Descent of the Legendary Archmage

In the backseat of a luxury sedan running on the beltway around Seoul.

Shin Inhyuk was talking to Kim Seokhyun.

“Was it really okay to let Master Hayul go alone?”

Kim Seokhyun said with a worried face. ‘Was it okay to let Shin Hayul go to Monster Byproduct Street alone?’

“Monster Byproduct Street is literally a demonic scene. The card usage is also unusual. I’m worried that he might be being scammed.”

Shin Inhyuk handed a card to Shin Hayul, telling him to use it when purchasing ingredients.

Currently, Shin Hayul is collecting ingredients, using the card.

Shin Inhyuk casually said, resting his chin on his hands.

“I didn’t raise him so stupid that he couldn’t distinguish between authentic and fake.”

Why did Shin Inhyuk let Shin Hayul go to such a demonic scene alone?

He did so because there was no problem going alone.

“I know how clever Master Hayul is, but monster byproducts cannot be distinguished by his knowledge...”

“You underestimate Hayul’s brain.”

Shin Inhyuk interrupted Kim Seokhyun.

“It is Hayul who remembers all 40,000 magic formulas listed in the open source library. All the information about byproducts will be in his head.”

“...Ah.”

The probability that Shin Hayul is being scammed converges to 0%.

That's why Shin Inhyuk let Shin Hayul go alone to Monster Byproduct Street.

It will also be a good experience.

“How’s the horn of the Octagonal Tree going?”

The horn of the Octagonal Tree, one of the three high-quality ingredients that Shin Hayul asked for separately.

Unlike the other two ingredients, negotiation has not yet been completed.

“The provisional contract has been completed. We are adjusting the price now.”

“How long do you think it will take to adjust?”

“It seems it will take two days at most. It would be too much pressure for them to continue to be stubborn.”

Currently, the opposing side is deliberately dragging the time.

Their plan is to drag time and raise the price.

“Hmm, then considering the time taken to bring it into Korea...”

“It seems that a week will be enough.”

“A week. Not bad.”

There is about a week left until all the ingredients requested by Shin Hayul are collected.

Considering that there is a month left until the Olympiad is held, it is a reasonable time.

“What about the internal inspection?”

The air of Shin Inhyuk has changed.

The light air became a heavy and serious one.

The same was true of Kim Seokhyun.

Shin Inhyuk’s face became as serious as he was impressed.

“I’m sure there is someone who is in communication with the Black Magic Tower. I have checked that some reports related to the Black Magic Tower were manipulated.”

Shin Inhyuk’s face became more fierce.

“Don’t you know who it was?”

“I’m sorry, I haven’t figured out who it was yet.”

Kim Seokhyun checked that the reports related to the Black Magic Tower were modified and manipulated, but he hasn’t figured out who it was yet.

He found no evidence.

“I am conducting research by narrowing down the scope of the search to those who are in a position to manipulate the report of the deepest part of the family...”

“No suspicious points?”

“Yes. They are all clean.”

“...There are no suspicious points and they are all clean. That in itself is evidence.”

Shin Inhyuk had a murderous face. When he thought of the scum, his face became murderous.

“I will conduct more research...”

“If you assert that they are all clean, even if you research further, It would be difficult to find evidence.”

“...Yes.”

The fact that no trace has been found so far means that the betrayer has already erased all the evidence.

“There seems to be no way to find any evidence right away except to wait for the betrayer to come into contact with the Black Magic Tower once again.”

“...I think that’s the best way.”

Shin Inhyuk nodded.

“Then, I will be ready to catch the evidence in case of the betrayer’s next move.”

* * *

6 p.m.

After 7 hours of hard work, I succeeded in purchasing all the ingredients I was aiming for.

“...I’m exhausted.”

Monster Byproduct Street was more than I imagined.

There was a reason why people called it a demonic scene.

How can everyone lie through their teeth?

“But you bought them all well.”

After checking the ingredients I bought, Mimir looked at me with a proud face.

“Good job. Now we can make a potion with just three more.”

The potion.

The blessing of mana.

When taken, mana’s assimilation rate increases, allowing the body to accept much more mana than usual.

If I take this, I will be able to cover enormous amounts of mana needed to weave the circle of Expansion.

“How long do you think it will take to get the remaining ingredients?”

“I contacted my father on the way here and he said it would take about a week.”

“A week is just enough.”

Even if I make the potion, I cannot take it right away.

There is a lot to prepare to maximize the effectiveness of the potion.

It takes about a week to finish preparing.

It will be roughly similar to the completion of the potion.

That’s why Mimir said it was just enough.

“Then we don’t have to worry about the potion anymore. All that is left is a place to take the potion. Any ideas?”

The potion made this time, the blessing of mana, is the one that has the effect of greatly increasing the amount of mana absorption.

The thicker the concentration of mana in the air, the greater the effect.

In order to maximize the effectiveness of the portion, it is necessary to take the potion in a place with a high concentration of mana and then perform mana circulation.

“There is a place that comes to my mind... But, I’m looking for more.”

“Are you wondering if there is a better place?”

“Yes.”

There is still some time left. I will do my research slowly until the potion is complete.

“It would have been nice if there was something like the witch’s pond left.”

“The witch’s pond?”

