Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Finally, Fifth Tier
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Finally.
Reaching the 5th Tier at twenty-two was an unprecedented feat.
Even Raysi Yuzu, who had been hailed as the Derusia Magic Tower's greatest talent in history, had only attained the 5th Tier at twenty-six. The current Tower Lord, Heavenly Thunder Orca Derusia, had been twenty-eight when she reached it.
The inner workings of the Ludelra Magic Tower, which was closely tied to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and shrouded in secrecy, were largely unknown. But even in the histories of other magic towers, no mage had ever reached the 5th Tier younger than twenty-two. Not even Arsenjo, the pinnacle of the Lucianel Magic Tower—whose lords were called the Tower Lords of Tower Lords—had been at Elena's level at that age.
Among publicly known figures, only one person had reached the 5th Tier younger than Elena, and even that person wasn't a mage.
The illustrious Orsia Family, the pinnacle martial house among the western Cartel.
Grandson of Sword Emperor Albatour Orsia—who stood in symmetry with the Heavenly Demon among the Supreme Experts—Sword Dragon Estor Orsia. He had shocked the world by reaching the 5th Tier at the tender age of twenty-one.
Slightly behind him, but expanding the range to twenty-five revealed three more young talents who had reached the 5th Tier in their era.
In the Righteous Heavenly Alliance, Snow Princess Yeon Ri-eun-ha, great-granddaughter of one of the Four Absolutes, White Silver Martial Queen Yeon Ri-sang-a.
Heir to the Hwangbo Clan, Tyrant Dragon Hwangbo Jin-cheol.
From the Black Dragon Society's Six Evils, the young sect leader of the Severing Blade Gate, Dragon Slayer Paeng Won-yeol.
All of them were prized geniuses among the late-generation prodigies, impossible to rank, born with the benefits of bloodlines forged in undeniable prestigious houses.
That made Elena Haiderga's achievement at twenty-two all the more groundbreaking. She hadn't been born into such a prestigious bloodline. An orphan from Oldor, a rural city. A pure genius who had earned Heavenly Thunder's recognition through talent alone and gained entry to the Derusia Magic Tower at ten.
'How impressive can it really be?'
She understood it was groundbreaking and rare. But Elena wasn't the only genius like that in the world.
Even the prodigy from the secretive Haberth Magic Tower was said to be young. There might be other mages in different towers who had reached the 5th Tier around Elena's age, just not boasting about it.
Moreover, mages didn't exist only in magic towers. Among freelance researchers, there could be young 5th Tier mages. Turning to holy knights or priests in church orders would only increase the numbers.
The martial world surely had even more unrevealed young 5th Tiers.
So, Elena's accomplishment wasn't overwhelmingly impressive. For everyone in the Derusia Magic Tower to come out and make such a fuss was excessive and embarrassing.
“...”
Arist Benharman. She gnashed her teeth at the ugly, desperate thoughts she clung to.
A 5th Tier mage had to surpass common spells, developing and wielding their own unique spell formulas. Here, a "unique spell formula" meant one with depth beyond 4th Tier spells—personal magic that actively harnessed soul force.
That was the academic recognition. Just as a 5th Tier warrior could access qi phenomena previously impossible, a 5th Tier mage unlocked what had been unattainable before.
The mutation of magic based on soul force.
To a mage, soul force was akin to the internal energy accumulated in a warrior's dantian. Like how internal energy took on properties based on the martial art cultivated, the soul force infused into a mage's being was the history of that mage's life.
Simply put, a lightning-attuned mage reaching the 5th Tier could mutate any spell—even other elements—into lightning without altering the formula.
The first change came to common spells all mages knew. Even a basic fireball, infused with soul force, could vary wildly in power.
“Splendid.”
The admiration from a 6th Tier mage of the Derusia Magic Tower grated on Arist's nerves. Old mages who had given up challenging for Tower Lord and focused on advancing the tower's magic while pursuing their own. The crusty elders Arist always flattered as "seniors."
