The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 213

I felt a brief surge of happiness, sensing the ring of awakening deep within me.

‘But this isn’t the time for that.’

Realizing the urgency, I immediately left the training grounds.

After being out of commission for eleven days, everyone must be incredibly worried.

I needed to let them know I was awake as soon as possible.

“Oh! Shin Ha-yul, you’re awake!”

As I exited the training grounds, a man who appeared to be the owner greeted me with an emotional expression.

“I’m so relieved. We were so worried…”

His expression was as if a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

It didn’t seem like he was worried about my well-being.

For someone concerned about a complete stranger, the intensity of his emotions was excessive, and the rapid shifts in his feelings were too dramatic.

“I need to inform the head of the family about this right away.”

The owner quickly grabbed his phone and made a call. He was probably trying to reach my father, just as he said.

“He probably won’t answer. He didn’t answer my calls either.”

“Ah… He’s not answering…”

The owner’s expression darkened slightly. It was quite a dramatic reaction for simply not being able to get in touch.

‘I get it now.’

I had a rough idea of why the owner was reacting this way.

“Did my father order the business to be suspended until I came out?”

“Huh? Ah, yes…”

Just as I thought.

The reason the man greeted me with such an emotional expression was because now that I was awake, they could resume business.

His worries were about the training ground’s income.

The reason he said he would inform my father right away was not to report my survival, but to get approval to resume business.

But since he couldn’t reach my father, who was the most important person, his expression couldn’t help but darken.

“I’m sorry. It’s all because of me. I’ll make sure to compensate you for the damages you’ve suffered because of this.”

Since this large-scale training ground had been closed for eleven days, the losses must be substantial.

Both morally and legally, I had to compensate for the damages.

“The head of the family already took care of the financial issues caused by the closure, so you don’t have to worry about that.”

Even though he said he had been compensated, the owner’s expression was still quite dark.

He was saying he was relieved, but his expression said otherwise.

“It seems the problem is with the regular customers.”

“…Yes. After eleven days, it wouldn’t be surprising if they had all moved to other training grounds.”

Training grounds and similar facilities usually rely on regular customers for more than 50% of their revenue.

In such a situation, the loss of regular customers would lead to a long-term decrease in the training ground’s revenue.

The owner was worried about that.

“The Mado Shin-ga [Mado Shin Clan] will also prepare appropriate measures regarding that. And even if it’s not on a family level, I will definitely help in any way I can.”

This training ground is like a benefactor to me.

If the owner of this training ground had been a little more greedy and a little more callous, he would have tried to force me out.

If that had happened, I would have failed to weave the ring of awakening.

The fact that I was able to weave the ring of awakening safely was also thanks to the owner’s patience and consideration.

Just as the owner had been considerate of me, I had to repay him accordingly.

That’s just human nature.

“You’re saying you’ll help separately, even on your own? Is that for real?”

“Yes. I’ll help as much as I can.”

“Then… !”

The owner grabbed my hand.

“Please be our promotional model.”

“…Excuse me?”

Then he made a sudden suggestion.

“If Shin Ha-yul, the nation’s son and Korea’s hero, becomes our promotional model, it will bring a huge increase in sales, both in the short and long term. So please…”

“Hmm…”

For a moment, I thought it was absurd.

But thinking about it, it was quite a reasonable method.

Even though my popularity had waned since the Olympics, my name still carried significant weight.

Me directly promoting this training ground.

Even thinking about it again, it wasn’t a bad idea.

“I’m still a student, so it’s impossible for me to be a commercial promotional model.”

The problem was that I couldn’t do things like promotional modeling separately.

“Ah… That’s right… I forgot. Then, it’s a shame, but let’s forget about this proposal…”

“So, instead of openly promoting, I’ll try indirect promotion.”

“Indirect promotion?”

“Yes. I happen to be appearing on a famous talk show. I’ll casually talk about what happened this time and do some indirect promotion.”

“Ah! If you could do that, I couldn’t ask for more! Thank you so much!”

“It’s nothing. I’m the one who caused the trouble.”

The owner looked touched by my answer.

He looked like he was thinking, ‘How can there be such a wonderful young man!’

“…Could you sign something for me? My son is a fan.”

“Hmm. Unfortunately, I don’t have a signature. Instead, how about I take a picture with your son next time?”

“Ah, thank you so much!”

The owner bowed deeply, looking very moved.

“More importantly, my father still hasn’t contacted me… Do you know anything about that?”

“Huh? Well, not really… Ah.”

The owner was about to answer that he didn’t know, but then he exclaimed as if he had realized something.

“Come to think of it, it’s today.”

As expected, it seemed like something was really happening today.

“Today. I vaguely heard that there would be negotiations between the Mado Shin-ga and the Shinbi-wi [Shinbi Guard].”

“Negotiations with the Shinbi-wi at this time…”

The name of Wi Sang-hyun, the younger brother of the head of the Shinbi-wi, came to mind.

