Chapter 76: The Return of the ArchMage (2)
M2HdkQ3Clank, clank.CY4a
LLk7HWhile mulling over these thoughts, the sound of chains echoed from a cell at the end of the corridor. A man resembling a wolf appeared, catching the interest of the archmage.q0V
CccPsFfHe was different from those who rushed out of their cells without a thought. Moreover, the man was restrained not only with shackles but also handcuffs, which the archmage found appealing.41SV
qdKjStill one more left, eh? Did you hide your presence? Your Schema is quite impressive.SAMAI
O99The man, after glancing at the fallen prisoners, let out a resigned laugh.U2aVD
8e8AHeh, unbelievable. Do you know where you are? This is Inferno, the western prison. Planning a rebellion, are you?cT9V
r0MtRebellion? Sounds like fun. Will you join?gLOa
EhKbsHOThe man nonchalantly shrugged.YLYM6R
uhqIf it gets me out, why not?txJmt06
odMe7You must have heard, even if you didn’t see. There’s no freedom unless you can defeat me.IsaKF
NU9The man sighed, lifting his arms constrained by handcuffs to scratch his head. His eyes, peeking through his forearms, shone sharply as he suddenly leaped forward.WK0D
D9vHis jump, overcoming the weight of the iron balls due to his impressive Schema, resulted in a direct hit to the archmages face with the iron ball.38DAwp
n3lp“Master!”XDy1QXl
gsjeBoom!hv86m
maVNzo6Landing with a surprised expression, the man bent his knees. Making such a sound from hitting a person was unexpected.Euz
hWDJhAQ“Annoying magic.”2DxkRE
Voo0uVgThe archmage remained unfazed. The side of his face hit by the iron ball was covered in a dark shadow, thanks to his Dark Skin magic that maximized the absorption of impact with dark magic.nFs
nTcUR“Not bad. You pass.”wO4zB
50jy2VzThe archmage cast the Might of Darkness. Shadows rising from the ground gripped the man’s shackles and handcuffs.iltUW
GUTGs3“Don’t move. You might lose limbs.”hzrx
7ub5GLBefore the man could reply, the shadows formed into blades and spun rapidly, cutting off the chains without harming his skin. This was the essence of dark magic limitless shape-shifting and delicate manipulation.WDLwt
OrN“Freedom suits you. Follow me. There’s work to be done.”A7HZ0F
bRgTCI“Whats this about? I never said Id join.”OQH
c6GmThe man’s smiling lips twitched slightly.nDEO
7mC7He knew the extent of his opponent’s strength. But being dragged along like a cow would defeat the purpose of his escape.Rv5t
3adOm“Money moves you, doesn’t it? Help me, and you’ll earn a fortune.”Kpx0
PIY02Mages being wealthy was common knowledge.pK6X2X
zCOvaxlMoreover, the man was someone who would do anything for money, so there was no reason to decline.Jjbd
oxlx“Heh, big money, huh? If the amount is mediocre, Ill quit halfway.”SSZyx
gFq1With that, the man followed the archmage out of the prison. And thus, Inferno had one escapee.fCtYyqg
NWajShirone’s group rented an inn after gathering and organizing materials from the library. Two days of intense discussion helped them grasp the concept of the Photon Cannon.ml2IO
SovVkwK“Why does mass exist?”6g9OvAY
2H6UyPWithout mass, nothing changes. A world where today is the same as yesterday isn’t necessarily bad, is it?d7j
BmlYet, mass existed from the beginning. As if the world was meant to be filled with new events.uafWy
1i5B4“Mass isnt weight. Weight is the force acting in the direction of gravity. Theres no direction in space. So, what is mass? Cohesion? But that doesnt seem to fully explain it.”mGii8WM
hHYK8RNade asked,4Lb
MS6F“Then what do you think it is?”iee6
VVkThe feeling was clear, but not distinct.gTqv3
cixboC“Existence.”xGezJWv
8AJC“Eh?”Kfd
3umPNza“The proof that it exists in this space. Maybe thats what mass is?”hes6
FcWjdLife is a code unique to living beings. Maybe mass is the true proof of existence for the entire universe.w1g
oMd“Hmm, sounds plausible. Like the will or breath of the creator.”BFnSQ
