Offer a Tribute and Become an Archmage - Chapter 191



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Offering Tribute to the Archmage Chapter 191

The Mirror of Rodin [4]

Episode 191.

The fallen maple leaves froze and burned the ground, slowly expanding its territory.

The land retained its original form, but the more it was broken, the more it broke and cracked like a mirror.

-That’s ridiculous.

Bane looked at the sight and was dumbfounded. It wasn’t that he didn’t try it himself. He tried it several times.

But it failed.

But he succeeded.

That was all there was to it.

Bane in the mirror asked while lying down.

-Me… Me outside, what happened?

Ronobe glanced down and answered.

“He became the only black magician in the kingdom. He was both respected and feared by the people. I only saw him once, so I don’t know for sure… but he must have been a great magician.”

-I see.

After saying those words, the bastard did not move any further.

The dead guy’s face… looked quite comfortable.

Looking at the world collapsing, Ronobe used his magic once again.

“My enemy was not Bane, but a mirror.”

Just once was out of the question.

There was a crack, but that was the end of it.

One ice floe wasn’t enough to completely destroy it.

It’s better this way.

Just as Bane considers magical combat a form of play, magic is also a form of enjoyment for Ronobe. Although Yuhyang Maple interprets Anna’s Arcan in his own way and uses it, he has never used her proper Arcan.

There were also things I wanted to experiment with.

‘Magic power and manipulation have become easier. Is it because of Prume?’

Prumeh is a herb that contains miracles.

Since the miracle contained in that grass was absorbed, the power of magic naturally increased.

“Tree of Offering.”

It’s Anna’s Akan, but it’s not the same one that Anna used.

Ice soaked in oil and blood.

There was a conflicting energy sleeping inside the tree. It took quite a bit of concentration to make it into a huge tree. The reason I didn’t use it normally was for efficiency reasons.

“It’s so inefficient, like Yontirion or Karankar said.”

The problem of efficiently killing enemies was not solved due to the definition of a tree compared to the time and mental power consumed.

Even if a maple leaf falls, the enemy will not just quietly accept it. Even if you control a maple leaf, it is still just a maple leaf. The speed associated with a maple leaf is too slow to begin with. Where in the world would there be an opponent who would accept a maple leaf that falls slowly, caught in the resistance of the air?

Even a three-year-old child, not a knight, can avoid falling leaves. It would be better to make the leaves of a tree into swords or spears. The idea is not much different now than when I first saw the blood-drinking maple.

But the reason why Ronobe didn’t let go of this magic…

First, Anna’s Akan. That’s the first thing, and second, if it was not just simple ice but drift ice, then it would be a different story.

The ice floes that harden with Ronobe’s magic are simply oil and ice, but if you look inside, they are not simple.

The oil is seething and the ice is mixed with blood, making the floe quite a sinister force.

Freeze and burn.

This happens simultaneously, and the power to destroy cells appears.

Of course, Ronobe still doesn’t know much about the mechanism of this power.

I didn’t even try to find out.

‘A miracle is not something you understand, but something you wish for.’

A confidence that it will be so rather than an understanding.

Because that’s what’s needed.

I didn’t know it before, but the more I met and fought with wizards, the more I understood Yonterion’s words.

They perform magic within the scope of their imagination.

Fire burns wood, and water puts out fire.

Magic is used within the limits of extremely obvious and common sense content. Sometimes, when this is denied and beliefs and ideas are included to achieve something, magic becomes a miracle rather than simple magic.

A tree that doesn’t burn. A fire that doesn’t go out when exposed to water. A cloth that doesn’t tear. A sword that doesn’t break.

Unbreakable faith.

We call it Akan.

“It doesn’t have to be perfect.”

There is no such thing as a perfect Archon from the start.

There is no one who runs from the beginning.

The same goes for Ronobe’s Akan.

Ronobe placed the soul offering into the offering tree.

It was a question I had been secretly harboring.

When creating a totem, Ronobe uses a soul offering.

It was the same when I made the mosquito this time. Soul offering. It is not something that only gods need.

It’s not something only God can write.

If you could use Ronobe too, what would happen if you applied it to magic?

I only thought about it but never tried it. It was an emotional issue. The very idea of ​​treating a person’s soul like a consumable was uncomfortable. There is a big difference between offering it to God and using it for yourself.

But I ended up writing it anyway.

It’s just that we weren’t conscious of it, but consuming our souls has been happening for a long time.

Because I was foolish, I worried about unnecessary things.

But that’s why it was Ronobe.

Fallen maple leaves become seeds.

From the seed, roots of ice grow like sprouts and dig into the ground. The roots that dig in gradually grow and grow high into the sky, spreading out branches and covering the sky.

Maple leaves burning blue.

A root vine that freezes the earth.

A soul offering that permeates the wood.

The maple leaves that are created burst on their own.

The ground is frozen and the branches reaching up to the sky explode of their own accord, scattering autumn leaves.

The maple leaves turned into blue flames, spreading out in all directions and destroying the area. It was as if blue sparks were falling.

