The Great Mage Returns After 4000 Years (Web Novel KR)
chapter-150

The Great Mage Returns after 4000 Years – Chapter 150 – Purge (4)

Translator: Seven

Editors: Ana_Banana, Yahiko

Snow, Nora, Sheryl.

Naturally, Frey could have brought more people, but there were two reasons why he only brought these three.

Their individual strength, and their sword-like coldness.

At least, the three of them had mindsets that would allow them to not let any of these people keep their lives.

That was why he chose them.

“I can’t understand.”

Snow muttered with an unusually solemn expression on her face.

It wasn’t just the Strow Necklaces. There weren’t only members of the Three Great Circles there either. There were also Elves from the Hiralgard in the group.

Snow looked at an Elf with cold eyes.

She couldn’t believe there would be such degenerates in her race.

“Do you know what you’re about to do?”

“Ku-, kuk.”

Unable to answer, the Elf stepped back.

Right. They couldn’t know.

There was no way they would do something so crazy if they knew.

Passing key information about the Circle to the Demigods was no different from trying to completely destroy the Circle.

After all, the biggest reason why the Circle was able to survive for so long was because of secrecy.

They had no way to win an all-out war, so they hid themselves thoroughly.

In the case of the Three Great Circles, they had dozens of hideouts scattered across the entire continent, and their key executives, including their Circle Masters and Rounders, never stayed in one location for too long.

But Rezil Wilsemann definitely knew most of the key information about the Three Great Circles. Things like the locations of their hideouts or the usual paths and patterns of the travelling executives.

If all of that information was handed over, the Circle’s power would cut by at least half.

Sheryl’s anger was as pronounced as Snow’s.

Especially after she saw the faces of the many Phisfounder Armlets’ executives in the group.

“Right. Completely rotten.”

Sheryl knew the corruption in the Circle better than anyone. After all, she was one of the members who had been in the Circle for the longest.

The meaning of the group had completely changed from what had been decided at its founding, and instead, the group had become disgusting, like a rotting abscess.

The deterioration had been happening even before she joined. At that time, she turned her eyes away because she didn’t have the power nor influence in the Circle to do anything about it.

Later, she told herself that the corruption had been going on for too long and it was already too late to fix it.

It was really late.

At that point, it had reached a stage where she could do nothing about it even if she knew it was happening.

She also didn’t have the confidence to challenge it.

So she averted her eyes.

In the end it was meaningless.

“It was too late.”

She was late, too late.

But… now she had a chance to make it right.

“…”

“…”

Frey and Rezil didn’t move, simply facing each other, yet cold sweat dropped from Rezil’s chin.

He realised at that moment.

Just the ripple of mana fluctuating around Frey was enough for him to know.

‘I can’t win.’

This man had truly reached 9 stars, which was considered a mythical stage for all Wizards. It was completely different from a half like him.

He had taken the other step.

And that single step was all it took to put them on completely different levels.

He finally knew what that red light Frey had shot out before was.

“Was that the real power of Absolute?”

Frey nodded.

“It’s not just the ability to create your own field.”

“…huhu. Any power that is rooted in mana would instantly become useless. It’s no different from an absolute death sentence.”

The manipulation of external mana was something that could only be done by those 8 stars and higher.

Absolute field could only be used by those who reached 9 stars.

The next stage was the dark red light Frey had shown.

It condensed the absolute space and projected it as an energy body.

It sounded simple when put in words, but Rezil couldn’t even imagine how to use his power in that way.

No. He wouldn’t be able to do it even if he knew how to.

“…you said the Demigods weren’t absolute. That’s right. In fact, there have been many instances of defeating Demigods in the Circle’s history.”

“…”

“But there is one truly absolute being.”

Frey immediately knew who he was talking about, so he simply said the name.

“Lord.”

“I always thought my older brother was an unrivaled genius in Magical Science. I didn’t think another such genius would appear in the next few hundreds of years, but you completely outstrip my brother when it comes to talent. So I want to ask. Be honest. Are you confident you could beat Lord?”

“…”

Frey couldn’t answer readily.

“As long as you’re a Wizard, it’s impossible to beat Lord. Do you know what I mean? The gap between a normal human and a Demigod, is the same gap that exists between the Demigods and Lord. If he made up his mind, this continent would have been destroyed by now.”

