The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 76

The Rebirth of the Mythical Archmage-77

They caught a black magician disguised as an Olympiad official?

“Where and how did you catch them? What’s the current status of the captured spy?”

I thought it would be just some minor news, considering it was called additional information.

I never imagined they’d catch actual evidence so directly.

“First of all, has it been confirmed that the spy belongs to the Black Magic Tower? If not…”

“Alright, alright. Calm down. You’re too excited.”

Kim Kang-in waved his hand down, gesturing for me to calm down.

“I apologize. The news was so sudden, I couldn’t help myself.”

I was definitely too excited. I quickly calmed myself down.

“I understand. When I first heard this news from James, I had the same reaction as you, Ha-yul.”

Kim Kang-in glanced at James and smiled wryly.

“To answer your question first, Ha-yul, the spy was caught during the final inspection at the siege warfare arena.”

“How were they caught?”

The black magicians’ ability to disguise themselves is unparalleled.

If they hide their black mana, it’s almost impossible to catch them.

If their identity is also solid, it’s even more impossible.

That’s why Leng Smith was able to hide in the Obelisk Academy for years.

How on earth did they find such people?

“Well, it seems another official spotted them trying to install something.”

Caught in the act, huh?

“Was it identified what they were trying to install?”

“Yes. It’s this.”

Kim Kang-in took out a unique hexagonal plate from the table.

It was a magic plate with magical treatments, filled with all sorts of magic circles and formulas.

I activated my Mystic Eyes and analyzed the magic circles on the plate.

“Explosive magic… and even enhancement formulas that resonate with others to increase explosive power are engraved on it.”

Kim Kang-in and James’s eyes widened slightly at my words.

“Oh, to be able to recognize this complex formula at a glance.”

“This is… quite surprising.”

They were surprised by the power of my Mystic Eyes.

On the other hand, my father showed no surprise at all.

As if water flows from top to bottom, he seemed to think it was only natural that I could read the magic formula on this magic plate, with a very calm expression.

“I can see a small amount of the Black Magic Tower’s black mana too… It seems certain.”

“Ha-yul’s Mystic Eyes can even see that.”

“…Hmm.”

Kim Kang-in was impressed, and James stroked his chin as if he was intrigued.

“Ah, and I don’t think I need to mention this, but the information about my Mystic Eyes that you saw here is confidential.”

“Of course. I won’t breathe a word to Dahlia, so don’t worry.”

Business is business.

That’s what James Pillar always says.

The possibility of the Red Magic Tower Master using the information obtained from this Black Magic Tower incident for personal gain is close to 0%.

“So, what happened to the black magician who was caught installing this?”

I confirmed that this was solid evidence. Now, the key is to get information out of the person who installed this solid evidence.

…But.

“Unfortunately, he died at the same time as his arrest.”

“I see, as expected.”

Not a single person caught as a spy of the Black Magic Tower has survived.

It seems this time was no exception. As I expected, the spy was already gone from this world.

Again, the Black Magic Tower must have eliminated the captured spy with some mysterious method.

“It’s a shame we couldn’t interrogate him… but we should be satisfied with having caught solid evidence.”

“Yes.”

As Kim Kang-in said, this is not the time to be disappointed.

I quickly shook off the creeping disappointment and shifted my thinking.

“Then, the key now is what those Black Magic Tower bastards are trying to do at the Olympiad.”

“That’s right.”

This spy arrest has confirmed that the Black Magic Tower’s target is the Olympiad.

So now, what we need to think about is what the Black Magic Tower is aiming for at the Olympiad.

In other words, the purpose of their terror.

“There’s only one reason those trashy bastards would target the Olympiad.”

My father, who had been silent with his arms crossed, spoke with a sharp gaze.

“Kidnapping promising talents to secure materials for human experimentation.”

“…”

“…”

The two Tower Masters’ expressions simultaneously hardened.

James frowned at the disgust the term ‘human experimentation’ evoked, but Kim Kang-in’s frown was a little different.

“Clan Head Shin In-hyuk. There was no need to say such things in front of Ha-yul…”

It was a frown that argued why he had to say such disgusting things in front of me.

“Ha-yul already knows about the Black Magic Tower’s human experimentation. I showed him the report two years ago.”

Kim Kang-in’s pupils widened slightly.

“You showed him the experiment report… two years ago?”

“Yes.”

“To a 16-year-old minor…?”

“Yes.”

Kim Kang-in’s expression turned even colder.

“…Are you out of your mind?”

“Is there a problem? I just told him what he needed to know.”

“That’s something a father shouldn’t… !”

Kim Kang-in reacted even more strongly to my father’s nonchalant reaction.

But that was only for a moment.

In less than a second, Kim Kang-in regained his composure.

“Haa. No, it’s not my place to interfere in someone else’s family affairs. I apologize.”

It was an emotional control ability that was close to perfect.

“It’s good that you know. Be careful next time.”

“…Yes.”

A strange current flickered between the two men’s eyes.

James was watching the two of them as if he found it interesting.

“To get back to the topic, I think the black magicians’ goal is to secure experimental materials. There’s no other reason for them to target the Olympiad.”

“…I want to deny it, but it’s the most reasonable hypothesis.”

Kim Kang-in frowned with a disgusted expression.

“Talented and young magicians make the best research materials… Tsk. It makes me want to throw up just thinking about it.”

James was grinding his teeth, expressing his anger.

For reference, what the Red Magic Tower Master just muttered was something that was written in a report obtained when they raided a Black Magic Tower human experimentation site in the past.

