The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 171

“Young master. You called for me…”

Before Mr. Seokhyun, who had entered my room at my summons, could even finish his greeting, he was at a loss for words.

“Y-young master… that is…”

He was dumbfounded, staring at the Gumiho nestled in my arms, its tail swaying gently.

“Is that… a baby monster?”

Five tails, far from ordinary. Red eyes with a brilliance that didn’t seem like any normal animal. And finally, the strange aura surrounding it.

It was natural for Mr. Seokhyun to assume it was a baby monster.

“Baby or not, have you ever seen a monster be so affectionate with a person?”

The Gumiho cried out sweetly.

It was a cry that seemed to melt your heart.

“If it’s a tamer… no. Even a monster tamed by a tamer wouldn’t be this affectionate…”

Mr. Seokhyun’s eyes narrowed.

He seemed to be deep in thought.

“It’s not a monster, but a divine beast, a completely different species.”

“Divine (神) beast (獸)? So, a divine beast (神獸)?” [A mythical creature with spiritual power]

“Yes, that’s right.”

“A divine beast…”

Mr. Seokhyun’s expression became even more complicated.

He seemed to be pondering even more after hearing the new term, ‘divine beast’.

“I’ve never heard of it before. Is it completely different from a monster?”

“Yes. A divine beast is…”

I explained to Mr. Seokhyun about divine beasts.

Since the concept and information about ‘divine beasts’ didn’t exist in this era, I explained it in as much detail as possible.

“A mythical species…”

After hearing all the explanations, Mr. Seokhyun was lost in thought again.

Then, he stared intently at the baby Gumiho yawning in my arms.

“Certainly, I don’t feel the sticky, murderous intent unique to monsters…”

“That’s because it’s not actually a monster.”

Mr. Seokhyun let out a small groan.

It seemed like he was experiencing something like cognitive dissonance after learning about the concept of a divine beast for the first time.

Well, it’s common sense to classify any animal with mana as a monster. It’s understandable that he’d be confused.

“…May I touch it?”

It seemed like he wanted to judge for himself whether it was dangerous or not by touching it.

“No. You can’t. It’s very shy. It absolutely hates being touched by anyone other than me.”

Unfortunately, the Gumiho wasn’t someone you could just touch because you wanted to.

“…Is that so.”

Mr. Seokhyun was lost in thought again.

About a minute passed like that.

“I understand. I still don’t believe it 100%, but… if you say so, young master, then it must be true. Yes. I’ll believe it.”

Mr. Seokhyun said with a refreshed expression, as if he had shaken off all doubts.

“A divine beast. Such a creature existed. It’s an amazing discovery.”

Regardless of the clash with common sense, he had decided to completely trust my words.

It was truly something to be grateful for.

“So, the reason you specifically showed me this special being is to ask me to prepare things so that there won’t be any problems with raising this divine beast, is that correct?”

As expected of Mr. Seokhyun.

He must have grasped my purpose through detailed information such as the current situation and my attitude.

“Yes. Would you be able to do that for me?”

“Of course. I’ll prepare it right away.”

This is why I like Mr. Seokhyun.

Quick thinking and swift execution. Who wouldn’t like having someone like this as a subordinate?

‘Come to think of it, this will all be over when I return to Korea.’

The reason Mr. Seokhyun had been by my side wasn’t because he had become my subordinate.

It was all due to my father’s orders.

It was just a superior-subordinate relationship derived from the order to protect me while I was in the United States.

When I return to Korea, this relationship will end. And Mr. Seokhyun and I will return to our previous relationship.

It was a bit of a shame.

I had become too accustomed to receiving Mr. Seokhyun’s help.

“It would be best to keep the concept of a divine beast hidden. So, we’ll register it as a tamed monster, and have it officially registered with the association after taking a test.”

“Yes. That would be great.”

“Normally, you’d have to wait at least a week, but fortunately, the Mado family and the Tamer Association have a pretty good relationship. We should be able to complete the registration within three days, before you return to Korea.”

