Return as a Mythical Archmage Chapter 53 – Second Guardian #1

Scratch, scratch. Lawrence held his pen, meticulously drawing the magic circle. The first 4th Circle magic circle he'd ever created now demanded not just lines, but filling in areas as well. Was this the process of gradually ramping up the difficulty? Challenges like this were actually kind of fun.

His fingertips traced complex lines without a hint of tremor, filling spaces and completing the magic circle. Even with a blueprint, perfectly replicating it was purely down to Lawrence's skill.

"One done."

Crackle. Power infused the magic circle, and the first artifact was complete. An attribute-less boost artifact. As the saying went, you had to tackle the toughest job when your condition was at its peak.

The artifact, forged from an orc's club, was complete. It looked sturdy enough to use as a weapon right away. But it wouldn't do to have it break, so he decided to implant it properly.

Savoring the sensation of pure white light filling his body, Lawrence reveled in the rush. The power that came after implanting an artifact truly made him feel alive.

'I can pull this out as a weapon in a pinch later.' Some people drew swords from their chests—why not a club? Nothing weird about that.

Lawrence examined his body. His overall physical abilities had definitely improved, and the synergy from buff spells felt stronger too. 4th Circle engravings were on another level.

'If I make artifacts from truly exceptional minerals or gems from now on... I could create some real masterpieces.' He could even sell simple health-management trinkets as luxury items. Anyway, after testing his body with various movements, Lawrence nodded in satisfaction.

'Wonder how strong 4th Circle magic really is.' Time to mass-produce artifacts like crazy.

Lawrence immediately started on the next one—for Guardian No. 2. Since it was only 3rd Circle, the work was easy, and he even set up a signal to summon him.

With all the artifacts finished, Lawrence promptly hung up the towel. In the barracks, hanging a towel on a windowsill was no big deal. It wouldn't raise suspicions and pinpointed the exact room—a perfect signal.

"Now I've secured my meat supplier and intel guy."

Meat was priceless, after all. Lawrence waited for nightfall.

#2

"He already made it...?"

Ades Benoman, surveilling the Oberon barracks from afar, couldn't hide his shock at seeing the towel after just one day. Fixing something like his own affliction in a single day?

"This... ain't some scam, is it?"

Ades scratched his head. Was it real? If it was a trap, what would he tell the family...? His mind raced with complications.

But what choice did he have? If he slunk away without committing, someone far scarier than Media or Lawrence would come hunting him. He'd avoided getting dragged back home so far because his mission success rate was 100%. And he'd boldly turned down impossible jobs.

"Sigh... If I run now, they'll haul me back to the family, right? Haa... no way."

Nothing to lose. Die here or die there—same outcome. Ades melted into the shadows, biding his time. It was still too early for an assassin to move.

'Might as well watch over the young lady.' Instead, he decided to guard Loria, the other target. Lawrence had asked him to investigate why Media was after her too. Unbeknownst to himself, he was already acting for Lawrence.

As he blended into the darkness, the scouts finally returned. They'd gathered intel on the Alzeras family's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠scale, the black mages' schemes, and optimal attack methods. The situation was dire.

"The territory's civilians will be infected soon. It's turning into an undead hive."

"Why are black mages targeting civilians? This is serious."

"No time to waste. We've spotted movements suggesting a resurrection or demon summoning."

If civilians were affected, indiscriminate slaughter loomed. The whole territory would swarm with ghouls, zombies, skeletons, and worse. Unbelievable that this was happening in the empire's heart.

Why had Alzeras fallen to black mages? The tower master, knights, and Oberon's mayor huddled, deep in thought. They needed to uncover the goal to thwart it. But intel was scarce.

"Whatever it is, we'll have to surround and annihilate the whole territory."

"Agreed. We'll need to widen the front lines."

"It won't be easy. We'll need extra effort from the Holy Kingdom's folks."

At the mayor's words, the saint knights and priests bowed. Holy power ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was undead's bane—their role would be crucial.

As the meeting heated up, a messenger brought fresh news.

"Mayor, the Deferter family has sent reinforcements. The Sorbet Mage Corps and five hundred private soldiers."

"Really?"

"Yes. The commander is reportedly their eldest son, Shayan Deferter."

Welcome news indeed. The Sorbet Mage Corps was an elite group of ice-attribute masters, all 3rd Circle or higher—one of the continent's best. Five hundred soldiers on top? A huge boon for conquering Alzeras.

"Then deploy them to the front too. Summon them at once."

"Right away."

The meeting dragged on from maps into the moonlight, debates raging endlessly. Meanwhile, Lawrence finished preparing for his second guardian.

"Deferter's here?"

"Yeah. I went to check on your sister and saw them passing by. Man, Shayan, right? The eldest son. Who'd have thought those filthy bastards would show up here."

"Hmm, is that so."

In Lawrence's room. Ades, who had sneaked inside unseen, spilled the beans.

The Deferter's Sorbet Mage Corps—composed entirely of 3rd Circle+ ice mages, rivaling Montemer in that specialty. Impressive force.

Why show up out of nowhere...?

'In my past life, Ades said Deferter was tied to all sorts of dirty dealings.'

Could there be... something between the black mages and Deferter? Too early to say, but suspicion hurt no one.

"Whoa, but that silver hair's slick as hell, huh? Not gray, but so glossy."

"Enough. Have you thought it over?"

"Huh? Yeah, I'm leaning positive, but... it really gonna work?"

Ades couldn't shake the scammer vibe. How much skill could an eleven-year-old have to fix his flaw?

Lawrence shook his head at Ades's distrustful glare.

"Foolish mortal. A new world awaits at arm's reach."

"That sounded super culty just now. Gonna get arrested for blasphemy?"

"Before the heir of the mighty Benoman family reports back home via express mail that he failed a mission and got fleeced by an eleven-year-old mage, just accept it quietly."

"Haa... damn, how'd I end up like this..."

Lawrence grinned and approached Ades slowly. Shadows engulfed him; resignation was all he could muster.

'Time to work you hard, mister.' Chuckling, Lawrence implanted the artifact.

Crackle-crackle! In that instant, Ades's body and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠soul were pledged.

"Wh-what is this...?"

"You're kidnapped now."

"W-wait—!"

Crackle! The contract was already sealed.

#3

"No way..."

"No joke, right? No more heart-pounding overload, and you can control the info flow now."

"It's real. Feels... magical."

Ades threw a fit at first, but it didn't last. The world's info now trickled in just as needed, easing his torment. A wondrous calm settled over him—like things were at a comfortable distance, no longer assaulting him.

"How's that? Solved your lifelong problem. You could even head back to the family now."

"Yeah... definitely. I owe you big."

Ades admitted it readily. Since Lawrence blocked his ambush, his soul had already submitted. This fate was inevitable—perhaps one of the twisted paths realigned.

Ades eyed Lawrence with cool, clear eyes. Even burdened, he'd been a top assassin. Unshackled now? Sky's the limit.

'This must be Ades's true potential.'

"So, orders?"

"Protect Loria sis. Something feels off."

"That's it?"

"Gotta prep to fight Media now. Help with that too."

Tricky, but a faint ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠smile curved Ades's lips. He was known for fun gigs, after all.

"Sounds entertaining."

"Looking forward to working with you."

"Yeah. But I'll need to check in at the family sometimes. No hard feelings then."

"No problem."

They clasped hands. The second guardian was born.

And then.

"Lawrence, you in there?"

Operation time had arrived.