The Great Mage Returns After 4000 Years (Web Novel KR) Vol 1 Chapter 127

'How many times did I come to this place?'

Heinz looked around the messy laboratory as he had this thought before shaking his head.

In any case, he knew that it wasn't less than twenty times, and counting it wouldn't change anything anyway.

Heinz had believed he had an idea of the true scale of the Blake family, but now, he realised it was only an illusion.

'I didn't expect it to be this much.'

The scale and influence of the Blake family had far surpassed even his most absurd assumptions.

Moreover, he had expected that they'd be so deeply embedded and widespread throughout the city.

Luckily, it hadn't been too difficult to find the various research labs. This was because, though they were all in different places, they were all connected in some way.

They were researching the same things and frequently exchanged information, so they knew each other quite well.

This meant that just by knowing a few, he was able to figure out the locations of the rest.

And this place was the lab that Heinz had just besieged.

From the information he'd gathered, Heinz had learned that this laboratory was one of the three largest in the city of Pillat.

In particular, it was the site where the research of Illuminium was progressing particularly quickly.

Heinz looked down at the documents lying on a desk before picking them up.

These documents detailed the complete production process of Illuminium.

'So complicated.'

The first thing he noticed was that the process was completely different from the usual way of making alloys.

To manufacture this metal, one needed not only an extensive knowledge of metals but also the capabilities of a leading alchemist together with knowledge of magical science not below the level of a Magic Tower's Floor Master.

'It takes a long time to make.'

But this was only because they weren't yet familiar with the process.

As time passed and the researchers got used to it, the speed of production would almost certainly increase.

Suddenly, Heinz's expression hardened as he was looking through the documents.

This was because he had turned to the page that detailed the materials required to produce Illuminium.

“Did they really use something like this… as an ingredient?”

He couldn't believe it.

Was his family truly rotten to such an extent?

Crunch.

Heinz roughly crumpled the documents in his fist.

* * *

There was a limit to the number of creatures that could continuously pour out of the ruined annex.

Frey was certain that their numbers were dwindling as he'd already burned hundreds of creatures to ash.

After killing so many, he could see the end was near.

Isaka attacked him with ice whenever he had the chance, but it had little to no effect.

He wasn't an Apostle.

Although he could use divine power, it was still weaker than Oydin, who was just a half-Apostle of Nozdog.

If Frey had to compare him, he'd say that Isaka was similar to Lukes.

“Huk… huk…”

Isaka panted.

The constant use of divine power had exhausted him. His complexion was pale, and a film of cold sweat covered his entire body.

“Impossible… even your divine power is stronger… what the hell…”

At that moment, lightning flashed once again, burning the last of the creatures Leyrin had created.

Frey clenched his fist.

Crackle.

Pale lightning danced around him.

Although he had been fighting for so long, he still had divine power to spare.

It seemed that not only had his divine power become stronger, his capacity had increased as well.

The growth rate of his divine power was so abnormally fast that even Frey himself couldn't help but feel a bit scared.

Frey shook his head.

It was undeniable that divine power was strong and attractive, but for someone like Frey, who had lived his entire life as a pure Wizard, it was still possible to resist its allure.

He turned to look at Isaka, who was panting and staring at him.

'He said he could seal ice magic.'

Frey wondered if he would be able to seal an 8 star ice spell.

'I'd love to find out.'

8 star spells were so powerful that even Frey would have to pay a certain price to use one, and since he wanted to remain in the best condition to fight Leita, Frey decided to be patient for now.

Then, he saw a man approaching from the ground.

It was Heinz.

Frey adjusted the space so that Heinz could use mana to come up to him, and he asked him as he drew near.

“What did you find out about the Illuminium?”

“…I found it. I think this is everything.”

As he said this, Heinz handed a bag to Frey. (TL: once again, 'bag' refers to 'subspace bag' which can contain many things)

This bag contained most of the Illuminium the Blake family had managed to produce, as well as the research information.

