Ch.156Tower of Magic

# 156. Magic Tower Battle

“What? What do you mean?”

“Well, they were completely wiped out.”

*BANG-!*

“I didn’t ask just to hear such nonsense! Why! For what reason! How! How were they wiped out!”

Magikant Magic Tower.

The atmosphere here was, without needing further explanation, simply the worst.

A lord who constantly interfered, controlled, and tried to use them like tools; a church that complained incessantly about their weak influence in a city of magic. Then, as if on cue, they discovered a son with considerable magical talent.

It was easy to seduce the lord’s son with magic, as he already had quite an interest in magical matters. Soon, they succeeded in summoning a demon by paying the very cheap price of one human soul completely unrelated to them.

How joyful they had been back then.

They hadn’t even considered the possibility of failure.

But then they heard that the demon, which should have disappeared after destroying just enough of the city to cause the lord’s downfall, had been subjugated by some unheard-of group of human adventurers. They had lost some tower mages in the process, but since they were expendable forces that were difficult to control anyway, the impact wasn’t too severe.

*One should be able to use a demon’s power without being completely dominated by it.*

It was hard to believe, but the city was already significantly damaged, the lord’s position had become extremely precarious, and his beloved son had died as the price for summoning the demon.

Their original plan to drive out the troublesome lord and take over the city was on the verge of success.

They were just about to lay the final cornerstone for a true city of mages, free from anyone’s interference.

Why?

Why was it that these demon slayers, whom they thought had left like the wind, had reappeared to perform some magic-be-damned actions and block their path again!

This was their city. They were mages. Not just any mages, but those belonging to the “Magic Tower.”

How could it make any sense that they had been “annihilated” by mere adventurers?

“…”

But whether it made sense or not, the fact remained that the mages who had gone to punish those who dared to humiliate them and interfere with their cause had never returned.

“Well, you’re all quite silent.”

After receiving news that poured ice water on their heated excitement, the tower’s leadership couldn’t hide their gloomy expressions.

“If we remain idle, those demon slayers will make their move.”

“And?”

“Although our forces have been weakened considerably, if we, the tower’s elite power, take action directly, couldn’t there be a different outcome—”

*CRASH-!*

As soon as one executive tried to overcome the atmosphere and offer an opinion, the Tower Master’s magic exploded in mid-air.

It was a silent spell, but in that explosive sound, one could almost hear the words, ‘Stop with that low-level nonsense.’

“If you’re suggesting that we should seek out those people whose whereabouts and activities we don’t even know, you might want to reconsider.”

“We must not underestimate their reputation as demon slayers. Any further losses would shake the very foundation of our tower. Even if our forces have a slight advantage, going out to fight would be the worst strategy.”

“So you’re suggesting we fortify ourselves, is that it?”

“Does the Tower Master have another solution? Abandoning this place and moving elsewhere is absurd. No matter how much we try to suppress rumors, they will eventually spread, and we will become public enemies. If those adventurers leave Magikant, the spread of rumors is inevitable. So if they are hostile to us, our best option in the current situation is to hold out in the tower and buy time.”

The heated atmosphere had considerably calmed down. The Tower Master nodded with satisfaction and asked again.

“Then what do you think we can do with the time we buy?”

“We could prepare numerous consumables like potions and scrolls for a war of attrition, or prepare forbidden magic that they’ve never seen or heard of to create an asymmetrical force they cannot easily resist, or even prepare to summon another demon.”

“Clear, very clear.”

“Then in which direction should we prepare—”

“Obviously, all of them.”

“…Pardon?”

The executives began to murmur at the Tower Master’s words. In response, the Tower Master slammed his fist on the table.

“Enemies. Enemies who have ruined our cause, openly insulted us, and even massacred our members… Shouldn’t we do everything we can? As soon as this meeting ends, you will all actively participate in these preparations.”

“Y-yes, of course.”

“Buildings can be rebuilt, commoners and slaves can be acquired elsewhere. From now on, don’t worry about the city being destroyed; think only about the tower and our cause. Dismissed!”

The reluctant executives hastily vacated their seats.

A life-or-death all-out war.

No matter how reluctant they were, they couldn’t remain still when their very existence was threatened.

**

“If Earth-Earth’s level were higher, I could just collapse it with an earthquake.”

“I’m definitely learning Meteor Strike as my first ultimate skill. Definitely.”

“At that level, couldn’t we just charge in mindlessly and win anyway?”

