“You responded firmly and concluded that you would not participate in the war?”
This was what Han Sang-gil shared when they met after a long time.
He explained that the government was only thinking of using black mages as convenient pawns again, which infuriated him so much that he declared their non-participation.
However, Seong-chan spoke up, telling him he had done well.
“If we were to go out to the battlefield again, no one knows what kind of situation it would lead to this time. The sorrow of being victimized once could explode, potentially leading to actual crimes.”
A powder keg—if one were to describe the current state of black mages, that would be the most fitting term.
No matter how much the high-ranking black mages endured and struggled to protect their rights, how many people would remain emotionally unswayed when a massive entity like the government intentionally vilified them?
Furthermore, because media was limited and information couldn’t be acquired as freely as before the Great Cataclysm, it was an era where public opinion manipulation was extremely intense.
“Whew, my heart is heavy, but it was an inevitable choice. We are not tools.”
“I say it again: it was a good choice. Then, it is time to speak with the other 7th Circle black mages.”
“I’ll likely have to seek cooperation from everyone in advance so they don’t waver. But… your energy has changed.”
Han Sang-gil looked at him intently.
Seong-chan simply gave a light smile and nodded, causing the elder to click his tongue.
“I can see you’re genuinely happy, but be careful with that smile. That expression… I can’t even fathom when it might start looking natural.”
“I’ve been trying to make my smile look more natural lately. I’ve heard so many people call it eerie that it started to get unpleasant.”
“It’s understandable, so I hope your efforts bear fruit.”
Ending the light banter, they turned the conversation back to the economy. When Seong-chan mentioned he had begun to eye the 8th Circle, Han Sang-gil was astonished.
In reality, Seong-chan had already reached the 8th Circle, but there was no way a person of lower rank could perceive that.
Perhaps Han Sang-gil suspected Seong-chan might have crossed the threshold simply because he could no longer accurately gauge him.
“In what way did you find the clue?”
“The total amount of mana. Fundamentally, to become a Master, shouldn’t one show a difference of about five times the average of a Beginner to be considered a Master?”
“Hmm…. So what is the answer you found? How many times?”
“I think about 10 times. At most, around 13 times.”
Han Sang-gil swallowed hard.
When counting the strongest black mages in the country, Han Sang-gil was undisputed number one. His mana capacity was seven times that of a Beginner, making him appear like a monster capable of an absurd barrage of magic.
But to think of 10 to 13 times—he could only click his tongue in disbelief.
“Did you have an opportunity to obtain mana?”
“By luck, I absorbed some mana that was released from the remnants of a core in a distorted Gate.”
“I don’t know if I should call that luck, or if I should follow that friend in Busan’s theory that a broken core should be treated as undead… I just can’t get a handle on it.”
The “friend in Busan” Han Sang-gil mentioned was a black mage who had gained fame alongside Go Yu-jin during the last war with Japan.
He was currently renowned as a highly skilled individual, rumored to be on the verge of reaching 7th Circle Master status.
Seong-chan remembered the name was Baek Da-gyeong. Suddenly, Han Sang-gil asked him a question.
“But, looking at the world now that you are eyeing that peak—how does it appear?”
“It’s in full color, like a rainbow.”
It was a simple sentiment, but Han Sang-gil nodded as if feeling a sense of longing.
“I pray that world doesn’t lose its light.”
“I should strive to make it so.”
Perhaps being desensitized was a blessing in that regard. It was a time when the countless imaginations and theories people held were beginning to approach reality.
He had merely been a ‘Beginner.’ As he progressed to a User and became a Master, the realm of what imaginations could be manifested into reality remained an unknown territory.
“Can I see your Necronomicon now?”
This request was the reason he had sought out Han Sang-gil today.
Seong-chan opened his sub-space and pulled out the Necronomicon.
Since he hadn’t injected mana into it, the book was still in a slumbering state. Han Sang-gil took the Necronomicon and carefully examined the numerous magical languages, formulas, and patterns embroidered on it, then clicked his tongue.
“I can’t recognize any of it. I thought they would be the same books, but I didn’t know they would be this different.”
In fact, the physical appearance of the three Necronomicon volumes had never been made public.
Only the owners and their closest associates knew what the books actually looked like.
Just then, Han Sang-gil pulled out his own book to compare the two.
“It’s clear that completely different formulas were used. And it seems impossible to understand these languages unless a proper contract is formed. Have you… formed a contract?”
“No. I only intend to use this book for mana amplification and casting magic. I’m not well-off enough to pay anything more here as a price.”
Han Sang-gil nodded slowly.
“This book is no different from a demonic beast that incites greed. You must be cautious in handling it.”
Anyway, unless a contract was made, the pages would remain blank even if one looked at the content.
