The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 446

The four executives, including Hekil, who were battling the group outside Sabin’s corrosion barrier, stopped their movements simultaneously. Their physical actions, even the flow of mana, ceased completely.

‘What is this…?’ The small man frowned, examining his own body. He couldn’t understand why his body wouldn’t respond.

‘You bastard… what did you do to me?’ The bald man glared at the Black Magic King, his gaze sharp and filled with murderous intent.

‘Your manners are lacking.’ The Black Magic King stared back with an indifferent expression, as if looking at a dog barking at a person.

‘A dog that doesn’t recognize its master and barks has no value in living.’ He slowly approached the bald man, extending his right hand. ‘You are to be disposed of.’

The veins on the bald man’s forehead bulged. He was enraged at being called a dog by the Black Magic King. ‘Don’t talk nonsense! I’ll tear you to pieces…!’ Just as he was about to curse, grinding his teeth…

Pshhhhhh…

The bald man’s head vanished. This wasn’t a metaphor; it simply disappeared, leaving only black mist in its place.

‘……!’ The expressions of the remaining three executives changed drastically. ‘How?’ ‘I didn’t see it.’ ‘……Dangerous.’ None of them had seen anything. They saw the Black Magic King extend his hand, but not what happened afterward. When they realized it, the bald man’s head was gone. The sight was terrifying.

‘……Who are you?’ The female executive cautiously spoke, using honorifics, showing her perceptiveness.

‘Hmm. You’re not bad.’ The Black Magic King turned his gaze to her, his face still expressionless. ‘I like those who are quick to notice things.’ He moved his right hand, sweeping it down the bald man’s body. ‘But, it seems you only have perception; your observation skills are a bit lacking.’ Then, the bald man’s body disappeared, turning into black mist like his head.

‘Have you already forgotten my face?’ Amidst the scattering black mist, the Black Magic King lowered his hand and turned towards the woman. Standing arrogantly amidst the darkness, he looked like a painting.

‘……Isn’t this our first time meeting?’ The woman replied cautiously. She had never seen this face before. What nonsense was he talking about, asking if she had forgotten him?

‘Look closely. You shouldn’t be able to forget it.’ At that moment, the Black Magic King’s expression changed. The arrogant aura disappeared, replaced by coldness and pride.

‘You, you…!’ Hekil widened his eyes, stuttering. ‘Sein Vinoche!’ He recognized him immediately. The clothes and aura were different, but it was definitely him. Those features were Sein Vinoche’s.

‘You only recognize me after I go this far. You seem to have a lot of problems with your head, just like you look.’ The Black Magic King’s arrogant aura returned.

‘D-did you break through Sabin’s barrier?’ Hekil asked, trembling. ‘That’s impossible. There’s no way Sabin’s barrier could be broken so easily…’

‘It was certainly an interesting piece of black magic.’ The Black Magic King chuckled, as if it were ridiculous. ‘But that was all it was. In the end, black magic is just black magic.’ He extended his hand and turned the bodies of the three executives 180 degrees, so they faced the place where Sabin’s barrier had been.

‘There’s no way…’ Sabin’s barrier was completely destroyed. The invincible barrier that no one except Ray Bell Bytenner had overcome was shattered. The sight was shocking.

‘Why are you so surprised? It’s not like that was an invincible barrier that no one had ever broken before.’ The Black Magic King moved his hand again, making the three executives look at him.

‘……’ ‘……’ Their expressions became even more serious.

‘Hmm. Have you finally realized your place? That’s a good change.’ The corners of the Black Magic King’s lips curled up slightly. His tension had risen at the sight of their fear-filled gazes. ‘Keep being quiet like that. If you want to survive a little longer.’ He wanted to enjoy those gazes a little longer and postponed dealing with them, thinking it would be good to extract some information later.

‘But…’ The Black Magic King turned his gaze to Adela, Ji Sun-chan, and Stella. ‘Why are you here?’ His question had many layers. Why were they, who should be struggling in the Black Castle’s labyrinth, here? Had they finished the capture? Or had it failed? And why were only they here? Where was Shin Ha-yul? His eyes conveyed all of this.

‘I’ll explain later. The situation is complicated.’ Adela glanced at the frozen executives and answered, suggesting she couldn’t speak in front of them.

‘……Hmm.’ From the Black Magic King’s perspective, it was an incomprehensible reaction. The executives were subdued and going to die anyway, so what did it matter what they heard? Just say it here. Those words came to his throat.

‘……Well, I guess there’s no need to talk about it now.’ However, he didn’t say them aloud. ‘Shin Ha-yul is not visible. There’s a possibility that Veil is watching this scene.’ The executives were subdued, but that was all. There was a high chance Veil was watching using other means. It wouldn’t hurt to be careful.

‘Anyway… you three. Did you come for support?’

‘Yes.’ Since it looked like they had come for support, it was okay to say so. From the executives’ perspective, it was a simple question and answer.

‘Hmm. Support, huh…’ From the Black Magic King’s perspective, it was an answer worth pondering. Support was usually sent to a disadvantageous battlefield. These three had recognized a problem here.

‘These three knew that there were executives here. That means…’ He could roughly see the situation. ‘These three coincidentally encountered other executives.’ Whether in front of or inside the Black Castle, they had battled another executive. Then everything made sense. They encountered an executive and, thinking there might be more here, came for support.

‘I roughly understand.’ The Black Magic King nodded, looking like he understood everything. ‘But support, huh. I don’t feel good about it.’ His expression turned sour. ‘Sending support just because five more black mages were added.’ He was talking to Shin Ha-yul, who wasn’t there. ‘Even if dozens or hundreds of black mages came, they wouldn’t be a match for me.’ He clicked his tongue. ‘It seems you’ve forgotten who I am?’