There were very few people in the Circle who knew Lord’s true power. And those who knew, kept a strict silence, not daring to reveal it.

Because the others would definitely lose their will to confront him, and would instead feel helpless.

So Lord’s power was kept confidential.

Rezil chuckled slightly and said.

“So I’m afraid. What if Lord no longer feels like there is any hope for us? What can we do if he decides to destroy the seeds of life on the continent?”

“So you’re saying you’d rather be a slave? Since humans are useful, are you going to beg for your life and hope he feels compassionate?”

“What the hell is wrong with that?!”

Rezil roared like a lion.

He glared at Frey with bloodshot eyes.

“Is it wrong to beg for your life? Why is it so strange to be afraid of death… Why can’t neither you nor my brother understand such a simple thing? One thing. You just need to throw away one thing…”

Frey knew what he meant.

“Pride. What do you call someone who abandons that?”

Frey’s voice also became heated.

He finally knew what Rezil was thinking.

Right. In all honesty, he understood.

He understood that such an extreme conclusion could only come after facing incredible hardships.

It was the same in the old days.

There were those who bowed their heads to the Demigods and went under them.

After all, they were incredibly terrifying.

The Demigods’ strength was not something that mortals could compare to.

During the battle with the Circle in the past, Nozdog probably didn’t give his all. After all, he knew how valuable the Apocalypses were to Lord. He didn’t want Lord to be upset because of his death at the hands of the will of the world.

But Frey still couldn’t understand.

“Livestock. Don’t you understand? You would become livestock. You would slowly be tamed while eating their feed, and in the end, you would lose the right to have thoughts of your own. Is that what you want?”

“…you… can only say that because you’ve never met him.”

What Rezil meant was that he was simply creating a delusion.

“I know… all about Lord.”

“What?”

“Because I fought him. I fought and lost. I know his overwhelming power better than anyone else on this continent.”

Rezil’s eyes shook violently.

He looked at Frey with a confused expression.

“Who… who the hell are you?”

Frey was silent for a moment before saying.

“Lukas.”

“…!!”

Rezil’s eyes grew as large as balls. He could barely keep his mouth closed as he stared at Frey with disbelieving eyes.

“What… are you talking about? But… he… “

“I went missing. It was the price for fighting Lord and losing. I was locked away for 4,000 years in a place with nothing but my soul. It was only because of a fortunate accident that I was able to keep the ability to think. I wondered how I’d get out of there and what I’d do after.”

What the hell was he talking about?

Lukas? Did he say Lukas?

‘Is this guy calling himself Lukas Trowman?’

Not even the most arrogant Wizard in history had ever claimed to be the Great Mage himself. After all, the deeper one dived into Magical Science, the more they would feel it.

Lukas Trowman’s work. How amazing he really was. And just how great his contributions to Magical Science were.

But now this guy was claiming to be none other than the Great Mage, Lukas Trowman?

‘Ah.’

At that moment, Rezil felt as though a hammer had hit him in the back of the head.

The attitude Frey had shown, the reason he asked him about his qualifications, and the anger he’d shown at that time.

And the way he’d been able to reach 9 stars at such a young age.

The scattered dots suddenly began to align.

Right.

It might actually be real.

“Ha… haha.”

4,000 years.

He endured for all those years?

With just a human mind?

He didn’t give up?

“How… how is that possible?”

Rezil stepped back.

He no longer showed any anger, instead, it was replaced with shock.

“How the hell…”

Rezil stepped back again before tripping on something and falling on his buttocks.

What did he trip on?

“Ah.”

It was a corpse. Simone’s corpse.

Had she come on her own?

No. This was the body of the Circle Rounder of the Strow Necklaces who had been influenced by him.

Rezil looked up at Frey.

“I…”

He was made aware of the Demigods’ existence.

He learned magic.

His talent was recognized.

He entered the Circle.

Then he got a teacher.

The Circle Master before his elder brother, Cairo.

His teacher was a 9 star Wizard.

Rezil was no longer afraid of the Demigods because of his teacher. The strength of his teacher and the Strow Necklaces.

