Descent of the Legendary Archmage

Sunday, April the 26th.

The unexpected new article caused the entire student body to get excited.

[Korea's prodigious genius, Shin Hayul! On April the 30th, in the mid-term comprehensive evaluation, he will show the world why he was called a prodigy. ]

[Watch the brilliant resurrection of the genius.]

It was a very sudden news article.

“Is this real?”

‘‘The revival of genius?"

Because of the original article, new articles were being created by the minute.

Although it was a very unexpected article, not a single person even had the thought that it might be fake.

“Awesome. So this was why Shin Ha-yul was so confident against Baek Sahyuk.”

"No wonder. He must have been so bold because he had the confidence to back it up. ”

"Oh And now that I think about it, Shin Hayul's complexion has gotten a lot better."

These comments were made because of how Shin Hayul had been looking recently.

Not only did he show brazen boldness when facing Baek Sahyuk, but recently he was starting to look better.

There were a lot of similarities between how the new article portrayed him, and the Shin Hayul now.

"His confidence is freaking awesome. He’s saying I'll show you my skills on April the 30th, so come and watch me."

‘‘Him being incompatible with AI was what really pushed him to work harder. Wow..."

“Isn't that just baseless self-confidence?"

"Who knows."

“But more important than that, this article. There's no way it’s real right?"

There was one more reason why they believed that this article was true.

“What are you talking about, of course it's real. What family do you think Shin Hayul came from? ”

"Ah. The Mage Shin Clan?"

That reason was that Shin Hayul's family was none other than the Magic Shin Clan.

If this article was fake, they would have refuted it ages ago.

“Well, seeing how it's been 4 hours, and there's been no statement refuting the articles, I suppose it actually is true.“

“Just from how fast the news is spreading, I'm starting to suspect that perhaps it was the Magic Shin Clan who directly ordered the article to be written.”

And in this way, the article on Shin Hayul's interview was becoming regarded as fact.

Of course, all this isn't true.

Shin Hayul had never done an interview like this, and the Magic Shin Clan had never released any articles like this either.

So you may be wondering why the Magic Shin Clan had not refuted the articles.

— You don't have to refute those claims.

Well, the answer to that question is that although the Magic Shin Clan were preparing to refute those claims, Shin Hayul personally called the patriarch of the Magic Shin Clan, Shin Inhyuk, to ask him not to do so.

“Don't refute the claims you say..."

Shin Hayul's phone call asking not to refute the articles.

The ones who've appeared to have published the articles seem to be the Baek family.

And Shin Hayul proposed the deadline of April the 30th to Shin In-hyuk.

If you considered all of these factors then...

"Hm. This article. Did you provoke Baek Sahyuk into publishing it?"

— Yes.

Shin Hayul had pulled all of Baek Sahyuk's strings in order to induce him to publish it.

This kind of conclusion can be drawn.

‘‘Did you do this so that more people would come and watch? "

— Yes. I thought that in order to make the most out of my resurrection, I needed to get as much attention as possible.

The most glamourous spotlight had to be shone on Shin Hayul's glamorous resurrection.

"You'll recover your tarnished reputation in front of the eyes of a great audience?"

— That's right. Not only my reputation but also all the prestige that the Magic Shin Clan had lost.

“Hm. If it goes just as you said, then that would be most spectacular," Shin Inhyuk replied coldly. "But it's hard to believe."

When Shin Inhyuk gave it some thought, the chance of Shin Hayul being 'resurrected' was incredibly unlikely.

‘‘I'll tell you the truth. I didn't accept your proposal to wait until April 30th because I believed in you.”

On April 30th, Shin Hayul promised to place within the top 10 on the mid-term comprehensive evaluation.

He didn't accept that proposal because he believed in Shin Hayul.

“I just accepted your offer because I wouldn't lose anything either way. I honestly don't believe that you're able to overcome the disability of being incompatible with AI.”

Shin Inhyuk had thought that Shin Hayul's words were simply baseless confidence.

A person incompatible with AI is unable to become a mage.

No one knew this fact better than Shin Inhyuk, an 8th circle mage.

"I'm certain you will disgrace yourself. For what reason do I need to heed your request of not refuting the articles?"

