Chapter 56 : Crack

The old man draped in an ashen coat led me inside the tower.

Although it was called a magic tower, the Grey Tower itself wasn’t a particularly famous place, so what I entered felt more like the interior of a

large building than a tower.

Still, as befitting a magic tower, countless books and rolled-up parchments had spilled from the shelves, filling the corridors. Perhaps

someone just found cleaning too bothersome.

Thanks to that, the already gloomy marble corridor felt even narrower than it was. A remark slipped out of my mouth.

“It’s quite messy in here.”

“Isn’t it? Something happened nearby yesterday, so it’ll be a bit noisy until tomorrow.”

The old man chuckled and responded to my comment. That’s not what I was talking about, though.

Of course, the atmosphere outside was messy too. I thought this was just how it always was around here.

“Did something happen?”

“Some rookie female thief, apparently. Seems she touched something she shouldn’t have.”

“Something she shouldn’t have touched?”

Maybe a royal carriage passed by nearby? I followed him, weaving between stacks of books.

The old man snorted as he pushed through the paper-filled corridor. It was such an inconvenient path. All this clutter reminded me of my

own room.

“Looks like she got greedy for a unicorn horn, even though she’s not a maiden. Tsk tsk, ignorance is a crime, ignorance is.”

Ah. What a foolish reason. Unicorns are so sensitive about their horns, some say the horn is their essence.

Even in death, they react to non-virgins and emit toxins. Mishandling one can cause necrosis, so they require very delicate care.

“Did she die?”

“How would I know? Don’t want to know, either.”

I wasn’t all that curious either. As we entered a room past the corridor, that pathetic story left my mind.

The alchemist’s room. I haven’t been to other towers, but even I could tell this place was different from a typical mage’s chamber.

A huge iron cauldron and various metals. Unfamiliar ingredients I’d never seen before were scattered throughout the room.

‘I think I understand why the Grey Tower is shunned.’

There was a smell. The scent of dark arts. Still, fortunately, alchemy—while strange—leans more toward magic than sorcery.

Because of that, I barely managed to suppress the allergic reaction I get from curse residue.

The old man offered me a chair and I sat down.

“Ah, I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Doubi, cauldron keeper of the Grey Tower. What brings you here, miss? Selling? Buying? Requesting?”

Cauldron keeper—what a unique title. Judging from the room, it seemed a position just below that of the tower’s master. I naturally crossed

one leg and interlocked my fingers.

A habit I have whenever I sit. Makes me look arrogant, though I don’t mean it.

“I’m mainly here to sell, but if there’s something good, I might buy.”

A rather rude tone. Provocative, especially in a tower of alchemy. Maybe it was the lingering smell of dark magic that soured my mood? Could

I end up as the parrot at the entrance if I’m not careful? Surely not… but I didn’t touch the tea in front of me just in case.

As expected, the old man looked slightly annoyed and tapped the table with his finger.

“Do you have enough money? What we sell here isn’t for your average lady, you know…”

“That’s for you to decide.”

Swoosh! I sliced the air with my index finger and opened a subspace. The old man widened his eyes at the sudden portal and froze when he saw what emerged.

I grunted and pulled out a bone with both hands.

“Let me just, put this down. It’s heavier than it looks…!”

Thud. It wasn’t that big, but it was still heavy for me. I dropped it onto the table with a clunk, knocking some items to the floor. He didn’t

seem to care—his eyes were fixed on it.

“This… this is…!”

Correct. The intact bone of a gold dragon, nearly turned into soup stock.

I stopped them from burning it in a funeral cart because their son had a fire attribute, and this was my reward.

Unless my memory is playing tricks, this really happened.

The old man leaned in close, staring so intently it was like he wanted to pierce the bone. Thankfully, he didn’t try to lick it.

After a while, he quietly stood up, saying he would close the shutters, and left the room.

“Here you go, dear customer.”

He returned with a warm smile and handed me a heavy pouch. Whoa, gemstones! I’m not exactly into luxury, but… Of course, it’s not all

mine—I’ll split it three ways. I mean, they wouldn’t have gotten it without me, but I’m not heartless.

Still, now that I think about it… maybe I should’ve grabbed more. If I go back now, the rest of the bones will probably have already dissolved

into mana.

After the transaction, he said he’d show me some items made in the tower and led me to the third floor.

“Hmm.”

“Not to your liking?”

“Honestly.”

“It’s all my fault…! Bad Doubi, bad Doubi!”

As always, I’m reminded—money and power really are amazing.

I can make an old man whose hair is not only white but falling out grovel like this. So this is the joy of playing the villainess.

Of course, I didn’t actually order him to do anything. He just spent all his budget buying the dragon bone and has no funds left for research. If

I don’t buy something, he can’t even begin his work with the bone.

Of the many display cases, the one that first caught my eye was a heart.

Unfortunately, there were no dragon or dark elf hearts. Those are just as rare as dragons themselves.

A cockatrice’s heart? Useless unless you’re into alchemy.

“Not interested in accessories?”

A polite voice. Not bad.

“I’m already pretty without them.”

A joke, of course. As I said before, I don’t wear accessories.

When I glanced around, the black jewelry I once tried wasn’t here. Well, if it were, the Inquisitors would’ve come running by now.

Since I wasn’t picking anything, the old man showed me some medicinal items.

But I’d already taken most of those before—nothing stood out.

‘It’s here too.’

Pungyuhwan. Do they make it here too? The small label read:

—Increases bust size upon consumption.

‘No thanks.’

I have pride. I’m not leaving here with just that. I’m confident.

My chest is average. I don’t need any enhancement.

So I turned away and looked for something else useful. Come to think of it, the ball is soon.

No need for demon-hunting items, so maybe something for everyday use.

Suddenly, I thought of Pontego. Is there a perfume that repels men?

When I asked, the old man tilted his head, then thought carefully.

“Oh, are you looking for a scent that repels people?”

“No, just men.”

“There is something similar…”

He rummaged through a corner and brought out a green bottle. Perfume that attracts the same gender?

Hmm, if it draws attention from the same gender, that naturally reduces attention from the opposite.

Thinking carefully, there’s no harm in that for me.

…Why does this even exist? It probably works though.

At worst, I could just use it as regular perfume.

Still, buying only that felt a bit lacking, so I added a few potions.

Even if they’re not that effective, it’s better than having nothing. The old man’s lips curled into a smile.

When I handed him a small gem, he beamed and started counting the change. What a blooming smile. With all those age spots, his face

looked like a flowerbed.

Feeling good, the old man offered me a wizard’s blessing.

“Watch out for rifts.”

“…Yes, you too.”

Rifts—one of the superstitions of this world.

Gaps in space connecting to other dimensions. Sometimes things appear or vanish, but it’s mostly urban legend. Probably made up to scare

kids from staying out late.

Unverified, mysterious, spooky—they became a wizard’s version of “take care.”

“Please! Spare me! Someone help!”

With that goodbye, I stepped outside past the parrot. The class had already ended long ago.

Every step stirred lingering thoughts.

Damn. Maybe I should’ve seized the chance when I had it.

Trying to forget, I headed toward the academy.

Someone appeared in the middle of an empty space.

Luckily, it was a dark forest with no one around.

Startled by the sudden presence, a few monsters shrieked and scattered.

“…This doesn’t look like Earth either.”

Kang Myeong-jin muttered.