The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 214

“Then, let’s meet in the hall in 15 minutes.”

After that, I left the room, using the excuse of needing to tidy myself up before the meeting started.

“Let’s go together. There are things I want to talk about with you.”

Commander Charles also subtly followed me out.

“Things you want to talk about?”

“Yeah. It’s about…”

Commander Charles whispered very quietly in my ear.

“It’s about Shadow.”

“Ah, I see.”

The fact that Shadow is a traitor is only known to me, Commander Charles, and Lady Sophia.

It’s not something that can be said where Father is.

“Well, we can’t talk in the hallway. Let’s finish this conversation after we get to the room.”

“Yes.”

Commander Charles pulled his head away from my ear and clasped his hands behind his head.

“But your father, he’s really biased towards you? He didn’t even properly explain how to overturn the negotiations. He just says he trusts you and to do as you see fit.”

Commander Charles said casually, with a look of amazement.

“Yes. Thankfully, he trusted me.”

Honestly, I was a bit surprised too.

I thought I would have to persuade him. But he agreed so easily.

Thanks to that, I have more leeway in many ways.

“So, what are you planning to do?”

Commander Charles tilted her head slightly and looked at me.

With a meaningful look in her eyes, she was saying, ‘Tell this older sister. What tricks have you prepared?’

“Well. As I said, it’s a bit difficult to explain.”

“Are you going to be like this? Between us?”

“It’s not an excuse. It’s really difficult to explain. It’s faster to explain directly in front of the magic stones at the meeting.”

“You’re not just making excuses because you don’t want to explain twice, are you?”

Commander’s eyes narrowed even more. It was a suspicious look.

“No, I’m not. You’ll understand when you see it later. Why I said it’s difficult to explain.”

“Hmm. Okay. It doesn’t seem like you’re making things up. Then there’s no choice. We’ll just have to wait for the meeting later.”

Commander Charles shrugged with a helpless expression.

“We’ve arrived.”

After walking for about two more minutes, we arrived at the lounge, our destination.

I just need to take a quick shower here, tidy up my clothes, and then go to the meeting room.

“It’s like a real hotel room.”

“It’s because it was built by the same company that built the hotel you’re staying at. The interior will be similar.”

“Ah, I see. Now that I hear it, the structure does seem similar.”

Commander Charles looked around the room.

“Then, I’ll just take a quick shower. If it’s not too much trouble, I’d appreciate it if you could take out a suitable suit from the dressing room there.”

“Well, that’s not difficult.”

Commander Charles went into the dressing room, and I followed into the shower room.

I quickly took off my clothes and stood in front of the shower, turning on the water.

I have to hurry as much as possible since there’s no time.

Swoosh-!

I washed my body, enjoying the pouring water.

If possible, I’d like to stay like this for 5 minutes, but now is not the time to be so leisurely.

I immediately used the body wash provided to clean every part of my body.

“I’ve prepared a suit. There was only one that seemed to fit your size.”

Commander Charles’ voice was heard from beyond the shower room door.

“Thank you.”

My voice echoed.

It was a unique echo, typical of a shower room.

“It seems a bit wrinkled. I’ve tidied it up a bit. You can just put it on. There was also perfume next to it, so I took it out separately. Use it if you want.”

Commander Charles’ voice became a little clearer.

Due to the nature of the material covering the shower room walls, the sound shouldn’t be transmitted so well. What is it?

I brushed away the bangs covering my eyes and checked the door.

The door was half open.

That’s why I could hear so well.

“Don’t misunderstand, I’m not trying to peek.”

Did she feel my gaze?

Commander Charles chuckled and spoke first.

“There’s no time, so I thought it would be better to talk while showering, so I opened it just a little. It’s okay, right?”

“Yes, of course.”

I don’t mind at all.

As Commander Charles said, it’s right to use this time effectively since there’s no time to spare.

“Then, I’ll keep it as brief as possible. While you were stuck in the training grounds for 11 days, Shadow approached me.”

