Chapter 203
Chapter 203
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 203
Chapter Title: Became the New Professor of the Magic Tower
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Whoosh!
Finally, flames flickered to life in my palm.
Not from a skill.
But purely from my own energy.
[You have acquired the Curse Technique skill.]
[The ‘Curse Technique’ (B-Grade) is absorbed into ‘Myriad Arts’ (A-Grade).]
[The Curse Technique skill has disappeared.]
“That’s it. That’s the one, you rascal.”
The old man nodded.
“Magic or curse technique, their essence is the same. It’s about applying the energy you possess to produce supernatural power.”
He was right.
In the end, even Eldrin’s incantation ritual.
Or Olina’s water magic, Dana’s healing.
All were results born from how one applied their own energy.
That was precisely.
The essence of Myriad Arts, as the old man described.
“Kid, now your job is to build proficiency.”
The old man floated lightly over to my side.
“And when it comes to building proficiency, there’s no better way than absorbing what others have diligently achieved over time. Head to the Magic Tower. Go there and cleanly absorb the art of magic they’ve piled up for ages. Got it?”
It had been a week since I submitted my application to the Magic Tower and began training.
Now, I could perform basic curse techniques.
The 12 hours with the old man were spent entirely on practice.
The rest of the time, I rested and used Great Thief to learn about this place’s culture and history.
‘A world ruled by the Magic Tower Lord.’
And.
In the secret chamber of the Magic Tower that ‘Bone-o’ had visited, there were definitely traces.
[Magic Dao World.]
[Traces of the 4th Magic Tower Lord, ‘Eloise.’]
[Management Target No. 1.]
[Room of the Legendary and Worst Magic Tower Lord in History—Caution Advised.]
Such remnants.
The 3rd Magic Tower Lord and the 4th Magic Tower Lord.
What did that imply?
‘Pretty blatant, huh.’
Having cleared a few medium dungeons myself.
I could easily guess what the dungeon wanted.
The medium dungeons I activated released the ‘grievance’ of a world’s absolute ruler.
The Sun.
Dmir and Eldrin.
Kaden and Dana.
All the same.
‘Which means.’
This was a world before the Magic Tower Lord named ‘Eloise’ appeared.
And.
[Stage: Failing Magic Student]
[Enter the Magic Tower and find the failing magic student.]
The mission’s ‘failing magic student’ was ‘Bone-o,’ who would later become the worst Magic Tower Lord ‘Eloise,’ right?
That was my guess, at least.
Also.
[Using skill, ‘Skeleton Lord Summon’ (S-Grade).]
[Stamina 10 used.]
[Beep!]
[Error!]
[Stamina 10 recovered.]
[‘Bone5’ cannot appear in this dungeon.]
Seeing how this dungeon completely excluded Bone-o only strengthened my conviction.
‘I need to uncover Bone-o’s past and resolve that grievance.’
What that grievance was.
I’d have to go see for myself.
* * *
“Pass!”
The old man before me.
Alpen, beaming with satisfaction.
“……Pardon?”
I stared at him in bewilderment.
I’d only spat out some fire from my hand, and that was enough for a pass?
Was that Great Thief bastard actually telling the truth?
“Hoho, your name was Hoon, right?”
“Yes.”
“I was a bit worried, but conjuring fire without a spell? A~mazing talent! Uhahaha!”
“…….”
This guy.
He gave off big vibes like Captain Jang Dae-woong.
That unique aura only a total nutjob could exude.
And besides.
‘This guy’s an incredible powerhouse.’
Was the Magic Tower really the Magic Tower?
Even the Great Thief was small-time thug level compared to these folks.
They were brimming with overwhelming energy.
Just Alpen here alone.
Would be a tough opponent for me one-on-one.
“Tsk tsk, you’ll be assigned as the F-Class instructor. Sylvia, you there?”
“Yes, Elder.”
“Our new hand…… er, professor. Give him a nice rundown. Explain the Magic Tower well too.”
“Understood!”
* * *
Sylvia was a Magic Tower mage and professor.
The class she handled was D.
The Magic Tower’s classes ranged from S to F, seven levels total.
New entrants started at C.
Those nearing graduation were in S-Class.
The more they failed, the further they dropped, down to F.
“Instructor Hoon?”
“Yes.”
“Your quarters are on the 10th floor. Lab’s on the 40th. Here’s a guide for the detailed layout—check it out.”
She handed me a document.
I snatched it up quick.
“Get a good grasp of the layout during the adjustment period. Classes start tomorrow.”
The Magic Tower’s structure resembled Oxford’s.
No, honestly, it was an exact copy.
Makes sense, then, that Bone-o knew the secret passages.
‘Ah, Bone-o.’
First things first, find Bone-o.
“Ah, Professor Sylvia!”
“Yes?”
She replied.
“By any chance, is there a student named Eloise in the Magic Tower?”
“Eloise?”
Her expression shifted subtly.
Did she know something?
“Are you pulling a prank on our first meeting?”
“Pardon?”
I blinked wide.
What’s with this woman?
Suddenly?
“A magic professor who doesn’t know House Eloise? Even if professors are rare, I’m your senior in the field. Show some respect.”
