Rebirth of the 8th-Circle Mage

Chapter 183 - The End and The Beginning (5)

Following Henry’s self-introduction, all the wizards, including Lore, were in shock.

The wizards had also learned magic from the Archmage, but not officially. They had only learned a bit so they could improve their skills.

Lore looked like he had a lot on his mind. Thoughts like ‘Is he telling the truth?’ and ‘Is he just pretending to be a disciple?’ passed through his head.

However, one of the reasons they had come to the Blessing Chapel was because they had distinctly felt a strong wave of mana here.

Lore frowned at the aftermath.

No matter how closely Lore examined him, Henry looked like he had just turned twenty, but the surge of mana within the Blessing Chapel exceeded even the ability of a mage.

Eventually, Lore couldn’t hold back his curiosity and asked on behalf of the many wizards who were in doubt, “Are you able to take full responsibility for what you just said?”

This was an important matter not only for Lore, but for the whole Magical Spire, because Henry was claiming that he was a hidden disciple of the Archmage.

In addition, along with Henry Morris’ execution, many of the studies he had been working on had also been laid to rest, never to see the light of day. Therefore, Lore believed that with the abrupt arrival of Henry's disciple, there was a chance to reignite the progress of the Magical Spire.

Henry slightly smiled and replied, “What if I can’t?”

“What?”

“I asked, what are you going to do if I can't take responsibility for what I just said? Why do I have to prove to all of you that I’m my master’s disciple?”

“That’s because…!”

Lore was speechless. Now that he thought about it, Henry was not obligated to prove that he was a disciple of the late Archmage. However, the significance the late Archmage had was too great for him to just dismiss it as a joke.

Lore slightly frowned and said, “It’s a way to honor the late Archmage’s reputation.”

“Why would I have to do that? Did my Master leave a will, asking us to honor his reputation after he died?”

“No, but…”

“I’ve never heard of my master leaving such a will. However, I heard he left a will asking me to avenge his unjust execution.”

“I-Is that true?”

Obviously, it was a complete lie, but at the same time, it was rather amusing to call it a lie, because standing in front of Lore was Henry, with the soul of Henry Morris, the former head of the Magical Spire that Lore used to serve.

Therefore, everything Henry was saying became the truth as soon as he spat it out.

‘How cute.’

Henry laughed inwardly.

He had promised himself that he would tease the guys in the Magical Spire at least once when he got the chance to see them again. This was his way of joking.

‘That’s enough teasing. Should I play along with them now?’

Henry had no reason to mess with the people of the Magical Spire in the first place. The reason he had been executed was because he had been too extraordinary for everyone else.

Of course, Henry had ordered the Magical Spire in advance not to get involved with his execution. Therefore, the wizards had no choice but to witness the execution of Henry Morris.

Lore roughly had an idea of why Henry had told the Magical Spire not to intervene in his execution, which is why they also remained neutral in regard to Arthus’ rebellion.

Lore’s misunderstanding might have saved the Magical Spire, because if they had sided with the emperor or Arthus, Henry would’ve destroyed all the wizards without hesitation. One brilliant wizard had saved hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of young wizards.

“Alright. I don’t have to prove anything, but given the current situation, I will show you something small,” said Henry.

“Something small?”

Henry reached out and raised his hand high above his head, then snapped his fingers.

Emerald-colored mana soared up like fire pillars from Henry’s whole body, and then the mana took a specific shape. It was that of a dragon.

In order to show them proof, Henry created the one and only Magic Insignia, a dragon.

“T-that’s!”

“A-a dragon?”

“How can the Archmage’s Magic Insignia be there!”

“His mana is green?”

Their reactions were to be expected, given that Henry Morris, the 8th-Circle Archmage and former head of the Magic Spire, was the only one in history who had ever had a dragon-shaped Magic Insignia.

In addition, the mana forming the dragon was not blue. As Henry’s mana turned to an emerald color, the dragon Magic Insignia also transformed from blue to green. This fact alone was enough to shock the wizards of the Magical Spire.

Henry snapped his fingers again, and the green dragon dissipated into the air, vanishing without a trace.

“Is this enough proof?”

“Green mana…! I’ve never seen or heard of green mana before!”

“I understand. This was also my first time seeing my mana turn green.”

“What do you mean it was your first time?”

“I’m a wizard, and at the same time not a wizard. I have mastered the Aura of a swordsman. In other words, I practice both magic and swordsmanship, which makes me a magic swordsman.”

“A magic swordsman?”

Everyone started whispering to each other.

McDowell and Valhald also looked surprised by this.

“Huh? He’s a magic swordsman?”

“A magic swordsman?”

“Ah, did I not tell you? Henry has mastered both magic and swordsmanship. That’s why the color of his Aura is green, unlike others,” explained Von.

“You should’ve told us this earlier.”

“It doesn't matter. Does anything change now that I’ve told you?”

“No, but…”

McDowell quickly accepted Von’s reply.

However, the wizards were a different story.

They all looked even more confused now that Henry had revealed he was a magic swordsman, because they were all magic supremacists like Henry Morris.

Henry inwardly laughed again as everyone was reacting the way he had expected them to.

‘I’m sure you’re all surprised. I used to be an insane magic supremacist just like all of you guys in my previous life.’

Henry’s values had changed a lot since being reincarnated, so it was natural for them to be surprised.

