The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 110

Meanwhile, at that time, in the hotel room where Shin Inhyuk was staying, Shin Inhyuk and Kim Seokhyun were talking.

“The Fist’s goal isn’t exactly to be transferred to Hwaelian Prison, but rather, after being transferred there, to make a plea bargain in exchange for providing information about the Black Magic Tower, I believe,” Kim Seokhyun stated.

“A plea bargain, huh? The US government would likely accept that,” Shin Inhyuk replied.

Since the US is desperate for information about the Black Magic Tower, they are likely to accept The Fist’s deal.

“Yes. A complete release would be difficult, but they will at least allow him to live like a human being,” Kim Seokhyun explained.

The prisons where heinous criminals like The Fist are held are prisons in name only; they are practically hell.

They have to live 24 hours a day wearing those restraints, and their meals are replaced with automatically administered nutritional supplements. They are alive in name only, practically in a state worse than death.

The Fist knows that too.

That’s why he’s proposing this plea bargain, at least to escape that living hell.

“Whatever the case, it’s a benefit for us. If we just safely transfer one criminal, we’ll get information about the Black Magic Tower,” Kim Seokhyun concluded.

Shin Inhyuk nodded slightly at Kim Seokhyun’s words. He was well aware that there was no loss for him in this matter. However, there was one thing he was curious about.

“Why did The Fist specifically make that offer to Hayul?” Shin Inhyuk asked.

If he was going to make such an offer, there was no reason to specifically call out Shin Hayul. He could have done it with Kim Seokhyun, or even Shin Inhyuk. Rather, considering the neatness of the process, it would have been better to call Shin Inhyuk or the Tower Lords. The Fist would have known that, so why did he choose to specifically call Shin Hayul?

“I think he judged that there would be no one else besides Hayul who would choose to deactivate the barriers of the visiting room and the detention cell,” Kim Seokhyun replied, recalling The Fist’s appearance over the past three days.

“Even while I was guarding the visiting room, The Fist repeatedly made requests that could only be granted by deactivating the detention cell’s barrier. Of course, neither I nor anyone who came to the visiting room paid any attention to those requests,” Kim Seokhyun added.

“So he called Hayul?” Shin Inhyuk asked.

“Yes. I think he used Hayul to create the three-minute gap that occurs when the barriers of the visiting room and the detention cell are deactivated,” Kim Seokhyun confirmed.

“That’s plausible,” Shin Inhyuk conceded. His eyes flashed sharply.

“Has it been confirmed that the loophole in the prison’s CCTV settings is real?” Shin Inhyuk asked.

“Yes. I checked immediately, and it was true. As The Fist said, there was no video footage in the main control room for the three minutes immediately after the barriers of the visiting room and the detention cell were deactivated,” Kim Seokhyun replied.

Shin Inhyuk’s brow furrowed.

“Does that mean there’s a black magician among the real prison guards?” he wondered.

“It may not be among the prison guards, but it seems that someone, such as a construction worker or a security personnel, is a villain affiliated with the Black Magic Tower,” Kim Seokhyun speculated.

“…….” Shin Inhyuk’s expression became even more serious. If what The Fist said was true, then this isn’t the only prison with such a loophole. If other prisons also have this setting, then this is a bigger problem than he thought.

“Even to get information about the spy or the special settings of other prisons, we must safely transfer him to Hwaelian Prison,” Shin Inhyuk stated.

“Yes. His information has become crucial in many ways,” Kim Seokhyun agreed.

“It would be nice to get the information now, though,” Shin Inhyuk muttered.

“He will never tell. Information about the Black Magic Tower is currently his only lifeline. He’s not the type to give that away first,” Kim Seokhyun replied.

“……I guess not,” Shin Inhyuk conceded. The Fist isn’t stupid enough to carelessly let go of his lifeline. He won’t say a word until he’s transferred to Hwaelian Prison.

“How is the transfer process going?” Shin Inhyuk asked.

“It’s progressing quickly, but since the transfer location is none other than Hwaelian Prison…” Kim Seokhyun trailed off. As the most secure prison in the world, the process is bound to take a long time.

