The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 179

Early the next morning, after a brief visit to the columbarium to pay my respects, I headed straight to the main family residence.

“Welcome, Young Master Hayul. We have been waiting for you,” the head maid, who was mainly in charge of greeting visitors, welcomed me.

“The head of the family is waiting for you in the study. I will guide you there.”

“Yes, please.”

I followed the head maid. Mr. Seok-hyun didn’t follow behind me. He must trust the security of the main residence that much. Well, the security of the main residence is as good as the Blue House [the presidential residence in South Korea].

“We have arrived.”

After about a minute’s walk, we arrived at the study where my father was waiting.

“I thought the study would be in the main building, but it’s in the annex.”

“Yes. The main building is a bit chaotic today. I hope you understand.”

“No, it’s not that I care whether it’s the annex or the main building…”

Chaotic in the main building? Are they doing construction or something?

“The elders are currently staying in the main building.”

“Ah.”

The elders are here. Then it makes sense that it’s chaotic.

“So, you’ve taken refuge in the annex.”

“…Yes.”

Shin Ji-han, a strong candidate for the next head of the family, and my older sister, Se-ah, who was the next likely candidate, had lost their lives in an unexpected accident. It was only natural for the elders to hold my father responsible. That’s why my father had moved to the annex. There was no point in listening to things that wouldn’t be helpful.

“Were there any who held my father responsible?”

“…I wasn’t there, so I can’t say for sure, but there probably were. Both of them died near where the head of the family was staying…”

“Hmm. As expected.”

I could roughly guess who would have said that. Some elders who were dissatisfied with my father having all the power must have openly complained. They were trying to reduce my father’s power by doing that. That way, their piece of the pie would get bigger.

‘Well, it’s not a bad thing.’

The Mado family is a kind of giant corporation. It’s not unusual for people to try to seize their rights by taking advantage of opportunities. Rather, those who can’t take advantage of such opportunities are foolish. In that sense, the elders can be said to be very capable.

“My father will take care of that matter.”

“Yes. Any complaints will disappear before they even surface.”

The head maid’s eyes sparkled. Her eyes were filled with infinite trust in my father.

“Oh, my. The conversation got long. I’m sorry.”

“No, I was the one who asked the questions.”

The head maid replied with a bright smile.

“Then, please come inside. The head of the family is eagerly waiting for you.”

“…Eagerly waiting? My father?”

“Yes.”

That can’t be. My father is not the type to eagerly wait for someone. He’s probably still organizing documents inside. I expect that even if I go in now, the conversation won’t start right away. He’ll probably talk to me after he’s finished reading the documents he was reading. That’s the kind of person he is.

“I think he’s just focusing on processing documents as usual.”

“Well, I wonder if that’s the case.”

The head maid smiled as if she was amused. It was an expression I couldn’t understand.

“Anything more than this is too much. You’ll know what I mean when you go inside.”

“…Yes.”

The head maid opened the door while maintaining a bright smile.

“Is it okay to open it without knocking?”

“Yes. He ordered that you come in as soon as you arrive.”

“…My father?”

That’s very unexpected. It was an iron rule of the Mado family that you had to knock before entering, no matter how urgent the matter was.

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

“Okay. Thank you for the guidance.”

Beyond the wide-open door, my father was sitting there. He wasn’t looking at documents or handling other matters. He was just sitting there silently, waiting for me.

“…”

That sight was so unexpected that I was stunned without realizing it. Next to me, the head maid glanced at me, her eyes saying, ‘See? I was right.’

“Sit down.”

“…Yes.”

Something was strange. I thought that as I moved to the opposite side of my father.

“So. Would you like some tea?”

“…Huh? Tea, tea?”

My father, who always insisted that business should be brief and that drinking tea was just a waste of time in conversation, was saying such a thing?

“If you don’t have any particular thoughts, just drink it. Head maid, please prepare a simple tea set.”

“Yes. I’ll prepare it right away.”

