The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 16

After that, I took the limousine waiting at the school gate and headed to my family home for the first time in a year.

The Madoshin family’s private estate was located about an hour’s drive from the academy.

Following the well-maintained garden inside the estate for about five minutes, you’d see a magnificent mansion that seemed to shout, ‘We are doing well.’

Now, I just needed to pass the strict entrance managed by the guards to arrive.

“We have arrived.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

I said goodbye to the driver who had safely driven me here and got out of the car.

“The head of the family is waiting in the study.”

I was guided by the maid to the study.

The structure of the mansion was the same as ever.

A barren interior that 120% reflected my father’s personality, who hated trivial things.

Perhaps this interior structure would not change until my father stepped down from his position as head of the family.

After walking through the mansion for about two minutes, I arrived at my destination, my father’s study.

“Head of the family. Young Master Hayul has arrived.”

The maid knocked on the door to announce my arrival.

“Let him in.”

“Yes.”

The maid bowed her head and opened the door.

There wasn’t even the slightest creaking sound from the well-maintained study door.

I thanked the maid and stepped into the study.

“It’s been a while.”

“Trivial greetings are unnecessary. Sit down.”

My father urged me to sit in the seat opposite him.

I sat there.

“I thought you would never succeed as a mage.”

It was just like my father to get straight to the point without any preamble.

“A casting speed about 20 times slower. Magic formulas that disappear when concentration is broken. The absence of multi-casting. There were countless disadvantages of being an unsuitable person.”

In modern magic, artificial intelligence is as important as a circle [a mage’s core magical structure].

In terms of the human body structure, the circle is the heart and artificial intelligence is the brain.

Just as a person cannot live without either of them, a mage cannot live without either a circle or artificial intelligence.

This is the common perception of the world.

“That’s why I told you to switch to artificial intelligence magic. That way, you could have made the most of your intelligence.”

Thinking coldly, my father’s judgment was correct.

Even if I were in my father’s position, I would have acted the same way.

If a child with a heart condition said they wanted to become a swimmer, anyone would try to stop them.

“So, honestly, I didn’t have high expectations for this either.”

“Yes.”

“When you were confident that you would be in the top 10 in this exam, I thought you were just giving up.”

“I understand.”

I would have thought so too.

“When I told them to leave the article Baekga published alone, I secretly thought it was an opportunity. If you tasted bitterness from this and came to your senses, you would obediently follow my words. That’s what I thought.”

I had already expected that was the reason.

“But the result was completely different from my expectations. You have brilliantly overcome the penalty of being unsuitable.”

My father’s imposing presence was conveyed as it was.

“4th Circle. Arcane magic. You have pioneered a new path in your own way. Your battle was definitely something that could be called a ‘mage.'”

His voice was as heavy as his presence.

“You have shown your worth as a mage, or rather, a worth that is worth investing in.”

“……”

“You won the bet. As promised, I promise full support. If there is anything you need, tell me. If it helps your magic, the Madoshin family will not spare any support.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

It was a statement that made me smile.

Magic is a very expensive field of study, and since full-fledged practical training begins in the second year, the financial pressure was severe.

I couldn’t help but be happy that it was resolved.

“Also, I will allow you to return to the family. As a legitimate descendant of the Madoshin family, work once again for the eternal well-being of the Madoshin family.”

“Yes. I will keep that in mind.”

“Finally. I will give you a warning.”

My father’s presence pressed down on the surrounding mana [magical energy].

It was a brutal pressure befitting the head of the Madoshin family and one of only three 8th Circle mages in Korea.

“The fact that I am giving you full support again is not a pardon for the sin of being unsuitable, but merely a reprieve. If you ever stagnate or show signs of regression again, I will forcibly abolish your circle.”

“……I will keep those words in my heart as well.”

But Father.

I can say with certainty that that will not happen.

Because I have the Vaitner-style magic.

I swallowed those words for now.

“Hmm. Okay. What are you planning to do from now on?”

A moment of silence passed, and my father spoke again.

“What do you mean by ‘from now on’?”

“Your goal. I mean, how do you plan to achieve the goal of becoming the next head of the Madoshin family?”

My father rested his chin on his hand and continued.

“Currently, your position within the Madoshin family is miserable. You won’t be a match for Jihan, let alone Minji.”

My eldest brother, Shin Jihan, is currently the most likely next head of the family.

He is the most troublesome opponent for me to take the next head of the family.

On the other hand, my second older sister, Shin Minji.

This sister is practically out of the succession race.

The person with the least influence among the siblings is Shin Minji.

‘No, Minji is not the last place anymore. Because I’m back.’

And I have less influence than Shin Minji.

“A candidate with a history of failure. A year of suspension. The youngest with no power. Your own magic, which you found a way to, but still raises questions for everyone. Even if I roughly pick out the disadvantages, there are this many.”

If I were to compete 1:1 with Minji in the succession race right now, Minji would win 10:0.

That’s how miserable my position is within the Madoshin family right now.

