Ethella, who had sensed the threat, quickly turned to the side. Shadows sprang from the void at an impressive speed, aiming for her jaw.
'A punch?'
Then, dozens of shadowy fists flew towards her. Ethella crouched down and shielded her vital areas with both arms. Despite the resonating impact that reverberated through the mountains, she didn't budge an inch, as if she were rooted in place.
"Oh, you can withstand this?"
Hundreds of shadows materialized from all directions and grabbed Ethella in her weakened state. The dark magic gripping her wrists and ankles made her limbs bend. Her thick glasses were shattered, and her lips were bleeding.
Any other person would have gone mad from the pain of having every bone in their body broken. However, Ethella's eyes remained clear through her protective magic.
"I recognize your resilience, but let's stop this."
Arcane cast "Venom Cutter," a spell that imparted toxicity to the swirling darkness, a much more difficult form of "Triple Mix" magic than fusion magic.
A magical blade as sharp as a knife whizzed through the air. Ethella, sensing that it was a lethal spell, broke the darkness with all her might, then took a deep breath and shouted loudly.
"Aaaaaaaaaaa!"
The deafening high-frequency scream that crushed bushes shattered Arcane's darkness like smoke.
It was the Fama scream, a technique of the Karsis monks. Karsis Jung, the founder of the Order of Karsis, said that the awakening of the human mind was accompanied by a loud noise. The Fama scream was magic that broke dark magic with its thunderous roar, akin to the fear a sinner felt at the sound of thunder.
Immersed in the roar, Arcane shuddered. His skin tingled, and his hair stood on end. He had barely witnessed the Fama scream in his 130 years of life, and a young woman in her twenties had used it.
"Haha, that's why you can't leave this place."
The supreme talent honed like a sword, sharp-minded, was so amusing.
Someone would die, and someone would survive.
Doesn't magic develop through countless destructions, creations, and regenerations?
'Right. That's fine.'
Arcane cast Venom Cutter again. Ethella, who decided that it was now or never, cut the dark magic holding her and made a spatial movement. As the light flash moved away, Venom Cutter struck through the light flash.
"Whew!"
Arcane whistled. In battle, the shame of retreating was the greatest feeling of humiliation for humans, but it was also important to have the judgment to withdraw without hesitation.
Arcane headed to where Ethella had been standing. Drops of blood were falling, indicating that she hadn't completely avoided the attack. If the venom infiltrated her body, she wouldn't be able to escape far.
"It looks like the young lady will have a hard time."
Arcane, who had encountered a formidable opponent after 40 years, was enjoying the battle. He had witnessed a genius who had it all: the spiritual zone with the expansion mode, the skill and martial arts to break dark magic, and the unwavering mind of a monk.
"Did she say he's a 6th-ranked mage, right?"
Clearly, he had a much higher rank than his age suggested. But geniuses didn't adhere to conventional social norms. If Ethella hadn't focused on her duties as a teacher or a summoner, her current rank would have been much higher.
"Alpeas Milch? That boy gets respect?"
Arcane shook his head sadly. When the mind control was broken, the trees straightened their bent spines, revealing a darkened sky.
"Aren't you ashamed, Alpeas? To receive admiration from someone superior to you. What a painful reality."
Arcane lamented his disciple's incompetence as he slowly advanced. The darkness looming over the forest pointed him the way.
* * *
"Damn! Where the hell are you?"
Thad was getting increasingly anxious. Alpeas wasn't in the accommodation where he was sure he would be. However, if the enemy hadn't captured him, there was only one place.
"Master!"
Thad and the others gathered at the location where their master, Alpeas, was supposed to be, ready to confront any approaching enemies.
He opened the door to the director's office and went in. But even there, Alpeas was nowhere to be seen.
Thad didn't give up and glanced at the books displayed on the shelf. He had known for a long time that Alpeas had a personal space here.
"There must be an activation device. I can't check all the books."
As he quickly looked around, a book caught his eye. The title of the book inserted among the old magic books was "Seeing the Darkness." Thad, who knew his master's past, was convinced that this was the path directly connected to Alpeas's memories.
Pulling the top of the book, a solid mechanism began to turn, and the shelves opened on either side. Behind the wall, there was a tunnel and a staircase leading downward.
Thad descended the stairs, and as he did, the tilted book returned to its original position, and the shelves closed. Upon opening an iron door, it revealed a small room with a crystal lamp. The room was filled with items neatly arranged on antique shelves, resembling an antique store.
On the wall hung a portrait of a woman. She wasn't exceptionally beautiful, but she had a soft and elegant impression.
"That must be..."
Thad looked at the portrait with a blank mind. Alpeas' words had apparently been true. It seemed the woman in the portrait had eyes with a magical power that drew people in.
"Who are you?"
Thad jumped and turned around. Alpeas was sitting in a chair in a corner. His face was contorted with anger and confusion, quite different from his usual expression.
"Master! You're unharmed after all!"
"You... Do you know who I am?"
Thad, who approached, stopped his steps upon hearing Alpeas's words. He could guess the situation by listening to Alpeas.
"It seems you've lost your memory."
Like the other teachers, Alpeas had clearly fallen under Arcane's spell. However, as a certified 4th-rank mage, it seemed he had taken measures before completely losing his memory and sought refuge here.
Upon hearing Thad's words, Alpeas approached a bronze mirror. He looked at himself with a serious expression.
