Chapter 106: The 19th Floor. Magic World (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 106: The 19th Floor. Magic World (1)
“Whoaaa...!”
Tia’s jaw dropped as she let out a cry of pure admiration.
The Arcana Gem School had previously been relegated to the 11th floor. As the lowest level, it had been incredibly old and dilapidated. But the place she stood in now was the complete opposite. It was vast, filled with an array of expensive-looking experimental tools, and rows of pristine grimoires lined the bookshelves in neat, orderly rows.
“Is—is this really our school’s new status? Oh my god!”
She had ascended to the very top floor of the Magic Tower.
The reason was simple: Kang Jun-hyeok had proven the power of Arcana Gem Magic in the tournament. He had defeated the direct disciple of the Magic Tower Master—a genius who appeared only once every hundred years.
It was an unbelievable result. Although Kang Jun-hyeok had displayed eerily fast movements during the duel, that wasn't what stuck in the mages' minds. What they remembered was the sheer weight of the Arcana Gem Magic as it pressured Alprain.
The Magic Tower was a strict meritocracy. It was only natural for the Arcana Gem School, having proven its worth, to leave the 11th floor and relocate to the tower's summit in an instant. Tia rushed toward a table and cheered.
“Whoa! There are gems here too! My god! I can’t believe they’re providing these as well!”
Kang Jun-hyeok took a quick look and muttered, “The purity isn't that high.”
They were cloudier and smaller than the gems Jun-hyeok possessed. Tia, who had been rejoicing, let out a groan.
“I’m telling you, the gems you have are the outliers! You have dozens of gems where just one could support a family for three generations. Seriously, where did you even get them?”
Regardless, it was a windfall for her. She giggled and threw herself into a chair, letting out a moan of ecstasy at the soft, luxurious feel of the upholstery.
“Ah... I never thought the day would come when I’d receive this kind of treatment. It’s all thanks to you!” She suddenly stood up and faced Kang Jun-hyeok. “You’re like a miracle sent to me by the God of Magic. Thank you, truly.”
“I should be the one thanking you. I was only able to learn magic because of you.”
“Then it’s a win-win for both of us! I’ll be in your care from now on too!”
Tia held out her hand, and Kang Jun-hyeok took it. As they shook hands, a system window appeared.
[Title: Arcana Gem School Apprentice Mage has evolved into Arcana Gem School Mage.]
[18th Floor Progress Quest Cleared.]
[Checking achievement rate...]
[Check complete.]
[Achievement Rate: 100%]
[Perfect Clear. Congratulations! Additional rewards will be granted.]
[Players who have Perfect Cleared the 18th Floor: 2.]
[Universe Announcement.]
[Please celebrate! Everyone in the universe! A Perfect Player for the 18th Floor has appeared.]
[Feat +3]
[The quest will continue into the 19th Floor Progress Quest. Clear rewards will be distributed after all progress quests are completed.]
The 18th floor was a progress quest, just like the 10th floor. It didn't end with a single level. Kang Jun-hyeok exhaled and lay down on the bed.
“That was long.”
It had taken over a month just to clear this stage. It was the longest floor so far. Having spent that time learning magic like a madman without even sleeping, a significant amount of fatigue had accumulated. As he rested, he stared blankly at the system window.
[Players who have Perfect Cleared the 18th Floor: 2.]
He wasn't the only one who had Perfect Cleared the 18th floor. There was one more.
He had known from the start that the condition for a Perfect Clear was winning the tournament. He only knew this because he had heard it from someone who had achieved it in his past life.
Alprain was a genius. Born with a talent for magic that appeared once every hundred years in the universe, he had even played an active role in the Great War of the Universe for ownership of the cosmos. Many players were called magical geniuses, but none of them could defeat Alprain.
Except for one person.
A genius who appeared perhaps once in ten thousand years. A Half-Human Half-Demon. The player to whom Jun-hyeok had yielded the Lemegeton in his past life.
The successor of the Demon King.
He had Perfect Cleared the 18th floor.
‘His mental state was a mess, but his abilities were the real deal.’
Thinking that far, Kang Jun-hyeok smiled. To put it another way, it meant he had succeeded in achieving a Perfect Clear on a floor that required magic, matching a genius of that caliber.
“Very good,” he muttered happily. His growth rate was incomparable to his past life.
‘At this rate, maybe I can achieve even more in the next event.’
Various events took place during the ascent of the tower. Among them was an event that occurred before the third test—one designed to determine an individual's absolute limits. It was an event that was considered nearly impossible to clear.
Calculating based on his current growth rate, it might actually be possible to clear it. It was only a possibility, but it wasn't out of reach. To do that, he would have to clear the tower even more perfectly.
“Pixie,” Kang Jun-hyeok called out.
[Yahoo!]
Pixie appeared, her eyes sparkling. [How was it?]
“See for yourself.”
Kang Jun-hyeok held out his hand. Pixie, receiving the memories, let out a gasp.
[Alprain. I remember fighting alongside him during the Great War. It’s been a while. And you beat him? Arcana Gem Magic... what a strange magic.]
Pixie muttered as if it were fascinating. Even to her, who collected all things in the universe, Arcana Gem Magic felt alien.
[Hmph. That was fun.]
“Yeah. See you next time,” Kang Jun-hyeok replied calmly.
