episode_0064

126 Coins.

This is the number of coins currently given to me.

Considering the amount of coins I got last time was in the double digits, this is a very large amount.

Of course, the fact that I haven’t been able to enter the shop floor for a while also had an impact.

I met Kaman after a long time, but his appearance hadn’t changed.

We talked casually while looking at the relics and potions he had laid out.

“Now I can come in here whenever I want.”

“Has it already come to that. I guess I’ll see you often.”

“But does the menu in the bundle change every time I come in here?”

“…That’s right. And the coins are kept as they are.”

“Just in case I’m asking. Card removal is also possible every time, right?”

“It is.”

Grin.

My lips curved up unconsciously.

If I had known this, how good would it have been if I had come sooner?

I regret giving in to Noah’s stubbornness.

“Of course, the cost of removing a card increases each time you do it. Like removing a curse card.”

“I heard that last time. It starts at 10 coins and increases by 5 coins each time you do it.”

I briefly scanned the relics in the bundle spread out before me, but there was nothing I liked.

No, I didn’t even look at them from the start.

Right now, I am at the moment right before winning the championship.

“I’ll remove one card.”

I gave 15 coins.

As the money leaves, the deck also becomes thinner.

Thanks to that, I removed one [Strike] that I was sick and tired of.

I can feel the deck getting lighter in real time.

Even though it’s just one card that’s disappeared.

That’s just how I feel.

“Then I’ll see you in a few days.”

“Aren’t you choosing anything else?”

“There’s nothing I like.”

“Alright. See you soon.”

Actually, there were many things I wanted to ask about.

But I was also tired from going to Zone 0 just before.

And now I can come whenever I decide to.

When I opened my closed eyes again, I was back in the Clan Building.

Seeing my appearance, Noah seemed to sense that something had changed. He glanced at my deck and whined.

“What, you went and came back?”

Noah looked up at me with a disappointed expression.

“What were you expecting? Like it would happen?”

“Oh, damn it.”

Noah went back to his room.

Grace approached me immediately.

Grace took off my outer garment, folded it neatly, and carried it away.

“You worked hard. I’ll wash this and put it away for you.”

“…Thank you.”

I headed straight to my room.

After a quick wash, I lay on the bed and stared blankly at the ceiling.

Ever since I returned from the 5th floor, it hasn’t felt real.

The fact that I came back alive.

Still, one big thing is over.

Now that I’ve somewhat recovered mentally, I need to move forward again.

That’s probably the appearance Hans wanted to see from me.

*

There’s a lot to do.

First, the invitation from the Magic Tower.

I’m curious about my power, and I’m also curious about the magic of the Magic Tower.

Besides, seeing that the Blue Faction Leader called for me feels a bit off.

I guess I should also ask about the black card he mentioned.

Next, the second thing.

Hans’s empty spot.

I won’t enter the dungeon immediately. But I still need to fill the empty spot soon.

It will be difficult, but this is the life of an explorer.

First, I stopped by the Guild.

This time, Rain was waiting at her desk.

She was surprised to see me.

“You came back earlier than expected.”

“I don’t think he would want me to keep being depressed.”

“…That’s right.”

“Please find me a new party member. The position is…”

“Just a moment.”

Rain cut off my words, took a breath, and then spoke calmly.

“Since it’s turned out this way, how about expanding the scale to a clan unit gradually?”

Clan.

It’s the word used to describe a group of explorers who have gathered together.

Of course, it doesn’t happen just by gathering.

You need permission from the Guild.

I had thought about it to some extent.

That I should gradually gather party members on a clan unit.

But there was a reason I hadn’t done so.

“I planned to do it after things stabilized a bit.”

“Alright. Then shall I post a recruitment notice for a warrior position party member?”

“…No.”

My mind changed.

As Rain said, even on floors 1-3, people operate on a clan unit. There’s no reason to stick to 5 members in the mid-layers or upper layers.

Anyway, the sooner the better to match up and adapt to the clan.

“Then let’s recruit clan members, the number of people is…”

“I’ll gather applicants first, so take as many as you want.”

“Thank you.”

“I’ll contact you when the recruitment is complete.”

*

A towering tower.

This place, where magic stones float around it, is the [Magic Tower] that symbolizes Zone 11.

Except for wandering mages in the Dungeon City or mages who are active as explorers, almost all mages are in the Magic Tower.

This is due to the special nature of mages.

The basic goal of mages is the development and study of magic, to the extent that it’s rare for a mage to even want to become an explorer.

Since their basic principle of action is like that, there’s no reason for them to leave the Magic Tower.

Or so I heard.

I entered through the wide-open entrance, but nothing seemed significantly different.

I had expected a mysterious tower filled with magic tools and spells, being the Magic Tower.

Unfortunately, it didn’t seem to be like that.

“What is the matter?”

I gave the invitation I received from the Blue Faction Leader to a beastkin guide at the desk.

“Ivan Arcana. This is your temporary pass.”

I received the pass and followed the 안내 to go up the Magic Tower.

Step, step.

I climbed the stairs diligently.

Unfortunately, there was no elevator or anything similar.

