The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 107

About 100km away from the 3rd Mana Stone Warehouse, in the lawless district.

Within a building that was little more than ruins, a massive shadow loomed.

A shadow even darker within the pitch-black darkness where not a single ray of light penetrated.

The shadow resembled a temple.

“Ah, that was fun,” Parade’s voice echoed from inside the temple, filled with elation and joy.

“Aren’t you disappointed? The losses are quite significant,” Shadow’s voice followed.

At the same time, the shadow temple crumbled in an instant, revealing the three executives.

“Losses? Fenrir and Gigantos?”

“Yes. Weren’t they your favorites?”

“They were my favorites. It’s a shame.”

The out-of-rank disaster-class monsters, Fenrir and Gigantos. Both were monsters that Parade cherished quite a bit.

Losing them was a bit heartbreaking.

“But, oh well, it’s fine. There are plenty of other monsters to replace them.”

However, the disappointment was fleeting.

Parade’s eyes gleamed with desire.

Which monster should he capture and tame next? His eyes were filled with such anticipation.

“Therefore, I’ll pass my duties to someone else for a while. I think I’ll need to be in Greenland for about a month.”

“This time it’s Greenland instead of Africa?”

“Yeah. I’m tired of the monsters in Africa. I’ve already captured them all once.”

Africa and Greenland.

Both were known as lands of death, the lands of monsters.

“And there’s one I haven’t tamed in Greenland. Since Fenrir and Gigantos died, I have some extra mana for control. I’m going to sneak over and catch it.”

“…You failed to tame a monster?”

“Yeah. You’ll be surprised when you see it. Look forward to it. It’s a really amazing one.”

Parade grinned, revealing his teeth.

“Once I catch it, I’ll kill James Pillar right away. It also happens to have absolute fire resistance.”

He smiled like a child with a new toy, thinking of the Red Magic Tower Master who had burned Fenrir and Gigantos to ashes.

“Ah, I shouldn’t forget the Blue Magic Tower Master either. I’m already looking forward to it.”

How else should he play around?

Parade’s maniacal obsession was directed towards the two Magic Tower Masters.

“Then, I’m going.”

Just as Parade was about to leave.

“Wait. The next course of action hasn’t been decided yet.”

“Is there even a next course of action? We failed. We should retreat.”

If a mission fails, retreat immediately.

Furthermore, erase witnesses and evidence to conceal the mission, and eliminate captured members to focus on destroying evidence.

This was the basic guideline of the Black Magic Tower.

“Normally, we would retreat, but this mission was so important that three executives were mobilized. We might not retreat yet.”

“Hmm. That’s a valid point.”

The fact that three executives were deployed meant that this mission was very important. As important as the mission was, there was a good chance that the operation would be resumed.

“But I don’t have many monsters left that I can use for additional operations?”

Parade had used all his monsters in the battle just now.

Even if the operation were to resume, he wouldn’t be of much help.

“Hmm…”

Shadow stroked his chin.

Parade without monsters. He would be more of a hindrance than a help.

That thought naturally came to mind.

“Well, even if an order comes down, I’ll tame some nearby monsters or do something…”

Parade scratched his ear with a reluctant expression.

“Whatever it is, we’ll have to wait until the order comes down.”

Parade sprawled out on the sofa with a look of utter annoyance.

Then, he clasped his hands behind his neck and twisted it this way and that. Perhaps it was because he had overexerted himself in today’s battle, but his body felt stiff all over.

“But why has he been looking so serious since earlier?”

While stretching his neck, Parade pointed his chin at Tukiish.

“He failed not only the main mission but also the sub-mission, so he must be having a headache.”

“Sub-mission failure? He couldn’t kill Shin Hayul again?”

Parade curled up the corners of his mouth and jumped up from the sofa.

“Isn’t he the first executive to fail the same mission three times? What a moron? Shouldn’t he be removed from his executive position at this point?”

