The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 129

Time flew by quickly.

The ninth event of the Olympiad, the Labyrinth Exploration, concluded with resounding success.

The winner, unsurprisingly, was the Korean team.

Starting with the subjugation of the named monster in Zone 3, they collected everything they could from that zone, securing first place with an overwhelming score.

The sheer dominance of their victory was evident in the scores.

[1st Place – Korea 5863 points]

[2nd Place – USA 1244 points]

[3rd Place – UK 1102 points]

A score nearly four times higher than the second-place team.

For context, this was a record-breaking achievement.

The previous highest score for Labyrinth Exploration was 2130 points, set 22 years ago by the Argentinian team, a feat considered legendary.

They had more than doubled the previous record, setting an insane new benchmark.

I doubt this record will be broken until the Olympiad is abolished.

‘Even though it’s just a minor record-breaking, it feels good.’

The title of ‘the best’ is always thrilling to hear.

I looked in the mirror while thinking that.

My neatly styled hair caught my eye.

Okay. This should be good enough.

Knock knock-

Just then, someone knocked on the door.

“Mr. Shin Ha-yul. Are you ready?”

At the same time, a woman’s voice was heard from beyond the door. I checked my clothes one last time before opening the door.

“Yes. I’m ready.”

The woman standing in front of the door.

The reporter in charge of my interview today greeted me with a bright expression.

“Wow. You look great. You even styled your hair so neatly.”

“Since I’m doing an interview, it’s better to look presentable.”

I closed the door and stepped into the hallway.

“Where is the interview location?”

“Ah, please come this way.”

The reporter moved quickly with light steps and positioned herself in front of me.

Then, after gesturing for me to follow, she walked forward.

I slowly followed behind the woman.

After about two minutes, we arrived at a nearby private room.

It was a multi-purpose room often used for interviews like this.

“Please come in.”

“Excuse me.”

The first thing that greeted me as I entered the room was a crowd of staff and cameras.

I don’t know why there are ten cameras set up.

Isn’t one camera enough for an interview with just me?

And it doesn’t seem like there’s a need for this many staff either.

“Please have a seat here.”

“Yes.”

I sat down in the prepared seat.

“I’ll just attach the microphone for a moment.”

A male staff member approached me and attached a microphone.

Then, he gave an OK sign to the person who seemed to be the main PD [Production Director] and returned to his original position.

“Well, you don’t have any camera shyness or need any time to prepare, do you?”

“No.”

“Then, can we start right away?”

“Of course. I’d like to finish quickly and go rest.”

The reporter smiled brightly at my answer.

“Did you hear that? We can start right away!”

The main PD gave an OK sign with his fingers.

People who seemed to be camera directors moved busily, and a red light came on on the cameras.

It seemed like filming had started.

“Okay. Today, we have a very special guest with us.”

The reporter, having received the cue, started the interview with a skillful introduction.

“The rising star of the magic world. The core of the storm. Korea’s prodigy. Currently, if you don’t know this person in Korea, you’re a spy. The most promising talent of this era, who is loved by all Koreans. We have with us, student Shin Ha-yul!”

Along with the reporter’s introduction, the staff clapped enthusiastically.

“Mr. Shin Ha-yul. Please introduce yourself.”

“Hello. I’m Shin Ha-yul, an ordinary student enrolled at the Korean Obelisk Academy. Nice to meet you.”

“Well… I don’t know when the modifier ‘ordinary’ started to mean ‘amazing,’ but yes. Welcome!”

The reporter clapped with a broad smile.

“By the way, Mr. Shin Ha-yul. You’ve finally agreed to an interview.”

The reporter said that after casually looking at a cue sheet that seemed to be the interview questions.

“It feels like there’s a hidden barb in your words. Am I mistaken?”

“Oh, not at all. We made a total of 38 requests, and although they were all rejected, we’re not holding it against you at all!”

She’s smiling, but I can feel a hint of murderous intent.

“It definitely seems like you’re holding it against me?”

“Not at all! Haha!”

She said that, but it didn’t seem like she was actually holding it against me.

