The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 314

I definitely understood how the current situation was unfolding.

‘Kim Kangin-nim is something, but Shadow is also something else. Both of them have extraordinary brainpower.’

Kim Kangin-nim, who fully understood the current situation, recognized the importance of his role, and immediately took action by asking Sein Vinoche for help.

And Shadow, who not only grasped the current situation but also predicted Kim Kangin’s actions and contacted him.

The two’s appropriate responses turned this desperate crisis into a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

To summarize, it was like this.

‘Well, both of them responded admirably, but if I had to pick someone who responded even more admirably, it would be Shadow. That guy.’

‘That’s true. If Shadow hadn’t contacted Kim Kangin-nim at that timing…’

‘At least my arrival would have been 30 minutes late. If that had happened, you would have already…’

‘I would have become a wandering ghost in the afterlife.’

Sein-nim flew to Korea using Shadow’s shadow magic.

If Shadow hadn’t moved at that timing, Sein-nim’s arrival would have been delayed by tens of minutes or more.

I would have lost my life to Rapid as it was.

‘If it weren’t for Shadow, it would have been impossible to inform Sophia-nim of the current situation.’

Being able to contact Sophia-nim, who is carrying out the top-secret mission of sweeping away the spies, is all thanks to Shadow.

As Sein-nim said, Shadow’s role was more crucial.

‘That’s not all.’

Sein-nim crossed her arms and slightly raised her head to look at the sky.

It seemed she wasn’t looking at the sky, but at the satellite above it.

‘Shadow is currently fighting Hermes.’

I was momentarily shocked, but soon understood.

‘Ah… So that’s why Hermes didn’t respond to Rapid’s radio call.’

‘Yes.’

Earlier, Sein-nim had said this to Rapid.

‘He’s busy enough on his end, so he won’t have the leeway to pay attention to you.’

I wondered what that meant.

That’s what it meant.

‘Then, does that mean the Black Magic Tower’s eyes and ears are completely blocked?’

Sein-nim nodded silently.

‘Then, the key is… how perfectly we can prevent the attack on Seoul and…’

‘Whether the main force succeeds in dealing with the Black Magic King. Those are the two things.’

Sein-nim lowered her gaze again and met my eyes.

‘Originally, enduring the flood of monsters pouring out of this sea area was also a challenge…’

Sein-nim chuckled as if she was dumbfounded.

‘To think you’d actually stop the sea’s rampage itself.’

Her eyes were filled with a mix of playfulness and admiration.

‘You showed off such divine skills, and yet you praised me so much.’

‘It wasn’t that great. It was just…’

I was at a loss for words.

Where do I even begin to explain this?

‘What do you mean it wasn’t great?’

At that moment, Terun snorted with a dumbfounded expression.

‘Do you know how surprised I was when the mana in the entire South Sea stopped at once?’

‘Oh ho. All of that vast mana stopped moving?’

‘Yes. When he moved his hand like this, the mana just stopped!’

Terun’s eyes sparkled.

It was like the expression of a dreaming girl.

No, it wasn’t that cute of a feeling.

It was the expression of a scientist who had discovered a new research subject.

That would be the right way to put it.

‘Indeed. You completely controlled the mana in this entire area by yourself…’

Sein-nim licked her lips, her eyes shining.

She looked very interested.

‘As expected of my teacher. You have to be this good to be called my teacher, Sein Vinoche.’

‘That’s not it…’

‘Wait a minute. T-teacher?’

Terun interrupted me and shouted.

‘Shin Hayul is your teacher?’

‘Yes.’

‘No, that’s…’

I quickly jumped in because it seemed like the conversation was going in a strange direction.

‘You don’t mean he’s your teacher in swordsmanship, right?’

But Terun interrupted me again.

It seemed like she had no intention of listening to me at all.

‘You’re talking nonsense. What else would a swordsman learn besides swordsmanship?’

Terun’s eyes widened as much as they could.

‘He taught Sein Vinoche swordsmanship…?’

She stared at me like I was a monster with her eyes wide open.

‘Magic skills that can control the mana of the sea… and swordsmanship skills to the level of teaching Sein Vinoche…?’

‘T-Terun-nim. I think you’re misunderstanding…’

I tried to speak again to break the misunderstanding.

‘On top of that, intelligence to the point where he can stand shoulder to shoulder with me…’

‘……’

It was no use.

Terun seemed to be lost in her own world.

It seemed like she couldn’t hear me at all.

‘You. What the heck is your identity? There’s no way an ordinary 18-year-old can handle magic, swordsmanship, and academics to that level…’

Terun’s eyes widened like lanterns.

I thought she had already reached her limit.

Her eyes could get even bigger than that.

‘S-surely you too… did you inherit someone’s memories like me?’

‘Memory inheritance?’

Sein-nim’s eyes lit up again.

She was intrigued by the term ‘memory inheritance’.

‘Yes. If you think about it that way, that paper also makes sense.’

Terun didn’t seem to notice Sein-nim’s gaze.

She was lost in her own world.

‘If we assume that… yes. That’s it. The significance of the Mimir paper…’

‘……’

I was speechless.

No, it would be more accurate to say that there was no point in saying anything.

It seemed like she had no intention of listening to anything I said.

‘I don’t know.’

I should just leave her be for now.

Clearing up the misunderstanding can be done later. There’s something much more important than clearing up the misunderstanding right now.

‘Sein-nim. What should we do then?’

‘Hmm?’

Sein-nim came out of her thoughts and focused her gaze on me.

‘I can’t say it’s completely resolved, but the sea’s rampage is temporarily resolved. At least I think it’ll be safe until this whole thing is over.’

‘It seems so.’

The problem in the South Sea was resolved.

The sea’s rampage and Rapid’s attack.

Both were resolved, and all threats disappeared.

