Chapter 408 – Chapter 408. Secret Sorcery

The wizard society is essentially a place where research is conducted for better magic.
And the award given to the magician who has done the best research at the society every year is the Academy President’s Award.
The Society President’s Award is chosen by the votes of outstanding wizards and elders selected by the Society.

After the presentation.
Arthur couldn’t believe his ears when he was picking up this year’s president’s award.

“What do you mean? 5-on-5.”
“As a result of the counting of votes, Wizard Imsol and Wizard Aiden were tied.”
“…”

Arthur frowned involuntarily at the absurd voting results.
A paper that shook the wizarding world around the world was published, but it was a tie.
This was something that could not have happened without manipulation.
He looked around at the elders and wizards.

Young wizards biting their lips with an expression of resentment. Some of them hung their heads in embarrassment.
Maybe they were forced to vote for Aiden.
The problem is the elders who proudly hold their heads up.
Arthur gritted his teeth and looked at the elders.

“How did this happen? Aiden gets 5 votes. Has anyone voted for Aiden after reading Im Sol’s thesis?”
“Chairman. Originally, everything felt differently depending on the perspective you looked at. Some people were more impressed with Aiden’s magic.”
“You guys really… Don’t you have a single heart for the wizarding society?”
“We’re all working for the wizarding society. It’s just in a different direction.”

The elders looked at the president and smiled viciously.
While the president of the society has changed several times, they have maintained their positions.
Even some of the presidents who shouted for justice had no choice but to kneel before the elders who had already settled down.
Knowing that, Arthur didn’t get angry anymore and muttered quietly.

“… You will definitely regret it.”
“It’s already the 5th time that the wizard Imsol has won the award this year. The 4th is also an unprecedented record, but the 5th is a record. Don’t you know that it rather lowers the dignity of the society? No matter how close Imsol is to you, this is a bit harsh.”
“You’re talking nonsense that doesn’t need to be heard. Now you have no respect. I won’t stand still. I’ll do everything I can.”
“Cheer up, Arthur.”
“Khehehe.”

The elders laughed at Arthur’s reaction, and Arthur spurred out of the meeting room clenching his fists.

“Now. Since the president has left, shall we end today’s meeting here?”
“Yes, yes…!”

The remaining wizards looked down and bowed their heads to the elders.

*

Fang- Fang-

– I’m from KLS! Just one interview… !
– Is it true that the 5th president’s award is confirmed!
– What are you two doing?!

“Uh…”
“I refuse to interview. I made it clear.”
“No, help me.”

Imsol and I were surrounded by reporters as soon as we left the presentation room.
Where the hell did the information leak, so they’re already gathered like that?

“How did they know and have already gathered? Reporters are great.”
“There are branches of the Wizards’ Society all over the world. Invited mages like you and I will gather at the headquarters, but most mages check by relay.”
“…Was that broadcasting?”

Could it be that the announcement I made went out to the world?
I didn’t know it was that large.

“Yeah. Maybe there are reporters who saw it in real time, so they must have gathered like this.”
“Please let me know in advance. Yes?”

Why won’t our professor tell us these important facts?
Magic is good, but I want you to think about it too.

– Wizard Imsol! Please answer only once!
– Is it true that you have opened a new path to magic?!

I turned to Imsol at the tremendous voice I heard around me.

“To refuse an interview, everyone calls only the professor, not me.”
“Ha….”

Imsol put on an annoyed expression and started to break through the reporters, and I also stood by him to protect him.

“Let’s sleep. I’ll pass.”
“Just a word about this announcement, please!”
“Please check the presentation at the conference.”
“I’m very interested in the debut of Cadet Lee Ho-yeon! He’s showing tremendous growth from a young age. What do you think?!”
“That too will be presented at the conference.”

Like Im Sol’s bodyguard, I cleared the way by answering reporters instead.
My professor refuses an interview, so I have to do it. What can I do

“Mage Imsol! Do you have a boyfriend?”
“I don’t take questions like that.”
“Then do you have an ideal type?”

I laughed at the reporters who were talking nonsense.
What question do these crazy bastards want to ask?
It was annoying to answer the question, but I was even more annoyed that such a question came when I presented the research I had prepared the most.
Don’t touch me because she’s my girl.

“…Now is the time to take questions about research. Let go of the journalists who are spouting nonsense.”

I checked the faces of the reporters who were talking nonsense.
If they ever ask me for an interview, I’ll have to decline it.
Then, Im Sol, who was next to her, stopped her and opened her mouth.

“A wizard stronger than me might think about it.”
“… Yes?”

As soon as I panicked, the sound of reporters’ shutters echoed.

Click-click-

“Tell me one more time!”
“Mage Imsol!”
“Ha….”

I sighed and dragged Im Sol by the arm as I quickly passed the reporters.
I’m going to go really crazy
After returning to the inside of the hotel, where reporters cannot follow.
I let out a sigh as I looked at Im Sol, who didn’t know what she had done.

“No, what should I do if I say that? There won’t be a lot of applications for Dalian.”
“Why? Are you nervous?”
“…Because that’s not the problem.”
“You just have to work harder and beat me faster.”
“So why is it so connected, you frustrating person.”

I shook my head as I saw Im Sol smiling.
It’s not normal.
Everyone is not normal.
Why are all the girls around me doing this?

Are you bothering me on purpose?

‘That’s clear. Yes.’

Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to do something so troublesome.

– Many people say that you will miss this academic award. What do you think?
– There is an opinion that even the next candidate for the president of the society is dangerous….

Outside, Aiden was giving an interview.
I could understand the reason for his bad expression just by listening to the question.
It must be because the questions that touch his ego are pouring in.

