Chapter 44: Sage Defeat (1)

‘Let’s sort this out from the beginning.’

He tried to pass off the achievements of Hero Rebil as his own but failed.
But the Sage, who should have died there, was somehow alive.
Furthermore, he’s intervening in this scenario, trying to completely change the ending.
From Yushin’s perspective, the very fact that the Sage was alive was incredibly unfair.
But there was nothing he could do.
If an enemy appeared before him, he had no choice but to kill them.
The only problem was that the current Sage was not someone he could easily touch.
The Sage’s mind-control ability was working with extreme potency.
In fact, the academy could be considered almost completely taken over.
With a few exceptions.
Student Council President Ban Hayeon and Principal Ban Serin were prime examples.
Of course, even that wasn’t perfect.
Ban Serin managed to resist because she was skilled in magic.
In Ban Hayeon’s case, it was only possible because her mind was twisted in the opposite direction.
And even then, no one knew how she might change over time.
“But no matter how much I think about it, it’s strange.”
“He’s too powerful. He wasn’t this strong even in our homeland.”
“What do you mean?”
“That guy has become much stronger.”
The Sage’s mind-control magic wasn’t originally this powerful.
At the very least, manipulating someone’s mind to control them required a corresponding amount of effort and labor.
But the Sage, in just a day, no, half a day, not only made people recognize him as Hyunwoo.
He completely altered their memories.
Even for the Sage, the time was far too short to accomplish such a feat.
In other words, the Sage had grown stronger here.
There had to be a reason.
Yushin recalled a certain middle-aged man he had met in a dream before.
‘Why did that man’s face come to mind at this particular moment?’
‘There must be some connection.’
“First, I need to find out what that guy is up to.”
And there was only one person he could ask for this kind of knowledge.
Principal Ban Serin. ‘Come to think of it, she has the same last name as the student council president.’
‘Is there some connection?’
“This child is my adopted daughter.”
“You’re popping up out of nowhere.”
“My apologies, but there isn’t much time.”
Ban Serin was also somewhat aware of the situation.
However, it was an incomplete awareness, and perhaps with time, she might be completely taken over.
For now, she was suppressing it as much as possible with magic.
But even this was just a matter of time.
In other words, if they didn’t solve the root cause, they could do nothing.
And in Ban Serin’s view, the root cause was, of course, Hyunwoo, no.
It was the one wearing Hyunwoo’s mask and pulling this nonsense.
‘First, I have to deal with that bastard.’
“But I am not strong enough on my own.”
“Even with your power as the principal, it’s not enough?”
“Yes, that fiend’s magic has surpassed my own. Not just the incantations, but even the output.”
“Is that even possible?”
Ban Serin was undoubtedly a mage who could be called the pinnacle in this world.
No matter how great the Sage was, it shouldn’t be easy to surpass her in just one day.
“Perhaps he is not alone.”
“Not alone?”
“I sensed a familiar presence. The presence of a very foul arch-nemesis.”
“Aren’t you being a bit too harsh?”
As soon as the words were spoken, at that very moment when Ban Serin and Yushin were talking.
Someone interrupted them.
But unfortunately, it wasn’t a person.
A crow.
An emaciated crow, with most of its feathers plucked and little flesh left, was staring at them.
Seeing the crow, Ban Serin clicked her tongue.
“So you’re involved after all, Mephisto.”
“Mephisto, that’s an ominous name.”
“He’s the being known as the king of all monsters. I’ve actually clashed with him several times in the past.”
“In other words, a being similar to a Demon King.”
A being who commands all monsters would certainly not be a trivial existence.
And in fact, Mephisto was also the final boss of this scenario.
“What in the world are you after?”
“Don’t be so on edge, my old rival.”
“You’ve nurtured a creature like that, and you’re telling me not to be wary?”
“Calm yourself. I have appeared to give you the very answer to that.”
Mephisto announced his purpose in a very smooth voice.
But despite him speaking in a gentle tone, Yushin felt quite threatened.
“Why would you offer to help us?”
“Let’s call it a difference of opinion. He and I had significant disagreements about our theories of monarchy.”
“Tsk, so you mean to use us to get rid of the now-useless Sage.”
“It’s disheartening when you put it that way. I’d prefer if you’d call it a win-win for both of us.”
Answering slyly, it appeared before them.
‘Mephisto, it’s similar to a devil’s name.’
‘And his actions are just the same.’
‘He brings up deals.’
‘And in the end, he makes sure he profits.’
But a deal with a devil is hard to refuse.
That is why people call devils, devils.