“In your current situation, it would be the wisest decision to join one of the factions of Jihan, Minhyuk, or even Se-ah.”

My father’s words are correct.

If I were to judge coldly, it would be better for me to support one of the three most likely candidates for the next head of the family and try to get some crumbs, rather than aiming for the position of head of the family myself.

That’s how bad my position is within the Madoshin family.

“Even in this worst situation, are you really planning to aim for the next head of the family?”

My father’s eyes pierced straight through mine.

A huge presence, like a mountain and like the sea, pressed down on me from all sides.

The pressure was so great that I felt like I would have to kneel down right now.

Is this the weight of an 8th Circle mage? It was hard to breathe.

In front of such energy, vanity and arrogance would disappear in an instant.

But that’s irrelevant to me.

“Yes.”

Because my determination and goal are not vanity or arrogance.

“As I said before. My goal is the head of the Madoshin family. That’s all.”

I said clearly, facing the mountain-like presence head-on.

“I have no intention of going under any of my other siblings.”

My father’s smile deepened.

“You asked what I would do next.”

Was it because I had become accustomed to my father’s presence?

Or was it because my father was gradually easing the pressure?

I don’t know, but the pressure that had been pressing down on my body was gradually weakening.

“First, I will make everyone have no choice but to acknowledge me.”

Looking at my father’s lips, which were slowly curling upwards, I said confidently.

“I will achieve great feats one after another that no one has ever done before, to the point where no one will care about the fact that I am unsuitable.”

I recited my ambition, looking straight at my father’s face, which had now turned into a full smile.

“That way, I will become the best in the world and take the Madoshin family, and your position, with dignity.”

I was confident that I could do that now.

* * *

After Shin Hayul left.

Shin Inhyuk was left alone in the study, pondering the words Shin Hayul had said a little while ago.

“……Heh heh.”

Even thinking about it again, it was a very pleasant thing to say.

“Achieve great feats one after another that no one has ever done before?”

He said it so easily, it was as if he was saying he was going to go out for a quick stroll.

“Audacious fellow.”

What? Become the best in the world and take over the Madoshin family?

Even thinking about it again, it was a statement that could only make me laugh.

The last thing he said was the highlight.

‘Of course, you can’t believe me just by me saying this.’

‘So, I’ll make another promise this time.’

‘I will win first place at the World Academy Olympiad, which will be held in two months.’

The World Academy Olympiad.

A global festival held every year where only academy students under the age of 20 can participate.

Since the participants are geniuses from all over the world, the level is not much different from that of general adult competitions.

“He’s going to win first place there?”

The Korean side’s past award history at the World Academy Olympiad is one silver medal won by Kim Kang-in. They have never won a gold medal, let alone a bronze medal.

That’s how high the level of the competition is.

Shin Hayul declared that he would win first place in such a competition.

While declaring this, he said this.

‘So, please block the checks from my older brothers and sisters for the two months before the competition is held.’

‘If you just block that, I will give Father Korea’s first gold medal.’

Audacious.

Too audacious to do anything but laugh.

“To demand immediate protection in exchange for a gold medal that may or may not be won.”

Shin Inhyuk laughed out loud again.

“I’m not normal either for accepting that absurd proposal.”

It was an absurd proposal that Shin Inhyuk would not have even listened to with his nose in the past, but this time, for some reason, he wanted to accept the proposal.

It wasn’t because of affection or anything like that.

It was just a hunch.

He had a hunch that Hayul would actually bring home a gold medal.

“A praying mantis blocking a cartwheel……” [an idiom referring to someone who is overestimating their abilities]

Shin Inhyuk leaned back in his chair with a satisfied expression.

“If that is a person, he must be a terrifying warrior.”

He recalled an old saying he had forgotten.

* * *

Late at night.

After returning to the dormitory, I took a light shower, changed into comfortable clothes, and sat down at my desk.

It was an incredibly long day.

From the round of 16 to the finals, I had a total of 4 matches, and then I had a showdown with my father.

It felt much longer than usual because there were so many things to do.

“But it worked out well.”

But it was a rewarding day as long as it was.

I managed to win first place, returned to the family and was able to receive support again, and even succeeded in getting a whole two months.

“I didn’t expect my father to accept that proposal without any other conditions.”

Honestly, it was unexpected.

I never thought my father would accept that absurd proposal.

Everything I had prepared was meaningless.

Well, it doesn’t matter at all since everything worked out well in the end.

It just felt a little anticlimactic.

“Anyway, with this, I can now focus on magic training for at least two months with the support of the family.”

Two months.

I have to make the most of these two months.

“Then, first……”

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

I opened Idred’s book, ‘Ray Bell Vaitner,’ which was placed in the corner of the table.

And I started deciphering and reading carefully from the part I had left off reading yesterday at dawn.

[The resonance ring has different efficiencies depending on the rotation rate and frequency.]

[In the Vaitner style, the state of being able to perfectly control the resonance ring is called ‘resonance.’]