21st Century Archmage

'Jeez! T-That many?!'

200 years had passed, but Altakas had left behind such horrible destruction that the mere mention of his name would have children in tears. He suddenly appeared in the empire, robbed an entire territory of all life, turned the dead knights and soldiers into skeletons using his black magic necromancy, and drove the Haildrian Empire to the brink of annihilation. Apparently, the Haildrian Empire, which had no temples, suffered a great shock by the sudden appearance of a powerful black mage. If it were the Kallian Continent, clergymen and paladins would have led the charge, but without any temples, Haildrian was forced to fight the skeletons with their loyal knights and mages.

However, Altakas was no ordinary black mage.

Wielding not only 8th Circle magic, but swordsmanship at the level of a Grand Blade Master, he personally stood at the vanguard and massacred Haildrian's mages and knights. And then, he committed the infernal deed of turning those courageous knights and mages who died into skeletons with black magic and putting them back into the battle.

'Tsk tsk, if they just had a temple, it wouldn't have been so bad.'

It turned out that two-thirds of the holy water Kesmire acquired from Nerman was shipped off to the empire. Despite two centuries passing, the empire had been unable to forget their horrifying past and were stockpiling a reserve of holy water.

"It was greatly suspicious that Altakas and you share the same black hair. Also, we were even more suspicious because you are an upper-circle magic swordsman at such a young age. Because he killed over 3 million of our people in one year, even if you were slightly suspect, we had no choice but to make sure."

The long, long story came to an end. Because of Altakas, over 3 million knights, soldiers, and civilians were killed in merely one year.

'I see, so those guys are disciples of the mages who came over back then.'

At that time, in order to defeat Altakas, many mages were invited from the continent. The Haildrian Empire offered an enormous quantity of magic crystals and got a considerable number of upper-circle mages to participate as mercenaries. After managing to hastily import holy water from the continent and quelling Altakas, the surviving mages didn't return to Kallian. The Haildrian Empire had promised them vastly superior treatment than what they would get in the Kallian Continent. I could tell what kind of treatment they gave mages from the way mages were able to rise to ducal status.

Moreover, you had to consider what the most important thing was for mages. Money and honor were fine and all, but the most important thing was generous conditions that would allow a mage to carry out as many magic experiments as they wanted. In that way, the Haildrian Empire and the mages could satisfy each others' requirements, and that was how a high-circle mage ended up assisting the Tsarina in the current day.

"So something like that happened…"

To be honest, it felt like the history of an unrelated, faraway land. The guardian deity of the Temir, the polymorph dragon Tarkania, had specialized in black magic, but on the current continent, black mages were a rare existence. There was a magic tower in the shadows that dealt with black magic, called the Shining Magic Tower, but they were thoroughly obsessed with earning money and lived in secrecy. A black mage wouldn't have been able to wreak such havoc on the Kallian Continent, where there was a temple in every territory. Moreover, he was taken care of 200 years ago. As long as he wasn't one of those liches of myth, there was no way he was still alive.

"May I ask if Aidal-nim is still alive?" inquired Duke Aquilion cautiously.

"He is, but…"

"Ohh! Truly?! You say that Aidal-nim is truly alive?!"

Aquilion spoke of Master with honorifics. The name 'Aidal' commanded fear and inspired curses on my home continent, but it seemed he had done quite a lot of good here.

"However, he cannot come outside. He suffered a severe injury from the attack of the magic towers a hundred years ago…"

"Ah! H-How can that be…"

I couldn't tell them the truth. How could I possibly say that Master was glued to satellite television every day on a place called Earth, living in complete luxury without lacking a single thing? If I said that, I would also have to reveal that I was from a different world, and I didn't want to expose that much yet.

"How very regretful. Aidal-nim's presence is necessary…" said Tsarina Anastasia with an anxious voice. She had been listening quietly from the side.

'Is something the matter?'

