the reason I became a misfit is because of my brain.

This book mentions that brain.

They’re really malicious.

Do they really want to do this, even if it means touching someone’s trauma?

Sigh.

[As I said before, my magic can only be learned by those with the same brain structure as me.]

I continued to interpret the text. I wanted to see how far they would go. That was my mindset.

[But unfortunately, I couldn’t find such a person in my time. If this continues, my magic will be buried and disappear into the depths of history.]

[Only the general-purpose magic that I created and distributed for my vassals and people might be passed down to future generations.]

“General-purpose magic?”

Is he calling the old magic system, divided into eight stages, general-purpose magic?

[That’s why I decided to leave this book.]

[To find my descendant, a disciple who will carry on my magic, even in the future.]

I turned the page.

“Hmm?”

Before interpreting the ancient characters on page 3, page 4 caught my eye first.

‘Blank?’

From the middle of page 3 to page 4, it was all blank.

‘They got tired of writing, huh?’

Well, yeah.

They couldn’t fill over 200 pages of a book with this quality just to mess with me.

Okay, let’s see what they wrote at the end.

[Descendant, if my guess is correct, you are using magic by creating a mana loop in your heart.]

They wrote something obvious as a question.

If a mage doesn’t create a mana circle in their heart, where else would they create it?

[In the world of general-purpose magic, that might be natural, but for you and me, that’s not the right way to use it.]

[Descendant, if you are willing to become my disciple and carry on my magic, first destroy all the mana loops you’ve woven around your heart, circulate mana to your brain to activate it, and then open this book again.]

[Then…….]

“That’s bullshit.”

I didn’t need to read any further, so I closed the book.

I feel terrible.

How much do they have to hate me to write such nonsense?

‘What? Destroy the mana loop? Circulate mana to the brain?’

Mana is poison to the brain.

The structure of mana hasn’t been fully explained yet, so the reason is unknown, but when the brain meets mana, fatal flaws occur.

To write down such a dangerous act.

Why? Why not just tell me to go die?

I threw the book I was holding onto the floor.

“It just ruined my mood.”

I should just train.

* * *

The next morning.

The first class of the first semester of the second year was a practical class.

“Next. Ji Sun-chan, enter.”

“Yes.”

It was a class started under the pretext that Instructor Go Chang-soo, who was in charge of Class 1 of the second year, wanted to see the students’ skills with his own eyes.

It seems like other classes are just doing self-introductions in the first class.

Only our class is special.

Of course, I like it.

For me, who doesn’t have money, there aren’t many opportunities to do this kind of practical training.

“Ooh!”

“Ji Sun-chan is amazing!”

Exclamations burst out from the surroundings.

Everyone is watching the screen that shows the inside of the training ground.

I also stopped my image training and focused on the screen.

“Wow. That’s Ji Sun-chan for you.”

“The hope of us general admission students!”

Ji Sun-chan.

A talented student who is always in the top 10 of the second-year integrated grades.

A promising prospect who has already woven three loops at the age of 18.

“He’s good.”

I muttered without realizing it, Sun-chan’s movements were that perfect.

He increases his mobility by casting enhancement magic on his lower body.

He keeps changing his position to avoid being surrounded by enemies coming from all directions.

While maintaining the enhancement magic, he fires consecutive fire magic, which is the weakness of the ‘Giant Rats’.

He blocks the ones that rush in through the gaps with barriers.

“His mana output is amazing.”

Even though an ordinary 3-circle mage is doing double casting and moving casting at the same time, no one is surprised by that fact.

“His output is good, my ass.”

“I heard he illegally modified his AI?”

“Huh? Really?”

“Otherwise, how could a general admission student do that?”

They would have been surprised 100 years ago.

They might have all fallen over in shock, saying, ‘Wow! Double casting and moving casting!’

But not now.

For modern mages who have an excellent magic support tool called artificial intelligence, double casting or moving casting is not a special advantage.

Rather, it’s something they should be able to do.

Since the AI does all the intermediate calculations, how difficult would double casting or moving casting be?

On the screen, Ji Sun-chan dashes around and fires magic.

The 100 Giant Rats quickly burn and disappear, leaving only mana debris.

“His movements are good. It seems like his stamina has increased a lot too.”

“Even so, his stamina is still weak. Look, his breathing is already messed up.”

If the mage of 100 years ago was a fixed gun emplacement,

The modern mage is a mobile fighter jet.

A versatile combatant with a changeable and flashy battle style.

That’s the modern mage.

“Good job.”

The instructor greeted Ji Sun-chan, who came out after finishing the training.

“Overall rating A. Your movements were good. Your magic variations and mana output were also good, but your lack of stamina is still noticeable. Just focus on that.”

Movement.

Magic variations.

Mana output.

The number of times magic can be used depending on mental strength.

These are the main criteria for evaluating modern mages.

Since the AI takes care of all the control elements, there are no other factors to evaluate.

“Yes. I will try my best.”

