The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 243

Leaving the two researchers behind, I moved a bit further ahead.

I walked for about 10 minutes, I guess.

I found a white door that seemed to be shouting, ‘I’m the entrance!’

It was clearly the entrance to the research facility, and it looked like a door that would be heavily guarded by strict security measures.

‘Nothing?’

But I couldn’t find any CCTV cameras.

Not only CCTV, but there were no other security measures visible either.

Nothing caught my eye.

Miho didn’t react either, so it seems she didn’t sense anything unusual.

The fact that neither Miho nor I found anything means that there really aren’t any security systems, including CCTV.

‘Why is it so lax?’

There’s no security at the entrance.

For guys who built a secret facility like this under Paris, the security is way too lax.

‘This is making me uneasy.’

Normally, I should be happy that there’s no security, but it’s so lax that it makes me feel uneasy and anxious.

‘Let’s… go inside for now.’

I don’t sense any other presence near the door.

I immediately opened the door and stepped inside the research facility.

* * *

The inside of the research facility was quite barren.

Not only were there no special research equipment, but I couldn’t find anyone either.

Even after searching every corner of the research facility for 30 minutes, I couldn’t find a single hair of a person.

‘……I can’t understand it. Why is there nothing here?’

To build a secret research facility like this and not have any special equipment or personnel inside.

What kind of research are they doing to have such an abnormal structure?

I can’t even imagine.

I couldn’t find any research logs during the 30-minute search either.

Everything is a mystery.

The series of incomprehensible situations made my already uneasy mood even more uneasy.

‘Maybe there’s something in the central area.’

The central area of the research facility where Ignis’s energy is radiating.

If I investigate there, I might be able to find something.

‘Let’s go.’

I slowly moved my feet towards that place.

After moving for about a minute.

A security door that looked very strict greeted me.

As soon as I saw the door, I let out a sigh of relief.

‘Yeah. No matter what, there should be security in the central area.’

I couldn’t find any CCTV or security systems inside the research facility.

That’s why my uneasiness was growing.

But no matter what, there’s a security system in this deepest part.

If there was no security here, I would have been incredibly uneasy.

I feel like my uneasiness is disappearing at once.

‘But I won’t be able to get in like this.’

I can break through if I try.

It doesn’t look like a very advanced security system.

I can break through it just by cracking it, without having to use resonance or sympathetic vibration [techniques to manipulate energy].

The problem is that if I break through like that, my identity will be revealed for sure.

Therefore, I can’t go any further.

Today’s infiltration ends here.

‘It’s a shame, but there’s nothing I can do. I have no choice but to go back for today.’

I’ve gathered enough information.

It’s the right choice not to push too hard from the beginning and aim for the future.

I made up my mind and took a step back.

“Kkyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”

A piercing scream was heard from inside the research facility, which was supposed to be protected by security.

“It’s hot! Save me… save me…! No, just kill meeeeeee!”

Before I could even react to the sudden scream.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh-!

Suddenly, the sound of flames expanding was heard.

And then the security wall melted down.

As if ice was melting in fire, the door melted very quickly.

The time it took for the door to completely melt was only about a second.

‘It’s dangerous!’

I was about 0.5 seconds late in grasping the situation due to the unexpected situation.

I threw myself backward, albeit a bit late.

I have no idea what’s going on.

If I stay here, I’ll be burned to death by Ignis’s flames.

Whatever the reason, I have to run away with all my might.

I started running backward with all my might.

‘The expansion of the flames is too fast!’

But Ignis’s flames were much faster than I had expected.

The flames were approaching, easily overtaking even my top speed.

At this rate, I’ll be caught.

‘Resonance!’

I used ‘Resonance’ as it was to increase the rotation of the Infinity Circle [a technique to enhance mana flow].

More powerful mana permeated my lower body.

The speed increased even faster with the enhancement of resonance.

My speed nearly doubled.

‘It’s still not enough!’

Even so, it wasn’t enough to match the expansion speed of Ignis.

Just barely.

The speed at which Ignis was spreading was faster.

‘The momentum of the flames is weakening little by little, though…’

Fortunately, the speed at which the flames were approaching was gradually slowing down.

It must be losing power as it moves away from the center of the explosion.

‘Still, it’s close.’

If I calculate the decreasing speed, it’s quite close.

The key is 10 seconds.

If the flames lose their momentum within 10 seconds, I’ll live, otherwise, I’ll be devoured by the flames.

Sizzle, whoosh!

The flames are getting closer and closer.

And after a total of ten seconds, which felt like a minute.

Just as traces of flames began to remain on my back.

‘Please stop…!’

Was it because my wish reached it?

The speed at which the flames were spreading became slower than me.

‘I made it!’

