The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 209

Time flew by quickly. It was Friday. The current time was 1:30 PM. Today’s afternoon class was a full-scale practical training session in preparation for the final exam.

‘Shin Ha-yul, perfect score. It was flawless, needless to say.’

‘Thank you.’

The training was called ‘Monster Parade.’ It was a training to check how well we could defend against a sequential monster rush using the newly installed, state-of-the-art training room. And, quite naturally, I received a perfect score. Getting a perfect score in training tailored for students was a given for me now.

‘Is he really a genius?’

‘Ugh, I feel so pathetic. Just four months ago, he was a total failure…’

‘How is he the same 18 years old as me? He seems better than my older brother…’

‘The Olympiad record holder isn’t just anyone.’

As I was returning to my seat, I could hear the murmurs of the students around me. Most of the students were in awe. About 10% of the students were jealous.

‘…Damn it. He’s so annoying.’

‘That cripple is showing off.’

‘I know, right? It’s obvious he’ll lose his shine later. Why are they sucking up to him so much?’

And 1% of the students still harbored hostility towards me. I should probably call it murderous intent rather than hostility now.

‘How cute.’

I glared once at the group of people looking at me with murderous eyes. The four petty individuals who were whispering insults about me flinched. Then, they glanced at me, clicked their tongues, and left.

‘They really are cute.’

As expected of petty people, even their actions were petty. Those kinds of people aren’t even worth paying attention to. All they can do is whisper behind my back. They can’t do anything that would harm me. They don’t have the guts or the drive to do so. I chuckled and returned to my seat.

‘You did well.’

Soonchan approached me, grinning slyly.

‘What do you mean, ‘did well’? It wasn’t hard at all.’

It really wasn’t hard at all. They were all only at the 3rd Circle level [a level of magical proficiency], so how could the training be difficult? It was so easy that I almost yawned.

‘I mean, you did well to hold back and not go all out. It was almost to the point where it was a miracle you didn’t yawn.’

Soonchan whispered in my ear, glancing around. He was being careful because his words could dampen the enthusiasm of the other students who were working hard.

‘In that sense, I guess I did do well.’

The training time was so long. I almost actually yawned. I could probably get a perfect score with my eyes closed.

‘I wonder what they’d say if they saw your full power.’

Soonchan grinned, looking at the petty quartet staring at us from afar.

‘It’d be the same. They’d say I’m full of hot air or something like that.’

‘Even after seeing your true abilities, they’d still say that?’

‘Yeah. Those kinds of people usually only believe what they want to believe. They’re just full of pride. Once they’ve decided that I’m a fraud, I’ll be a fraud no matter what I do.’

They were truly pathetic people. It was fortunate that there weren’t many like them.

‘They’re really hopeless.’

‘Just leave them be. Once we take the advancement exam, we won’t have anything to do with them anyway.’

I was too busy looking up to bother looking down. I completely ignored the pathetic quartet.

‘Ooooh!’

At that moment, cheers erupted from a place a little further away from us. When I turned my gaze, I could see Adela walking out of the training room.

‘Wow, Adela also got a perfect score.’

‘Shin Ha-yul is one thing, but Adela is something else.’

The instructor patted Adela’s shoulder with a proud smile. It seemed that Adela had also received a perfect score.

‘Tsk. I need to get a perfect score somehow.’

Listening to the murmurs praising Adela, Soonchan muttered with a serious expression.

‘Why?’

‘Well, as someone who trains with you guys. You both got perfect scores. It’d be a bit much if I was the only one who didn’t.’

‘Does it feel like you’re riding the bus?’

‘…Do you have to be so blunt and harsh?’

Soonchan nudged my side with his elbow. But his elbow didn’t do any damage to my side.

‘Ugh. You’re so damn hard. How is this body a mage?’

Soonchan stared at my body with a dumbfounded expression.

‘What, is there a secret to gaining muscles? How can a person’s body be like this?’

‘There is a secret.’

‘…There is?’

‘Yeah. There’s a really special secret. Want me to tell you?’

‘…What is it?’

‘Come closer.’

Soonchan brought his ear close to my mouth. I whispered as quietly as possible into Soonchan’s ear.

‘Make a mana core.’