The information that he was a spy for the Black Magic Tower and was preparing a new project to raise his position also came to mind.

“Is it perhaps negotiations regarding the rights to refine eleven types of magic stones?”

“Ah, yes. That’s probably it. I don’t know if it’s eleven types, but I heard it was related to magic stones.”

“…I see.”

While I was focused for eleven days, the situation seemed to have changed quite drastically.

“I’m sorry, but could you prepare a car for me right away?”

* * *

Inside the conference room where the Mado Shin-ga and Shinbi-wi were holding negotiations.

Shin In-hyuk was taking a short break and talking to Charles.

“…It seems like you were right.”

“See? What did I tell you? That Wi Sang-hyun is a spy.”

Charles sighed deeply at Shin In-hyuk’s words.

It was an expression that said, ‘Are you finally believing me?’

“I did believe you halfway. It was Sophia’s words, after all. It’s just that I’ve gained complete certainty today.”

“Believing halfway means you didn’t believe half of it.”

“That’s right.”

“How is that… Sigh. Never mind. What’s the point of talking about it.”

Charles sighed again.

Shin In-hyuk’s uprightness and firm beliefs were definitely great strengths, but in this aspect, he was incredibly frustrating.

‘Ah, I miss Ha-yul.’

There was nothing like Shin Ha-yul to break this man’s stubbornness.

If only Shin Ha-yul had been here, I wouldn’t have had to go through all that trouble for the past week.

Thinking that made me miss him even more.

“Anyway, you now believe me 100%, right?”

“Yes. It’s not just Sang-hyun’s reaction, but the situation is too strange.”

“The situation is strange? What? I don’t know about that.”

Shin In-hyuk’s eyes flashed sharply.

“The eleven types of magic stones that the Shinbi-wi is newly manufacturing are items that our Mado Shin-ga has had a monopoly on until now. What do you think is the reason for that?”

“I don’t know? Isn’t it something like a contractual reason?”

Shin In-hyuk glared at Charles with eyes that looked at a fool.

“Do you think the country would legally allow such a monopoly?”

“…Never mind.”

Charles subtly turned his gaze away.

As a mercenary, Charles had a considerable lack of knowledge about these political relationships and legal matters.

“The reason is simple. It’s because we are the only ones who know how to refine the eleven types of magic stones.”

“That was a really simple reason…”

The only people who could make them were the Mado Shin-ga.

That’s why it was an inevitable monopoly.

The eleven types of magic stones had become like a symbol of the Mado Shin-ga.

“Then, are you saying that the Mado Shin-ga’s magic stone refining method has been leaked to the outside?”

“You’re quick on the uptake in these situations.”

This was the only reason why these negotiations were opened with the eleven types of magic stones as the main issue.

“Yes. It seems that Sang-hyun knows about the Mado Shin-ga’s magic stone refining method.”

Shin In-hyuk’s eyes flashed sharply again.

The fact that Wi Sang-hyun, an outsider, knew about the magic stone refining method, which was one of the Mado Shin-ga’s top secrets, meant that, as Charles said, there was a very high possibility that a spy from the Black Magic Tower was hiding inside the Mado Shin-ga and Shinbi-wi.

It was quite possible for spies to share top-secret information with each other.

“But aren’t things like magic stone refining methods protected by international patent law? If they used the Mado Shin-ga’s refining method as it is, wouldn’t that be against the law?”

“It would have been if they used it as it is.”

If they had used it as it is, that is.

“In the first place, it’s quite difficult to get intellectual property rights and patent rights recognized. In the case of magic and techniques obtained through ancient texts, there are many similar techniques. They could have been obtained from separate ancient texts. Even if the methods overlap to some extent, it can’t be helped.”

“Well, that’s…”

It was obvious.

If property rights were recognized for every calculation or formula, that would be a bad law.

“Sang-hyun used the loopholes in the law very well. Among the eleven types of magic stones, he used the exact same refining method as us for the three types of magic stones that have strong characteristics. And he slightly changed the refining method for the remaining eight types of magic stones.”

He left the three types of refining methods that were impossible to change as they were.

And he changed the eight types of magic stones that could be changed.

And he said this.

‘As you can see from these eight magic stones, it’s a completely different method from the Mado Shin-ga. It’s proof that we obtained the refining method for the magic stones through a separate ancient text.’

‘These three magic stones are so unique that the methods seem somewhat similar in the ancient text I obtained. I was surprised that they were the same as the magic stones refined by the Mado Shin-ga.’

‘Since you might be suspicious, I’ll present one more piece of evidence. Here, a new type of magic stone that only our Shinbi-wi can produce. A recovery stone.’

Three maintained, eight changed, one added.

With this, the Shinbi-wi created the justification that their technology was not stolen, but completely new.

Because of this, the patent law lost its meaning.

Under current law, there is a high probability that the Shinbi-wi’s technology will be registered as completely new.

