The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 277

According to the knowledge I received from my master, Mimir’s soul isn’t completely gone.

The Book of Mimir lost its power, and with it, the strength to maintain Mimir’s form vanished.

However, the core that constituted Mimir still exists within the Book of Mimir.

The proof is the Book of Idred.

The Book of Idred lost its power a long time ago and turned into an ordinary book.

But the data of Elena and Aslan remained intact inside.

Because the data existed, I was able to meet them on the sixth trial page this time.

And the structure of the Book of Mimir isn’t much different from the Book of Idred.

Mimir’s spiritual data definitely exists within the Book of Mimir.

As long as the data is alive, reviving Mimir is not impossible.

‘Something to replace the Book of Mimir. If I can find a substitute that can output Mimir’s spiritual data…’

It’s easier to understand if you compare it to a computer.

If Mimir’s data is a USB, the Book of Mimir is the main body.

Currently, only the main body has been lost.

If I find something to replace the main body, the data in the USB will work again.

If I can find something to replace the Book of Mimir, the problem will naturally be solved.

So, I tried to find something to replace the Book of Mimir in modern magic technology.

18,000 years have passed since the birth of the Vaitern system [a magical system].

With modern magic that has achieved groundbreaking changes.

In this modern era where things that were not revealed in my master’s time have been discovered, there might be a way.

That’s what I thought.

That’s why I asked my master for information about the Book of Mimir and the magic used to create it.

I need to know that to find a solution in the modern era.

Of course, I know it won’t be easy.

I have to create something to replace the Book of Mimir.

I was expecting it to take at least a few years, or even more than 10 years.

‘But…’

What is this?

My expectations were completely wrong.

Fortunately, in a very good way.

‘The answer was in Mimir’s research.’

The research left by Mimir.

This research was the answer I was looking for.

With these research results, I can revive Mimir in as little as two years.

Not only can I revive Mimir, but I can also advance to a higher level.

‘Speeding up Mythic magic using full backup of fully autonomous AI.’

To complete the research this far with just theory without any experiments.

How much of a genius was Mimir?

No, more than that, they put Mimir aside, saying he had no magical talent?

It’s a bit much to say, but were the people of the Vaitern Empire all fools?

I’m sorry to my master, but this time, my master made a big mistake.

To let a diamond in the rough rot as just a rough stone.

It’s a loss for humanity.

‘The problem is how to execute this research and create the results.’

The paper is perfect.

Mimir said that some trial and error would be needed since it was a hypothesis based on theory, but I don’t think so.

Mimir’s theory is perfect.

There’s no need to change or touch anything more.

I just need to proceed with the research according to what’s written in this paper.

Of course, the ‘proceeding as is’ is the real challenge.

‘The experimental materials and processes needed to carry out this research are very difficult. It would be hard for most researchers to execute it as is, let alone reproduce it to a certain level.’

The first problem is finding a researcher to take on this research.

No, even if I find an excellent researcher, there’s a problem.

There’s no guarantee that the researcher won’t have other intentions after seeing this research log.

Especially if they belong to a large research institute, nine out of ten will have other intentions. Not to mention researchers in high positions.

They will surely try to monopolize this research.

This research log is worth that much.

Therefore, the conditions for the researcher I need to find are as follows.

‘Someone with an outstanding brain that can be called the best in the world, not affiliated with a research institute, and a good person who won’t betray me…’

My head already hurts.

The probability of a researcher with the best brain in the world not being affiliated with a research institute is extremely low.

Does such an eccentric even exist?

‘I’ll try to find one, but…’

I have a feeling there won’t be one.

…Well, if there isn’t one, I can find another way.

If it doesn’t work out, I can lead the research myself, even if it takes a little longer.

Or I can ask for help from the Blue Magic Tower Lord.

The Blue Magic Tower Lord’s major is not AI, but he has basic knowledge.

He can’t not know the value of this research, so he will help me somehow.

‘…Of course, the best option is to find an expert in this field.’

It’s better to entrust it to a reliable non-expert than to an unreliable expert.

‘Whatever it is, I’ll decide after looking for one.’

The first condition for the talent I’m looking for is a researcher not affiliated with a research institute.

It would be good to look among the eccentrics who are conducting research alone in the shadows.

Hmm. Maybe there’s someone among Captain Charles’s connections?

Since mercenaries also operate in the shadows, there’s a high probability that they have some connection with researchers in the shadows.

I should ask him.

Having finished thinking, I took my phone out of my pocket and called Captain Charles.

“Captain. Do you have some time? There’s something I’d like to ask you.”

―…Suddenly?

* * *

―A trustworthy independent researcher, you say. Okay, I’ll look for one.

The short call with Captain Charles ended.

Contrary to my expectations, he didn’t have any connections with researchers in the shadows.

Perhaps it’s because they are a mercenary group that only chases the Black Magic Tower, so they didn’t have the opportunity to build connections outside of combat.

But still, he said he could look into it.

I’ll have to wait.

‘I hope there’s a good talent.’

I prayed like that and got up from my seat.

And I headed straight to the underground parking lot of the hotel.

A luxury limousine was parked in the VIP parking area.

Mr. Seokhyun was standing in front of it.

“I’m sorry. I’m a little late.”

The time we agreed to move was 10 minutes ago. I was late for the appointment because I was organizing my thoughts and contacting Captain Charles.

“No, you’re right on time.”