‘You son of a…’

Soonchan shouted. He stuck out his tongue, looking like he’d been tricked again.

‘You’ve been using this pattern too often lately. Tone it down?’

‘I use it because you keep falling for it. If you’re upset, don’t fall for it.’

‘Who wouldn’t bite when you throw out such high-quality bait? Ugh. Annoying. Mana core, my ass.’

It’s common knowledge that a mana core is poison to a mage. That’s why he’s reacting like that.

‘It’s really my secret though.’

‘Yeah, yeah. Sure it is.’

Soonchan snorted, looking like he was telling me not to say such nonsense.

‘You don’t believe it.’

‘No. I believe it?’

Soonchan smiled insincerely, looking like he didn’t believe it at all. I looked at Soonchan with a look of utter injustice.

‘Ah, I’m so wronged.’

‘Yeah, no way.’

With Soonchan’s firm words, we started laughing at each other.

‘Ji Soonchan, prepare yourself.’

At that moment, Soonchan was called.

‘Then I’ll go get a perfect score real quick.’

‘Okay. I’ll prepare a mask to hide your face. You’ll be too embarrassed to show your face when you come out.’

‘Alright. Thanks for the consideration. Make sure you have that mask ready? I’m going to hit you with it.’

Soonchan grinned and walked towards the training room. I chuckled to myself, watching Soonchan walk away.

‘It seems Soonchan went to train.’

At that moment, Adela approached me.

‘Yeah. He just went in. Why? Do you have something to say to Soonchan?’

‘I have something to tell you. Not just Soonchan, but you too.’

‘To both of us?’

‘Yes.’

Adela handed me something that looked like an invitation.

‘Please open it.’

I opened the envelope and checked the contents inside.

‘Students who are taking the advancement exam are exempt from classes and can do self-directed training?’

‘Yes. The chairman gave it to us earlier. He must have decided that it’s better for the three of us to do self-directed training that suits our abilities rather than training tailored to the classes here.’

That was definitely more efficient. Especially for me, since my magic system was different, there was nothing to learn.

‘I was going to apply for it anyway. They issued it first?’

‘It means the chairman has high expectations for us.’

Adela smiled confidently. She seemed to be radiating pride from her whole body.

‘Then we need to reschedule our training schedule starting next week.’

‘Yes.’

‘They’re not assigning us an instructor separately?’

‘Yes. Maybe because they confirmed that we could handle things ourselves during the Olympiad. They said they’d leave everything up to us.’

‘…Their trust is scary.’

Has there ever been a case where a student was trusted this much? I don’t think so.

‘Then let’s reschedule our training plan after class today.’

‘Since we’re exempt from classes starting today, we can go back as soon as Soonchan returns.’

‘Ah, really?’

I checked the letter again. It was definitely dated from today. If that’s the case, there’s no problem with going back to the dorm right now.

‘Then let’s tell the instructors when Soonchan comes back and go back right away. Good. It won’t interfere with today’s afternoon training.’

‘Yes.’

At that moment, Soonchan entered the training room.

‘Let’s see if Soonchan gets a perfect score first. If he doesn’t, I’ll kill him during training today.’

‘He’ll definitely get a perfect score.’

Adela smiled faintly, watching Soonchan take a deep breath on the monitor.

‘He worked so hard. There’s no way he won’t get a perfect score.’

‘That’s true.’

And so, Soonchan’s training began.

* * *

In the end, Soonchan succeeded in getting a perfect score. He didn’t get it as easily as Adela or I, but a perfect score was a perfect score. Adela and I congratulated Soonchan with joyful hearts. …I almost got angry because he was being too cocky, but I managed to hold it in.

‘So, we’ll rest on Sunday, and from Monday to Saturday, we’ll train for 8 hours a day?’

And now, I was in my room, talking about the training schedule with Soonchan and Adela.

‘We need to add physical training. The written exam prep is separate. If we include the written exam prep, it’ll be about 14 hours a day?’

‘…Oh my god.’

Soonchan despaired.

‘How is it that taking out school classes makes it even harder?’

‘Life is usually harder after you graduate from school.’

‘Hey, same age. Is that something you should be saying?’

‘I know even without experiencing it.’

