Chapter 199
Chapter 199
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 199
Chapter Title: Magic Tower (5)
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On top of the bookshelf where the secret room had been.
Sunny sat there with a dazed expression.
Her mind was a tangled mess, like shards of broken glass.
‘So, that black fox mask…….’
Sunny blankly replayed the recent events.
The handsome Korean man removing his mask and greeting her, and the Tower Lord accepting the greeting as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
‘The professor’s guest wasn’t…… he was the Tower Lord’s guest……?’
The glimpse she’d caught of his face.
The special skeleton he’d summoned.
And considering his nationality, it all pointed to one conclusion.
‘Skeleton King, Ju Dong-hoon.’
World ranking 69th.
The absurdly fast-rising high ranker rewriting hunter history.
The hero and luminary recently called a living archangel by some after his massive war with the Russian mafia.
‘This is insane.’
Her jaw dropped open.
Drool trickled from the corner of her mouth.
‘That means up till now, I’ve been adventuring with the most famous person in the world……?’
Her heart pounded.
They’d talked, bickered a bit.
And together, they’d delved into the Magic Tower’s secrets.
To think that person turned out to be a celebrity.
The hottest celebrity in the world, no less.
Sunny suddenly felt regret.
‘Should’ve gotten an autograph.’
But on the flip side.
Waves of worry crashed over her.
She’d broken the Magic Tower’s rules.
And not just broken them.
She’d rummaged through the restricted management area and even gotten caught by the Tower Lord herself.
‘Damn it.’
Sunny bit her lip.
‘I wonder how it went?’
It had already been ten minutes since she’d come out here.
No sounds came from the secret room below.
No waves of energy or auras either.
‘……I’m curious.’
About the Magic Tower’s secrets.
What were the Tower Lord and Skeleton King discussing?
Sunny lowered her posture slightly.
Casually lying down.
She pressed her ear to the bookshelf, in case any sounds leaked from the secret room.
In a ridiculous pose.
True to her nature as a mage, she couldn’t resist her curiosity.
“…….”
Then, in that moment.
She suddenly noticed how eerily quiet it was around her, a chill running up her spine.
Flutter!
A presence stirred behind her.
“Hey, what are you doing up there?”
“Eek!”
Sunny whipped around with a shriek.
And there.
“…….”
Stood the Tower Lord, staring right at her.
“Hic.”
Sunny hiccuped like she’d just seen a horror movie.
* * *
“Hey.”
The Tower Lord smiled with her eyes.
To Sunny, that smile was more terrifying than anything in the world.
The Tower Lord was always kind.
Always kind, yet strict.
Those who hadn’t experienced it firsthand couldn’t know how terrifying that was.
“Yes, ma’am!”
“Do you know what you did wrong?”
“W-Well…… I broke the Magic Tower’s rule against prying into the tower’s secrets. I’m sorry.”
“And you know how wrong that was?”
The Tower Lord—Sophia’s—voice was soft yet sharp.
Like daggers stabbing into her chest.
‘Skeleton King…….’
Sunny rolled her eyes, scanning the surroundings.
He was nowhere to be seen.
It felt like being left alone in enemy territory.
She realized the only one who could save her was herself.
“……Yes, Tower Lord.”
In the end, Sunny bowed her head deeply.
Then, in a resigned tone, she recited.
“History shows that groups without rules collapse easily…… I’ll gladly accept any punishment.”
“Good.”
The Tower Lord gave a faint smile.
“Then, for the next two months, you’re on leave from the Magic Tower. Spend that time reflecting and do some ‘volunteer work’ outside.”
“……?”
Sunny’s eyes went wide as she lifted her head.
‘Volunteer work’ was one of the Magic Tower’s minor punishments.
The tower handled security for Oxford City at the narrowest scope, or all of England at the broadest.
Occasionally, they’d send students with minor infractions out under the guise of ‘volunteer work.’
In simple terms, it meant helping citizens suffering from dungeon breaks and the like.
“R-Really?”
Sunny asked, as if she couldn’t believe it.
She’d expected at least a suspension or full expulsion.
The punishment was lighter than she’d thought.
“Yes. You did wrong, but you guided an important guest.”
“Important guest…….”
“The noble one who might lead our stagnant Magic Tower to revival.”
Sophia’s quiet murmur carried a hint of anticipation and excitement.
“But remember, this is a warning. Break the rules again, and it’s full expulsion. And about what you saw earlier—the management targets, the worst Tower Lord in history, all that.”
“Yes…….”
“Forget it all. Even if you can’t forget, act like you have. Understand?”
“Hic, y-yes, I’ll keep it in mind.”
How could she not understand?
With that terrifying aura emanating from her.
Even an idiot with zero comprehension would get it in seconds.
But.
Sunny grew curious again.
“Um…… Tower Lord.”
Ah.
Mages really were.
A race that couldn’t live without curiosity?
“Yes?”
“W-Where’s that gentleman from earlier……? I don’t see him.”
It had been a short time, sure.
But it was a thrilling adventure that stuck in her memory, and she’d grown fond of him.
She couldn’t shake the feeling of him vanishing without a goodbye.
So, steeling herself, she asked.
“Him?”
