Chapter 299
Chapter 299
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 299
Chapter Title: Bedrock Progeny (3)
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Oxford Magic Tower, Elder Hall.
There, the three elders at the center of the issue sat sipping tea.
"Hmm."
"...What on earth could they be thinking?"
Brandon glanced cautiously at Usher as he spoke.
"To actually accept the Grand Elder's challenge for a duel. And look at this bracket. This is... basically just telling us to win, isn't it?"
"Ha, you're right."
Usher stared at the bracket with an expression of utter incomprehension.
'What could it be?'
What in the world was Byeolcheonji up to?
What gave them the confidence to accept the Magic Tower's provocation?
Do Ha-rang and Emily.
They were people the elders knew very well.
Sure, they had achieved good results at a relatively young age, but their levels were far below the elders'.
That much was certain.
'Well, isn't this working out nicely?'
The community, "Sanctuary of Mages," was still buzzing.
The news of the magic duel hadn't spread to the public yet.
But now that things had turned out this way.
Wouldn't it be a chance to remind the whole world of the Magic Tower's greatness!
And that was exactly what Usher had wanted from the start.
"Elder Usher."
It was then that another elder, Damian, cut in.
"Still, shouldn't we prepare? Honestly, you saw it. That skeleton named Arin or whatever—it's something else."
"So?"
Usher furrowed his brow.
"You think that bag of bones could beat our Tower Master?"
"No, of course not, but..."
"Then what's the problem? Surely, Damian, you don't have the absurd notion in your head that the Magic Tower could lose?"
"Hahaha! Of course not! It's just that what the Tower Master emphasized sticks with me a bit."
"Hmm."
The Tower Master, Sophia Silverstone.
- Elders, keep this in mind.
- Eloise Arin is a great mage.
- A mage whose wisdom even I can't fathom.
- But I am the Tower Master.
- I don't want the Magic Tower to lose either.
- Do you understand what that means?
- Don't get complacent.
- Prepare diligently for the next six months, with the Magic Tower's pride on the line.
- This is a sincere warning and advice.
Those were her words when she gathered the Grand Elder and the three elders on the day the duel was confirmed.
Usher shook his head.
"No, the Tower Master... she's always been the worrying type, hasn't she? Too cautious."
"That's true. Even when mages go into dungeons, she gets anxious sometimes..."
"It might even be advice that's working against us. If we get too scared, we'll move sluggishly and lose even when we could win. The issue isn't our victory or defeat."
"Then?"
"It's how we win. Oh, the venue is Byeolcheonji, right?"
"Yes. They're setting it up in Muryeong Paradise."
"What a joke."
To dare challenge the Magic Tower.
And tell us to come and go as they please.
But it didn't matter.
"Start spreading rumors right now."
No matter the venue.
The Byeolcheonji fools would have no choice but to be crushed under the Magic Tower's great magic, for the whole world to see.
"Rumors...?"
"Byeolcheonji and the Magic Tower will fight in Muryeong Paradise six months from now. This is accurate info leaked from the inside. Spread it mainly on accounts of mages not affiliated with the Magic Tower."
"But, Elder! What if the Tower Master finds out? She told us not to!"
"Damian?"
"Yes, Elder."
"That's why it's called a rumor."
"Ah."
Rumors.
Information spread covertly through back channels in the stock market, a term originating from Japan.
Damian smiled faintly.
Brandon, sitting beside him, laughed too.
"You're saying we spread it secretly?"
"The whole world is worn out from the Jisu-ryong incident. Don't we owe them some entertainment like this?"
"Haha, as expected of you, Elder! So thoughtful."
The mood in the Elder Hall turned warm and cheerful.
* * *
"Huuuup!"
The sun had set, and night had fallen.
After finishing my deep breaths, I slowly stood up.
Today's training was over.
My body felt heavy and sore.
The old man's assignment: master the Ten Thousand Arts in a year.
At first, I wondered how that could be possible.
Why was it called the Ten Thousand Arts?
Because there were ten thousand techniques to learn.
'Crazy.'
To lay the foundations for all that in 365 days.
Even a simple calculation showed I'd need to learn 27-28 techniques a day.
Of course, just the basics, not delving deep.
Just introductory-level techniques, but still, was that even feasible?
But.
'This might actually work.'
Of course, it was tough at the start.
Mastering even one properly per day was a struggle.
But as time passed, the connections became easier.
'Techniques aren't fixed.'
Like when the old Ten Thousand Arts master had lectured about "slashing"—everything could build foundations based on my movements.
This wasn't a training method for ordinary people.
It was a method only the Ten Thousand Arts could achieve.
For example, spear-throwing, dart-throwing, hidden weapons, javelin— they all required a throwing motion.
The tools differed, but the subtleties of the throwing movement were the same.
This even applied to darts, boomerangs, fishing.
'Right.'
There are defined techniques, but flexibly adapting them to fit the desired art.
Was that the foundation of the Ten Thousand Arts?
Before I knew it, laying the foundations became easier.
From one a day to ten, then from ten to twenty.
'At this rate.'
Just as the old man said, I could truly lay the foundations for all arts within a year.
"Whew, good."