If they were that eager to find Aidal, there was definitely something big afoot.

"If I can assist in any way, I will do so. No matter what kind of problem it is."

"Sigh…" The Tsarina breathed a long sigh at my words.

"Your Majesty, if he is Aidal-nim's disciple, this is something he should know, is it not?"

"Indeed. I suppose you must be informed of it in any case, Count Kyre."

'Just what is it that I'm supposed to know?'

So much had happened in one day. I was accused of being a disciple of a guy I didn't know and forced to endure a round of fierce attitude, and now, there was something I needed to know as Aidal's disciple. I could already tell that whatever the problem was, it was nothing good.

"Then I will make preparations at once."

"Please do so."

"Count Kyre, I sincerely apologize for the misunderstanding just now," said Duke Aquilion.

"Haha, it's nothing. I am not so small-minded that I cannot understand that much."

It wasn't as if I didn't sling my share of insults at him anyway.

"Thanks."

The Tsarina used honorifics with me, but the mage was casual with me and a devoted servant of the Tsarina at the same time. But there was no need to fuss about it. The world was a place where one lived by the murmurings of their heart, and Haildrian was no different.

Ziiiiiiiiiing.

'Woah!'

Something seemed to be activating, and then the throne upon which Tsarina Anastasia sat moved sideways.

"We will take the lead."

"Please do so."

The mages disappeared one by one through the hole the throne had covered.

"Tiavel, the time for you to learn of this has come, so come inside with Count Kyre."

"I understand, Imperial Mother."

Like some kind of movie set, there was a secret door right in the Imperial Palace, and where the throne was situated, no less. Following Anastasia, Tiavel and I climbed onto the dais and moved towards the place where the throne had been.

'What in the world is in here?'

Secret stairs people could walk down upright were leading underground.

Whooooooosh.

From the stairs came a hair-raising whistle of wind that swept past my shoulder and into the throne room.

I moved to follow the mages and the Tsarina.

In any case, the day had been one eccentric experience after another, and I wanted to see it to the end.

* * *

* * *

'B-Barrier magic!'

When I went underground, my eyes were met with a shocking sight. In this narrow passage around 3 meters high and wide, to my surprise, there were traces of various 8th Circle defensive and barrier magic arrays even I couldn't use engraved on the walls. So many magic arrays were overlapping each other that even a tiny issue would distort the entire space.

'This is Master's work.'

Master Bumdalf had passed me his magic knowledge, but had told me jack squat about the world in which he came from. I could see Master's characteristic mana formulas on the walls, which were made of mithril and various alloys.

'Hm?'

Around 50 meters into the passage, an oval-shaped stone chamber suddenly appeared. It was around 5 meters high and 20 meters wide.

'What's that?'

And in the middle of that stone chamber, was a half-opaque glass flask atop a stone table the size of a dining table.

'If you come in here and the magic arrays are activated, even a dragon would be in danger.'

This place was more dangerous than the passage. It was almost like there was some kind of magic array competition going on in the chamber—various arrays were engraved skillfully, so as to not intrude on each array's domain. It was one of the twisted and intricate magic arrays Master liked.

"I can see this is Master's handiwork."

"Yes. This is a place made by Aidal-nim."

Duke Aquilion nodded at my words. However, even as he spoke, the Duke and the mages were staring at the top of the central stone table with fearful eyes. Even Tsarina Anastasia, who seemed like she would be completely unfazed in front of death itself, was the same.

Besides the uppermost part, the rest of the glass was too opaque to see through.

'All the magic arrays will activate the moment anyone touches it.'

I could understand why the mages and the Tsarina were unable to go any closer. The various magic arrays were connected to the flask. The moment an unsuspecting person touched it, this place would simply cease to exist.

"The magic arrays here are operating on the one and only special-grade magic crystal our empire owns."

"!! S-Special-grade magic crystal?!"

I felt my heart jolt at the sound of 'special-grade magic crystal.'

