21st Century Archmage

‘An airplane?

As soon as I opened my eyes, I saw an unfamiliar sight. In a place that looked just like the inside of an airplane, my body was reclined in a plush seat. Stupified by the faint hum of the engine, and the slight turbulence from riding the currents, I returned to consciousness right away.

“Mister Hyuk, did you sleep well?”

“Ack! Wh-who are you?”

I was on a spacious bed-like seat that was immensely plushy. Without even getting a chance to regain my bearings, a strikingly beautiful blonde with long straight hair greeted me amiably, while wearing a stewardess uniform.

“My name is Marisol.”

Her bright smile was similar to Jeon Ji-hyun. Even in my surprise, the sight of her skinny legs bore into my eyes.

[T/N: Jeon Ji-hyun is a popular Korean actress and model.]

My face flushed.

“We are scheduled to arrive in Incheon International Airport in one hour.”

“What? In-Incheon International Airport?”

Amidst the womans friendliness, the words Incheon International Airport soared into my ears.

“Hoho, you have slept for a whole fifteen hours.”

“Fifteen hours?”

‘What? What in the world happened? Why am I lying here?

Until my last moment of consciousness, I had been sitting on top of the huge magic circle Master had made. And then countless glimmering lights had penetrated my mind. I only remembered that a mix of unidentified things had burrowed into my mind. I hadnt been able to figure out what they had been, though.

‘Wait, am I speaking French right now?

I was able to converse to some extent in English, but I was still far from speaking French. But the woman named Marisol was definitely speaking in French. And I was skillfully answering her in French, as if nothing were out of the ordinary. It was incredibly natural, as if I had learned French from birth.

“I have something here that I must relay to Mister Hyuk.”

While I was stunned by the unbelievable things that were happening to me in succession, a white envelope was pushed onto me. Sealed with gold leaf, the envelope was light.

‘A letter?

I unsealed it and opened the envelope. A letter appeared as I had expected, but there was also a single platinum card.

‘Runes?

Surprisingly, the letter was written in runes, a language that only mages could read.

‘How am I able to read this? While learning 2nd Circle magic, I had acquired about 300 runes. In this language, a single dot changed the meaning and each rune had a meaning of its own, like hanja. From what I heard from Master, at higher circles, you had to learn up to a whopping ten thousand runes.

[T/N: Hanja is the Korean name for Chinese characters. Like kanji.]

Though I possessed outstanding intelligence, even I only knew 300 of them. But now, I was effortlessly able to decipher runes that I hadnt known in the past.

‘Did I hit my head or something?

Maybe this was like what often appeared in movies: a strange twist of fate? If my head wasnt messed up from being hit, how else would I be able to comprehend French and read runes?I tried using my imagination to make a guess, but it was all too unbelievable.

Turning my head, I read the letter Master had written.

To my beloved disciple, Hyuk.

‘Blech! I suddenly felt a surge of nausea from the incredible first sentence.

I feel such regret that the three months I spent together with you are already over. Even as I send you off, this master of yours already longs to see you, the one with whom he shared that brief time.

‘Is this old man crazy? The lines were oozing with love and almost felt like a proposal. The impulse to rip the letter into pieces raged in my chest.

Having met you thanks to the grace of the Goddess of Fate; Pallan, this master of yours was truly happy. When you later raise a disciple of your own, you too will be sure to understand this tingly pleasure that Id never before known, in my two hundred years of life.

‘This… sick old fart!

Even if I couldnt see him, I could just imagine Master Bumdalfs evil face. Thoughts of Master; a man immune to laws or strength, got me so heated up that Id need to grind on a few chunks of ice before Id be able to rest easily.

My dear Hyuk. Unfortunately, God will not permit our eternal love. I wanted to make you into a mighty Mage over ten or twenty years, but the wheel of fate has decreed that you and I will be separated like this.

My hands trembled.

‘Saying something like eternal love to me, a pure, virgin soul! Graaah! This perverted sea anemone, this orc cousin Mage Bumdalf! GAAAAHH!

[T/N: Sea anemones = tentacles = perverts.]

I couldnt scream because Marisol was radiating a refreshing smile from a distance away. But if I were to shout, this airplane would explode. My hostility towards Master was even greater than that time in my childhood when the neighbours mongrel had bitten me, making it my bitter enemy.

Separated from you by the will of God, I write this letter while enduring the pain.

Hyuk, my beloved disciple. While bearing the cruel capriciousness of fate, this master of yours has left you a few presents. The card you are holding in your hand right now is the only one of its kind in the world, an unlimited withdrawal card. At any bank, if you present this card, you will be able to withdraw as much money as you want.

‘Geh! Un-unlimited withdrawal?