The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 196

[A support request has come in from Parade.]

[The support request location is Mount Baekdu.]

[It’s still some distance from Seoul, but not too far, so please be careful.]

[I believe this is just a support request to capture an unranked disaster-class monster residing in Mount Baekdu, but you never know, so if it shows any signs of heading towards Seoul, I’ll contact you again.]

The message ended there.

At first glance, it might seem like they’re just belatedly reporting something we already know, but that’s not the case.

The meaning behind this message is incredibly significant.

‘…Parade sent a support request?’

Parade sent a support request.

This means that Parade has no intention of backing down here.

And having no intention of backing down also means that the probability of them targeting us is very high.

No, it’s not just a high probability.

It’s probably 100%.

They are definitely planning to attack us.

The fact that they requested support from Shadow is the biggest piece of evidence.

‘There’s no way a high-ranking executive with that level of taming ability would send a support request to Shadow just to deal with one unranked disaster-class monster.’

With two executives, they probably think they can overwhelm anyone, regardless of their level.

‘…It’s a relief that Parade sent the support request to Shadow.’

If they had sent a support request to another executive, we would have been in real trouble.

We would have had to fight two executives without any chance of escape.

‘But if the support is Shadow, things are different.’

Shadow is working with me.

Since the Black Magic Tower itself has eyes [referring to the organization’s surveillance and internal monitoring], they can’t openly betray Parade, but they can subtly help us.

‘If I talk to Shadow properly, we can take down Parade here in one fell swoop.’

This is an opportunity.

It’s a golden opportunity to deal with one of the most difficult executives to face among those belonging to the Black Magic Tower.

‘What I need to do to deal with him for sure is…’

First, contact Shadow.

That’s not a problem.

Fortunately, the terminal I received isn’t one-way.

I can also contact them.

I immediately sent Shadow information about the current situation.

‘And what’s left is…’

I quickly finished typing and slowly turned my gaze.

“What is it?”

Captain Charles was looking at me with a face that showed he had no idea what was going on.

‘I need to inform Captain Charles about Shadow beforehand.’

To work with Shadow and take down Parade, I need to let Captain Charles know that Shadow and I are working together.

“Captain Charles.”

“Why? What is it?”

“This secret line terminal is a means of communication with Shadow, an executive of the Black Magic Tower.”

“…What?”

I told Captain Charles everything about the current situation without hiding anything.

* * *

The beach located east of Mount Baekdu.

The area where the last of the three unranked disaster-class monsters residing in Mount Baekdu is located.

“You’re really persistent. So persistent. As if you’re not the god of defense. Can’t you just fall down already? Buddy?”

Parade was scratching the back of his neck as if he was incredibly annoyed.

“If you keep hiding in your shell like that, I’ll have no choice but to kill you. Huh? Do you understand?”

Parade said, looking at the giant turtle shell that was tens of meters in front of him.

Two lights were emitting a brilliant glow from within the beautiful shell, as if it were crafted from jewels.

It was the light emanating from the two eyes hidden within the shell.

“Ha. Annoying. I can’t even inject mana beyond the shell because of that damn magic barrier.”

The name of the giant turtle crouching in front of him was Elysium Turtle.

It was an unranked disaster-class monster, a turtle-type monster that could freely control water.

Its characteristic was the powerful barrier that spread out from its shell.

It was said that there was no mage in this world who could break through that barrier.

“Hey. Aren’t you going to counterattack? If you’re an unranked disaster-class monster, don’t just defend, attack a little. You bastard.”

Parade cursed, holding up his middle finger.

What kind of monster only focuses on defense without attacking? It was so frustrating.

If it attacked, he could at least take advantage of that moment to counterattack.

“Ugh. I guess I went too hard from the start to finish this quickly. I didn’t think it would lose its will to fight this fast…”

Turtle-type monsters have a weaker fighting instinct compared to other monsters, but he didn’t expect it to be this bad.

Even if it seemed like it couldn’t win, he didn’t expect it to just hide in its shell for an entire hour.

“I’m really going to replace you when I get the chance.”

That kind of coward wasn’t even worthy of being his pet.

Parade gritted his teeth.

‘…Whatever, I need it for now.’

Parade desperately swallowed his anger and took a deep breath.

First of all, no matter how angry he was, he had to tame that thing.

Only then could he punish those two despicable people.

How dare they kill the Thunder Bird, which was supposed to be his precious pet?

They deserved to die ten thousand times.

“Hah. Okay. Just keep crouching there. Just stay there. That kind of barrier is nothing once Shadow arrives.”

Parade sat down on the sand.

He had concluded that it was impossible to capture the Elysium Turtle alone.

‘By the way, when the hell is that damn Shadow coming?’

It had been three hours since he sent the support request.