The head maid bowed her head with an even deeper smile.

“You had a long journey back. You’ve worked hard.”

“…”

Even encouragement? Words that shouldn’t come out of my father’s mouth were coming out one after another. What is this, a dream? Or is the sun going to rise in the west tomorrow?

‘Heh heh.’

A hollow laugh came out involuntarily. Three times in a row. That’s how flustered I was. Why is my father suddenly like this?

“I sent out an official document stating that I would put you in the position of the next head of the family to provoke Ji-han. Do you remember that?”

“Yes? Yes. Of course, I remember.”

He sent out a trap document stating that he would put me in the position of the next head of the family to provoke Shin Ji-han and force him to move.

“You’re going to withdraw that document, right? It was a situation, but it’s a bit late.”

Since it was a trap document, it’s natural to withdraw it. I wasn’t particularly disappointed. I knew from the beginning that he would withdraw it.

“No. I don’t plan to withdraw it.”

“…Pardon?”

My father looked at me with a serious expression.

“Anyway, it’s already being said within the family that you’re the only one who can be the next head of the family. There’s no reason to withdraw the document.”

“…Wouldn’t my older brother, Min-hyuk, object?”

My second older sister, Min-ji, has never been interested in the position of head of the family, so it doesn’t matter at all. But my second older brother, Min-hyuk, has been aiming for the position of the next head of the family, so he will strongly object. The forces that supported Min-hyuk would also object. Then, there’s a high probability that small and large problems will occur within the family. To prevent that, it’s better to withdraw the document first. Withdrawing the document and competing fairly is the cleanest way. …That’s what I think.

“You don’t have to worry about that. Min-hyuk has given up on the competition for the next head of the family.”

“…Min-hyuk?”

“Yes. He said that even he thinks it would be better for you to become the next head of the family for the sake of the family.”

“Min-hyuk said that…”

I knew that Min-hyuk’s personality was cool and easygoing, but I didn’t expect him to declare his abandonment of the head of the family so casually.

“Could it be that he’s jumping to conclusions that I eliminated Ji-han or Se-ah…?”

He might be jumping to conclusions that I was involved in the deaths of Ji-han and Se-ah and got scared and backed down. Could it be something like that?

“That’s not it.”

My father’s expression became strange. Bitterness and regret. In addition to that, there was a mixture of feelings of revenge, making it feel like an indescribable expression.

“Min-hyuk… was somewhat aware of Ji-han’s affair.”

“…Pardon?”

This was a truly surprising statement.

“Of course, he didn’t know that it was related to the Black Magic Tower. He just vaguely knew that Ji-han was doing something suspicious. Since he was close, he must have seen something.”

“Ah.”

He just sensed something. That’s what it was.

“That’s why he couldn’t give up on the competition for the next head of the family. He thought that if Ji-han became the next head of the family… the Mado family would be ruined.”

My father stared blankly into the air. He seemed to have a lot on his mind.

“Does he say it’s okay for me to take over the position of head of the family?”

“Yes. He said it was what he wanted.”

My father chuckled.

“He said he would take the second-in-command position under a capable younger brother and enjoy the honey without having to take any responsibility… He was laughing happily.”

“…Is that so?”

I laughed too.

“Then… I should prepare something much sweeter than the position of the next head of the Mado family.”

“Oh ho. Something sweeter than the position of the next head of the Mado family. May I ask what that is?”

“Well, it’s nothing much.”

I smiled confidently.

“Wouldn’t he be satisfied with being the second-in-command of the best family in the world?”

“What? Hahahaha!”

My father laughed loudly.

“Yes. It’s better to be the second-in-command of the best family in the world than the number one family in Korea. Hahaha!”

He laughed so heartily that the surrounding mana trembled as if there was an earthquake.

“Therefore, could you give me some support?”

“Support. Support, you say.”

My father looked directly into my eyes with a very happy expression.

“Okay. I’ll get you anything I can.”

“Thank you.”

“However, there is one condition.”

