The Great Mage Returns After 4000 Years

It was a small and slender existence. At least in appearance.

It wasn’t simply that the figure was small. Their youthful appearance was out of place in the setting of the conference hall. Even more so than Sedi Trowman, who had the appearance of a girl due to some circumstance.

Standing still, the height barely reached Residue’s chest and floated several centimeters above the ground, cloaked in cumbersome clothing. It was an ornate attire fit for a king, with gold embroidery sewn into it.

The thin cloth covering the face was so translucent that it couldn’t hide the features underneath.

There was nothing particularly special about it. Though the features were unrealistically beautiful, Residue felt an artificial touch in her beauty and nothing more.

So there was only one thing that bothered him.

The curve of her lips. It hovered between a serene smile and a sneer, more displeasing than any expression Residue had ever seen.

“A Half-King?”

It was Death Worm who spoke with an indifferent voice. One of the Void Lords who had not knelt.

“I don’t understand the intention. Exile, are you still unable to forget the king? Do you think we need such an existence?”

“We always needed one. We are the Void Lords, beings who are at best just feudal lords.”

“Childish wordplay.”

“Does it feel that way?”

Death Worm’s lips twisted coldly at the questioning tone.

“Are you discussing what it means to be a lord? When you don’t even have a handful of dirt to call your own?”

“It’s not the land that makes a lord. Without a king, there are no lords. There’s no one to bestow the title.”

Death Worm didn’t want to continue the childish argument and closed his mouth. He tried to look around, to see the faces of the other Void Lords listening to the nauseating sophistry.

But before he could, a voice interrupted.

“It seems you cannot tolerate my existence.”

It was the most mysterious and beautiful sound Death Worm had ever heard. More an echo or a melody than a voice.

It wasn’t easy for someone of such presence to evoke that level of feeling with just their voice.

It seemed other Void Lords felt the same.

They were each experiencing their own emotions as they stared at the being called the Half-King.

“Your existence? Are you considering yourself a king?”

The one with the ringing voice was the Tamer.

Despite being an proxy, she displayed a stark contrast to Diablo, who shrank back, intending to avoid attention or ‘Optic Nerve’ who was extremely careful in his words and actions.

Her attitude was much bolder than Diablo, who had the backing of the Black Knight,

As if she considered herself equal to the surrounding Void Lords.

“If so?”

“Isn’t it a bit arrogant?”

The title of king, commonly used in other universes, was not used lightly in the Void world.

According to the Tamer’s knowledge, from the past to the present, only one being had been allowed the name of king.

“Haha. Bold words. Considering your status, aren’t you the most out of place here?”

“……”

Though it was mixed with laughter, the rebuke close to ridicule didn’t change the Tamer’s demeanor.

The Half-King continued with a swirling smile.

“You spoke of arrogance? I haven’t learned about that. But I know humility better than anyone. I’ve heard that the rice plant bows its head more as it ripens.”

“I’m not interested in hearing such hollow phrases. Do you truly believe you can lead the Void Lords?”

“That’s not for me to decide. It’s for you all. I simply pursue the righteous path of a king.”

“……”

During this brief exchange, Yang In-hyun felt an indescribable unease.

The subtle irritation lingered, sticking to him since the moment the Half-King appeared.

At the same time, there was an inexplicable sense of familiarity. Yang In-hyun’s gaze flickered to the sword hanging at the Half-King’s waist.

“Your Highness, allow me to explain from here.”

“Hmm.”

The Exile stepped forward again.

The Half-King nodded gracefully and sat down. Of course, there was no chair beneath the floating Half-King’s feet. It was as if she sat on an invisible throne in the air.

“Is that the new Void King you mentioned?”

Yang In-hyun muttered, recalling the conversation they had in the Cloud Pavilion.

“Indeed.”

“…There wasn’t some absurd secret that the previous Void King had a hidden child, was there?”

“I can’t say there’s no blood relation, but she is not the child of the previous king.”

“What do you mean?”

[The king was created. We made her.]

“…!”

It was a statement from Futurix.

