Chapter 164
Chapter 164
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 164
Chapter Title: Sophia Silversone
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Sophia Silversone.
Oxford Magic Tower Lord.
The presence of the platinum-haired woman was overwhelming.
Just looking at her made the hairs on my body stand on end.
My instincts and intuition screamed danger in my mind.
'Crazy.'
I clicked my tongue inwardly.
The Berserker was one thing.
But after the Spear King, now a Sage?
It was a veritable feast of ultra hyper-rankers.
"How could the Tower Lord herself come all the way out here...?!"
Olena cried out with an expression of awe.
"Ahem...!"
The Spear King awkwardly lowered his spear.
"Huh?"
Even Jang Dae-woong, whose madness had been leaking out steadily, reined it in and muttered.
"The old British hag is the real deal. Tsk."
He smacked his lips in disappointment at the same time.
"Whew, at least that's a relief."
Baek Don let out a sigh of relief.
"Guess even that mad bastard's reckless antics don't extend to Ranking 4?"
"No way he would."
It was then that Ki Pa-rang muttered from behind in his usual emotionless voice.
"What?"
"Well... you guys probably haven't sensed it yet. The entire island is already under the Magic Tower Lord's control. What she wants is for the fight to stop. If you go against her will..."
"......"
Gulp.
Baek Don swallowed hard.
"In that instant, the mana controlling the island will tear your body to shreds without mercy. No matter how insane a Berserker is, he's not the type to commit meaningless suicide."
It was a chilling statement that made my chest feel as cold as ice.
At that moment.
A soft smile.
Sophia, floating in the air, smiled gently.
"See? Doesn't it look so much better when you're all just standing still like this? New Year's is right around the corner—can't we all get along as fellow humans? You know?"
Her platinum hair cascaded down to her waist.
Her blue eyes, like gazing at the deep blue sea, brimmed with otherworldly charm.
'Actually.'
Her current appearance was stunningly beautiful.
But before her awakening, she had been a white-haired old woman.
Over 80 years old, at that.
'Amazing.'
Maintaining such a form through some kind of power wasn't easy.
The media had praised it too.
They said it was impossible without profoundly profound magic.
In martial arts terms, it was the realm of Return to Youth?
Of course, not a complete child's form.
'The elder was right.'
I muttered to myself again.
Actually.
Even when Sophia Silversone appeared.
I hadn't been that surprised.
Because.
When the Spear King showed up, I'd already called the old man.
- Don't act rashly. Stay put.
- Someone's watching.
- A truly enormous presence. Enough to crush those idiots in front of us in an instant.
The elder had already informed me of the Magic Tower Lord's presence.
"Kr!"
The old man watching the situation gave a thumbs-up.
His eyes sparkled with delight.
"Indeed, the Earth you live on is a fun world! So much fun! It's littered with powerhouses like pebbles! Yes, this is what makes conquest worthwhile!"
'To conquer, it's insanely strong, yeah.'
Honestly, I was astonished.
The Spear King had been shocking enough, but the Magic Tower Lord was beyond imagination.
The top 10.
The Berserker's words about the rank gaps being like hunter grade differences finally sank in.
I'd end up losing my tongue before savoring the conquest.
"Boy, it's only been half a year since you started properly learning. It took this master over 300 years to become the strongest on earth—how could you have such absurd ambitions? Climb slowly without rushing, and you'll reach the summit. That's Mansul for you."
'Got it, got it. Don't worry. As I said before, my ultimate goal is already Ranking 1.'
"Well, with you, it seems possible even without me saying it. Heh heh."
'No, but why have you been grinning like that since earlier?'
I looked at the old man with unease.
From the conversation with the Spear King earlier.
His pleased smile was awfully burdensome.
"You fool. Hahaha! How could I not laugh seeing that Spear King's state?"
'Yes...?'
"Look at him—clearly botched raising his disciple, and now his face is all twisted. Bah, puffed up with useless pride over that pathetic spearwork, despite having a decent talent. His insides are rotten with malice."
'What do you...'
No way, disciple bragging...?
"Look at those eyes."
'Hmm.'
The Spear King's chilling gaze.
"Human greed knows no bounds, so they deny what they can't have. Tsk tsk, how can someone who can't even control their own heart practice martial arts? In our world, we'd call that qi deviation. Literally, full of demons inside. It's early stages, but he'll cause big trouble soon."
"......"
I didn't avoid the Spear King's gaze.
I met it head-on, without blinking.
World Ranking 10?
'So what.'
I'd already learned this Earth was weaker than dust, having experienced the universe's infinity.
Plus, I was destined to become the future World Ranking 1.
Would I cower to that?
Same mindset as the Berserker.
Even if my skills weren't there yet.
Even if I was still a rookie.
I vowed not to yield from the heart.
Sss!
"Oh dear? At it again?"
The Magic Tower Lord noticed and shifted her position in the air.
Right in the center, between the Spear King and me.
"Good, very good. Fighting is all well and fine."
She glanced at the Spear King.
"Spear King."
"......"
"There's one of our Magic Tower kids here, and I have a bit of business with her too? Are you planning to keep this up?"
Her voice was extremely polite and gentle.
But the intent in the surrounding aura was not.
Back off while I'm asking nicely.
Or you'll see blood.
"Ahem."
The Spear King cleared his throat.
"You, rookie."
Rookie.
The Spear King's term for me.
"If you felt it was rude, I apologize. I just wanted to show a glimpse of my disciple's Plum Blossom Spear essence, but things heated up, and I erred. Understand."
I sensed his intent in those words.
Not a sincere apology.
Just a desire to wrap things up quickly.
'Whatever.'
I felt the same.
First off, my body and mind were exhausted from the repeated trials.
I wanted to hurry back to Korea and rest.
