Return of the Back Alley Wizard Chapter 577

Episode 577. So that's what you meant, Father.

Around morning.

“…….”

Karon, the head of Kutlan's small family, opened his eyes and stared blankly at the sky. Then he suddenly looked to the side.

I saw a face that was soundly asleep.

Brother, Cron.

And next to it is… … .

‘… … Lord Goran.’

Was he taking a light nap?

Goran felt the gaze and raised his eyelids.

Then, realizing that Charon was looking at him, he sat up.

“Sleep some more.”

“No, I’ve had enough… Yes, I’ve had enough rest.”

“Get enough rest.”

“No, really…….”

“Okay, let’s rest a bit more.”

Karon rose from his seat, seemingly refusing to listen to any objections. Goran tried to follow suit, but Karon pressed his shoulder firmly before moving on.

It would be difficult to sleep while the master is awake, so he is trying to give up his seat.

If someone had seen it, it might have been considered overly considerate, but Goran was qualified.

Charon knows it too.

What efforts Goran made for himself and his younger brother. What hardships he endured in fulfilling his almost unreasonable request to take his younger brother with him.

So, Caron, who had taken steps out of consideration for Goran, headed towards a bonfire.

Even though it was early morning, there were two people sitting in the fireplace.

'Probably, those two… … .'

Caron recalled the impression he'd heard from his father. Then he bowed his head before sitting down.

“I meet the master of the tower and the master of the sword.”

“What, sit down.”

“……Ah, yes.”

Caron sat down, puzzled by the somewhat friendly tone in the tower's voice.

There was something I had to say first.

"Thank you. For granting my brother's unreasonable request, and for saving me. I'm at a loss as to how I can repay this kindness. But I will never forget, and I will repay you."

It was a sincere thank you, not a formal greeting.

However, Topju waved his hand.

“I’m just doing it for the sake of receiving what I deserve, you know.”

“Even so, I know it won’t be easy.”

“That’s true.”

It might have seemed arrogant, but Caron never thought of it that way.

Why not?

For the sake of his fallen family, Dekulan… …and he fought against the greatest magic family of the Eastern Continent, which was enjoying the greatest prosperity of all time.

Even if they were originally hostile to Dekulan, there was no reason for them to act for Kutlan.

Even if compensation was promised.

Because of this, Charon appeared to bow his head deeply. It was only after raising his head that he opened his mouth.

In fact, this was the main topic from now on.

'……compensation.'

Yeah, I had to talk about that compensation.

"Your Majesty, this is a delicate matter, but one that cannot be delayed, so I'm bringing it up. I'd like to speak to you about the promised compensation…"

“Oh, yeah, compensation.”

There was something I had to check first.

“I heard that my younger brother promised the Tower Lord the ‘Book of Grimoire.’ I would like to ask if this is true.”

"right."

"……okay."

My voice couldn't help but get heavier.

Because handing over the grimoire meant handing over Kutlan's future.

The day before, I had heard this from Wonju and my younger brother, but when I actually confirmed it through Topju's mouth, it felt different.

But what to do?

‘… … it is right to give.’

Caron knew my situation well.

The power of the top as well.

Even if they were to take it by force, the top lord would rather grant them an unreasonable request and keep his word. Now, it was his turn.

“Why, is it a pity?”

"no."

“If you feel it’s a pity, tell me. I won’t take it away by force.”

"No. It would be a lie if I said I didn't feel regret, but my feelings of regret are infinitely lighter than the Lord's faithfulness."

“Hmm.”

The tower's gaze seemed to grasp his true intentions. Caron met his gaze squarely.

It was then that Wonju's voice was heard.

“There’s no need to open your eyes. I just don’t understand what you’re saying.”

"……yes?"

"So, when you weigh 'regret' and 'trust,' 'trust' is heavier, so you're willing to give it up. In other words, the weight of a relationship is heavier than the weight of an object. I'm pondering this because I don't understand this."

“…….”

Charon blinked.

I wondered if this was right.

It was then that the top owner's mouth opened.

“That… I don’t understand. When weighing the relationship with the grimoire? No matter what, doesn’t the grimoire handed down through generations weigh a bit more?”

“Oh, that’s…….”

Before Caron could even open his mouth, Wonju hit Topju on the back of the head.

“Oh no…! Why?”

“You rascal, do you think that guy really spoke like that because his relationship with you was heavier than his? He had no choice but to hand it over, so weren’t those empty words he blurted out to appease his bitter heart? Was it that hard to fathom his feelings, huh?!”

“What… were your eyes sincere?”

“What the hell is sincerity! You’re crying like a little kid being ripped off!”

“No, what the hell is that, what the hell is that.”

Topju expressed his grievances, but Wonju's cold gaze made him shut his mouth.

Charon stared blankly at the sight.

My father's words came to mind.

– What kind of person is Topju?

– A thug… … .

– ……yes?

– No, you'll know when you see it. But, no matter what you imagine, it'll be worse than that. No matter what you imagine.

'… So that's what you meant, Father.'

It was exactly as it said.

Who would have guessed, upon seeing that figure, that he was one of the Seven Wizards of Sanctuary? Even the leader of a back-alley gang, let alone a great wizard, possessed more gravity and weight than that.

One, that thought was fleeting.

'What kind of disrespectful thought is this to my benefactor?'

Charon shook his head, shaking his thoughts away.

