The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 29

The next day, after all my classes were over, I headed straight to the used bookstore where Go Sang-jun was presumed to be.

From the entrance, the musty smell of old paper, unique to used bookstores, tickled my nose. Maybe it’s because it’s similar to the smell of my room, but it makes me feel at peace.

“Hello.”

The inside of the bookstore was the same as ever. Instead of being organized, books were just piled up haphazardly. I wondered if they even had the intention to do business. It was that chaotic.

“Is that Ha-yul?”

A gray-haired old gentleman called my name from the center of the haphazardly stacked books.

“It’s been a while.”

His white hair, roughly grown out and tied back, and his shaggy beard looked like he didn’t care about managing his appearance. Even though he looked messy, he didn’t give off that impression at all. His clean attire, neat features, and robust physique, which was hard to believe for an old man over 80, created a strange atmosphere.

“Have you been well?”

“Hahaha. What could have happened to an old man who spends 16 hours a day stuck in this bookstore?”

I don’t know his name. Even if he’s the owner of the bookstore I’ve been frequenting for over a year, it’s not common to exchange names.

“I’ve heard the rumors. That you’ve become able to use magic properly.”

“Yes.”

“They say heaven helps those who help themselves. I was sure that the day would come when you would be like this.”

“Thank you. It’s all thanks to you, sir.”

“What could I have done? I just sold books.”

“If it weren’t for those books, I might have lost my will and given up a long time ago.”

The old books in this bookstore were like a lighthouse. A lighthouse that I, who had lost my goal of modern magic and was drifting in the vast ocean, had newly found. If it weren’t for this bookstore, I would have completely lost my goal and just rotted away day by day.

“…Even though I know it’s an empty compliment, it still feels good.”

The old man turned a book over next to him and approached me. Then, he grabbed my hand and gave it a very slight squeeze.

“Thank you.”

“I’m more grateful.”

I also grabbed the old man’s hand with appropriate strength, expressing my gratitude.

“Alright. What brings you here today?” There’s no way you would have come here without a reason. The old man was sure of that.

“Sir, I…”

“Yes, speak.”

“Could I possibly meet Mr. Go Sang-jun… your son?”

“……”

Go Sang-jun. The moment those three names came out, the old man’s pupils dilated.

“Why do you want to see Sang-jun… no, before that, how do you know about Sang-jun?” He stared at my face with a very complex and subtle expression.

“I read the paper written by researcher Go Sang-jun. I had some questions about that paper, so I made inquiries here and there. And I got information that he was here.”

“A paper…” A dark cloud settled over his complex expression.

“I apologize for doing something that seemed like a background check. I just had something I really wanted to ask. So, please, could you let me meet Mr. Go Sang-jun?”

“You want to meet Sang-jun…” The old man stroked his beard with a bitter smile.

“I don’t mind letting you meet him, but you won’t be able to hear anything from Sang-jun.”

“I understand. I heard that he received a lot of criticism at the time of the paper’s publication… so it’s natural that he wouldn’t want to talk about that paper…”

“That’s not what I mean.”

The old man interrupted me and shook his head. “I mean, literally. You won’t be able to hear anything. Not even a light greeting, let alone a discussion about the paper.”

“What do you mean…”

The old man, Go Sang-jun’s father, sighed deeply. “Sang-jun, due to an incident half a year ago…” Then, with a very pitiful and sad expression, he said this: “He’s currently in a coma.”

“A coma…?” It was something I had never expected.

* * *

I followed the old man to the deepest part of the bookstore. So, this is how the inside is structured.

“Come in.”

Following a passage that was barely visible, hidden by books, and opening a door that was also hidden by books, we entered the room. Inside the room, a man was sleeping as if dead. He was lying on a medical device that looked luxurious, breathing only intermittently.

“Is this…”

“Yes. My son. Sang-jun.”

As if proving that he hadn’t woken up for half a year, his skin tone was very dull, and there was not a trace of life on his face. He was truly in a coma.

“May I ask how he ended up like this?” Did some kind of accident happen?

The old man sighed deeply. “Sang-jun… broke a taboo as a magician.”

“A taboo?”

“Yes.”

The old man smiled bitterly as he stroked Go Sang-jun’s head, who was lying on the medical bed. “The greatest taboo for a magician, that when circulating mana, you must not circulate mana in the brain.”

“Mana… in the brain…” Mana becomes poison when it acts on the brain. It’s very basic common sense. It’s only because my brain has special properties that I can circulate mana. If an ordinary person circulates mana in their brain, they will lose their life along with their mental destruction.

“Why did he do such a thing?”

“Because of the paper.”

“The paper?”

“Yes.”

The old man’s eyes flickered with regret. “He said that in order to re-establish the theory of the paper, which had completely collapsed from the middle, there was no other way but to circulate mana in the brain.”

Circulating mana in the brain. That is, he’s talking about the basics of the Byteiner method.

‘As I expected, Go Sang-jun had approached the study of the Byteiner method to some extent.’ He must have the teacher’s book. Otherwise, there’s no way he would have done such an absurd thing as circulating mana in his brain.

