The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 8

April 26th, Sunday.

The academy was buzzing with a sudden influx of news articles.

[Korea’s Rising Star, Shin Ha-yul! Will demonstrate why he was called a rising star at the mid-term comprehensive evaluation on April 30th.]

[Watch the magnificent return of a genius.]

It was a very unexpected development.

“Is this for real?”

“The return of a genius?”

New articles were being updated every minute, starting with the first one.

Despite the unexpected nature of the articles, no one considered the possibility that they were fake.

“Wow. So that’s why Shin Ha-yul was so confident when he stood up to Baek Sa-hyuk.”

“I knew it. He was so confident because he had something to back it up.”

“Ah. Come to think of it, Shin Ha-yul’s complexion has been really good lately.”

The evidence was in Shin Ha-yul’s recent behavior.

His unnecessarily strong stance against Baek Sa-hyuk, and his recently brightened face, were consistent with the articles.

“He’s really confident. He’s telling everyone to come and see his skills on April 30th.”

“He says the penalty of being a misfit was the driving force that made him grow. Wow…”

“Isn’t that just overconfidence?”

“Who knows.”

“More importantly, is this article really not just tabloid trash?”

There was another reason why they believed the article was real.

“Of course it’s real. Look at Shin Ha-yul’s family.”

“Ah. The Mado Shin family.”

That’s right, Shin Ha-yul’s family was none other than the Mado Shin family.

If the article was fake, they would have released a rebuttal long ago.

“True. It’s been four hours. The fact that there hasn’t been a single rebuttal means it’s real.”

“With this speed of spread, it seems like the Mado Shin family released the article themselves.”

In this way, the article about Shin Ha-yul’s interview was becoming a foregone conclusion.

Of course, this was not true.

Shin Ha-yul had never given such an interview, and the Mado Shin family had never released such an article.

So, why wasn’t the Mado Shin family releasing a rebuttal?

—You don’t need to release a rebuttal.

It was because Shin Ha-yul had directly called Shin In-hyuk, the head of the Mado Shin family, and stopped their attempt to release a rebuttal.

“No need for a rebuttal, huh…”

Shin Ha-yul’s call to stop the rebuttal.

The source of the article seemed to be the Baek family.

And Shin Ha-yul’s proposal for April 30th to Shin In-hyuk.

Considering all of this.

“I see. So, this article. You induced Baek Sa-hyuk to release it.”

—Yes.

Shin Ha-yul had provoked Baek Sa-hyuk to release the article.

That was the conclusion.

“Is your goal to increase attention?”

—Yes. To make the most of my revival, I thought it was necessary to maximize attention.

The spotlight on Shin Ha-yul’s magnificent revival needed to be as dazzling as possible.

“In front of many people, you’re going to reclaim your tarnished honor?”

—Yes. Not only my honor, but also the tarnished authority of the Mado Shin family.

“Hmm. If it goes as you say, that would be ideal, but…”

Shin In-hyuk replied coldly.

“It’s hard to believe.”

In Shin In-hyuk’s opinion, the possibility of Shin Ha-yul having actually achieved a ‘revival’ as the article suggested was very slim.

“Let me make it clear. I didn’t accept your proposal to wait until April 30th because I believed in you.”

To be within the top 10 in the mid-term comprehensive evaluation on April 30th.

He had accepted the proposal and decided to wait, not because he believed in Shin Ha-yul.

“It’s just that there’s no loss for me in accepting your proposal. I don’t think you’ve actually overcome the penalty of being a misfit.”

In Shin In-hyuk’s opinion, Shin Ha-yul’s words were just baseless confidence.

A misfit cannot become a mage.

Shin In-hyuk, an 8th circle mage, knew that better than anyone.

“You’re bound to make a fool of yourself. Is there any reason to listen to your request not to release a rebuttal?”

If Shin Ha-yul made a fool of himself again on April 30th, it would have a significant impact on the Mado Shin family.

They would become the laughingstock of the world again.