I recalled the human experimentation report I had received from my father in the past and organized my thoughts.

‘If the purpose is to secure experimental materials, there’s no better time to target than the Olympiad.’

The World Academia Olympiad, a grand festival where all kinds of talents from various countries gather.

From the Black Magic Tower’s perspective, the Olympiad would be a kind of buffet.

A super luxurious buffet filled with all kinds of high-quality experimental materials.

“Then, how should we respond?”

“The best thing would be to cancel this year’s Olympiad, but…”

Kim Kang-in replied to James Pillar’s words.

“That’s impossible. The United States, as well as the International Magic Organization, won’t allow it.”

Following the two, my father gave his opinion.

“That’s right. Since it’s a festival for the whole world, the budget that has been put into it is enormous.”

“It’s more of a matter of pride than budget. The United States won’t back down to a mere threat of terrorism. That’s what they’ll say for sure.”

James Pillar shook his head. He seemed to have suffered a lot from the US government.

“If they know there will be terrorism, they just need to be more careful… I guess that’s what the US government would say.”

My father was the same.

From the perspective of running a company, the US government is nothing but a thorn in the side.

There was no way good words would come out.

“Then, the realistic countermeasure would be to strengthen defenses.”

I presented my final opinion.

“That’s right.”

Kim Kang-in nodded.

“The US government won’t just sit still either. There’s nothing to worry about too much.”

After that, the three of them exchanged opinions, each presenting reasonable countermeasures.

From the opinion of sharing the current situation with the heads of each country to form a common front, to the opinion of dealing with it only with the United States and the International Anti-Terrorism Headquarters because it could become even more chaotic.

Opinions with clear advantages and disadvantages depending on individual tendencies came and went.

I also offered opinions that I thought were good from time to time.

Because of who they were, I was very careful in giving my opinions.

“Hmm. Well, I guess that’s enough for now.”

About an hour passed like that.

I didn’t expect it would take an hour just to reach a light compromise in what was called a conversation.

‘They really all have different types.’

To make an analogy, Kim Kang-in is a moderate.

James is a neutral.

My father is a hardliner.

It was natural that a conclusion was not easily reached.

No, it was a miracle that they even found a compromise.

“Then, I will send you the details of today’s discussion in writing after negotiating with the US government.”

“Then, I’ll negotiate with the Olympiad headquarters.”

“I’ll negotiate with the International Anti-Terrorism Headquarters.”

These were the words of Kim Kang-in, James, and my father in order.

‘They’re amazing, as expected.’

Once a conclusion was reached, they were all back to their respective tasks as if they had never had a heated debate, which was very professional.

* * *

That night.

I returned to my accommodation and immediately headed to Mimir’s Book.

It was to share the new information I had learned today with Mimir and to hear Mimir’s opinion.

“…Human experimentation. Those guys really don’t change their ways even after all this time.”

Mimir shook his head, clicking his tongue after hearing everything.

“First of all, my opinion is the same as the Successor’s. Securing materials for human experimentation. That’s exactly what those trashy bastards would do.”

“I guess so.”

Mimir seemed to think the same as me.

“Successor. I’m asking just in case. You can’t withdraw from the Olympiad, can you?”

Mimir asked carefully.

“No. I can’t.”

Unless the Olympiad itself is canceled, I can’t withdraw alone.

“…That’s a shame. It’s best to avoid dirty things.”

Mimir pursed his lips and fell into thought.

“I don’t think you need to worry too much about the danger. Now that the evidence is so clear, the best forces from each country will come as escorts. Then, no matter how much the Black Magic Tower tries, they’ll have no choice but to give up.”

“Well, if the world’s forces gather, the current Black Magic Tower won’t be able to compete.”

“The current Black Magic Tower?”

“Ah.”

The current.

It was a somewhat meaningful word.

“Hmm. It’s nothing. You don’t need to worry about it now.”

Mimir gestured for me to pretend I didn’t hear it.

It wasn’t like Mimir was just being quiet because he was too lazy to talk. That word was also something he couldn’t say yet.

“So, there’s nothing for the Successor to do?”

“Right. This is not something I should get involved in.”

Unless it’s a personal squabble with me due to Shin Ji-han’s personal request.

This is a large-scale battle between the Black Magic Tower and the world’s forces.

Under this structure, there’s nothing for me to do.

“Then, are you going to stick to the plan you originally set?”

“No. I’m going to change the plan a little.”

For reference, the plan Mimir mentioned here is not the Olympiad-related plan, but the circle growth plan that Mimir and I had made together.

“The Black Magic Tower’s grand plan is a grand plan, and Shin Ji-han’s request is a request. There’s a possibility that assassins will come for me, taking advantage of the chaos of this grand plan.”

Even if it’s not the Black Magic Tower, I have to consider the possibility that assassins hired by Shin Ji-han might target me, taking advantage of the chaos.

“Terrorism is also a variable. As I said yesterday, to prepare for variables, I need to increase my power even a little bit.”

The one who can respond most organically to variables is none other than myself. In this kind of dangerous situation, I need to get stronger even a little bit, no matter what.

“Then, are you going to enter the fourth trial page a little earlier?”

“Yeah.”

Originally, I was planning to enter after preparing thoroughly with a little more time.

But given the situation, it’s not good to be too relaxed.

“When are you going to enter?”

“I’m going to finish preparing as much as possible and enter the day before the Olympiad starts.”

Before the Olympiad starts, I’ll update the Book of Idhred and get a clue about the 5th circle.

This is the best preparation I can do.