Chapter 222
Chapter 222
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 222
Chapter Title: Return to Byeolcheonji (1)
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"Hmm."
I sat up from where I'd been lying comfortably.
Wooong!
Around the secret chamber.
Immense waves of mana rippled through the air.
Mana of this magnitude inside the Magic Tower?
'The Magic Tower Master is here...'
Sophia Silverstone.
It wasn't my first time encountering her, but I still couldn't get used to her presence every time I felt it.
'I thought she was elder level at best...'
Judging purely by the aura.
It was on par with Gospelheim of the Haim family.
'I underestimated her.'
The more you know, the more you see.
After learning magic and battling countless mages, I could now gauge it more accurately.
"......!"
Arin, who had been browsing the secret chamber, tensed up and gripped her staff tightly.
A few seconds passed like that.
"Joo Dong-hoon, you've arrived!"
Sophia emerged from a portal-like space, looking genuinely pleased.
"You should've come straight to find me. Were you lying around here?"
"Uh......"
I scratched my head and smiled awkwardly.
"You knew I was here, huh."
"Of course. The Magic Tower is me, and I am the Magic Tower. I notice changes like this easily. Especially......"
Sophia glanced at Bone-o and Arin.
"When something like that shows up in my house. How could I not know?"
Whooo!
A wind blew through the secret chamber.
The air was stirring from her overwhelming presence.
"Anyway."
She opened her mouth.
"Is it true? That skeleton really was Eloise? The worst Magic Tower Master in the history of the magitech world, as recorded?"
"The Eloise family no longer exists."
Arin replied firmly.
"I destroyed it myself."
"It's really true......?"
"......You're the Magic Tower Master of this world, right? Pleased to meet you, Magic Tower Master of another realm."
"Huh, hahaha?"
Sophia stared at Arin with an expression that said, what kind of nonsense is this?
Yeah, that look.
It was just like an alchemist eyeing a glass beaker in the lab.
Her face brimming with curiosity.
"Joo Dong-hoon!"
Her voice was thick with anticipation.
"Yeah?"
"You haven't forgotten our promise, right?"
"Promise?"
I scratched my head again, pretending not to know, and Sophia's eyes flashed.
At this point, it was like beams of light shooting from her eyes.
"We agreed to share information. You didn't forget, did you?"
That's right.
We had.
"I didn't forget. Hmm, hold on a sec."
"But why? Why? What's the problem? Why hold on?"
The excited Sophia pressed me.
The Magic Tower Master, who always exuded calm charisma.
Why was it so hilarious seeing her flail around like a thirsty camel?
'But.'
I needed to calculate this carefully.
The information she gave me was just a token of trust.
It wasn't practically helpful to me.
The one real help from Sophia was just one thing.
'Ancient Magic Fragment' (SS-Grade).
In other words, providing the Magic Tower to open the medium dungeon.
Of course, I planned to repay that favor generously.
"There's only one piece of information I can provide you, Magic Tower Master."
"Only one?"
Sophia frowned.
"What is it?"
"Translating the magitech books in the archive."
Before entering the medium dungeon.
I remembered what the mage Sunny had told me.
- Most of those books there, we can't read them.
- They're not written in Earth's language. They're full of unrecognizable hieroglyphs.
The Magic Tower was clearly starving for the archive's knowledge.
- The ones in the archive right now?
- One of two types. Either looking at real skillbooks, or desperately trying to translate those characters.
- If you could translate all those characters...... Wouldn't that be the ultimate serendipity?
Serendipity.
To the current Sophia, my very existence was no different from serendipity.
"Translate...... Is that for real? You can really...... translate the books in the archive?"
Unbefitting the world's number four hunter.
Her voice trembled.
"Of course, there are limits. I have my own things to do, so I can't devote myself solely to translating. Exactly two books per month. Just two each time."
"......Two books."
Sophia looked slightly disappointed.
But she soon nodded.
"Well, I'm the one asking for help, so I have no room to complain."
She stroked her chin thoughtfully.
"In exchange, if I pay some appropriate compensation, you could do a bit more, right?"
"Compensation?"
"Yeah. What kind of compensation do you think our society has?"
Sophia grinned and made a circle with her thumb and index finger.
"Money?"
"Bingo."
Hoo.
Money.
Well, money wasn't that crucial to me right now.
But it wasn't a bad thing.
I needed a gift to bring back for Kim Jin-ah anyway.
Kim Jin-ah was obsessed with growing the group, so guild funds would be the most reliable gift.
"How much are you offering?"
"As much reasonable amount as you want."
In short, 'name your price'.
"But I know your abilities—no, Eloise's value well, so I can match pretty much whatever you ask generously."
Her voice held two emotions.
Desperation and straightforwardness.
"You're confident, huh? What if I ask for a few million dollars per book......"
A million dollars was nearly 1.2 to 1.3 billion won at the exchange rate.
I acted nonchalant.
The leisure that came from not being attached to money.
"Heh."
At my words.
Sophia exhaled as if relieved.
"Aren't you underestimating our Magic Tower's capital? We're one of the world's top recognized organizations."
"......"
"We've got at least a trillion dollars easily, so don't worry. Whatever you name, I can double it."
"......Pardon? A trillion dollars?"
How much was a trillion dollars?
Roughly over 1,000 trillion won in Korean currency?
Even if I wasn't attached to money lately.
This was surprising.
"......Your class is insane."
I was genuinely impressed.
Kim Jin-ah wanted to build a group surpassing even this Magic Tower, right?
