Chapter 95
Chapter 95
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 95
Chapter Title: Sky Tower First
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#95
"Shall we head to the Sky Tower first?"
He wanted to go to the Academy and see the kids, but the rewards and gifts tempted him more.
After all this hardship, it was only right to claim his due.
"I'll head back to the Academy first and make my report."
She had come as the Hero's attendant knight.
With such unusual events unfolding, a report was naturally in order.
"You have to do that too?"
Seo Woo-jin asked.
"I'm a knight, after all."
Knights weren't just brute fighters.
They had their own systems and protocols, which even Eileen, dispatched from the Academy, had to follow.
"Knights have it rough. No helping it. Hang in there a bit longer."
"Take care."
Seo Woo-jin parted ways with Eileen and headed for the Sky Tower.
He could feel people's stares.
He wasn't wearing the Academy uniform, but the clothes Grand Duke Briana had given him were far too luxurious.
A dark brown long coat that reached his ankles.
A spotless white shirt and straight black pants.
And 'Rune Dea' dangling from his waist.
It was attire rarely seen even in the imperial capital.
Seo Woo-jin ducked his head slightly, as if the attention made him uncomfortable.
He wanted to take it off, but he couldn't.
'Magic defense and physical impact reduction enchantments, right?'
The clothes were infused with more than one or two spells.
They put the ragged, auto-temperature-regulating garb from Massive Guardian to shame.
No way he could ditch them.
'She just hands out stuff like this without a second thought.'
It really drove home the Grand Duke's status.
Seo Woo-jin ignored the stares as best he could and kept walking.
Soon after, he arrived at the Sky Tower, still exuding its massive grandeur.
'Will that kid show up again today?'
Thinking of the child who had called herself a mana engineer, he knocked on the door.
The door slid open smoothly.
But the face that appeared wasn't the child's—it belonged to someone else.
"I've been waiting."
Barshik.
The mana engineer seated at the top was greeting Seo Woo-jin personally.
"Uh, hello?"
Seo Woo-jin bowed his head.
Something about Barshik's dignified air made him shrink back.
"Come in. The Tower Lord is waiting."
"Yes, sir."
He followed Barshik into the Sky Tower.
Just like the child had before, Barshik led him to the topmost floor.
The difference was that Barshik stepped out of the magic circle with him and went all the way to Marthes' room.
Knock knock.
The door opened on its own.
The space, likened to the cosmos, came into view.
"You've finally arrived."
Marthes, who had been sipping tea, welcomed Seo Woo-jin.
"Hello."
She exuded a noble elegance different from Briana's.
"Come, sit."
Marthes smiled and ushered him inside.
He sat in the chair she offered, feeling like he was walking through space.
The plush cushion lifted his spirits.
"You look well—I'm relieved. I was quite worried."
"Thanks to you, I recovered quickly."
If Marthes hadn't shared her method, he might still be bedridden.
"No need for thanks."
Marthes shook her head, but her bright expression suggested she wasn't displeased.
"First things first—the promised reward."
She gestured to Barshik as she spoke.
"Here it is."
He handed her a leather pouch.
"Take it. It's a 'Summon Stone.'"
Seo Woo-jin brightened and accepted the pouch.
'Hm?'
But something felt off.
They had agreed on ten, yet it weighed more.
He peeked inside.
'One, two, three... fifteen?'
There weren't ten Summon Stones.
Fifteen of them.
Caught off guard, he blinked in surprise.
"Didn't I say I'd give you a gift as well?"
Amused by his reaction, Marthes' smile deepened.
"Th-thank you."
Even if he gave one to each kid, eight would be left over.
That should be enough to catch up to Baek Si-woo's level.
"I'm glad you like it. But we're not done yet."
With that, Marthes pulled something else from thin air.
"A ring?"
It was made of some unknown blue metal.
"This is your reward for saving my dear friend."
Without thinking, Seo Woo-jin extended his hand.
Plop.
It touched his finger and turned to light, settling on his left ring finger.
It fit perfectly, like it was custom-made.
"It's called 'Aegis.'"
He stared blankly, as if asking what that was.
Then an explanation came from behind.
"Once a day. Summons a shield that blocks all attacks."
It was Barshik.
"...All attacks?"
Marthes nodded at Seo Woo-jin's question.
"It couldn't handle a Demon King, but an ancient dragon's breath? Easily."
So it could block a high dragon's breath attack?
Seo Woo-jin was dumbfounded.
The once-a-day limit was there, but this was insane performance—nothing to nitpick.
It made the enchantments on his clothes look pathetic.
"Is it really okay for me to have something like this?"
A ring like this would be a national treasure in the Empire.
Probably only fit for the Emperor.
"No issue at all. It's so you don't get hurt again out there."
Marthes' eyes twinkled mischievously.