Anything that touched the blue sparks spread like an infectious disease, destroying and disappearing.

“Anna and I are different.”

She had hoped for the blessing of all things in the end, but what Ronobe had hoped for was a new beginning of destruction. Ronobe took her hand off the tree of offerings, took the hand mirror out of her bosom, and threw it on the floor.

A mess.

Along with the broken mirror, cracks also appeared on his body.

The moment when even that disappears in the world of shattering mirrors.

The body of the sturdy tree burst open.

With the destruction exploding blue.

The mirror world was completely destroyed.

*

I don’t remember much about what happened after that.

Immediately after Ronobe was thrown out of the mirror, the three hundred year old tradition of Roden’s mirror shattered into pieces.

It was quite a mess, but Ronobe had no regrets. The intention behind Roden’s Mirror was good, but if the results were bad, it had to be changed.

But the kingdom turned a blind eye to this.

Under the illusion of tradition, the deaths of young people were considered immature spirits.

Even if that weren’t the case, Ronobe had to destroy the mirror to protect his own identity.

I don’t remember much about what happened after that.

People were in an uproar, dragging Ronobe here and there, and high-ranking officials were spitting and shouting.

There were a few familiar faces, but in the end, Ronobe got punished.

“Why…”

A solitary cell without any light.

Ronobe was locked up in the palace prison.

“Tradition is more serious and solemn than you think.”

A solemn voice was heard.

The man who came to the solitary cell was a familiar face. His face was more familiar when he was younger than now, but this was the real one.

He is the Marquis of Bane.

“Was it that old?”

“It is no exaggeration to say that the one who created the Mirror of Roden laid the foundation for the Kingdom’s Magic Test. You destroyed it. You have destroyed the foundation of the Kingdom. Furthermore, the Mirror is the Kingdom’s property. If it were anyone else, it would not be strange if they were beheaded immediately.”

Ronobe sighed, scratching his head.

“Do you regret it?”

“… No. Even if I knew it would turn out like this, I would have broken it anyway. It’s so uncomfortable. I don’t like that kind of thing.”

It wasn’t a good thing for either the clone or the wizard who would face him to have an identical copy of himself remain in the mirror forever and be a test subject.

Wouldn’t it be possible for a clone, though not himself, to continue killing innocent people?

The kingdom’s cause, its future, and its future were better for Ronobe, who felt at ease. He thought that if the future was going to be brightened by such things, it would be better if it didn’t exist in the first place.

“Thank you.”

“yes?”

“I wanted to do that too… but for many reasons I couldn’t do it.”

The duty of a nobleman. The tradition of the kingdom. The only black wizard in the kingdom. And the prestige that increases with the mere presence of a mirror.

But this was just an excuse.

By the time he learned of this, he was already old and a central figure in the kingdom. He could not do what he wanted to do, and it remained only as a burden on his mind.

“You have exceeded my expectations in so many ways in such a short period of time.”

“Is that a compliment?”

“Half of it is true.”

“What about the other half?”

“This is the situation you are in right now.”

“… Ugh.”

Even Ronobe knows. No matter how great your magical skills are, the kingdom will not harbor a sword that it cannot handle. A dog that can bite its master will be boiled and eaten.

“You should know that this is not a situation that can be dismissed as a simple property damage. Some officials clearly view you as a threat to the kingdom.”

“Me?”

“Uncontrolled power breeds anxiety. Even if you are a hero who killed the wizard of the empire.”

An unleashed dog can jump out and bite someone at any moment, especially the bigger the dog.

“Good news and bad news always come together. Which one do you want to hear first?”

“That’s good.”

“You have become a white wizard recognized by the kingdom.”

Ronobe is the kingdom’s final test.

I was unable to take the Dalian test.

Because I was caught as soon as I broke the mirror.

“The sparring test is a place where magicians who have obtained the five-colored brooch test their strength against each other and declare their strength in front of many people. It is one of the few festivals in the kingdom. Since you did not attend, it will be difficult for your name to be officially recognized.”

Ronobe originally had skills that would not be a waste to give him black.

However, it is a negative factor because he was absent from the ceremony to announce it to the nobles of the kingdom.

Originally, he would have been disqualified, but the kingdom that considered his talents a waste gave him a white medal.

This was also something that was heavily influenced by the Marquis of Bane.

“It’s okay to be grateful.”

“thank you…”

Contrary to what he said, Ronobe’s mouth was sticking out.

“There were many opinions that you should be executed. Do you know why?”

“why?”

“Because you killed Count Auloth.”

“!”

Only then did Ronobe start to sweat profusely.

“There are no perfect secrets in this world. No king would want to face a wizard who has killed nobles without permission. That is why I asked you to take the magic test. You are dangerous.”

“…”

“His Majesty the King will never meet you again. Your power is stronger than we expected. In the first place, there are not many magicians who have ever faced His Majesty. Magicians always have their hands in the realm of the incomprehensible. It is impossible to allow someone who poses a risk of assassination to face the master of the kingdom. The reason I wanted to see you in the first place was because of Lord Ashwald’s words.”

The white badge was a kind of leash.