A special-grade magic crystal… It was the highest grade of magic crystal, something I'd only heard about.

Even a Grade 1 magic crystal was valuable enough that only a territory on the level of an imperial county could acquire. However, a special-grade magic crystal was a precious object that money could not buy. Grade 1 magic crystals were already so precious that only magic towers or empires possessed them, and naturally, I hadn't even heard any rumors about the appearance of a special-grade magic crystal.

'Just what in the world is in there that they're using a special-grade magic crystal?'

A special-grade magic crystal possessed an immense amount of pure mana that could facilitate the casting of not just 8th Circle magic, but 9th Circle magic. A Grade 1 magic crystal should be sufficient, but it seemed the Haildrian Empire had used a special-grade crystal out of fear.

"Take a look. I'm sure that as the disciple of Aidal-nim, you already know, but the moment the glass flask is touched, we will all be reduced to dust, so be careful."

Duke Aquilion reiterated his warning. I carefully stepped forward.

"Tiavel, you go take a look as well."

"Yes…"

At the Tsarina's command, Tiavel followed me. I could clearly hear the sound of her heart racing.

'What is it?'

When I approached, I slowly passed the opaque part and was able to see inside.

"……!!!"

I craned my neck and looked inside.

'Woah! Almost scared the wits out of me!'

Shockingly, inside the flask was a human's eyeball. What's more, it was pierced down the middle by a magic stake most certainly made of mithril.

'Ara? Just look at this thing!'

I wasn't that frightened by the sight. Back in Korea, I'd gone to an exhibition called the Mystery of the Human Body and had seen various human bodies and organs. Among them, I'd even seen an eyeball the size of a fist. The only thing that shocked me was that unlike the dead things I'd seen back then, the eyeball I was looking at right now… was alive.

'What the hell is that thing? Why is it moving around on its own like that?!'

We weren't shooting some kind of horror flick, but the detached eyeball was alive and moving. It was even looking straight at me with a very unpleasant red pupil.

"Ahhh!"

Having followed me, Tiavel screamed when that ghastly eyeball fixed its gaze on her.

I instantly caught her as she fell, feeling the softness of her body.

'Huhu.'

This was no time to be setting the mood, but in my heart, her mature curves gave me a flush of happiness.

"What is that thing?"

"It's his eyeball…"

"Pardon? Whose eyeball?"

As I said that, a certain man's name flashed in my head.

"Black Magic Swordsman of Destruction, Altakas… that is the eyeball he left behind."

"W-Whaaat!!!!"

My doubtful thought was right on the money, and my jaw dropped. How could an eyeball from 200 years ago still move, and in complete isolation, no less? I did cast spells that were unbelievable from a 21st century Earth perspective, but this was on a different level entirely.

"Up until a few decades ago, it was dead. But at some point, it started to move, and now, it has completely recovered its vitality."

Duke Aquilion continued saying something unbelievable with a fearful voice.

"What does that mean…?"

"It is evidence that he is reviving. It is said that back then, when he was escaping, he plucked out this eye that was struck by a holy-water infused mithril arrow and fled. Haildrian has been storing his eyeball just in case. We kept it carefully here because it is said that when a person reaches the highest level of black magic, they become half-lich and their body parts will show the same signs of life as them. Just in case he might revive, my master and the late emperor stored it instead of destroying it."

"Ah…"

'Are you some kind of reviving mummy?! If you've lived 200 years, you should go to hell already. Why the hell are you coming back to life?'

The moment revival was mentioned, I felt my head throbbing. That was the revival of an 8th Circle black magic swordsman. I could no longer treat it like a stranger's problem. If—and it was a big if—that man had malicious intent towards me and came at me, what was I supposed to do? He was a Grand Blade Master and an 8th Circle mage, and I was still a Blade Master and 6th Circle mage.

'Pshaw, surely he wouldn't come after me.'