After training, I had two things left to do.
Sleep, and find Demir.
Kkaang, kkaang!
Right now, Demir was following my orders, building something in the center of the forest near the city.
The framework of the structure rising in the midst of beautiful natural scenery looked just like...
'A colosseum.'
No, it was colosseum-shaped.
But even more grand and massive than that—a circular arena.
"Haha, Master! Did you train hard today too?"
Kkaang! Kkaang!
Demir, working diligently with about a hundred subordinates, looked not just happy, but ecstatic.
He stopped hammering and approached me.
"The arena you mentioned? It'll be complete in about three months. See? At this size, it can hold nearly 200,000 people."
"Grooo."
I couldn't help but gasp in admiration.
Honestly, I'd just casually asked him to build an arena.
Who knew he'd aim for something this ridiculously grand.
Was "half-assed" not in Demir's vocabulary?
My reason for building the arena was simple.
For the exchange with the Magic Tower.
Many spectators would come, including the Magic Tower's mages.
Instead of renting somewhere, why not show off Byeolcheonji's prestige in one go?
"Demir, you really... you've worked hard."
As I admired the framework with a satisfied expression.
[Kim Jin-ah: Guild Master, Guild Master!]
Kim Jin-ah was calling me again.
[Kim Jin-ah: Big trouble!]
[Kim Jin-ah: Those Magic Tower bastards leaked the duel info.]
[Kim Jin-ah: The info circulating in the community is so creepily accurate. I asked Detection, and it's the Magic Tower elders' doing.]
[Kim Jin-ah: Inquiries are flooding in from everywhere asking if they can spectate too. Haaa.]
[Kim Jin-ah: What do we do? Our exchange is about to be exposed to the world!]
"Bingo."
Snap!
I snapped my fingers.
"Perfect."
Honestly, I'd been waiting for it.
For them to make the first move.
Truth be told, I wanted to announce the event to the world too.
Unlike Kim Jin-ah, I was confident Byeolcheonji would win.
But.
If we started recruiting spectators and selling tickets first, it would be awkward.
It wouldn't be courteous to the Tower Master.
'But if they step up first like this?'
Twitch.
My cheek trembled involuntarily.
I was about to burst out laughing.
* * *
- Are you sure this is okay?
Muryeong Paradise conference room.
The voice coming from the receiver on the table in front of Kim Jin-ah and me belonged to the Tower Master.
- Think it over, Joo Dong-hoon. I understand your confidence, but the public hearing the results is one thing—seeing it themselves is another.
The duel would spread rumors anyway.
This was an exchange event.
Most Byeolcheonji and Magic Tower members would participate.
We couldn't seal all their lips.
But if they saw the entire event?
And if the event was overwhelmingly one-sided?
One side would take a massive hit to their image.
- It looks like our elders stirred up trouble again. If you want, we can handle this...
Surprisingly, the Tower Master already knew everything.
Well, she was Oxford's Sage, after all.
She'd investigate and find out about such low-level scheming quickly.
But.
"No, I'm fine with it."
"Guild Master?!"
Kim Jin-ah glared at me with wide eyes, but I raised my hand to stop her.
"You don't need to consider my position, Tower Master. Just one thing... I'm confident."
- ....
An odd silence flowed.
She was interpreting my true intent.
Simple enough.
We're going to beat you, and you might end up embarrassed—okay with that?
Don't pretend to care about me; you choose.
You started this mess anyway.
- Hmmm.
Soon, her voice came from the receiver again.
- You sure, Joo Dong-hoon? I don't think we'll lose either. Honestly, we have a 90% advantage.
"Then we're both in luck. We exchange, sell tickets, sell broadcast rights. Eat the pheasant, eat the egg too. Drain the ditch, catch the crayfish."
- You're really confident, huh?
"I'm just trusting Eloise Arin. I don't know why the community fights blew up this much, but you proposed it first, right, Tower Master?"
- Fine, Joo Dong-hoon. If you're that confident, let's sell those tickets. And you know?
"Yes, we promised. No hard feelings either way."
* * *
After blowing the whole thing wide open, I skipped sleep and went to find Demir again.
Not at the arena site, but in the workshop in the city.
"Master."
Demir greeted me, hammer over his shoulder.
Actually, what I'd asked him to do wasn't just the arena.
"Ready?"
"I've roughed out the forms. Come take a look."
Top floor of the workshop.
In the place Demir led me to, ten weapons and accessories in frame form were laid out.
In order.
Sword, spear, bow, shield, staff, hammer, holy relic, gauntlets and shoes, necklace, ring.
'Right.'
From Bone One to Bone Twelve.
Now that I had the capability.
I couldn't just make items for others.
My skeletons came first.
"Demir."
"Yeah, Master."
"This isn't for a Demir limited edition."
"I know."
"Something way better than a Demir limited edition. Demir, this is the masterpiece of your lifetime—the greatest work you can create in your life."
Thump thump.
My heart raced.
Ahh.
Why was hammering more thrilling than training?
My legs tingled, adrenaline surged.
Sleepiness vanished, fatigue gone.
"This'll be fun."
"Right?"
Demir and I faced each other and smiled.