“…Shadow did?”

I replied while shampooing my hair.

“Yeah. I guess he was worried because he couldn’t contact you.”

“Ah, I see.”

From Shadow’s point of view, it was natural to be anxious.

It’s understandable that he would approach Commander Charles.

“Anyway, so I told Shadow about your situation. That you were in intensive training.”

“What did he say?”

“Well, he didn’t say much? He just said he was glad you were safe, or something like that.”

“I see.”

That was a very Shadow-like reaction.

I turned on the water again and rinsed the shampoo from my hair.

“Is that all?”

Is that all she had to say about Shadow?

“No. Of course not.”

Commander Charles paused for a moment and then started speaking again.

“The day Shadow came to me, he gave me a lot of information. He said he was going to be deployed on a long-term mission, so it would be difficult to contact me for a while. He said he wouldn’t have time to contact you separately, so he asked me to pass it on when you came out.”

“He gave you information? Without any conditions?”

“Yeah. Well, he said it was like a service?”

“…A service. I see.”

It’s called a service, but it’s a kind of unspoken pressure.

‘I am showing you this much trust.’

‘So, you should show me the same level of trust.’

‘Otherwise, I have no intention of doing any more business with you.’

That’s what he’s saying.

“What kind of information was it?”

“Hmm. There’s a lot, so it’s not enough time to explain it all in detail… To tell you the most important thing, it’s about the Black Magic King.”

“He provided information about the Black Magic King?”

“Isn’t it a bit much for a service?”

“…Yes. It’s a lot too much.”

It seems that Shadow is more impatient than I thought.

He must want to be freed from Umbra’s shadow as soon as possible.

That’s why he’s scattering such high-level information as a service.

That way, the deal will be made a little faster.

“First of all, it seems that the Black Magic King is really a 10-circle [a very high level of magic], as we expected. Shadow, as well as all the executives, have confirmed his divine power.”

“…Divine power?”

“Yeah.”

“What exactly did they confirm?”

Commander Charles’ voice hardened.

“He brought someone back to life.”

He brought someone back to life.

That’s a phrase with a lot of meaning.

Does it mean they saw a great healing ability?

‘No. That’s not it.’

They wouldn’t have said they saw divine power just by seeing a healing ability.

That means.

“Does it mean he resurrected a dead person?”

“Exactly.”

“…I said it, but is that really what it means?”

I was half-expecting it, but it was true.

“Are you sure? It wasn’t that the person wasn’t really dead, or that he saved someone who was on the verge of death?”

“No.”

Commander’s voice was firm.

“Shadow and all the executives confirmed that the person’s breath had stopped. In addition, one psycho executive even stabbed the person’s brain and heart twice more with a knife. He must have been dead.”

“He was resurrected even after his brain and heart were stabbed twice…”

“Yeah. It’s literally divine power.”

“…”

The power to bring people back to life at will.

As Commander said, it’s divine power.

“If that’s true, it’s a power worthy of being called a 10-circle.”

“Yeah. Even if he’s not really a 10-circle, it’s clear that he has a power that can’t be ignored.”

“Yes. Resurrection. That’s really important information.”

Just knowing that the Black Magic King has such power is a great achievement.

I rinsed all the foam from my hair and body, then turned off the water.

“And one more thing. The Black Magic King is not yet in a state where he can move properly.”

“Is it because of the circle-up dilemma?”

That was what was written in Lady Sophia’s report before.

“Probably. According to Shadow, the Black Magic King’s mana was fluctuating unstably every time they met. Could that be it?”

“That’s a silver lining.”

“Yeah. It’s a relief. If he was in perfect condition, it wouldn’t matter whether Madam was here or not.”

“…Yes.”

If the Black Magic King was in perfect condition, everything would have been over.

The world would have been conquered by the Black Magic Tower, and it would have become a world close to an apocalypse.

“Then, the reason why the Black Magic King showed himself directly in the previous The Fist transport operation was to test his power.”