‘There’s no reason for us to stay in the South Sea right now.’

Of the three incidents, the Abyss Sea rampage incident was temporarily concluded.

‘Should we move to support Seoul or support the main force that went to the Black Magic King? Which one should we choose?’

‘Yes.’

‘That’s a good judgment.’

There were two options.

Support for Seoul.

Or support for Sophia-nim.

‘Okay. Where are you thinking of going to support?’

Sein-nim looked at me with an intriguing gaze.

I was lost in thought for a moment.

Which choice would be the right one?

Both options had their own pros and cons, so there was no right answer.

‘Which choice is the best, and which is the second best?’

Surprisingly, the conclusion came quickly.

‘I…’

At my answer, Sein-nim’s eyes shone brightly.

* * *

The Black Magic Tower’s headquarters.

About 30 high-ranking mages, including Sophia Anetscheffri, were holding their breath and looking around.

‘It’s too quiet.’

A huge magic tower made entirely of black, befitting the name of the Black Magic Tower.

As befitting the headquarters of a large criminal organization, I expected at least dozens, if not hundreds, of black mages to be stationed here.

But what is this?

There wasn’t even a single ant, let alone dozens of black mages.

‘Sophia-nim. Could it be that they already noticed and ran away?’

Min Gae-yeon, the Green Magic Tower Master, cautiously offered her opinion.

It didn’t make sense that there was nothing here.

It was the headquarters of the Black Magic Tower, not just any criminal organization.

For it to be this quiet, it must mean they already noticed and ran away.

‘No.’

However, Sophia’s thoughts were different.

‘The Black Magic King. He’s not the type of person to abandon his castle and run away.’

Sophia prided herself on knowing the Black Magic King better than anyone else here.

There was no way the Black Magic King would have chosen to flee.

‘He’ll be sitting at the top of this tower, waiting for us with an arrogant attitude.’

Sitting on a black throne, with his legs crossed and his chin resting on his hand.

He would be waiting for the arrival of the invaders with a gaze that looked down on everything in the world.

Sophia was certain of that.

‘Then it’s a trap.’

James Filler, the Red Magic Tower Master, looked even sharper.

‘I don’t think he would use such a troublesome method…’

Sophia frowned.

Given the Black Magic King’s personality, would he have bothered to set up a trap?

The probability of that was not high.

‘Just in case, let’s proceed with as much caution as possible.’

But you never know.

Even if the Black Magic King didn’t prepare it, another executive might have set up a trap in preparation for a possible situation.

There was no harm in being careful.

‘Yes.’

The Yellow and White Magic Tower Masters and the Archmages nodded slightly, including the Green and Red Magic Tower Masters.

‘White Magic Tower Master. Then I’ll leave it to you.’

‘Leave it to me.’

A woman who was more suited to white than anyone else stepped forward.

Every time she moved forward, the light around her swelled as if it was expanding.

It was a sight befitting the Magic Tower Master with the name of white, symbolizing light magic.

‘Light Searcher.’

At the gesture of the White Magic Tower Master, the light that had been slowly expanding expanded all at once.

A search magic that uses the reflection of light.

Using light, it simultaneously searches the area around the magic tower, as well as the inside of the magic tower.

A tremendous amount of light and mana that covers this entire area.

Each ray of light moved as if it were alive.

It was indeed a level of magic worthy of being called the White Magic Tower Master.

‘……I’ve checked up to the 3rd floor, but there’s still no one there.’

After about 30 seconds had passed.

The White Magic Tower Master spoke with a serious expression.

Originally, the fact that there was no one inside should be a good thing, but if there was nothing to this extent, it was a different story.

It was unsettling.

‘Are there any traps?’

‘For now, there’s nothing that my senses are picking up.’

It wasn’t just that there were no people.

There were no traps to be found either.

Thanks to that, the unease was only increasing.

‘What about above that?’

The Green Magic Tower Master asked.

‘The structure of the 3rd floor is too complex, so it’s impossible to send light above it. Detection is impossible unless we get a little closer.’

No matter how much of a White Magic Tower Master she was, it was the limit to detect the 3rd floor from this position.

‘Then, whatever the case, we have to enter first.’

‘……I’m sorry.’

At Sophia’s words, the White Magic Tower Master lowered her head with an apologetic expression.

‘Raise your head. You’ve done a great job just by succeeding in checking up to the 3rd floor. You’re amazing.’

Sophia smiled kindly and held the White Magic Tower Master’s hand.

The White Magic Tower Master looked touched.

Among the Magic Tower Masters, she respected and revered Sophia more than anyone else, so the emotion was even greater.

‘Then, please step back for now. Next, after we enter the 1st floor…’

Just as Sophia was about to turn the White Magic Tower Master back to the rear.

‘Darkness!’

Suddenly, darkness flowed out from inside the Black Magic Tower.

At a speed that no one could feel.

At a speed where only Sophia felt a slight unease.

The darkness covered the White Magic Tower Master.

‘You foolish thing.’

And the next moment.

The White Magic Tower Master vanished.

‘Your messy light broke my precious porcelain.’

Leaving only the hands that were holding Sophia’s, she completely disappeared from this world.

‘That sin. I’ll repay it with your life.’

Sophia looked at the White Magic Tower Master, who was left with only her arms, with trembling eyes.

And slowly raised her head.

She met the gaze of the darkness that was slowly walking out of the entrance of the Black Magic Tower.

‘Black Magic King…’

A black man, armed with darkness all over his body.

‘Apart from that…’

The mana that was subtly flowing out was giving everyone tension and fear.

‘Welcome. Sophia Anetscheffri.’

He greeted Sophia with an emotionless voice.

‘Sincerely.’

The shape of the darkness was violently fluctuating.

It was as if a demon from the abyss was rejoicing.