“I should have stopped him somehow…” The old man sighed deeply.

“Anyway. I’m sorry, but it seems difficult to satisfy your curiosity. Sang-jun would have liked talking to you… it’s a shame.”

“No, it’s my fault for bringing up unnecessary things and making you feel complicated. I’m sorry.”

“No, don’t worry about it.”

An uncomfortable silence fell between us.

“Sir, if you don’t mind, could I see the books that your son used to research his paper?”

“You mean Sang-jun’s books?”

“Yes. I’ve already mastered most of the ancient languages, and I was thinking of investigating them myself.”

The old man seemed to be pondering for a moment. “Hmm… Alright. If they’re just going to rot in the study anyway, it’s better for them to go to someone who needs them. Yes. Go ahead.”

“Ah, thank you.”

The old man stroked Go Sang-jun’s head again and got up from his seat. “But, can I ask you for one favor?”

“Yes, of course.”

“If you read Sang-jun’s books and rewrite Sang-jun’s paper… the paper on space-time magic, could you at least include Sang-jun’s name at the end?”

“Ah, of course. Absolutely.”

He’s asking for something so obvious as if it’s a difficult request. I’m not a thug who completely ignores other people’s research and claims that only I am great.

“Thank you.”

“No, it’s only natural.”

“Hahaha. It’s a world where many people don’t think of that natural thing as natural.”

“…That’s true.”

It’s a bitter reality.

“Then let’s go. I’ll guide you to Sang-jun’s study.”

“Yes.”

I followed the old man to Go Sang-jun’s study.

“This is Sang-jun’s study. All the books that Sang-jun has collected for 24 years are stored here.”

“That’s an enormous amount.”

“It is an enormous amount.”

The old man picked out a book and handed it to me. “This is…?”

“This is the book that Sang-jun always carried with him. It’s like Sang-jun’s treasure. Read it. What you’re curious about is probably written there.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

I immediately examined the book. Like the Book of Idread, it was a very luxurious-looking hardcover book. The feeling the book itself gave off was also very similar.

‘This book doesn’t have a title.’ The only difference from the Book of Idread was that there was no title written on the book.

I slowly opened the book. And I cheered. ‘This handwriting!’ This familiar bad handwriting. It’s certain. ‘It’s a book written by my teacher.’ The author of this book is Ray Bell Byteiner. My teacher. Only my teacher can use this messy handwriting.

Having confirmed that, I immediately closed the book.

“Can I take this and read it?”

“Yes. Take it.”

“Thank you.”

“If there are any other books you want, you can take them as well.”

“Yes. I’ll look around and let you know if there’s anything I want.”

“Alright.”

I looked at the books on the shelves one by one. I lightly scanned the books, hoping that I might find my teacher’s handwriting again. Even if I scan them like this, it will take a lot of time to find them all.

“Sir, were there any other books in here that were written in a similar handwriting to this book?”

“A similar handwriting to that book…” The old man seemed to be pondering for a moment. “Well, I don’t remember any. But I haven’t looked at all the books in here either. So, I can’t say for sure.”

“That answer is enough. Thank you.”

I guess there’s no way there would be two. Still, you never know, so I should look through it thoroughly.

“Ah, and sir. Do you happen to remember a luxurious red hardcover book?” No matter how I think about it, there’s a high probability that the Book of Idread was a book I got from this used bookstore. That’s why I brought it up.

“A hardcover book. I don’t remember any.”

“Not even in the bookstore?”

“There’s definitely none there. Our bookstore doesn’t handle hardcover books like that. Usually, those kinds of things have a premium attached to them, so they don’t come here.”

“…Ah. I see.”

But it seems my guess was wrong. ‘Then how did the Book of Idread end up in my room?’ I thought about that as I looked around the study.

* * *

It was dawn when I was finally able to return to the dormitory. ‘I guess two was too much to expect?’ I searched Go Sang-jun’s study thoroughly, but I couldn’t find any more of my teacher’s handwriting. It’s a bit disappointing.

“Well, one is better than none.”

When I think about it, there’s no reason to be disappointed at all. I quickly shook off my disappointment and sat down at my desk. ‘Now, what could be written in this book?’ With a pounding heart, I opened the book.

And at that moment.

Flash-!

“Ugh!”

Light flowed out from the newly acquired book. Not only the newly acquired book. The Book of Idread is also shining. As if the two books were resonating, they emitted light with the same intensity.

“What’s going on all of a sudden…?” It wasn’t like this when I opened it in Go Sang-jun’s study earlier. Why is it suddenly doing this?

While I was panicking like that, ‘I leave this appendix to the rightful successor who has inherited the Book of Idread.’ A voice that I’ve become somewhat familiar with was heard. It’s my teacher’s voice. ‘The name of the appendix is the Book of Mimir. It’s a book containing my life.’ With those words, The Book of Idread flipped through its pages with a rustling sound. ‘Enjoy the blessing of knowledge to your heart’s content.’

The next moment.

“…Where am I?” I was standing in a space I had never seen before.