The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 373

“You still have a good eye.”

Sophia.

No, the Black Magic King chuckled.

His words and expression were full of affirmation.

“…….”

I glared at the Black Magic King with hostility.

The tension made the fine hairs on my body stand on end.

‘Why the Black Magic King? What happened to Sophia and Sein? What’s going on?’

My head was a mess.

Why did the Black Magic King suddenly appear?

‘They clearly said… that he was still at a level that could be suppressed…’

During our last meeting, Sophia had clearly said this:

‘Your meeting has caused the Black Magic King’s personality to awaken a little, but it’s still at a level that can be suppressed. If we struggle for about a week, we can put him back to sleep.’

Her expression was confident, without a hint of doubt.

‘It’s only the first time. If this happens two or three times, it will become impossible to suppress, but it’s okay for now.’

Sein was the same.

There was no need to worry about the Black Magic King awakening.

He had smiled confidently, with an expression that was just as certain.

That’s why I hadn’t even considered the possibility of the Black Magic King reawakening.

Since both of them were 100% sure, I thought there was nothing to worry about.

‘What the heck is going on?’

But what is this? The Black Magic King had awakened.

Despite Sophia and Sein’s certainty, the Black Magic King had taken over Sophia’s body and regained his freedom.

What on earth had happened?

“You don’t have to be so wary.”

The Black Magic King chuckled softly.

“Nothing like what you’re worried about happened.”

He seemed to find my expression quite amusing, observing me and chuckling.

I remained silent at the Black Magic King’s words, glaring at him with even more intensity.

I won’t fall for your sweet talk. I won’t believe you.

My eyes were full of such wariness.

“…What did you do to Sophia and Sein?”

I prepared for battle, asking with a warning tone.

“Hmm.”

The Black Magic King stroked his chin with a slightly troubled expression.

Seeing that expression and gesture on Sophia’s face was incredibly awkward.

“Even after saying this, you still won’t let your guard down. I thought you would understand my sincerity.”

The Black Magic King clicked his tongue softly.

Then, he said something incomprehensible.

“The bet is your victory, Sophia Anetschepri.”

…What?

“See, I told you. There’s no way Hayul would believe your words.”

My pupils slowly contracted.

The scene unfolding before my eyes was so unbelievable.

My pupils shrank, and my eyes widened.

“It’s disheartening. I’ve been quite kind to Shin Hayul so far. I didn’t think he wouldn’t recognize this much sincerity. I’m a little, no, quite disappointed.”

Sophia’s face changed back and forth.

The same level of change as when Sein and Sophia took turns speaking before.

It was as if two personalities were conversing in one body.

“Would you believe it? If an enemy who tried to kill you suddenly appeared and told you to leave this place without any explanation.”

Right now, the Black Magic King and Sophia were talking to each other.

“What’s wrong with that? I gave the most important information first to gain trust.”

“Yes, there’s a problem. If you suddenly tell someone to leave in that situation, wouldn’t they naturally think it’s a warning or a threat?”

“Oh. There was room for that interpretation. That was a blind spot.”

The Black Magic King chuckled again and stroked his chin.

“Then, it was my mistake. I’ll cleanly admit my defeat.”

“…You didn’t think you’d win from the start, but you’re good at talking.”

Sophia sighed deeply.

“I don’t know what you mean. I thought I had a chance to win, so I suggested the bet.”

“Don’t lie. We’re connected through my body. I know to some extent what you’re thinking.”

Sophia said sharply.

“The bet or whatever, it was just an act to surprise Hayul. Nothing more, nothing less.”

A strange light flickered in the Black Magic King’s eyes.

“…Indeed.”

His expression and gaze were subtle.

He seemed to like Sophia’s words.

“I understand.”

“…Don’t tell me. Were you testing me?”

“Yes. It’s not a good feeling to have my thoughts read by others. I wanted to test how much of my thoughts you could read.”

The Black Magic King smiled very slightly, looking at me.

“Thanks to that, I know very well. You can definitely read ‘some’ of my thoughts. And…”

A complicated look.

I could feel all sorts of emotions beyond the Black Magic King’s eyes as he looked at me.

“…And? Why did you stop talking?”

“It’s nothing.”

The Black Magic King chuckled and closed his eyes.

“Anyway, the bet is my loss. I’ll quietly wait inside your body again.”

“Finish what you were saying. And what are you going to say next… Ah, really…”

Sophia frowned and bit her lip.

“That man is really… from beginning to end…”

The Black Magic King was very, very displeasing.

That was the expression she seemed to make.

“That’s why I said it. Talking to that man is useless. There’s no benefit.”

Then, Sophia’s expression changed again.

A cold and sharp expression reminiscent of a sword.

It was Sein.

“I know that too. But what can we do? He said he’d shut his mouth if we refused this offer.”

Sophia sighed deeply.

“No, in the first place, isn’t it wrong for the person who dumped all the conversation on me because they didn’t want to talk to that guy to say that?”

“……”

Sein closed his mouth.

He was avoiding unfavorable topics.

That was the expression he seemed to make.

“Again, again! You just keep avoiding the answer. Because you’re like that, the conversation is getting longer…”

“Excuse me for interrupting your conversation.”

I cut off Sophia’s words.

“Could you please explain what’s going on? What happened?”

I was going to keep listening if possible. But since it was a serious matter, I couldn’t just wait.

“……”

“…Hmm.”

Sophia closed her mouth, and Sein made a small groan.