However, he would’ve been able to prove himself to them in other ways besides showing his Magic Insignia.

“It seems that everyone is quite shocked,” said Henry.

“...To be honest, yes. The Grand Duke was a magic supremacist just like us, so I can’t understand how he taught his own disciple swordsmanship,” Lore answered again on behalf of all the bewildered wizards.

“I have done everything according to my master’s will. He had achieved everything through magic, but he deeply regretted having a weak body that couldn't even withstand poison. Therefore, even though it sounded crazy to me at the time, he insisted that I master swordsmanship.”

“Then may I ask what level you’ve reached as a wizard?”

“I’m currently an archmage.”

“A-an archmage?”

“That’s not all. This may sound arrogant, but I can prove that my wisdom surpasses the collective knowledge of everyone here.”

Henry was clearly provoking the wizards, who were extraordinarily prideful when it came to the knowledge they possessed and their magic skills. He was especially provoking those who had reached a pinnacle in a specific field.

However, Henry was speaking the truth, because in his previous life, he had never lost in a regular knowledge contest against all of them at once.

The spectators were once again whispering among themselves.

Lore warned Henry on behalf of the spectators.

“...That’s a bit rude.”

“But it’s true.”

“Sir Henry, even though you are the hidden disciple of the Grand Duke, everyone here is very knowledgeable with magic.”

“So?”

“What do you mean, so? Do you realize how arrogant you seem, claiming that you know more than these knowledgeable people when you look like you’ve just turned twenty?

Henry slightly tilted his head and started thinking.

He knew that no one would believe him even if he told the truth, so he decided to prove it to them.

“Alright then,” said Henry.

“What?”

“From what I know, Sir Lore Gillian, as the head of the Magical Spire, you have reached the level of an archmage like me, correct?”

“Yes, and…?”

“Then, except for my master, there still shouldn’t be any wizards that have reached the 7th-Circle in the Magical Spire, right?”

“...That’s right.”

“Then I will be the second person to reach it. When that happens, will everyone acknowledge it?”

“...What?”

There was a moment of silence, and soon, everyone burst into laughter.

“Ha!”

“Haha!”

“Hahaha! Sir Henry, your jokes are far too ridiculous!”

They were all genuinely laughing, but it made sense.

Henry wasn’t talking about something insignificant. He was talking about becoming the next 7th-Circle mage.

Becoming a 7th-Circle mage was not something that one could reach by simply having a lot of mana. Moreover, one couldn’t reach 7th Circle and higher by ordinary enlightenment alone. Therefore, no one else besides Henry Morris had ever reached this level, which was why no one dared to call just anyone an archmage.

“Of course, since you are the Grand Duke’s disciple, you might be able to reach the 7th Circle faster than me in the future, but that won’t prove your worth right now, am I wrong?”

“Who said I’ll reach it later?”

“What?”

“I was going to stop by the Magical Spire after killing the emperor anyway, but since you all showed up to see me in person, I shall prove my worth right now.”

“Huh? What do you mean…?”

“There’s plenty of time. I will prove that I can reach the 7th Circle right away, so why don’t we all head to the Magical Spire?”

Henry was being dead serious. He had actually been thinking of visiting the Magical Spire eventually and reaching the 7th Circle there, but now he just thought of it as moving up his schedule.

Everyone was confused, not just Lore and the wizards, but also Valhald, McDowell, and even Von.

* * *

Under his own lead, Henry was finally able to set foot inside the spire he had built himself for the first time in a while.

‘It’s been a long time.’

He had missed the air of this place. Although the air was purified with purification magic, the spire had a unique smell of its own.

“Shall we move to the top floor?”

Henry naturally got on the elevator that went all the way to the top. The high-ranking wizards who saw this expressed their surprise, but Henry didn’t care at all.

As soon as Henry reached the top of the spire, he looked at the room with nostalgic eyes.

‘It’s really been a while.’

Only the head of the spire was allowed to use the top floor, but it was currently being used by the second head, Lore Gillian.

Henry carefully looked around the top floor. Fortunately, except for a few items, everything had remained the same. Lore, a dedicated follower of Henry Morris, had deliberately preserved his possessions.

‘This is good.’

It was a good thing, because now, things were about to be easier.

“Can everyone back away please?” asked Henry.

Everyone stepped back just as Henry had asked.

Some watched him with their arms crossed while frowning, but Henry wasn’t bothered by their attitude and stood in the center of the spire.

Henry stomped once.

Thud!

Crack!

‘That’s it.’

As soon as Henry stomped, a small hole formed in the center of the floor, and a long staff emerged from it.

“T-that’s…!”

Everyone, including Lore, was shocked because the staff was an artifact called the ‘World’s Wisdom’ that Henry had used in his previous life.

“H-how does he have that!”

Henry smirked and said, “Just hold tight and continue watching.”

He held the World’s Wisdom in a familiar manner. He felt a comforting, familiar sensation as he touched the staff.

The one and only World's Wisdom was an artifact that Henry had struggled tremendously to obtain during his conquest of the continent.

The artifact served no other purpose than to accumulate mana.

Before Henry had been executed, he had stored all of the mana he had collected during his lifetime in the World’s Wisdom.

“I will now begin the process of reaching the honorable 7th Circle.”

The glorious evolution, which all wizards dreamed of reaching, was about to begin.