The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 121

The Rebirth of the Mythical Archmage-122

The next morning.

One hour before Adela’s match in the finals of the individual tournament.

I received an unexpected call.

[Sender: Secretary Jung Soo-ah]

[The Blue Magic Tower Lord has awakened.]

It was a message that the Blue Magic Tower Lord, who had been in a coma, had opened his eyes.

As soon as I received the call, I headed straight to the hospital.

After a 50-minute limousine ride, I arrived at the hospital where Kim Kang-in was hospitalized.

I called Secretary Jung Soo-ah from the lobby, went through the necessary procedures, and entered the intensive care unit where Kim Kang-in was being treated.

“Well, I guess I can say it’s been a while.”

Kim Kang-in, who was hooked up to all sorts of equipment, starting with an oxygen supply, greeted me with his trademark refreshing smile.

“Yes, it’s been a while.”

“Haha, it’s a strange feeling. It doesn’t feel like it’s been that long for me.”

He said, smiling wryly.

He had been in a coma since the hotel attack. It was only natural that it didn’t feel like it had been long.

“How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine. I’m well enough to be discharged right away.”

“……”

I silently scanned Kim Kang-in’s entire body.

More precisely, I was looking at all the medical devices Kim Kang-in was wearing.

“These are just testing devices. There’s nothing wrong with my body.”

“Is that right?”

I asked Secretary Jung Soo-ah, who was making a strange expression next to me.

“No. It’s a lie. They said it would take at least another two weeks to fully recover.”

Secretary Jung Soo-ah replied with a cold look.

“Soo-ah, you’re supposed to just say you’re okay in those situations.”

“Why lie when it’s going to be obvious anyway? There’s nothing more annoying than a sick person lying about being okay.”

Kim Kang-in was speechless at Secretary Jung Soo-ah’s firm words.

He had a look that said he had no rebuttal.

“Ahem.”

Kim Kang-in coughed awkwardly, looking embarrassed.

“Ah, right. Soo-ah, can you raise the bed a little?”

“Yes, I understand.”

Secretary Jung Soo-ah used the control terminal next to the bed to raise the angle of the bed.

As an ergonomic magic bed that changes its structure to fit an individual’s body type, it not only changed the angle but also the structure of the bed itself.

“Hoo. Thank you.”

Kim Kang-in, who looked comfortable, expressed his gratitude to Jung Soo-ah.

“You’re welcome.”

Jung Soo-ah stepped back again and took her place next to me.

“Ah, by the way, is it okay to visit at this time? Adela’s match starts in seven minutes, right?”

“It’s okay. I can watch the finals here with Kim Kang-in.”

I felt sorry for Adela, but visiting him was more important than cheering for the match.

He was the one who gave me the greatest strength to get this far.

How could cheering be more important when he had risen from his sickbed after ten days?

“You could have come after the match was over.”

Kim Kang-in smiled wryly. He seemed burdened that I prioritized visiting him over cheering for the finals.

“I wonder if I’m going to be resented by Adela. It’s like I’ve taken the team’s leader away before the most important match…”

“I’ve already asked Adela for her understanding, so you don’t have to worry about that. She’s not that kind of person anyway.”

“I guess so. Adela isn’t the type to hold such things in her heart.”

Kim Kang-in’s gaze subtly turned to Secretary Jung Soo-ah.

“…Why are you looking at me while saying that?”

Secretary Jung Soo-ah’s gaze turned cold.

Kim Kang-in was startled and quickly turned his gaze away.

“Ahem. More importantly, I heard you’re about to break a new record.”

“Yes. I was lucky.”

“Can you break a new record just by being lucky? It’s all thanks to Hayul’s skills.”

Kim Kang-in’s eyes were filled with pride and admiration.

He had every reason to be jealous, but I didn’t feel any of that emotion.

All I felt were positive emotions like joy and pleasure.

“If I hadn’t accepted Hayul’s proposal two months ago, I would have really regretted it.”

As the main sponsor of the Korean team, it was only natural that he was happy with the Korean team’s high performance.

“There was someone who was strongly opposed to it. If we had accepted that person’s words, it would have been a disaster.”

Kim Kang-in stared at Secretary Jung Soo-ah with a sly expression.

I could tell from that gaze.

It was clear that Secretary Jung Soo-ah was the one who had opposed the Olympics sponsorship to the end.

“……”

Secretary Jung Soo-ah’s expression turned sour again.

