The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 100

The Rebirth of the Mythical Archmage-101

Olympiad Day 14.

Twenty minutes before the Magic Quiz Battle finals began.

Adela and I were alone in the waiting room, waiting for the match to start.

“Adela, you should have rested at the dorms.”

“It’s okay. I’d rather watch the match than rest.”

For the record, Sunchan and the seniors didn’t come to the stadium today.

Since only I was participating in today’s match, there was no need for everyone to come, so I told them to rest well at the dorms.

“And I’m not participating in the Battle Survival either. There’s no reason for me to rest.”

“I guess. Staying at the dorms alone would have been boring.”

Everyone insisted on coming to cheer me on, but when I told them to rest up for the Battle Survival starting tomorrow, they immediately switched gears and said they would rest quietly.

“Everyone must be resting well, right?”

“They must be resting well under the care of the condition managers.”

Everyone knows how harsh the Battle Survival is, so they must be resting well.

“Or maybe Senior Shinwoo is leading them in light training.”

“That’s possible.”

He’s someone who says that moderate training helps with rest, so they’re probably training at a moderate intensity.

But well, it’s not entirely wrong. Senior Kang Shinwoo is the second most thorough person after me when it comes to condition management, so there’s no need to worry.

“I’m a little worried.”

“About what? That I’ll lose?”

“No. Not today’s match. Tomorrow’s match.”

“The Battle Survival?”

“Yes. I’m worried if they can do well without the two of us.”

In this Battle Survival, a total of eight members from each team will participate.

They will be divided into two groups of four, surviving in Field A and Field B respectively, and the final winner will be decided in Field C on the last day.

Adela and I were excluded from this match.

I had to be excluded to save my participation card.

Adela was excluded to manage her condition for the next match after the Battle Survival.

“Trust the seniors and Sunchan. They’ll do well.”

“Do you think so?”

“Objectively speaking, winning will be difficult, but they will definitely achieve good results.”

Since Dalia and Kyle will definitely participate, winning will be difficult, but they will achieve decent results.

Everyone is skilled enough.

“More than that, the match hasn’t even started yet, and you’re already thinking about tomorrow’s match? I’m a little disappointed.”

“…Disappointed?”

Adela tilted her head at my disappointed expression and tone.

“You’re not even interested in my match? Okay. I get it.”

“…Huh?”

Adela’s pupils widened in panic.

“No, that’s not what I meant… I thought you would definitely win today’s match, so…”

Adela fidgeted, making excuses that weren’t really excuses.

Her eyes were slightly trembling, and her hands didn’t know where to go.

After spending time with Senior Jin Heeyoon, her emotions have become quite visible on her face.

“It’s okay. I understand, so you don’t have to make excuses.”

“But it’s not an excuse…”

The reaction is quite something.

She’s not as good as the super-luxury punching bag Sunchan, but Adela has her own charm when it comes to teasing.

This vivid reaction.

It’s refreshing every time I see it.

“…You’re teasing me again, aren’t you?”

Was it because of Adela’s vivid reaction that I couldn’t help but laugh?

Or is it because Adela’s intuition has improved due to the recent increase in teasing?

Adela glared at me with a fierce look.

“Ah, I got caught.”

I grinned mischievously and played it off. Adela’s gaze intensified.

It was Adela’s own silent protest.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to. I won’t do it again next time.”

“…You know that’s the fourth time you’ve said that, right?”

I’ve been teasing Adela a lot lately.

It’s just a small joke like today’s, but Adela’s pure reactions to these light jokes are so funny that I can’t help but keep teasing her.

It’s a different flavor from Sunchan, so it’s very refreshing.

“This time, I really mean it.”

“That’s the second time you’ve said that too.”

“Ahem.”

I cleared my throat appropriately.

“Ah. More than that, Adela. Do you know anything about the Crest of the Summit?”

Then, I immediately changed the subject.

It’s best to avoid unfavorable topics.

“You’re changing the subject again… The Crest of the Summit?”

Adela, who was about to call me out on the obviously awkward change of topic, seemed intrigued by the new topic. She eagerly took the bait of the Crest of the Summit.

“Why do you ask?”

This pure side is so Adela-like. That’s why I can’t stop teasing her.

I’m sorry to Adela for saying that.

“If it’s a magic stone, it’s related to the Mystic Society, and if it’s the Mystic Society, it’s related to magic stones. I was wondering if there’s any information in the Mystic Society’s database.”

“Hmm… Just a moment.”

Adela manipulated her phone with a serious expression.

She was searching the Mystic Society’s database for information about the Crest of the Summit.

“It might take a while. Such special magic stones might be recorded under different names.”

“It’s okay. It’s not that urgent.”

“Okay. Then I’ll look for it slowly.”

“Okay. I’ll leave it to you.”

I dragged my finger across the phone screen, watching Adela gather information, and recalled what Mimir had said last night.

‘Based on the information and appearance written here, I can’t say for sure. But if this is the magic stone I know, then it’s certain. The Black Magic Tower’s target is this Crest of the Summit.’

‘Of course, it might not be. It could be another magic stone that looks similar. And there’s no guarantee that the magic stone still exists.’

‘So, Successor. Gather some information about the Crest of the Summit. I need to know if that magic stone is the one I know or not.’

‘If it’s the magic stone I know…’

Finally.

Mimir said with a serious expression.

‘That magic stone must never fall into their hands.’

‘Never.’