"Thank you."
He bowed deeply once more, full of sincerity.
"It's a gift for saving my friend—don't feel burdened."
The Sky Tower's lord truly had magnanimity beyond measure.
"I'll put it to good use."
It could save his life several times over.
For Marthes, he could even raze Granje.
"I'd love to chat more and catch up, but duty calls."
"Ah, got it."
Seo Woo-jin rose from his seat.
"Come again soon. We can finish our talk then."
"Will do."
Seo Woo-jin bowed at the waist and left the room.
Barshik escorted him down to the first floor.
"Oh, and Barshik."
As he was about to leave the Sky Tower, Seo Woo-jin paused, as if remembering something.
"Speak."
"I found... more similar runes. Could you interpret them?"
Barshik's eyebrow twitched.
"More?"
He nodded, feeling the sharp gaze.
"Where did you find them?"
A perfectly reasonable question.
But Seo Woo-jin had no intention of answering.
"Well... the Grand Duke asked me to keep it quiet."
He borrowed Briana's name a bit.
Even Barshik wouldn't pry too hard in the face of her authority, he figured.
And he was right.
"I'll visit soon."
"I'll be waiting."
Seo Woo-jin smiled and stepped out of the Sky Tower.
If this rune got deciphered, he'd learn more about the 'Otherworld Demon King Chronicles.'
He felt a spark of anticipation.
Stroking the Summon Stones in his pocket and the ring on his finger, Seo Woo-jin headed to the Academy in high spirits.
The outing had been brutally tough, but the gains made his steps light.
* * *
Splat!
A knight in black armor was torn apart.
Red blood sprayed through the air, but not a single scream escaped.
No—in that instant, he even reached out to hinder his foe.
"What pests."
Gerald's brow furrowed.
How many was this?
How many had lost their lives to his hand?
Over a dozen, yet they pursued him relentlessly.
'Trouble.'
His body wasn't in top shape.
He had pushed himself fighting the Grand Duke and the Hero.
Especially that last strike from the Hero—it had shattered his flesh.
Demonic energy was holding it together, but if this dragged on, it'd collapse soon.
"Mere flies."
Each black knight was a threat.
Somehow, they pierced his demonic energy and wounded him.
"Crusiel?"
Only those rats would send this level of force.
He had been so careful to hide his tracks, but it seemed they'd caught his tail.
Crack.
He snapped another neck.
He tossed the corpse aside.
"Huuu—"
His breathing grew ragged.
To be cornered by trash like this.
Absurdity brought a hollow laugh.
His senses picked up more approaching.
Instead of finishing them, Gerald chose to flee.
He stepped forward, space folding to reveal new scenery.
At least several kilometers away.
They couldn't follow immediately...
Gerald halted his thoughts and raised his arm.
A sword came flying.
Kagak!
"Urgh..."
Incredibly, it pierced his demonic energy and went through his arm.
This blade strike was leagues above the flies he'd faced.
"Familiar sword."
He looked down at the blade embedded in his arm.
Plain-looking, but the power within was no joke.
Screeech—
The sword wriggled free on its own and flew aside.
"Sword Sage."
Gerald grunted.
"You're in luck."
Dariel, the Sword Sage, picked up his sword and grinned.
"Never thought I'd be the one to hit the jackpot."
Crusiel's mobile strike force was spread wide across Gerald's escape routes.
No matter where he teleported, he'd run into them.
Dariel covered one such spot.
And by sheer luck, the battered Gerald appeared right in front of him.
"Looks like your god has abandoned you."
Dariel mocked Gerald.
"You're not worthy to speak his name."
Rage flared at the words.
"Word is you lost to that kid? Second time now. Means you're the weak one."
Dariel kept up the taunts.
'This will be my grave.'
He had come to clip the Empire's wings, but now his own head was on the block.
Death didn't scare him, but missing the Lord's advent was heartbreaking.
Roar—
Demonic energy blazed, enveloping Gerald's body.
He had summoned every last drop, radiating an ominous aura.
"You've weakened, Gerald."
But Dariel shook his head.
He could tell it was less than half the man's true power.
"You know that won't block my sword, right?"
Dariel asked.
Gerald didn't answer.
He simply honed his demonic energy, steeling his resolve.
"It's been a long time since our fates intertwined, you and I."
How many clashes had they had?
Their strengths were too close; neither could claim victory.
Dariel felt a pang of regret but thrilled at the chance to slay an imperial foe.
"Come."
Gerald clenched his fist and assumed a stance.
Dariel launched himself at the same moment.
And...
Swoosh—
Gerald's body turned to dust.
* * *
"...Huh?"
Seo Woo-jin squinted against a sudden burst of light.
"Wh-what the hell? Out of nowhere?"
On his way back to the Academy, Seo Woo-jin leveled up.