Sun-chan bowed his head slightly and returned to his seat.

I sighed softly.

Sun-chan is amazing after all.

I was proud of my friend’s growth, but at the same time, I felt a little bitter.

“Next. Shin Ha-yul.”

As soon as my name was called, the murmuring grew louder.

“It’s Shin Ha-yul.”

“Isn’t the monster rush training too harsh for Shin Ha-yul?”

“It’s over the moment he’s surrounded.”

Pitying gazes were fixed on me.

The instructor was the same.

“Are you okay? If it seems too much…….”

I’m used to these gazes.

It’s not the time to react to these reactions now.

“I’ll do it.”

I just need to think about my own benefit.

I don’t have many opportunities to do this kind of full-scale magic training in a dome.

I could do it anytime if I had money, but it’s impossible for me, who has had all support from my family cut off.

“Okay. I understand. Then go in.”

“Yes.”

I lightly focused my mind and entered the training dome.

And as expected, I became the last in the class.

I wasn’t particularly upset because it was expected.

Rather, I felt good.

Three months ago, I could only defeat 6 monsters.

Today, I was able to defeat 17.

I’m definitely improving.

That’s enough.

That’s enough for now.

* * *

That night.

I ate dinner and went straight back to my room.

I was originally going to change into light clothes and go to the training ground, but an unexpected guest arrived, so I decided to postpone going to the training ground.

“I don’t even know if this is a room or a library anymore.”

Ji Sun-chan.

A classmate in the same class as me, and the only person I can call a friend in this school.

He came to my room for a visit after a long time.

“I’m already worried. I don’t have a place to store my books.”

He says, dusting off the books that are displayed on one of the shelves.

“It seems like you haven’t looked at these in a while. Shouldn’t you throw them away…….”

“No. I need to review them later.”

There’s a reason why I left those books. It’s a waste to throw them away.

“Ugh. You’re such a book addict.”

Ji Sun-chan chuckled and sat on my bed.

“What can I do? This is the only way I can learn magic.”

I replied jokingly.

It was a black joke with no real meaning.

However.

“……Sorry.”

It seems like Sun-chan didn’t take it as a simple joke.

“Why are you taking it so seriously? It’s a joke, a black joke. It’s your specialty.”

That’s how he is.

There are many rumors around him, like how he was born, or how he increased his skills by illegally modifying his AI.

He’s just an endlessly kind person.

“Did you come all this way just because you thought I was discouraged today?”

“No, I didn’t?”

“No, my ass.”

The ridicule from the classmates during the practical training was a bit harsh.

Even if I were in Sun-chan’s position, I would have been worried.

“I told you, I don’t get hurt by those words anymore.”

It’s better to learn one more line of magic formula than to worry about those things.

“Sun-chan, you shouldn’t worry too much about those rumors about you either. If you worry, we’re the only ones who lose. Just quietly ignore them and…….”

My lips curled up.

“Let’s succeed spectacularly. Isn’t that the most satisfying revenge?”

To stand above the guys who ignored me. That’s the best revenge I can think of.

“Yeah. …That’s right.”

Sun-chan smiled along with me.

“I came to comfort you, but I’m the one who’s being comforted.”

“What? You said you didn’t come because you were worried about me?”

“Just let it go, you idiot!”

Sun-chan slapped my back and got up from the bed.

“Then I’ll go…… Hmm? What’s this book?”

It seems like he tripped over a book at his feet while getting up.

“It looks very luxurious. Is it ancient characters? What does it say?”

“Ah. That’s…….”

The book I read last night and threw away.

Ray Bell Byteiner.

A book that is presumed to be made by someone to mess with me.

“It’s nothing. Just leave it.”

“Really?”

He’s the guy who came to worry about me because of the whispers that mocked me.

There’s no need to talk about this book.

“This looks like it would sell for a good price? It would be good for interior decoration.”

“I said just leave it?”

“Just a moment. Let me just look inside.”

Before I could stop him, Sun-chan opened the book.

No, he tried to open it.

“Hup! What is this? Why won’t it open?”

He’s using so much force that his face is turning red, but it won’t budge.

“Did they glue each page together or something? How can it be so stuck without even a slight tremor?”

It’s literally unmovable.

It’s as if time has stopped for that book.

“……Could it be.”

Something suddenly came to mind.

“Ha-yul?”

I snatched the book from Sun-chan.

And I opened the book easily.

It was a book that seemed to be glued together, but.

In my hands, it moves as smoothly as a newborn baby’s cheek.

“What, it opens? Did you put some kind of security device on it? I didn’t feel any magical device.”

I listened to Sun-chan’s muttering with one ear and let it out the other.

My retina was accurately reflecting only one sentence.

[This book can only be opened by a descendant who has the same constitution as me.]

“Could this be…….”

Is it real?

I turned the page as if possessed.

[Then……]

And I carefully read the words I had stopped reading yesterday.

[Then you will be able to become the greatest archmage in the world.]

That sentence filled my retina.