The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 374

Almost simultaneously with Shin Hayul and Sophia hiding in the shadows, two men appeared.

An old man wearing a pure white gown, indicating he was a researcher, and a young man with a sharp, intense look.

The two stood before the dragon and looked up at it.

“Here, as you commanded, we have put the dragon into a complete state of suspended animation.”

The old man pointed at the dragon, speaking with a confident expression.

“Using the stabilization code, we’ve also put in safety measures to prepare for any unforeseen circumstances. You can start right away.”

His expression seemed to be praising his own achievements.

It also felt a bit like a pet wanting praise.

“…….”

The man approached the dragon slowly with his usual expressionless face.

With a leisurely pace, he gently stroked the dragon’s head.

“It’s completely asleep.”

The man placed his hand on the dragon’s head, then turned his gaze to the researcher.

“Well done. I’ll give you praise.”

Praise that could be offensive depending on who heard it.

“Hehe. Thank you.”

However, the old man didn’t seem offended at all.

All that was felt was joy.

It was the emotion of being recognized by the man in front of him.

“Then there’s no need to drag this out.”

“Yes. Let’s start right away.”

The old man moved away and began fiddling with the computer.

The computer screen changed every second. It was a glimpse into the researcher’s skills.

“Execute it immediately.”

“Yes. I will execute it right away.”

As if he had finished all the preparations in an instant, the researcher pressed the enter key.

“Now. Please partake.”

The dragon’s body emitted a faint light.

Something translucent was rippling over the dragon’s body.

“The purity is still terribly poor.”

“Still, it’s much better than what you had yesterday.”

The man grabbed the translucent energy.

The translucent energy slipped out, caught in the man’s grasp.

The man brought it straight to his mouth.

“Ooh…….”

The translucent energy began to be absorbed into the man at a rapid pace.

Watching that, the researcher let out an exclamation of admiration.

‘Soul Eater.’

It was the third time he had seen the magic, but it was still amazing every time.

Magic that devours souls and turns them into one’s own power.

‘What kind of structure is this magic made of?’

Everything about it was endlessly fascinating.

‘If possible, I’d like to dissect it.’

He wanted to split that body in two right now and look inside.

How does the soul that has permeated that body change form and become the man’s power?

Is it digested immediately after being eaten, leaving no form?

Or does it take a certain form inside and take shape?

Curious. I’m so curious I could go crazy.

“Hoo.”

While the researcher was thinking that, the man finished absorbing the soul.

“It tastes bad. It feels like eating rotten eggs.”

He frowned deeply, as if he didn’t like the soul he had just absorbed.

“Still. It’s better than what I ate yesterday. What I ate yesterday felt like eating the flesh of a rotten, decaying undead.”

The man took his hand off the dragon’s body.

At that moment, the dragon’s body began to emit light and change.

The dragon’s form disappeared without a trace, and it began to transform into the appearance of a drake [a smaller, wingless dragon].

Having lost its dragon soul, it had returned to its original drake body.

“I will prepare something better for you tomorrow. Considering your current condition… a spirit body with about 15% purity would be appropriate.”

“…Tsk. Still only 15%.”

The man frowned and clenched and unclenched his fist repeatedly.

“I’d like to devour a complete dragon spirit body if I could…”

“That won’t do. In your current condition, you won’t be able to withstand it.”

The man’s body is not yet at a level where it can fully withstand a dragon’s spirit body.

Right now, he needs to focus on slowly devouring spirit bodies with low purity in order to maximize his power.

Devouring a complete dragon spirit body is a story for later.

“Assuming this pace is maintained… you will be able to absorb a dragon’s spirit body in its complete state within two months. Please be patient until then.”

“…Two months, I have to eat this rotten egg-like thing for two months.”

The man clicked his tongue.

“I feel like a hyena, and I don’t like it.”

Everything, from start to finish, was not to his liking.

This current situation of nibbling on low-purity spirit bodies.

Even though he had successfully completed his resurrection, he still had to keep his body hunched over.

Everything was not to his liking.

“The thing I dislike the most is…”

The man stretched out his right hand towards the researcher.

In that state, he clenched his fist as if grabbing the air.

“Kuh-heok!”

At that moment, the researcher’s face turned pale.

He struggled with both hands, scratching his neck wildly.

“You’re looking at me like I’m a test subject.”

A hand-shaped mark was engraved on his neck.

The man was using magic to choke the researcher’s neck.

“M-Mercy… mercy.”

The researcher begged for forgiveness, gasping with a pale face.

The man released his fist.

Thud-!

“Huff, huff!”

The researcher collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily.

“Originally, I would have made you live in pain for the rest of your life, neither dead nor alive, but I’ll let you off this time for your competence.”

The man slowly moved his steps towards the researcher.

The rhythmic sound of his shoes was like a lullaby from a grim reaper.

“If you ever have such foolish thoughts again…”

The man looked down at the researcher.

Black pupils.

“I won’t forgive you then.”

Just by making direct eye contact with those eyes, cold sweat poured down the old man’s entire body like rain.

It felt like he was facing death.

He was clearly alive, but he didn’t feel like he was.

“Keep it in mind.”

“Y-Yes, yes. I, I underst, underst…”

The old man couldn’t answer properly. He tried to answer, but his mouth wouldn’t listen.

“Th-Then, I’ll go and prepare for the next meal.”

