Offer a Tribute and Become an Archmage - Chapter 187



Only Noblemtl

Offering Tribute to the Archmage Chapter 188

The Mirror of Rodin [1]

Episode 188.

The testing site after Ronobe passed by.

Marquis Bain entered the examination room where Modert was in charge and asked him.

“What kind of brooch did he get?”

Even though Modert is a white magician, his opponent is the only black magician in the kingdom.

Regardless of his title as a Marquis and his status as a warlock, he is the only wizard who can stand by the king’s side.

Modert’s head bowed thoughtfully.

“I handed over the black one.”

“Black!!”

The Marquis also had Guernier by his side.

Guernier was startled.

“Black! Is that you?!”

“yes.”

Modern Havenauer.

He is famous among supervisors for being strict with grading. He is as strict as he is skilled, and during the decades he has been in charge, only a handful of people have received a white brooch.

But it’s black!

This is unprecedented.

“It’s the first time since I’ve been black.”

“I’m afraid it’ll only last about a hundred years.”

It’s been a hundred years since the Marquis of Bane. The ripple effect of blackness was enormous.

It was just a question-and-answer session, so we can’t gauge the level of the wizard who took the test, but the color black… had a lot to suggest.

“Sir Modert. Being black means that your reputation and the legitimacy of the kingdom may be threatened. Was being black really justified for him?”

Guernier asked sternly, looking at Bane’s expression for no reason. Modert answered with eyes as unwavering as a large tree.

“If not him, who else would suit black better?”

“Is that it…”

Marquis Bane stroked his beard.

The supervisors who oversee the kingdom’s magic tests are not just chosen by anyone.

We will check his personality, family background, attitude towards magic, and strong background, and place the right person in that position.

No one can become an overseer unless he is recognized by everyone in the kingdom.

That’s what Modert decided.

The fact that the black brooch has not been seen for a hundred years is a mark of respect and admiration for the only black magician, Marquis Bane.

‘If another black wizard appears, he will naturally compete with the Marquis.’

But even knowing this, Modert gave him the black one.

Still, I couldn’t help but praise Modert’s courage in giving him the black color.

“What was the next test?”

“It’s the mirror of Roden.”

“Roden’s Mirror… It’ll be an interesting sight.”

“Yes, I will do that.”

Guernier nodded and answered.

Marquis Bane narrowed his eyes as he watched Guernier creeping closer.

“Sir Guernier. Aren’t you going home from work?”

“This is the guy who made me lose my job. I’ll have to see how far he goes.”

“… I see.”

The door of proof has disappeared.

It has been completely destroyed and broken, so it cannot be restored. It was originally created by a wizard three hundred years ago.

Even if you try to restore it, you can’t do it without knowing what mechanism it was made of. In other words, Guernier became an old man in the back room who lost his job in an instant.

“however.”

There was one more person following Marquis Bane.

“Are you going to Modert?”

“Sometimes there are things more important than magic. The test won’t take long.”

“…”

Bane, Modert, and Guernier headed to the next testing ground together.

All three followed in the footsteps of a wizard who was running wild.

*

The Mirror of Rodin.

This was the name of the testing center.

Ronobe looked at the wizards gathered in front of their respective mirrors.

It was a strange room.

It was a room where every corner was made of mirrors. There was a large mirror at the top of the building, and underneath it were long, circular mirrors lined up.

These are mirrors that can easily cover one person.

“My mirror can remember the person it reflects, although it takes time. Your test is to enter the mirror and fight the person you have chosen.”

The Mirror of Roden. The supervisor of this test, Roden, was a woman with black hair that flowed down to the floor. She looked to be in her mid-thirties, but her actual age was unknown.

‘Because wizards live long lives.’

Archmage Ashwald had been alive for over four hundred years, so he could have been quite old, even though he looked like that.

“Director Rhodena, I have a question.”

“Tell me.”

“You said you’d go into the mirror and fight. Who would you fight? Or would we fight each other?”

“No. Each mirror you stand in has its own color.”

It’s true.

Green, blue, red, white, black.

The jewels adorning the ends of the oval mirror were of different colors.

“Of those who have taken the test over the past three hundred years, the most outstanding ones with a color matching them will appear. You should choose a color that matches your strength and fight. You can fight alone or as a team.”

After all, a test is a test.