It was also the last straw.

“You will be out soon. It is not that the kingdom does not need your power. No matter how subversive, the kingdom is not so stupid as to let a talented young man rot away in prison for the rest of his life.”

“There are even nobles who want to execute him…”

“Old people are originally conservatives. They believe that their authority will be revived only if they trample on the growing shoots.”

Marquis Bane nodded at the soldier.

Crunch. Creak.

The iron door opened.

“Can I go out?”

“There is always a price to pay for everything.”

“I guess you have some work to do.”

“It’s nothing special.”

The Marquis of Bane took out of his bosom a royal edict embroidered in silk.

“This is a message from His Majesty. Be polite.”

Ronobe knelt down and bowed his head.

“Ronove Hopper. Your sins are deep. You have broken the traditions of the kingdom, and furthermore, you have murdered a nobleman with your own foundation. This is nothing short of insulting the nobleman, and on a grand scale, the kingdom. It is right to punish him by punishing him, but… you have the merit of defeating the wizard of the empire. I, Bright VII, bestow upon you the title of Baron and the position of Inspector General. Heed my will and contribute to the well-being of the kingdom.”

It wasn’t all that bad.

At first, the depth of the sin was considered, but later, a reward was given.

Above the Baron, and even the Inspector General.

“I guess I should call you Baron Hopper from now on. Unfortunately, there is no separate award for the fief.”

That’s a shame.

But it didn’t matter.

I was more curious about that.

“What is the head of the inspection team?”

“Every country has its rotten parts. I thought it would suit you well. You were hated by the nobles. It’s good that you can receive it properly since you received it anyway.”

“…Did the Marquis push for this?”

“My breath did get in there. In the first place, weren’t you the one who defeated the Imperial Wizard? If you play with that power, it would be a great loss for the kingdom. You could show your loyalty to the kingdom. It wouldn’t be all bad for you.”

The Chief of the Inspectorate. It was a fancy title, but in reality, it was a position to monitor and punish the corruption of the nobles. It was a title that suited Ronobe, who killed nobles based on his own judgment and personal feelings.

However, if interpreted differently, it could also be seen as a hat worn to distance oneself from the nobles and prevent them from building their own power.

The kingdom is concerned.

The power he might create.

“Can’t I just go around killing nobles at will?”

“I don’t think so. Don’t you have many weaknesses?”

“…”

Benny, Elysia.

And the Gradas family, etc.

As the possessions increased, so did the weaknesses. The kingdom intended to tighten its grip on Ronobe.

“Don’t think too badly of it. After all, the kingdom has decided to embrace a sharp sword like you.”

That’s also true.

To be honest, I can’t help but feel that he acted recklessly. If he knew all this and still turned a blind eye to it, I can get a rough idea of ​​what the kingdom thinks of Ronobe.

“The Empire has been shaking up the nobles of the kingdom recently. There must be some who have fallen for the tricks and become corrupt. There must also be some who would seek asylum in the Empire.”

The king was showing his broad-mindedness by embracing such a Ronobe and was trying to use it as a means of threatening the nobles.

Strengthening the royal authority.

The means for this was Ronobe.

“Count Auloth was not a nobleman. I think he was just left alone because he was still young. Men do grow wiser as they age… It wasn’t such a bad thing for Your Majesty if Auloth had been weakened by civil war. A nobleman who has become weak is easy to roast.”

“But I killed him, so things went wrong.”

“That’s true, but it hasn’t made much of a difference. You’ve been having financial difficulties since you took so much of Auloth’s loot. Of course, Norbert will take care of it.”

When Ronobe saw the Marquis who had finished writing the imperial edict, he also stood up from his seat.

“What should the chief inspector do?”

“It’s the same as usual. You do what you have to do. The rest will be taken care of by the Inspectorate. You will be executing those who are confirmed to be corrupt nobles.”

I thought I knew.

“I plan to use you as a hunting dog for the kingdom of Jeol.”

“Loyalty to the kingdom is not something that can be expressed in words alone. It requires a record.”

“I know what you mean.”

If you want to live, be loyal.

That’s what it sounded like.

“Baron. Here…”

I wore the clothes the soldier had given me. They weren’t Ronobe’s original clothes.

“These aren’t my clothes.”

It was a pretty expensive-looking outfit. It looked like it would cost more than twenty gold pieces each.

“His Majesty the King does not wish to see you, but neither do the others. There is someone who wishes to see you.”

“Who are you?”

“You’ll know when you see it.”

Ronobe nodded.

It seemed like he was a high-ranking noble or someone close to one. Ronobe’s prediction turned out to be correct.

“Are you here?”

A blindfold embroidered with flowers.

Pink hair. Unlike the magic exam, she was dressed neatly, but I could tell who she was right away.

“Beatrice. Why you?”

“Behave yourself. This is Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice von Ageha-Bright.”

She is the first of two sons and one daughter in the kingdom.

It was Princess Beatrice.

“I have a suggestion.”

Beatrice roughly put down her teacup and looked straight at Ronnobe.

“Marry me.”

It was a marriage proposal with no basis or end.