The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 279

“No. It’s not the real Terun Sitrea. She’s just calling herself that.”

“…Ah. A namesake, then.”

What a surprise.

Oh, never mind.

Well, it doesn’t really make sense.

Terun Sitrea passed away 63 years ago at the age of 106.

Even if Terun Sitrea were alive, she would be 170 years old now.

No matter how great a person is, they can’t live to 170.

There’s no way she’s alive.

“To call herself Terun Sitrea… she must be quite the eccentric.”

“Well, she has some odd quirks, but she’s not that much of a weirdo. Her personality isn’t bad at all. Of course, I’ve only met her once, so I can’t say for sure…”

“So, you didn’t see anything particularly off about her, Commander?”

“Nope.”

“…Then she must be a really good person.”

Commander Charles has a keen eye. If he thought she was okay, then she must be a really good person.

“Aren’t you overestimating my judgment? I’m wrong sometimes too.”

“Well, you’re human, so you’d be wrong sometimes. But you have such a good eye for people.”

“Ahem. Well, I guess I do.”

“I’m actually more curious about what could fool your judgment.”

“Uh… what was it again?”

Commander Charles looked up, lost in thought for a moment.

He looked like he couldn’t think of anything.

“Come to think of it… there isn’t anything?”

“…Huh?”

Nothing?

“Yeah. Usually, if I think, ‘That guy’s bad news!’ they turn out to be bad news. And if I think, ‘That guy’s a good guy!’ they turn out to be good guys.”

“That’s not just having a good eye for people, is it?”

“Right. Honestly, it’s more of a gut feeling than anything else.”

Commander Charles shrugged.

“Ah. So, maybe you recognized Shadow so quickly because…”

“Yeah, that’s right. He didn’t feel that bad to me.”

“…Wow.”

His gut feeling is incredibly good.

What do you call that?

Animalistic instinct, maybe?

“What should I call it? You’re like a dog.”

“…What the hell did you just say?”

Ah. That came out wrong.

“No, no. It’s not an insult. I mean, literally a dog. Like a dog.”

“What’s the difference?”

“Well, dogs can tell good people from bad people, right? I was wondering if it was something like that. In short, you have an animalistic sense.”

“Even so, being called a dog is a bit offensive, isn’t it?”

“I meant it as a compliment. Wolves are also canines, right? It’s like saying you’re a wolf with extremely sensitive senses. That’s what I meant.”

“A wolf with sensitive senses. A wolf, huh? Hmm. Hearing it like that, it doesn’t sound so bad…”

Commander Charles tilted his head slightly with a strange expression.

He looked like he didn’t know whether to be offended or flattered.

“So, we can meet this Terun Sitrea person, right?”

I seized the opportunity to quickly change the subject.

“Huh? Oh, yeah. She owes me a favor, so she’ll make time if I ask.”

“That’s great. What’s her specialty?”

“AI magic, of course. She’s probably in the top five in the world when it comes to AI.”

“Top five… she must be really amazing. Why is someone like that independent?”

Even if someone has a terrible personality, if they’re skilled, they’ll be hired anywhere.

And if they’re skilled and have a good personality, there’s no question.

There’s no reason for Terun Sitrea to be an independent researcher.

Does she have some fatal flaw?

“It’s because of her name.”

“Ah… Terun Sitrea. That’s the problem.”

“Right. Terun Sitrea is the mother of AI magic and a legendary researcher. Who would believe and hire a researcher who claims to be such a great person?”

“That’s true, it’s a bit much.”

Yeah.

I wouldn’t hire her either.

“Well, there was also some trouble at the research foundation, I heard.”

“Trouble?”

“Yeah. Apparently, she had a big fight with someone high up in the foundation.”

“Not a fist fight, right?”

“Of course not. Apparently, it was a fight over a paper. I don’t know the details. Both sides claimed the other insulted them. Only they know the details.”

Commander Charles stretched out his arms and yawned.

“Anyway, I heard she got blacklisted after that incident. So, it’s impossible for her to be affiliated with anyone.”

“So that’s why she’s independent.”

“Right.”

She was blacklisted by the top of the industry, so there was no way she could be affiliated with anyone.

“Just from what you’ve said, she’s exactly the kind of person I want.”

“That’s why I said I found someone who perfectly meets the conditions you mentioned.”

“Yes.”

Excellent skills and a good personality. Plus, she’s at odds with the association, so the chances of her siding with someone else are very low.

She’s exactly the kind of person I was looking for.

‘The only problem is her delusion of calling herself ‘Terun Sitrea’…’

Honestly, that’s not even a flaw.

If her skills are solid, I don’t care about delusions.

“There’s nothing more to ask. Can you arrange a meeting?”

“Okay. I’ll set up an appointment right away.”

“Yes. Please contact me as soon as it’s set.”

“Okay.”

Commander Charles made a circle with his index finger and thumb, giving an okay sign.

* * *

After that, we arrived at the main house after about 20 minutes of driving.

“Ughhh~”

Commander Charles stretched out his arms, as if his body was stiff from the long ride.

Then, he stretched his neck from side to side.

He looked like he was finally feeling better.

“The escort is done, right? Then I’ll head out first?”

“Ah, yes. Thank you for your hard work.”

“Hard work? All I did was sit there.”

“For you, Commander, that’s the hardest work.”