If you win, you’ll be awarded a high score, but it’s basically a test to see how well you’ll fare as a wizard.

“But what happens if I lose?”

“There is no disqualification. This is to test your abilities as a wizard. However, be careful not to choose a color that is higher than your level, or you could die.”

Most of them saw green and blue.

Of course, those who wanted to go higher aimed for red and white, but those who saw black were really few and far between.

Then someone raised a hand.

“Speak.”

Ronobe was also an acquaintance.

Kael Djerba.

It was Kael of the Halo.

“Are you, by any chance, the Marquis of Bane, the only dark wizard in the kingdom?”

Director Rhodena nodded.

“That’s right. Of course, he’s not the current Marquis, but the young Marquis from sixty years ago. The Marquis Bane who appears in the mirror only has half of his strength, so if you want to challenge him, you can. However, I don’t recommend it because many people die after challenging him.”

The rumbling grew louder.

There is no wizard in the kingdom who does not know the name of Bane. He is considered the greatest wizard among wizards, except for Archmage Ashwald.

If one could compete with him in terms of skill, it would be an honor and glory to the family. However, since it would put one’s life at risk, no one was willing to take on the challenge.

Even with half the strength, most people would not be able to avoid death from the start.

“It would be possible, of course, if you have a black brooch.”

Rhodena’s eyes were fixed on the boy wearing the black brooch.

It was Ronobe.

“Ahem. With something like this… Ahem.”

Suddenly, everyone’s attention was on him, so Ronobe puffed out his chest for no reason.

It was to show off the brooch.

“!!”

Most people were surprised, but one person in particular was extremely surprised.

It was Kael.

“Sir Hopper? How about here?”

“I came here by chance.”

And there was one more person who came to visit in surprise.

“How did you get black?”

A girl with pink twintails and one eye covered by a black blindfold.

It was Beatrice.

“You said you’d give it to me? But when did you see me like that and why are you speaking informally to me?”

Judging by the fact that he was so young, it was clear that he had never been spanked.

‘Are you a noble?’

As a child, the only people who didn’t fit in were nobles, so it was probably obvious that they were nobles.

“you…”

Just as Beatrice was about to say something more.

Rhodena shouted.

“Enough small talk. Now, let’s begin the test. Those who are ready, stand in front of the mirror and take the test.”

As the test began, the wizards began to form parties, racing to check the brooches. In simple terms, it was common to form teams and challenge the mirrors with higher colors in order to get high scores.

Even in the Kingdom Magic Exams, the Mirror of Roden is a test that has been a tradition for three hundred years, like the Gate of Proof.

The nobles knew about the existence of such tests and had their own strategies for defeating them.

It was most effective to form a party and attack the mirrors of higher colors.

What is important in the test is the performance that comes from capturing or killing a character.

If you form a party, it will be difficult to stand out, but your score will definitely increase because you killed the upper color.

Of course, this was also the reason why they gave out a brooch for the written exam.

Because if you choose a level lower than the color you were given, it will be a deduction factor.

“Hey, you do it with me.”

Ronobe didn’t fully understand the rules yet, but suddenly a proposal to have a party came.

A girl with pink hair and a blindfold.

It was Beatrice.

“It’s a bit hard to talk to white people…”

Ronobe snickered as he looked at the white brooch on her clothes.

“Why is something as small as a rat so arrogant?”

“You’re the one being cheeky. What do you mean, manners? Why are you speaking informally to me? Do you think I’m easy?!”

“She’s smaller than me. She’s also younger. Of course, she speaks informally to me because I’m her older sister.”

I thought it was because he was a noble, but that wasn’t the case. Ronobe let out a hollow laugh as if he found it ridiculous.

“Why do you think I’m young? And don’t you ever think that even if you’re short, you can be big in other things?”

I put my hands on my waist for no reason and leaned forward.

It was sexual harassment that happened so easily, but Beatrice didn’t notice.

“What are you talking about? Anyway, come party with me.”

“You don’t like it? Where the hell are you going to grab the black guy’s ankles with a white guy? Go away. I’m on a different level from you. Hehe, hehe.”

Beatrice grabbed Ronobe’s hand, which was waving as if shooing away a fly.

“I’m going into the black mirror. I don’t know how you got that brooch, but I’m the strongest in real combat.”

It was a strangely great confidence.

