The Great Mage Returns After 4000 Years (Web Novel KR) Vol 1 Chapter 76

Oydin Predickwood looked down at his palm.

The skin was white and jade-like, which was common for a High Elf; however, his skin appeared to be pale even when compared to other Elves.

Even his veins could be clearly seen through his skin.

Kooo.

Suddenly purple energy seemed to erupt from his pale palm.

Nozdog's Divine Power.

It was a transcendental power that could not only resurrect the dead and make them his servants, but it could literally inflict death upon others.

It was a power that didn't suit Elves, who were symbols of harmony, but the purple energy still brought a smile to Oydin's face.

Shuk.

In a flash, he recalled his energy, causing it to disappear without a trace.

“What are you so worried about?”

At that moment, the space in front of him became blurred, and the illusion of something could be seen within it.

It was a skeleton!

It was an illusion of a giant skeleton made of pure white bones and surrounded by purple energy, with green smoke spewing from its eye holes.

If death was given shape, wouldn't it look like this? (TL: many anime would disagree…)

Even if the boldest man were to encounter this figure, they would collapse from the sheer pressure exuded onto their minds.

This skeleton was the Death Apocalypse, Nozdog, one of the five most powerful Demigods.

[Indra is dead.]

It had a terrible voice, like the screams of demons, but Oydin simply tilted his head as though it was nothing strange.

“Was it the traitor again?”

[That's right. And just like before, no traces were found.]

“…”

Oydin didn't understand.

He still couldn't understand the fact that there was a traitor among the Demigods.

Well. How could a mortal understand the thinking of such great beings?

Oydin didn't think about it too deeply.

[Be careful until the next meeting. If you die, I will also be in danger.]

“As you command.”

Ssss.

Nozdog's figure gradually disappeared, and the space once again became stable.

Oydin snorted.

“Be careful.”

That was only something he'd need to do outside. After all, no one could hurt him within the Great Reynols Forest.

Wasn't this a place that was closed off to outsiders?

Of course, that was only one of the reasons.

But in other words, this place was safer for him than anywhere else in the world.

He then heard a knock on his door.

Oydin got up and fixed his clothes.

“Come in.”

A young High Elf politely opened the door.

He bowed before saying.

“Oydin, the Queen has summoned you.”

“Tell her I'll be right there.”

Oydin smiled.

“After all, I can't make my sister wait too long.”

* * *

As the forest began to get thicker, Syax said.

“This is where the Great Forest begins. Don't fall behind.”

“Hey. Take off that Illusion Spell.”

“Huh?”

“It's weird for an old woman with age spots to talk the way you do.”

Syax's expression hardened.

“…you're rude.”

“I'll take it as a compliment for my honesty. He hasn't said anything, but I bet he thinks the same thing.”

“No.” (TL: in case you might not have realised, this is Frey)

“Huh. Sorry.”

As Ivan shrugged unapologetically, Syax sighed before removing the illusion.

As her real face was revealed, Ivan whistled appreciatively.

“I knew you were an Elf, but you look way hotter than I expected.”

“I just thought it was unnecessary to continue using the Illusion Spell at this point. Not to be your dirty eye candy.”

“Now you're grumbling.”

Ivan said before turning to Frey.

“Are you not gonna say anything?”

“I don't care either way. The mana consumption isn't that high.”

That remark surprised Syax a little.

Illusion magic wasn't a very high level skill, but it took a considerable amount of skill to maintain it naturally.

Even the mana consumption was slightly annoying.

That was why Syax distanced herself from the humans when she was disguised as an old woman.

It was because it was quite exhausting to pay attention to a conversation while maintaining the illusion.

If he was able to do that process casually.

'Is he a 6 star Wizard?'

But his real face, which he had revealed not long ago, looked quite young.

'He might not be human.'

She'd heard that there were all kinds of races within the circle.

While Syax was thinking that she should not underestimate these two men with her, Frey looked around at the trees before asking.

“Do foreigners frequently enter the forest?”

This was completely unthinkable 4,000 years ago.

“I can't really say. It became better after the Grand Unification. But, of course, I wouldn't say it's exactly open either.”

Syax looked around.

Her ears perked up, and then she changed direction.

This was the reason that Elves were the only ones who could find their villages in the forest without getting lost.

They could hear the forest whispering the way to go in a voice that only Elves could hear.

Frey followed her while saying.

“I'd like you to introduce us as partners you found while hunting the necromancer, instead of members of the Circle.”

“Hm…why?”

“Because we don't know who or where they are. Just because they entered the forest doesn't mean they wouldn't go to the High Elves' village. If the necromancer isn't there, then we have to search for him.”

That was a lie.

There was a very high chance that Oydin would be in the High Elf village.

However, he was just making a plausible excuse for hiding their identities as Circle members.

Ivan wasn't really from the Circle anyway.

After hesitating for a moment, Syax nodded.

“I understand, but I will tell the Queen the truth.”

She was more flexible than he expected.

Was it because she was a wandering Elf who had explored the continent?

If she had lived in the forest all her life, then she probably would find it beneath her to tell such a trivial lie.

Frey felt that this was a good thing.

“Of course you should.”

It was then.

A voice sounded in Frey's mind.

[What are we going to do after we enter the village?]

It was Ivan's voice.

It wasn't the Telepathy spell, but instead, it was a skill called Conductive Sound that was used by Magic Warriors.

No matter how low he whispered, he would not be able to evade an Elf's hearing, so he chose this method instead.

Frey responded to him using Telepathy.

[We have to find out what Oydin's doing.]

[Why? Why don't we just reveal his identity to the Queen or a princess or something.]

He was much 'simpler' than Frey expected. He just hoped that Ivan wouldn't run his mouth in the village.

…Well.

He decided that it was smarter to tell him as much as possible before he did something stupid.

[If he completely hides his Divine Power, then we'll have no evidence to prove that he's an Apostle. We are practically outsiders, so they would be slightly cautious toward us, and if we do something wrong, they might kick us out of the village altogether.]

[Since Oydin is a High Elf, there's a high probability that he's in the village.]

Frey turned to look at Syax's back.

[I was just testing the waters, but there seems to still be some tension between the two races. It would be almost impossible for us to get into the High Elves' village with the Dark Elves' help. And even if we do, it would take a lot of time.]

[Hmm…]

Only then did Ivan realise why Frey had said so many interwoven lies.

At least, it wasn't something that he would have been able to do.

Were all Wizards like this?

He had only heard small bits and pieces, but it felt like Frey had a very systematic plan, so he lost the vague sense of anxiety that he had and was instead filled with reassurance.

It was at that moment that he understood the look Riki had given him.

Only

[We have to find conclusive evidence. That means we have to find evidence that would give them no choice but to accept that he is an Apostle.]

[That must have taken a lot of thinking. It's nice to meet you, friend.]

“…”

At that moment, Frey stared at Ivan for a long while with a blank expression on his face.

Ivan's playful voice and expressions seemed to overlap with someone else's.

Ivan tilted his head, as if to ask Frey what he was looking at.

Frey shook his head and erased the impression of Kasajin that came to his mind at that moment.

Because the person in front of him was not Kasajin.

Chapter end