translation by mourningmoor
As soon as the filming ended, Noah headed to the parking lot.
The blue light of the Grand Mage flickered in the outdoor parking area.
Judging by the earlier ripples, his mana core and heart must have collided severely, disrupting the flow of energy. Yet, he still managed to fly here.
“You’re as stubborn as ever.”
Does he not realize how many lives are tied to his shoulders?
If he’s doing this despite knowing, his recklessness is on another level.
As I left the filming set and headed to the back of the parking lot, the blue energy grew stronger.
“It should be around here…”
There he is. The L.I.T kid.
The great Grand Mage was crouched in a dark corner of the outdoor parking lot, scribbling something with a stick.
“Hey, Jesquière.”
As I approached, pretending to know him, his expressionless face briefly turned toward me.
Then he immediately turned his head back and continued drawing something on the ground.
“At least greet me. I’m your senior, after all.”
“Senior? Whatever.”
The Grand Mage scoffed and casually dropped the stick he was holding. Then he stood up and moved his hand.
As expected of a Grand Mage, blue mana flickered at his fingertips.
“Watch closely.”
He pointed to the drawing on the ground with his chin.
“Two crescent moons facing each other encircle the edge of the seal. Then there’s the sharp tower, the eye, and the eagle’s talon gripping the eye.”
He explained each part of the drawing he had made, looking solemn.
“What is this? Is it the crest of some noble family serving the Grand Mage?”
“At first glance, it looks like a simple crest, but it’s a magic circle.”
The tips of the crescent moons, the position of the talon, the angle of the sharp tower, the location and size of the eye.
Connecting all of these with mana forms a magic circle.
A magic circle that visualizes a complex spell.
“And it’s incredibly powerful.”
“Were you trying to break it?”
It seems the magic circle was too powerful for Kang Ichan’s body, which is currently in the mid-to-late 5th circle. Trying to break it caused a mana collision.
“Yeah. I tried to break it, but I couldn’t. It seems to be at least 8th circle or higher.”
A magic circle can only be broken if the mage who created it dies or if a stronger mana is cast. There’s no magic circle the Grand Mage, who has reached the pinnacle of magic, can’t break, but his weak body seems to be the problem.
That’s why he’s so irritable now.
“Are you sure it’s a magic circle?”
“Yes.”
“That means there’s a mage in this world, right?”
I had a vague idea.
Because what the Grand Mage couldn’t see, the Demon King could.
In a world where mages shouldn’t exist, I could clearly see the flow of mana. Something like a tangled black thread, unsettlingly twisted.
“You knew too, right? Back in Hawaii. You said you saw something I couldn’t. That’s why you acted all high and mighty, saying I didn’t know anything.”
“Something like that. I can’t manipulate mana, but I can distinguish corrupted mana. In this world, it’s not just your blue light that exists. My red light and some unknown darkness coexist.”
The Grand Mage nodded.
I thought he’d be furious and throw a fit, but his expression was relatively calm.
It seems he’s already accepted reality.
“There’s only one way. Grow stronger quickly.”
A faint blue light flickered in his dark eyes.
Then he picked up the stick and started drawing another magic circle.
“To break that magic circle, I need to reach at least the 8th circle.”
With a sharp smile, his eyes gleamed coldly.
“I’ll quickly level up and break that magic circle.”
Instead of breaking the magic circle, his mana got tangled, so the great Grand Mage’s pride must be severely wounded.
Well, if this kind of stimulation speeds up his growth, it’s not a bad thing.
By the way, how did this Grand Mage find out about the existence of the magic circle?
“Where was the magic circle?”
“On someone’s scalp.”
Then he tapped the top of his head.
“On their scalp?”
It’s not unheard of. No, in Armania, it was common.
Not something a normal mage would do, though.
“Engraving a magic circle on a human? That’s… something only a dark mage would do.”
Jesquière’s lips curled into a cold smile.
He’s suspecting me.
“You know well. It’s something your subordinates would do.”
“They’re not my subordinates.”
I felt strangely twisted.
If this were Armania, it would have happened under his control, but here, it’s outside his jurisdiction.
I feel like my Demon King’s authority has been trampled on.
“They’re worshippers.”
“Fine. Let’s call them worshippers. Tell me. Which of your worshippers opened the gate to another dimension? Among the 8th-circle mages who were part of the Demon King faction, who did this stupid thing?”
So now, the Grand Mage suspects him.
Ha, this is just as annoying.
“Can the gate to another dimension be opened so easily? You need a key to open it.”
“A key?”
The Grand Mage frowned and narrowed his eyes.
“What are you talking about? I opened it.”
“Exactly.”
That’s the strangest part.
Opening the gate to another dimension—something no one in the 2000 years of his existence has ever accomplished.
“Only you can open it.”
Maybe that’s why he became interested in this Grand Mage.
“Either you obtained the key without realizing it, or you are the key itself.”
The dimensional gate has only been destabilized twice.
Last spring, the day the Grand Mage and he fell into this world, and 318 years ago, the day the Grand Mage was born.
Both times, Jesquière, the Guardian of Armania, was involved.