"Hmm, I've lost my memory? I thought I suddenly traveled to the future. Anyway, it's quite annoying to see how my 18-year-old face has aged like this. It's quite irritating."
Thad's eyes widened. If he was 18, it meant he had lost approximately 40 years of his life. If Alpeas hadn't been an exceptionally sensible person, he might have gone insane.
"Yes, I've lost my memory... I guess it's kind of a relief. My life hasn't been stolen. Anyway, where are we? Why have I lost my memory?"
"A dark mage cast a spell to harm you, Master. You barely managed to escape."
Talking to someone who had lost their memory would only increase their anxiety, but Alpeas seemed not to mind.
"Oh, really? How old am I now?"
"Uh, 73 years."
"73, huh? Then what have I accomplished? Any notable magical achievements?"
"Yes?"
"I'm asking what kind of magical accomplishments I've achieved."
"Ah, as a person of great character and personality, you currently hold the position of the headmaster of the magic academy."
Alpeas made a perplexed expression. The genius known as the "Radiance of the Milch Family," teaching others. It was an achievement he never could have imagined, given his personality.
"So, you mean I became a teacher?"
"Yes. Everyone follows and respects the Master."
"Puhahahaha. Fuhahahaha."
Alpeas burst into loud laughter. At first, he was annoyed by suddenly aging, but since he knew he had lost his memory, he didn't care anymore. In fact, he was excited to hear about his future achievements.
"It seems I've matured quite a bit. To be the headmaster? Then, is this the royal palace? Has the crown prince ascended to the throne?"
Thad became nervous. No matter how rational Alpeas was, transcending 40 years of time was not something to be ignored.
"This is a private academy. This is the Alfeas Magic Academy founded by the Master himself."
"Private?"
Alpeas' expression turned perplexed. Given his intelligence, Thad hoped that he would at least tell him that he was teaching royalty. But a private academy... What had happened in his 40 years?
"... What rank am I in?"
"Eh? Oh, well... that is..."
"...What rank have I reached?"
Thad hesitated. Despite the countless records attesting to Alpeas' greatness, he didn't have the courage to face the reality.
"Speak quickly! What rank am I in? I remembered you saying I'm 73 years old, right? So, am I rank 1 or rank 2?"
Thad replied, bowing his head like a man guilty of a mortal sin.
"Rank 4..."
Alpeas staggered. The shock of having a suddenly aged body was too much to handle. However, he was soon consumed by anger and became furious.
"What the hell have you done?! Fool! Damn!"
Alpeas hit himself on the head and blamed himself. After dedicating 40 years of his life to cultivating the divine gift he had been given, he should have reached at least rank 2. But it turns out he was not even rank 3, but rank 4.
What the hell happened? How stupidly have I lived to get to this point?
He had to uncover his past. Everything from start to finish. With determination, Alpeas looked at Thad and said:
"You... can undo dark magic, right? You're my disciple, so you must have mastered photon magic, right?"
"Yes. I don't know how long it will take, but with the Master's help, it will be possible, but..."
Thad suddenly realized.
Perhaps this isn't a curse but a blessing. Alpeas had spent 40 years tormented by a mistake in his youth. If recovering his memory could clear up his past, all his lifelong regrets would disappear.
"Master, do you really need to regain your memory?"
"What? What are you talking about? Of course I need to regain my memory. Something went wrong in the past. If I can correct it, I can reach high levels right away."
Thad didn't continue speaking, but his expression was a mix of concern and anticipation. Alpeas' story was far from over, and both of them were about to embark on a new and exciting adventure.
Due to a mistake he made when he was young, Alpheas has lived with guilt for 40 years. If recovering his memory could clear up his past, all his lifelong regrets would disappear.
"Master, it's possible that you may not understand the current situation. The Radiance of the Milch Family, said to be a gift from God, is only in the official position of the fourth rank. But that's why I want to stop it even more. The Master made a big mistake. And he lived with bitterness for forty years. Now
it's time to be free. Maybe this is a divine indulgence."
Despite having returned to the age of 18, Alpeas may not understand how painful life can be due to past wounds. Furthermore, if it really happened, it was a way to admit it and live this way.
Alpeas, who was lost in thought as he roamed the room, suddenly found a portrait hanging on the wall and asked.
"Who is that woman? Isn't this my room?"
"Yes, it's the master's room."
"Really? Did I hang that painting? She's not a beauty, and her eyes are so clouded. She looks like an imperfect woman."
Thad was emotionally moved because he knew who the woman was and how Alpeas treated her.
"Master, you shouldn't speak like that about her. That woman is..."
Alpeas frowned and looked away from the portrait. Nothing was fitting or making sense.
"I will recover my memory. This is not the future I had planned. I need to figure out what happened."
"Master, think about it. Life is..."
"Hey, you."
Alpeas interrupted Thad with an arrogant look in his eyes. Thad realized there was no falsehood in his master's words. The figure before him was the young Alpeas.
"You said you were my disciple?"
"That's right. It's an overwhelming honor for me, and I'm always grateful."
"Then, from today, you are excommunicated."
"What?"
Alpeas was sincere. He was the renowned Alpeas, the embodiment of intellect, even after losing 40 years of memories.
"What's the point of worrying about trivial things like the past and lost memories? Besides, I don't need a pathetic disciple like you."