Offer a Tribute and Become an Archmage - Chapter 185



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Offering Tribute to the Archmage Chapter 186

The Door of Proof [2]

Episode 186.

Guernier immediately called the guards.

“A fraud! Do you know who I am? I am Ronobe, the hero of Gradas! Let go of me! Let go of me, you punks! No! Say something! Marquis!!”

Marquis Bane only smiled strangely as his guards surrounded Ronobé.

“The Gate of Proof is the symbol of the court magician with a three hundred year tradition! How dare you, a man without magic, try to commit fraud! It is right that you be brutally executed!”

Those were the words of Guernier.

Bane watched quietly, finding the situation to be just hilarious.

It was a bonus that he had no intention of saving me.

Ronobe had no choice but to use magic.

“Ugh.”

Suddenly, the surrounding air became cold and the guards with swords stepped back hesitantly.

“No, you use magic?”

“I told you…”

“But why can’t I open the door to proof?”

“I think it’s broken.”

“How could that be!”

Guernier, who was as angry as fire, said, “Oops.”

I never thought I would lose my temper and get so angry in front of Marquis Bane. In all my years of life, I never thought I would get so angry at a boy I just met.

‘What on earth is he doing…’

Why do you make yourself lose your senses like this? He has a strangely irritating face and a way of speaking that seems like it was born to get on your nerves.

“But the door won’t open. Can’t I just go through it?”

“That’s not possible. The Kingdom Magic Test begins after you pass through the Gate of Proof. There are no exceptions. Isn’t that right? Marquis Bane.”

“yes.”

Ronobe rubbed his chin for a moment, then as if a good idea occurred to him, he slammed his fist into his palm.

“Just open the door, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Then it’s easy.”

Ronobe stood at the door of proof again.

A four-piece seam according to size.

A bizarre door with poisonous snakes everywhere where you put your palm, above them are wolves and lions, and at the end is a dragon’s head.

Ronobe, who thought that her taste was truly refined, concentrated once more.

“It’s strange. Others just put their palms on it and the door automatically opens. Why doesn’t that child… budge even though he uses magic?”

“Well, that’s what makes it fun.”

“What is that…”

“The Gate of Proof is designed to respond to the grimoire held by the wizard.”

However, as the wizard’s level increases, there are times when the grimoire will appear differently than it did at first.

“Sometimes wizards do that too, and when they reach the realm of magic, they become like that.”

“That’s true, but… that kid is still a boy. There’s no way he’s gotten to that level already, right?”

Although Guernier demanded sympathy for his nonsensical words, Bane simply smiled silently and did not say anything.

As if the answer would come soon.

“Aren’t you curious? How to open the door?”

“You can’t open it. How can you open it without breaking the door?”

This door was built about three hundred years ago.

Was there really no one who tried to break it?

There were a lot.

Once every ten years, arrogant wizards who cannot accept the judgment of the inquiry appear. They all try to break down the door, but they fail without exception.

Because the Gate of Proof is so strong that no magic can break it. Whether it’s fire, water, iron, or anything else, nothing can break the Gate of Proof.

‘If you’re not above wizard level…’

The door of proof cannot be broken.

Kwajik!!

“???”

“Oh, okay. Can I go now?”

It is over three meters thick.

It was stronger than most castle gates, but it was torn like a piece of paper.

No, it would be more correct to say that it was crushed into powder.

“Oh, how!!”

“Wonderful…”

Guernier was stunned, his jaw dropped, and even Marquis Bane widened his eyes as if he was genuinely surprised.

“Hey, what did you do!!”

“I just… broke it with magic?”

Crunch, crunch! Crunch! Crunch!!

The cold air that spread like frost was so fierce that even Marquis Gernier and Bane took a step back.

If I just get a little closer, it feels like my fingertips and toes will freeze in that cold air.

But that doesn’t make sense.

“No way! Just by freezing, this, this! The door of proof wouldn’t be turned to dust and shattered!!”

Guernier was screaming and demanding a clear answer. His posture was so fierce that Marquis Bane had to stop him.

“The proof is given by the door. That is what you, who supervise the examination of the proof, used to say.”

“… Marquis. But!”

“The door has done all the proof. Wasn’t it the kingdom that left the judgment to the door?”

right.

Although, it was crumbling into powder.

‘Snakes, wolves, lions…’

And lastly.

Even dragons.

As he watched the Gate of Proof crumble to dust, Guernier felt a sense of sadness, but also a sense of liberation.

“I’ve waited fifty years. To see the moment when the Dragon Gate opens.”

Of course, it was never meant to open like this.

‘Is this also fate?’

Guernier is the supervisor of proof.

I had to say what needed to be said for the one who proved it.

That’s the role he’s played for the past fifty years.

Now it was the final duty.

“Congratulations on your proof.”

That was when.

The dragon head at the very top fell with a thud!

Along with that sound, the dragon’s roar that Gernier had been longing to hear for years echoed majestically from the dragon’s head.

The dragon’s roar echoed throughout the Bright Palace, flowing through various things.

A dragon’s fear that makes your whole body shake.