“The government is aware of the urgency, so it might end a little faster… Considering that the security forces gathered for the Olympiad will also be mobilized for the transfer, it seems better to transfer him after the competition ends,” Kim Seokhyun explained. This is not just Kim Seokhyun’s opinion, but also the opinion of the US government and each magic tower. Everyone is planning to transfer The Fist after the closing ceremony of the Olympiad.

“……Okay,” Shin Inhyuk agreed. He also knows that it’s the most rational choice. It’s better to transfer him securely ten days later than to transfer him when the forces are vaguely dispersed. He knows that rationally.

“Is it because of Jihan, sir?” Kim Seokhyun asked, noticing Shin Inhyuk’s inner turmoil.

But not emotionally. Currently, Shin Inhyuk has obtained information that Shin Jihan is an internal collaborator. A direct descendant of the family is a VVIP of the Black Magic Tower. It’s a terrible situation where the entire Mado family could collapse if it’s not dealt with as soon as possible. In such a situation, it was natural to want to get information about the Black Magic Tower as soon as possible. That way, he could deal with Shin Jihan as soon as possible.

“……I apologize. Let’s end this conversation here,” Shin Inhyuk said, his voice strained.

Kim Seokhyun, seeing Shin Inhyuk’s serious expression, ended the conversation. There was no point in continuing this conversation now; it would only make things worse.

“Then, I’ll return to my mission now,” Kim Seokhyun said, getting up from his seat. Having completed all his reports, he was planning to return to his mission of guarding Shin Hayul.

“There’s no need to rush back too much,” Shin Inhyuk said, stopping Kim Seokhyun, who was about to leave the room. “That person is at the stadium today. The Black Magic Tower can’t harm Hayul or anyone else in that stadium.”

That person. Sophia Anetscheff. The world’s greatest mage. As long as she is there, the Olympiad stadium is the safest place in the world. Kim Seokhyun is well aware of that.

“Still, a mission is a mission. I’ll go back quickly,” Kim Seokhyun replied. But a mission is a mission. It’s his job to do his best in the mission he’s been assigned. Kim Seokhyun bowed his head slightly.

Shin Inhyuk chuckled as he looked at Kim Seokhyun.

“Your tendency to go out of your way to suffer is still the same,” he said. He couldn’t help but laugh at Kim Seokhyun’s consistent behavior over the past 20 years. That’s why Shin Inhyuk can’t help but trust Kim Seokhyun.

“Then, I’ll be going now…” Just as Kim Seokhyun was about to leave the room, his phone rang.

Buzz-!

It was a text message from Min Janghyun. Kim Seokhyun immediately checked the text.

“……” And at that moment, his eyes widened.

“This, it seems like I can go late after all,” Kim Seokhyun said, laughing blankly with a dazed expression. Shin Inhyuk, seeing Kim Seokhyun, asked, “What’s wrong?”

“It seems like I won’t be able to meet Hayul-doryeonim [a respectful term for a young master] even if I go right now,” Kim Seokhyun replied, handing his phone to Shin Inhyuk, showing him the text message that had just arrived.

[Currently, Ms. Sophia Anetscheff is having a private meeting with Hayul-doryeonim.]

“A private… meeting?” Shin Inhyuk’s pupils widened as much as they could.

* * *

I was sweating while making eye contact with the woman who was smiling with a benevolent face in front of me. The greatest archmage of this era, Sophia Anetscheff. I’m nervous. I’m so nervous that I don’t think I’ve ever been this nervous in my life.

“Don’t be so nervous. Just think of me as the old lady next door and feel comfortable,” Sophia Anetscheff said with a gentle smile.

“……Yes,” I replied, though the thought of her being just an old lady next door was absurd. Who in this world could think that way in front of this legendary archmage?

“Hmm. I don’t see any sign of your tension easing. What should I do…” Sophia-nim put her hand on her cheek and pondered for a moment with a worried expression. Then, with an expression that she had a good idea, she got up from her seat.

“Ah, shall we have some tea first?” With those words, she gracefully moved towards the shelf.

“No! It’s okay!” I quickly got up from my seat and stopped Sophia-nim.

“I’ll make the tea,” I insisted. Tea made by Sophia Anetscheff herself? Honestly, it’s a burden.

“It’s okay. Please sit down. It’s nothing for me to serve a cup of tea to a young junior,” Sophia-nim said, smiling with a benevolent expression like a compassionate Madonna. Her warmth was like the sunlight on a fine spring day.