Commander Charles glared at me.

“You know, I think you treat me like a dog that needs to take a dump.”

“Me? No way. You’re mistaken.”

I chuckled and joked around.

“I’ll make it clear now, it’s not that I can’t wait. I just don’t like it.”

Usually, that’s what people mean when they say they can’t do it.

I swallowed those words.

“Yes. I know. That’s why I said you did the hardest work. How hard is it to do something you hate?”

“That’s true, but…”

Commander Charles looked at me with a suspicious expression.

“I still feel like I’m being looked down on…”

“You’re really mistaken.”

“I am, right?”

“Of course. I respect you, Commander Charles. Why would I look down on you?”

“Right?”

“Yes.”

Commander Charles relaxed his furrowed brow and smiled slightly.

“Okay. Then it’s fine.”

And then, he started doing shoulder stretches, swinging his shoulders around.

“Anyway, I’m really leaving. I’ll contact you later.”

The commander started jogging in place.

“Yes. I’ll be waiting for your call.”

And then, he waved his hand slightly and ran off like the wind.

Commander Charles’ back quickly became as small as a bean.

Looking at that, I suddenly had a thought.

‘He looks like a dog happy to be out for a walk…’

* * *

After that.

I went to my room, changed into some light clothes.

And then, I went straight to my father’s study.

I stood in front of the study and knocked three times.

“Come in.”

I opened the door and entered the study.

My father was sitting at his desk, as usual, surrounded by piles of documents.

“I’ve just returned. Have you been well?”

“Yes.”

My father answered curtly, his eyes still focused on the documents.

His reaction and expression were indifferent, as if he didn’t care whether I came back or not.

“I heard about it. You solved quite a big problem.”

“Yes. It just happened that way.”

He was still focused on the documents, and after about 10 seconds, he spoke again.

“I also heard that you developed a pretty good relationship with Sein Vinosh from that incident.”

“Yes. I was lucky.”

His expression and voice were completely emotionless.

‘No matter how I think about it, it doesn’t seem like he thinks of me as special.’

Like Seokhyun and Commander Charles said, I couldn’t find any signs of him treating me specially or being particularly lenient with me.

Isn’t this more like he’s stricter with me than lenient?

“Did you find the item you were looking for?”

“I did. This is it.”

I took out Ignis’s medium from Aeth and showed it to my father.

My father’s eyes finally left the documents.

“Oh.”

His eyes lit up, as if he was impressed by the different mana that Ignis was emitting.

“Is that the new textbook you mentioned before to reach the 7th circle?”

“No. It’s not.”

Before going to France this time, I told my father that I was going to find a new ‘textbook’.

I thought that would be the best way to persuade my father, so I said that…

Looking back now, I wonder if I really needed to lie like that.

I should have just told him the truth.

“This gem is…”

I slowly began to explain about Ignis.

From why I needed it to what kind of power it had.

I explained everything, even about the mythic magic.

“Mythic magic. The primordial flame, Ignis. The name is quite grand.”

My father stroked his chin, looking intrigued.

“I want to see with my own eyes how powerful this mythic magic is.”

My father took his hands off the documents and slowly got up from his seat.

Then, he slowly approached me.

“Follow me.”

“Huh? Where…”

Where is he going?

“The training grounds.”

My father put on his coat and slowly walked out of the study.

* * *

At the training grounds located near the mansion. I was facing my father in the arena.

‘…I didn’t expect this.’

I was suddenly dragged to the training grounds, suddenly made to wear protective gear, and suddenly told to go all out.

I roughly know what he wants, but I’m not sure if this is right.

“Show me the power of this mythic magic called Ignis.”

My father’s eyes shone fiercely.

Mana was filled with killing intent.

He was emitting a menacing aura, as if he was about to devour me.

“If this mythic magic is just a grand name and nothing more, and if it doesn’t meet my expectations…”

You’ll have to be prepared.

That’s what my father’s eyes were saying.

“…”

I took a small breath, receiving my father’s gaze.

I didn’t expect to be sparring as soon as I returned home.

I guess life doesn’t always go as planned.

“Understood.”

I took a long breath and sharpened my senses.

Full battle mode.

The only thing filling my mind was the determination to eliminate the enemy in front of me.

“I will do my best so as not to disappoint you.”

My father’s lips curled up slightly.

He seemed to like the atmosphere I was giving off.

“However, before that, I would like to say one thing.”

I took out the medium of Kailum and Ignis from Aeth and held them in both hands.

“What is it?”

“Please don’t try to stop it.”

“…Oh.”

My father’s eyes narrowed.

He was intrigued by my words, but also a little offended.

“That’s quite an arrogant statement. Are you saying that someone like me can’t stop it?”

“Please don’t misunderstand. I’m not saying that because I’m looking down on you.”

My mana circulated greatly through the Infinity Circle and Mana Core, then flowed into Kailum through my right hand.

Kailum, a giant staff made from a mythical tree.

The Möbius pattern appeared on it.

“It would be difficult for even Sophia to stop Ignis at first sight.”

Ignis burns even mana and magic.

Ignis cannot be stopped by ordinary magic.

“So please, avoid it.”

Thud!

The sound of Kailum colliding with the ground rang out clearly.

At the same time, the Möbius pattern began to expand rapidly.

Under the infinite symbol, I slowly recited the activation words of Ignis.