He thought that they would be able to drive the Demigods from the continent as long as they were around.

Then his teacher died.

He lost his life to Lord.

It couldn’t even be called a fight.

He died without being able to even leave a scratch on him.

The Circle Members glorified his death, and praised his bravery. But Rezil knew the truth.

His teacher had died a dog’s death.

The sky fell.

…His teacher’s position was then taken by his elder brother, Cairo Wilsemann.

Rezil would sometimes ask his brother.

“Can we beat Lord?”

He never received an answer.

He just needed some assurance. Even empty words would have been fine.

Just one word would have been enough.

We can win.

We can defeat Lord.

Either of those would have been enough. With that, all his anxiety could have been eliminated.

But no one answered.

Those who didn’t know anything would speak easily.

The Demigods are nothing, we can kill Lord.

Could that even be considered as comforting?

They could only say that because they never saw Lord’s power. Even if they only saw a tiny bit of Lord’s power, they would never dare to speak in such a way again.

They were all ignorant.

But Rezil was even worse than they were.

He was a coward.

All he wanted was something that would allow him to nod his head to, despite knowing Lord’s true capabilities.

Someone who reached the legendary 9 stars stage.

If they answered with confidence…

“Why… now…”

A cracked voice sounded out.

Why was he here now?

A little bit… if only he’d come a little bit sooner…. If so… he too…

“Huk!”

At that moment, as if he’d been hit by a bucket of cold water, Rezil awakened, and looked down at himself.

‘Rezil Wilsemann… you are trash.’

What bullshit had he just been saying?

He staggered to his feet.

Dead bodies formed a pile on the ground. They belonged to those who had listened to his words and followed him, those who were scared of the future.

They had all ended up becoming cold corpses.

And they were all staring at him with empty eyes, dripping blood.

“Huhu…”

So Rezil laughed.

Rather, he smiled and looked at Frey.

What was needed was to pursue the extreme righteousness.

Be rooted.

In other words, to have an immovable mindset.

Perhaps when speaking about belief.

‘It was a difficult lesson. The advice of the Great Mage.’

He stared at Frey with a calm expression.

“I don’t think I’m wrong.”

“…”

“Humans can’t beat the Demigods. If we keep on going like this, we will lose. So I won’t change my mind.”

Frey’s expression changed as he saw Rezil’s eyes.

He understood what kind of end he wanted.

Could there be corruption without reason?

Rezil must have also been a young Wizard, venting his anger at the Demigods at first.

However, he realised the reality, became frustrated, and in the end, he decided to compromise.

It was just a pity that he’d chosen the worst compromise. Worse than that was the fact that his past mistakes would never go away.

No matter how much he regretted or repented, he would never be able to reverse what he’d done.

‘Everything I did.’

The fact that he interfered with the defeat of Demigods, drove thousands to their deaths, connived to sacrifice the continent, and planned to give the Circle’s information to Lord.

He was definitely a filthy piece of trash smelly enough to make someone want to puke.

So he wouldn’t reflect on it. He wouldn’t regret it.

Those who agreed with his perspective and listened to his words had already been killed, and were now staring at him with hollow gazes.

“We are not compatible, Frey Blake. You shouldn’t forget your purpose for coming here.”

“You’re right.”

Red light once again shined from Frey’s hand.

“You will not have a pleasant death.”

“That’s exactly what I want.”

Juk.

Rezil shed tears of blood.

Then he looked at Frey Blake, from whose hand the red light was shooting.

The scene seemed to be in slow motion so he immediately realised.

Frey lied to him.

The red light was aimed precisely at his forehead.

“Huht.”

In that way, he would feel no pain at all.

“It was an honor to meet you, Great Mage.”

Frey had said that a man without pride was livestock, and he had finally understood what that meant.

Sometimes, it was necessary to put your pride before your own life.

Only

There were times when the body must protect the soul, even if it meant dying.

‘I’ll pretend.’

He would keep the last of his pride so that he’d die as a human being, not as human trash or livestock.

Just before the light hit him, Rezil met Frey’s gaze once again.

He had a sincere thought at that moment.

He hoped that he was wrong, and Frey was right.

(TL: I really disliked Rezil, but I still slightly respect him for the end.)