c9e8AGmInspired by Nade’s words, Yiruki snapped his fingers.bgwYJ7
2cR“Particle of God.”HPOCp
iHMMA4o“Eh? What?”hUTGk
bH8“The Particle of God. Isnt it good? Let’s call the particle discovered by Shirone the Particle of God.”qVK7P
N30f00“Oh, not bad. Shirone, what do you think?”nf6K
toGaCHGShirone nodded repeatedly. It felt as if the term wasn’t just made up by Yiruki, but rather it perfectly fit what he sensed.EBgqk
NV6DY“I like it. And this is important.”H0KnEL9
PcA0o1A“Right. A mage’s omnipotence is connected to feelings. Its best to use a name that resonates with you.”RjMs
yrLWqIn that sense, the Particle of God was an excellent choice.4Pb6PLc
f2dQ3OAs the discussion wound down, Yiruki flopped onto the bed, tired from a day of studying.XleMP
HIVj2“Phew, let’s finish the analysis and return to school tomorrow. With classes resuming the day after, lets be mentally prepared. Surely you havent forgotten the promise?”hFCqVT4
JpZDNNade joined in,nbq
PnZvj“Of course. Climbing to class four this semester. We’ll study like crazy now. Worst case, Shirone might graduate before us.”wzKnu
mlBzIBThat might be possible.3xY
reIWhat started as a joke was now a serious possibility on their faces.RQP
XdpphqaShirone could graduate first, given the significance of discovering the Particle of God.djQ
RpIwgVe“Shirone, you dont plan to stay another year after graduating, do you?”5rjn11
VSvhe“Ha! What are you saying? In the current situation, Im the most likely to break the promise. At least you guys are in the top ranks.”aLRcLB
FzHpkxSThough Shirones comment wasnt wrong, the pace of his growth was enough to cause alarm. A student who didn’t even know the Four-Way Formation six months ago was now contemplating graduation.9lPWZaU
s7A“Ill study some more before sleeping.”CTqw
Q7ffcjj“What? Then, me too!”9CEMPay
XcqmWAs Yiruki got up to study, Nade also took a spot at the table to begin.mFFS
ascIoqaEven if the world ends tomorrow, they’d rather study and play. Seeing his friends burning with scholarly passion, Shirone was touched.7QlEZ
wnaXiX‘I’ve made good friends.’I4nR
dEf73mShirone was the last to open a book.yzpDt
S9mThe Kingdom’s Educational and Academic Association of Teachers.8Q0b
1uO90hJThe academic conference organized by the Association brought together professionals from all fields related to society and culture, including magic and swordsmanship schools, various religious orders, academic institutions, the Alchemy Foundation, and the elite group of 99 Artists. It was a venue where they all gathered to present visions for the kingdom.KGp5
m4EOThadd attended as a representative of the Alpheas Magic Academy. The ongoing discussion on the pros and cons of rote education was driving him insane.qa4RH
RdYbl“Darn it. Don’t these people ever sleep? Let’s just go home.”4npoZ8
yDCHe had reluctantly attended due to a draw but despised it thoroughly. Having been a notorious troublemaker since his school days, Thadd believed education had nothing to do with him, whether it was formal or informal.qeUF
5EzThe only consolation was the presence of attractive female teachers. Particularly, a woman sitting at the opposite round table caught his eye, with her wavy blue hair and playful nature evident even in formal attire.WQ2
rnwe4“She’s quite something. Reina Ogent, was it?”IF5Zmb
I3Mi2ZA musician affiliated with the prestigious group of 99 Artists and a disciple of the Melodist Merhen, she attended as a guest artist.VjgzB
6gWdThe conference ended at 7 PM.kWw
nTWhAs the evening party hosted by the Association began, the heat of the discussions disappeared like a lie. Participants mingled, sipping wine and networking with peers from various fields.g21yLDx
a69w8Around Reina, particularly, were high-profile individuals, even recognizable to those indifferent to the Association.c9Tx
