The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 396

“……What should we do?” Adela asked Elena, looking utterly bewildered.

“……I don’t know.” Elena’s expression was no different from Adela’s.

Both were lost in thought, wearing equally serious expressions.

“Elena. There’s no time to think. We need to move as quickly as possible.” Aslan frowned.

He looked displeased with Elena, who hadn’t reached a proper conclusion yet, in a situation where they should be moving immediately.

“Um… well, shouldn’t we at least go out on our own?” Among the three, each wearing a serious expression, only Jisun-chan was fidgeting.

“Elena Ro Greenwood. If you can’t make a decision, I will…”

“Wait!” Elena shouted, her face filled with irritation.

“I know the situation outside is serious! That’s what the signal is for.”

The red siren meant ‘a serious situation that even Sein can’t handle properly.’

As Aslan said, time was of the essence.

Elena wanted to act immediately if possible.

“But, we can’t just move recklessly either. This side is also in a mess…”

But she couldn’t.

This side had its own problems.

“What’s the problem? The Luminous Mana Stone Cave is sealed, but the exit to the outside isn’t. There’s an exit in the Green Zone too.”

“Do you think I don’t know that? That’s not what I mean!” Elena shouted, looking frustrated.

“If it’s about Shin Hayul, there’s no need to worry.”

“How can I not worry? He’s been left in that insane mana density, and we’ve lost contact with him.”

Currently, Shin Hayul was trapped in the Luminous Mana Stone Cave.

Even if they tried to forcibly bring Shin Hayul out, there was no way to do so.

The Luminous Mana Stone Cave was currently forming a barrier that completely blocked external access.

Infiltration was impossible.

Given the situation, Elena’s concern was understandable.

“Do you think that guy would just set up a nest in there without thinking? He’ll come out on his own when the time comes.”

Aslan couldn’t understand Elena.

The cave being sealed wasn’t an accident but a necessity. It was highly likely that Shin Hayul had sealed it himself.

He probably formed that barrier as a means to create the eighth Infinity Circle as quickly as possible.

Since Shin Hayul chose to seal himself, there was no reason to worry.

Maybe Jisun-chan, but Shin Hayul could be trusted.

At least he was a guy who could take care of himself.

“…I somewhat agree that Hayul will take care of himself. I’m worried, but I think Hayul will figure it out and come out.”

Considering the situation inside the Luminous Mana Stone Cave, she was worried.

But she didn’t think a huge problem would occur.

“If you know that, why are you still hesitating?” Aslan frowned.

If she knew, what was the reason for not making a decision yet?

“…I’m wondering what we can do by going out on our own.” Elena lowered her head.

“Sein Vinosch. She’s strong. If we’re just talking about combat power, she far surpasses our prime.”

In the current situation where such a strong person has deemed it dangerous, what would change if Adela and Jisun-chan went to support her?

“To be blunt, Adela and Sun-chan are just sidekicks to Hayul right now. Going out on our own now would do more harm than good.”

In the first place, they sent a support request hoping for Shin Hayul’s support.

With Shin Hayul unable to move, was there a reason to send Jisun-chan and Adela separately?

No. There wasn’t.

“I think it’s right to wait for Hayul to come out.”

No matter how capable Shin Hayul was, he wouldn’t be able to last that long in that state.

He would break the barrier and come out soon.

It was right to wait and stand by until then.

“My thoughts are very different from yours.” Aslan narrowed his eyes and retorted.

“I think we should move right now.”

“…Why?” As if they weren’t Elena and Aslan, their opinions differed again.

“I completely agree with the statement that these two are just sidekicks. It’s true that these two are far behind Shin Hayul and Sein Vinosch.”

Adela and Jisun-chan lowered their heads at Aslan’s words.

They had worked so hard, but the fact that they were still just sidekicks was very frustrating.

“But that’s only because the comparison is too extraordinary. These two’s power is enough to reach the top tier in the world.”

Aslan looked at the two of them in turn.

With the full support of Aslan and Elena, these two’s skills were top-tier in the world.

“Right now, these two can buy some time until Shin Hayul can move.”

In his usual emotionless gaze, a clear trust could be seen.

Elena was lost in thought for a moment.

Aslan’s words made sense.

They were lacking compared to Shin Hayul and Sein, but Adela and Jisun-chan were also excellent forces.

Sending support wouldn’t be meaningless.

“…It’s too dangerous.”

But there was no need to send them. Sending Adela and Jisun-chan wouldn’t drastically change the situation.

Considering the risk, there was no reason to send them.

“It’s because it’s dangerous that I’m saying we should send them.” Aslan turned his gaze back to meet Elena’s eyes.

“If we send those two, we can buy a little more time. Until Shin Hayul finishes everything and comes out. There will be a little more leeway.”

“That’s…”

That was true.

She didn’t know the exact situation outside, so she couldn’t say how many more minutes they could hold out.

But they could buy some time, no matter how little.

“But if we wait here, we won’t gain anything.” Aslan’s expression became serious.

“When the time comes, saying ‘If only we had one more minute’ will be meaningless.”

It was a statement that Aslan, who had seen countless wars during the Empire era, could make.

Just one minute. Just 30 seconds. No, just 10 seconds.

If support had arrived just a little faster then.

If the movement had been just a little faster then.

If they had just enough time to catch their breath, the result would have changed.

He had thought that more than once or twice.

“Now that Shin Hayul can’t move, it’s our job to buy as much time as he can’t move.” Aslan said coldly.

“Even if it means we die here.”

To protect the king, the vassals must give their lives.

Now was the time.

“…” Elena bit her lower lip, looking resentful.

“That silence. Can I take it as a sign of agreement?” It was the moment their course of action was decided.