The 18th floor was a progress quest. To receive a reward from her, he had to finish all the progress quests in the chain. However, Pixie groaned and toyed with her hair before clapping her hands as if she had made a decision.
[Mmm. Hmm. Here. Take this!]
[50 Starlight.]
Starlight was granted. Kang Jun-hyeok’s eyes widened. “What? I thought it was given after the progress quest ended?”
[Normally, yes. But you gave me Eldiria’s memories, didn't you? This is a bonus for that!]
[Do not use the memories of others as a bargaining chip.]
Eldiria spoke up, sounding displeased, but Jun-hyeok didn't have the luxury to care. He now had 1,000 Starlight. There was something he could buy immediately.
“I’ll purchase Pixie’s Wings.”
[Great. Take them!]
[You have acquired the Active Skill: Pixie’s Wings.]
[Active Skill: Pixie’s Wings]
Rank: Mid-Rank
Proficiency: F
Cooldown: 60 minutes
Effect: You can manifest Pixie’s Wings and fly freely for 1 minute.
Kang Jun-hyeok smiled.
Pixie’s Wings, which allowed him to fly freely through three-dimensional space. He had finally obtained a skill of incalculable value. Furthermore, considering the clear conditions for the 19th floor, obtaining this now was a gain worth a fortune.
“Thank you,” Kang Jun-hyeok said, expressing his gratitude.
[Shouldn't you thank me first?]
“I am always grateful to you, Lady Eldiria. It’s hard to put into words.”
[Hmph.]
Eldiria made a satisfied sound. Pixie watched the scene as if it were bizarre.
[You’ve changed a lot too, Eldiria.]
[I don’t think you’re one to talk.]
[I guess that’s true. Well, see you later!]
Pixie vanished. Kang Jun-hyeok closed his eyes with a pleasant expression. After taking a sufficient rest, he re-entered the tower.
Upon entering the 19th floor, he saw Tia giggling and researching in the lab.
“You look happy.”
“Wouldn't you be? My treatment has completely changed!” Tia spread her arms and spun her chair around. She was incredibly happy. Having received recognition for her magic, all sorts of support were pouring in. The way people treated her had changed as well. Those who used to ignore or look down on her now smiled and flattered her.
“Yesterday, an envoy from a kingdom came by to ask if I wanted to become a Court Wizard! At this rate, it might not be a dream for me to become the next Magic Tower Master! It’s all thanks to you!”
“Is that so?”
Unfortunately, her dream would not come true. Not long from this point in time, the Great War of the Universe for ownership of the cosmos would break out. In the end, she was a being from the distant past—before the Great War.
After watching her for a moment, Kang Jun-hyeok spoke. “If.”
“Yeah?”
“If, after your death, your magic spread throughout the entire universe and everyone came to use it... how would you feel?”
“...Huh?” Tia looked at him as if she didn't understand what he was talking about. But as Kang Jun-hyeok looked at her seriously, she also began to ponder with a grave face. After a moment, she spoke. “If that happened... I would have nothing more to wish for.”
She answered with eyes shining brilliantly, looking ecstatic just at the thought. It was clearly the expression of a fanatic who had staked her life on magic. Kang Jun-hyeok gave a short laugh.
“I see.”
“But why all of a sudden?”
“No, it’s nothing. The thought just crossed my mind.”
Kang Jun-hyeok looked away. Tia was curious, but she didn't pry further. She just sat there giggling, dreaming of such a future. Kang Jun-hyeok continued his magic training.
‘Are there seventy gems left?’
He had consumed about thirty. It was a significant number, but Kang Jun-hyeok had an ambiguous expression. It was because he knew what was about to happen.
And when a week had passed, the incident finally occurred.
Bang!
The door burst open. Tia rushed in, her face flushed with excitement.
‘It’s finally here.’
“K-Kang Jun-hyeok! Did you hear?”
“What is it?”
“The tomb of the Archmage, Weed, has been discovered!” she shouted in an excited tone.
* * *
Archmage Weed.
He was a figure from a thousand years ago. He had been loved by mana since birth, handling it as naturally as breathing or moving his fingers.
He had mastered magic by the age of three. For him, there was no such thing as casting; magic was performed simply by speaking. It was like the Dragon Speech of the legendary dragons.
At the age of ten, he entered the Magic Tower. He mastered every magic that existed there. At twenty, he became the Magic Tower Master. Until he grew old and died, no one could threaten his position. He was a legendary Archmage who was still talked about today, having created hundreds of types of magic.
And in the final moments of his life, he disappeared, leaving behind only a single note:
[I was born as mana and shall return as mana. I shall leave nothing behind. However, I will leave a shred of mercy in my tomb. Take my legacy from there.]
Every mage on the continent moved to find that tomb, but they couldn't find even a trace of it. That very tomb had now been discovered.
[19th Floor Progress Quest]
[Find and explore Weed’s Tomb.]
A quest window appeared. The Perfect Clear condition for the 19th floor was likely to find the tomb and obtain the legacy. The reason it was a guess rather than a certainty was that even the Half-Human Half-Demon successor of the Demon King had failed to Perfect Clear the 19th floor.
“You’re going, right?”
“Of course. Let’s move immediately.”
But he would succeed. Kang Jun-hyeok stood up. Tia began to pack her things in a hurry.