“Come on, come on. Don’t feel burdened,” Sophia-nim gently pressed my shoulder. It was a touch that felt like it had no strength at all, but for some reason, I couldn’t resist it. I quietly sat down.

“Then, please wait a moment,” Sophia-nim began to brew tea with familiar movements. I was staring blankly at Sophia-nim’s profile. Elegant, noble, and refined. Every single movement was full of grace. The enormous aura she subtly emitted blended with her elegance and grace, creating a strange aura.

‘She’s amazing,’ I thought. She was just brewing tea, but that’s what I thought.

“Is it fascinating to see an old woman brewing tea?” Sophia-nim chuckled softly.

“Ah, no. It’s not that. It’s just… I thought you were amazing,” I replied.

“Oh my. Thank you, even if it’s just empty words,” Her smile brightened even more.

“Here you go. It’s my favorite tea, but I don’t know if it will suit your taste,” Sophia-nim, who had finished all the preparations, placed a teacup in front of me.

“Thank you,” I immediately brought the teacup to my lips. And the moment the tea entered my mouth, my eyes widened. This fragrance. This sweetness.

‘Elena-nim’s herbal tea…’ The herbal tea of Elena-nim that I tasted on the third trial page. The taste was so similar.

“It’s a herbal tea grown with mana in the forest. Does it suit your taste?” Sophia-nim asked.

“Yes,” I replied. Herbal tea grown with mana in the forest. Is that why? It smells strongly of Elena-nim.

‘The surrounding mana is also similar to Elena-nim,’ I thought. A gentle color. Perhaps it’s because it’s a herbal tea that grew with gentle mana that it has such a gentle taste.

“I’m glad that you seem to genuinely like it,” Sophia-nim smiled with an expression that she was in the best mood.

“Are you feeling less nervous now?” she asked.

“……Yes,” I replied. Perhaps it was thanks to the calming effect of the herbal tea. The strange trembling in my chest had completely subsided. I held the teacup in my hand and made eye contact with Sophia-nim.

Sophia-nim smiled brightly.

“You had a good expression before, but it’s much better now that your tension has disappeared. Your straight eyes, which convey a strong will. It’s exactly as I expected,” she said.

“Th, thank you,” I replied, putting down the teacup and bowing my head. Then, Sophia-nim also put her teacup on the table.

“Are you curious why I called you separately like this?” she asked.

“Yes,” I replied. Why would Sophia Anetscheff call me, a mere student with no connection to her, separately?

“Would you like to guess?” Sophia-nim smiled playfully. I made brief eye contact with Sophia-nim and slowly opened my mouth.

“Is it because of my eyes?” I asked. The eyes that are said to be similar to Sophia-nim’s jewel eyes. The Divine Eye. I wondered if she called me like this because she became interested in the owner of it.

“Yes. That’s correct,” Sophia-nim clapped her hands and added that it was the correct answer. “I really wanted to talk to a junior who has eyes similar to mine.”

Sophia-nim’s eyes, which were staring straight at my eyes, shone like jewels.

“Ah, I shouldn’t say similar eyes. Let me correct that,” she said. Her jewel-like eyes filled my retina.

“I really wanted to meet a junior who possesses the original of my jewel eyes.”

“……The original?” I asked, confused.

“Yes. The original,” she replied. My head tilted in confusion at the sudden words.

“You didn’t know? I thought you would know. Or, do you know but are pretending not to know?” Sophia-nim smiled brightly as if she found it interesting.

“My jewel eyes are just a degraded copy of a certain magic eye,” she explained.

“A degraded copy?” I asked, surprised.

Sophia-nim lifted her buttocks from the chair and reached out her hand to me.

“It’s not just the jewel eyes. All the magic eyes that exist in this world are degraded copies of a certain eye,” she said. Then, she stroked the area under my eyes with her thumb.

“The beginning and root of all magic eyes. The origin. The eyes of the great first archmage.”

“……!” My pupils widened in surprise.

“The magic eye that Ray Bell Bytenner possessed. The Divine Eye. A degraded copy of your eyes,” Sophia-nim smiled.

“I wanted to see what kind of person the junior with those eyes was.”