Then, he stood in front of Tukiish and smiled with the most obnoxious expression.

“You’re really embarrassing the executives. Hey. Aren’t you ashamed?”

“…Shut up.”

Tukiish glared at Parade with a face like a demon.

Genuine murderous intent.

In his current mood, he could cut Parade in half, even if they were fellow executives.

“Oh. You’re putting on a tough act. But you’re still just a loser who’s embarrassing the executives.”

Parade’s murderous intent intensified. He was very displeased that a guy who always acted so high and mighty had failed the same mission three times.

“Just go die. Moron.”

“…”

The murderous intent of the two intensified.

It was an atmosphere where something could happen at any moment.

Shadow sighed deeply, as if he was utterly annoyed.

Hoping that he would never have to work with these two again, he stepped between them.

And just as he was about to mediate.

“…!”

“…!”

The atmosphere inside the building changed completely.

The air trembled like a blade.

The earth trembled as if it were terrified.

The mana that filled the space became docile, as if it had surrendered.

Thud, thud!

The three executives simultaneously knelt and bowed their heads.

At that moment, a massive darkness appeared before the three executives.

A being that seemed to have crystallized all the evil in the world, a being that seemed to have embodied all the hatred in the world.

“Raise your heads.”

The Black Magic King.

Only his eyes shone even darker in the darkness.

“I will now issue new orders.”

His gaze was that of an absolute being, as if he had the world at his feet.

A heavy and sharp aura that one could not even dare to look up at.

The Black Magic King spoke in a low voice.

“Erase all traces and retreat. We will abandon the Philosopher’s Stone.”

* * *

The hotel, now a ruin where not even the shape of the building remained due to the attack.

I was searching through the asphalt debris, clearing it away with magic.

It wasn’t that I was looking for missing people.

What I was looking for was the magic vault.

The magic vault where I had stored the Book of Idred and the Book of Mimir.

‘It should be around here…’

Since it was the highest-grade magic vault, it would never be damaged.

It must be buried somewhere around here. With that conviction, I thoroughly searched the area near where my room had been.

As I was frantically clearing away the asphalt pieces with magic.

“Young Master! I’ve found it!” One of the shadow members who was helping me search shouted from the opposite side.

I quickly ran towards that member.

“48791D9M-DYH48NC. It’s here.”

The member called out the identification code written on the back of the magic vault.

I checked the code as soon as I received it.

“That’s right. It’s mine.”

This was indeed my magic vault.

I quickly placed the vault on the ground and moved my mana.

Using my mana as a fingerprint, I deactivated the first security measure, and then the additional security measures.

Squeak, clunk!

The magic vault opened completely, revealing the two books and the artifact ‘Four Seasons’ that were stored inside.

“Fortunately, the artifact seems to be safe,” Min Jangyeon, the squad leader of the Shadow, who had arrived after me, let out a sigh of relief.

He seemed relieved that the S-class artifact, Four Seasons, was intact.

“What are the two books next to it?”

“They’re just books that I cherish.”

I put the box containing Four Seasons in my arms and held the two books in my embrace.

“I see. That’s what it is.”

What did he see in my appearance? Min Jangyeon smiled meaningfully.

“If they’re that important, you should put them in here. It’s a magic bag used during missions.”

Min Jangyeon took off the bag he was carrying on his back and handed it to me.

It was a professional backpack known for its top-notch security and durability.

“Thank you.”

I received the backpack and put the two books inside.

I also put the Four Seasons storage box that I had put in the inner pocket.

‘Whew. I feel a bit relieved now.’

As the Book of Mimir and the Book of Idred returned to my arms, I couldn’t help but sigh in relief.

If I had lost these, ugh. I don’t even want to think about it. It’s terrible.

‘I should think of a better way to store these two books.’

A way that would ensure they would never be stolen, with no risk of loss or damage, and that I could take out and look at anytime. Is there such a way?