Despite all her flattery, they had rarely given her a kind look. Yet now, all of them were marveling at Elena's spell demonstration.
Flame Storm, one of the notoriously difficult common spells. Its challenge lay in harmonizing fire and wind attributes simultaneously.
Easier than synthesizing multiple spells, but still called a 3rd Tier wall for its difficulty... Elena had infused it with her own soul force. Fire, wind, lightning. Three attributes melted into one spell, while she simultaneously cast five spells.
It was a demonstration even 6th Tier mages couldn't help but admire. Even veterans thick with 5th Tier experience couldn't demonstrate it so "effortlessly."
“I thought Raysi would be the next Tower Lord.”
“Raysi is excellent, but purely in potential, Elena seems superior, eh?”
“She's seven years younger than Raysi, after all.”
“The Tower Lord personally taught Elena magic. That's a factor.”
“Raysi withdrew from disciple candidacy himself. That child has already solidified his own imagery. He has his path in magic, so he declined the Tower Lord's discipleship.”
“Comparing Elena and Raysi already is premature. Elena can build her imagery and forge her path from now on. Rather than speculating on the next Tower Lord, we should bless the Derusia Magic Tower's prodigy.”
“Heh heh, next Tower Lord? As if Orca is the type to retire?”
The mages exchanged words with pleased smiles.
Elena Haiderga's 5th Tier qualification review.
The very fact that a seat had been prepared meant her ascension was already acknowledged. No real review was needed; the outcome was set. Seniors blessed the young prodigy, rivals burned with zeal, juniors sent admiration.
Here, Arist was utterly isolated. She had been expelled from disciple candidacy two years ago. No longer a rival, she couldn't muster zeal. She couldn't bless or admire. All she had left was the inferiority complex gnawing at her heart.
She was still stuck at 4th Tier. Even filling out quarterly reports was grueling. But what tormented Arist most was that Orca no longer anticipated her reports.
Not just Orca—the entire Derusia Magic Tower felt the same. Two years ago, Arist had been the tower's young genius, one of three disciple candidates. Now, she was just another 4th Tier mage, nothing special.
'How in the world?'
She had known two years ago that Elena possessed great talent.
But the Elena at twenty hadn't been like this. In just two years, Elena had immersed herself in magic as if she were a different person.
The change had started after returning from Logos.
Before that, she had returned to the mansion like clockwork every day. Afterward, she barely went back, living and sleeping in the tower. She left perhaps once every ten days, but even then, she'd return to the tower the next day as if nothing had happened.
Nor had Elena stayed only in the tower these two years. When developing new spells or needing data, she left Lutran.
Testing completed spells. Gathering data. All done in real combat, and not just against monsters. Bounty-listed fugitives, especially Heavenly Demon Divine Cult warriors, obsessed her.
Not all cultists were fugitives, but fugitives often included them. Even without bounties, cultists were treated as potential criminals in this world, so killing them drew little backlash. The cult itself dismissed the dead as weak.
Besides cult warriors, Elena fixated on cultists worshiping evil gods. At sightings of them, she'd leave the tower immediately. Whether by contract or not, Lutran's informants regularly brought her info on cult warriors and heretics.
That's how Elena lived for two years. A mad devotion to magic. The world called her Mad Thunder for unleashing lightning on cultists and heretics under pretexts of combat and experimentation, as if possessed.
'Really... is she possessed or something?'
She didn't know the details, but something had happened in Logos. Even so, the change was too drastic... Arist had watched Elena for two years, but couldn't see the current Elena as the same person.
“Enough.”
Orca, watching Elena's demonstration, spoke.
“No need to see more. Any objections?”
Orca surveyed the Derusia Magic Tower mages with a satisfied smile. Naturally, none objected. Dozens of 5th and 6th Tier mages with speaking rights recognized Elena Haiderga as 5th Tier.
“Elena Haiderga. I, Orca Derusia, hereby certify you as an undisputed 5th Tier mage.”