“He’s meticulous.”

Charles looked somewhat impressed.

“Yes. He’s meticulous.”

Shin In-hyuk’s eyes flashed.

“And the idiom ‘meticulous’ is not a word that suits Sang-hyun.”

Shin In-hyuk was friends with Wi Sang-chul, the head of the Shinbi-wi.

As they had been friends for decades, he had some interaction with Wi Sang-hyun, who was three years younger than Wi Sang-chul.

That’s why he knew exactly what Wi Sang-hyun’s capacity was.

“Well, this game wasn’t made by Wi Sang-hyun.”

Wi Sang-hyun was not a talented enough person to create such a perfect game.

If he had that much ability, Wi Sang-chul would not have failed to appoint Wi Sang-hyun as an executive.

There was someone else behind this.

“Yes. There’s someone manipulating Sang-hyun from behind. And that’s the hunting dog. As you said, there’s a very high probability that it’s the Black Magic Tower.”

A person who had the ability to improve the refining method of eight types of magic stones.

A person who could extract top-secret information from the Mado Shin-ga.

A person who had the position to make Wi Sang-hyun a puppet.

The only entity that could be such a person was the Black Magic Tower.

“If you add Sophia’s confirmation to that, it’s almost 100%. What you said is true.”

In addition to circumstantial evidence, there was the confirmation of a reliable person named Sophia.

There was no more room for doubt.

“It seems like you’re more meticulous than those guys?”

Charles clicked his tongue.

He was impressed by Shin In-hyuk’s rational judgment and the flow of his cold-blooded thinking.

“Anyway, thank you for believing me now. Now we can do something.”

“It’s not that I believed you. I believed the current situation and my eyes.”

“Whatever. Isn’t it good that it’s good?”

Charles shrugged his shoulders.

“So, what’s the conclusion? Do you think you can stop it?”

Could they stop the Shinbi-wi from newly registering the patent for the rights to refine eleven types of magic stones?

That was the meaning behind the question.

“It’ll be difficult if things continue like this. I think we can push it to a 50/50 fight, but…”

50/50 wouldn’t do.

“There’s a high possibility that the judges and even the moderator have been bribed. 50/50 will be difficult.”

“Yes. That’s the problem.”

Shin In-hyuk’s expression darkened even more.

‘If Sang-hyun is a puppet of the Black Magic Tower, we can’t let him strengthen his position like this.’

If Wi Sang-hyun gained a little more power here, he would become a force that could oppose Wi Sang-chul.

If that happened, the Black Magic Tower would begin to intervene in earnest, and Wi Sang-hyun would take over the Shinbi-wi.

That would be a troublesome situation in many ways.

To prevent that, we had to stop these negotiations today.

It was most important to stop the first step.

“…”

Just as Shin In-hyuk’s brain began to spin at the speed of light.

Knock knock.

Along with the sound of knocking.

“Father. It’s Ha-yul.”

Shin Ha-yul’s voice was heard from outside the door.

“!”

Charles and Shin In-hyuk’s eyes widened at the same time.

Charles ran to the door and opened it.

“Shin Tae-shik! You’re awake!”

And then he hugged Shin Ha-yul with a heart full of joy.

“Yes. I’m sorry for being late.”

“No. Well, can you control enlightenment? There’s nothing to be sorry about.”

Charles smiled with the happiest expression in the world.

“Yeah. Did you get some results worth it?”

“…Ahem.”

At that moment, Shin In-hyuk, who had been quietly in the back, cleared his throat.

It was a silent pressure towards Charles, telling him to stop.

“Your father. He’s not very global, is he?”

Charles whispered that to Shin Ha-yul’s ear and immediately stepped away.

Shin Ha-yul, who was now free, moved to Shin In-hyuk’s front.

“I’m sorry for making you worry.”

“Did you come straight here as soon as you woke up?”

“Yes.”

“Without resting a little more?”

“It’s okay. My condition isn’t that bad.”

Since I had been wearing the Aeth [A magical artifact] on the way, my condition had recovered to some extent. Of course, it wasn’t in perfect condition.

“It doesn’t seem like a situation where I can rest either.”

Shin Ha-yul’s eyes flashed.

A confident and self-assured look.

Looking at that look, Shin In-hyuk inwardly exclaimed, ‘Oh ho.’

“You’re speaking as if you understand how the situation is unfolding.”

“I heard about the situation from Mr. Seok-hyun on the way here.”

If he had met Kim Seok-hyun on the way, he would have finished grasping the situation.

“That confidence despite knowing the situation…”

He was confident and self-assured despite knowing this hopeless situation.

That meant.

“It seems you have something in mind.”

It meant that he had a solution to this situation.

“Yes. I have one idea that came to mind.”

Shin Ha-yul smiled slightly and affirmed.

“If you trust me, Father, I’ll show you how to completely overturn these negotiations.”