Chapter 71
Chapter 71
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Disciples of Idal's Magic Tower
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"We've found them."
*Finally!*
The rainy season was nearly over.
The steady drizzle that had fallen for ten straight days had turned into sporadic showers by yesterday.
And then, in the evening, the head of the information guild, Smience, had arrived.
His plump face radiated confidence.
"Where are they?"
"Haha, closer than you think, yet farther in a way."
*Closer yet farther?*
True to form for a guild that dealt in secrets, the guildmaster was playing coy with his riddles.
"If you mention my name to the Rubis Merchant Guild, they'll settle up in cash."
The 10 million gold from selling off those dwarf goods.
Plus 2 million gold in cash from the monster hides gathered during subjugations.
Even the wyvern hides from those dead Temir bastards had fetched a tidy sum.
Money was no object.
"They were in the Raviter Empire. We only confirmed their trail by sheer luck recently, and no one else has this intel yet."
With the money sorted, Smience finally opened up.
A true information merchant, living and dying by coin.
"How many are there?"
"We couldn't pin down the exact number. And this info will hit the other magic towers soon."
*Huh?*
"We've had an automatic pact with the magic towers for a century. Any news on Idal's Death Eyes brats and their subordinate mages gets relayed to them immediately for at least a hundred years."
*Cough! Those ruthless bastards.*
The magic towers' tenacity was stickier than raw rubber bands.
Who else demands intel for a decade—no, a century?
It also spoke volumes about how infamous his master had been back then.
"Where exactly?"
He had to move fast, before the magic towers caught wind.
In a pinch, all they had were a handful of 3rd-circle mercenary mages. High-circle mages were crucial for the territory's growth.
Unless he could split himself into multiples.
"They've been hiding out in the Kobiran Mountains."
"Ko-Kobiran?"
"Yes. Apparently, a few mercenary hunters ventured deep into the Kobiran Mountains recently and stumbled on a cave magic tower inhabited by mages. If they hadn't found it, our guild wouldn't have either."
"How did you confirm they were Idal's disciples?"
"That was straightforward too. According to our top-grade guild operative who got close, the spells they used while hunting matched the attack magic invented by Idal the mage in the records we secured. Reliability: ninety percent."
"Hmm..."
When an information guild rated something ninety percent, there was nothing left to ask.
"Thanks."
"You're a premium client of our guild, my lord. Ask for any intel you need in the future—we'll handle it at special rates."
That damn "special rate" again.
They slap "discount" on it, but trim the quantity or tack on fees—a classic twenty-first-century scam.
Yet here was Smience pushing his special discount.
*Freebies and deals grind my gears! Who does he think he's fooling?*
Smience had no clue about the guy who'd chased freebies until meeting his master and jumping to this distant planet—who knew which one.
I shot a nasty smirk at his beaming face.
"The location's marked here. Special intel, but it's already reserved, so by the time I got here, the other magic towers will be notified."
"Got it."
"Um... out of curiosity, why are you looking for them?"
Sly as a fox.
He'd pocketed the cash and now fished for more.
"Didn't I tell you? Knowing too much gets you hurt."
A cold grin crept across my lips.
Time to step on him once.
"H-Haha. Just kidding."
Smience forced a laugh to dodge the awkwardness.
I fixed him with a venomous glare.
"Do I look like I'm in the mood for games with you?"
"I-I'm sorry!"
Thud.
Smience, who'd dared a feeble rebellion against the master of verbal beatdowns, dropped to his knees the moment he sensed mortal peril from my icy words.
"One last warning."
"..."
He kept his head down, listening intently.
"Gathering info is fine, but if you or yours are caught spying openly on me or my territory, I'll wipe you and your guild from Neruman forever. I swear it on my name."
We were the kind of acquaintances who needed clear boundaries—close enough, yet not too close.
And it was sincere advice.
No one likes their secrets leaking everywhere.
"I'll remember."
He got the message, bowing his head.
He wouldn't dare underestimate me again.
The smart ones catch the dagger hidden in a smile.
"Now get out."
"Rest well."
Smience rose, bowed, and vanished.
I ignored his farewell and snatched up the wax-sealed document.
*Raviter Empire—that's prime Gauss Magic Tower territory, isn't it?*
Danger prickled at me.
They wouldn't let something worth monitoring for a century slide.
Rustle, rustle.
I scanned the document for the precise spot.
*Holed up in the heart of the mountains all this time...*
The continent's great mountain ranges dotted the land.
The small ones spanned principalities; the larger ones rivaled kingdoms.
Untouched by human hands in many spots.
Not just monsters—magical beasts would swarm those depths.
*We leave at dawn tomorrow.*
Decision made.
They were tied to Master Gandalf.
Which meant tied to me.
*Heh. All mine.*
A silent chuckle escaped.
They were my flock.
Master's possessions were the disciple's too.
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Flutter, flutterflutterflutterflutter.
*Unbelievable.*
The relentless downpour from last night had stopped.
No—the low clouds that had blanketed the sky for ten days were gone, and the blazing sun now bathed the earth.
"Ah..."
