The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 68

That day, at lunchtime.

I headed to the hospital where four people, including Soonchan, were admitted.

The purpose, of course, was to visit them.

“Welcome. Are you here to visit your friends again today?”

“Yes. Are they all resting?”

As I entered the hospital lobby, a familiar nurse greeted me.

“Just a moment. They had detailed examinations this morning. Let me just check if they’re finished.”

“Yes, please.”

Since the incident, I’ve been visiting this hospital every day.

It was the least I could do, considering they were all in this state because of me.

As the leader of the Korean team for the Olympiad, I also had a duty to manage the condition of my teammates.

“They’re all resting, I’m told. You can go up now.”

“Okay, thank you.”

I bowed to the nurse and got on the elevator, pressing the button for the 7th floor.

[7th Floor. Magician’s Ward]

Ding-

The elevator doors opened upon arrival. I immediately headed to room 713.

“I really wish I could stop eating this boring hospital food.”

Through the slightly open door, I could hear Majinseok grumbling.

“I agree.”

Kang Shinwoo’s voice followed.

His voice, usually laced with indifference and stiffness, was unusually filled with genuine annoyance.

Well, it’s no wonder he’s annoyed, being stuck in the hospital for four days.

“But at least the seniors can be discharged tomorrow. I have to stay for three more days…”

Soonchan’s voice followed.

He wasn’t just annoyed; he was in despair.

He’s already been bored, and now he has to stay for three more days. He must be going crazy. My deepest condolences.

“Adela, you’re lucky. You’re being discharged in two hours.”

“……”

Although I couldn’t hear her voice, it seemed Adela was also in the room.

All four of them are gathered in this room.

I immediately opened the door and entered the room.

“Good afternoon.”

Four people.

A total of eight eyes focused on me.

“You’re here again.”

“Welcome.”

Soonchan grumbled as he greeted me, and Majinseok greeted me with a hearty laugh.

Kang Shinwoo looked at me indifferently, as usual.

Adela, with a straw in her mouth, sipped on her banana milk and just bowed her head.

That’s why she didn’t answer Soonchan’s question.

“Why did you bother coming when you’re busy?”

Majinseok approached me and put his arm around my shoulder.

It’s a typical way for Majinseok to show his friendliness.

“No matter how busy I am, I can always find time to visit.”

It’s not that far.

Dropping by for a bit isn’t a burden at all.

“Kuh. You’re such a loyal guy.”

The arm around my neck tightened. His muscles bulged, making his hospital gown stretch.

I wondered if it would tear.

“How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine. I could be discharged today.”

Majinseok released his arm and struck a pose, showing off his biceps. His already bulky muscles swelled even more.

It seemed like Majinseok was trying to show that he was fine, but honestly, it just showed how sturdy the hospital gown was.

It’s not tearing.

Thinking that to myself, I activated ‘Divine Eye’ [a skill that allows the user to see mana].

With Divine Eye activated, Majinseok’s mana within his body was clearly visible.

“You look good.”

“Right?”

There was nothing wrong with Majinseok’s mana circle [a structure within a mage’s body that controls mana flow]. He was already fully recovered.

No, beyond being fully recovered, his circle was even stronger than before.

‘It was dangerous, but after absorbing the blessing of mana, he absorbed mana directly from the leyline [a natural energy pathway] and circulated it…’

It’s natural that it would become stronger.

I turned my gaze to Adela and Kang Shinwoo.

“Adela is being discharged today, so she must be fully recovered…”

“Yes.”

Adela’s mana circle was not only fully recovered but also stronger than before.

It seemed she had achieved something by circulating mana using the ‘blessing of mana’ most effectively.

“Kang Shinwoo, you’re okay too, right?”

“Of course.”

Kang Shinwoo was the same.

Not as much as Adela, but his circle was definitely strengthened.

‘It’s a blessing in disguise.’

The worst crisis, the Baekryeong Island core explosion, became an opportunity for new achievements for everyone.

I also benefited a lot from this incident.

I’m very satisfied.

‘Then, how about Soonchan?’

As I turned my gaze towards Soonchan, who was sitting on the bed, my eyes widened in shock.

“……!”

My pupils dilated in shock.

“Why? What are you so surprised about?”

Soonchan touched his face here and there. He seemed to think something was on his face.

“You… since you were admitted, you haven’t circulated mana even once, have you?”

“It’s not that I didn’t, I couldn’t. My mana circle is in a cast, forcibly blocking the flow of the circle. How could I circulate mana?”

Mana circle cast.

It’s a procedure to freeze the mana circle, prescribed for patients with problems in their mana circle.

Soonchan received this mana circle cast procedure due to the risk of mana backflow.

“Even after removing the cast this morning, you didn’t do it?”

“It’s not that I didn’t, I couldn’t. It hasn’t even been two hours since the cast was removed, you idiot.”

Even after removing the cast, you shouldn’t circulate mana for about 12 hours. It’s to give the frozen mana circle time to warm up again.

“So, you haven’t circulated mana since the incident?”

“Yeah, I haven’t.”

“…Then it’s understandable that you wouldn’t know.”

I let out a hollow laugh.

“What is it? Explain it so I can understand. Are you speaking in alien language?”

“No. It’s just… it turned out like this.”

I checked Soonchan’s chest again, the light emanating from his mana circle, and slowly opened my mouth.

“You’ve reached the 4th Circle?”

“…What?”

All four of them widened their eyes at the same time, including Soonchan.

* * *

On the way back after the hospital visit.

‘Kyaaaaaaa! Woooooo! I’m so strong, baby!’

“Hehe.”

Suddenly, Soonchan’s cheers came to mind, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Why are you laughing?”