But suddenly.
A question arose.
The current Magic Tower Master was incredibly powerful.
So powerful that even if I fought her with everything I had, there was a 99% chance I'd lose without accomplishing anything.
'Yet she.'
Wasn't threatening or restraining me.
She was acknowledging me just as she said.
Did she read my expression?
The Magic Tower Master grinned.
"You'll understand when you've lived longer. You get the personality of kids like you at a glance."
"......My personality?"
"Yeah. You're stiff like bamboo—if you try to handle roughly, you'll snap right there. And you'll reveal those hidden thorns inside. Right?"
"......"
Well, pretty similar.
If the Magic Tower Master had been hostile.
I would've fought even knowing I'd lose.
Lose or not, I was confident I could give her a real shock.
No matter how strong she was.
She wasn't on the level of the Giant Dragon or Aranbalon.
"You don't poke beehives, after all. Heh. Plus, in this deal, it's clear I'm the dependent party. I desperately need the Magic Tower's archives—for real, more than you can imagine."
"You're awfully honest."
"So, what about you? Are you the type to exploit that honesty? Remember. I've treated you with goodwill from the start."
Words with bite.
Don't exploit pure goodwill.
"As if. I'm honored you think that way, Magic Tower Master. But you're half right and half wrong."
"What?"
"I'm not as stiff as you think. Especially when the other side is gentle."
I didn't like abusing power.
Plus, for growing my group in the future, I needed to keep good relations with the Magic Tower.
More than money.
No matter what anyone said, it was one of the world’s top three, alongside the Demon King's army and the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
'Besides.'
To advance my sorcery further, I needed those Magic Tower archive books anyway.
In other words, she was offering what I originally wanted to ask for, plus pocket money on top.
No reason for me to refuse.
"With that in mind."
I smiled.
"I'll translate the first ten for free as a service. But can I choose which books?"
"Of course, absolutely!"
Negotiation complete.
* * *
Byeolcheonji headquarters.
On the pavilion above the Peach Blossom Paradise.
"Hoo."
Kim Jin-ah stood with hands behind her back, gazing at the scenery.
"It's taking shape now."
The view of Peach Blossom Paradise from the hill was no longer just plains or mountains.
A proper city.
One so grand it could be from an SF fantasy movie, already outlining itself.
Dwarven craftsmanship in the design.
Combined with elven delicacy, creating a beautiful cityscape.
"Wow."
A sigh of admiration escaped automatically.
Personal opinion.
It was hundreds of times prettier than Oxford's Magic Tower city.
Guild Master.
While Joo Dong-hoon was away, the guild had grown tremendously.
Hunters for regular dungeon runs were mostly S-grade or higher.
Thanks to them, dungeons were cleared regularly without rest.
Dark Emperor, Thunderclap, Absolute Matchless, Guide, Iron Fist, Asura, The Druid, and more.
Plenty of talent to lead teams, so dungeons ran smoothly.
'For now, cap at exactly 100.'
Byeolcheonji was rising, but still in early stages.
Compared to top guilds, capital was naturally lacking.
'Honestly.'
Even 100 was a stretch.
We offered several times the pay of other guilds.
But still.
What guild could gather 100 S-grades in a month?
'It's all thanks to Guild Master becoming a high ranker.'
His existence alone was worldwide promotion.
Kim Jin-ah chuckled.
Also.
The 'Association' and 'Seoul's Five Stars' helped greatly with operations.
The Association scattered bidding rights for [Immeasurable Dungeons] as payment for Russian aid.
Parang and Baekdon gave high-quality advice from experienced eyes.
Thanks to that, the 'framework' was now complete.
'The problem is.'
While building this, the Guild Master vanished again.
And this time too.
No exact word on where.
- Hey.
- Gotta head somewhere urgently.
- No idea how long it'll take.
"Seriously......"
Why does he have so many secrets?
At least say where he's going.
"Haa."
White breath puffed from Kim Jin-ah's lips.
The hill made it chilly.
Honestly.
Two feelings coexisted in her heart.
First, anxiety.
What if the Guild Master doesn't return?
No matter how much faith, it wasn't impossible.
'He's reckless.'
The guild's rankers all said the same.
- Hoon? He's the hunter with the strongest challenge spirit in the world. Cool guy.
From Guide Kapu.
- Him? Hmm, not long, but...... If there's rare loot in lava, he'd dive right in without hesitation.
Even The Druid Kwon So-ye felt that way.
"Oh man."
Kim Jin-ah shook her head.
If he died, this city-building was all for nothing.
Her dream of the world's top group would crumble.
Byeolcheonji was Joo Dong-hoon himself.
Second, anticipation.
He always returned from trips with explosive growth.
'First met at the bank?'
Back as loan team leader, he was E-grade hunter.
Of course, she knew he wasn't renewed.
But now.
World rank 69 hunter.
The rookie of rookies the world raved about.
'And if he returns this time.'
How much more has he grown?
Vague anticipation swelling when.
[Skeleton King: Oh, right.]
[Skeleton King: I'm here, but the necklace...... I gave it to Demir?]
[Skeleton King: Can I summon over for a bit?]
[Skeleton King: Too tiring to fly back.]
"......!"
Kim Jin-ah's eyes widened.
[Kim Jin-ah: ?]
[Kim Jin-ah: ??!!]
[Kim Jin-ah: ??!!!!]
[Kim Jin-ah: Guild Master!]
[Kim Jin-ah: Where the heck have you been, finally back?!]
At the same time.
Grievance and relief exploded together.