It was hard to believe, but it was Futurix who made the statement. Yang In-hyun had heard rumors about the extent of biological experiments and genetic research conducted by the entity claiming to be the master of future civilization.

Yang In-hyun redirected his gaze to the Half-King.

She observed the situation with a bored expression, her chin resting on her hand. There was no sign of surprise at hearing the secret of her birth, or rather, creation.

After a moment, Yang In-hyun muttered.

“…Created, you say. That’s…”

“It was a difficult task. We failed countless times and faced many limits. But we didn’t give up and finally succeeded.”

The Exile used the word “we” without any hesitation.

Yang In-hyun looked around.

Those who had shown their intention to obey with the Half-King’s appearance were the Exile, Futurix, God’s Envoy, Golden Eye, the Sinking One, and Diablo, perhaps.

It was hard to believe that half of the Void Lords had already sided with her.

At that moment, the Exile’s mechanical eyes turned to Yang In-hyun.

“I must also thank you, Yang In-hyun. Your swordsmanship had reached a level that His Highness could utilize.”

“Are you saying you stole my Everlasting Plum Sword?”

The Exile opened his mouth to deny it, but Yang In-hyun continued without giving him a chance.

“Then I have the right to test it.”

His voice was as dry as desert sand. The tone was now devoid of emotion, and the agitation had disappeared.

It was proof that he had steeled himself and a time to remain calm.

Yang In-hyun entered a battle stance.

Srrng-

No one stopped him from drawing his sword.

Those Void Lords who hadn’t submitted to the Half-King were likely observing the situation.

What about those who had submitted? Wouldn’t they protect their king?

The two knights, who also didn’t move, had straightened their knees but didn’t react to the intangible killing intent Yang In-hyun was emitting.

Did they trust the Half-King, or were they underestimating Yang In-hyun?

It didn’t matter.

Whooosh-

Yang In-hyun summoned the wind.

As the surroundings began to be swallowed by darkness, the scent of flowers drifted from somewhere.

Soon, when a colorless bud appeared, Residue realized that Yang In-hyun hadn’t drawn his sword just to test his opponent’s strength.

‘Everlasting Plum Sword, First Move, Martial Annihilation.’

A light akin to the glow of stained glass spread across the world.

Amidst the brilliant array of colors, one beam of light was the most intense and distinct.

An ultimate thrust that couldn’t be seen, and even if seen, couldn’t be blocked.

“──.”

The Half-King frowned as if the light was blinding.

And she couldn’t block it.

*

‘What is a sword to you?’

If someone were to ask that, Yang In-hyun would answer without hesitation.

It’s a tool.

But that wasn’t all.

At some point in his life, it became ‘the tool that fits best in my hand,’ and at some point, it became ‘the tool that makes anything possible.’

He achieved everything that could be achieved with a sword.

He achieved even those things that couldn’t be achieved with a sword.

He realized that the state of unity with the sword and the state of unity with nature were just illusions. The stepping stone to the next level started by breaking free from that illusion.

He understood and accepted it again.

The sword was always just a sword.

A weapon, a blade, a tool for killing.

“……”

So, he couldn’t believe it.

It was rare for disbelief to appear in Yang In-hyun’s eyes when he held a sword.

Disbelief meant he couldn’t accept reality, and not accepting reality meant he hadn’t even anticipated it.

But who could blame Yang In-hyun for lacking foresight?

“What is this…?”

“……”

Between the ribs spreading from the chest cavity.

It was a gap that a sharply honed blade could sufficiently and perfectly exploit.

When Yang In-hyun swung his sword, he didn’t focus on the opponent’s defense. No matter how sturdy the armor made of the hardest metal, scales of the highest toughness, or muscles of the greatest resilience, they were meaningless.

That’s why he always focused on the opponent’s movements.

He believed that evasion was the only way to counter his attack.

And the Half-King didn’t dodge.

She didn’t take a defensive stance, nor did she move to protect her vital points.

She remained seated on her invisible chair in the air, her chin resting on her hand.

So the situation was so simple and obvious that it was almost laughable.