My father’s lips curled up a little more.

“You must tell me what you need it for. That’s the condition.”

“That’s a condition I have no reason to refuse.”

If the price for unlimited support is just telling him what I’m going to do, it’s a very cheap price.

“Then, I’ll fulfill the condition right away.”

My father waited for my words with his usual smile.

“Here. Please gather these materials.”

I handed my father a memo with the names of various materials written on it.

“What do you need these materials for?”

“Of course, to move upwards.”

“To move upwards. That means…”

“What else is there to call ‘up’ for a mage?”

I stared straight into my father’s brilliantly shining eyes and said clearly.

“The 6th Circle. These materials are the ingredients for the elixir that will serve as a stepping stone for me to reach the 6th Circle.”

“Hahahaha!!”

My father’s laughter echoed even louder. It echoed so loudly that the annex, as well as the main building, which was quite a distance away, trembled.

* * *

After my conversation with my father was over, on the way back to the dormitory, I recalled the last words my father had said.

‘Okay. I’ll get it for you. But this time, there’s an additional condition.’

‘You have to go on a broadcast. It’s a studio program that focuses on interviews.’

It was a very strange proposal for a condition for collecting materials. Suddenly telling me to appear on a broadcast. What’s the intention?

‘The level of interest in you in Korea is too high. There’s a limit to how long we can continue to ignore the media.’

‘I decided that it would be better to do an interview on a proper broadcast.’

But after listening to everything, it made sense. It’s a bit awkward for me to say it myself, but there’s currently a ‘Shin Hayul Syndrome’ sweeping through Korea. No, this isn’t me being conceited, it’s actually a real term. If you actually type ‘Shin Hayul’ into a portal site, the third related search term is ‘Shin Hayul Syndrome.’ That’s how much interest there is in me. Articles about me are still pouring out every hour. In this situation, as my father said, it’s better to appear on a famous broadcast and do a proper interview.

‘I didn’t think I’d end up appearing on a broadcast like this.’

I’ve been under the media’s attention since I was young, but this is the first time I’ve ever been on a broadcast. There were a few opportunities, but my father stepped in and refused each time. He didn’t tell me the reason, but I guess it was because he was worried that I would become arrogant if I went on TV or something.

‘Well, I just have to answer what I can answer appropriately.’

I’m not nervous or anything. I didn’t grow up so immature that I would be nervous about this.

“Mr. Seok-hyun.”

I called out to Mr. Seok-hyun, who was focused on driving while looking out the window.

“Did you receive the material list from my father?”

“Yes. I did.”

As expected. I thought that my father would send the list to Mr. Seok-hyun right away.

“How long do you think it will take to get all those materials?”

“Well, since the materials are what they are… I can’t say for sure.”

The difficulty and rarity of the materials I requested this time are incomparable to the materials that went into making the Blessing of Mana before.

“Do you think you’ll be able to get them?”

“…To be honest, it will be difficult to get them all. I’ve never even heard of some of the materials.”

I took my eyes off the window and made eye contact with Mr. Seok-hyun. He had a very serious expression.

“The most problematic one is the last material, ‘Laplace’s Tears.’ There hasn’t been any record of it since it was last traded 42 years ago.”

“…That’s the problem, as expected.”

A material that Mimir described as having an ‘extremely difficult’ acquisition difficulty. Laplace’s Tears.

“I’ll try my best to find out…”

“Yes. It can’t be helped if you can’t get it.”

As Mimir said, the completion of this elixir seems to depend on whether or not I have Laplace’s Tears.

‘If Mr. Seok-hyun can’t get it… I’ll have to go get it myself.’

Laplace’s Tears is a material that can be obtained by gathering, not hunting. In other words, it’s a herb. If I borrow Mimir’s knowledge, I should be able to find it somehow.

‘If I can’t find it…’

Well, then I’ll just have to use other methods.

‘It’s not like there’s only one elixir that helps with weaving the Ring of Awakening.’