From Bebeto's back, gazing at the land below, I couldn't hold back my exclamation.
The earth, kissed by fresh rainwater.
It was transformed from just days ago.
Like a girl blooming into a woman, the land had donned new garb.
No longer mere green—it wore deep, lush emerald robes like a lady.
*This land is mine!*
Not fully mine yet, but everyone called me its lord.
"Fly higher! Bebeto, higher!"
Staring at it stirred my blood.
Dreams swelling my chest fueled boundless energy.
"Haaaaah!"
A deep breath.
Krooooaaaar!
Bebeto beat his wings powerfully, soaring toward the sun.
No greater joy.
With dreams, hope, and fearless courage to charge ahead—a beautiful future unfurling.
I'd claim it all.
I'd paint what I envision onto this land.
Kayre, the archmage from the 21st century!
I'd shake the continent with that mighty name.
My dream was the coolest, most beautiful one around...
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"Be cautious, Your Highness. There's a high chance they're dangerous black mages."
"Haha, no worries. If I let black mages roam imperial soil knowingly, how could I call myself the crown prince of the empire?"
"Still..."
"I said I'm fine. Let's head out. Even if they're strong, you've got a 6th-circle master and the imperial Sky Knights—what's there to fear? Plus, the Yanobis ducal Sky Knights are coming too."
*Of all people, the info leaks to the prince.*
Dorvit, a court mage of the Raviter Empire and 6th-circle mage, grimaced at the prince's words.
The Raviter Empire, where Gauss Magic Tower mages operated most due to its geography.
Viscount Dorvit, who handled major intel for Gauss Tower, was in a bind.
He'd tagged along innocently when his close friend, the 2nd Prince Alskein—trusted more by nobles and the emperor than the crown prince—invited him to the Yanobis ducal estate for summer break.
Gauss Tower had deliberately positioned Dorvit to cozy up to the 2nd Prince, who enjoyed greater favor.
But it backfired.
Last night, an information guild agent visited Dorvit.
Spotted him handling century-old intel on Idal's remnants, as per their pact.
Dorvit had tossed it aside in his room corner, dumbfounded by the "century ago" tag.
While he was briefly out, the prince had peeked in, spotted the document.
Luckily, key phrases were in magical code only mages could read—disaster averted.
Now, a black mage purge was underway.
The hot-blooded nineteen-year-old prince, fired up by Dorvit's cover story, insisted on heading out immediately to exterminate them.
*Idal's tower rats still crawling around... Persistent vermin.*
Details fuzzy after so long, but a century ago, Idal vanished abruptly, sparking all-out war.
Magic towers, long suppressed by him, allied with empires and kingdoms forced to pay tribute through tears.
Dozens of Idal branch towers continent-wide hit simultaneously; the massive 30-story central tower crumbled.
The hunt began.
Hundreds of high-circle mages trained by Idal slaughtered; a decade of purges.
Idal's Magic Tower faded into history's wheel.
Stragglers popped up over decades, executed—but none in recent decades.
Yet like tenacious cockroaches, Idal's seeds sprouted in the Kobiran Mountains.
*The tower's been notified—they'll act soon.*
Dorvit, a recent 6th-circle master unlikely for vice-towerlord yet, eyed the vacant spot.
A chance to shine with results.
*Ten imperial Sky Knights, ten regulars. Plus a 6th-circle and a 5th-circle domain mage—worth a shot.*
Times had shifted; Sky Knights now outshone mages.
Even mages flying with Fly spells and hurling attacks couldn't dodge long-range Blast Spears.
Escape was easy if needed.
"Whew... Very well. But Your Highness must not lead. If harm comes to your person, we knights bear the punishment."
"Hahaha. No such worries. Who could pierce imperial Sky Knights to touch me? Let's go. Can't have those black mages fleeing."
Prince Alskein, thrilled like on a picnic, hopped onto his gold wyvern symbolizing Raviter.
"Depart!"
Yanking the reins, he bellowed takeoff.
Flutter, flutterflutterflutterflutter.
Ten golden wyverns followed the prince, wings pounding; behind, Dorvit's tower wyvern and ten gray Yanobis ducal wyverns kicked off the ground.
Sudden mage hunt—knights as pumped as the prince.
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*Refreshing!*
After rumbling over flat plains, we reached the Kobiran Mountains.
Six full hours from Denfos.
Towering forests stretched below.
Whirlwinds licked the sky, lifting my spirits.
*Can't even rest from the unease.*
Bebeto, my constant mount lately, was endurance-testing.
Other wyverns needed an hour's break after this flight, but Bebeto cruised casually.
Not full throttle, riding sky currents to save energy.
*My territory to here.*
The Neruman map in my office.
Half the Rual Mountains bordering Bazran Empire, half the Kobiran bordering Raviter—mine.
Broader than neighboring Habis Kingdom.
*Fewer monsters than expected.*
Nothing like Rual Mountains' hordes.
Likely because they hadn't linked to the continent-spanning mother range via Rual-Litor spurs where Temir lurked.
Plus subjugation pressure from Habis and Raviter.