The Black Magic King. It seemed Shin Ha-yul had forgotten why he was called that. ‘If you’ve forgotten, then remember it properly this time. As long as the opponent is a black mage, even if dozens or hundreds of them come, they won’t be a match for me.’ Black magic couldn’t harm him. All black magic existed beneath him. Just as he couldn’t rebel against Veil, other black mages couldn’t rebel against him. Therefore, there was no such thing as defeat when facing a black mage.

‘Black Magic King, you…’ At that moment, Sein, who had been quietly watching, called out, grinding his teeth. ‘Isn’t that different from what you were saying earlier?’

‘……Hmm. I don’t know what you’re talking about.’

‘Earlier, you told us to run away because there was no way to win!’

‘Yes. I said that. Is there a problem with that?’

Sein’s expression crumpled. ‘Ah, perhaps you took the words ‘there is no way to win’ to mean that there is no way to win at all?’

‘……What?’

‘Hmm. Thinking about it, there’s enough room to interpret it that way. I meant that you absolutely couldn’t win with your power, but…’ In short, the words ‘you can’t win’ were limited to Sein Vinoche. He was separate.

‘This…’ Sein ground his teeth. He was about to shout that it didn’t make sense, but he was too dumbfounded to speak.

‘Even in this situation, you were thinking of reducing our side’s forces?’ Instead of the silent Sein, Sophia spoke, glaring at the Black Magic King. ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’

‘……Don’t play dumb. Your goal is to defeat Veil and then stand at the top of this world. For that goal, you need to reduce not only Veil’s forces but also our side’s forces to some extent. That’s why you were deliberately quiet, right?’ That’s why he told them to abandon their comrades.

‘Hmm. Was there such a method? I didn’t notice at all.’

‘You’re lying through your teeth…’ Sophia’s eyes became sharper. The Black Magic King met her gaze and chuckled. ‘You’re really…’ ‘Whatever, the matter has been resolved, so isn’t that enough? Don’t dwell on such trivial things.’ He nonchalantly cut off the conversation. It was a brazen attitude.

Zzzzt, zzzzt! Noise occurred in the earpiece Sein was wearing. The communication network, which had been out of service, was coming back online. ‘Hmm. It seems that they have also finished subduing their side safely.’ The fact that the network was coming back meant the jamming magic circle around the island had been deactivated. Shin In-hyuk, left inside the barrier, had finished subduing the building.

Zzzzt, zzzzt… Amidst the weakening noise, -Can you hear me? Shin In-hyuk’s voice was heard.

‘I can hear you.’ The Black Magic King replied.

-The internal suppression has just finished. What’s the situation outside?

‘It’s over.’

-……That was fast. Shin In-hyuk paused before replying, surprised they had dealt with the executives so quickly. -Then I’ll start preparing for the immediate withdrawal.

‘Okay. Bring all the data from the building, if possible.’

-Understood. I’ll leave the cleanup outside to you.

‘Confirmed.’ With those words, the communication was cut off. ‘The situation is over. You guys can go back first.’ The Black Magic King took his hand off the earpiece and spoke to Adela, Ji Sun-chan, and Stella. ‘Ah, before that, please transfer these three.’ If Sein came out, he could cut through space, but if that happened, the Black Magic King would go inside, and the three would be released. To safely take them back to Korea, Ji Sun-chan’s help was needed.

‘Ah, yes. Understood.’ Ji Sun-chan, wary of the executives, nodded stiffly. ‘Three executives and the Black… Sein-nim, so four in total. Should I move them to Korea?’ He almost said ‘Black Magic King’. Ji Sun-chan sighed in relief and moved his mana.

‘Yes.’ Just as the Black Magic King walked towards the executives and took his place in the center… Peeeeeeeeeeeng-! ‘……Kuh!’ A howling sound rang out from the earpiece. It was an enormous high-frequency howl. He thought his ears would be torn apart. ‘……Has the communication been cut off again?’ The Black Magic King put his hand on the earpiece and sent a signal. There was no response. The communication seemed to be cut off. ‘Why is the communication cut off again…’ He frowned and pondered. What could be the reason? ‘Could it be…’ The answer came quickly. There was only one reason. The Black Magic King moved his mana again, scattering it in all directions.

Chwararararak-! The scattered mana instantly engulfed the executives, cutting off their breaths. ‘You bastard. What are you suddenly…!’ Sein shouted in shock. To kill them all before extracting information. It was an action he couldn’t understand. ‘Answer me! Why did you suddenly kill…’ ‘Shut up!’ The Black Magic King shouted. The situation was the opposite of when Sein was outside earlier. ‘Prepare yourselves!’ He shouted with a serious expression. There was no trace of his usual composure, only tension. ‘He’s coming.’ Cold sweat ran down his back. He was a black mage before he was the Black Magic King. No matter how powerful he was, it was impossible to completely overcome the primordial fear.

‘If you say ‘he’s coming’…’ Adela asked with trembling eyes. And at that moment… Kugung-! The void opened. It was torn apart, like a monster living in space had opened its jaws wide. Such a scene. Thud. Thud. Footsteps were heard from within. Regular and heavy footsteps. ‘It really doesn’t move according to my intentions, not even one thing.’ And after a while, a man appeared. ‘Truly Bytenner-like.’ Veil Stoll. He was looking down at the group with red eyes that glowed with a sinister light.