Considering the potential loss, it was right to release a rebuttal.

“If you have nothing more to say, I’ll hang up.”

Just as Shin In-hyuk was about to end the call.

—Even if I make a fool of myself, the damage to the Mado Shin family won’t be that great.

Shin Ha-yul said in a firm voice.

—The world already recognizes me as having been disowned. I don’t think the Mado Shin family will be harmed if I do something strange.

It was a valid point.

“The damage wouldn’t be great, but it’s not like there wouldn’t be any damage.”

If Shin Ha-yul did something, the name of the Mado Shin family would naturally be mentioned.

As long as Shin Ha-yul’s origin was the Mado Shin family, his actions would affect the Mado Shin family, whether it was a lot or a little.

“I’m not nice enough to just sit back and watch something that’s obviously going to be a loss for me.”

Shin In-hyuk was calculating.

He considered the pros and cons of everything, and only acted when he thought the pros outweighed the cons.

And right now, Shin Ha-yul’s proposal was a loss for Shin In-hyuk.

—There is a possibility of loss. I acknowledge that.

Shin Ha-yul understood his father’s personality better than anyone.

That’s why he had a way to persuade him.

—But compared to the benefits you’ll gain in return, it’s nothing.

“Benefits. If you’re talking about the restoration of your honor and the increase in the Mado Shin family’s brand reputation that you mentioned earlier…”

—No. I’m not talking about those secondary benefits.

“Secondary?”

—Yes.

A glint flashed in Shin In-hyuk’s eyes.

“That’s a secondary benefit… Then what is the benefit you’re talking about?”

Shin Ha-yul paused for a moment before speaking.

—It’s me.

“…What?”

Shin In-hyuk was momentarily dumbfounded.

—I’m saying that the Mado Shin family can reclaim me, Father.

Shin Ha-yul said confidently.

—Me, who will make the Mado Shin family the best in the world and become the greatest head of the family in history, who will firmly hold that position for the next 100 years.

Shin Ha-yul’s confident voice echoed in Shin In-hyuk’s ears.

“…You certainly have the ambition of a worthy next head of the family.”

Shin In-hyuk’s expression changed subtly.

* * *

‘Okay. I’ll stop the rebuttal.’

My father had finally accepted my proposal.

‘But, if you show a pathetic side after saying all this. Then you’ll really have to be prepared.’

He would make me pay the price for mocking him and the Mado Shin family.

He hung up the phone with that final warning.

“…I’m drained.”

I was even prepared to show my father my power in advance if he had refused to the end.

Fortunately, it worked out well.

I leaned back in my chair and stretched out.

‘Anyway, with this, all preparations are complete.’

Baek Sa-hyuk is still spreading my articles and increasing attention.

There will probably be reporters from broadcasting stations on the day itself.

Baek Sa-hyuk will work hard to make that happen.

Because he wants to humiliate me in front of everyone.

‘Is this what they mean by digging your own grave?’

Anyway, at this rate, I think I can achieve my goal without any problems.

* * *

The three days passed in the blink of an eye,

And the long-awaited April 30th arrived.

The current time is 11:20 AM.

Ten minutes before my duel begins.

“It’s packed.”

The audience seats in the 3rd Colosseum, where the H group matches were being held, were filled with a huge crowd.

Familiar faces could be seen here and there in the audience seats.

There were scouts from various guilds, and some guilds even had their guild leaders present.

There were also some officials from the Magic Tower, and a couple of executives from magic corporations.

How well did Baek Sa-hyuk play the media, that such prominent figures would all come to watch just one preliminary match?

‘It’s partly because of the buzz around the keyword of my revival, but…’

It also meant that Baek Sa-hyuk had promoted it extensively.

They say that hatred is the driving force that moves people.

How much does he resent me to go this far?

It’s a little admirable.

“Wow. As expected of a rising star. You’re very popular.”

I could see our Santa Claus, teacher Baek Sa-hyuk, approaching from afar.