“Right. There’s nothing better than fighting Madam to test his power.”

“He fought and gained the conviction that it’s not yet time… Something like that, I guess.”

“Probably.”

I used a towel and drying magic to dry my body.

I styled my hair with hot air.

“It’s all as Lady Sophia analyzed.”

“Our Madam is amazing, right?”

“Yes. I’ve come to respect her once again.”

I have infinite respect for Lady Sophia, who predicted all of this in advance with just one battle.

She’s really amazing.

I put on my clothes with that thought in mind and stepped out of the shower room.

“Oh, our little brother. You look neat and tidy.”

“I showed you an embarrassing side earlier.”

“Hey. It’s nothing. Our guys are too lazy to even use cleaning magic, so they sometimes have dirt all over them.”

“That’s a bit…”

Commander Charles chuckled at my changing expression.

“There are 5 minutes left. Hurry up and change.”

“Yes.”

I quickly changed into the suit that Commander Charles had prepared.

A pure white suit.

I wonder if a plain black suit would have been better.

Well, they said this was the only suit in my size. I have to be satisfied with this.

“I’ll give you the other information in writing after today’s work is done. I have it organized.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

I quickly put on my tie, sprayed perfume, and tidied my hair again before leaving the lounge.

“Then, I’ll see you later.”

“Okay. I’ll be watching with anticipation to see what kind of extraordinary method you’ll use to screw over Wi Sang-hyun and the Black Magic Tower.”

Commander Charles smiled brightly and waved her hand.

* * *

Inside the conference room where the negotiations between Shinbiwiga and Madoshinga were taking place.

As the agenda was what it was, the atmosphere in the conference room was heavier than ever.

‘Just one more step left.’

At the representative seat of Shinbiwiga.

Wi Sang-hyun was desperately swallowing his tension and taking deep breaths.

‘I will defeat Shin In-hyuk here. And use that as a starting point to seize the hegemony of Shinbiwiga.’

A dirty gaze that gleamed with black ambition.

Was it because desire and ambition had swallowed the tension?

The tension began to subside quickly.

Wi Sang-hyun quickly regained his composure.

In fact, when you think about it, there’s no need to be nervous.

The outcome is already more than 90% decided. Why would there be any reason to be nervous?

Wi Sang-hyun smiled leisurely.

“Then, let’s resume the meeting.”

At that moment, the moderator announced the resumption of the meeting.

Wi Sang-hyun glared at Shin In-hyuk, who was sitting in the opposite representative seat.

Shin In-hyuk was also glaring at Wi Sang-hyun.

‘I really hated that look.’

A look that looked down as if looking at a subordinate.

I hated that look that seemed to claim that he knew everything.

‘But now, I don’t feel so bad even when I see that look. Because I think of it as the struggles of a loser. It’s not bad.’

Wi Sang-hyun rested his chin leisurely and waited for the moderator to proceed.

“Then, first, from Head Shin In-hyuk. You said that this right to refine 11 types of magic stones of Shinbiwiga is a product of infringement of rights derived from the magic stone refining rights of Madoshinga.”

He watched Shin In-hyuk, who was desperately struggling, and laughed dirtily inside.

“What is the reason for your claim?”

What kind of nonsense will he spout?

Wi Sang-hyun waited for Shin In-hyuk’s words with a joyful expression.

“Before talking about that. May I first request a proxy?”

At that moment, unexpected words came out of Shin In-hyuk’s mouth.

“A proxy request. Yes. It’s possible.”

“Thank you. Tell him to come in.”

With the moderator’s permission, Shin In-hyuk’s signature was conveyed.

Immediately after that, the door of the conference room slowly opened.

“Excuse me.”

A young man wearing a stylish white suit appeared from outside.

“I have come to this negotiation as a spokesperson for Madoshinga. I am Shin Ha-yul.”

Shin Ha-yul.

He smiled gently as he calmly received the gazes of everyone in the conference room.