I was foolish to have expected such a thing in the Magic Tower.

The floor assigned to the Blue Faction was the 21st floor.

I kept climbing the stairs.

Furthermore, the height of the 1st floor wasn’t low, so it was incomparably higher than the 21st floor of a modern apartment.

At least looking at the panoramic view of the Dungeon City through the windows next to the stairs wasn’t bad.

“…Interesting.”

The mages of the Magic Tower inevitably have good physical stamina due to the structure.

Since they climb up and down these stairs every day.

Perhaps I had a prejudice in thinking that mages were weak in physical strength.

All of this was the conclusion I reached after discovering the thick calves of the mages.

“Huh? Witch Slayer, Ivan?!!”

While climbing the stairs, someone shouted at me.

I turned my head to see two mages below me staring at me and talking.

“How did you get here?”

“Didn’t the Blue Faction Leader call him because of his performance on the 5th floor this time?”

The mages were talking among themselves.

Hearing what they said, it seemed they knew me.

But I had never seen people who looked like them even once.

I didn’t have any mages I was close with either.

Since I came to the Magic Tower as a guest, I politely asked.

“…Who are you?”

“It’s me!! Habann! Habann of the Red Faction!!”

“So, who is that?”

“Didn’t we, we meet on the 2nd floor!!”

A mage I met on the 2nd floor.

I started recalling my memories in my head.

Unfortunately, the memories from the 2nd floor are a bit hazy.

All sorts of things happened, and I pushed myself quite a bit.

Two mages I met when I arrived at the safe zone came into my memory.

Unfortunately, I don’t remember their names.

Because I am the type who doesn’t remember the names of those I defeated.

Just that there was one man and one woman?

In other words, they were not important people.

“I see. Then please go on your way.”

I ignored them and started climbing the stairs.

However, Habann kept following me.

As expected of a mage from the Magic Tower, his skill in climbing stairs was top-notch.

“Wait, why are you ignoring me?”

“I’m not ignoring you, were we close enough to have a conversation?”

“…Well, no.”

I looked at Habann’s clothes.

Originally, I didn’t know what the symbol on his clothes was, but now I know exactly.

The symbol of the Red Faction.

It was a place that mainly handled fire magic.

It was also the faction where the mage I met on the 5th floor, Kerick, stayed.

“If you were on the 5th floor, you must know a wandering mage named Kerick?”

Habann said to me with an innocent expression.

I wasn’t feeling great already because the memory of Kerick came to mind.

And then he brings up that topic.

Suddenly, what Kerick said came to mind.

[Mages like me, who are not purebloods and are called ‘outsiders’, are primarily selected for tasks like helping out in the outside world.]

The discrimination against wandering mages.

I first felt that from the two mages on the 2nd floor, Habann and Layla.

Habann is one of them.

It seems inevitable that he has some connection to Kerick.

Flinch!

From that moment on, something started churning inside me.

No.

I can’t cause trouble here.

“…I don’t know.”

I ignored Habann and started climbing the stairs.

But the words that came next stopped my steps.

“What do you mean you don’t know. I know you talked to him.”

“I just talked to him to pass the time. Do you know what I said on the 2nd floor?”

“Well, yeah. More importantly, did that wandering mage tell you anything? There was something I had him research…”

“Why are you asking me that?”

“Oh, I can’t even ask? That’s why you shouldn’t dine with wandering mages.”

Up to this point, I could tolerate it more or less.

Because I knew they were originally like this.

“As expected, it was good that I sent him to the 5th floor instead of me this time. ‘Outsiders’ should at least do things like that…”

The moment Habann uttered those words, I instantly lost my rationality.

[Strike]

Bang!!

A strong impact hit Habann’s upper body.

His mage robes ripped apart, and his upper body tilted backward.

Snap!!

I heard the sound of Habann’s bones breaking.

“…Huh?”

The gazes of the mages around me simultaneously turned towards me.

Among them, a mage from the Red Faction, who seemed to be Habann’s companion, started creating a fireball.

My rationality returned.

My rapidly moving eyes assessed the situation around me.

Alright, the deed is done.

Now what should I do?

As my heated head cooled down, countless branching paths began to open.

First, don’t unleash my senses.

Looking at the myriad of senses I feel on my skin, it’s the worst possible choice.

Ding!

The status window appeared, and 3 cards were drawn.

First, block the attack.

With just that thought, a Golem that sprang from sub-space wrapped a protective shield around me.

Woosh!

The fireball, blocked by the protective shield, scattered to either side.

Kyaaak!!

The screams of the attendants began to be heard.

But this isn’t the end yet.

This is the Magic Tower.

You have to consider at least half of the people you see to be mages.

Crackle.

I felt my hair slightly move from the static electricity rising.

A mage from the Yellow Faction on the stairs shot lightning at me.

The defensive Golem that blocked the fireball immediately changed its trajectory and flew towards the Yellow Faction mage.

In the meantime, I quickly checked the cards.

[Vortex(3)] [Blink(0)] [Telekinesis(1)]

Fortunately, magic with insufficient lethality came up.