That’s just a kind of joke to lighten the mood of the interview. I know that, so I’m just going along with the mood.

I continued to go along with the mood and kept the banter going.

“Wow. I thought you kept refusing interviews because you weren’t confident in your speaking skills. But that’s not the case at all. You could host this show instead of me.”

“Oh, really?”

I took the cue sheet as if I were passing a snake over a wall [a metaphor for handling something carefully and skillfully].

“Ahem. I’m Shin Ha-yul, the new MC starting today. Please take care of me.”

Then, I pretended to be an MC and joked around.

“Hello. I’m Jo Ha-yoon, who just became unemployed. I’m looking for a new job.”

“Hahaha!”

Every time our conversation continued, the atmosphere in the room became brighter.

“Oh my, it’s already this late. It was so enjoyable that I… Before it gets any later, we should start the interview.”

That’s how the conversation that had been going on for about 7 minutes ended.

Finally, the full-fledged interview began.

“First, let’s start with a question that everyone is curious about.”

A glint flashed in the reporter’s eyes.

“From the beginning, were you planning to subjugate the Devil Ape?”

Before being a reporter, her eyes were saying she was dying of curiosity as a human.

For reference, this question was selected by prior agreement.

“Yes. That’s right. We were planning to deal with the Devil Ape from the start.”

“Wow, the speculation circulating on the internet was true! Then, could you tell us how you came up with that idea?”

Why did you go to such lengths to subjugate the Devil Ape?

That was the meaning behind the question.

“Because it’s something no one else has done.”

“Is it like the feeling of a mountaineer trying to be the first to climb a mountain that no one has ever conquered?”

“Yes. That’s an accurate expression.”

Of course, there was no such romantic reason at all.

Originally, I was planning to secure a high score safely and reliably to win the championship.

The reason I decided to deal with the Devil Ape was because of my father’s request to stand out as much as possible in the Labyrinth Exploration. Nothing more, nothing less.

“Then, was it also a strategy to skip Zones 1 and 2 and quickly enter Zone 3?”

This was also one of the questions we agreed to ask each other.

“No. That’s not it. Originally, we were planning to slowly conquer Zones 1 and 2 and then enter Zone 3.”

“So it was an improvised strategy. What was the reason for the change in strategy?”

“Everyone seemed to dislike us too much.”

“When you say dislike…?”

“You saw it, didn’t you? Everyone teaming up to attack us. And one after another.”

“Ah…”

“At that time, we felt like each team was intentionally interfering with us. So we changed our strategy to quickly enter Zone 3.”

“You judged that it would be difficult to get a proper score in Zones 1 and 2 in that state. Is that it?”

“Yes. There’s no better place to avoid the crowd and get points than Zone 3.”

“I see.”

The reporter flipped the cue sheet.

“Certainly, there have been suspicions in some quarters that other teams had made prior agreements to interfere with Korea.”

This is also a planned line.

“The fact that Mr. Shin Ha-yul also felt that way is definitely a problem. Shouldn’t we formally request an investigation into this?”

“Haha. I don’t think it’s necessary to go that far. If you look at the fact that the attacks stopped after we entered Zone 3, it seems like it was just a coincidence.”

I smiled and made eye contact with the main camera.

“And I don’t think such corruption would have occurred at the World Academy Olympiad.”

This statement was a kind of message with many meanings.

First, a message to the shameless US government that made a ploy to create an anti-Korean alliance.

I’ll let it slide this time, but if you do this again in the next match, I won’t stand idly by.

It was a warning message like that.

At the same time, by saying this, I can plant doubts in the minds of citizens around the world.

Once I raise doubts like this, the eyes of the citizens will be focused on the corruption allegations.

And if suspicious circumstances occur again in the next match, there will be a 100% chance of a problem.

Just by saying this, the next match will be much easier.

From the US government’s point of view, there will be more eyes to worry about, so they won’t be able to do anything unnecessary.

It would be meaningless if the stock price of the Olympiad were to drop just because they were trying to protect their record.

“Oh dear. I’ve made the atmosphere heavy by saying strange things. Then, to change the mood, let’s move on to the next question.”

