The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 313

Right after that, we joined Terun and Behemoth, who were observing the situation from afar.

‘I thought I saw a little girl riding a monster. So, she tamed Behemoth,’ Sein-nim’s eyes sparkled as she looked at Behemoth and Terun. ‘A truly rare sight.’

Terun seemed uncomfortable with Sein-nim’s gaze, fidgeting restlessly.

It wasn’t exactly because she was uncomfortable that she was reacting like that.

To the current Terun, who shares the memories of the former Terun Sitrea, Sein-nim’s reputation isn’t something that would make her feel particularly burdened. In fact, if you only consider the prestige of their names, Terun Sitrea’s name holds more weight.

‘……C-calm down. This person is an ally. She’s not trying to harm you. Stay still. Okay? Good girl?’

The reason Terun is fidgeting is not because of Sein-nim, but because of Behemoth.

‘That’s right. She’s not an enemy. Good girl. Good girl.’

Currently, Behemoth is frightened by Sein-nim’s presence and is restless. Because of Behemoth, Terun also became restless.

‘Hmm. I thought he would be a very spirited monster, considering he’s called the King of the Sea. Disappointing.’ Sein-nim looked at the two of them with a mix of disappointment and curiosity.

‘Apart from that, it’s a bit surprising that you can communicate with him. It’s like you’re soothing a pet dog…’

She was disappointed in terms of power, but interested in terms of communication. That seemed to be the general feeling.

‘So, even if it’s a monster, a mammal is still a mammal…’ Sein-nim’s eyes burned even brighter.

Because of that blatant gaze, Behemoth’s trembling, which had been calming down, began to intensify again.

‘C-calm down. Please. She’s not trying to harm you. Okay?’ Terun stroked Behemoth’s back, beads of cold sweat dripping down her face. A serious expression.

In that state, she turned her gaze to me.

‘Hey. Do something about that person. Our kid can’t calm down.’ Terun’s eyes were screaming at me to please do something.

I nodded in acknowledgment.

‘Sein-nim.’

‘Hmm?’ Sein-nim turned her gaze to me. Just that alone, and Behemoth’s trembling decreased considerably. I knew it, but I was surprised again.

‘Behemoth is so scared just by her presence…’ Is this the power of a swordsman who has achieved Mind Sword Unification [a state where the swordsman’s mind and sword become one]? I can’t help but laugh.

‘Why are you laughing like that after calling me over?’

‘No. It’s just, I can’t believe it even when I think about it again. Mind Sword Unification in just a month…’

If my master were here, what would he say? According to Mimir, my master cherished swordsmen even more than mages. If he saw Sein-nim now, wouldn’t he clap his hands and cheer with all his heart? ‘What an amazing swordsman!’ he would say.

‘You’ve been praising me since a while ago.’

‘Is there a problem with praising gold?’

‘……Are you trying to make me die of shame?’ Sein-nim had a subtle expression. An expression that she doesn’t think of herself as gold at all. An expression that she’s still far from enough.

In other words, even after reaching that level, Sein Vinoche was still looking up.

‘To think that such a person was wasting time, trapped in boredom…’

It’s truly a pity. If Sein Vinoche had known about the Mind Sword when she was younger, she might have been able to reach the next stage of Mind Sword Unification, which no one has ever reached before.

Thinking that, I felt a surge of frustration and anger.

‘If the knights hadn’t taken the easy way out…’

I feel a genuine urge to kill the foolish knights of the past who failed to properly pass on the true power of knights to this era.

‘If magic hadn’t been properly passed down like swordsmanship…’

Thinking that, I got goosebumps without realizing it.

Bzzzzzz-!

At that moment, the communication device that Sein-nim had on her waist vibrated.

‘Is that a simple signal device?’

‘Yes.’ It’s not a model that allows for two-way communication, but a model that is often used as a ‘signal device’ that can only send vibrations. It’s usually used to synchronize signals when going on missions.

‘What kind of signal is it?’

‘It’s a signal that the operation is proceeding smoothly as planned.’

‘If it’s an operation… are you talking about the spy sweep operation?’

‘No.’ Sein-nim put the signal device back in her pocket and said softly, ‘The spy sweep operation ended about 20 minutes ago. The operation was a success.’

‘Ah, it’s already over. Then the operation that’s going well now is…’

‘The next stage.’ Sein-nim’s eyes flashed sharply. ‘It’s the Black Magic Tower headquarters raid operation.’

‘……What?’ An unexpected operation name popped out. The Black Magic Tower headquarters raid operation. Our final plan. According to the plan, it was an operation that was scheduled to be carried out in a month. They carried it out at this timing?

‘What’s going on?’