‘Since the Red Magic Tower is the best when it comes to these kinds of security magic equipment, I should ask the Red Magic Tower Master about it later.’

No, I should ask Mimir first. There might be a special way of storing items or magic unique to the Vaiterners.

“Young Master. Then, may we proceed with the treatment now?” Min Jangyeon held up a first aid kit in front of my eyes.

It was a loaded question.

“…Haha. Yes.”

Earlier.

I had refused treatment, saying that finding the magic vault was more important than treating my injuries.

Min Jangyeon had begged me to get treatment first, saying that they would do the search, but I didn’t listen.

It was natural.

The Book of Idred and the Book of Mimir were much more important than treating these scratches.

But from Min Jangyeon’s perspective, who was in charge of my protection, he must have been going crazy. It was natural that his words were loaded.

“Next time, I would appreciate it if you could just get treatment first.”

“…Yes.”

Min Jangyeon began to treat my wounds indifferently. He disinfected them with disinfectant, applied ointment to the bruised areas, and then used light magic to activate the cells.

Finally, he finished all the treatment by applying bandages and wrapping them.

“That’s it. If you rest well for a day, there won’t be any scars left.”

“Thank you.”

As the Shadow’s mission included escorting, they seemed to be skilled in these kinds of first aid treatments.

“Then, let’s move to the hotel where the head of the family is staying.”

“No. There’s still something I haven’t found. I need to find the valuables of my seniors and instructors. I’ll move after that.”

“We’ll find the rest. So please, Young Master…” Min Jangyeon said with a pleading expression. An expression that showed he wanted me to disappear from this place as soon as possible.

Since it was a place where an attack had occurred, he must have been anxious about me staying here.

“Okay. Then I’ll leave the rest to Min Jangyeon and go to the hotel where my father is staying first.”

“Ah, thank you.”

Min Jangyeon breathed a sigh of relief.

“And there should be an old robe around here. You must find that too.”

Ray Bell Vaitern’s robe.

I haven’t found my teacher’s robe yet. I have to find it.

“Ah. You’re talking about the ancient artifact we received in relation to the Baekga incident.”

“You know about it.”

“Yes. I was the one who processed the removal.”

“Ah.”

It was Min Jangyeon who had taken out my teacher’s robe from the vault.

“I didn’t know you would bring such an expensive thing all the way here… Anyway, I understand. Since it’s an expensive item, I will definitely find it.”

“Yes. Please do.”

I bowed my head slightly to Min Jangyeon and turned my body.

“Ah, I’ll guide you to the limousine.”

Min Jangyeon quickly stood next to me.

“This way.”

I followed Min Jangyeon’s guidance and headed to the road where the limousine was waiting.

“Was the 3rd Mana Stone Warehouse well taken care of?”

“Um. The bodies of the fallen were recovered, and the injured were also transported. The site has so many monster corpses that it will take a while to finish.”

“Was it 737 in total?”

“If you include the monsters that the head of the family completely erased, it’s well over 1300.”

“A monster tamer who handles over a thousand monsters, and even out-of-rank disaster-class monsters. That’s going to be a headache.”

“Yes. The international terrorist organizations are already in an uproar. They’re asking how to stop his terrorism.”

“…The world will become more chaotic.”

Parade, Shadow, Tukiish.

I’m already worried about what kind of aftermath the appearance of these three executives will bring.

“Then, what happened to The Fist?”

“Ah, that guy is currently being interrogated by Kim Seokhyun…”

At that moment, my phone, which Min Jangyeon was holding, vibrated.

“It’s a call from the head of the family.”

Min Jangyeon quickly handed me the phone.

[Father]

The three-syllable word ‘Father’ was displayed on the cracked screen.

I answered the phone immediately.

-I heard the voice recording file you sent.

My father’s voice was filled with great anger.

-Jihan or Se-ah. Which one is it?

In my entire life, this was the first time I had heard my father’s voice so terrifying.