So, Han Sang-gil handed the book back without lingering attachment. After talking a bit more about the 8th Circle, Seong-chan eventually left his house.
“Whatever you do…. Even if it’s for a request, don’t go loitering near the battlefield.”
“We have many different kinds of battlefields. A Gate can be a battlefield, or the battlefield might come looking for me.”
With an answer laden with multiple meanings, he departed from Han Sang-gil’s residence.
“It’s an official request for cooperation. What do you plan to do?”
At Jeong Do-bin’s question, Jeong Gil-sun also fell into deep thought.
The reason was simple.
It was because Han Sang-gil had visited everyone and asked them not to participate in the war.
He had sent word that he would speak with the government himself and refuse the mobilization of black mages, which only added to the dilemma.
Since the majority of black mages in the country were heavily influenced by Han Sang-gil, Jeong Gil-sun felt dissatisfied with that fact.
“What if I decide that we should go to war?”
“We will follow your will, Chairperson. But we would likely end up being used by the government again.”
“What if we can secure massive interests in return?”
“The interests we secured after the Magic Tower incident are already enormous. Besides, what Mr. Geum Seong-chan left us was quite significant as well.”
“That’s why I’m conflicted. I don’t like the reality that even with all this, we aren’t respected.”
“The times are changing. The current administration isn’t acting in accordance with that change and is slow to respond. Furthermore…. All the citizens find it deplorable that a war is about to break out in a way that looks like we’ve succumbed to the pressure of our arch-enemies, China and Japan.”
Jeong Gil-sun wasn’t unaware of this. But was staying out of the war truly the answer?
While Jeong Gil-sun couldn’t break free from the cycle of doubt, the Chief of Staff entered the conference room with a magic communication device.
“There’s a call from the Black Tower. What should I do?”
“The Black Tower? That cunning fellow?”
— It’s disappointing to hear you call me cunning so openly. —
“Who brings in a device while it’s already connected!”
While the Chief of Staff stammered to a fuming Jeong Gil-sun that he hadn’t accepted the signal, a voice came through the communication device.
— Let’s not be too hard on him. I connected it by force. —
“You… damn brat, what is it?”
A brief silence followed, and soon, at the voice of Cheon Jong-un, Jeong Gil-sun, Jeong Do-bin, and even the Chief of Staff had no choice but to fall silent.
— Let’s go to war. And let’s intervene actively this time so we can live in a more dignified and better world, Brother. —
It was a statement that forced a lot of thought, but Jeong Do-bin cut in.
“There is more to lose than to gain through war. Furthermore, because the current government has experience employing black mages once before, it’s certain they will exploit us even more thoroughly than last time.”
Moreover, if war were to break out, there are no black mages in the groups they would have to confront.
Therefore, Jeong Do-bin opposed it, repeatedly emphasizing that they might have to do the same things to them as the hostile nations did when they invaded us. However, Cheon Jong-un argued that they must go to war nonetheless.
— We are in a position where we will be attacked anyway. Isn’t it within the realm of extreme reality that we must do our best to hold out as protectors, not invaders? —
“That’s just an excuse.”
— Anyway, the moment an Awakener stands on the battlefield, there can be no such thing as a clean war. They won’t hesitate to use any means or methods. —
Jeong Do-bin, left speechless by Cheon Jong-un’s blunt argument, turned to Jeong Gil-sun and said.
“Are you just going to keep listening?”
“…I am also in favor of the war.”
“Grandfather!”
Jeong Gil-sun spoke calmly as he looked at a shouting Jeong Do-bin.
“Now might be the right time. Aren’t many people watching us?”
In the past, people would never have paid this much attention to black mages. In times of peace, a power that is merely strong only breeds anxiety.
However, now that a war was about to break out—and with so much attention focused on it—he judged that if they fought the war with the media involved, the current government wouldn’t be able to persecute black mages as they had before.
“…You’re doing this even more because Grandfather Han Sang-gil is against it, aren’t you?”
Jeong Do-bin finally voiced the words she had been holding back. Instead of answering, Jeong Gil-sun met her gaze in silence.
“If things go on like this, a huge number of our comrades will inevitably be killed. Why are you two, who know exactly what the price of blood is, trying to judge and act so hastily!”
Despite Jeong Do-bin’s outburst, Jeong Gil-sun looked at the Chief of Staff and spoke.
“Send Do-bin outside. I need to have a talk with Tower Master Cheon Jong-un.”
“Grandfather!!”
Jeong Do-bin shouted, but she was eventually forced to turn back under the guidance of the Chief of Staff.
Afterward, the two men had a deep discussion, and Jeong Do-bin, deciding that things couldn’t go on like this, began to travel around to find a certain person.
Thus, the political situation began to face a transformation.