Frey put away the bag.

Then he observed Heinz's expression, which was not in its usual, blank state.

“What happened?”

“…I learned the ingredients needed to create Illuminium. Frey… did you know them?”

Heinz spoke in an angry voice. Frey shook his head.

“I only know about Harkon. I don't know anything else.”

“I see.”

Heinz took a deep breath before continuing.

“I want to ask one thing. Why was the Blake family trying to make Illuminium? What power does this metal have?”

Frey glanced at Isaka.

Although he had not lost his fighting spirit, Isaka had exhausted almost all of his divine power, and even his mana had been sealed. In his current state, he wouldn't be able to hurt him even if Frey went to sleep in front of him right at that moment,

“I'll explain it briefly.”

Then, as he said, Frey briefly explained about the penalty the Demigods had to face. That they were under the threat of extinction by the laws of the world if they violated its rules and that Illuminium was the only way for them to escape said punishment.

There was no need to hide it.

Instead, it was the Demigod's only known weakness, so it was better if it was known by more people.

After hearing what Frey had to say, the anger on Heinz's face became even more pronounced.

“So in the end, 'Illuminium' is just a tool for the Demigods to act as they please on the continent.”

“That's right. But what made you so angry?”

“…the human heart is among the list of ingredients.”

“What…?”

It was the first time Frey had heard of it, so he couldn't help but ask in a confused voice.

“It said that in order to make 0.1kg(1) required about 100 human hearts. And…”

Crunch.

Heinz grit his teeth.

“I found more than a few tens of kilograms of Illuminium in the lab.”

“…!”

Heinz's ferocious gaze then turned to Isaka.

Isaka could never have imagined a day when Heinz would look at him in such a way.

“Answer me, Father. Just how many humans have you sacrificed so far?”

“K-, kuku… right. So you betrayed the family too, Heinz.”

Isaka laughed as he realised this fact from Heinz's cooperative attitude and the conversation the two of them had before.

Then he stopped and stared at Heinz with a contemptuous gaze.

“I never could have imagined that you'd turn your back and hit the parents who raised you instead of repaying our kindness. And it wasn't even Mischael… you've truly disappointed me, Heinz.”

“Stop saying nonsense and answer my question.”

“Huhu. Didn't you just say it? It takes about 100 hearts to get 0.1kg.”

Isaka gave a twisted smile.

“To make dozens of kilograms, it would have taken as many hearts.”

Heinz trembled.

“…where did you find that many people?”

“It wasn't difficult. Our family has Warp Stones. All that was left was to find slave traders, but that was also simple if we used contacts who dealt in the dark.”

“You mean you bought slaves from other countries?”

“For the most part, yes. Of course, there were also enemies that the empire captured. Also in the slums of Pillat, there are many parents selling their children for a single silver coin. Because they're even lower than commoners, it was easy to do it quiet-”

“This scum!”

Heinz couldn't take it any longer.

He rushed toward Isaka in an instant with a roar and lifted him up by his collar.

“You said we only had to make necessary sacrifices!”

“This… was a necessary sacrifice…!”

“Bullshit…!”

“K-, kuku… you're a hypocrite… all the prosperity… the Blake family was able to enjoy… was because Leyrin was behind us…! All the luxuries you've enjoyed… are all thanks to her…!”

“I never asked for such luxury…!”

At that moment, Frey grabbed Heinz's shoulder.

“That's enough.”

Heinz wanted to say more, but in the end, he bit his lip and stepped back.

As he did so, he muttered.

“What had I been thinking all this time? This was evil from the start… ah! I couldn't see the darkness of the family because of the mask of my parents…”

Isaka coughed a few times before giving a dirty smile to Frey.

“It must've been you who tricked Heinz. I have so many regrets. Instead of kicking you out, I should have killed you. In the first place, you… were someone who never should've been born.”