* * *

—Indeed, the last three survivors are! Shin Hayul, Sarah Ceylon, and Maia Nerontia! As expected, a close battle is unfolding!

The Magic Quiz Battle was nearing its end.

Five of the eight finalists had been eliminated, leaving only three.

Korea, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

—In this fierce battle where the outcome is uncertain. The final round, Round 3, begins.

Round 3.

As it’s a match that combines quizzes and battles, the final round is where the real competition begins.

This round is the highlight of the Magic Quiz Battle.

“It’s quite something to watch? Seeing it live, even this static match is pretty good.”

In a corner of the audience seats. A man smiled brightly, looking very pleased with the boisterous atmosphere.

“Above all, this festival-like atmosphere. Khee. I can’t resist it.”

What would happen if I released all the monsters in this place?

It would definitely be a more magnificent festival.

Ah, I want to see it. I want to see it!

The man licked his lips while having such insane thoughts.

—Parade. I’m warning you just in case, don’t do anything foolish.

A voice came from the wireless earphone the man was wearing on one ear.

It was the voice of Tkisch, an executive of the Black Magic Tower.

“I won’t. Even if it’s me, I’m not bold enough to disobey his orders.”

The short hair styled with scratches and the sharp eyes were nowhere to be seen, replaced by a blonde foreigner with an ordinary impression that could be seen anywhere on the street.

Parade was currently disguised using Tkisch’s transformation magic.

—How’s the situation?

“Situation? I don’t think there’s any need to say it. It’s as expected. The security is swarming.”

Parade scanned the surroundings.

“Oh. There are 7-circle mages, one, two, three. Roughly counting, there are more than five.”

The security is not just strict, it’s brutal.

“There’s a tamer over there too. Khee, I want to have a go at them.”

—Parade.

“I know. I was just saying. Geez, you won’t even let me talk.”

Parade grumbled.

He was getting tired of Tkisch’s constant nagging.

—Do you think that’s enough security?

“No. It’s still far from enough. At least 1.5 times more security is needed here for the operation to go smoothly.”

He said something meaningless, that the security needed to be increased, when it should be that there was too much security.

—I see. It seems that the security team’s attack wasn’t enough to raise their awareness.

“Ugh. These old fogeys. Why aren’t they quickly concentrating the security here?”

Parade picked his ear as if he was very annoyed.

“In the past, when the Black Magic Tower was going to attack! All the forces of that country would gather. I don’t know how the Black Magic Tower’s status has fallen so low.”

Ugh, tsk tsk.

Parade clicked his tongue.

“What did Shadow say?”

—The security at the Third Magic Stone Warehouse is still the same. He says that the operation is impossible unless we draw more security there.

“I knew it.”

Parade chuckled, pleased that his prediction was correct.

“So what should we do? Should we just flip everything over now? Release the monsters? Then these guys will come to their senses and concentrate all the security here, right?”

—Calm down. If you do that, the Olympiad itself will be suspended, and the Crest of the Summit, which has finally come out to the Third Magic Stone Warehouse, will return to the deepest warehouse.

If the Olympiad is suspended, the MVP award ceremony will also disappear.

Then, since there will be no one to give the MVP prize to, the Crest of the Summit will naturally return to the First Magic Stone Warehouse. The deepest warehouse located in the US military’s top-secret military facility.

That must not happen.

“Then what should we do? Should we just attack the security team or the management committee again? If we just kill them all this time…”

—No. Judging by the scale of the event, that’s not enough.

Even though we used hints, the response was only this much, so it seems difficult to gather more security with anything less than a major incident.

—This time, we’ll target someone more important.

“Important?”

—Yes. Anyone will do, but it would be better if they have high levels of skill and high social status.

“Ah. So you’re going to make them feel a real sense of urgency. Not bad.”

Parade stroked his chin and grinned. It was a method he quite liked.

“Then either you or I will have to move this time.”

—That’s right.

Only executives can deal with high-level mages above the 7th circle. Either Parade or Tkisch must move for this task.

“Then I’ll do it.”

Parade stretched his neck from side to side. The cracking sounds were refreshing.

“I was getting restless anyway. This is perfect.”

—Okay. Then I’ll leave it to you.

“What? Why aren’t you saying anything?”

I thought you would say that you can’t trust me, so you’ll do it yourself, or that you’ll leave it to me, but be careful. I thought you would nag me with all sorts of things.

He’s surprisingly cool.

—There’s no reason to. Even if it’s anything else, I can trust you when it comes to combat.

Tkisch hates everything about Parade, but he acknowledges his combat abilities.

Parade is perfect for this kind of task.

“What? I thought you were just a stubborn guy, but you actually know a thing or two. Hehehe.”

Parade laughed as if he was in a good mood.

“The target doesn’t matter, right?”

—Yes. Anyone will do as long as they meet the conditions I mentioned earlier.

“Is that so?”

Parade narrowed his eyes and looked around.

Who would be good? Who should I take care of to make it known that I did a good job?

“Oh.”

Then, he suddenly noticed a huge mass of mana beyond the glass window in the distance.

“Tkisch. You said it would be better if they had a high social status, right?”

—Yes.

“Then he’s perfect.”

Beyond the glass window, two people were watching the match in the VVIP room.

Shin Inhyuk and Kim Kangin.

“I didn’t like how he kept picking fights with me anyway.”

Parade twisted his lips, looking at Kim Kangin among them.