“Yes. It was a famous pond in my time. The concentration of mana was so great that if you put your body in the pond and circulate your mana, you can just raise one circle.”

“There was something like that in your time.”

If there is such a thing, I would like to go in.

“Well, what can you do by looking for something that doesn’t exist? Anyway, look for a good place. The blessing of mana depends on the concentration of mana in the air. You have to make a good choice.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

I took off my master’s robe and got up from my seat.

“Are you going to afternoon training?”

“Yes.”

It’s now 6:30 p.m.

It’s about time I have to move to the training ground.

“See you.”

“See you.”

After saying goodbye to Mimir, I left Mimisbrunnr.

* * *

The next morning.

Today is the first day of special training in preparation for the Olympiad, and for the first time, all members of the Olympiad will gather.

“I’m nervous for no reason.”

On the way to the designated place, Soonchan said with a nervous face and voice.

“Are you?”

Adella replied in a dubious manner. She doesn’t know why Soonchan is nervous.

“Aren’t you nervous?”

“No.”

“Aren’t you scared to meet juniors?”

“Is there any reason to be scared?”

“You know. Um... Um... How should I explain this?”

Soonchan groaned and blurted out his words.

He looks like he doesn’t know how to explain how he feels now.

“There is a strange discomfort for those who started studying before us.”

I felt sorry for him, so I tried to represent Soonchan’s inner feelings.

“Yes! That’s it! Isn’t it difficult, scary, and uncomfortable?”

Soonchan shouted with his fingers as if that was it.

“No...”

Adella, of course, did not agree.

“...Why?”

Adella answered calmly as if he was asking something obvious.

“Because I win.”

“You win?”

Soonchan tilted his head as if it was something out of the blue.

“If I fight, I win everything. Is there any reason to be afraid?”

“...”

Soonchan was stunned.

He looks like he didn’t expect such an answer.

“I didn’t mean that...”

“?”

Adella’s head tilted further. She didn’t seem to agree with Soonchan’s feelings at all.

I cut in between the two.

“...Fine.”

“?”

Seeing that, I laughed behind them.

I felt there would never be a consensus between the two.

You are much more arrogant than I heard.

Then, there was a woman’s voice behind us.

At the same time, we turned and looked in the direction where we heard the voice.

“Hey, hold on.”

“Let go of me. She is ignoring us.”

There is a scuffle between a man and a woman.

“Wait a minute. We will be together for at least 2 months. What if we fight from the beginning?”

Huge height of 2 meters and wide shoulders like mountains.

Giant muscles that make the giant body look bigger.

A huge man who intimidated others was stopping a woman.

“Let go of me. I am not fighting. Since we will be together for two months, I want to say what I want to say.”

A 5 feet 7 inch tall and short-haired woman approached us, shaking off the man’s hand.

She looked like a beast hurt by her pride.

“Hey, would you like to say that again?”

The woman stood right in front of Adella, looked down at Adella, and smiled fiercely.

“What I said earlier?”

“As you said, if you fight with us, you always win. Say it again in front of me.”

It was a scary smile.

Adella replied calmly, as if nothing had happened to the smile.

“If you really want to hear that again... Yes, none of the current seniors can beat me.”

“...Hey, hey!”

Soonchan shouted in alarm.

Whether Soonchan was in a hurry or not, Adella was still calm.

She didn’t look like she was in trouble.

“...”

The woman’s face became even more brutal.

The face of the man, who was quietly watching the situation from behind, was also slightly distorted.

The atmosphere became heavy.

Soonchan looked at the three faces with a nervous face.

“Hey, you are so arrogant.”

“I’m just telling the truth based on objective facts.”

Adella is right.

I’m the only one who can beat Adella among the current Obelisk Academy students.

Although the two juniors in front of us are 4 circle users, they are no match for Adella who has two vision magics.

“If you are that confident, should we have a battle?”

“Battle is always welcome.”

The atmosphere became heavier.

It seems like there will be a lot of trouble right away.

‘Hey, are you going to just watch like this?’

Soonchan whispered urgently in my ear.

He thought I would mediate, but he seemed to be anxious because I kept watching them forever.

‘Don’t worry, I was going to mediate.’

Soonchan’s face brightened up in an instant when I answered.

He seems to believe that I could solve this situation somehow.

But, I’m sorry.

I have no intention of solving this situation.

Rather, this atmosphere was what I was hoping for.

“If you are going to have a battle, why don’t we divide the team into sophomores and juniors and have a group match?”

“Hey!”

Soonchan’s face turned gray again.

With a face of getting stabbed in the back.

‘Et tu, Brute?’ I’m sure that he is muttering like this.

“A group match?”

The two juniors looked at me without saying a word.

“Yes, having a battle is the best way to check each other’s power.”

I was going to suggest a team match from the beginning.

The reason is simple.

‘In order for me to take power over the entire Olympiad team, I need to beat juniors with overwhelming skills.’

In order for me to command this team, I have to break down the pride of juniors first.

Only when I break down their pride and form a team centered on myself, I can win the gold medal.

“So, you mean 3:3?”

“No, I’m literally saying let’s split into sophomores versus juniors.”

“...What?”

“You...”

“Do you want me to tell you more details?”

And there is no better way to destroy their pride than this.

“Sophomores versus juniors, 3:7.”

The atmosphere went beyond being heavy and quickly became fierce.