Guernier’s heart pounded.

‘For the past three hundred years, no one has opened the Dragon’s Gate.’

Maybe whoever created it intended it to be unopenable from the start.

The dragon’s gate will open only if the door is broken.

Break down the door itself.

Breaking the mold. Isn’t that the truth that a wizard should have?

“ah…”

Guernier shuddered with realization.

Tears welled up in my eyes.

It was a moving experience that came to me because I had spent nearly half of my life with the door of proof.

And then came the magical Don-o.

Of course, the boy didn’t understand him.

“If you’ve lost your job… come to my territory. I can quickly make room for you, sir. Thanks for your hard work!”

Ronobe, who was scared and didn’t know what else to say, quickly ran away.

Squeak, thud.

Guernier, who was looking at the collapsing Gate of Proof, spoke to the Marquis.

“Marquis Bane. That boy…”

The Marquis smiled silently.

*

Hurry up!

Ronobe ran out and glanced behind him, letting out a sigh of relief.

“Why is that old man crying all of a sudden… What is that? It’s scary.”

It seemed like there was a story.

Otherwise, you wouldn’t cry like that in front of someone you’ve never met before.

‘They say that female hormones come out when you get older.’

Wasn’t it something similar?

They say that when you get older, just seeing the sunset makes you cry.

Of course, it didn’t matter anyway.

“Where am I?”

Clean marble floor.

It was a space that stood out with its elaborately carved columns and architectural style reminiscent of Venice.

There were chairs and desks there, as if in a classroom, and quills, ink, and parchment spread out.

“Who are you?”

Of course, there were gathered here a wizard who appeared to be the supervisor and the examinees.

He was a middle-aged man with black hair neatly slicked back.

He was the supervisor of this exam.

“I am a challenger.”

“A challenger? Not an applicant?”

“Oh, yes. I am an applicant.”

“That’s strange. Sir Guernier would never have let a sentient being in.”

It seems that the name of the grandfather who was shedding tears was Guernier.

“There are always exceptions.”

“You sound confident. I guess it doesn’t matter. Just sit down and take the test.”

Ronobe sat down in the empty seat, receiving the glares from those who glanced at him.

Some seats were already empty, but the outstanding students seemed to have quickly solved the test questions and moved ahead.

‘Kaeldo… isn’t there.’

Ronobe took a deep breath and exhaled loudly. Even that alone was a nuisance to those writing the test papers, but Ronobe didn’t realize it.

“Excuse me, what is the test question?”

Parchment is blank paper.

If you knew what the problem was, you would write something down.

The supervisor clearly showed his annoyance and frustration at having to explain it one more time. Ronobe felt wronged.

It’s like I deserve to be treated like this even though I didn’t do anything wrong.

‘The Baron I gave you…’

If things go well, I might even be awarded a title by the king and become a baron, but I have to be treated like this!

In my heart, I had already become a baron.

“The question is simple. Magic. Simple. Write down your definition of magic and bring it to me. I will grade you on that answer immediately.”

“How are grades determined?”

“Judge by the five-colored spear. By the five colors of the spear. Green, blue, red, white, and black.”

This means that when you write your answer sheet and turn it in, the supervisor will immediately give you one of five scores.

“I hope you don’t take it lightly because it’s just a written test. In the end, you’ll receive an award based on the combined scores of the three tests.”

The message was that even if you get a green here, you’ll do well on the next test.

‘I guess there’s no elimination or anything.’

That was fortunate.

“Of course, don’t forget that if you fall below the standard, you may be disqualified.”

As expected, it seems that those who are too low level will be disqualified.

‘Hmm, as expected, it came.’

Ronobe was troubled.

To be honest, I’ve heard about the written test from Benald before.

So I thought about the strategy in advance.

‘A beggar who believes in Yonterion.’

Then, Yonterion will be able to overcome the tests given by those uncivilized humans. Ronobe closed his eyes and called out to Yonterion in his mind.

A dark space appeared and, as expected, a milky toad appeared.

“Master!”

Ronobe explained the whole story.

But the answer I got was like a bolt from the blue.

[I can’t do that.]

“Huh? City people?”

[I don’t know human language now. Human language is always changing. There’s no reason to learn it.]

“ah…”

I forgot.

Yonterion is the embodiment of wisdom.

But not human.

It’s a toad.

I forgot this simple fact!

Ronobe grabbed his head.

“Then what should I do!!”

[What can I do? A guy who is as good as a Baron is being so shameful because he can’t read or write. Hehe!]

From the beginning, it seemed like Yonterion had no intention of helping with this matter.

[Didn’t I tell you over and over again to study hard? You reap what you sow.]

“no…”

Ronobe wanted to refute.

I wanted to say, “Why study when there are gods?” It was like not drinking a frozen cola on a hot, sunny day, even though it was fizzing out in front of you.

Of course, Ronobe couldn’t say anything because he would be scolded if he said that.

[Pay the price for your laziness.]

“You don’t like it? If you don’t, you’ll understand.”

It’s a shame that Yonterion can’t read.

But Anna is different.