“It must be one of the two.”
Most likely the latter.
“Jesquière, it’s not complicated. It’s not difficult.”
With a calm smile, he told the Grand Mage the truth.
“Don’t hesitate. Level up quickly. Regain your original power and protect your body.”
It’s always the same advice, but it’s the best.
“Until then, please take care of yourself.”
Frustratingly, all he can do now is hope that this arrogant Grand Mage stays safe.
And for now, anyone who harms the Grand Mage is his enemy.
“So, what about that human?”
“……?”
“Did you kill them?”
“No.”
The Grand Mage shook his head with a nonchalant expression, as if it didn’t matter.
“Jesquière. It’s better to eliminate dangerous elements early.”
“The most dangerous element to me is you.”
If you think about it, this guy is only cold to me. Only treats me badly.
“How many times do I have to say it? I’m not a dangerous element. I’m your partner.”
“Partner?”
A cold smile flickered in the Grand Mage’s blue eyes.
Then he even nodded.
“Fine. Partner.”
I thought he finally acknowledged me as a partner, but he ended up saying something absurd.
“Engraving a magic circle on a human is a violation of the Mage Law. But what if it’s engraved on the Demon King? That wouldn’t be a violation, right?”
At that moment, the magic circle drawn on the ground flickered with blue light.
The Grand Mage, who had effortlessly completed a rather complex magic circle, looked at him with a wicked smile.
“As a celebration of our partnership, want to try it? I’ll engrave my magic circle on your scalp.”
Then he moved his fingers and lifted the magic circle from the ground.
The magic circle emitting a beautiful blue light was pretty, but no thanks.
“Ha, you’re more ruthless than the Demon King.”
The arrogant but profound thinker, the Grand Mage, seems to have lowered his mental age to that of a teenage boy to match his new body.
Playing pranks like this.
“Look here, L.I.T kid. Right now, I’m human too. Not Demon King Diamond, but Kang Ichan’s amazing senior, Yoo Noah. Okay?”
I sneered at the beautiful, blue Grand Mage, and he scoffed back.
“Is that so?”
His tone sounded playful, but it was clear he wasn’t joking. His dark eyes, glowing with blue light, shone sharply.
Then he casually tossed the magic circle flickering at his fingertips toward the forest.
“What a shame.”
Anyway, he’s a difficult person to handle. You never know where he’ll go, damn it.
“Instead of that, make a magical artifact. You can do it. Like the ring you’re wearing now.”
At that, the Grand Mage’s gaze turned to the ring on his finger.
“Use something like that to manage your team members properly. If they do well, your leveling up will speed up.”
“Is that so?”
The Grand Mage shrugged with a nonchalant expression.
“Just remember two things, Jesquière.”
By now, even this reckless Grand Mage must have sensed the crisis.
“Take L.I.T’s popularity to the highest level, and to do that, manage the kids properly.”
He must have realized the seriousness of the situation.
“This is the only way for you and me to survive in this crazy world. That’s why I’m actively cooperating like this.”
So there’s only one way.
“Don’t hesitate. Just gather mana.”
Please.
* * *
The next morning.
“Hey, Kang Ichan!”
At the breakfast table, Hanjoon shouted.
“You’re seriously going to the jungle now?”
“Yeah.”
My answer seemed to surprise him. Hanjoon choked on his salad, coughing violently.
“Why?”
Why? Because we need to boost our recognition.
I finished my milk and answered indifferently.
“Is there a reason not to?”
Then Siu stepped in.
“I-Ichan. Just a few days ago, you said you weren’t going…”
“Hey. What’s with these hyungs?”
Finally, the two youngest members chimed in.
“You hid the offer for <King of the Jungle> from us?”
“That’s so unfair. Hyungs. Why are we the only ones who didn’t know?”
Just yesterday, Jaewon and Roa were whispering about the <King of the Jungle> offer. It was obvious they’d cause a scene if they found out, insisting on going immediately.
“We didn’t hide it. It just came up while you were at school…”
Siu tried to explain with an awkward expression, but it was no use.
Jaewon immediately pulled out the majority vote card.
“Things like this should be decided by majority vote.”
“Right. It should be decided by majority vote.”
Roa immediately agreed.
The two youngest members always get along well.
“Raise your hand if you’re in favor.”
As Jaewon raised his hand, Roa quickly followed suit. Then they both looked at me.
There was an unspoken pressure to raise my hand if I wanted to go to the jungle.
This makes me not want to raise my hand.
Frowning, I stayed still, while Siu and Hanjoon looked at me with sparkling eyes, desperately hoping I wouldn’t raise my hand.
Staring straight at them, I slowly raised my hand.
It’s an unavoidable choice.
No matter what, I need to reach the 8th circle.
“Then the three of you go. We won’t.”
“Right. Since only one or two people are going, Hanjoon-hyung and I will step back.”
No way.
“Hmm, I expected this.”
This time, it’s not just about me. All five members of L.I.T need to boost their recognition.
“I already told them. I’ll only appear if the whole team moves together.”
I’m planning to level up to the 8th circle at a rapid pace.