Adela, who was walking beside me, asked.

“No, I just remembered Soonchan’s reaction from earlier.”

“Ah.”

Adela nodded, understanding immediately. A smile also appeared on Adela’s lips. Adela must have also remembered Soonchan’s reaction from earlier.

“Puh-huh. I’m a 4th Circle, fucking strong baby…”

Adela mumbled that, covering her mouth and giggling. I also chuckled.

It’s really funny, even thinking about it again.

I wonder if he remembers everything he said.

“I know you’re happy about reaching the 4th Circle… but your exclamations are…”

Adela turned her head. Her laughter grew louder.

“I was worried, but it’s a relief. Instead of having aftereffects, you’ve reached the 4th Circle.”

“Yes.”

Adela seemed to have finished laughing, and she turned her gaze back to me.

Her eyes were moist from laughing so much.

“Not only Soonchan, but you, Kang Shinwoo, and Majinseok also had their own achievements. It’s truly a blessing in disguise.”

“Yes.”

With the increase in power of the five of us, the overall power of the team has increased significantly. Winning the gold medal has become much easier.

“I need to revise the strategy a bit.”

The usefulness of Ji Soonchan, a defense-specialized magician who has reached the 4th Circle, is immeasurable. To maximize Soonchan’s efficiency, the strategy needs to be revised to some extent.

“Shall I help you?”

“No, I’ll think about it myself for now. It’s a bit much to ask someone who just got discharged to help.”

“You don’t have to worry about it.”

“It’s really okay. It won’t take that long.”

It’s not like I’m creating a new strategy, just revising it. It’s not that difficult.

“Still…”

“Still or whatever, a patient who just got discharged should go home and focus on rehabilitation training. Understand?”

“…Yes.”

Adela nodded timidly.

“Then let’s split up here. I have to go this way.”

Looking at the direction I pointed, Adela tilted her head.

“Aren’t you going to the dormitory?”

“No. I’m going to stop by the Blue Mana Tower.”

“Ah.”

Today is the day to imprint the unique mana on the final artifact.

* * *

“Welcome. You said you might be late, but you came early.”

When I arrived at the Blue Mana Tower, Jung Sua greeted me as usual.

“Yes. My schedule finished a bit earlier.”

Originally, I was planning to visit the hospital, then go home, and then come to the Blue Mana Tower.

But suddenly, Soonchan reached the 4th Circle, and we ended up talking for a long time during the hospital visit.

Thanks to that, the plan to go home was canceled. The time was awkwardly left over.

“I see. Then, would you please wait for a moment? I’ll just check if the examination room is ready.”

“Yes.”

Jung Sua returned to the counter, made a short phone call, and then came back immediately.

“They said everything is ready. You can go up right away. Please follow me. I’ll guide you.”

“Okay.”

I followed Jung Sua’s guidance, took the elevator, and entered the examination room where the unique mana test would be conducted.

Is it because it’s my second time? It feels somewhat familiar.

Well, I spent four hours doing that grind here. It’s no wonder it feels familiar.

“Please change into this gown and enter the examination room.”

“Yes.”

Jung Sua bowed her head slightly again and left the room.

I quickly changed into the examination gown and immediately entered the examination room.

“It’s nice to see you again. As you already know, but just in case, I’ll briefly explain the examination method.”

After that, it was the same as before.

I listened to the examiners’ instructions on the examination method. I was left alone in the examination room and moved my mana as the examiners instructed.

This simple act continued for another four hours.

“You’ve done a great job. It’s perfect as always. You can come out now.”

“Yes.”

After the tedious examination was over, I immediately headed to the waiting room.

“You’ve done a great job.”

Kim Kangin was waiting in the waiting room. Unlike usual, he was dressed in a stylish suit.

He didn’t show up before the examination started.

It seems he just returned from an important event.

“You look much more tired than last time. Was it that boring?”

“Yes…”

It was much more boring since it was the second time. The only difference from last time was the direction and speed of moving the mana. It was so boring, I thought I was going to die.

“This is the last one, right?”

“Yes, it’s the last one. Originally, we were planning to conduct the unique mana test three times, but Mr. Hayul’s first test result was so perfect. There was no need to do it three times.”

“That’s a relief.”

Doing this three times is a bit much, no matter what.

I could do it, but I’d rather not if possible. I hate boring things.

“Ah, right. The examiners said they would like to ask Mr. Hayul for tests from time to time to get test samples…”

Kim Kangin asked with a playful smile.

“…I’ll politely decline.”

I don’t want to do this grind for no reason.

Kim Kangin chuckled.

“Yes, I’ll let them know.”

Kim Kangin looked at the watch on his wrist and smiled as if he was in trouble.

“By the way, what should we do? There’s about 40 minutes left until the restaurant reservation time…”

After today’s examination, I was supposed to have dinner with Kim Kangin.

I made a reservation at the restaurant accordingly, but since I finished the examination earlier than expected, there was some time left over.

“I could call and go there in advance, but it’s still early for dinner, and you probably aren’t hungry yet. Hmm.”

The current time is 5:21 PM.

It’s a bit early for dinner.

Kim Kangin pondered for a moment, then exclaimed as if he had thought of something.

“Ah! Since we have some time left, would you like to go see Mr. Hayul’s artifact?”

“Oh? Is that okay?”

“Of course. There’s no reason why the client can’t see their artifact. It’s almost finished, not in the middle of production.”

Kim Kangin got up from his seat.

“Let’s go. I’ll also show you around our Blue Mana Tower’s workshop…”

Kim Kangin smiled meaningfully.

It was somewhat sly.

“Mr. Hayul’s artifact. I’ll show you ‘Four Realms’.”