Sophia smiled brightly.
“He’s already left.”
“…….”
“Disappointed?”
“……A little?”
“Oh, right.”
The Tower Lord, who’d been about to draw a teleportation magic circle, handed Sunny the staff in her hand.
“He asked me to pass this to you.”
It was a simple yet attractive staff.
“This is……?”
Sunny’s eyes widened.
Who didn’t know this?
It was the super popular B-rank Demir supply set from the Magic Tower!
[Item: Demir's Supply Staff]
[Grade: B]
[Type: Staff]
[Description: A weapon hastily crafted by the blacksmith ‘Demir.’ It boasts solid performance for its grade.]
[Effect 1: All stats +10.]
[Effect 2: Vitality +20.]
[Effect 3: Skill power +30%.]
It was off-the-shelf, but production was low.
Lately, none were even hitting the market.
This Demir supply set sold for 20 million won base price, plus premiums.
It was also the number one weapon Magic Tower students dreamed of owning.
“Heh, he said it’s thanks for guiding him on our first meeting. He meant to deliver it himself, but some urgent situation came up.”
“Urgent situation?”
“Something like that. Anyway, it’s yours now, so use it well. My part ends here.”
“…….”
Sunny carefully accepted the staff Sophia handed over so casually.
* * *
“Whew.”
After seeing Sophia off, I gazed at the medium I’d pulled out.
S-rank medium.
Diary of the Magic Flunkout.
[The owner of ‘Ancient Magic Fragment’ (SS Grade) grants permission for use.]
[Conditions fulfilled!]
[The item is activated.]
A slight shiver ran through me.
To think opening the medium dungeon required the Tower Lord’s permission.
If not for that stroke of luck on luck, it would’ve been the highest difficulty ever.
Vmmm!
The diary I’d taken out was emitting light.
It felt a bit early to enter the dungeon right away, but strangely.
The moment the Tower Lord’s permission came through, the medium reacted, forcing me to wrap up the conversation in a hurry.
“But, kid.”
The old man spoke up.
‘Yes?’
“Why aren’t you telling her about that Ancient Magic?”
‘Ah.’
Ancient Magic (SSS Grade).
The genie-like entity from the [Wish-Granting Scroll].
It had let me hold out against the dragon to some extent.
‘I considered it, but I don’t fully understand it myself yet.’
The Tower Lord was a follower of Ancient Magic.
Explaining to her that it was actually a sentient being would require recounting a ridiculously complicated process.
‘Besides, isn’t information more valuable when you hold it back?’
She’d shared her own secrets with me.
But that was it.
No real helpful info for me.
The true benefit was being able to use the ‘Ancient Magic Fragment’ (SS Grade).
In that situation, I saw no need to volunteer info she hadn’t even asked for.
“Still, be careful.”
The old man muttered quietly.
“That woman’s no ordinary fox.”
‘Really?’
“Yeah.”
The old man said softly.
“She might trust you for now. Whether because Delaila vouched for you, or she rates your potential highly. She might just be going along with it. She’s not the type to give anything away for free.”
‘Could be.’
Still, world ranking 4th hunter.
She wouldn’t be a pushover handing out favors without gain.
She must see some benefit in me.
‘Anyway, don’t worry too much. You know my personality.’
“Give as good as you get?”
‘Yes.’
I nodded.
‘I won’t just take without giving back.’
It was win-win.
I could attempt the Boneo awakening.
And the Tower Lord could anticipate the side benefits.
‘For now.’
Vmmm!
I infused energy into the worn diary to activate it.
Just like always.
‘We’ve got the chance, so let’s focus on the dungeon.’
[‘Diary of the Magic Flunkout’ is activated.]
[The dungeon, ‘Magic Flunkout,’ will open shortly.]
[Warning!]
[This is a solo dungeon.]
I met the old man’s eyes, and he nodded with a smile.
“Tsk tsk, you live such a busy life. How long ago was the war, and you’re diving into another dungeon?”
‘You say that, but your face looks thrilled?’
“Just get in there already, kid.”
‘Yes.’
I stared fixedly at the diary as it rustled open!
Another ‘fortuitous encounter,’ a medium that all rankers desperately sought.
What trials would unfold here, and what would they bring me?
‘This time.’
I really had to be careful.
The mediums I’d opened so far maxed at A-rank.
This was S-rank.
My first challenge.
Medium dungeons were already far harder than regular ones.
A thrilling tension surged through me.
Warm heat coursed through my body.
‘Shall we go?’
Step.
Just as I moved toward the intensifying light.
‘Ah.’
Something flashed in my mind.
‘Kim Jin-ah!’
No idea how long this would take.
If I went without saying anything again, she’d really get mad.
‘I wish messages worked in medium dungeons too.’
But my gut told me.
They probably wouldn’t.
If it was like Delaila’s trial or the previous bone dungeons, sending me to another world entirely.
It’d be out of Kapu’s range.
[Skeleton King: Hey.]
[Skeleton King: Gotta head out urgently.]
[Skeleton King: No clue how long it’ll take.]
That should do it?
With a smile tugging at my lips, I felt the light growing stronger.
Then.
Flash!
Blinding light filled my vision.