The speed of the flames slowed down at once.

Now there’s no chance that I’ll be caught by those flames.

‘I’ll get out of here and…’

Just as I was relieved.

Sizzle, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh-!

“……!”

Suddenly, the flames expanded again.

Last burst of energy.

Like the sky momentarily brightening before the sun sets.

As if squeezing out the last of its power, the momentum of the flames began to grow explosively.

The explosive expansion soon affected my body.

Sizzle-!

“Kuh!”

Ignis’s flames finally reached my finger.

It’s hot.

My index finger started burning in an instant.

‘The firepower… is too strong!’

Fortunately, I managed to react instantly and concentrate mana on my index finger.

If I hadn’t, my index finger would have disappeared without a trace.

And another fortunate thing.

Since it was the last flash before burning away, the flames wouldn’t grow any bigger.

‘Still, it’s okay at this level.’

I suppressed the pain in my index finger and ran towards the opposite side of the research facility.

I can sort out my thoughts after I get out of here.

* * *

The research facility, which should have been devastated by Ignis’s rampage, was unexpectedly very clean.

“Hmm. It went berserk again.”

Doctor, who was sitting on a chair watching the test subject, clicked his tongue as if he was disappointed.

“But still, it’s become much more refined compared to the beginning.”

When Ignis first went berserk, the flames spread to the end of the main passage connected to this place, as well as three secret passages.

Considering that time, it’s a great improvement now.

‘Looking at the explosion of mana, it’s roughly up to the entrance of the research facility.’

The fact that the flames only spread to the entrance of the research facility.

It was clear evidence that the research was progressing.

Doctor smiled faintly with a not-bad expression.

“Is anyone there?”

“You called?”

A researcher appeared at Doctor’s words.

The chief researcher was out for business, so another researcher came.

“Start cleaning up as soon as the flames completely subside.”

“Should we handle it the same way as usual?”

“Yes. Install security doors and CCTV only at the entrance of the storage. Leave the rest as it is.”

Due to Ignis’s frequent rampages, the security systems in all directions were destroyed, so they don’t bother installing CCTV except for the central area.

This is why the security of this research facility is so lax.

“Don’t forget to check if the flame-resistant materials inside the research facility are affected.”

This research facility is designed to have excellent flame resistance from the start.

It’s built with all kinds of powerful flame-resistant materials, so it won’t catch fire.

It’s also structured so that the flames can be isolated inside the research facility and spread from the center of the research facility to the corridors and secret passages to suppress additional explosions.

This is the secret of the large-scale structure of this research facility, and the reason for the existence of the three secret passages.

“Yes. I will make sure to dispose of the test subject as well.”

“Mistakes are not allowed.”

“I will be careful.”

With the researcher’s answer, Doctor got up from his seat.

“Are you going to analyze the properties of the flames?”

“Yes.”

“Shall I assign an assistant?”

“It’s not necessary. The rampage wasn’t that big. You guys focus on cleaning up.”

“Yes. Understood.”

Doctor didn’t even look at the researcher and headed straight outside.

The direction he was heading was the direction where the flames had exploded. The end of where the flames had stopped.

Doctor took out a property observation reagent from his pocket and walked along the path, spraying it here and there.

‘It’s definitely stabilizing.’

The soot that turned green when it came into contact with the reagent.

Doctor smiled contentedly as he observed the soot that started to show a lighter color as he went further back.

After repeating the act of spraying and observing the reagent, he arrived near the entrance of the research facility, which was his destination.

Doctor sprayed the reagent on the last scorched wall.

The soot started to change color, just like before.

“This is…”

At that moment, Doctor’s eyes sharpened.

The reagent that Doctor is currently spraying is a reagent that reacts with the remnants of mana, and it turns green when it comes into contact with the remnants of flame magic.

The stronger the firepower, the darker the green.

The weaker the firepower, the lighter the green.

There is only a difference in the brightness of the green, and it never changes to another color.

“Blue?”

But the soot in the last area turned blue when it came into contact with the reagent.

Flame mana alone can never be blue.

That means.

“There was an intruder in the research facility?”

That’s what it meant.

“A rat has infiltrated my castle…?”

Doctor’s expression twisted fiercely.

“How dare some bastard…”

Then he stared intently at the dark passage in the distance.

* * *

It’s been 20 minutes since I escaped from Ignis’s flames.

Was it because I ran with all my might?

I managed to traverse the passage that took 2 hours in just 20 minutes.

I immediately put my hand on the secret passage and operated it in the opposite direction from when I opened it.

If it’s this structure of door, it’s clear that it will open with a reverse operation.

‘It opened.’

It was as I expected.

The secret passage opened without a sound.

Beyond the secret passage, sunlight is shining faintly.