I clicked my tongue again, watching Mr. Seokhyun quickly complete his work.

‘It’s a shame. Such a shame.’

To have to let go of such a talented individual. The regret wouldn’t fade.

“What should we name it?”

“Just Gumiho would be fine.”

“Are you sure? To use the name of a disaster-level monster that only exists in literature…”

“It can’t be helped. With such a unique appearance, giving it a different name would only raise more suspicion.”

“That’s true. Then, I’ll prepare a report stating that it’s not a dangerous being like the disaster-level monsters in the literature.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

I gently stroked the head of the Gumiho, who was still purring in my arms.

“Is it because it’s still a baby that it only has five tails?”

“Yes. It hasn’t fully grown yet.”

Mimir said that the number of tails the Gumiho had was determined by my ‘Infinity Circle’s achievement level’.

The fact that the Gumiho had five tails meant that my achievement was at the 5th Circle.

“That must be why it’s so small too.”

“Yes. When it grows up, it’ll be bigger than a large SUV.”

A divine beast that grows with my growth.

My partner, bound by covenant, the Gumiho.

“Is it okay to just call it Gumiho?”

“Hmm…”

It would be fine to just call it Gumiho, but since it’s my partner, I wanted to give it a proper name.

What name would be good?

It wouldn’t be good to completely change the unique name of Gumiho.

If I were to give it a name that still felt like a name while maintaining some of the original form…

“Miho. Miho would be appropriate.”

“That’s an appropriate name. Although it does feel a bit hastily made.”

“What’s wrong with Miho? If I add my family name, Shin Miho. Isn’t it a pretty name?”

“Adding your family name does give it a different feel. It’s a good name.”

“Right?”

I hugged the Gumiho, Miho, in my arms again.

“Right, Miho?”

Miho, who had been yawning, turned its gaze to me.

Then, it cried out cutely, as if being coquettish.

It seemed to like its new name.

…No. Is it because it’s more of a nickname than a new name?

“Okay. I should get a call today, and you should be able to get an examination within 2-3 days.”

Mr. Seokhyun, having finished all the preparations, put his phone back in his pocket.

“Thank you.”

I got up from my seat, holding Miho in my arms.

“Then, let’s go right away.”

“…Go? Where are you talking about?”

“The lowest level of the Hwaelian Prison where Tkish is imprisoned.”

Mr. Seokhyun’s pupils widened slightly at my words.

“You mean you’re going to Tkish…”

He seemed to have immediately grasped the true meaning behind my words, and he trailed off, looking back and forth between me and Miho in my arms.

“Yes.”

I placed Miho on the table for a moment and quickly put on my coat.

“I’ve found a way to neutralize Tkish’s magic.”

I picked up Miho, who I had placed on the table for a moment to put on my coat, and held it up slightly, as if to emphasize it to Mr. Seokhyun.

“This is the key to neutralizing Tkish’s magic.”

The divine beast that deals with souls, the Gumiho.

Since it hasn’t fully grown yet, it’s impossible to directly destroy Tkish’s spirit body, but it’s more than capable of severing the connection between Tkish and the ‘Sanctuary of Souls’ that Tkish had prepared.

* * *

Three and a half hours later.

I headed to the lowest level of the Hwaelian Prison where Tkish was imprisoned, accompanied by four people.

“You had a talent for taming too?”

Companion A. The Red Magic Tower Master narrowed his eyes, looking at Miho in my arms.

“It’s not taming. It’s impossible to carry a tamed monster like that. They usually attack because of their aggression.”

Companion B. The Blue Magic Tower Master answered for me, having come to his own conclusion before I could even reply.

“Then what, is that taming magic also a secret magic?”

Companion C. Charles crossed his arms, narrowed his eyes, and stared intently at Miho.

Perhaps because the gaze was quite unpleasant, Miho growled with a fierce expression.

“Whoa. That startled me. It’s got quite the temper.”

Startled by the force, Charles flinched and took a step back.

“I’m sorry. It doesn’t follow anyone but me.”

“Really? It’s quite haughty, just like it looks.”

