The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 338

“I don’t know if it’s the real Madam. It could just be someone who looks like her…”

The Commander trailed off, looking serious.

“…It could be the remnants of the Black Magic Tower up to some tricks.”

I picked up on her words.

“Right.”

The Black Magic King is dead, but not all the black mages have disappeared.

Although the major figures, including Hermes and Shadow, are all dead.

A few of the executives survived.

They survived and formed their own villain alliances.

These are the remnants of the Black Magic Tower.

“If we think about it calmly, it’s more likely to be a trap. There’s no way there wouldn’t be a black mage among the living black mages who can use Metamorphosis [a magic that changes appearance].”

Simply changing one’s appearance is achievable for a 6-circle master [a high-level magic user].

Thinking rationally, the Sophia in this video is very likely to be fake.

“But it could be real.”

However, the probability of it being fake is not 100%.

About 1%.

There is a small chance that the woman in this video is the real Sophia Anetschepri.

“I think it’s worth investigating.”

Commander Charles’s eyes flickered with intensity.

It was the first time in almost two years that I had seen such passionate eyes.

…Is that why she looked so excited?

“I agree with the investigation itself. It’s good if it’s real. And if it’s fake, we need to capture them for information gathering.”

“Information gathering?”

“We need to find out where our information was leaked from.”

“Ah, that’s right. If the Madam in this video is fake, it means they know that Madam’s life is unknown…”

“Yes. It means that our confidential information has been leaked to those guys.”

How did our information get leaked to the remnants of the Black Magic Tower?

To find that out, an investigation is essential.

“Where was this video taken?”

“Italy.”

“Italy… That’s far.”

“It is far… Why? Are you going to investigate it yourself?”

“Yes. That’s what I’m planning to do.”

“Wouldn’t it be better for me to go?”

Investigation is the Commander’s specialty.

Just looking at the type of work, it’s right for the Commander to take charge of the investigation.

“No.”

However.

“It’s right for me to go this time.”

This time, the situation is a bit different.

“This video is 99% likely to be fake. It’s bait. The purpose is to use Sophia’s appearance to lure me or Commander Charles there.”

This mission is not a simple investigation, but a stealth mission where we have to break into the enemy’s lair.

“It’s too dangerous for the Commander to go herself.”

I can’t send Commander Charles.

It’s too dangerous.

“It’s dangerous for you too. I know you’re stronger than me, but since you’re also on their target list…”

“No. My case is different.”

Since they used Sophia as bait, the target is either me or Commander Charles. One of the two.

Whether I go or Commander Charles goes, the danger remains the same.

But.

“I can change my appearance.”

“Ah…”

That’s not a problem for me at all.

Unlike Commander Charles, who can only do disguises, I can change my appearance with magic.

I can disguise myself as someone else and conduct the investigation.

“Even if something happens, I have Umbra now. If necessary, I can just escape to Korea.”

And I have Umbra [a teleportation ability].

Even if my identity is revealed and I’m in a dangerous situation, I can just use Umbra to escape to Korea.

“That’s true, but…”

“Besides, considering various factors. It’s right for me to go.”

In the first place, since this is related to Sophia, it’s very dangerous to send Commander Charles.

Since it’s related to Sophia, it’s impossible to make a 100% rational decision.

No matter how I look at it, it’s right for me to take on this task.

“……”

Commander Charles frowned and lowered her gaze.

A look that said she understood with her head, but not with her heart.

It was a look that said she wanted to take on this mission no matter what, abandoning logic and reason.

‘…As expected.’

Seeing that look, I was convinced again.

I absolutely shouldn’t send Commander Charles.

“And lastly, this is the most important reason. I want to ask Commander Charles to do another mission.”

Fortunately, I have a way to persuade Commander Charles.

“Another mission?”

“Yes.”

I activated the hologram tablet I usually use and opened a piece of data.

“This… Anti-Magia [a type of magic-nullifying stone]?”

“Yes.”

The data was named [Anti-Magia].

It was a recent activity report of a heinous criminal group that had a history of committing suicide bombings using a magic stone called Anti-Magia at Incheon Airport in Korea in the past.

“Why are they here?”

“You’ll see when you look at it. After hearing the story, it doesn’t seem like a mere coincidence.”