It seems to be morning.

I went straight out of the secret passage and flew towards the rooftop of the building.

And without stopping, I jumped over the buildings and escaped.

‘I moved quite boldly this time. Someone might have noticed my movements and followed me.’

While being wary of any possible tail, I moved towards the hotel as quickly as possible.

‘No. There might be a tail. Let’s take a detour.’

As soon as I finished thinking, I changed my route.

About 40 minutes passed like that.

I arrived at the hotel after spending about twice as much time.

‘Fortunately, I don’t seem to have been caught.’

Fortunately, there was no tail.

I even circled around the area just in case, but no suspicious movements were detected.

It seems that my mana was buried by Ignis’s rampage, so they didn’t notice my mana.

It was a very fortunate thing.

‘My condition is a mess.’

I took off my half-burned clothes and started treating my index finger that was burned at the end.

‘……Ugh.’

Is it really Ignis?

Even though I blocked it with all my might, the injury is considerable.

If my reaction had been a little slower, all the cells would have been necrotic, and it would have been an irreversible situation.

‘It’s a relief that it ended with a third-degree burn.’

I suppressed the tingling pain and applied ointment to my finger.

And as a finishing touch, I put on a bandage and wrapped it with a bandage.

That’s it.

This level of injury will disappear without a scar in about 2 days.

Lick.

Miho, who had been in my arms all the time, gently licked my finger.

It was as if she was asking if I was okay.

“I’m okay. Miho, are you hurt anywhere?”

Miho nodded as if she was fine.

“That’s good.”

I gently stroked Miho’s head. Miho cried as if she was happy.

Woo-woo-woo-!

At that time, the phone placed next to the bed vibrated.

[AM 7:00]

It was an alarm to announce the start of work.

‘There’s no time to rest.’

I immediately threw off the clothes I was wearing and changed into my uniform.

“Miho, you go to Mimir’s Book first. And give my regards to Mimir.”

I quickly changed my clothes, asked Miho to deliver my regards, and sent her back to Mimir’s Book [a place where magical books are kept].

And as soon as I changed my clothes, I put on my shoes and left the hotel.

* * *

I arrived at school 3 minutes before the start of class.

It was a later commute than usual, but no one said anything in particular.

Some people joked that I had overslept, but it wasn’t sincere.

Is it thanks to my usual behavior?

Or is it because I didn’t really arrive late?

Anyway, I managed to get to work without being late.

‘Hoo.’

I sighed inwardly and sat down at my seat.

As I had a little time to spare, my already complicated head seemed to become even more complicated.

Well, yeah.

I had just finished infiltrating the research facility and went straight to work without sorting out my thoughts.

It was natural that my head was complicated.

‘Should I have talked to Mimir before going to work, regardless of being late or not?’

I also had some regrets.

Considering my usual behavior, it wouldn’t have been a problem if I was a little late.

‘What can I do since I’ve already gone to school.’

As long as Aies is there, I can go to Mimir’s Book anytime if time and place allow.

I’ll go during the break after the first period.

‘Until then, let’s just clear my mind.’

I made up my mind and shoved all sorts of things into one side of my head.

“Hoo…”

After even taking a deep breath, I regained some composure.

“Everyone, is it okay for a moment?”

At that time, the chairman came to the faculty room.

It was a time when he wouldn’t even come to work normally. What’s going on?

“It’s class time…”

“It will only take a moment. An important guest has arrived. I’m just going to introduce them.”

“An important guest?”

Everyone tilted their heads.

Who could be an important guest who would come at this time? It seems like they were thinking that.

“Please come in.”

The chairman greeted the guest with a bright smile.

A middle-aged man with a handsome appearance appeared from beyond the door.

His neatly styled hair and suit stood out.

“He is Professor Ashuin, who has been donating a lot of money to our school every year…”

My pupils dilated as the man fully revealed himself.

“He is a busy person, but today, he came to check if the donations are being used well…”

The chairman’s words no longer entered my head.

I was out of my mind because of the strange energy I felt from the man in front of me.

‘Corrupted mana…’

Corrupted mana, which is the same as evidence of the Black Magic Tower, was flowing out of the man who the chairman introduced as Professor Ashuin.

And it was different in nature from the mana of Leng Smith.

‘It’s on par with Tkish and Parade.’

The mana of a high-ranking executive.

“Nice to meet you. The chairman is calling me ‘Professor,’ but personally, I prefer that title…”

The man smiled.

At first glance, it looked like a refreshing smile, but to my eyes, it looked like a very strange smile.

“I prefer to be called ‘Doctor.’ So please call me Doctor Ashuin.”

Probably the real ‘Doctor.’

He revealed himself in front of my eyes.