If Shin Hayul were to disgrace himself again on the 30th of April, this would have a significant impact on the Magic Shin Clan.

They would be subject to the world's mockery once again.

Considering the potential losses, it's the correct decision to refute the articles.

"If you don't have anything more to say, I'm going to end the call now."

That was how Shin Inhyuk tried to wrap up the phone call.

— Even if I were to be disgraced, the impact it would have on the Magic Shin Clan won't be that great though.

Shin Ha-yul said this with a firm voice.

— It is recognised by the public that I've already been excommunicated from the family. Given this, no matter what I do, I don't think that it will affect the Magic Shin Clan.”

It was a reasonable argument.

‘‘I suppose it won't damage the family’s reputation all that much. However, that is not to say that it won't be hurt at all.”

Whatever Shin Hayul did, the Magic Shin Clan's name would always be mentioned. Because Shin Hayul was born into the Magic Shin Clan, no matter how small or large the action was, it would impact the Magic Shin Clan.

“I don't have that kind of personality to just watch something that I know for sure will harm me unfold.”

Shin Inhyuk was a calculating person.

He would consider all the positives and negatives, and only when the positives outweigh the negatives would he make his move.

— I admit it, there's a possibility that things might not go to plan.”

Shin Hayul understood the personality of his father far better than anyone else.

And that's why he also had prepared a sure-fire way of persuading him.

— But that chance of loss would be nothing compared to the potential benefits.”

“Benefit. What benefit are you talking about? If you're talking about restoring your reputation and the prestige of the Magic Shin Clan then..."

— No. I'm not talking about those minor benefits.

“Minor?”

— Yes.

Shin Inhyuk's eyes twinkled in surprise.

“You're saying that’s a minor benefit... Then what is the benefit that you're talking about?”

Shin Hayul didn't beat around the bush and said exactly what he meant.

— It's me.

"What?” Shin Inhyuk was stunned for a moment.

— I'm saying that the benefit is that the Magic Shin Clan can recover me. Father.

Shin Ha-yul said confidently.

— I'm talking about me, who will become the greatest family head of all time and will make the Magic Shin Clan the world's best while allowing us to hold on to that spot for the next 100 years.

Shin Hayul's confident voice rang in the rim of Shin Inhyuk's ears.

"...If nothing else, your aspiration really is what will lead the family."

The look on Shin Inhyuk's face had profoundly changed.

* * *

“Fine. I will not refute the articles.”

My father eventually accepted my offer.

“Instead, if you are to show yourself in a disgraceful manner even after saying all this then you better be resolved for the consequences.I'll make sure you pay the price for making a fool of yourself and the Magic Shin Clan.”

He ended the call with that threat before hanging up.

"...I can feel my life force seeping out."

I was even thinking of showing my power to just my father if he had continued to stubbornly refuse till the end.

Fortunately, things went well.

I leaned heavily against the chair and stretched out.

‘Anyway, with this, all my preparations are over.’

Baek Sahyuk is still spreading the articles and drawing in more attention.

On that day, the media will probably all flock to our fight.

Baek Sahyuk will be trying his best to ensure that happens.

Since I'll be wanting to disgrace him in front of the eyes of all the people watching.

‘I suppose one could say that he’s digging his own grave?'

Anyway, if he continues with this vigour, he'll be able to accomplish what I want.

* * *

3 days passed by in a flash, and it had finally become the long-awaited date, the 30th of April.

The current time is 20 minutes past 11 in the morning.

There are 10 minutes left till my duel.

"It's filled to the brim."

Colosseum 3, which was where group H's bout was taking place, was packed to the brim full of audience members.

I can occasionally see familiar faces in some parts of the audience.

I can see the scouts of guilds as well as the fact that some guilds have also brought their guild masters.

In addition, I can see the magic tower officials and the executive of a couple of magic corporations.

Just how good of a job must the Baek clan have done in manipulating the media for all these great people to all want to come and see the first bout?

‘Though it may also be partly due to the topic of my resurrection...'

This also showed just how expansively Baek Sahyuk had publicised this.

I heard that hatred is the driving force that moves people.

Just how much do you have to resent me to do this much?