* * *

Let’s rewind time a little. At the exact moment when nearly a hundred black mages, including three executives, launched an attack on Seoul, Shin Inhyuk was engaged in a fierce battle with the executive, Destroyer.

In the center of the main residence of the Magic God Clan, which had been devastated by the battle between two 8th-circle mages, a high-dimensional battle was repeated.

‘You still have the leeway to pay attention to other things?’ Destroyer, who is the best among the black mages in terms of destructive power, and Shin Inhyuk, who is also one of the top ten in the world in terms of power. The clash of two mages of the same power type was turning the surroundings into ruins.

‘This is disappointing, you know? I’m like this…’ Mana was compressed into Destroyer’s right fist. ‘I’m only looking at you!!’ Destroyer swung his right fist. The compressed mana became a mana bullet and flew into the sky. At first glance, it was a trivial-looking magic that seemed like an ordinary mana bullet. However, unlike its ordinary appearance, the power it possessed was tens of light-years away from ordinary.

‘Black Core.’ Shin Inhyuk activated the Black Core, a small black hole, the most powerful magic he could currently use. Destroyer’s mana bullet was sucked into the core that was formed. If it were ordinary magic, it would have been absorbed by the Black Core and disappeared without a trace, but…

KWA-AAAAAAANG-! As I said, that mana bullet is not an ordinary mana bullet. True to his name, Destroyer’s mana bullet, filled with the nature of ‘destruction,’ has the power to destroy anything in this world. Even the Black Core cannot completely block the man’s mana bullet.

‘Where the hell are you paying so much attention? Is it because of the Blue Magic Tower Lord who hasn’t contacted you? Or are you worried about the hunting dog fighting elsewhere? Or maybe…’ Destroyer’s eyes flickered wildly. ‘Are you worried about the safety of your son hiding somewhere?’

‘……’ Shin Inhyuk was silent. There was no need to give unnecessary information by responding here. In this case, silence is the answer.

‘You don’t intend to answer?’ Destroyer laughed heartily, befitting his large frame, and kicked off the ground. The asphalt that Destroyer kicked shattered like a spider web. Destroyer’s body flew like a bullet.

KU-UUUUUUUNG-! He charged straight at Shin Inhyuk. Of course, there was no way Shin Inhyuk would just take such a simple attack. Destroyer’s body was blocked by a barrier that was quickly deployed. The two made eye contact with a thick barrier between them.

‘Well, whether you answer or not, it doesn’t matter to me. It’s not me who’s in trouble for not being able to deal with Shin Hayul.’ The barrier and Destroyer’s shoulder collided violently, making a creaking sound. How strong was he? The barrier was shaking violently.

‘I just need to kill you.’

CLANG! At that moment, the barrier shattered into pieces. A barrier deployed with an emphasis on speed could not fully withstand Destroyer’s power. Destroyer’s fist flew through the mana of the shattered barrier. Shin Inhyuk reacted instantly and twisted his face. However, in terms of martial arts, Destroyer was a level above Shin Inhyuk. Shin Inhyuk failed to completely avoid Destroyer’s attack.

PUDDDEUDDEUK! He avoided a fatal blow, but was hit directly on the shoulder. A terrible sound echoed as if the bones in his shoulder were being crushed.

‘……’ Shin Inhyuk’s brow furrowed. No matter how much of a Shin Inhyuk he was, it was impossible to fully endure the pain of bones being shattered.

‘You really have a good sense.’ Destroyer’s eyes sparkled with a look of genuine admiration. ‘The more I see you, the more I regret it. If you had focused 100% on this battle, it would have been a really fun battle.’ Destroyer was genuinely disappointed. Opportunities to fight such a strong opponent don’t come often. As a battle maniac, he was genuinely disappointed that such a golden opportunity was ending so futilely.

‘……Stop talking nonsense and just attack.’ Shin Inhyuk sneered and prepared a spell. A high-powered spell that could blow Destroyer away in one blow. Seeing that spell, Destroyer sighed.

‘That’s what I mean by your attention being elsewhere. What are you going to do by rushing like that?’ Powerful magic is not the only answer. In boxing, what’s important is not a powerful straight, but the jab and step that allow you to catch the timing of a powerful straight. Currently, Shin Inhyuk has lost his jab and step due to impatience. He is only insisting on straights and hooks, trying to finish quickly. That’s why a proper battle can’t happen.

‘You’re only using big spells, so this is what happens, right?’ Destroyer took advantage of Shin Inhyuk’s opening and raised his fist again. A gap that inevitably occurred due to the powerful magic. A blow that properly targeted that gap. Shin Inhyuk’s magic was canceled by Destroyer’s attack, and Shin Inhyuk’s body flew backward.

