Chapter 295
Chapter 295
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 295
Chapter Title: No Hard Feelings Between Us
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About three hours ago.
At the top floor of the Oxford Magic Tower, three elders had been summoned.
Usher, Brandon, and Damian.
The high-rankers currently in the Magic Tower.
Sophia, sitting cross-legged in front of them, sipped her tea and furrowed her brow.
“You are wizards of the Magic Tower, walking the noble path of scholars. And not just any wizards—you’re the pillars upholding the Tower, aren’t you?”
“……”
“And yet, you let yourselves get swayed by the masses and publicly badmouth the Magic Tower’s precious ally, Byulcheonji? Are you in your right minds?”
There was clear anger in the Tower Master’s calm voice.
“……That’s.”
Elder Usher trailed off and hung his head low.
He had already apologized.
But the sense of injustice hadn’t faded.
Sophia, seasoned by age, read their emotions just from their eyes.
*Sigh, what hopeless fools.*
She sighed inwardly.
*They have no idea how incredible Arin is.*
Eloise Arin was the fourth Magic Tower Master of the Magic World.
She was also treated as the number one management target among all Magic Towers across the universe.
A legendary figure—and the worst Tower Master in history.
The moment she ascended as Tower Master,
She burned down all the elders and professors,
Not to mention the Magic Tower itself.
And it wasn’t just any Magic Tower.
It was the Magic Tower of the Magic World.
The Magic Tower of a world that had developed over long ages, through four successive Tower Masters.
*Compared to that, what is our Tower?*
Her throat parched, Sophia poured more tea with a glug-glug!
*We haven’t even reached ten years of history yet.*
If the Magic World’s Tower was an adult, hers was a newborn.
A newborn that couldn’t even walk yet.
Even now,
Without Arin’s help, progress was sluggish.
“……I don’t misunderstand your feelings. Sure, if you don’t know, it’s understandable.”
Slurp!
Sophia brought the tea to her lips as she spoke, but inside, she was burning with rage.
*You idiots.*
*Do you have any idea how much effort I’ve put into maintaining the alliance with Byulcheonji?*
“Haah.”
In the end, the sigh she’d held inside slipped out.
The elders bowed their heads even deeper.
“Usher.”
“Yes, Tower Master.”
World Ranking 74th, Dark Mage Usher, replied.
“Our Magic Tower is currently receiving Byulcheonji’s aid. Every month, we get translation copies worth more than a fortune in gold.”
“……We know.”
*And you still did that?*
“Besides that, there’s no need to compare strength between Byulcheonji and us. Both groups contribute to society from their respective positions.”
In other words, it’s like special forces.
No point ranking Britain’s elite counter-terror unit SAS against the Royal Marines.
Their purposes and missions are different.
“So, put your pride aside for now and apologize first……”
At that moment, a loud voice came from outside the door.
Quite a crowd of them.
“Tower Master!”
Sophia frowned in annoyance.
*Who dares interrupt while I’m scolding the elders……*
“It’s not the elders’ fault!”
“That’s right. Punish us instead!”
“This was the will of us professors! We asked the elders to do it!”
*Heh.*
Sophia’s brow twitched.
Counting roughly, it seemed over 30% of the Magic Tower’s high-ranking wizards were involved……
*Ah, so the hierarchy I thought towered to the heavens has been dumped underground.*
*These cheeky bastards, how dare they……*
Rumble……
As immense pressure began to rise from the furious Sophia,
“……Tower Master.”
Another voice drifted in from outside.
A voice thick with years.
“Hmm.”
Sophia quelled her surging aura.
The Magic Tower’s owner, she relied on only one other person in the Tower.
World Ranking 13th, Grand Elder Cainard.
She didn’t want to show her anger to him.
“Please wait a moment, Tower Master.”
“……Cainard.”
Thud.
The Grand Elder, leaning on his staff, stepped forward.
“I understand the children were hasty. I know their statements were rude to Byulcheonji.”
Sophia’s lips twitched in frustration.
“What are you trying to say?”