I opened the most recent report on Anti-Magia and showed it to the Commander.

“Here. Could you look at this part?”

“…There are strange movements centered around Italy?”

“Yes.”

In the past, during the Levi incident.

I concluded that there was some kind of connection between Anti-Magia and the Black Magic Tower.

After that, the Black Magic King died soon after, and the Black Magic Tower collapsed, so the connection didn’t matter anymore.

“And here, look at this too.”

I closed the report and opened another piece of data.

This time, it was a report recording the activities of the remnants of the Black Magic Tower.

“Villain Alliance, Destroyer. Terror in Milan, Italy…? It’s Italy again?”

Villain Alliance Destroyer.

A criminal organization founded by Destroyer, a former executive of the Black Magic Tower.

As if to reveal his arrogant nature, he named his group after his code name.

“When did this happen?”

“Three days ago.”

“That’s really recent?”

“Yes.”

I closed the report and temporarily deactivated the hologram tablet.

“The place where Anti-Magia started showing strange behavior is also Italy. The first time Destroyer, who had been active only in Asia, came to the West and committed a terrorist act was also in Italy. And…”

“The place where the woman who looks like Madam was filmed is also Italy… This is definitely…”

Commander Charles narrowed her eyes and frowned.

“Yes. I don’t think this is a simple coincidence.”

It’s too artificial to call it a coincidence.

“It certainly doesn’t seem like a coincidence.”

Commander Charles took a deep breath.

“Then, the mission you want to ask me to do is the investigation in Milan?”

“Yes. I would like to ask you to investigate Destroyer and Anti-Magia.”

Commander Charles stared at me with sharp eyes.

“Tracking Madam’s trail and raiding criminal groups. The latter is more my specialty.”

“Yes. Commander Charles is the best in that area.”

“I understand.”

Commander Charles nodded with a completely convinced expression.

“If that’s the case, I can’t help it. I’ll do as you say.”

“Yes. I’m counting on you.”

“You don’t have to worry about me. Busting criminals is one of my specialties. I’m counting on you.”

“Yes. I’ll do my best.”

That’s how my trip to Italy was decided.

* * *

The next day at lunch.

I was eating ice cream in front of a convenience store in a rural village in Italy.

“Ice cream is the same everywhere.”

Soonchan said something silly next to me.

“That’s because you’re eating a Korean brand, you idiot.”

What Soonchan is eating now is a melon-flavored ice cream made in Korea.

It’s no wonder the taste is the same.

“…The taste might be different depending on the factory.”

“It’s the same ice cream made with the same process, how could the taste be different?”

Soonchan’s expression twisted at my sarcasm.

“Hey, I was just sharing my thoughts, why are you being so mean?”

“You have to share thoughts that are worth empathizing with.”

I shook my head.

“And you, manage your expression. Does that expression even match your face right now?”

“Ah, that’s right. I did.”

I didn’t mean to belittle Soonchan’s face.

It’s just the literal meaning.

“Tsk. Should I have asked for a hard-boiled man? It’s so annoying.”

Currently, Soonchan’s face has been changed by my magic.

To define Soonchan’s current appearance in one word, it would be a rugged Westerner.

“It’s too late to regret it. The procedures are already done.”

“…Ugh.”

Soonchan’s current face and that sulky expression don’t match at all.

It’s like a noir movie character is acting cute, so the dissonance is jarring.

“That’s why I told you to think carefully. Wouldn’t it have been better if you had a bouncy Westerner look that suits you?”

“…It’s because you said I was bouncy that I got a rebellious feeling and went with this concept.”

Soonchan glared at me with an angry expression.

“Oh. That expression is good. Very real.”

When he glares with that face, the intimidation is no joke.

He looks like a main character from a noir movie.

“Ah, is that so? Is this the feeling? I completely understand.”

Soonchan frowned with a look of realization.

“Is it like this?”

Then a fool was born.

Maybe it’s because he’s trying to change his facial muscles, but it’s very awkward.

“You should never do any acting in the future. You’re just hopeless.”

“Is it that weird?”

“Yeah. It’s like a Korean nerd male student got into the body of a rugged Westerner.”

“…Is it that bad?”

Soonchan looked at his face in the CCTV mirror.

He touches his chin, changes the angle, and looks at his face.

“Hmm. It seems natural.”

