Chapter 140: Provocation

Seeing the grand tower jutting out towards the sky, one would think that it was the Magic Tower, befitting its name.

But, according to Vivian, it wasn’t actually the case. The real Mage Tower was located behind that grand tower.

“Well, that tower is pretty much just a symbolic building now. I mean, let’s be real here, don’t you think having only that as a functioning building, a little inefficient?”

Walking ahead of the group, Vivian continued his explanation, as if he was their tour guide.

“If you go behind the tower, you’ll see a lot more things than you’d expect. By the way, recently, they’re selling meat and fish infused with special magical fragrances. You should try some. They’re tasty.”

Vivian went on with his speech, his tone filled with pride.

It seemed that he was genuinely proud of being a mage of the Magic Tower.

But this was normal. After all, mages were people who loved to indulge themselves in their supremacist beliefs—they believed that they were those who were blessed by the heavens, unlike others.

“If the Magic Tower is so great, then why did they lose the Mana Core?”

Hearing that question Isaac asked with an indifferent tone, Vivian stopped walking.

He looked around before answering in a low voice.

“That’s the problem. We don’t know. That’s why they’re making so much fuss right now.”

“…”

“Haa… It’s a treasure that has been passed down by the first Tower Master himself. Within it, a century worth of mana is stored…”

“And you guys let such a thing be stolen so easily?”

“…You’re unusually snarky today.”

Vivian remarked, clearly taken aback, but Isaac only averted his gaze and faked a cough.

Sharen, who had been playing a game by herself as she walked, stepping only on the white part of the pavements, came forward and answered for him.

“Isaac is in the middle of training! Basically, he has to say everything that’s on his mind!”

“Training…? Say everything that’s on his mind…?”

“Yep! That’s why he told me to stop stuffing my face with sweets a while ago!”

“…”

Wow, she remembers that…

I’ll have to apologize to her later…

“Tsk, this is why people who use their bodies more than their heads are…”

Such a training was incomprehensible to mages, and it was no different with Vivian.

He probably thought that it wasn’t worth trying to understand what Isaac was up to.

“In any case, that’s why everyone is on edge right now, especially towards outsiders. So, please bear with it for a bit.”

“No. We are your guests, you know?”

“…Is this really training or you’re just…?”

“So, where did you keep the Mana Core?”

The Grandmaster cut off Vivian’s grumbling.

“At the top of the tower of course. Why do you ask?”

“Well, I’m just worried that it might’ve been stolen by those guys.”

Vivian was among those who survived Naraka, so the moment the Grandmaster implied that the Transcendent Race might have something to do with this, his face turned pale.

Clenching his fists, with a determined voice, he…

“This time, I won’t be so helpless. As someone with ‘power’, I will achieve a result that’s worthy of it.”

It seemed like his experience treading the mana-less realm still traumatized him a little.

While listening to Vivian’s bold declaration, Isaac sank deep into his thoughts.

Were the Transcendent Race the one who took the Mana Core?

After hearing the Grandmaster’s and Nameless’ story, that possibility was more likely than one might think.

Lotus Valley, the place where they raised 10 mixed-bloods.

The reason behind that was that they wanted to create Transcendents who could handle mana.

Like Helric, who was practically obsessed with imitating Helric’s Aura…

The Transcendents too, were obsessed with mana—they’d probably try to do anything so that they would be able to use it.

But, would it be worth the trouble for them?

Unlike before, the Transcendent Race wasn’t exactly in a comfortable position.

Though they had taken the Malidean Wall away, they lost a lot of troops in the process—it was hard to call it a satisfying victory for them.

I doubt they’d have the leeway to go after the Magic Tower at this time.

Even if they do, there’s no way they could steal the Mana Core without the mages noticing.

As those questions kept popping up in Isaac’s head, he followed Vivian’s guide and arrived at the back of the tower.

“Woaahh…”

Sharen exclaimed in admiration.

The back of the tower was completely different from what the group had imagined.

Instead of a few buildings being lined-up together…

Behind the tower stretched a long, downward slope that ended in a bowl-like crater.

In it were various buildings, densely packed together.

The buildings seemed to be interwoven haphazardly, but a closer look would make anyone realize that there was a reason why they were arranged this way.

There were also crystal towers, jutting towards the sky, round glass greenhouses that gave off a faint light, and magical structures that operated endlessly.

Seeing this, whether they liked it or not…

“…I can see why they deemed themselves as superior.”

Damian muttered to himself, but everyone else agreed with him.

They had heard of how the Magic Tower was more like a city than a tower, and now they saw how true that was with their own eyes.

“Well, that’s a normal reaction. No one would expect such a sight hidden behind the tower.”

Vivian said proudly.

He continued to explain as they went down the slope.

“There’s a reason why this city is in this shape. In times of war, a magical barrier would appear above the city, preventing the enemies from invading.”

When Vivian was done explaining, the group arrived at the foot of the tallest crystal towers.

The surrounding mages glared at them, but thanks to Vivian being there, no major incidents occurred.

When they entered the crystal tower, they were welcomed by a middle-aged man with a larger stature than one might expect of a mage.

In terms of age, he was probably at the same age as Uldiran or Arandel.