Up close, the magic tower was even larger than I’d expected. Of course, compared to the skyscrapers in Korea with dozens or even over a hundred floors, its height was incomparably lower, but how should I describe it? Was it because it had a feeling that could never be seen in Korea, or because it was the den of those crazy mages?

With a bit of exaggeration, it felt like looking at the Tower of Babel from ancient times, which was shattered by God for daring to reach the heavens.

“It gives me the creeps.”

“It does. But we have no choice.”

We came prepared enough to avoid any problems due to our condition. Though I’m not sure if it will work, I’m even considering a “pants run” ending if necessary. I prioritize our safety and passing this floor over resolving the tower’s issues, but I can’t say such dispiriting things before we even try.

Since there was no quest to conquer the Magikant Magic Tower in the game, I recalled my experiences clearing other tower-type dungeons and based our strategy on that, which I shared with everyone.

The raid members’ absolute faith in me, believing that my strategy would work this time too since it was mine.

Sometimes I feel it’s a heavy burden, but I’m grateful.

Perhaps, I’m even enjoying that feeling.

“There are probably numerous traps inside the tower. They’ve likely turned it into a dungeon. We’ll mostly break through using direct methods, but when entering narrow spaces like doors or between floors, Subin will just blast them with magic.”

“Confirmed. Formation?”

“Seyeon-Arang 1331.”

[Seyeon]

[Yuri][Yehyun][Danya]

[Subin][Soyu][Me]

[Arang]

I could see Seyeon at the front, raising her shield and sword while taking a deep breath. Looking at her reliable figure, I gave orders to the raid members who had completed their preparations.

“Let’s go.”

As Seyeon took the lead, the rest moved toward the tower as one body. I carefully checked the surroundings just in case, but there were no traps outside the tower.

“Looks like they didn’t bother with the surrounding area.”

“They don’t have many people left, and setting traps outside the tower wouldn’t be efficient.”

Soon we reached the entrance. At my signal, Subin closed her eyes slightly and concentrated. Then she looked at me and shook her head as if dizzy.

“As expected. With my current skill, it’s so full of various magical energies that I can barely distinguish them. If we just walked in, we’d have become subjects of a medical mystery.”

“You say such brutal things so casually.”

“I’m starting.”

“Yeah.”

Just to be safe, everyone moved a considerable distance away from the tower. Subin began to grow a fireball, big and beautiful, and when it reached a critical size, she shot it at the entrance without hesitation. Simultaneously, Sister Yehyun cast a fire resistance buff and Sister Soyu added a protective barrier, but…

*Whoosh- Whoooosh-*

*Fizzzzz-*

Like a fastball thrown by a major league closer, Subin’s fireball was about to hit the door when it was blocked by something invisible and extinguished with a rather anticlimactic sound.

“…Oh ho.”

Ah. Subin’s pissed.

Subin reflexively tried to cast again, then hesitated and looked at me. Watching the faint smoke rising, I nodded, entrusting it to her, and Subin cast another fireball.

However, this only proved that the previous result wasn’t a coincidence, and the visibly angry Subin began to float not just one but multiple large and beautiful fireballs simultaneously, firing them in succession.

*If one doesn’t work? Two in a row doesn’t work either?*

*Then I’ll keep firing until it does.*

To an outsider, Subin might have looked like a mad sorceress, continuously throwing fireballs at an innocent building. But it was effective.

As the number of fireballs that collided and disappeared increased, their existence time grew longer, and after exceeding ten times, sounds like glass cracking began to be heard.

‘In a way, it’s like Subin alone is playing tug-of-war with the tower. Shouldn’t those tower guys be feeling hurt in their pride?’

I thought Sister Yehyun could join in to break through faster. Actually, the faster we broke through, the better for us, but to establish psychological dominance over those holed up inside, I trusted and waited for Subin’s performance.

And our eternal number one sorceress, Eun Subin, did not disappoint that expectation.

*CRASH—–!!!*

The invisible barrier shattered after the 33rd fireball.

And what we glimpsed beyond the shattered entrance into the interior of the tower was…

“Holy shit…”

These guys hadn’t rapidly turned evil due to demonic influence.

They were showing us plainly that they had summoned a demon because they were rotten from the beginning.

‘Human experiments… chimeras… you fucking bastards.’

Thanks for bringing them to the first floor, you assholes. If your intention was to inflict mental damage on us, then yes, it worked to some extent.

“Subin.”

“Yeah.”

“Yehyun.”

“Yes.”

“Give them a funeral.”

But if you thought we would panic… that was a grave miscalculation.

Soon, a wave of flames engulfed in fury surged toward the first floor.