She is a human and a witch who has been active in the kingdom until relatively recently.

It makes no sense for someone who was even Elysia’s teacher to not know how to read.

[Hehe, is she any different from me?]

“…!”

As a result, Ronobe was unable to call Anna. Like Yonterion, Anna also serves as Ronobe’s teacher.

When she learned of this fact, her attitude would surely be similar to Yonterion’s. For a true disciple, it is the duty of a teacher not only to help but also to throw him off a cliff.

“This can’t be happening!!”

A time without the Internet.

Ronobe, who had been using the gods instead of the Internet, fell into despair.

[Why do you hate thinking and working hard for yourself so much? When I look at you, it feels like the corners of my heart are burning black.]

“… People these days want to live without thinking about anything. What’s wrong with wanting to live comfortably in this world! I want to live without doing anything!!”

It was a sudden rash, typical of Ronobe.

Yonterion ignored Lonobe’s sudden irritation with an indifferent expression.

Now I’m used to it.

[If you do nothing, nothing changes. You know that, right?]

“I’m okay now… even if nothing has changed.”

[Are you serious?]

Yonterion’s voice became heavy.

Ronobe was needlessly intimidated.

People tend to complain and throw tantrums in front of their parents when they are twenty, thirty, or forty.

That’s what Yonterion was to Ronobe.

But there were times when we had to be careful about the time and place.

That’s it now.

[You are saying such things even though you have neglected your studies and are now in trouble.]

Ronobe became a scapegoat.

It’s not that the people who are called fools in this world don’t know the right direction to lead and don’t do it.

Even though I know.

It’s stupid because it doesn’t do it.

But most people in the world know it but don’t do it.

If you always live your life harshly whipping yourself, you will start to wonder why you have to live so hard.

[Lazy people often trip over the richness of life to justify their laziness. They justify their laziness by being obsessed with the richness of life. They say that’s human.]

Ronobe felt a pang for no reason.

[Ronobe. You can live like that.]

The words that came out of his mouth were affectionate.

But the voice and eyes were not affectionate.

It was a kind of trap and sarcasm.

Even if Ronobe was an idiot, he wasn’t a fool who couldn’t figure out this meaning.

“I’ll study…”

[You don’t have to do it. Even if you don’t do it, you won’t have much trouble living. You are different from ordinary people. You can solve most difficulties with your own strength.]

however.

[Your power comes at a price. Fate will not leave you alone. The power you possess was not simply earned.]

“…”

[You will have to overcome many hardships in the future. Do you know why?]

“Uh… because I’m a child of tribute?”

[That’s right. We need to figure out what it means to follow the footsteps of God.]

God’s feet.

It’s coming soon.

[It means that the fate that God should have shouldered has been passed on to you.]

“yes?”

[He who carries the power of God on his back. The fate of God will weigh on him.]

“No, I didn’t say anything like that!!”

Yonterion smiled faintly.

[If you don’t want to become a trampled tadpole, work hard. You blockhead.]

Swish.

At the same time that Yonterion disappeared, a parchment was spread out before Ronobe’s eyes.

“…”

The price for inaction was right in front of us.

‘Oh my heavens!!’

Negligence in studying brings adversity.

‘Why are you giving me this ordeal! What did I do wrong! This is God’s fate! Why do I have to bear it! You crazy bastard!’

The shocking truth crushed Ronobe. It was a shockingly frightening statement for Ronobe, who knew the general outline of the fate that the god had suffered.

It was a terrifying truth.

‘It can’t even be compared to this kind of test.’

When I looked at the magic test while thinking about the fate of living and dying, it felt really trivial.

Yes, at this level, Ronobe can solve it himself.

Just think of a way.

Not by borrowing the power of God, but by oneself.

‘…cheating is meaningless.’

Even if you just glance at it, it’s hard for Ronobe, who doesn’t even know the letters properly, to follow along, and there’s no way the supervisor wouldn’t notice that.

The proctor looks at the answers on the test paper immediately.

It was just like the civil service examination of the Joseon Dynasty.

‘The definition of magic.’

It was a simple yet difficult problem.

For Ronobe, the definition of magic was also an answer that could be written somehow.

But the problem is that I don’t know how to write.

Even if I know the answer, I can’t write it.

There is no other way and nothing you can do.

Knock knock.

Ronobé got up from his chair and approached the supervisor, holding the parchment in his hand.

“That’s fast.”

“It was a simple matter.”

The supervisor unfolded the parchment.

There were few letters on the unfolded parchment.

“Ronove Hopper? What is this?”

“My name is.”

Inside the parchment, his name was written in large letters the size of a door.

‘This is all I can write.’

First and last name.

I am confident of this one thing.

The rest was enough to fill in with passion.

There was no other way than this.

“…”

Of course, the supervisor was quite embarrassed.

The test question is ‘the definition of magic’.

“Is this really your answer?”

“yes.”

The definition of magic is yourself.

This answer will likely be considered arrogant.

However.

“I see…”

The supervisor had a hard time grading the paper. He frowned as he thought over the answers he had given over and over again.

And soon the scores were given.