It was at that moment that the tower's voice was heard.

“Ahem, so… you’re going to hand over the grimoire properly?”

“……Yes, that’s right.”

“Hmm, okay, then. And you said that your father had something to say separately…?”

“Oh, that’s… yes.”

Originally, Kahajar had intended to ask the Magic Tower for Charon's protection in exchange for the four core visions of Kutlan.

After calmly explaining the facts, Caron continued speaking.

“The four core visions are as follows. First of all….”

Breathing techniques, exhalation exercises.

“The Sakhon Gong is a breathing technique that was originally developed by my father from the Bingryeong Gong, the basic technique of the main family. It is a breathing technique that contains the enlightenment that can help you reach the final state of mind, ‘Sakhon.’”

“Of course the attribute would be ice?”

"yes."

"hmm."

Aster nodded.

Shaving the soul… …to cut out the soul.

'Yeah, that's what Kahajar's magic felt like.'

If Dina's ice magic meant pure ice itself, Kutlan's ice magic included not only the ice itself, but also the object facing the ice.

And the object facing the ice, as assumed by Kutlan, is ‘soul’.

Kutlan's ice seeks to carve out the 'soul'.

"and?"

“The next three visions are visions that are connected to the Sakhon Gong.”

In order, they were cold wind, extreme ice, and pressure.

"Should we call Hanpung a defensive spell? It can't replace a force field, but it can be considered a spell to protect the body. Even with its limited skills, it can be used for a short while…"

Soon a light wind swirled around Charon's body.

As its name suggests, it resembled a cold winter wind, and the moment Aster saw it, he realized what the purpose of the 'cold wind' was.

So, Hanpung is… … .

‘… … It’s a magic to tear apart those who come near.’

Caron continued speaking.

“Next is the extreme ice.”

Caddeuk―

A small ice pick floated above Charon's palm.

If you just look at the shape, there is nothing special about it.

Just look at the shape.

“Is imagery more important magic?”

"Yes, my father said the same thing. 'In any magic, imagery is more important than form, but in the case of the Arctic, imagery is especially crucial. Imagery is what sets Arctic apart.' And the imagery contained within this…"

"acumen."

It was a complex image that couldn't be simply summed up as "sharpness," but that was the most representative image.

“Yes, that’s right. It’s just a piercing spell. And my father said….”

Kahajar said of the extreme ice:

– Ultimately, it will penetrate everything. Not only hundreds of layers of force fields, but even any barrier.

“Hundreds of layers of force fields and barriers… Is this also a magic created by Kahajar, just like the Sakhon Gong?”

"……yes."

“Hmm.”

Hearing that, Aster could understand why Khazhar had created magic.

In Sanctuary, Kahajar felt his own magic was lacking.

And the method he chose was… … .

‘… …selection and focus.’

He thus created a sakmongong that focused only on the 'final image'.

And Hanpung must have felt that the stationmaster was lacking.

Because those 'hands' in the Sanctuary were beings that could not be stopped by just blocking them.

Finally, the image contained in the polar ice cap contained two meanings.

The first is to break through the 'barrier' surrounding the sanctuary.

The archmages returned, unable to break through the barrier. Perhaps this too was a humiliation for Khazhar.

The second is to counter the bundle operations created by 'Jamal's Judge'.

'Bundle operations… … It's not yet a well-established method for applying magic, but anyone can easily apply it to a force field with practice.'

This represents a new paradigm for wizards.

'If bundle operations become possible, the average defense power will increase.'

In that case, attack magic must also evolve to match the increased defense power.

Just as the simpler 'force field' was created in place of defensive magic, offensive magic had to evolve to keep pace.

That change has come again.

The polar ice cap was a magic that kept pace with the change.

Thinking about it that far, I had this thought again.

therefore…….

'I wonder if Jamal's senior judge has caused a major accident?'

At the time, it was so urgent that I just let it pass, but looking back now, it was like a new era had opened in the history of magic.

And come to think of it, think about the skirmish with Elder Aelus earlier.

'It's the last spell. I wonder if it can be blocked with a bundle operation field… …but it can easily block something like black lightning.'

Thinking about it this way, it became clear that the balance between offensive magic and defensive power had collapsed.

But, a question arose.

“……You’ve already devised such amazing magic? Three of them?”

Even if Kahajar is a great wizard, it doesn't make sense.

Of course, the answer was 'no'.

"They're all slightly modified versions of visions passed down through my family. They weren't entirely created by my father."

“Ahem.”

So, is that what you call Kutlan's 'core vision'?

Well, if it was a magic I had created entirely on my own, I wouldn't have named it after my family.

But… … .

“So, what’s the last spell?”

“Ah, the last magic is… yes, it’s Apcheon….”

"however?"

"That's too difficult for me to unfold at my level. My father told me to just show the vision book to the tower master. He'll understand when he sees it."

“……?”

Aster tilted his head.

You know when you see it?

“Please wait a moment.”

Caron ran to his brother's place in one stride and rummaged through his bag. He returned shortly afterwards with a book.

“This is it.”

"hmm."

Aster opened the book, looking at the ink-scented book that was clearly freshly written.

And as I read on, I was able to understand what Khazhar was saying.

Why did he say you would know when you saw it?

Apcheon, that is… … .

'……abyss.'

It was a magic that contained the enlightenment about the magical technology that Aster had created in Sanctuary.