Pudo68“Poor beauty, always surrounded,” Thadd thought as he waited for his turn to speak with her, overhearing their mostly authoritative or mischievous conversations.RKq
IvqReina responded kindly to everyone with a friendly smile, which surprised Thadd. Her cheerful nature seemed at odds with the infamous reputation of the 99 Artists.hLl11
6AMlArt is a skill of handling emotions and thus wields influence over the public that even the powerful can’t ignore.N4pEXm
Idr8Many artists, given the critical nature of art, were stubborn, but Reina appeared to be an exception, pleasantly mingling with people from all walks of life.qT2bpGA
slkNx“If only Siena could be half as approachable as her.”qFFBOWv
zpmr7jKWhile sipping wine with these thoughts, Reina, having finished her conversation, approached Thadd.nfOx
YfnQ“Hello, Mr. Thadd.”JOdmZGy
LkxCW“Oh, yes! Wait, do you know me?”tm1GmC
NAuu3O“Of course. You’re a teacher at the Alpheas Magic Academy. The Ogent family’s main house is in Creas.”TyTPqQ2
ownp“Oh, right. I forgot about that. Nice to meet you.”bI2Bb5x
Ot4UTheir shared hometown brought a familiar warmth to their conversation, and they talked for a long time. As Thadd had guessed, Reina was lively and fun.pAjp
IWIGm“How is Shirone doing?”Wxiz
HrPy1“Shirone? How do you know… Oh, right.”PUBJ
IoVHVRecalling Shirones test, where he had written the Ogent family as his guardian, Thadd remembered.trr
yerYMg0“Shirone was a guest of the Ogent family. Indeed, a noble family with a keen eye for talent. He’s doing well, although he recently got into a bit of trouble.”wG9tl
vLZ“Trouble? What kind of trouble?”siPmtla
M7NsReinas wide-eyed reaction made Thadd regret his words. Learning that a student sponsored by the Ogent family was under suspension could bruise her pride.16O
Ji5“Ahaha! Nothing serious. Hes just such an outstanding student that even minor things get blown out of proportion.”XEC
ZiRPIA“Oh, I see.”faL2Sk
R6DiLE2Reina sighed in relief. From Thadd’s description, she could imagine Shirone’s life.a8Fy
ks0vWPm“It’s good to hear he’s doing well. Does he have many friends?”sR44G
AdRYVR“Absolutely. Popular with both boys and girls. Sometimes I even get jealous. Hahaha!”h6ZFGL2
x1kZb“Really? Then, maybe…”TIYrvLa
lNyReina paused, about to ask if he had a girlfriend, but shook her head. It was a legitimate question for a patron, but the inquirer in her heart wasn’t just using the patron’s name.5B9n
skV6FsE“Something on your mind?”dOISG
omUH“No, its just good to know he’s well.”rjyP5HO
m5er“Haha! Dont worry. I may be biased, but Alpheas is a prestigious school. You can trust us with his care.”290Z
bX7“Huhu, right. I was overstepping, sorry.”iR0
t82cI“No, not at all. In fact, I’ve been presumptuous. How about joining me on a trip to Creas? I’m leaving in the morning. I’d love to treat you to lunch.”YNXZimT
e4KBAf0Reina politely declined with a hint of regret.4nh
4ntH“Sorry, I have a concert schedule and need to return to Bashuka.”taNn6
mwo3v6i“Oh, thats unfortunate…”Lsy
skfNjThadd couldn’t hide his disappointment. Usually, he’d let go easily, but she was a rare find.5HDyVPQ
Edz“Cant help it. But I’d love to see your concert. Could you let me know the schedule? I’ll come to Bashuka.”6YgP
hUs3lF“My, I’m flattered. Actually, I was worried. With the recent unrest in the capital, I feared many seats might be empty.”7IUTBw
unxnYhK“Unrest in Bashuka?”VLpPXcL
5kyNs“An attack by a dark mage at Inferno, freeing a B-class fugitive. The capital is almost under martial law now.”qZt
SQWKO“A dark… mage?”ndQe
ViMwkybThadd’s brow furrowed. It could be just another news story, but upon reflection, it was a rare occurrence.kaec
YQlDark mages were scarce in modern times. And why attack Inferno, just for a B-class fugitive?DlyPuZT
kXGy3Dark mage, Inferno, B-class fugitive.iZrINU1
JbcMuA scene from history flashed through Thadd’s mind.KOwZyh1
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