“The children simply…… overflowed with pride in the Magic Tower. They’ve served it faithfully for quite some time.”
“So?”
“How about using this chance to actually pit ourselves against them, as the masses suggest? Truth be told, the Magic Tower has monopolized magic without rivals. Competition fosters growth. It drives both sides to better results, bringing positive effects to everyone.”
“Take all the kids and attack Byulcheonji?”
“That’s not what I mean, Tower Master.”
Cainard continued calmly.
“I’m just suggesting we set up an exchange event.”
“Hmm.”
Sophia squeezed her eyes shut.
She couldn’t ignore Cainard, even if no one else mattered.
She was certain:
Without Cainard, the Tower wouldn’t have grown this far.
In a way, like Byulcheonji’s Kim Jin-ah?
“……What do the other elders think?”
“Excellent!”
“We fully endorse it!”
“They give us books, so we teach them combat techniques in return! Mutual benefit!”
Usher, Brandon, and Damian raised their heads and agreed vigorously.
*Combat techniques, my ass.*
*We’re newborns, I tell you.*
Tsk.
Sophia clicked her tongue inwardly.
*Fine.*
Better this way.
These frog-in-the-well kids need to feel Arin’s greatness for themselves.
The more they feel it, the more they’ll grow.
And honestly,
She had a sliver of hope.
Just how high is our Magic Tower magic?
Can we beat the wizards raised by Eloise Arin?
No matter how high the Tower wizards’ rankings,
The opponent is Eloise.
A being from a different league of magical civilization.
“Tomorrow’s the day they bring the books, right?”
Sophia, appropriately composed, passed the elders and professors and headed for the door.
“Guess I’ll have to go myself.”
* * *
“The Tower Master herself?”
Hearing the Tower Master was coming personally, Kim Jin-ah panicked inwardly.
It meant the Magic Tower was taking the situation seriously.
Couldn’t see it in a positive light.
After all, our side started the provocation first.
“What could it be about?”
Kim Jin-ah bit her lip anxiously.
For now, the Tower Master had permission to enter the Paradise Realm.
As allies, all elder-level personnel from the Tower were registered at the 「Druel Workshop」 portal.
*Is she here to confront us directly? Or, like the masses say, to have a showdown?*
The latter seemed likely.
Coming in person instead of sending a letter meant it was a sensitive issue.
“Guild Master?”
Kim Jin-ah looked up at Joo Dong-hoon.
At the Guild Master smiling relaxedly.
*Wait, is everyone else calm but me?*
“Well, it’s for the best.”
“Huh?”
“We were going to contact them anyway, right? She’s coming herself—thank you very much.”
“……”
True.
It was true, but.
*Well.*
Kim Jin-ah realized anew how much the Guild Master had grown.
World Ranking 7th.
He could afford to be nonchalant even with the almighty Tower Master coming.
Normally, she’d be fidgeting like Do Ha-rang or Emily over there……
A brief moment passed like that.
Woooong!
Space rippled, and whoosh! A familiar woman appeared.
“Hi, Joo Dong-hoon.”
It was the Tower Master.
The Guild Master greeted her casual hello with a smile.
“Long time no see.”
“Not that long. We met at the Earth Dragon event. Oh, nice to see you too, Vice Guild Master? We see each other often.”
“Nice to see you, Sophia.”
Kim Jin-ah bowed her head and, as she greeted, opened her mouth again.
“Regarding the guild member’s statement the other day……”
“No, no. We’re not blameless either, so let’s just laugh it off. Besides, it wasn’t wrong, was it?”
The Tower Master’s and Do Ha-rang’s eyes met briefly.
Flinch!
Do Ha-rang shuddered and lowered his gaze.
Emily also looked away.
Having once been from the Magic Tower, they naturally knew the Tower Master.
Rankers switching groups wasn’t unheard of, but it was still awkward.
Step.
Kim Jin-ah stepped forward in the meantime.
Separate from the guild members’ mistake, as Vice Guild Master, she had to break this awkward atmosphere.
“……So, what brings you here in person?”
She asked cautiously at the same time.