Though he wasn’t as imposing as them, he was still bigger than Isaac.

Unkempt beard, messy hair that was carelessly swept back, a cigarette dangling on his mouth…

The moment he saw the group, he widened his eyes in surprise, snuff out his cigarette, and approached them.

Although, the flame on his cigarette was snuffed out in a single gesture, which was a curious sight to see.

“Hm? Guests? My name’s Legant. I am the Tower Master.”

Before Vivian could introduce him, Legant already stepped forward to introduce himself.

“I am Baron Isaac Logan. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Tower Master.”

“Coming all the way here in this difficult time must’ve been tough on you.”

Though he shook Isaac’s hand and greeted him in such a friendly manner, it was obvious that he didn’t have any particular interest in Isaac.

The moment he was done with his greeting, he immediately turned his gaze towards the two women nearby.

“So? Which one of you is affected by sorcery?”

Presented with a new subject to study, Legant was all vigorous and excited, unbefitting of his age.

Nameless stepped forward and raised her hand.

“I am. Since I’m a prisoner, I will cooperate with you, but dare you demand excessively, I will turn this whole place upside down.”

This is how to act following your instinct.

‘Watch and learn,’ she gestured to Isaac, who felt a headache coming as he quickly interjected.

“She said that, but she’ll cooperate, so please don’t mind her.”

“Hahaha, well as long as she cooperates, I can provide her with anything! Nothing is more valuable than new things to learn! So, is there anything you want to tell me about sorcery, before we start everything?”

“Bring out the liquors and the cigarettes, then we talk.”

Nameless brazenly said, giving Isaac a thumbs-up.

‘This is how it’s done, my dear disciple!’

‘…You know, maybe I should just give up.’

Isaac had thought that things would go downhill from there, but Legant was a more easygoing person than expected.

Rather than feeling offended, he seemed to have taken a liking to Nameless’ brazenness. He nodded enthusiastically as he thumped his chest.

“Of course! You can’t discuss magic without alcohol and cigarettes, after all! Alright, I’ll prepare everything for you right away! Also, why don’t we invite other mages as well?”

Legant and Nameless continued their conversation from there.

Seeing this, Vivian scratched his cheek awkwardly as he approached the rest of the group.

“Let me guide you to your accommodation.”

After exiting the crystal tower, on their way to their accommodation…

“Hey, where are the sweets?”

“D-Did you just call me with a ‘Hey’? Look, I know you’re a Helmont, but you still have to keep—”

“I’m also training!”

“…”

Vivian gave Sharen a suspicious look.

“Hey Sulky, how strong’s the alcohol you mages drink? I wanna get some.”

“S-Sulky?”

“I’m also training.”

At Damian’s teasing, Vivian immediately threw a glance at Isaac.

He was trying to tell him to stop these two, but Isaac’s attention was drawn elsewhere.

At the end of his gaze, there was a bunch of mages, holding their wands in their hands, seemingly having a heated discussion.

“What’s that place?”

The Grandmaster, also interested in it, perked her ears as she asked.

“Ah, that’s the training hall. Every mage of the Tower needs to always be ready for battle, after all.”

“…”

“…”

Both the Grandmaster and Isaac clenched their mouths shut.

The former had already judged how abysmal the mages’ combat abilities were back at the previous standoff.

While the latter had already seen how bad they were firsthand.

How easily those mages were dispatched by the Transcendents in actual combat.

“You can think of it as a training ground for mages, though it’s a little different from what you guys are used to.”

Vivian grinned as he said that.

He shrugged his shoulders as he started to explain what was special about the place.

“Thanks to a special magic, you won’t get hurt in there.”

“Huh? Won’t get hurt?”

The Grandmaster wagged her tail, clearly interested.

Isaac also seemed to be interested as he asked.

“Even if your neck is cut?”

“…Why would your neck get cut in a training? But yes, you won’t get hurt even if your neck gets cut. In the first place, that place is—”

There was no need for further explanation.

Following Nameless’ example…

While rationalizing in his head that this was for the mages’ own benefit as well since their heads were far up their asses right now, Isaac walked towards the building.

“Oh! Fight! Fight!”

“Hey, take it easy on them, alright?”

Noticing what he was up to, Sharen and the Grandmaster followed behind him.

“W-What? F-Fight?!”

“Haha, Brother, accompany me for a bit!”

Meanwhile, Damian grabbed the flustered Vivian before he could do anything.

Seeing Isaac approaching them, the mages turned their gazes at him.

“What? An outsider?”

“Why is there an outsider here at a time like this?”

“Damn, look at his face. Did he use some kind of magic to get a face like that?”

“Wow, he’s hot.”

As they talked among themselves, Isaac approached them, and…

“Excuse me, is this the performance hall?”

“The performance hall? What are you talking about?”

“This is the training hall. A dangerous place where we mages can unleash our combat magic.”

After hearing that, Isaac nodded with a big grin.

“Ah, I came to the right place then.”

After that, silence enveloped the place.

Even the mages’ brilliant minds lagged the moment they heard those words that came out of Isaac’s mouth.

What he was trying to say was that their combat magic looked like a circus performance.

Realizing that, the mages’ eyes blazed as they focused their glares at him.