“Natural my ass. If that’s natural, then a tiger running on the sea is natural too.”

Looking at that, I naturally sighed.

‘Should I have brought him?’

I brought him because I needed help.

Just looking at that, it doesn’t seem like he’ll be helpful.

I sighed without realizing it.

Beep-beep-

At that moment, the convenience store’s automatic door opened, and an Asian woman appeared.

Black straight hair.

Brown and black pupils.

A moderate build.

If you asked 10 people, all 10 would say she was an ordinary Asian woman.

“Adel…”

Soonchan approached the woman and tried to say something, but then closed his mouth.

“Ahem. Suji. Over here.”

The woman called Suji slowly walked towards us.

“Did you find what you were looking for?”

“…No.”

The woman answered with a very gloomy expression.

“The part-timer even contacted the store owner, but they said it was there a month ago, but it wasn’t popular, so they took it out…”

It was an expression that seemed to argue that this was absurd.

“How can banana milk not be popular? I can’t believe it.”

“That’s a bit surprising. It’s delicious. Are our tastes that different?”

Soonchan answered as if it was really unexpected.

“Don’t be so gloomy. Even though it’s a bit far, there’s a Korean mart nearby. It’ll be there if you go.”

“No, I heard about the Korean mart earlier, but… I’m so shocked… How can banana milk not be popular…”

It goes without saying that this black-haired woman is Adela.

Like Soonchan, her appearance has been changed by my magic.

Her name is Suji, as Soonchan said earlier.

It’s just a random name made by reversing Adela’s original name, Jisu.

“Huh? But even though banana milk isn’t popular, there’s melon-flavored milk from the same brand. Didn’t you see that? You could eat that…”

“Steve.”

Adela coldly sneered.

“Don’t even mention the name of such a heretic.”

“Why a heretic? It was delicious.”

For reference, Soonchan’s name is Steve.

The last name was randomly chosen as Polain.

“…You think that’s delicious.”

Adela looked up at Soonchan with a look of disgust.

“So you were that kind of person. I understand.”

“…Huh?”

“I don’t think we can get any closer.”

“Hey, um, …huh?”

Soonchan trailed off, looking genuinely flustered.

Adela turned her head as if she didn’t care about Soonchan’s reaction and approached me.

“Sian. I’m sorry for making you wait.”

“Waiting for what. You don’t have to worry about it. Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

I turned around and started walking.

Adela and Soonchan followed behind me.

“Hey, Adel… Ahem. Suji? Did I say something wrong…”

“No. You don’t have to worry about it.”

“No, even if you say not to worry with that expression…”

Soonchan trailed off, looking very flustered.

Adela didn’t even look at Soonchan, but looked at me and asked.

“So, Sian. How was it? Did you find anything?”

“No. I couldn’t find anything.”

I couldn’t find any trace of Sophia at the convenience store.

“By nothing, do you mean you didn’t find any traces of black mage mana, but also no traces at all?”

“Yeah.”

Not even Sophia’s mana, I couldn’t feel any black mage’s mana.

I couldn’t find any information near the convenience store where Sophia was filmed.

“Not just black mage mana, but there wasn’t any trace of mana at all.”

Adela’s eyes sharpened.

“If there’s no trace of mana, it means that there hasn’t been a single mana action within the last year near that convenience store… Does that make sense?”

“It doesn’t. It’s impossible in common sense.”

Now that mana is becoming more and more unstable every day.

It doesn’t make sense that there hasn’t been any mana action for a whole year.

“What, then did someone erase all the traces?”

Soonchan, who had been listening quietly from behind, chimed in.

“Maybe.”

Near the convenience store.

Someone intentionally erased all traces of mana.

As if not to leave any traces of themselves.

As if they couldn’t leave any footprints.

“That’s strange. If it’s a trap, they wouldn’t erase all the traces like this…”

“They should have created fake traces to deceive us.”

If it was a trap, they wouldn’t have erased the traces so suspiciously.

To catch the bait, you need to prepare accordingly.

“That means…”

This is not a trap.

It’s an act that someone did to genuinely erase their footprints.

In other words.

“Does that mean that Sophia might really be alive?”

“Yeah. The probability has increased quite a bit.”

The probability that Sophia is alive has increased considerably.

That’s what it meant.