‘Yeah, yeah. Of course you do. You’re the omnipotent Ha-yul.’

Soonchan made a fuss, pretending to hold me up with both hands. I had the urge to punch him.

‘I’ll arrange the practical training schedule separately. The Blue Magic Tower Lord has agreed to help with the written exam.’

‘The Blue Magic Tower Lord?’

‘Yeah. They said they’d assign a teacher who’s 100% specialized for the advancement exam. Learn well from them.’

‘It sounds like you’re telling only me to learn?’

‘You heard right. You’re the only one learning.’

‘…What about you guys?’

‘Is there a need for us to learn? We’ll get a perfect score even without studying.’

‘Ugh. You’re so annoying. How do you get more annoying as time goes on?’

Soonchan said with a very disgruntled expression.

‘If you were quiet like Adela, you’d be halfway there. Right? Adela?’

Soonchan spoke to Adela.

‘…Yes, yes?’

Adela looked up, startled. She looked like she hadn’t heard a single word of what we were talking about.

‘So you just weren’t listening?’

‘Was it important?’

‘No. Just keep doing what you were doing.’

‘Okay.’

Adela had been playing with Miho ever since she came into my room. She probably hadn’t heard a single word we said.

‘So cute…’

Adela gently smiled, stroking Miho in her arms. Miho also seemed comfortable in Adela’s arms, purring with a relaxed expression.

‘This is a sight that would make Mimir spit blood…’

Seeing Mimir struggling to get close to Miho, I felt sorry for him. For Mimir, seeing this scene would definitely make him spit blood. Wouldn’t he be pounding the ground with a look of injustice?

‘Can I touch it too?’

‘I don’t mind.’

‘Is that so?’

Soonchan cautiously reached out to Miho. But no way. Miho smacked Soonchan’s hand away with its tail. Then, it glared at Soonchan and growled. It was a warning growl, telling him not to come any closer.

‘Just so you know, you’re free to touch it. But Miho probably won’t allow it.’

‘…Why are you telling me that now?’

Soonchan rubbed his right hand, which had been hit by Miho’s tail, with a pained expression. Miho’s tail wasn’t weak. It probably stung quite a bit.

‘Is it a male? Is that why it only follows beautiful women?’

‘No. Miho doesn’t have a gender.’

Spirits don’t have genders. Therefore, Miho also didn’t have a gender. …That’s what Mimir said.

‘Really? Then it should follow handsome guys too.’

‘That’s why it follows me so well.’

I pointed at my face and smiled.

‘Just go die.’

Soonchan said seriously.

‘Just kidding. It seems like Adela is special. She’s the only one it follows like that besides me.’

‘Really? That’s amazing.’

‘Yeah. I’m amazed too.’

It was still a mystery. Why did Miho follow Adela so much? For Miho, who distinguishes targets by their souls, to follow a person so much. It meant that there was something in Adela’s soul.

‘What could it be…’

I briefly pondered, looking at Adela and Miho. …Eh. I don’t know. And in the end, I came to the same conclusion as usual, that I didn’t know. If it follows her well, then that’s good.

‘Then let’s eat dinner and get ready for training.’

It took quite a while to plan the training schedule. The current time was 5:30 PM. Now, we needed to eat dinner, rest a bit, and then prepare for training.

‘Okay.’

‘…Okay.’

Soonchan got up from his seat energetically. Adela answered hesitantly, looking like she was very sad.

‘I’ll come again next time.’

She put Miho on the bed and waved her hand slightly. Her eyes were full of regret. As expected, Miho’s charm was something else. Even Adela was losing her mind.

‘Miho, rest. I’ll be back soon.’

Miho cried out cutely. We left Miho behind and headed to the cafeteria.

‘But we didn’t even talk about today’s and tomorrow’s training?’

While we were moving, Soonchan casually brought up the topic.

‘Today, we’ll do the training we had planned before. And there’s no separate training tomorrow. It’s self-directed training.’

‘Huh? Why tomorrow?’

‘I have some things to do.’

‘Things to do? Is it important?’

‘Yeah. Very important.’

Tomorrow was finally the day.

‘The day I consume the Tears of Heaven.’

The day I consume the elixir to weave the Ring of Awakening.