Chapter 177
Chapter 177
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 176
Chapter Title: Hardworking Pay-to-Win Knight
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“I never imagined it would blow up like this.”
I had somewhat anticipated that reactions on Mage Tower Net would heat up. Not just because there were so many mages on 34th Earth, but because of the sincerity and on-the-ground feel packed into the questions I was posting.
⤷Questioner: I did exactly as you said, but my eye pressure spiked and the circling stoppedㅜ_ㅜ Is it my lack of talent?
⤷Power Mage: What? Eye pressure? Bloodshot eyes?
⤷Black Flame Dragon: Sniff sniff……! I smell something wild somewhere……
⤷Quick Stone Mage: It’s a symptom called Magic Blood Eye! It happens occasionally when there’s an error in the circling setup! The pressure from mana……
⤷Black Flame Dragon: Whoa. Getting Magic Blood Eye means you’re a real newbie, right? An adult immigrant who’s just learning magic and even coming to Mage Tower Net……
Questions posted carelessly without effort tended to get ignored even on Mage Tower Net, where idle mages abounded. But the pain, struggles, and vivid queries that kept Ardania’s mages up at night excited the explanatory mages of 34th Earth.
Level mattered too.
If my questions had been about advanced magic at Class 5 or higher, even with hordes of mages on 34th Earth, only a handful could have answered. Sure, there were 5 billion mages, but most belonged to the Fast Three Sects.
But what about the questions I was posting now?
‘Mostly Class 1 to 3 magic.’
And 34th Earth was the place where beginner magic had advanced the most in the entire universe.
Uroboros, the cradle of magic?
Sorry to say, but even Uroboros didn’t have as many low-level mages as 34th Earth. Why would they obsess over beginner spells in the great hall of magic where even transcendents enrolled as students?
In fact, the Fast Three Sects originated on 34th Earth. Anyone could learn them, but the Fast Three spells were an outstanding magic system developed by archmages from millions of samples.
“I-I’m Big Head. Your Majesty. Among the sects that handle void magic……”
[Question]: I want to train in void magic. Which of the three major sects suits me best?
“Saruman High Magic of the Golden Mage Tower, Your Majesty. Three days ago, I switched to the polyhedral sect’s circling. The mana crystal’s shape is fixed from triangular to……”
[Question]: I completed the switch to the polyhedral sect’s circle as advised! But the mana crystal……
I listen to the question, then post it as a thread.
I read the answers, then explain them in words.
“Ugh…… My head’s gonna split…… Just relaying this is this tough.”
I’d learned magic up to the beginner level myself.
Not because I preferred it, but just a casual dip since I lacked the right talents to master it properly. Still, I had the basics down.
But of course.
That wasn’t enough.
“Ah, to think a transcendent like me has to study beginner magic……”
Grumbling, I open the [Great Library] tab on Mage Tower Net to study magic lore. Ardania’s mages often lacked even the bare minimum knowledge to post on 34th Earth, so I had to fill those gaps myself.
That wasn’t the only issue.
‘Too many theories and formulas the mages don’t grasp.’
I’d already copied and distributed basics like [Fundamentals of Magic] and [Magic Compendium], but sadly, few people could understand everything just from books.
Naturally, related questions poured in, and to avoid mistakes, I had to read the formulas and theories over and over.
If I made a slip-up that caused [misunderstanding] in my answers, it wouldn’t be a mere error—it would become the [Emperor’s words], wreaking havoc on the magic world for ages.
[Question]: I don’t get this part of Applem’s Law……
[Question]: Is this how I should understand the Melbourne System?
[Question]: Question about Fast Three efficiency.
Since I was still giving lectures in Ardania and couldn’t copy texts, I poured every waking hour—minus sleep and bathroom breaks—into studying and questions.
About half a month later.
Wooong!
A new [element] formed in my inner self.
“Magic, huh…… Well, not bad.”
A typical chakra practitioner might not bother opening it, but with my overflowing chakra capacity, I just did. No need to use acupoints this time.
My chakra capacity was already at 9 layers.
My skills couldn’t keep up with my power, so no point hogging the few remaining acupoints.
Creak!
A sensation like a door opening.
The [Magic] element passed the first gate and reached the inner second gate.
Unlike martial arts, where I’d blasted through five gates at once, this was different. Martial arts had been honed through endless pursuit and brutal battles over ages, while magic was just some study and Q&A relay. Reaching the second gate with this [knowledge] was impressive enough.
“Hey!”
A little girl in a dress burst in yelling. I calmly replied.
“Dad’s busy.”
“Who’s Dad?! No, if you get a powerful magic sword like me, shouldn’t you go around fighting, obviously?”
“I’m fighting right now.”
“Fighting? You’re just reading scraps of paper!”
“This is adult fighting. Labor and study are the true struggles of reality.”
“……?”
Hyperion blinked in confusion, then scowled, thinking I was calling her dumb.
“Let’s go! Take me and fight! How dare you! How dare—”
Hyperion’s tiny body swelled in an instant.
[How dare you mock me-----!?]
Gogogo!