“…Yes. I failed to comprehend the wise insight of the Magic Tower Lord.”

Then, she said with a blunt expression.

“From now on, I will fully follow the wise Magic Tower Lord’s opinion. I should keep my subjective opinions to myself.”

“…Huh?”

Kim Kang-in was flustered by those words.

He had a look that said he hadn’t expected this.

“S-Soo-ah? You should still give your opinion…”

“What’s the point? You always do what you want after listening to everything anyway.”

A blunt poker face.

From her stiff face, which should not show any emotion, I could clearly see a hint of resentment.

It was obvious.

She was sulking.

“I’ll just remain a machine that processes documents. When I think about it, I’ve been a document processing machine all along. There’s not much difference.”

“No, Soo-ah. Just listen to me for a second.”

“Then, I have some unfinished documents to take care of, so I’ll go first. Please call me again if you need anything.”

“Soo-ah!”

Secretary Jung Soo-ah turned coldly and left the hospital room.

Kim Kang-in stared at the door of the hospital room where Secretary Jung Soo-ah had disappeared, with a bewildered expression.

“You must have had a hard time for ten days, and then you play such a prank…”

“Ugh.”

Speaking as a specialist in pranks, this time it was 100% Kim Kang-in’s fault.

There’s a time and place for pranks.

“I was just trying to lighten the mood…”

Kim Kang-in tried to say something but then sighed deeply.

“Hoo. I think I made a mistake. I need to apologize.”

“Yes. She’s just lightly sulking, so she’ll get over it soon.”

“Yes.”

Kim Kang-in smiled wryly again.

A strange silence flowed in the hospital room.

Woo-woong-!

At that moment, my phone vibrated.

[Alarm]

[AM 11:29]

The alarm I had set in advance to watch the match went off.

“I have a lot to say, but can we watch the finals first?”

“Ah. It was an alarm. Yes, of course. I’m also looking forward to the match.”

Kim Kang-in’s eyes sparkled with anticipation.

“Then, I’ll switch to hologram mode and broadcast it.”

“You don’t have to use your phone. You can turn on the TV through that terminal over there.”

“Ah. Yes, I understand.”

I put my phone back in my pocket and headed towards the terminal that Secretary Jung Soo-ah had been operating earlier.

Among the complicated buttons, there was an item called TV.

When I pressed the button, a large hologram screen appeared in the middle of the hospital room.

-Well, the countdown begins!

At the same time as the video was broadcast, the commentator’s excited voice echoed.

“Perfect timing.”

Kim Kang-in focused on the screen with sharp eyes.

[10, 9, 8]

The countdown began, and the faces of Adela and Dahlia were broadcast on the screen.

“What do you think the odds of winning are?”

The countdown was rapidly decreasing.

Mana was surging in the stadium.

“What percentage do you think it is, Kim Kang-in?”

[6, 5, 4]

The two women’s figures were broadcast on the screen in parallel, and the tension was rising.

“Well, objectively speaking, maybe about 30%?”

“You’re giving her a very high rating.”

“Considering the strategy Hayul has prepared, I thought it would be about 30%. Even with the difference in circles [referring to the level of magic].”

“You think highly of my strategy.”

“Of course. I’ve seen what you’re capable of.”

[3, 2, 1]

Blue flames surged in the stadium, and moonlight coiled around it.

The two women were fully prepared for battle.

“How is it? Is that the correct answer?”

“No. It’s the wrong answer.”

[Start!]

Beep-!

At the same time as the bell rang, signaling the start of the match, the two simultaneously fired magic.

A clash of blue flames and moonlight.

Everyone would expect the moonlight to lose.

“The win rate we have concluded for Adela is…”

But contrary to everyone’s expectations, it was not Dahlia’s blue flames that were overwhelming, but Adela’s moonlight.

“100%.”

The moonlight quickly devoured the blue flames, as if judging everything.

The audience erupted in cheers at the dreamlike and fantastic sight.

“…Moonlight?”

Kim Kang-in widened his eyes and muttered. He had a look that said he wasn’t sure if what he had just seen was real.

“How did Adela use Moonlight…”

Moonlight.

A 5th circle magic among the moon attribute magic that Shinbiwiga boasts.

“Has Adela also reached the 5th circle?”

“Yes.”

The massive torrent of moonlight that Moonlight emitted. A strange scene as if it were night, even though it was daytime.