Mephisto, the king of all monsters.
Simply put, he was the being who could be called the final boss of this main scenario.
And Mephisto testified that he himself had collected the Sage’s soul.
This meant it was Mephisto who had revived the Sage and given him power.
‘And yet, he’s going to betray him now? Am I supposed to believe this?’
“It’s simple. My deal with the Sage is already over. In other words, I have already obtained what I could.”
“You wouldn’t tell me even if I asked, would you?”
“Of course not. I’m not fond of discussing private matters.”
“So, now that his usefulness is gone, you’re telling us to take care of him?”
“Precisely.”
‘In such a short time, not even a full day, what on earth did he gain to be talking like that?’
Yushin was filled with questions, but there was nothing he could do at the moment.
After all, it was a fact that the current Sage was his most powerful enemy.
So, he had to defeat the Sage first, and then decide whether to attack Mephisto.
‘What if I make an enemy of Mephisto here as well?’
‘Then there would be no hope.’
That was the assessment made by Principal Ban Serin, who had just spoken with him.
“I refuse.”
But it was none other than Yushin who refused such a deal.
Yushin knew this type all too well.
An opportunist who seeks the ultimate profit.
‘Now that there’s nothing more to gain from the Sage.’
‘He comes to us proposing a deal because the Sage’s value has dropped, aiming to profit yet again.’
‘The profits accumulated in such a way become Mephisto’s power and flesh.’
‘Even if I defeat the Sage with Mephisto’s help here, there’s no future in it.’
“I know your type well. You’ll definitely backstab me afterwards, won’t you?”
“Does that change anything? Or will you be defeated by the Sage and submit to him?”
“I have no intention of doing that, but if I lose because I lack the strength… I suppose I’ll have no choice.”
It’s a very simple logic.
If he couldn’t stop it due to a lack of power, then he would have to accept it and stop.
And that was the cleanest way with the fewest repercussions.
Of course, he had no intention of losing.
Just as he had always done, he would mobilize all his power to kill the Sage again.
And again.
To ensure he never appeared before his eyes again.
“This is surprising. Are you saying you’re entrusting the fate of humanity solely to your own strength? And you still call yourself a hero?”
“I was never called a hero because I wanted to be.”
“So, you’re saying it doesn’t matter whether you win or lose?”
“I will never lose. Even without your help.”
That was the conclusion Yushin had reached.
‘I can’t give this guy anything.’
‘Even if Mephisto were to barge in right after the fight with the Sage…’
‘Wouldn’t it be a greater loss to fight after having given something away through a deal?’
Rather, as Yushin took a strong stance, it was Mephisto who was put in a difficult position.
‘This is troublesome. I need to deal with the Sage for certain here.’
From Mephisto’s perspective, knowing the Sage’s objective, he wanted to eliminate this unsettling variable for certain.
Of course, he could do it with his own hands.
But the damage would be too great if he did.
In other words, the best method was to leave it to the humans.
However, if they fought head-on like this, the probability of the humans’ defeat was very high.
If the humans were defeated and the Sage absorbed their power before attacking again, the new humanity led by the Sage would become a force that even Mephisto couldn’t handle.
‘I have no choice.’
He had tried to gain the upper hand through a deal as much as possible.
But he could still obtain that after the fight with the Sage.
‘So I have no choice but to concede here.’
“Alright, I’ve lost. I’ll help you for free this time, as a special exception.”
“You thought it over, and it seems you’ve concluded that’s more profitable for you, huh?”
“Of course. After all, it’s humans fighting and shedding each other’s blood, isn’t it?”
“…”
“Besides, from my perspective, I’d rather you all win than that monster, the Sage.”
In other words, it was a strategy of using barbarians to control barbarians.
Meaning it’s best to check and kill barbarians with other barbarians.
It was annoying, but at this point, there was no reason not to accept.
“So, what the hell is his goal anyway?”
To Yushin’s question, Mephisto answered lightly.
“To personally liberate the world that is subservient to God.”