I forcefully swept aside the ominous thoughts in my heart. For what reason would he come after me? I'd never seen him in my life.

* * *

"He's not in Nerman?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. According to the report of my secret agent, who is assuming the position of a high-ranking knight in Nerman, Kyre is definitely not in Nerman. My agent says he personally saw a different knight pretending to be him in the sky."

"Huhu. Did he make his escape in advance?"

"That could be the case. How could anyone live in comfort after committing a crime against Your Majesty? From what I have heard, he is on close terms with the Kesmire pirates, so it is possible that he is seeking asylum with them."

Bearing good news, Count Lukence had sought an audience with the Emperor in the Laviter Imperial Palace. He was bowing his head repeatedly before the Emperor, whose complexion somehow seemed better today.

"What should we help you with?"

"Your Majesty, this is a golden opportunity. No matter how strong Kyre is, he will be helpless to do anything about a completely razed Nerman on his own. I ask that Your Majesty permit me 500 Skyknights. I will return after destroying Nerman in no time at all."

Resentment had filled Lukence to the bone. His eyes gleamed with a vicious glint as he asked for 500 Skyknights.

"But there is a chance that he might return in that time."

"I do not think that will happen. There is an idiotic, lascivious man named Ryker among them, and according to him, his lord will be away from the territory for at least 20 days," said Lukence with a look of utter confidence.

"Good. We shall entrust you with the command of 250 Skyknights under the 2nd Imperial Army stationed in the capital, as well as the Skyknights of the 6th Regiment of the Southern Corps. This order comes into effect immediately."

"I will devote my life to fulfilling thy imperial mandate."

The Emperor's order descended swiftly. If the Southern Corps were contacted right away, they could easily cross the Kovilan Mountains and attack Nerman's central city, Denfors, in a week's time. Lukence knew that the foolish bastards in Nerman were dividing their already meager forces among three places.

'Kyre, I will destroy your beloved Nerman entirely! Everything and everyone!'

Lukence gnashed his teeth. The veins in his eyes burst from his intense bloodlust, turning his eyes blood-red.

* * *

"Hoho, it is a relief that you are safe. I was worried that you might still be lost out there."

"Who do you think I am, how could I be lost? But what happened? I thought you would have arrived sooner than I did."

"Well… the wind grew so strong that I lost my chance to go aloft. I had no choice but to struggle desperately on the ship and was able to get here only now."

Just like how there were times when monkeys fell from trees, even a person living on the sea couldn't be perfect all the time. Looking at Chrisia, who was reddening with a look of embarrassment, I breathed a sigh of relief.

"Then can we go back right away?"

"What? Right now?"

"Yes. I'd like to go back as soon as possible."

"Did something happen?"

It was still a secret, so I couldn't tell Chrisia that the Black Magic Swordsman of Destruction, Altakas, was reviving again without perishing even after living 200 years. I had a hard time sleeping last night because of that guy's writhing eyeball trying to lock eyes with me.

'So many frickin' worries. Sigh.'

I was already burdened by Nerman's issues, but this Altakas guy only added to my anxieties. I was worried that he might possibly destroy Nerman in my absence.

"The transport carrier hasn't taken much damage, so we can leave whenever. But how did things go with Her Majesty…?"

"Haha. Who do you think I am? It was all resolved well, so don't worry."

"My! Really? Hoho. That's truly a relief."

Chrisia hopped for sheer joy at my confident words. The cute action of this woman, who had lived a tough life fighting the sea, made me chuckle.

"Then let us depart right away. I just have to give Her Majesty the Tsarina my farewell."

"Hoho. By your will," joked Chrisia playfully.

'It's a shame, but it'll have to wait for next time.'

It was a shame that I would be leaving after spending just one night in Haildrian, but another day would come. I resolved to one day go see all of Haildrian with Tiavel, who had expressed great disappointment when I said I was leaving.

Currently, Nerman's safety and peace were far more urgent than traveling.