"Hmm. Well, alright. Since my disciple has a good character, I'll let it slide."
Of course.
That didn't mean.
I was mild-mannered enough to politely accept an insincere apology.
"Let it slide? Quite the guts."
"Well, I've been through too many situations where I had no choice but to grow a spine?"
"Hahaha, is that so? Fine, I'll remember that composure..."
Swish!
The Spear King smirked unpleasantly, turned his back.
"Jang Wei, let's go."
He beckoned to the Judgment Spear.
But the Judgment Spear.
"My friend, I'm sorry. The apology later..."
"Hurry up, I said let's go!"
Roar!
The bellowing Spear King and the dragged-along Jang Wei.
"The Spear King wasn't that bad before. How'd he end up like this? Tsk. Same age, and he's already senile?"
Sophia Silversone shook her head at the sight.
Then soon.
"By the way, that thing."
She smiled brightly and looked at me.
Pointing to one side of my pocket.
"Yes?"
"That stone. You got it?"
"The stone... Ah."
Dungeon artifact.
The gift Delaila gave me in Theme 6.
"Whoa, I hoped, but she really gave it to you?"
Soon, the Magic Tower Lord's eyes widened.
"That Delaila...! When I asked her to trade, she sweated bullets and hid it tight! And she hands over top-grade to you with a grin? Looks two grades better than mine!"
"......"
"Sigh. Anyway. She praised you so much, I came to take a look. And to pick up our chief mage?"
"I see..."
I broke into a slight cold sweat.
Ranking 4 heavyweight.
Honestly, didn't know how to react.
Like a celeb from TV I'd admired suddenly acting chummy.
The Magic Tower Lord's gaze swept over my body.
Whoosh!
A gentle energy and fragrance swirled around me.
"Hmm, not bad. Just like she said. You've got potential."
'Whoa.'
I stuck out my tongue inwardly.
'The Magic Tower Lord says I'm promising.'
Forget rudeness or whatever—just felt good.
Unlike the Spear King.
Her eyes showed pure curiosity.
"I'd love to see more."
She rested her chin in the air and smiled innocently.
"But I have to head back now. The tower has New Year's events too."
"New Year's events..."
"Joo Dong-hoon, right?"
The Magic Tower Lord met my eyes again.
"Go on for now, but come visit the Magic Tower sometime later."
"The Magic Tower?"
"Yeah. Since Delaila helped you, I might be able to too?"
"Uh..."
An invitation from the Magic Tower Lord.
Huge honor.
But suddenly being this nice?
I was a bit dazed.
"Truth is, Delaila begged me to butter you up in advance. No secret."
The Magic Tower Lord laughed.
"You'll remember that, right? Me chasing off that old Spear King? You don't have a bad memory, do you?"
Ah.
No way.
Was she seeing not my present, but my future?
'If so.'
I grinned.
'Fair enough.'
My ambitions were already at the top of the sky.
"Of course. I'll cherish the Magic Tower Lord's kindness in my heart."
"Hahaha! Love the straightforwardness!"
Sophia burst into laughter.
Then soon.
Whoosh!
She drew a staff from her bosom.
Clearly an ultra-premium staff, expensive-looking.
"Olena?"
"Yes, Tower Lord!"
"Come here. Time to head back to the tower. We can talk plenty there, so forgive the brief neglect?"
"Ah, y-yes, of course!"
Olena replied spiritedly.
She exchanged a quick glance with me, then stuck by the Magic Tower Lord.
And then.
Sss!
The aura dominating the space vanished in an instant.
The two figures disappeared as if they'd never been there.
Space magic that would make Vladimir weep...
"Hua!"
Yoo Sang-don exhaled sharply.
"Thought I was gonna suffocate to death."
"Crahaha! If I hadn't come for my bro, what then? Skewer gramps and the British hag! Thanks to bro, great show!"
"Great show my ass. Took a peek at the afterlife."
"Hahaha! Always peeking at this world is boring! Gotta glimpse the afterlife now and then for a fuller life!"
"...Mad bastard."
"Praise accepted!"
The bickering Berserker and Divine Archer.
"King! Long time no see. Knew you'd pull it off."
Lee Seon-ah, her anger cooled, back to her lively smile.
"You made it back alive. And... you've grown to where even I can't ignore you now? Impressive aura."
Even Gi So-yul smiled in relief at me.
Ah.
Yeah, now it finally felt real.
I'd really returned.
The huge wave in my life had passed.
"Kept the promise."
I grinned at the Seoul Five Stars.
They'd shown me 'recommendation' kindness when I had nothing.
Even risked their lives fighting mighty foes for me.
My benefactors.
"Thanks to you all, I learned, experienced, and grew so much."
The proper thanks.
I'd promised my past self I'd give when I returned alive.
So I bowed deeply to them.
"Thank you sincerely."
* * *
At that moment.
"Ha, really not coming?"
In the Dimitri Workshop's third floor, Kim Jin-ah turned on the TV and grumbled.
"New Year's almost here, and no sign? Really died in some overseas backwater?"
In casual training clothes.
Legs crossed comfortably like at home, behind her...
Beer cans formed a small hill.
"Ha, no vacation, no rest. Can't even clock out because of those skeletons."
Grit!
Her teeth ground.
"At least give holiday leave for year-end! Argh, so stressful!"
A hollow shout.
The responsible Kim Jin-ah hadn't taken a single day off since the workshop head vanished.
Not only that?
She lived at the workshop, no going home.
If the not-fully-controlled skeletons caused trouble, fixing it would be a bigger headache.
Bang! Boom boom!
Fireworks exploded.
The sun had set.
Outside was festive, but she felt depressed alone.
Is this right?
Really?
"Fuuuuck."
She swore refreshingly, then crack! opened another beer can.
What could she do?
Drink as stressed as she was.