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

Now that she was more relaxed, Min Ha-rin began to look around as they moved.

A cold wind blew inside the building.

This couldn’t be helped.

After all, a large section of the building had been destroyed by the Demon King’s attack.

It seemed that they were preparing to repair the damage, but it was so extensive that it would take at least a few years to fix it completely.

This left a bitter taste in Min Ha-rin’s mouth. Even if it had changed a lot, this was still the place she was born and raised.

“Branch President Jung Ho-min is in charge of the headquarters now.”

Min Ha-rin nodded slightly at Arid’s words.

She was glad that Jung Ho-min had survived. She was well aware of his leadership skills and charisma. As long as he was present, she was certain that the Korea Branch would be able to return to its former state, even if it would take some time.

Among those who were helping with the repairs were a few familiar faces. They were the believers of the Church of Eternal Life.

Min Ha-rin even saw Kim Min-chul.

“How did you manage to persuade the believers?”

It was a sensitive question, so Min Ha-rin lowered her voice and spoke carefully. Arid had previously tried to persuade them, but he was only subjected to unfair violence as a result.

But Arid didn’t seem affected by the experience as he responded indifferently.

“My Grandmother helped.”

“By grandmother, do you mean…”

“The person who was known as the Saint instead of me.”

It seemed that Arid was talking about the woman who had white hair like him.

She didn’t look like someone’s grandmother, but after meeting so many unique people lately, Min Ha-rin didn’t find it strange to meet someone whose appearance didn’t match their age.

Suddenly, Sedi stopped walking.

“We’re here.”

Min Ha-rin fell silent as she looked at the door in front of them.

Without knocking, Sedi opened the door and stepped in.

Lukas was standing inside the room. He had been standing by the window, looking down at the ruined city below, but when the door opened, he turned his head.

“You’re here.”

“…Master.”

Min Ha-rin didn’t know why, but she suddenly felt like she hadn’t seen him in a long time.

She was happy to see him, but her face burned with embarrassment. The last time she saw Lukas, she’d been determined to unravel the conspiracy surrounding the Korea Branch on her own, and she had even told him that directly.

At that time, although she had been nervous, she was still filled with confidence.

But now that she thought about it, she only felt like she had been too proud and overconfident. To the extent that she overestimated herself.

After all, in the end, Min Ha-rin hadn’t been able to do anything here in Korea.

Nevertheless, her Master, Lukas, didn’t say anything about that.

“Are you feeling better now?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m glad.”

Lukas gestured to a chair in front of him.

“Have a seat. Arid, you too.”

Listening to him, Min Ha-rin and Arid took their seats. Sedi leaned against the wall and seemed to want to cross her hands in what would have been a cool pose, but her casts made it look awkward instead.

“Sedi, how much did you tell them?”

“I didn’t tell them anything.”

“…then I guess I’ll have to start from the beginning. For starters, I think I’ll have to tell you who I am.”

This caused Min Ha-rin to lift her head.

“Uh… Is it okay for you to tell us?”

She’d always wanted to know Lukas’ true identity, but he never seemed to want to talk about it.

Of course, she had never asked him directly, but she remembered the conversation they’d had with Nina and Lee Jong-hak not so long ago.

“The balance of this universe has already been severely disrupted. So I can reveal some things to a certain degree. However, Arid’s presence is the most decisive reason… Arid.”

“Yes.”

Arid nodded before turning to Min Ha-rin.

“Can you lend me your hand for a moment?”

“Ah, yeah.”

Lukas watched on silently from the side.

Arid’s Brilliance was a very versatile power.

Its power of communication was able to reach any being in the entire multiverse, its power of salvation could save even those on the brink of death, and its power of reinforcement could help even those without the power to do anything, stand up for themselves.

Among these powers, the one that surprised Lukas the most was the power of communication.

Through that power, Slei and Reika, who were mere mortals, were able to learn of the existence of ‘Absolutes’. This was a truth that couldn’t be accessed even by souls who had reincarnated for hundreds and thousands of years.

No, even if they could learn of it, their souls would simply be incapable of handling such a vast amount of information, and they would instantly lose their minds.

However, it seemed that Brilliance was able to suppress those negative side effects.

Arid might even be able to directly communicate with God one day.

“Mmm…”

Min Ha-rin gently touched the back of her hand, which was being held in Arid’s. Her hand felt warm as if it had been dipped in warm water, and that warmth soon spread to her entire body!

Flash!

When the light faded, Min Ha-rin looked down at her body curiously, but she couldn’t find any noticeable changes.

Nevertheless, as if he was waiting for this moment, Lukas slowly opened his mouth.

“I was a human in another universe.”

