The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 368

The faces of the god and my master that I saw in my dream were identical.

Mimir and I spent a full 10 hours contemplating this incomprehensible phenomenon.

Before I knew it, it was morning.

“So, does that mean divine power influenced the creation of the Vaitern style?”

“A divine being is involved in the secret history of the Vaitern style’s creation? Hmm, that makes sense. Objectively speaking, the Vaitern style is too perfect a magic system to have been created from nothing. It wouldn’t be strange to think that the power of a supernatural being like a god is included in it.”

Even so, the debate between Mimir and me showed no signs of ending.

Listing the questions I had heard from the Red Dragon this time and the new information I learned through my dream, one after another, it was endless.

“Then, what the Red Dragon said just before he died… is that alien 15% included in my magic the power of that god?”

“If the hypothesis that the Vaitern style is a magic system created by adding the power of a god to the magic of the dragons is correct, then that’s very likely.”

If we left it like this, we could probably debate for another full day.

“But still, there are one or two things that don’t quite add up…”

However, our debate did not continue.

“Young Master. Excuse me.”

Seokhyun interrupted my conversation with Mimir.

“Are you feeling a little better?”

“Yes. I’m feeling better, but…”

I could see impatience in his expression.

Did something happen?

“What’s going on?”

Seokhyun was silent for a moment.

He looked like he was very sorry in many ways.

“It pains me to have to tell you this, Young Master, when you haven’t fully recovered your condition. If only I had a little more power…”

Seokhyun sighed deeply and looked me straight in the eye.

“Young Master. It seems you need to go to the emergency headquarters right now.”

“Emergency headquarters? Was a countermeasure meeting about the dragons held?”

“…Yes.”

“I didn’t hear that such a meeting was going to be held.”

It was the first time I had heard that one was being held.

“The head of the family told me not to tell you, Young Master Hayul, so I didn’t.”

“I guess you thought I would overdo it if I knew a countermeasure meeting was being held.”

“…Yes.”

Seokhyun’s smile became even more bitter.

“I’m really… sorry.”

For hiding it.

And for hiding it and then asking for help like this.

Everything from start to finish, he was sorry.

That was the expression he was making.

“I see.”

Based on what I heard from him, I tried to guess the current situation.

The person who hid the fact that a countermeasure meeting was being held because he was worried I would overdo it, suddenly calls me.

What could have happened to cause this situation?

The answer was very simple.

“Did each country request my presence?”

“Yes.”

Seokhyun’s expression darkened even more.

“They said they wanted to hear the opinion of someone who has directly fought against a dragon… More than 80% of the representatives requested your presence.”

“I’m just asking in case, but it’s not a forced summons, right?”

“Of course not.”

“It’s not forced, but they strongly desire my participation. I understand the situation roughly.”

Even though it wasn’t a forced summons, my father called me.

I roughly knew which direction the meeting was going.

The picture was clear.

“I understand.”

I got out of bed, took out Aeth and put it on, then opened the subspace [a pocket dimension].

And I took out a set of clothes from the subspace and changed.

“Let’s go. I’ll hear the details on the way.”

“Yes.”

I put on my coat and left the hospital room.

* * *

In the conference room where the emergency countermeasure meeting regarding the dragons was being held, the leaders of each country were seated.

“I’ll say it again. I refuse a full-scale war with the dragons.”

The representative of Italy expressed his opinion with a serious expression.

“In other words, the representative of Italy thinks it’s right to release Marco. Is that what you’re saying?”

As if objecting to the Italian representative’s opinion, Shin Inhyuk frowned and replied.

“Yes. If that’s the only way, I think we should do it.”

At the Italian representative’s confident words, about half of the attendees frowned, and the other half nodded as if satisfied.

“I can’t understand it. Have you all been brainwashed as a group?”

The representatives who frowned, led by Shin Inhyuk, shook their heads.

Has the Italian representative gone crazy?

That’s what their eyes were saying.

“It’s me who can’t understand.”

The Italian representative scoffed and continued.

“It’s not just one or two dragons, there’s a possibility that dozens or more will appear. And in a rampaging state. Do you think you can stop them?”

They couldn’t even stop one Red Dragon properly. How could they stop dozens of dragons?

“As Marco suggested, it’s a priority to release Marco and stop the dragons’ rampage.”

“…What if Marco has other intentions and orders the dragons to launch a full-scale attack?”

“We just need to put a restraint on Marco so that doesn’t happen.”

“The opponent is someone who has realized a technique close to divine skill, implanting the souls of dragons into drakes [a type of dragon]. I don’t think a restraint like that will work.”

“There’s also the method of making him sign a contract with his life as collateral.”

“The contract has already been invalidated before. We can’t trust it even more.”

They should be united and working together, but the conference hall was completely divided.

“Or we can just put a monitor on him.”

“Are you not considering the possibility that the monitor will lose track of Marco?”

The reason the conference hall was so divided was all because of Marco.

The words he threw out had divided the representatives at this meeting.

‘I have 47 dragons prepared in various locations around the world.’

‘If I don’t press the switch on the restraint device myself within the specified time, they are designed to rampage all at once.’

‘If you want to stop their rampage, release me.’