*Hide tight. Don't show a hair.*
Century-old seeds from Master.
Heading to them felt oddly fun.
Wonder what faces they'd make if I announced myself as Idal's disciple.
Whiiiish.
Shiiiish.
Sea winds surged up the mountains into the sky.
Bebeto and I surfed the wind waves.
Sky's infinite freedom.
Once tasted, unforgettable—like a first kiss.
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*Huh, what's that wyvern pack?*
I'd paused mid-flight for jerky and water by a small lake.
Three-plus hours along the range to the center.
Sweet rest, then onward to the mapped spot.
But far off, a wyvern group flew into view.
Too distant—even mana scopes on my helm showed black dots.
The gold gleam caught my eye, or I'd have missed them.
*Same direction as me?*
Their path matched mine—through the big triangle peak on the map.
*No way?*
Smience's words hit: reserved info, already to other towers.
Faster action than expected.
I'd flown next day after intel; didn't think they'd beat me here.
Tug.
I yanked reins, sending Bebeto high.
Whatever—whoever—tail them first.
*Touch my meal, and you all die.*
Murphy's Law: unlikely became reality too often.
Numbers meant nothing now; I wasn't scared.
Kids grow fighting—like me, now pulling my weight(?).
If not, oh well.
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*Those bastards!*
Thirty minutes tailing.
They hit the exact range and valley from the guild map.
Circling skyward, ten wyverns landed.
*Let's see what they do.*
Clearly no goodwill visit.
That gold wyvern especially—Raviter's symbol, no doubt.
Shiiiik.
Plenty of peaks around their circle; I eased Bebeto between, hiding.
"Bebeto, come when I call."
Kroo, kroo.
Smart Bebeto nodded.
Thud.
Three klicks out.
Landed Bebeto mid-slope; I leaped off.
No Fly—mana steps through the woods.
*Magic traps, Master's style.*
His favorite traps everywhere: silent pitfalls, air missiles for hunting.
Kept monsters out.
Tadadadak.
But too clumsy for me.
Like writing hanja before a scholar or integrals before a math prof—no hindrance.
Dodged trees and traps, accelerating.
Kwaaang!
Then, earth-shaking roar.
Pum-pum-pum.
".....!!!!!"
Chain explosions.
*Those fuckers!*
Shoving chopsticks into my rice, they blow their nose in it.
Shing.
Drew my sword.
If attacked proved Master's disciples—those fools become terrified strays on a dog-day.
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"Protect His Highness!"
Ching-ching-ching.
"Inferno!"
Whiiiing.
Wide clearing before a 10-meter-high cave mouth.
Gold wyverns lined up; guard knights drew swords around the prince.
Court mage Dorvit raised his mana staff for a 5th-circle fire AOE.
Mage mana, staff mana, ambient mana—harmonized.
Fwaaah.
Briefly.
Two-second delay, then thick red mana beam from staff whirled toward the cave.
Paat!
Instantly, blue mana light shot from within.
Whiiiing.
Rippling Water Shield barrier.
Pum-pum-pum-pum-pum.
Man-sized fire spells smashed the shield, exploding loudly.
*Damn it all!*
Dorvit, who shunned curses for noble mage airs.
Humiliated before the prince.
His spells met counters from the cave.
Just 4th-circle shields max—yet his always shattered.
*Not high-circle. At best 4th. But mana pool rivals 5th.*
As a mage, he knew the play.
Fifth attack already.
Ducal 5th-circle twice, his three.
All failed.
"Viscount Dorvit, how much longer?"
Prince irked, no enemy in sight.
Golden curls, stubborn eyes and lips—must-achieve temperament.
"A moment, please."
No grimacing before prince; slight bow.
*Block this, you rats.*
After trap fiasco at entrance, Dorvit gritted, raised staff for 6th-circle.
"Song of fire, children of flame bearing hot pleas—unleash your breath here!"
6th-circle fire attack.
Whiiiing.
Chant done; head-sized red mana orb on staff.
"Flame Cannon!"
Savage flames roared at cave mouth.
Full power—like glowing lava beam.
Ziiing.
Counter from cave, as expected.
Sensing doom, three Water Shields layered fast.
Puuung! Puuung! Puuuung!
But 6th-circle was 6th for a reason.
Pierced shields, vanished inside.
Kwaaaaaang!
Inner explosion.
Roooaaar.
Flames couldn't contain—shot out the mouth.
"Ooooh! A 6th-circle spell is truly magnificent!"
Prince Alskein, uncaring of lives inside, exclaimed in thrill.
Even princes rarely saw 6th-circle attacks.
Masters were titled nobles or tower execs—not casually ordered.
*Heh, survivors'll crawl out.*
Guild intel: cave not deep.
This backlash forces exit.
Direct 6th fire melts thick iron doors.
"They're coming!"
Knights spotting presences inside yelled.
Step-step, thud-thud.
Crackle-crackle.
Footsteps from flame-filled cave.
"Gasp!"
"W-What?!"
Tense watchers gaped at emerging forms.
Clothes mostly burned off by magic.
No—those figures.
Surprisingly, they weren't human.
.