* * *

East of the Korean Peninsula, the East Sea.

Sein Vinosch was frowning as she looked at the two monsters in front of her.

“…Were the previous small fries all sacrifices to precisely analyze my power?” Sein said, glaring at one of the monsters, Veil Stoll.

“That’s right.” Veil turned his gaze with a dry expression.

In that direction was a dragon.

A Rank S dragon with 75% mana charge.

Beyond the reptile’s characteristic slit pupils, Sein was fully reflected in its retina.

“Your power is indeed great. That power that has absorbed not only black magic but also swordsmanship. Honestly, it’s quite astonishing.”

Bytenner style [a unique swordsmanship style].

A great evolution worthy of the reputation of being a power for the future.

“If you hadn’t made the foolish choice to absorb black magic, it would have been difficult for me too.” The Black Magic King sneered.

“Too bad. Even if I hadn’t absorbed black magic, it wouldn’t have made any difference in defeating me.”

He was mocking Sein for making a bad move by being blinded by greed and absorbing black magic.

“If that were the case, you wouldn’t be defeated like this now.”

Currently, if you only look at pure power, Veil can never beat Sein.

Even with the power of a dragon with 75% mana charge, there was no chance of winning.

That was the extent of Sein Vinosch’s power.

“What are you feeling right now? Are you resentful? Are you trembling with helplessness at the fact that there’s no way to fight against an opponent much weaker than you?”

But this was only when comparing ‘power’ purely.

If you factor in the ‘prohibition’ that Sein Vinosch possessed, things would be a little different.

“Why aren’t you answering? I asked what you’re feeling…” Sein Vinosch suddenly swung her sword.

The sword that brought Sein Vinosch to the peak.

The Mind Sword [a sword technique that cuts with the mind].

The sword that cuts with the mind flew towards the dragon’s neck without any warning.

Normally, the match would have been decided at this moment.

Until now, the dragons had not shown a proper response to Sein Vinosch’s Mind Sword.

This was the same for the Rank S individuals with a mana charge of 60% that had appeared before.

The dragon race had shown almost perfect responses to magic, but they had shown no response to ‘swordsmanship’.

Normally, the match should have been decided at this moment.

“Tsk. Still bad habits.” If Veil Stoll hadn’t been there, the match would have been decided now, at this moment.

“When someone speaks, listen to the end first.” Veil Stoll moved one step to the side and plunged his right hand into the dragon’s neck.

Thud-!

Veil’s right hand, which had deeply penetrated the spot Sein was aiming for.

“That’s manners.” At that moment, Sein’s body stiffened.

To be precise, the ‘prohibition’ that was in Sein’s body forced her body to stiffen.

‘Sein Vinosch. Be careful. If you try to go against the prohibition any further, your body may collapse.’ The Black Magic King gave Sein a piece of advice that wasn’t really advice.

‘…Thanks for the incredibly helpful advice.’ Sein frowned and sneered.

Whose fault was it that Sein couldn’t harm Veil right now, and who was giving advice to whom?

‘Your reaction speed is much faster than when we fought last time.’ The last soul residing inside her body, Sophia Anechepri, also spoke.

‘It’s clear that your Mind Sword is starting to become visible.’

‘…It seems so.’ Veil Stoll, who had plunged his right hand into the dragon’s neck, pulled his right hand out.

Blood poured out from the pierced skin.

Veil Stoll brought his left hand to the wound.

At that moment, the wound began to heal.

A wound that healed completely in less than 3 seconds.

The dragon immediately regained its original form.

“Why don’t you attack anymore?” Veil took his left hand off the dragon’s neck and turned his gaze towards Sein.

“Have you finally realized that your sword doesn’t work? Or is it because the prohibition has become stronger and you can’t move?” The corners of Veil’s mouth slightly turned upwards.

“No answer. Then is it the latter?” Kuooooooo-!

At that moment, the dragon roared.

Mana gathering in its mouth.

It was a preparatory action to shoot a breath.

“I’ll have to check.” Was it really an individual with 75% mana charge? The dragon, which had quickly finished preparing to shoot a breath, immediately spewed out its breath.

A breath flying towards Sein.

A breath with power comparable to the power that burned Paris in the past.

If she were to touch that breath, even Sein wouldn’t be safe.

“…Do you think your prohibition can bind me?” Sein swung her sword with a disdainful expression.

If she touched it, she wouldn’t be safe, but if she didn’t touch it, there would be no problem.

Sein’s Mind Sword cut through the phenomenon, the concept of ‘breath’.

“…Hmm.” Veil let out a small exclamation as he watched that.

He thought the prohibition had become stronger because she was too docile.

It seemed he had misunderstood.

“Even after receiving three forced executions, you’re still fine. It seems that the Black Speech doesn’t work properly on you after all.” It was best to abandon the thought that she would stop moving.

‘It’s right to move thinking that the only restriction on him is that he can’t harm me.’ Through the previous battle, enough data on the opponent had been accumulated.

With the data he had just obtained, all data collection was complete.

“It would have been much easier if you had been forcibly restrained. Too bad.” Veil clicked his tongue as if he was disappointed.

“It’s become a bit of a hassle… but I’ll have to endure it. It’ll be easier later if I cut off the bud now.” But the disappointment was only for a moment.

Veil’s expression soon returned to his usual blank expression.

An expression and posture that looked like he would pounce at any moment.

In sync with Veil’s movements, the dragon also took a battle stance.

“I declare. From now on, every time you swing your sword, I will bring my body into the path of your sword.” The corners of Veil’s mouth slowly turned upwards.

“Try to defeat the dragon while avoiding my body.”

“…” Sein Vinosch’s eyes narrowed sharply.