“Ah.”
Eloise wasn’t a first name, but a house?
A ducal house, no less?
I scratched my head.
“Please understand. I grew up in the mountains with my grandfather since I was little, so I don’t know much.”
I’d studied the culture here.
But a week wasn’t enough, apparently.
“……You really don’t know House Eloise?”
“Yes, just lived in the mountains.”
“Hmm. A noble in the mountains……?”
Sylvia eyed me suspiciously.
Then, she let out a soft sigh.
“If you’re asking how many from House Eloise, exactly thirteen.”
“Thirteen……?”
That house.
Sure had a lot of kids.
“Yes, all ducal heirs, so special management cases. Scattered across classes.”
“I see. Thank you.”
Thirteen.
One of them was Bone-o.
And since it was a failing student.
High chance in my F-Class.
“Phew.”
Better this way.
I’d look for Bone-o during tomorrow’s lecture.
‘But.’
What do I even teach?
“I can read your thoughts plain as day. Just relax.”
Sylvia gave a wry smile.
“F-Class? Nothing to teach. Just keep the kids in line.”
“Pardon?”
“You’ll see tomorrow.”
* * *
The next day.
“Whew.”
Standing before the F-Class lecture hall on the Magic Tower’s 15th floor, I took a deep breath.
“Tsk tsk, nervous?”
The old man asked.
‘Who’ve I ever taught?’
“Didn’t that woman say? Just manage them well.”
‘You don’t get it? That’s harder. Especially with all the failures lumped together.’
In other words.
Every screw-up in the Magic Tower was dumped here.
‘Well, whatever.’
Truth be told, did it matter?
Anyone’d think the goal was actually teaching.
Creak!
I flung the door open wide.
Murmur murmur.
About thirty students chattering away.
“He’s here.”
“Who’s that?”
“The new prof who just joined.”
“Yeah? He’ll be gone soon.”
“Aigoo, Magic Tower staff. Grabbed another poor mage to kill time.”
“Keke, so pitiful.”
The classroom was chaos.
Despite desks and chairs.
One was snoring away at a table in the back.
Another lounged atop a desk, ignoring my entrance.
Total.
“Mess. What a disaster. Tsk tsk.”
Disaster.
Even the old man was shaking his head.
And the kicker.
Sylvia said F-Class capacity was a hundred.
Meaning seventy were straight-up skipping.
‘Wow.’
So these were the failing students.
Suddenly, Sylvia’s words came back.
- There’s a promotion exam in a month.
- Your job’s to teach them up to E-Class……
- Truth is, no one expects it.
- Just don’t let them cause trouble.
- Some are from high noble houses, though.
‘Promote these kids?’
Why me?
No need.
My only goal was.
Thwack thwack!
“Attention!”
About a third of the students looked my way.
Ah, touching.
At least ten paying attention?
But no goodwill in those gazes.
Noble heirs.
Eyes full of haughty scrutiny.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Baron Hoon.”
First, introductions.
“I’ll be your instructor from now on.”
I paused, scanning each student’s face.
Eloise, Eloise, Eloise……
Really, to find Bone-o.
But.
No Bone-o here.
As his owner.
I could tell at a glance by their aura if it was Bone-o or not.
Plus.
[Stage: Failing Magic Student]
[Enter the Magic Tower and find the failing magic student.]
No.
Mission clear message yet.
So.
No business here.
“From now on, all classes are self-study. Play if you want, sleep if you want. Curious or eager to learn? My lab’s always open.”
“……?”
Question marks popped on their faces.
Why.
Regretting now that I quit coolly?
Heh.
I smirked and walked out.
“What.”
“He’s just leaving? For real?”
“……?”
Murmurs followed, but I kept walking.
‘First.’
Find Bone-o.
Only one place came to mind.
‘The library.’
[Room of the Legendary and Worst Magic Tower Lord in History—Caution Advised.]
That hidden chamber atop the bookshelf.
I’d start there.
* * *
F-Class.
The classroom after the professor left.
“…….”
One student stared at the door with cold eyes.
Dark blue hair and sharp serpent eyes made his face even more sinister.
The boy’s name was Andrew.
Heir to Duke Patrick, known as the Magic Tower’s heretic.
“Boss, boss!”
Students crowded around him.
All rough-edged types.
“What about that prof? Kinda annoying, right?”
“Yeah! Even if we ignore him, just walking out like that?”
“Looks like some backwater noble. Thinks we’re jokes?”
Andrew Patrick wasn’t actually F-Class material.
He had magic power to hit S-Grade anytime.
But.
Uncooperative with Magic Tower education, he’d racked up failures from punishments.
“Andrew, honestly, that prof’s below you, right?”
“Time for a lesson!”
“…….”
Andrew stayed silent.
His gaze still fixed on the door.
‘That professor.’
Something different.
Past profs were all idiots.
Only skill was flailing.
‘Pretty composed, huh?’
Curious.
Was that composure fake bravado?
Or the real deal?
Could this prof withstand his bullying?
‘This’ll be fun.’
Andrew’s lips curled slyly.