The Tower received Byulcheonji’s help, but Byulcheonji also benefited from the Tower.
Plus, the Tower was one of the Big 3.
No harm in treating them well.
“Right, enough greetings—better get to the point.”
“……”
“No need to waste time.”
The Tower Master smiled lightly.
“I’m here to convey the Magic Tower’s stance.”
“Stance?”
“Honestly, I fully agree with what Ha-rang said. Eloise Arin is a great wizard, and I want to maintain good relations with both her and Joo Dong-hoon.”
Kim Jin-ah looked surprised.
The almighty Tower Master,
Lowering her stance like this?
She knew Arin was amazing, but Sophia was World Ranking 4th.
Arin was just a summon of World Ranking 7th.
The Tower Master smiled again.
“With that in mind, I have a proposal. Let’s do as the masses say and have the Magic Tower and Byulcheonji face off. Like a friendly exchange.”
“……Huh?”
Kim Jin-ah blurted out involuntarily.
*This is……*
More serious than expected.
Even if friendly, it’s a guild vs. guild match.
Countless people would watch.
Even if blocked, rumors travel a thousand miles without legs.
The losing side takes a massive image hit.
Not what Kim Jin-ah, dreaming of surpassing Big 3 to Number One Guild, wanted.
*Besides.*
What the masses wanted wasn’t Byulcheonji vs. Magic Tower.
Precisely, Tower Master vs. Arin.
Additionally, a matchup of the wizards who’d argued.
Ultimately, [Whose group has superior magic?]
*Arin is incredible, but……*
A skeleton beating World Ranking 4th Tower Master?
Even insightful Kim Jin-ah couldn’t imagine it.
“It’s just a proposal, so don’t take it too seriously. Feel free to refuse—I mean it. As I said, I want to keep good relations with Joo Dong-hoon.”
“……”
Kim Jin-ah narrowed her eyes, reading Sophia’s intent.
Then judged.
*She’s sincere.*
No tricks.
Not a ploy to pressure if refused.
A genuine, cautious proposal.
*In that case.*
Kim Jin-ah clenched her fist.
Of course, refuse.
As she nodded and was about to speak—
“Sounds good.”
Eh?
Guild Master?
Kim Jin-ah’s eyes went wide.
“Definitely fun. A guild war.”
Huuuh?
Kim Jin-ah stared in shock, wanting to stop him but couldn’t act.
This was a conversation between Tower Master and Guild Master.
Interrupting would undermine the Guild Master’s authority.
As Vice Guild Master, Kim Jin-ah couldn’t allow that.
[Kim Jin-ah: Guild Master!]
[Kim Jin-ah: No!]
[Kim Jin-ah: Absolutely not!]
Of course, she raged in chat.
“Oh, you’re in?”
Sophia laughed, surprised.
“As expected of Joo Dong-hoon. Straightforward. You set the deadline and matchups. No need to do wizard vs. wizard like the masses say. I respect Byulcheonji, but I have pride in the Magic Tower too.”
Kim Jin-ah clapped inwardly at her response.
*Yes!*
That’s it!
Not magic, then we have a chance.
Byulcheonji has the Guild Master, Berserkers, Thunderclap, too.
But.
“No, no. Can’t do that. The theme is magic showdown.”
[Kim Jin-ah: ?]
[Kim Jin-ah: ?????]
[Kim Jin-ah: Guild Master????]
Kim Jin-ah’s eyes bulged.
*No way.*
At the same time, an old memory surfaced.
At the party, over beer with him:
- Honestly, I don’t get it. Our Arin is way stronger than the Tower Master, so why the ranking discrepancy?
*Was that serious?*
“Oh? Then?”
“Wizard vs. wizard. We have four including me. Send any four from the Tower.”
“You serious, Joo Dong-hoon?”
“Didn’t you say it yourself, Tower Master? It’s just friendly exchange.”
“……But still.”
Sophia trailed off, then shrugged it off.
“Well, fine. No reason for me to stop you. No hard feelings between us?”
“Deal.”
Kim Jin-ah’s eyes filled with despair.