The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 115

“With this, all the preliminary matches for the individual battles have concluded!” The commentator announced the end of today’s matches, and the spectators were leaving the stadium in small groups.

“I’m already looking forward to the quarterfinals starting tomorrow.”

“It’s an all-star game, after all. It’s a bit of a shame that Shin Hayul isn’t in the lineup, though.”

The caster and commentator exchanged words, wrapping up the broadcast.

“I’m not disappointed that Shin Hayul isn’t here. If Shin Hayul had participated, we wouldn’t have been able to see Adela Steart’s performance.”

“Ah, that’s true.”

The commentator grabbed the microphone, looking quite excited.

“Today, Adela’s performance was nearly perfect. I never dreamed she would overwhelm the German team representative to this extent!”

“Could it be that Adela, like Shin Hayul, was hiding her strength?”

“Well, I wouldn’t rule out that possibility. If they didn’t include her in the Battle Survival to control information, it would make sense.”

The commentator quickly scanned the documents from the previous match and continued.

“Then why hide her strength?”

“It’s a simple reason.”

The commentator, having quickly reviewed all the documents, replied with a confident expression.

“From the start, the Korean team’s goal wasn’t just to win the gold medal.”

“If the gold medal isn’t the goal, then what is?”

“A new record.”

The commentator’s arm tingled with goosebumps.

“From the beginning, Korea’s goal was to break all the previous Olympiad records.”

The gold medal was a given.

Korea was aiming for something higher.

“Is that even possible?”

“Usually, it’s impossible, but if that weren’t the case, there would be no need to hide Adela’s abilities.”

From the start, Korea had aimed for victory in all seven events and to break the record.

To achieve that, they hid Adela Steart’s strength.

Hiding her in Shin Hayul’s shadow, so that no one would mark her.

And then, in the individual battles, she would finally reveal her prowess, driving a wedge into the unguarded opponents.

That’s probably how the Korean team’s strategy went.

“…If that’s the case, it’s terrifying. To have planned everything out from the beginning.”

“It is terrifying. If we feel this way, how must the teams facing Korea and Shin Hayul feel?”

“…It must be dreadful.”

The caster shuddered.

It was dreadful just imagining it.

“Whatever the case, tomorrow’s match will be the highlight of this Olympiad.”

“That’s right. The outcome of tomorrow’s match will change the history of the Olympiad.”

Currently, Korea has won four events.

And Shin Hayul has two remaining opportunities to participate.

In the remaining Open Raid and Labyrinth Exploration, Shin Hayul will likely win.

That means, if Adela wins the individual battles, the Korean team will make a new mark in the history of the Olympiad with seven event victories.

Therefore, tomorrow is the highlight.

Tomorrow’s match will decide everything.

“I’m already looking forward to it. If Korea intentionally hid Adela’s abilities, it means that Adela’s skills are at a level where she can compete with Dahlia and Kyle.”

They hid her abilities because they were confident she could win the individual battles.

In other words, if Adela’s abilities were intentionally hidden, it means that Adela possesses skills similar to Kyle and Dahlia.

“I wonder what kind of match will unfold tomorrow. What is Adela’s true strength? The outcome is highly anticipated.”

As the commentator continued his closing remarks…

“…”

“…”

In the hallway connecting the player waiting rooms, a cold and awkward atmosphere had settled.

“Commentator Raymond is saying all that. What do you think?”

Dahlia Salentia.

“Was their goal really to set a new record from the start?”

Kyle Bentia.

“…”

And Adela Steart.

These three had coincidentally met in the hallway.

“Why aren’t you answering? I’m asking if Korea’s goal from the beginning was to break the record.”

Dahlia spoke through gritted teeth, her frustration evident.

Her frustration was understandable.

If the commentator was right, it meant that Korea considered winning the gold medal a given.

In other words, they didn’t even consider Britain and the United States as rivals.

It was only natural to be annoyed.

“A record renewal as the goal… It’s like Hayul, but it does hurt my pride a little.”

This was the same for Kyle.

As much as he considered Shin Hayul a rival, the fact that he wasn’t even considered a proper competitor was a huge blow to his pride.

“…”

Under the intense gaze of the two, Adela was internally panicking.

‘…I didn’t hide my abilities or anything.’

The commentator’s words were all nonsense.

He was completely wrong.

Adela didn’t hide her abilities; her skills had suddenly increased yesterday.

The growth was so significant that everyone was just assuming she had been hiding her abilities.

‘And they weren’t aiming to break the record from the start either.’

Korea’s goal was solely to win the gold medal.

They hadn’t even considered breaking the record. They didn’t have the luxury to do so in the first place.

It was just that Shin Hayul’s skills had suddenly increased, bringing the record renewal closer.

“Okay. Not denying it means it’s true, right?”

Silence meant agreement.

Being so silent meant agreement.

In reality, she was just keeping silent because she had no way to deny it due to reasons like leaking strategies.

“Fine. Interesting. Very interesting.”

Dahlia glared at Adela with the vicious eyes of a wild panther.

“I will never lose to you.”

Then, with eyes burning with competitive spirit, she turned and walked towards her waiting room.

“I have one more reason why I can’t lose.”

Kyle was the same.

With the expression of a beast whose pride had been wounded, he muttered and turned around.

“I hope we meet in the quarterfinals tomorrow.”

He glared coldly at Adela, half-turned, before walking to his waiting room.

“…”

Left alone, Adela stared blankly at the backs of the two as they walked away.