Amid the pouring applause, Elena didn't smile. Amid the claps, Arist swallowed hard, staring at Elena's face.
Who could look at the current Elena Haiderga and recall the Golden Lily of two years ago?
The Golden Lily had wilted, losing its vibrancy.
Her once-lustrous golden hair had grown past her waist but was now dry and coarse. Her sapphire eyes, sparkling before, were now dull.
Perhaps from ruined habits, her pale skin made the shadows under her eyes stand out more.
Wilted and lifeless, yet Elena was still beautiful. Her beauty shone more precisely because of the wilt. Arist unwittingly swallowed again at those hollow yet sharply focused eyes—dull yet eerily gleaming.
At the same time, Arist intuited it.
She would never be Elena Haiderga's rival in her lifetime.
“Thank you.”
In the midst of the prolonged applause, Elena spoke.
She said thanks, but her face didn't look grateful.
*
“Fifth Tier, wow, impressive.”
The mansion was unchanged from a week ago. The living room nearly devoid of presence. The dining table faintly warm. The empty pantry. Thick curtains blocking sunlight. Stiff leather sofa. Messily shelved books.
The garden free of weeds and the interior dustless were thanks to magic. Without it, the place might've become haunted. So thought Ha-ryeong as she strode into the living room.
“Seriously, why keep the curtains drawn? Elena, did you secretly become a child of darkness without me knowing?”
Whoosh! Drawing the curtains let harsh sunlight flood in. Elena, following behind, shuddered and groaned at the brightness in the living room.
“Ugh... too bright.”
“You'd think you'd been holed up here forever. Miss, you were just outside with me—why the dramatics?”
“I like the dark living room.”
“That's because you're using this nice house just for sleeping. And not even often. Maybe four times a month?”
Elena just pouted, not answering. Known as Mad Thunder to the world, barely speaking to anyone in the tower except Orca or Raysi—but alone with Ha-ryeong, she showed her old self.
Over two-plus years as her guard, bonds had formed naturally. Ha-ryeong knew why Elena had become like this, having shared the experience.
Ha-ryeong had brought clothes while Elena griped about tower life, dragged her out for meals when she skipped them, paid the bills.
She'd followed on "combat and experiment" trips beyond safe cities, against deadly Heavenly Demon Divine Cult warriors and heretics—stabbing daggers precisely into throats and hearts of those ambushing Elena.
“Won't unpack?”
“Unpack what?”
“Why play dumb? Genius mage lady Elena, who reached 5th Tier at twenty-two. Isn't the Ascard Family preparing a grand mansion in central Lutran out of reverence a secret only I know?”
“Not going.”
Elena staggered in, flopping onto the sofa like dried fish.
“What's the point of living alone in a huge mansion? This one's already big.”
“Go and there'll be others besides you. Cooks baking fresh bread at dawn if you say so, servants smiling through any unreasonable order.”
“When did I ever give an unreasonable order?”
“Want me to list how many times I suppressed killing intent toward you?”
“Ah, whatever. I'm not moving. This place is... comfier.”
Elena answered, shielding her eyes from the window's sunlight with her hand.
“If it's so comfy, why live at the tower?”
“...”
“As a wise assassin, I know why, but I won't hurt your feelings by mentioning it. That's how considerate I am.”
Peeking through fingers over her eyes, Elena's glare was annoyed, but used to it, Ha-ryeong remained composed.
“I leave tomorrow—how will you manage?”
“...”
“My advice: shake it off and move. New environment might lift your mood. If empty houses bother you, go to the bustling mansion even as a servant spot.”
“Must you leave?”
Elena sat up straight from her slump, staring at Ha-ryeong with trembling eyes.
Not the first time hearing that gaze and plea. At least ten times this week alone. But Ha-ryeong was firm.
“I'm your guard assassin.”
“...”
“Originally, I failed as a guard two years ago—the contract should have ended then. But I stayed, omitting reports to the Killing Guard Sect.”