Mr. Seokhyun opened the back door with an expression that he didn’t mind at all.

I got into the car, and Mr. Seokhyun followed and got into the driver’s seat.

“Shall we head to Vinoche as planned?”

“Yes, please.”

The destination is Vinoche.

The purpose is to convey everything I know about the essence of knights, ‘honor,’ to Mr. Sein Vinoche without missing a single detail.

“Then, we’ll depart.”

We left the hotel’s underground parking lot and entered a quiet road.

After about 20 minutes of driving.

We arrived at our destination, Vinoche.

“Then, I’ll wait here. Have a good time.”

I left Mr. Seokhyun behind and entered the Vinoche mansion.

I greeted the butler in the lobby and was guided to Mr. Sein’s room on the top floor.

“Mr. Sein. Mr. Shin Hayul has arrived.”

“Let him in.”

The butler slowly opened the door, stepped back, and bowed.

I thanked the butler for the guidance and entered the room.

“Oh ho.”

As soon as I entered the room, I heard Mr. Sein’s exclamation.

His eyes were full of surprise as he looked at me.

“It seems you’ve climbed another step while I haven’t seen you.”

After passing the sixth trial page, my Infinity Circle has reached a state of complete stability.

To be precise, it’s not that it stabilized after passing the sixth trial page, but rather that the circle stabilized due to the indirect influence of the knowledge I received from my master.

After all, I’ve imprinted knowledge that can only be acquired after the 9th Circle into my mind.

It’s only natural that it has some influence on me, who is currently at the 6th Circle.

“There wasn’t a particularly noticeable change… Can you see that?”

But I haven’t made any significant growth.

It’s just that the Infinity Circle, which had completed a certain level of growth, has entered a state of complete stabilization.

The changes visible from the outside are almost non-existent.

No, if you look at the output alone, it’s normal to feel that it has decreased.

Stabilization means suppressing unnecessary consumption and making it more efficient.

“Yes. I can see it.”

Mr. Sein leaned back, resting his chin on his right fist, and chuckled.

“A mana circle that is incomparably larger than other mages. The mana core located below it. And even your body, which seems to be completely intertwined with those two.”

Mr. Sein slowly got up from his seat and began to approach me.

“Even the way your mana travels through your circle and through your brain. I can see it all clearly. It’s so clear that it’s worrying.”

“…”

I was speechless for a moment.

Such detailed observation skills.

That’s an observation eye comparable to my Divine Eye.

“A lot has happened in the past two days…”

“Well, nothing particularly significant.”

Mr. Sein stood right in front of me, looked up at me slightly, and smiled faintly.

“All I’ve done for the past two days is train in the basement.”

Mr. Sein slowly raised his right hand, repeatedly clenching and unclenching it.

“…All day for two days?”

“Yes.”

“Did you sleep…?”

“I didn’t.”

Mana began to condense on Mr. Sein’s palm as he repeatedly clenched and unclenching it.

“While thinking about what you called ‘honor.’ I realized that it was a waste of time to spend time on sleep.”

The mana soon took the shape of a small sword.

A plain medium sword with no particular features.

Mr. Sein held the sword in his hand and turned his body to the side.

“If I hadn’t made an appointment to meet you… I would have been in the training ground today as well. To make this completely mine.”

And he swung the sword in the air.

A simple vertical cut.

Mr. Sein’s sword passed straight through the table.

A table with refreshments prepared on it.

Normally, the table should have been split in two, causing a major disaster.

However.

“That’s…”

Such a disaster did not occur.

The table was not split in two.

Mr. Sein’s sword clearly passed through the table, but the table was intact.

“What. It’s just a minor trick.”

Mr. Sein chuckled and released the mana sword he was holding.

Then, he walked to the table and picked up a piece of cookie from a plate.

No, it’s not just a piece.

‘He cut only the cookie… in half?’

A half piece.

A half-cookie that was precisely divided in half by Mr. Sein’s sword strike a moment ago.

Mr. Sein put the cookie in his mouth.

“After you showed me what the honor of a knight is, I’ve been constantly thinking about it. What exactly is honor? What is glory? What does it mean to carry on the past?”

He chewed and swallowed the cookie in one go, then licked his thumb, which had cookie crumbs on it.

“The answer was simpler than I thought.”

A clear light flowed from Mr. Sein’s eyes.

Like the dew at dawn.

It was an eye like a lake where the bottom could be seen clearly.

“Mind.”

“…!”

I got goosebumps.

“And the mind was none other than myself.”

Only two days have passed.

I just showed him what honor is like in front of his eyes.

I didn’t say anything else.

In terms of math, it was like teaching him the four arithmetic operations. Just that much information was conveyed.

“The sword I used had my mind in it. I was in it. What you called honor meant expressing that through the medium of a sword.”

Just that much information was conveyed.

But this person. This swordsman.

He jumped over dozens of steps without any difficulty.

“So I thought. The sword is just a medium after all. If the essence of the sword is to express myself within the sword… then wouldn’t it be enough to just express myself, the me within me?”

As if it were very natural.

Transcending everything.

“You’ve already reached the Heart Sword…”

“Heart Sword. Heart Sword, you say. Is that what this sword is called?”

A realm that only those who reached the pinnacle of all swordsmen in the Vaitern Empire could use.

“Indeed. It’s a very fitting name.”

He had reached the peak of the sword.