‘I thought it was going to get interesting for a bit. Tsk.’ Destroyer clicked his tongue with a look of genuine disappointment. ‘If you’re going to keep doing that, just die. It’s a waste of time for both of us.’

At the very moment when the disappointed Destroyer was about to deliver the finishing blow to Shin Inhyuk, swoosh, swoosh. A water barrier that suddenly appeared perfectly blocked Destroyer’s attack.

‘I’m sorry for being late.’ The Blue Magic Tower Lord. He was looking down at Destroyer from the sky with a colder expression than the Siberian Sea.

‘You’ve finally arrived.’ Destroyer grinned. ‘Distortion. Come out. The break time is over.’

‘……Tsk.’ At that moment, a young man of moderate build appeared from behind Destroyer. A smart-looking Asian man who looked good in glasses.

‘I thought I was going to get some rest.’ Code name Distortion. The executive in charge of the Blue Magic Tower Lord in this operation appeared.

‘……’ Shin Inhyuk didn’t even pay attention to Distortion, but glared at Kim Kangin. With a fierce gaze, he was saying, ‘Why did you come?’

‘I thought he went to Hayul.’ It was too quiet, so I wondered if he had gone to Jeju Island. That wasn’t it.

‘If this is the case, there will be no one to help Hayul.’ Shin Inhyuk glared at Kim Kangin with resentful eyes. If you were going to come to help, you should have come sooner, and if you were going to be late, you should have gone to Jeju Island. Why did he show such an ambiguous movement? It’s not like Kim Kangin.

At that time, Kim Kangin slowly moved to Shin Inhyuk’s side. He was wary of Distortion and Destroyer, but slowly joined Shin Inhyuk.

‘You……’ Shin Inhyuk was about to criticize Kim Kangin with a dissatisfied expression, but Kim Kangin was faster.

‘I’m sorry for being late.’ A small voice that Distortion and Destroyer couldn’t hear. ‘It’s not easy to deceive Hermes’ eyes and ears to call for support… so it took a little time.’

‘……Support?’ The Blue Magic Tower Lord didn’t just waste time for no reason. There was a reason why the Blue Magic Tower Lord hadn’t shown any movement for about 20 minutes.

‘Now. Sein Vinoche is coming.’ Immediately after this incident broke out, Kim Kangin realized that he was the only one who could solve this incident.

‘She will arrive within 5 minutes.’ The Seoul attack, the spy sweep operation, the Abyss Sea rampage incident. He realized that he was the only one who could somehow handle this hopeless situation where three incidents had broken out at the same time. He was the only one who was not currently restricted. He realized it and immediately took action.

‘Hayul will be taken care of by Sein Vinoche.’ One. The Abyss Sea is entrusted to Sein Vinoche, who is currently waiting quietly. Sein Vinoche will somehow take care of it.

‘……I see.’ Shin Inhyuk quickly regained his composure. Sein Vinoche. She is trustworthy.

‘Good job.’ Shin Inhyuk looked at Destroyer with a calm expression. There was no need to rush the battle now.

‘Then, I’ll leave the newly joined executive to you.’ Shin Inhyuk finally began to fully focus on Destroyer.

‘Wait. We’re not done talking yet.’ Kim Kangin stopped Shin Inhyuk. He blocked Shin Inhyuk’s path with his hand, saying that there was still something to talk about.

‘One more thing. I’ve finished conveying the current situation to Sophia-nim.’

‘……What?’ He contacted Sophia?

‘How?’

‘I was lucky. Shadow moved immediately in sync with my actions.’

‘Shadow?’

‘Yes. He’s a smart friend, as I’ve heard. With his help, I succeeded in conveying the current situation to Sophia-nim.’

‘Then support will come soon.’

‘No.’ Kim Kangin shook his head. ‘Support won’t come. The three of us, the Clan Head, me, and Commander Charles, have to handle the Korean side.’

‘What do you mean?’ At the moment when he was able to contact Sophia thanks to Shadow’s quick action, Kim Kangin thought. Is it the right choice to ask Sophia for support now? Is that the best option? No. That’s not it. This situation is not a situation to ask for support.

‘Sophia-nim has headed to the Black Magic Tower’s headquarters. Where the Black Magic King is.’

‘……What?’ Now that Hermes and four executives are missing, now that the eyes and ears of the Black Magic Tower have been blocked at once by successfully eliminating the spies, right now, when Hermes’ gaze is focused only on the Korean Peninsula, if we miss this timing, we don’t know when such an opportunity will come again.

‘Today. Everything will be decided.’ The situation has already begun to escalate towards its climax.