“Thanks to our genius who’s about to be revived giving such an interview, I’m getting all this attention too. Should I thank you?”

My benefactor, who had given me this gift without any compensation, stood before me with the most despicable expression.

“Hehe. How does it feel?”

He said with a laugh in his voice, wearing his signature snake-like smile.

“People have gathered like this because of an interview you didn’t even do.”

He chuckled and glared at me.

“What are you going to do now, our defective product? Everyone came here expecting your revival.”

His eyes were among the three most disgusting eyes I had ever seen.

“It’ll be fun if you can’t even use magic properly and get humiliated in this situation, right?”

It was quite a ridiculous sight.

“So, you should have just stayed quiet and known your place. Huh? You defective bastard. Why are you, a cripple who was abandoned by the Mado Shin family, trying to rise up?”

He was happy, not knowing that all his actions were according to my plan.

“Sa-hyuk.”

I chuckled and said.

“Do you know the saying, ‘No matter how much you jump, you’re still in Buddha’s palm’ [a metaphor for being under someone’s control]?”

“…What?”

It was time for Son Goku [a reference to the Monkey King from Journey to the West], who had been adventuring in Buddha’s palm, to slowly realize his position.

“You were just playing in my palm.”

“…What nonsense are you talking about?”

Baek Sa-hyuk frowned.

“Can’t you understand? Thank you for making the words I wanted to say into articles without any compensation.”

“You… the words you wanted to say?”

“I’m talking about the articles you released.”

I could see the reporters in the distance.

Judging by their hurried movements, they seemed to be looking for me and Baek Sa-hyuk.

They would soon find us and approach us.

“I don’t know how easy it was for me that you moved according to my intentions in every single thing.”

Thanks to him, a very good stage had been set.

“You little shit with a hole for a mouth… !”

I smiled at Baek Sa-hyuk, who was scowling and shouting at me, and then pointed behind me.

“Student Shin Ha-yul! Student Baek Sa-hyuk! Could we have a short interview before the match starts?”

Baek Sa-hyuk’s expression twisted. He looked like he was saying, ‘Why are you bothering me now when I don’t have time for an interview?’

“Get lost while I’m being nice. You trash…”

“Sure.”

I cut off Baek Sa-hyuk’s attempt to refuse the interview and agreed.

“Ah, then…”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Get lost!”

Baek Sa-hyuk glared at the reporters with murderous intent.

“Get lost if you don’t want to lose your jobs! You trash reporters!”

It seemed that my declaration of being in Buddha’s palm a moment ago had been quite shocking.

He was furious and his words were harsh.

“Uh, yes?”

“That…”

The reporters were flustered.

Considering the relationship between the broadcasting company and the Baek family, it was right to back down now. But they couldn’t miss the exclusive interview in front of them.

“Haha. Sa-hyuk has low blood pressure before matches. Please be understanding.”

I stepped forward, leaving Baek Sa-hyuk behind.

“Well, I can understand Sa-hyuk’s feelings. Even if we do an interview, we don’t have much time, so it can’t be long. Maybe just one word?”

“Ah, yes. That’s enough!”

The reporters bowed their heads.

“You bastard! Don’t ignore me and answer me!”

Baek Sa-hyuk grabbed my shoulder.

“Move. I’m doing an interview right now.”

I gently pushed Baek Sa-hyuk aside and smiled at the reporters.

“1st circle.”

“1st circle?”

“What do you mean?”

I looked at the reporters who were tilting their heads, then at Sa-hyuk who was scowling behind me, and then smiled.

“I will defeat Baek Sa-hyuk with only 1st circle magic.”

“You, you defective bastard!”

Baek Sa-hyuk finally exploded at my last provocation.

He grabbed my collar and glared at me.

He was so furious that he couldn’t even see the cameras around him.

I looked at Baek Sa-hyuk and laughed inwardly.

‘Yeah. Perfect.’

He was in the perfect state to be played with.