‘If you release me, I will dispose of all the dragons in return.’

The simultaneous rampage of 47 dragons.

Frightened by those words, the representatives suggested that Marco’s proposal should be accepted, and about half of the representatives agreed with their opinion.

Of course, the remaining half expressed their opposition.

They said they couldn’t trust the words of a criminal, that there was no way those words were true in the first place, and that Marco’s proposal wasn’t worth listening to.

“It’s a priority to release Marco first and stop the rampage. He values his own life, so he will definitely stop the indiscriminate rampage.”

“He will stop it, sure. About half of the rampage, that is. He will leave the rest as is and use them to reduce our forces. It will also be a good show of force.”

The result of such a confrontation was what was happening now.

The representatives in the conference hall were completely divided.

‘……There’s no answer.’

Looking at those representatives, Shin Inhyuk clicked his tongue inwardly.

They should be united and working together, but they were divided into two factions and fighting.

Frankly speaking, it was disgusting to watch.

‘The problem is that neither of them is wrong…’

The fact that there was no answer was not just directed at the representatives who were fighting like that.

The current situation itself had no answer.

‘It’s a big problem whether we accept Marco’s proposal or ignore it.’

If Marco’s proposal is ignored, there is a possibility that 47 dragons will rampage as Marco said.

Then, as the representatives who are suggesting to release Marco say, there is a high possibility that the world itself will be destroyed.

One dragon destroyed France in 10 minutes, how could they stop 47?

But they can’t release Marco either.

If they release him, they might be able to stop the immediate rampage.

But that’s it.

They might be able to stop the immediate threat, but it’s clear that a bigger threat will come soon.

There’s no way Marco, who has been freed, will stay quiet.

‘……Thinking about it again, it’s a damn situation.’

The more he thought about it, the more there was no answer.

‘No. Isn’t the one with no answer me?’

Shin Inhyuk smiled self-deprecatingly.

‘A pathetic father who has no choice but to ask his sick son for help. There’s really no answer.’

He could only sigh at his own powerlessness.

‘It’s a total mess.’

From himself, the representative of this meeting, to the participants, and finally to the situation.

Everything had no answer.

This world might already be doomed.

Shin Inhyuk shook his head with a bitter smile.

“It’s impossible to have a conversation. Fine. We’ll act separately on our own.”

“Are you saying that you will abandon the world’s cause and act alone?”

“The world’s cause? Since when has your opinion become the world’s cause?”

“Your words, which defend a criminal, are not the world’s cause.”

“…Have you said everything you wanted to say?”

“No. I haven’t. I didn’t ask if you were going to leave this conference hall and side with Marco.”

“This… with your mouth…”

The atmosphere was getting more and more hostile.

In the atmosphere that was like a bomb about to explode.

Screech-

The sound of the conference hall door opening very slowly was heard.

Tap, tap, tap.

A man entered the conference hall with the sound of shoes.

“I’m sorry I’m late.”

Everyone’s words stopped.

“I just came out of the hospital, so I would appreciate it if you could understand.”

Shin Hayul.

With the appearance of the man everyone had requested, the heated atmosphere quickly subsided.

“I heard about it on the way. You are currently in a difficult situation because of Marco’s proposal, which is close to a threat.”

Tap, tap.

Shin Hayul slowly moved to the center of the conference room.

Everyone couldn’t take their eyes off him.

“Because of that, your opinions are divided into two, and you haven’t even been able to have a proper exchange of opinions. That’s what I heard.”

There was a strange magic in his actions and words.

A strange magic that made it impossible to take your eyes off his movements and made you focus on his voice.

“It’s a truly unfortunate thing. I captured Marco to help, but instead of helping, it’s only hindering.”

Some call it leadership.

Some call it charisma.

A kind of magic that those who stand above naturally emit.

That was emanating from Shin Hayul’s whole body.

“At the same time. I’m very disappointed. You, who have attended as representatives of each country, are being played by the words of a third-rate villain.”

The selection of words and tone that were sure to provoke a backlash.

Everyone’s faces were contorted at the sarcastic, almost taunting tone.

“…A kid who hasn’t even dried behind the ears.”

“You’re just spouting nonsense with your mouth.”

“Where do you see that we’ve been played?”

The backlash had the effect of making them focus even more on the target’s words.

“You have been played.”

Shin Hayul, who had drawn out the expected backlash, continued with a relaxed smile.

“Because you were fighting each other with all your might over something that already had a set answer.”

“…Something that already has a set answer?”

“Nonsense. There is no best option in this situation. All that remains is a lesser evil or the worst.”

Everyone’s gaze became even sharper.

“No. The best option exists. You just don’t know it.”

“…Claiming that with just words is something even a three-year-old can do.”

“I don’t intend to just claim it with words.”

Shin Hayul smiled brightly as he calmly received everyone’s gaze.

“I will show you the proof right here, right now.”

At that moment, the lights in the conference hall went out, and a hologram screen appeared in the middle.

“Take a look.”

A PPT [PowerPoint presentation] created with Mimir’s power while moving to the conference hall.

“This is the proof.”

10 minutes.

That was the time it took for the representatives, who had been completely divided, to become one again.