The reporter quickly flipped the cue sheet.

Even though these were lines we had agreed on beforehand, there was no sign of acting.

Is that what it means to be a professional?

“This is something that not only Koreans but also people all over the world are curious about. The magic you used to deal with the Devil Ape this time. What exactly is that magic?”

“Hmm. To put it simply, it’s incantation.”

“Incantation. You mean casting?”

“Yes.”

“It was very different from the incantation we know.”

“You want to say that incantation is an outdated technique that only increases power by about 0.5 circles at best?”

“Not quite…”

The reporter was sweating slightly.

“Was my expression too harsh? But well, it’s not like I said anything wrong. Anyone can see that incantation is an outdated technique.”

“Then, how did student Shin Ha-yul achieve such divine power with such an old… no, outdated technique…?”

“It’s simple.”

I smiled.

“The incantation I used is not an ordinary incantation.”

“Not an ordinary incantation…”

“Yes. I can’t go into detail…”

I explained the incantation as I had planned.

* * *

The interview, which had been going on for about 30 minutes, ended.

After returning to the hotel with Mr. Seok-hyun’s utmost escort, I couldn’t even change my clothes properly and left the room.

[Sender: Father]

[I have something urgent to discuss. Come to my room.]

As soon as I arrived at my room, I received a message from my father telling me to come to his room.

I immediately headed to the suite room on the top floor where my father was staying.

Knock knock-!

“Come in.”

There wasn’t even time to say, ‘I’m here.’

At the same time as the knock, my father’s voice was heard.

It was a sight that felt like an unusual urgency, not like my father.

I felt that strange and subtle feeling as I stepped into the room.

“Sit down.”

“Yes.”

My strange feeling grew even more the moment I faced my father.

‘Why is he so excited?’

My father’s expression is somehow vivid.

It was a completely different expression from his usual stoic one, like a child who had received a desired gift.

This is the first time I’ve ever seen my father look so happy.

‘Is it because of my Permafrost?’

The magic I used to deal with the Devil Ape, Permafrost.

Is he showing this kind of reaction because he was impressed by that magic?

‘No, even so, there’s no way he’d be this excited.’

In the first place, even if he’s happy, he’s not the type to show it in front of me.

There’s probably something more than Permafrost. Something that makes my father’s mood so excited.

“I watched the interview well. It was an excellent interview that sent a warning message without turning the US government into an enemy. It was great.”

“Thank you.”

“Your ability to conduct the interview was also excellent. I could see your leadership.”

“…Yes. Thank you.”

“It’s also commendable that you broke the Labyrinth Exploration record. And it goes without saying that you subjugated the Devil Ape.”

“…Yes. Th… Thank you.”

No matter how I look at it, it’s strange.

He’s not the type to praise me so openly.

What on earth happened that made him so hyped up?

“Ha-yul.”

My father smiled faintly and stared straight into my eyes.

“Before, after the incident with Baekga. Do you remember the item you requested in return for that incident?”

“Yes. I remember.”

There’s no way I could forget.

The robe I got from my teacher at that time is still being used well.

“It was Ray Bell Bytenner’s robe.”

“Yes.”

It was a very sudden statement.

Why is that topic suddenly coming up here?

“At that time, I said that the ancient relics were a fabrication and that Ray Bell Bytenner was also a myth. Do you remember?”

“…Yes.”

My heart was pounding.

“And at that time, you said that all the stories in myths are true and that the ancient relics are also real.”

“…”

I felt like I knew what he was going to say.

“I thought that was just a simple act of bravado. I thought you were foolish.”

If this is the flow of the conversation, there’s only one thing my father can say.

“But it seems that it was not you, but I who was foolish.”

My father took the glass to his mouth and tilted it.

He lightly downed it in one shot and placed the glass back on the table.

Clunk-!

The sound of the glass hitting the table echoed appropriately.

“I’ll ask you. The Vision magic you obtained. The magic system you were taught. Is it…”

My father looked at me with the happiest expression in the world and said this.

“Is it from the first great mage in myth. Ray Bell Bytenner?”