─Yang In-hyun’s supreme thrust with the Everlasting Plum Sword couldn’t even pierce the girl’s thin skin.

“……”

“……”

The choked silence was painted over with astonishment.

No one easily spoke, and the Void Lords who decided to follow the Half-King were quietly shivering. They were struggling not to be swept away by the surging waves of emotion.

The Half-King’s descent was not something they had intended.

Because the Half-King had not awakened until just a few days ago.

They had used the best materials to their fullest extent and completed a near-perfect creation, but it didn’t move.

There had been no mistake. They could stake everything on that certainty.

So the Exile didn’t waver.

All preparations had been completed. Now, it was just a matter of waiting for the results.

─The Half-King had opened her eyes just one day before the conference was to be held.

They realized.

The king had merely been waiting for the right moment. She had been conserving her strength until the optimal moment to act.

They had accompanied her to the castle, but she had disappeared thereafter.

But there was no worry.

The Half-King, having opened her eyes, would make perfect judgments ahead of everything. There was unwavering faith.

But seeing that faith with one’s own eyes was overwhelming.

“Ah…”

The Exile faced a wave of emotion he had never felt before. Something hot and unfathomable endlessly welled up from somewhere in his chest, climbing up his esophagus, almost reaching his throat.

What flowed out, filled with passion, was not just his voice.

Clear liquid flowed from the Exile’s bright yellow eyes.

He wanted to shout to everyone present. He wanted to shout proudly.

Look at that…!

Look at her…!

She is the product of my, of our efforts…!

We were not wrong…!

We have finally succeeded, we have achieved it…!

All those who had collaborated in the creation of the Half-King shared the same intense emotion.

Conversely, the other Void Lords couldn’t easily break free from the shock. Except for one.

The one who recovered from the shock the fastest was Yang In-hyun.

He swiftly retracted his extended sword. He looked at his opponent with his sword now sheathed.

The Half-King spoke with the same indifferent expression.

“It’s exactly as powerful as I’ve learned.”

“……”

“Do you have more to show?”

No answer was necessary. No more holding back.

Of course, the earlier technique wasn’t imbued with concern, but it couldn’t be said that he hadn’t put his full strength into it.

Now, it was different.

He imbued his blade with deadly intent.

The second form of the Everlasting Plum Sword was unleashed in an instant,

And it was at that moment that the Half-King took sudden action.

“Waah!”

With a burst of a loud shout, the Half-King closed the distance swiftly.

Kaang!

A sound similar to the friction of metal, and a sharp pain felt in his wrist.

This time, Yang In-hyun was truly frozen.

His sword was once again unable to penetrate the Half-King and was blocked.

This time, what met his blade was the Half-King’s eyeball.

“……”

The second form of the Everlasting Plum Sword,

Could not pierce even the most vulnerable part of the human body.

Clang-

Yang In-hyun’s sword fell. However, no one blamed him for the mistake. They couldn’t.

The Half-King looked at the sword on the ground, then at Yang In-hyun’s face before speaking.

“Your swordsmanship does not work on me. I’ve already learned it all.”

“Learned… it?”

“I have understood and absorbed it all. I found it still incomplete. So it was even more intriguing. I interpreted it in my own way and completed it. I’ll show you someday when the opportunity arises.”

“……”

The Half-King no longer looked at the frozen Yang In-hyun but glanced around.

“I came to this place to learn.”

The leisurely voice continued.

“Everyone here can be considered my teacher. Just before coming here, I faced six teachers, and I proved myself through the test. Now, there are six, no, five remaining.”

“……”

“It’s not difficult, nor dangerous. It won’t take long. I will accept what you have and blossom to a higher level. When that process is complete, I will no longer be a half.”

With another smile on her lips, the Half-King said,

“Now, who is the next teacher?”

At this moment, the eleven Void Lords, regardless of their affiliations, shared the same sentiment.

Only one person held a different sentiment.

‘─A manufactured strong one.’

Residue twisted the corners of his mouth beneath his mask as he looked at the being that could only be described that way.