A massive dark giant roared. Even on this vast plain stretching to the horizon, its presence dominated.
A monster so mighty that without log-in/log-out, victory would be tough. But I said nonchalantly,
“Magic swords sure have filthy tempers. Daeha was right—holy swords are better.”
Whoosh.
The giant body shrank back to girl form instantly. Watching, I asked coolly,
“Why? Keep rampaging.”
“……W-Why say it so coldly? You’re not really gonna call him, right?”
“…….”
“N-No, right?”
Just mentioning him made her tremble. A scene showing how much she feared the Game Master. What impression had she gotten from a mere glimpse?
She was so terrified I soothed her appropriately.
“I’ll go hunting soon, so hang on till then.”
“You always say ‘soon’…… Wait, how are you buddies with that god? Demon king? Monster? Whatever he is? Not scared?”
“He treats me well, no need to fear.”
I brushed it off and exited my inner world to continue Q&A.
Opening the magic element changed nothing. Chakra granted magical abilities but not knowledge of magic.
And on the tenth day in Ardania.
Twenty days on Earth.
“The question patterns are repeating.”
I cut off the mage’s query.
“We’ll stop here. Good work, everyone.”
The mages gaped up at me in shock, faces blank like they’d woken from a dream.
But soon.
Clap. Clap.
They started applauding one by one.
Clap clap! Clap clap clap!
The applause swelled.
“Thank you!”
“Good work!”
“Waaaaah——!”
Cheers and claps poured in. Ten thousand mages raved at me. It almost looked like they were thrilled the class was over.
But their faces, brimming with emotion yet full of regret, said otherwise.
“What can I say. Good work, all. Go rest up. Keep pushing forward.”
My curt farewell only made them scream like at a bursting concert hall, clapping wildly. I waved casually and stepped offstage.
“Get your finger off Delete key, idiot! Mess that up and the mages’ll murder you!”
“W-What’s Delete key? I don’t get this!”
“You’re learning magic and still this dumb?! Move!”
Behind the stage, Harmony edited footage on a large display.
“……She’s got skills. No one to teach her, even.”
“Ah, Your Majesty! Good work!”
“Yeah. Merging the videos?”
“This ten-day footage as-is? This machine amazingly cuts and pastes the unnecessary parts! If done right, it’ll outperform my concert vids! Add mid-explanations from decent mages……”
“Y-Yeah, good work.”
I’d always thought Harmony didn’t feel medieval at all. She’d adapt to modern life without issue.
Ding!
Back to the guild tower, heading to Flower’s room.
“Flower?”
“Her belly’s growing fast. Per the palace midwife, the baby could come as early as the second month.”
“Keep her prepped.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
I entered Flower’s room. She’d gained some weight since looking skeletal, but fatigue weighed her down more.
“Flower.”
“Your Majesty! Good work. Lecturing for ten straight days……”
Glancing out the window at my giant face projected on the walls.
“Total chaos.”
My face was plastered everywhere on Earth anyway, but seeing it billboard-sized was still a hassle.
“More people staring at the walls in awe. Mages’ll surge after today.”
“Yeah, good thing.”
I sat with Flower, chatting briefly.
“How’s your body?”
“Eating more has helped, Your Majesty. Gained some weight……”
Still gaunt, better than before. But with the baby growing, calorie needs would rise. Could she handle it?
‘Maybe…… time for honorary divine priestess.’
Thinking that, I chatted moderately and returned to my room.
“Want to copy texts ASAP and earn more, but……”
No, even with urgent stocks, couldn’t. Q&A took more time than expected, delaying my duel with Cheonhyeonil Commissioner way too much.
I’d apologized by phone, but couldn’t postpone further.
“Right. Time to go.”
Cheonwon.
The term for the dead center of the go board—and where Ardania’s strongest monster slumbered.
“Need to check it out too.”
I’d flown over it a few times, but couldn’t grasp the situation.
‘They never even emerged from the dungeon.’
Cheonwon held only a neutral dungeon. No surveillance eyes around the pillar of light piercing the sky.
Legendary monsters occasionally charged in from nearby…… but none returned.
Thud!
I landed before the dungeon.
Ardania’s sole mythic dungeon, so I geared in combat legendary +9 instead of farming luck sets.
“Farming gear…… this’ll do.”
I gripped the magic sword Hyperion. [Golden Overlaps] x5—the undisputed top farming weapon.
[Oh! Finally fighting!?]
I calmed the excited Hyperion.
“Yeah. Once inside, stay quiet.”
Plenty of return scrolls, but unknown inside—be cautious. Mythic foes. Transcendent-level monsters. What they could do, even I wasn’t sure.
‘But at least…… I won’t die.’
999 stats in vitality and recovery. Plus log-in/log-out. Honestly, I was near-immortal now.
Unless a wraith dragon like Replie sealed me with ultimate magic right away and drained my life, I could escape.
Flash!
I plunged into the pillar of light.
[Sanctuary of Death]
A bland zone name that appeared and vanished.
‘No.’
But the revealed sight was anything but bland.
‘What the hell……?