“Ha-ryeong, I know you looked out for me.”
“Yes, I did. But this is different from consideration. You could have me as 4th Tier guard, but at 5th Tier, same tier as me, it's impossible.”
“So what? You're still stronger than me.”
“Really think so? I disagree. You're no longer weak enough for my protection—in emergencies, I'd need yours.”
Ha-ryeong continued with her usual blank expression.
“And as a warrior before assassin, I've grown complacent over two years of duty. So I must step down.”
“...”
“If you wish, I can arrange another guard, but I don't recommend it. Hiring a 6th Tier assassin costs a fortune. Probably equals an Ascard mansion in a year.”
“No plans for another guard.”
Elena barely answered, shoulders slumping.
“Ha-ryeong... not as guard, just... uh, no contract, stay by my side?”
“What kind of relationship is that?”
“...”
“Miss, proposing a relationship too embarrassing to name?”
“Friends!”
Unable to endure the teasing, Elena yelled.
“Stay as a friend. In my opinion, Miss, that's not friendship.”
“J-just phrasing.”
“If you truly see me as a friend, respect my opinion, no?”
“Ah, really...!”
Elena sighed deeply, nodding.
“Fine, fine! Go if you want! I won't stop you—go anywhere!”
“Even without that, I'm leaving tomorrow. After over two years serving you, shouldn't we at least share a farewell meal?”
“So where to? Back to Killing Guard Sect for training?”
Elena grumbled, lips pursed sullenly. Ha-ryeong gazed at her steadily.
Her usually emotionless lips curved faintly.
“Maybe look for Yuri.”
Elena's face stiffened. Yuri. That name was taboo itself to her.
“Two years have passed, and personally, I'm curious and interested. Don't know where, but I can find him.”
“...”
“What about you, Elena? Want to come find Yuri with me?”
Elena's expression chilled. Deep in her dulled eyes, sharp light gleamed.
“I... I'm not going.”
Her face was eerie, but her voice weak and trembling.
“Ha-ryeong, if you... Y- him, seek him, I can't stop you, but...”
“But?”
“S-suddenly showing up... might be awkward...?”
“Miss.”
Ha-ryeong tilted her head slightly. The faint curve deepened.
“Won't regret it?”
“...”
“Yuri might be waiting for you to come.”
Elena didn't answer immediately, falling silent. She hugged her knees, staring blankly at the bright window.
“I'm not going.”
After a brief silence, Elena replied.
“Don't want to meet Yuri.”
Elena turned to Ha-ryeong, murmuring softly.
“So, even if you meet him, don't... tell him about me.”
“Sincere?”
“Yeah.”
Elena stared at the bright window a moment longer, then got off the sofa.
“Gonna sleep.”
“Miss, sun's high noon.”
“Exhausted from the review ceremony or whatever. Slept late yesterday. So... sleeping.”
“No dinner? Our last supper before parting.”
“Wake me for dinner. No, wait. I can wake myself, so you... rest here or do whatever.”
Elena staggered up the stairs.
She gripped her dry, longer hair—no longer frizzing from static even with magic.
An unopened door for two years caught her eye. Elena averted her gaze, heading to her room.
Her room had changed slightly from two years ago.
The worn doll always on the bed was now by the window, facing out.
Below the window sill was a desk.
Elena stared blankly at it. In the desk drawer was a hairpin she couldn't discard.
“Ugh...”
Her chest ached, stomach churning. Clutching her breast, she groaned and flopped onto the bed.
She'd said she was sleeping, but sleep wouldn't come.
“Hmm.”
Confirming no more footsteps, Ha-ryeong plopped onto the sofa.
'Was I too mischievous?'
Thinking so, Ha-ryeong hummed a tune.
“I made it clear, even invited you along, Elena.”
Ha-ryeong shrugged, drawing Baek-ah from her waist.
The blade gleaming in sunlight was blindingly white.