“Well, um… where should I start explaining this?”

Sophia smiled bitterly.

“I don’t think you need to think too complicatedly. Just explain it as it is. Start from the beginning.”

“…If you think it’s that easy, Sein, you explain it.”

“Hmm. I’d love to, but unfortunately, I have no talent other than wielding a sword. I’m terrible at things that require skill, like explaining.”

Sein chuckled.

“It’ll end up with you explaining it again anyway… but if you’re okay with it, I’ll explain.”

“…Haa. Never mind.”

Sophia sighed deeply again.

“I’ll do it. Sein, please be quiet for a moment.”

“Understood.”

After that, Sophia sighed deeply once more.

‘This is my fate…’

That was the expression and sigh she seemed to make.

“I’ll explain as briefly as possible. As Sein said, it would be easier for me to explain step by step… but unfortunately, this situation isn’t that relaxed.”

Sophia’s expression became serious.

“First, to give you the conclusion, we made a deal with the Black Magic King.”

“…A deal?”

“Yes. Rather than a deal, it’s more accurate to say we formed an alliance.”

An alliance with the Black Magic King?

Why?

“You look like you want to ask why we did that.”

Sophia smiled bitterly.

“We didn’t want to ally with a man like the Black Magic King either. But…”

Sophia lowered her head and was silent for a moment.

Sophia’s gloomy mood was conveyed through her lowered face.

“We had no choice. There was no other option but to ally with that man.”

“…What happened?”

There was no choice.

What could be the situation that forced someone who was more wary of the Black Magic King than anyone else to form an alliance?

“He has awakened.”

The single syllable word ‘he’ caused a surge of anxiety.

“He… Don’t tell me…”

In an instant, one name flashed through my mind.

The being that forced Sophia and the Black Magic King to form an alliance.

The common enemy of the Black Magic King and us.

And the hypothesis that Mimir and I recently established.

“Yes.”

Sophia nodded.

“Veil Stole.”

Veil Stole.

“He has already completed his resurrection.”

The originator of black magic had resurrected.

It was the moment when the worst of the three hypotheses that Mimir and I had established became a reality.

* * *

‘We were thinking wrong. The six months later only meant the day Veil Stole would be completely resurrected.’

‘The solar eclipse six months later only meant the day Veil Stole would regain all his power. Veil Stole himself had already regained life.’

To summarize Sophia’s words, it was like this.

Veil Stole had already been reborn in this era two months ago.

However, the Veil Stole who had resurrected was in a state where he didn’t even reach the tip of his former power.

The time when he would fully regain that power was the solar eclipse six months from now.

The sign of Veil Stole’s resurrection that Sophia and Sein had sensed through the Black Magic King’s soul was just the time of Veil Stole’s ‘complete’ resurrection.

‘It was a fact we learned when the Black Magic King’s will briefly returned due to your meeting.’

It must have been Veil Stole’s resurrection that only the Black Magic King could sense.

‘We had no other choice. Now that the great evil Veil Stole has already completed his resurrection. It was too big of a penalty to move around with the shackle called the Black Magic King.’

‘Above all, the Black Magic King’s goal is to defeat Veil Stole. This goal is the same as ours.’

The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

In facing Veil Stole, the evil called the Black Magic King could be a last resort.

That’s why they formed an alliance.

‘Thanks to this alliance, we’ve gained some freedom to move around. There’s still the anxiety that we have to leave the Black Magic King’s consciousness unsuppressed. But we’ve gained the freedom to move around in return, so it’s a good deal.’

They gained freedom in exchange for letting the bomb called the Black Magic King roam somewhat freely.

It wasn’t a small risk, but it was definitely a return that exceeded that risk.

‘If you need help, please contact us. We’ll come to help you right away.’

Sophia Anetschepri and Sein Binosch.

The two heroes had returned to our side.

They were able to fight alongside us.

“That’s all. Since it’s you, I’m sure you’ve understood with this much explanation.”

That was the end of the explanation that lasted about two minutes.

“Yes. I understand.”

It was a short and concise summary explanation, typical of Sophia.

“Okay. Then, assuming you’ve understood the situation, let’s move on to the main point.”

“…The main point?”

“Yes. Earlier, when the Black Magic King appeared and said something out of the blue. Do you remember?”

“Yes. He told us to leave this place…”

I thought it was a threat. But now that I think about it, it wasn’t a threat.

Considering that Sophia said to the Black Magic King, ‘The other person will think it’s a warning,’ it’s clear that there was another intention besides a threat.

“That’s exactly what I want to say. Leave this place within 10 minutes, no, as soon as possible.”

“…What’s the reason?”

“Veil Stole. He’s nearby.”

Sophia frowned and continued.

“So, for now…”

No, she was about to say it.

“Sorry for interrupting.”

She would have if the Black Magic King hadn’t suddenly appeared.

“It’s already too late.”

The Black Magic King said with a serious expression.

“Veil Stole. He’ll arrive here within 10 seconds.”

The Black Magic King clicked his tongue.

“Shin Hayul. Sophia Anetschepri. Hide.”

I immediately turned my gaze to Mimir.

“Mimir!”

“Okay!”

Mimir nodded with a firm expression.

I moved my mana and grabbed Sophia’s hand.

‘Umbra!’

“Umbra!”

Immediately after, my body and Sophia’s disappeared into the shadows.

And not long after.

Tap, tap.

The sound of shoes stepping on the marble floor of the laboratory echoed clearly.