I looked at the scene and answered quietly.

“Adela broke through the wall of enlightenment yesterday and became a 5th circle user.”

“…Oh my god.”

After glancing at Kim Kang-in’s completely dumbfounded profile, I focused my gaze back on the screen.

-Adela Stewart! She’s overwhelming!

-It’s a shock! It’s a shock!

Only the excited voices of the commentators and casters echoed in the hospital room.

* * *

Meanwhile, at that time in Korea.

Shin Ji-han’s room.

-The winner is Korea! Adela Stewart! The unbelievable has actually happened!

-Every match is truly legendary!

Shin Ji-han was sitting alone on the sofa, watching TV.

Tock, tock, tock.

The sound of Shin Ji-han’s index finger tapping the side of the chair rhythmically echoed.

Fast and rough, as if showing his anxious state of mind.

-Now, the record-breaking achievement is just around the corner!

-Ah. I’m feeling nervous!

The commentators and casters were excitedly exchanging words.

Shin Ji-han frowned as he looked at them.

At the same time, he threw the glass he was holding hard against the wall.

Bang! Crash!

The hard liquor glass hit the wall and shattered into pieces with a loud noise.

‘Shit.’

Shin Ji-han cursed inwardly.

He didn’t like this situation at all.

He didn’t like this situation at all, where everyone was praising Shin Ha-yul.

Woong, woong!

Shin Ji-han’s phone, which was placed on the table, vibrated violently.

Five times in a row.

Judging by the letter icon on the screen, it was a text message.

Shin Ji-han picked up the phone irritably.

[Sender: Shin Se-ah]

[Oppa, it’s a disaster. More than half of the elders have sided with Hayul.]

The first text message was from Shin Se-ah.

Shin Ji-han checked the message with a blank expression, and without replying, he immediately checked the next message.

[Sender: Kang Ha-woong]

[Young master. The elders…]

[Sender: Kim Min-hoon]

[Currently, within the faction…]

All five messages were slightly different in wording, but they all said the same thing.

The elders and most of the members of the family were showing signs of supporting Shin Ha-yul.

That was what they were saying.

Woong, woong!

Even while checking the messages, other messages kept coming in.

The content was all the same.

All the support was going to Shin Ha-yul.

“Shin Ha-yul, Shin Ha-yul, Shin Ha-yul!!”

Shin Ji-han threw the phone he was holding against the wall.

The phone hit the wall and shattered into pieces.

“Shit. Shit. Shit…!”

Shin Ji-han cursed and bit his lip.

“I don’t like it. Everything from start to finish. I don’t like anything.”

He was annoyed by the subordinates and Shin Se-ah who kept sending him messages.

He felt murderous intent towards the elders who had suddenly changed their minds.

He was furious that the neutral forces, who had remained neutral despite Shin Ji-han’s continued appeals, had sided with Shin Ha-yul.

“Shin Ha-yul, Shin Ha-yul!”

He wanted to kill Shin Ha-yul.

He wanted to get rid of him somehow, regardless of family ties or his own position.

“Those damn Black Magic Tower bastards… How much money did I give them…”

And above all, he felt genuine murderous intent towards the Black Magic Tower for not being able to handle a 18-year-old kid properly.

“What? You’re busy right now, so wait a little? We’ll take care of Shin Ha-yul somehow, so just be patient?”

Who are these bastards who have failed three times already to tell me to wait?

A grinding sound could be heard from between Shin Ji-han’s teeth.

‘Incompetent bastards. It was a mistake from the start to trust them.’

His trust in the Black Magic Tower had long since disappeared.

He couldn’t wait any longer like this.

‘I have to take care of it myself.’

He had been trying to refrain from acting directly in order to prepare for any eventuality, but now that the situation had become like this, he had no choice.

Even if it meant overdoing it, he had no choice but to act directly.

‘It’s a good thing I prepared in advance.’

Shin Ji-han left the room and picked up the phone in the living room.

Then, he entered Shin Se-ah’s number and made a call.

-Hello? Oppa? Where are you now…

“Se-ah.”

Then, he cut off Shin Se-ah’s flustered voice and said in a heavy voice.

“The thing I asked you to do. You’ve done it, right?”

This time, he would put an end to this long and tiresome feud.

This time, one of them would die.

‘Se-ah or Ha-yul. One of them.’

Shin Ji-han’s eyes shone darkly with a sticky determination.