Ronobe’s gaze was drawn to the flower-patterned embroidery on the blindfold covering one eye, and then he looked at the exposed sternum and turned his head away, coughing.

“Why, why do you want to do this with me?”

You are too aggressive.

It was to the point where I began to have expectations that maybe she had fallen in love with me.

“Okay. You’re the strongest here.”

“…you have an eye for seeing.”

“But even if you’re strong, it’ll be difficult to deal with Marquis Bane. Of course, the two of us might not be enough. That’s why I’ll bring that guy with me.”

At her fingertips was Kael.

“Kael of the Halo. It’s a magic with a long history, so I can trust it. I don’t know the qualifications of the person who handles it. What do you think? You won’t refuse, right?”

“Of course, it is an honor. But Marquis Bane’s magic is deadly.”

“I know. But with my magic, I have a chance. You too? Come to think of it, I didn’t even ask your name. What’s your name?”

“…Ronobe Hopper.”

“Ronobe Hopper… Ronobe? Are you that guy from Gradas?”

“huh.”

Beatrice’s smile grew even brighter.

“Okay. Then I can trust you and leave it to you.”

“But who are you?”

“Oh, Sir Hopper. You’d better be a little more careful with your words.”

Kael seemed to know this woman’s identity.

‘If Kael is being careful, then he’s at least a count? Or maybe a marquis?’

Maybe he was a member of the royal family.

‘Surely not a princess.’

There was no way a person who didn’t look like a princess could be a princess.

“What is magic to you?”

“To put it simply, bondage.”

Beatrice said, smoothing her blindfold.

“I can definitely bind anyone I can see with my own eyes.”

“Unconditionally?”

“Yeah, definitely.”

It was a very fraudulent magic.

“So, do you need me?”

“surely…”

I understand why you suggested the party.

It’s definitely a great magic, but she’s not good enough to fight the wizard on her own.

Bondage is literally bondage.

Even if the freedom of the body is taken away, a wizard is not someone who fights with his body. Even if he is bound and cannot move his body, he can still use magic. If you think about it that way, it wasn’t a fraudulent magic.

but.

‘It would be effective against knights.’

If she could wield one more grimoire, she would surely become a wizard of great fame in the kingdom.

‘It’s not cheap, but…’

There is nothing wrong with becoming friends with someone.

In addition, he is a skilled person who obtained a white brooch.

There is no lack of qualifications either.

“Do you know anything about Marquis Bane’s magic?”

“I know. Marquis Bane is a truly extraordinary wizard who can manipulate silver in water.”

“Silver made of water?”

It seemed to be talking about mercury.

“Marquis Bane’s magic is amazing. Silver made of water becomes as strong as iron and changes into various objects. With some powers, he can even disintegrate the opponent’s weapons, rendering them useless.”

“But the reason Marquis Bane is the most feared person in the kingdom is because of his poison.”

“Solo?”

“The Marquis’ magic is poison in itself. It takes the form of silver made of water, but it is fundamentally harmful to the body and has poisonous properties, so if you boil it and burn it, you will get sick.”

The moment you notice it, you are already poisoned and there is nothing you can do about it.

“The Marquis’ poison paralyzes your thoughts and gives you a headache. The moment that happens, it’s over.”

Mercury mixed in the atmosphere is not easily visible. It is difficult to detect, and by the time you notice it, you are already poisoned and unable to fight.

This wasn’t the kind of magic that you could defend yourself against just by knowing about it.

Even if the Marquis’s solo dance is somehow covered up, there is still one more obstacle left.

“The Marquis’s territory has long had gold mines, and they say they used mercury to extract gold. That’s why the Marquis’s Akan is mercury itself, sucking up and solidifying everything.”

Mercury gold.

This is called the amalgam phenomenon, and the Marquis extended the phenomenon that only occurred with the corresponding metal to people and magic.

That is the Marquis’s Akan.

“It’s ‘the word of greed.’”

The only black wizard in the kingdom.

It was the Archon of the Marquis of Bane.

“If you touch Akan, it’s over. You’ll be sucked into the mercury and become mercury itself, and die.”

The dead are transformed into strange metal statues and die.

This is also the reason why no black magician appeared for a hundred years.

Because a black mirror must be broken before it can be replaced by another.

“But if you are there, it is possible.”

Mercury is ultimately water and metal.

“Because you can just burn it and blow it up.”

It was bound to be extremely weak against fire.