This was something that parents should never say to their children.

Even if it was someone with formidable mental power, if you were to hear those words from your parent's mouth, you would certainly be shocked.

But Frey's mental power was something that couldn't be shaken, and even if it wasn't, he had never considered this man to be his father in the first place.

“Where is Leita?”

“Do you think I'd tell you that?”

“No. But I know a few ways to make you talk. I don't really like torture, but it's effective for situations like this.”

“Hahaha…! I am a 7 star Wizard…! Do you intend to torture an Archmage?”

“That's exactly what I intend to do.”

After saying that, Frey stretched out his hand towards Isaka.

Shuk.

Suddenly, something shot up towards Frey at a tremendous speed from the ground.

Frey was just about to dodge, but when he saw what it was, he could no longer do so.

Thud!

“Kuk…!”

There was a heavy impact then Frey looked down at the figure in his arms which turned out to be a girl.

It was Sheryl, gasping for breath and covered in blood.

She was so severely injured that it wouldn't be strange if she lost her life in that same instant.

She looked up at Frey with difficulty.

“So-, sorry… I was… caught…“

“You were caught? By Leita?”

“N-, no. He…”

Frey didn't listen to the rest of Sheryl's words.

Instead, he looked down at the ground with a stiff expression.

To be precise, he was looking at the man who'd thrown Sheryl at him.

“Rounder Sheryl? What the hell…”

“Heinz, please take care of Sheryl. Also, keep an eye on Isaka for me.”

“What about you?”

Frey didn't respond. Instead, he gestured towards the ground with his chin.

The moment he saw the man with the gloomy expression, Heinz's face became as stiff as stone.

“…Demigod.”

“Right. This should be what Leita was waiting for.”

Just as Frey was about to go down to the ground, Sheryl grabbed him by the arm.

“H-, huk… huk… Master.”

“Don't speak. Focus on healing your injuries.”

“There is… something you need to know…”

This little pain wasn't a problem.

Although she'd come back with her life seemingly hanging by a thread, there was still some information she had to deliver.

“Tell me.”

“That Demigod's power… is darkness…” (TL: no wonder)

“Darkness?”

“That's right… that's all… I managed to see. I don't know… what happened.”

By the time she'd realised what was happening, her body had already become a mangled mess.

However, she could still remember the very darkness that she was hiding in suddenly attacking her.

Sheryl spat out a mouthful of blood before delivering something that was even more important.

“And… he said that two more Demigods would arrive… before dawn.”

“…!”

No matter how calm Frey was, his heart couldn't help but shake slightly when he heard those words.

Not one, but two more?

So didn't that mean that together with the guy below, there would soon be three Demigods in this place?

'I have to resolve this quickly.'

The Demigod, who was staring at him from below, was a very formidable existence.

Frey felt uneasy within, but he didn't show it. After all, he couldn't let Heinz and Sheryl become anxious.

Instead, he nodded calmly.

“I understand. You just rest up.”

“P-, please be careful…”

Frey nodded and began to formulate a plan as he slowly descended.

His odds of losing were much higher than his odds of winning.

Even if this man below him was the weakest Demigod, he was still someone that an 8 star Wizard couldn't hope to defeat on their own.

If it was an ordinary 8 star Wizard, that is.

Frey took a deep breath.

'Just for a time like this.'

Frey had learned everything that could help him even if it was just a little.

Warrior King's Fist, Spirit Arts, Contracts, even Divine Power.

Only

He didn't know how helpful they would be, but he intended to make use of everything he'd learned since becoming 'Frey'.

Light emanated from his bracelet.

'Today, I will defeat a Demigod.'

By himself.

Frey landed on the ground while gripping the Great Sage's Staff tightly.

(Note:

1. To put it into perspective, a standard basketball is 0.625kg(1.4lbs). The kg to lbs ratio is about 1:2.2, so .1kg is .22lbs)

Chapter end