If I killed someone here, there would be no turning back.

Don’t attack. But protect myself.

Woosh!!

The Red Faction mage created and threw a spear of fire.

Since the Golem was still blocking the incessant lightning, I threw a card to evade.

[Blink]

Before I knew it, I was behind the Red Faction mage.

Killing him is impossible.

Then.

Smack!!

I strongly hit the mage’s side.

As I stepped on the falling mage with my foot, I heard a sound.

There was a mage coming up from below and casting magic.

I immediately used a card.

[Telekinesis]

I simply floated up one mage who was rushing towards me.

“What’s going on!!!”

A crowd.

Several mages started coming down from above.

And as soon as they spotted me, they prepared their magic.

Just as I was about to use a card to respond.

“Stop!!!”

Someone was holding my right hand.

An old man with a long white beard.

But perhaps because of the mana condensed in his hand?

I couldn’t find any strength to move my arm at all.

Snap-

All the magic around us was extinguished before it could even be cast.

Even the lightning that had already been activated.

As if I had reversed the Divine Power and broken it.

“Magic Tower Master!!!”

In an instant, all the mages bowed their heads.

Magic Tower Master.

As soon as I heard that name, I immediately backed down and showed my intention not to fight.

“Have you calmed down a little?”

“…Yes.”

The Magic Tower Master released the wrist he was holding.

He stroked his white beard and said.

“Do you know what the purest magic is?”

“…Yes?”

“No. More than that, I should apologize. It seems our mage committed an offense.”

The Magic Tower Master suddenly apologized.

Then, could it be that he was watching all of this?

It’s a possibility.

…There was no reason not to accept the apology for now.

“It’s alright.”

“Good then. Hey! Call someone to treat this young mage.”

Even before the Magic Tower Master finished speaking, the mages and attendants started moving.

Seeing their actions, I newly realized this old man’s position.

Essentially, the ruler of Zone 11.

That person is now next to me.

“Then I’ll take this person with me.”

Suddenly, the Magic Tower Master touched my shoulder.

“What…?”

Before I could speak, surprised, a strong light enveloped my body.

When I came to my senses, I had already arrived somewhere with the Magic Tower Master.

A spacious room.

It was filled with various experimental tools and magic tools, making it hard to call it just a room.

My personal impression was that it felt like a research lab.

Are mages science-oriented?

I don’t know the details.

But there was someone else in the space where the Magic Tower Master was.

Wiggle, wiggle.

Moving ears.

A beastkin woman was sitting in a seat.

But the Magic Tower Master was surprised to see her.

“Who are you?”

It was strange that even the Magic Tower Master didn’t know her.

I immediately tried to reach for my deck to prepare for combat.

“Ma, Magic Tower Master, you called for me yourself!!”

The beastkin woman shouted urgently.

Our eyes met.

I’ve seen that face somewhere before.

I immediately remembered.

She’s one of the three guides who work with Rain.

She helped me recruit party members for a moment when Grace was out the other day.

While the memory came to mind, I suddenly felt something strange.

“Huh, a Guild guide?”

Why is a Guild guide in the Magic Tower Master’s room?

“Oh, no…!!”

The beastkin guide was startled and didn’t know what to do.

Seeing her reaction, I wondered if something was wrong, so my hand naturally went to my deck.

While all sorts of thoughts and possibilities filled my head.

The Magic Tower Master, like a mastermind, stroked his beard and glanced at me out of the corner of his eye.

Is this really a big problem?

Then, the Magic Tower Master shouted.

“Ah! I wasn’t supposed to be caught by you on this, was I?”

It seems the Magic Tower Master is a senile old man.

*

“Actually, I was secretly trying to put someone in your party through the guide to keep an eye on you!!!”

The Magic Tower Master revealed the truth refreshingly.

No, is there anyone who reveals something like this?

“Well, I failed, so you’ll let it slide, right?”

“……”

I was speechless.

Because there was such a huge difference in status.

What could a normal wandering mage do against the Magic Tower Master, who is virtually the ruler of Zone 11?

I nodded with a deadpan expression.

The beastkin guide had already left.

He sent her back to the Guild via spatial movement.

It seems the beastkin guide overheard me telling Rain that I was going to recruit clan members.

And she came to report that news to the Magic Tower Master.

I had expected political maneuvering like this to start soon, but I never imagined the Magic Tower would do something like this to me.

Could it be that he knows my true identity?

Then what should I do?

I subtly looked into the Magic Tower Master’s eyes, which showed no sign of what he was thinking, and then averted my gaze.

“…Since you’ve already found out, I’ll just tell you openly.”

The Magic Tower Master spoke coldly.

That voice sent chills down my spine.

All sorts of signals flooded my head.

Run away from here now.

I felt like someone who had walked into a tiger’s den on their own.

I made the wrong choice.

Could it be that the Magic Tower Master ordered the Blue Faction Leader to bring me here, and then deliberately used Habann to provoke me?

Just as all sorts of conspiracy theories were starting to consume my mind.

The Magic Tower Master spoke.

“Become my disciple.”

“……”

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