“In another universe?”

“Right. Now, I’m a being that can’t be called human anymore.”

Lukas did his best to explain his situation and the crisis this universe was currently facing in as concise a manner as possible.

For the parts he didn’t think were necessary, he directly left them out.

For example, he didn’t think it was necessary to include how he became an Absolute, his life as Frey Blake, or his struggle against the Demigods.

It was enough for them to know that he was once a human, was now a human and traveled around the multiverse to save humans.

As he spoke, Lukas couldn’t help but feel a bit strange.

-Then, he realised that this was the first time.

The first time that he’d explained his situation to mortals and humans.

“…”

“…”

When he finished speaking, neither Arid nor Min Ha-rin spoke for a while.

This couldn’t be helped.

Lukas had summarised his story as much as he could. If he had explained everything in detail, it would have probably taken three days and three nights to finish.

Nevertheless, his audience felt like they’d learned a lot.

It was only a small fraction, but they felt like they could understand Lukas.

His mission which was like a shackle, his lifelong sacrifice, his tenacity which bordered on obsession.

…And most importantly, his immense love for humans.

‘Lee Jong-hak.’

Min Ha-rin couldn’t help but recall the way he had been rudely talking to Lukas not so long ago. To be honest, at that time, she had thought that he was being a bit excessive, but she still felt like she could understand the contempt he showed to Lukas to an extent.

Not anymore.

Now, she felt like she wanted to hit over the head.

‘…he didn’t know anything.’

Rage bubbled inside her. She wanted Lee Jong-hak to apologise to Lukas.

Watching humans die must have hurt Lukas more than anyone else.

Lukas spoke in a calm voice.

“I’m sure this all must be difficult to accept.”

Min Ha-rin came back to her senses. This was not the time for her to vent her anger at Lee Jong-hak. Licking her lip slightly, she turned to look at Sedi who was leaning against the wall.

“Then Sedi…”

“Is a former Absolute. Who was demoted to a mortal.”

“…I really don’t like the word ‘demote’.”

Sedi spoke with a blunt tone, but Lukas ignored her and continued.

“The reason I told you all of this is because I would like to take you to the Great Game’s qualifiers.”

“Where will this qualifier be held?”

“It is being held somewhere that even I am not aware of. It may be extremely dangerous, and I cannot guarantee that I will be able to keep you safe. Not to mention you, even me and the other participants will all be at risk of losing more than just our lives.”

“At risk of losing more than just our lives…?”

She didn’t understand what that meant.

It was Sedi who gave her the answer.

“It’s more than just the destruction of your soul when it comes to battles with Absolutes.”

Min Ha-rin blanched slightly at those words.

Sedi smiled mischievously as though she enjoyed her reaction.

“Instead, your very being will be erased from existence. There won’t be any traces left, as though you never existed in the first place.”

Min Ha-rin took a deep breath. Then she spoke after a short while.

“…what about you?”

“Huh?”

“Are you going to participate in the qualifiers?”

Sedi shrugged.

“If I don’t go, who will?”

“…”

She couldn’t refute that. Of all the people that Lukas could choose, Sedi was by far the strongest.

Lukas walked up to Min Ha-rin and patted her on the shoulder.

“I won’t force you. There are still three or four days to spare, so think about it seriously before giving me your answer.”

“…”

Min Ha-rin hesitated for a moment before nodding.

She was ashamed of herself for not being able to immediately give a definite answer, but she was grateful that Lukas was considerate enough to give her name.

It was at that moment that Arid opened his mouth.

“I don’t need to think anymore.”

His expression was more serious than she’d ever seen it before.

Lukas had given a similar offer to Arid two days ago while Min Ha-rin was still unconscious.

At that time, he had also asked for some time to think about it.

Lukas nodded as he turned to him.

“What have you chosen?”

“Please take me with you.”

Arid lowered his head slightly before muttering the last word.

“…Master.”

“…”

Min Ha-rin looked back and forth from Arid to Lukas with a bewildered expression on her face.

“It must not have been an easy decision to make, thank you.”

Lukas thanked Arid with a calm voice, but he still blushed in embarrassment.

Sedi, at the back, muttered as she folded her fingers one after the other.

“So that leaves three more people… No, two more. Since you said that Leo or whatever brat will also be coming.”

“Ju-, junior brother too!?”

Min cried out in surprise. That was a name she hadn’t expected to hear.

“Right. That brat didn’t hesitate at all. It was almost as if he was waiting for something like this.”

“…”

Ignoring Min Ha-rin, whose face had gone pale from shock, Sedi asked Lukas.

“Who will you choose for the other two spots?”

“…”

Lukas tried to think of the few remaining candidates.