It's a tiny bit admirable.

"Woah. As expected of the super prodigy. You're very popular.”

I saw that our Santa Claus, Baek Sahyuk, was approaching from afar.

“I'm getting all this attention because our resurrected genius did some interviews. I guess I should be thankful to you?"

The saviour, who even gave me this kind of present for free, stood opposite me with a nasty expression on his face.

"Kekek. How does it feel?"

He said this with his characteristic snake-like smile and with laughter in his voice.

"This many people gathered over an interview you didn't even do."

He chuckled while leering at me.

“Our defective product. What can you do now? Everyone came all this way in anticipation of your revival."

Among all the eyes I've ever seen, his eyes are within the top 3 most filthy.

“Won't it be so funny if you're unable to use any magic properly and make a fool of yourself? Right?"

He looked like a complete fool.

“I told you that you shouldn't have talked so much shit and come to your senses. Hmm? You defect bastard. Why would a deformed bastard that got abandoned by the Magic Shin Clan talk so much shit?"

That bastard didn't even realise that all his actions were done in accordance with my will and was having a blast.

"Hey Sahyuk," I said with a big grin.

"Have you ever heard of having someone in the palm of one's hand?"

"...What?"

It was time for the bastard to realise he had been dancing on my palm this entire time.

“All you've been doing is just playing on the palm of my hand.”

"...What bullshit are you saying now.”

Baek Sahyuk frowned.

"Can't you understand? Thanks for publishing what I had wanted to say in an article for free."

"What you had...wanted to say?"

‘‘I'm talking about the articles you wrote for me.”

I can see reporters in the distance.

Judging from their urgent movements, it seemed like they were looking for me and Baek Sahyuk.

They'll soon find us and come and approach us.

"You don't understand how comfortable it was having you do everything I wanted for me."

Thanks to it, this great arrangement had been prepared.

"What kind of bullshit is this son of a bitch spouting...!"

I grinned at Baek Sahyuk, who had a foul expression on his face, and pointed to the back.

"Student Shin Hayul! Student Baek Sahyuk! Can we get a short interview before you begin?"

Baek Sahyuk's expression became fully distorted.

His expression seemed to say that now wasn't the time for an interview so what the hell are they talking about.

"Fuck off while I'm being nice. You paparazzi scum..."

"Sure, I'd be happy to do an interview."

I cut off Baek Sahyuk, who had declined the interview and gave them permission.

"Ah, in that case..."

"Stop talking and fuck off!" Baek Sahyuk stared at the reporter with his eyes glowing with fury.

"If you don't want to lose your job then fuck off! You paparazzi sons of bitches!”

It seemed that what I had said about him dancing in my palm seemed to have unnerved him quite a bit.

Because of the rage that had been building up in his head, his attitude had become really ugly.

"Uh, okay?"

"That..."

The reporters panicked.

If you think about the relationship between the media and the Baek family, then it's the right decision to back off now.

But they had the expression on their face that said they couldn't miss the opportunity of this exclusive interview right in front of their eyes.

"Haha. Sahyuk's only behaving like this because he has low blood pressure before the start of the match. I hope you look over this.”

“But I do understand Sahyuk's feelings. Even if I do an interview, I don't have much time so we won't be able to do a long one. One word at most.”

“Ah, yes. That much is more than enough!"

The reporters bowed their heads.

“You son of a bitch! Don't ignore me and answer me!"

Baek Sahyuk grabbed my shoulder.

‘‘Move aside. I'm doing an interview right now.”

I pushed Baek Sahyuk to the side and spoke to the reporters with a smile.

"One circle.”

"One circle? What do you mean?"

I looked at the reporters who were tilting their heads in confusion once, looked at Sahyuk, who had a scowl on his face once, and chuckled.

"I'll beat Baek Sahyuk using just 1 circle magic."

“This defective bastard!”

At my final provocation, Baek Sahyuk finally exploded.

He grabbed my throat and glared at me.

It seemed that he was so filled with rage that he didn't notice all the cameras around him.

I looked at Baek Sahyuk and laughed inwardly.

‘Yes, this is perfect.'

He's in the perfect condition to play around with.