Charles clicked his tongue.

A strange heat could be felt in his eyes.

It seemed like he wanted to pet Miho.

And he was regretting that it was impossible.

“A secret magic that has the power to erase all hostility only towards the tamer?”

The Blue Magic Tower Master stroked his chin, observing me, Miho, and Charles.

“Is it something like a spell of absolute obedience?”

And then he quickly fell into his own world.

I don’t know exactly what kind of hypothesis he’s forming, but what’s certain is that none of them are correct.

How could he deduce the correct answer when he doesn’t even know that the Gumiho is a divine beast?

“More importantly, is that baby fox a Gumiho? If it has five tails, should we call it Omiho?”

“It’s a Gumiho. It only has five tails because it’s not an adult yet.”

“So it is. Hmm… So, the Gumiho was a real creature. I thought it was just a myth.”

Charles’ eyes were filled with curiosity.

“Where did you find it?”

“I was wondering that too. Where did you find that monster?”

Charles and the Red Magic Tower Master asked at the same time.

“Just… I was lucky.”

I dodged the answer appropriately.

“You don’t want to tell us. Is that it? Indeed.”

“Tch.”

The Red Magic Tower Master stroked his chin as if he found it interesting, and Charles clicked his tongue as if he found it unfair.

“An encounter that can’t be revealed… and a species that hasn’t been discovered for several thousand years… That means there’s a possibility that it’s a type of spirit magic or phantom beast summoning magic, one of the magics that are said to be lost…”

The Blue Magic Tower Master’s expression became even more vivid. He had gained another hint. That was the expression he was making.

No, more than that, if he’s gone as far as phantom beast summoning magic, he’s quite close to the correct answer.

As expected of the Blue Magic Tower Master. His brain works at an amazing speed.

“Everything else is unnecessary. Is it true that it can solve Tkish’s resurrection magic?”

The last companion, D.

The head of the Mado family, Shin Inhyuk.

My father, who had been silent all along, asked with a fierce gaze.

Was it because he thought of Tkish as the one who killed Se-ah and tricked Shin Jihan into his death? A raw murderous intent, close to a sharp anger and desire for revenge, was being emitted.

“Yes. It’s true.”

“Okay. That’s enough. That’s all I need.”

My father’s aura became even colder.

The surrounding mana was rough.

He was filled with the will to tear everything apart right now.

“Ooh. Your father’s scary.”

Charles whispered in my ear, sneaking closer to me.

“Be careful. As someone who was originally calm, he’s prone to being swept away by emotional torrents. I don’t think it’s possible for Shin Inhyuk, but just in case a variable arises, think about it in advance.”

It’s quite common for people to ruin things when they’re swept away by emotions.

Charles must be worried about that.

‘As he said, I think it’s an unnecessary worry, but…’

I don’t think it’s possible for my father, but as Charles said, you never know.

It wouldn’t hurt to be careful.

“Yes. I’ll keep it in mind.”

“Okay, okay.”

Charles smiled faintly and moved away from me.

“We’ve arrived just in time.”

Charles unfolded his arms, which had been crossed behind his neck, and glared at the door in the distance.

A door protected by complex security devices, beyond what could be described as strict.

The door to the room where Tkish was imprisoned.

We stood in front of it.

“Then, I’ll open it right away.”

The Blue Magic Tower Master used the security code and security card that he had received from an executive in advance to disable the security.

No, he was about to disable it.

“Wait a minute!”

If I hadn’t stopped him, he would have done it.

“What’s wrong?”

“Miho seems to have sensed something suspicious.”

Aslan and Mimir said that the mythical magic I could obtain by passing the fifth trial page was an all-around magic that was helpful not only in combat but also in detection and support.

In other words, the Gumiho was also skilled in detection.

Miho had sensed something.

It wouldn’t hurt to be careful.

“Miho?”

I called out to Miho, who was shining her eyes sharply in my arms.

Miho’s gaze slowly turned.

And at the end of Miho’s gaze…

“What’s wrong?”

The Red Magic Tower Master was standing there.