The Great Mage Returns After 4000 Years (Web Novel KR) Vol 2 Chapter 298

Snow.

Full name, Snow de Predickwood.

Every person could be said to have many different identities, but in Snow's case, it was particularly severe.

The Elf Queen, sole survivor of the extinct Ice Elf race, the Apostle of the Demigod Riki who betrayed his own kind, and also a Master Swordsman with talent comparable to Lucid.

That wasn't all.

In addition to all of that, she also had another identity, 'Swordna', who served as the Circle Master for the Hiral Garden circle.

…In other words.

Snow had definitely been a member of the Circle just 10 years ago.

“You know each other?”

It wasn't strange for Peran to be a bit surprised.

After all, Lukas was going with the story that he'd lost his memories, and Snow was currently not in a position that allowed her to randomly interact with strangers.

Snow took the cup that was in front of him and took a sip while shrugging.

“I met him not so long ago. I am in his debt.”

“On what condition?”

“The price of a meal.”

“For reference, the meal had cost about 10 silver, which was enough to spend over 3-4 days considering Lukas' low meal average.

“…you are the leader of the Anti Circle Alliance?”

“Right.”

“How did you know about me?”

“Peran, and the people you missed. So you don't have to worry anymore.”

“…what?”

Snow's eyes curved into half moons.

“Weren't you worried that the Circle would learn your appearance?”

It seemed she had been listening to their conversation.

“They all died before they could report to their superiors. This Queen can guarantee it.”

There was no need to ask how they died.

Lukas looked at Snow with a complex expression.

Leader of the Anti Circle Alliance.

This meant that she'd left the Circle and created her own force. That also meant that currently, Snow was enemies with Ivan, the Master of the Circle.

Why?

“Since all the witnesses are dead, the threat of death has disappeared. Do you still want to travel with us?”

Snow didn't give him time to think and urged him to answer.

Lukas nodded.

“Right.”

The thought of sticking together with them had only grown stronger.

Snow put her chin in her hands as she stared at Lukas curiously.

“I see. Alright. Then you can go up for now.”

“I have some important things to discuss with Peran.”

It seemed she didn't want any outsider listening which is why she asked him to leave.

Her voice was soft, but strangely coercive. Lukas knew there was no point to staying anyway, so he calmly headed upstairs.

Dumbo had already told him in advance which room was his.

He was certain it was E-2.

With a click, he opened the door and entered the room.

The soundproofing between the first and second floors was not very good. In other words, if conversations on the first floor were a bit loud, then those on the second floor would be able to hear it. This meant that there was a chance for him to hear what they were talking about downstairs.

Although the noisy mercenaries made it difficult to hear things clearly, as long as he focused on his hearing, he might be able to hear the conversation…

But he could hear no sound from below.

'They set up a sound barrier.'

It was a barrier that only stopped sound from passing through. While it was an application of barrier technology, the formulas required to cast it were much more complex. To be precise, the quantity increased by up to three times.

Nevertheless, such a thing would not be difficult for the current Peran.

He wondered what they were talking about.

How to treat Lukas. The Alliance's next step. Or the movements of the Circle.

He didn't know.

But Lukas felt that he would be able to gain valuable clues from their conversation.

'… should I eavesdrop?'

It was morally wrong, but it couldn't be helped.

At that point, Lukas needed to hear their conversation. It was no longer a matter of choice.

Then, the 'how' was the problem.

How could he eavesdrop?”

He looked at the sound barrier Peran had created. His mana was powerful and vast enough that it could easily cover the entire building.

In addition the formula he used was exquisite. Just by looking at the formula, Lukas was able to see just how much effort a Wizard put in.

Of course, it was by no means an accurate measurement. It was similar to interfering with a character someone else had created.

'…formula.'

Lukas understood the source of mana. Otherwise, he never would have been able to use endtongue.

So to the current Lukas, it was like he was looking at several dozens or hundreds of formulas floating in the air.

Suddenly, a thought appeared in his head.

Touch it with a finger, even if only for a moment.

'What would happen if I interfere with the formula?'

It was a wild idea, but it wasn't impossible.

No matter what he did, the current Lukas was absolutely unable to use magic.

But interfering with spells that had already been cast or changing their properties… might be possible.

Sshng.

Lukas unsheathed his sword. There wasn't any particular reason for this.

Since the blade was sharper than his finger, he felt that it would more easily scatter the surrounding mana and change it.

—Great.

Thinly, slowly, carefully, as if he was slowly cutting a bit of meat.

The flow of the mana changed.

A cast spell was like an artist finishing a painting.

But Lukas stormed in without even asking for permission and changed it as he pleased.

The mana moved. The formula was rearranged.

Naturally, Lukas had the most comprehensive understanding of magic, mana, and formulas out of everyone in the world. This allowed him to spot the weaknesses and blindspots that most wouldn't notice. Even if Peran was an Archmage, when it came to pure understanding, he was no match for Lukas.

Ssss-

Peran's elaborate painting was soon dyed with Lukas' color. It was so secretive that even the caster didn't notice.

It was impossible for ordinary people to use mana. In other words, Lukas was the only being in the world that could use this method.

Juk.

The tip of his blade slid forward once again.

Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead. It was his body, not his mind, that was crying out and complaining about the strain.

He was only holding his sword in his right hand.

His left hand was thin, weak. If he were to try to use both hands for no reason, it would probably affect the ultra precision required for his task.

Nevertheless, Lukas' right arm was not trained to handle such strain.

“…urk.”

His arm almost slipped. A groan escaped past his lips without him realising. It felt like his arm was about to fall off.

0

By that point, the only thing he could feel at that moment was pain.

Lukas focused his gaze, his eyes bloodshot.

Just.

Just a little more.

Tuk.

Just as a bead of sweat began rolling down his nose…

[…is it?]

He heard a faint voice.

[Interesting.]

The voices quickly became clear, and he could clearly hear both Peran and Snow.

Brrr.

His entire body began to shake heavily. At first, he thought the reason for his convulsions was because he'd overworked his muscles, but that wasn't the case.

Instead, what Lukas felt at that moment was an indescribable feeling of pleasure. It filled him with confusion at first, but he soon realised why.

Uncertain challenges, crises, and fruits of his labour.

All things that were foreign for an Absolute.

That was why he was happy.

It felt like a long lost feeling had been revived.

At that moment, he felt human again.

Chapter end