‘I just didn’t answer to prevent leaking information about the elixir and strategies, but…’

She felt like she had become the bad guy.

* * *

After that.

I left the messy room behind and was assigned a new room.

I took the two books and artifacts carefully stored in the magic vault and moved to the new room.

‘It’s a bit inconvenient without my phone.’

I still haven’t found my phone.

It must be buried somewhere in the mess of the room. I’ll probably find it by tomorrow.

The durability of modern smartphones is such that they can even stop bullets, so there’s no worry about it being broken.

If I keep cleaning, I’ll find it eventually. I just need to wait quietly.

‘Then, I’ll set the alarm magic again…’

I cast a spell that would make the Mimir’s Grimoire [a magical book] vibrate, linked to the doorbell.

‘Done.’

Now I’ll know immediately if someone visits the room.

Immediately after that, I went straight into the Mimir’s Grimoire.

“Welcome.”

Mimir greeted me.

It was unusual for him not to be reading a book.

“You came at the exact time I expected.”

It seemed he had predicted how long it would take me to weave the Ring of Truth [a magical artifact].

That’s why he had closed his book.

Mimir approached me with a faint smile.

Then, he placed his hand on my chest.

“The Ring of Truth. It’s perfectly in place.”

Then, he tapped my chest lightly.

“Congratulations. You’re finally a 5th Circle user.”

“Thank you.”

Mimir smiled brightly.

“Now, you’re really close to becoming a 5th Circle Master.”

“I guess so.”

“Quickly pass the fifth trial page. Then I’ll resolve everything you’re curious about.”

When I become a 5th Circle Master, Mimir’s restrictions will be lifted.

There will be nothing he can’t tell me, and he’ll be able to reveal everything.

Real magic.

The Master’s robe.

The Veil Stole [a magical garment].

And so on.

I’ll be able to find out about the things I’ve been constantly wondering about.

“Okay. I’ll pass it as quickly as possible, even if it’s just out of curiosity.”

“Yes. As the Successor, you’ll be able to pass it quickly.”

Mimir looked at me with kind eyes.

“Then, as they say, strike while the iron is hot. Shall I bring out the books on how to use the Ring of Truth?”

“Not yet. There’s something I want to ask before that.”

“Something you want to ask?”

“It’s about Adela.”

“Why Adela Steart? Did something happen after she consumed the Grace of God [a powerful elixir]?”

“Well. I don’t know if I should call it a problem…”

“?”

Mimir tilted his head as if asking what I meant.

“I thought the adaptation period for consuming the Grace of God was at most 12 hours?”

“Yes.”

“But it’s said that it took Adela about 15 hours and 30 minutes to finish her mana circulation after consuming the Grace of God.”

“…15 hours and 30 minutes?”

Mimir’s eyes widened.

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah. I’m sure.”

“Then that’s an incredible talent. 15 hours…”

Mimir clicked his tongue.

“If that’s true, then the Successor has gained a truly amazing helper. Even in my time, there was only one mage with that level of talent.”

“Who was that one person?”

“Someone you know.”

“If it’s someone I know…”

There are only two people from the past that I know.

Ray Bell Bytenner.

And Elena Lo Greenwood.

Among them, the Master’s talent would be on a higher level.

That leaves…

“Lady Elena?”

By process of elimination, it must be Lady Elena.

“That’s right. It’s Elena.”

It was indeed Lady Elena.

“Elena didn’t consume the Grace of God, but if she had, it would have taken her well over 15 hours. She was the most talented person Ray acknowledged.”

I nodded, recalling Lady Elena’s prowess when she easily toyed with Drake in the past.

“If the Grace of God had existed in that era, and Elena had consumed it, she might have been able to exchange a few blows with Ray.”

“Is exchanging a few blows a big deal?”

“It is a big deal. At the time, Elena couldn’t even withstand one blow.”

“…Not even one blow?”

My pupils dilated.

That Lady Elena couldn’t withstand even one blow.

“Ray’s power was that extraordinary.”

“I see.”

I need to re-evaluate my Master once again.

He wasn’t flying in the sky, but in the universe.

“Anyway, Adela Steart has become that great of a mage.”

A talent that could surpass Lady Elena.

“And that mage of the highest caliber has become your absolute ally. The Successor’s luck is something to be admired. How did such a genius end up right next to you?”

Mimir clicked his tongue again.

“So, there’s nothing to worry about, right?”

“Yes. There’s nothing to worry about.”

Mimir affirmed.

“Okay. That’s good.”

I was worried that something might have happened after she took the elixir I gave her.

Fortunately, that wasn’t the case.

I was relieved.

“Then, no more questions? Shall I bring the books about the Ring of Truth?”

Just as Mimir was getting up from his seat.

“No. Sorry, but I have one more question.”

“Still more? What is it?”

“It’s about the Book of Idred.”

“About the Book of Idred… Ah. You looked at it before coming here.”

Mimir sat back down, looking like he had realized something.

“You’re talking about the Book of Idred’s update, right?”

“Yeah.”

The Book of Idred is structured so that new pages are updated whenever I achieve something.

When I became a 3rd Circle, it was updated to page 81.

When I became a 4th Circle, it was updated to page 140.

And this time, when I became a 5th Circle, it was updated to page 220.

And after page 220, it’s all trial pages with magic circles drawn on them.

That means.

“There’s no information about after the 6th Circle in the Book of Idred?”

It meant that there was no information about after the 6th Circle in the Book of Idred.