Just then, one of Aiden’s followers came into view.

‘It’s a suspicious child.’

The guy who seemed to have a different relationship with himself.
There must be something between him and Aiden.
As I was watching closely, I noticed that he slipped back, leaving Aiden alone to be interviewed.

“…Professor, please go to your room first.”
“Yes?”

Tadadak-

Without waiting for Imsol’s answer, I immediately followed him.

‘If I go a little closer, I can break through the barrier and figure out the identity.’

When I was at the presentation room, I didn’t have a chance to get close.
He was walking towards the back exit of the hotel.
I naturally approached him.
First, you should try to talk.

“Hello. Can I talk to you for a moment?”

I approached the other person with a friendly smile.

Close-

However, he slightly turned his head away, and as soon as our eyes met, he hurriedly ran away.

“Oh, that’s really annoying.”

Why isn’t anything right?
I quickly ran after him, but he seemed to have better physical abilities than me.
He ran out of the hotel faster than I did.

‘If I chase after it like this, I’ll miss it.’

I thought of the road outside the hotel and headed for the route he was going to escape.

‘Acceleration.’

No matter how fast the opponent runs away, if you use acceleration and wait in advance… !

“Keugh?!”
“Got it. You son of a bitch.”

We met in a narrow back alley.

Quadd deuk-

As soon as he saw me, he drew a magic circle.
The magic rope and the scorching heat climbing up my legs.
I lightly counted backwards and hit him with an ice spear in reverse.

“Heuk!”

A shadow cutter that continues at the same time.
He collapsed to the ground unable to resist the shadow blade that cut through his body.
I didn’t miss that gap and used my magic to firmly hold onto his body.

“What are you doing! You know who I am!”
“Hey. Did you run away because you got stabbed too? Be honest. Why did you run away?”
“I-I see now that you are Mage Lee Ho-yeon. I usually have a lot of enemies…”
“What is he saying now.”
“Keah!”

Snap-

I kicked the fallen guy in the stomach and canceled the barrier around him.
Unpleasant mana felt at the same time.
Only then did I know for sure the identity of the guy.

“Are you a demon? How did you sneak into the wizarding society?”
“Keuk, kuk.”
“There is a demon among Aiden’s followers, and he is controlling Aiden. Hmm.”

If Mine sneaks into the academy, it must be that the academy is extremely rotten.
I rummaged in his arms.
In terms of strength, this guy is a mere minion.
There must be something to prove.
Soon, a familiar purple cloth flowed from the man’s bosom.

“A sign of a pandemic?”

Looking at the pattern drawn on the cloth, it was a fairly high grade.
That you are doing such an important job.

‘… Are they all related?’

Aiden and Pandemic.
Maybe even a secret sorcery.
This is going to be incredibly annoying.
I took the token of the pandemic, looked at him and licked my lips.

“For now… Should I hide it in my room?”

Killing or abandoning them will make it difficult to deal with later.
I headed to my room with the tied-up Mine.

*

The day after the conference presentation.
Imsol and I were sitting in a cafe and chatting with Arthur over coffee.

“You’ve worked hard. Yesterday’s announcement caused a stir all over the world.”
“Of course it should. It was made by professor Sol and I.”
“Huh… Sol is the professor. It seems the two of you have become very close.”
“…”
“Ah…”

Im Sol lowered her hand under the table and pinched my thigh, and I pounded my head on the table complaining of pain.
As expected, it seems too early to call her like this in front of others.

“Anyway, that’s the end of what I’m going to say. As the president of the society, I’m really sorry.”
“I’ve said it again and again, but I’m not particularly interested in awards.”
“Yes. I would be very grateful if you could say that…”

What Arthur said was simple.
This year’s president’s award will be delayed because opinions have not been narrowed down.
To be honest, I don’t understand why Im Sol didn’t receive it, but it didn’t mean anything to me either, so I didn’t pay much attention to it.
Rather, it seemed that Arthur was more sorry than Imsol and I.

“Mister, do you really need any help anyway? I had to schedule a little longer for a secret magic society or something.”
“Secret magic society…. Well, I don’t know if that means anything anymore.”

Arthur let out a bitter laugh and sighed deeply.
Originally, I wasn’t that kind of guy, but why are you like that today?

“What’s going on? Did you fight with the elder again?”
“It’s always like that. Isn’t the wizard society a place like that?”
“Does the academic president’s award have something to do with it?”
“As expected, Sol has a good sense of humor. That’s the correct answer.”
“Well….”

I watched the conversation between the two and thought of the timing to intervene.
The mine I caught yesterday was still tied up in my room.
I also consulted with Imsol, but I came to the conclusion that it would be right to tell Arthur first.

That’s why I came to see Arthur, but today Arthur’s condition is not very good.
As soon as we met, like a tired office worker, his whole body was drained of energy.

“Those who support Aiden and I who support you are at odds. They don’t acknowledge you.”
“That’s always been the case.”
“Yeah. They did. But this time they’ve gone too far. They’ve crossed the line.”

Arthur quivered her lips as if his teeth were quivering just thinking about it.
As a wizard, his pride was hurt, and I could feel his anger.

“Mister. Are you okay?”
“Don’t worry, you guys. This is a fight for my mage’s life. I’ll do anything to find their weakness.”

I listened to Arthur and thought.
Their weaknesses?

‘Isn’t that what I have?’

There is fresh mine caught yesterday.
I gently turned her head and looked at Imsol.
Imsol looked at me and nodded her head, and I spoke to Arthur.

“That, the president of the society. I have something to show you.”