Considering Shadow’s abilities, he should have arrived a long time ago.

Why was there still no news?

[Support request confirmed. I will depart as soon as I am ready.]

“Damn it. How much preparation does he need to be this late?”

Parade was sitting down, shaking his legs wildly.

Parade hated sitting around doing nothing more than anything else in the world.

He was so bad at staying still that Shadow once said he might have ADHD [Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder].

“Tch.”

Just by this action, you could tell how impatient Parade was.

[Hurry up. You bastard.]

He had only been waiting for less than 5 minutes, but he was already sending a message to Shadow urging him to hurry.

His body was itching so much that he felt like he was going crazy.

“Ah. Why isn’t he replying?”

While he was biting his nails.

Woo-oong-!

Just in time, a reply came from Shadow.

Parade smiled brightly and checked the message.

[There’s been a slight problem with the mission I’m currently handling. I think I’ll be a little late.]

However, the content of the message was completely different from what Parade had expected.

“…He’s going to be late?”

He was going to be late because something came up.

That meant he had to endure this boring time even longer.

And it would take quite a long time to punish the two despicable people who killed the Thunder Bird.

“You son of a bitch…”

Parade glared at the Elysium Turtle with a murderous look.

He was definitely going to roast that damn turtle in the near future.

He made up his mind.

* * *

[As you said, I’ve sent a message saying I’ll be late for support.]

Immediately after sending a message to Shadow.

A reply came in less than 2 minutes.

[The operation briefing is complete. It’s quite an interesting operation.]

[I will follow your instructions.]

[However, this help is separate from the contract, so don’t forget that you owe me.]

The message ended there.

“What did he reply?”

“He says he will follow my instructions.”

I showed Captain Charles the message Shadow had sent.

Captain Charles quickly scanned the message and then muttered, ‘Okay…’ as he fell into thought.

“…I’ve asked you twice already, but can we really trust him?”

I had briefly explained everything about my deal with Shadow.

Of course, I had vaguely explained things about Umbra’s shadow, but I made it clear that Shadow wanted something from me.

I added that there was no way Shadow would ever betray me.

“That shadow bastard… I don’t know what he wants from you. But I don’t think it’s something so important that he would turn the entire Black Magic Tower against him.”

But it wasn’t enough to convince Captain Charles.

It was understandable.

Unless he knew about the special existence of Umbra’s shadow that Shadow possessed, he couldn’t possibly understand.

“Besides, he’s a guy who has already fought us twice. I don’t think he’ll listen to us so easily.”

Once at the Third Magic Stone Warehouse.

And once again at the lowest level of the Hwaelian Prison.

Since he was an opponent we had fought a total of two times, it was even harder to believe him.

“And you might not know this, but those who are born evil are evil until they die. There’s no such thing as redemption. That guy is definitely…”

“I know.”

People don’t change.

An evil person is evil until the end.

I wasn’t someone who didn’t know such an obvious truth.

“That’s why he’s more trustworthy. If he wasn’t evil, it would have been difficult for him to betray someone who was his comrade until now.”

Because he’s evil, he has no qualms about betraying his comrades.

Because he’s evil, he’s even more trustworthy.

As long as I’m the only one who can fulfill his wish, there’s no way Shadow can betray me.

“I’ll say it again. The only person in this world who can give him what he wants is me. He can’t betray me. He can never let me die.”

“…”

At my assertion, Charles’s eyes narrowed even further.

“…And you can’t tell me what that is?”

“Yes. I’m sorry, but I can never tell you about that.”

Umbra’s shadow.

I didn’t want to talk about the relics of the mythical era if I could help it.

This was a secret I couldn’t tell even my father, let alone Captain Charles.

“…”

Captain Charles stared straight into my eyes.

It was as if he was trying to indirectly glimpse my sincerity through my eyes.

I didn’t avoid his gaze and met Captain Charles’s eyes.

The eye contact lasted for about 3 minutes.

“…Hah. Okay. I guess there’s no choice. I have to trust you.”

Did he see my sincerity in my eyes?

Captain Charles sighed as if there was nothing he could do.

“Thank you for trusting me.”

“…Sigh. If only you wouldn’t say things like that.”

Charles glanced at me and shook his head.

He looked like he was annoyed to death by me.

“Okay. Then, as you said, we just need to find the herbs as quickly as possible, right?”

“Yes.”

I stroked Miho’s head, which I was holding in my arms.

As if she had read my mind through my touch, Miho jumped down to the ground.

Then, she cried softly.

It was a signal that she would start guiding us again.

“The day of the showdown is tomorrow at 6 PM. That’s exactly 24 hours left. In the meantime, let’s find Laplace and move to the meeting place.”

Defeating Parade is tomorrow.

Today, we just need to focus on finding Laplace.