The old man stood up from his seat, his legs trembling.

It was like a newborn deer trying to stand up.

“I’ll contact you again. Then, I’ll be going…”

Just as the old man was about to leave.

“Stop.”

The man stopped the old man.

“There’s still something I want to ask.”

The old man slowly turned his head, hiccuping.

“W-What is it?”

The man took his gaze off the old man and focused his gaze on the empty space to the left.

“I’ve been bothered since a while ago, but is that guy over there your subordinate?”

“Yes?”

The old man turned his gaze with a surprised expression.

The direction the man was looking.

Of course, there was nothing there.

“Is there… something there?”

“That reaction. I see. I understand.”

The man chuckled.

“First of all, it means he’s not your subordinate. Then…”

Immediately after.

“Is it a rat?”

The man’s body disappeared like a mirage into smoke.

And a moment later.

“Show yourself. Rat.”

The man, who had reappeared, was swinging his fist at the empty air.

The air was rapidly fluctuating.

A woman appeared in the empty air where there should have been nothing.

“…I thought I wouldn’t be noticed, but your disguise is skillful.”

Sophia Anetschepri.

No, Sein Vinoche glared at the man, holding a sword.

* * *

Sein Vinoche was sweating as he faced the man in front of him.

‘Dangerous.’

Facing him up close, he knew very well.

This man is Veil Stole himself.

The Black Magic King’s soul, which is currently with Sein Vinoche, is saying that this man is the real Veil Stole.

‘There’s no way to win.’

As long as this man is Veil Stole, there is no way to win.

The win rate is 0%.

There isn’t even a possibility of one in a million.

Even if they fought thousands, millions of times, he would lose thousands, millions of times.

‘This is troublesome. I’m clearly superior in skill, but I can’t win.’

In terms of skill, he was superior.

Veil Stole has not yet fully recovered his power.

The current Veil Stole is weaker than Sein Vinoche.

If they were to fight 1:1, Sein would have won.

‘Is this the shackle of black magic that the Black Magic King spoke of?’

But now, Sein is not alone.

Now, Sein is wearing shackles.

He is wearing the heavy shackle of the Black Magic King, a curse-like restraint that prevents him from ever resisting Veil Stole.

‘He’s a guy who’s no help from beginning to end.’

As long as the Black Magic King is with him, Sein cannot defeat Veil Stole.

Just as a mouse cannot defeat a cat.

Sein can never defeat Veil Stole.

‘The only good thing is that this guy hasn’t noticed Hayul’s existence.’

Veil Stole only sensed Sein’s presence.

For some reason, Veil Stole is not sensing Shin Hayul’s existence at all.

“Strange. My restraint is clearly on your soul. But that energy is too faint.”

‘……Indeed.’

A strange light flashed in Sein’s eyes.

He understood everything from what Veil Stole had just said.

‘He didn’t sense my energy, but rather the connection with the restraint on the Black Magic King.’

That’s why he didn’t sense Shin Hayul’s existence.

Because Shin Hayul doesn’t have any restraints on him.

“You. What are you?”

Veil Stole glared at Sein.

A voice filled with mana.

It was a ‘Mage Word’ [a magical command] with the power to force a black magician to obey.

An order that someone bound by the restraint of black magic could never refuse.

As long as he is wearing the shackle of the Black Magic King, he cannot resist this man’s words.

Then, something unexpected happened.

Something that neither Veil Stole, Sein Vinoche, nor even the Black Magic King, who was holding his breath inside, had expected.

“Well, I don’t know what kind of being I am either.”

Sein Vinoche had ignored Veil Stole’s ‘Mage Word’.

“…You.”

Veil Stole’s brow furrowed.

He was enraged at the impudent guy who dared to ignore his ‘Mage Word’.

‘Indeed. Is it because of the mixing of souls that the restraint has also weakened?’

The Black Magic King inside said as if he was amused.

‘The primary restriction that he cannot resist Veil Stole is maintained, but the secondary restriction that he must absolutely obey Veil Stole’s words has weakened and disappeared. That must be it. A happy miscalculation.’

The Black Magic King said to Sein in an excited voice.

‘Sein Vinoche. Run away. Since you can ignore his orders, there’s no problem with running away.’

The only restraint on Sein right now is that he cannot harm Veil Stole.

That’s it.

There is no problem with running away from Veil Stole.

‘After all, he doesn’t even sense Shin Hayul’s existence right now. If it’s now, you can retreat without any risk and just get information.’

It was Shin Hayul, not Ray Bell Bytenner, who forged Umbra into a mythical magic.

Since it’s a magic that Veil Stole is seeing for the first time, his response to Umbra will be terrible.

He doesn’t know if he’s in his complete state, but right now, Veil Stole has only recovered half of his power.

It would be very difficult to sense Umbra.

If he leaves now, he can return with information without any losses.

‘…That seems to be the best option.’

Sein nodded.

In Sein’s opinion, leaving this place is the best option in this situation.

‘I’m a little worried about what Hayul will do after I leave. But Hayul will figure out the situation and leave on his own.’

Sein held his sword.

He would cut through space and run away.

With that in mind, he slowly raised his sword.

“Indeed. Is that how it is?”

That’s when it happened.

Veil Stole glared at Sein and muttered something incomprehensible.

“You. You’re Ray’s successor.”

“…What?”

Sein frowned with an expression that said, ‘What nonsense is that?’