Chapter 21
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Divine Revelation
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Snap—
Elysia snapped her fingers, and a flame shot into the air, spinning in lazy circles.
A blue water spirit, like a shimmering droplet, approached and playfully circled the fire spirit.
Elysia laughed.
Her lavender hair fluttered in the breeze, and the spirits sparkled in the sunlight.
"......"
They looked like real spirits.
Not conjured by human hands.
Like beings that had always existed in this garden. Born among the flowers, growing with the wind, living within the light.
It didn't feel real.
Then.
Their eyes met.
Lavender irises turned my way.
"......"
She smiled faintly.
And.
Vanished.
"...?"
I blinked.
She'd been right there in the gazebo. Just a moment ago.
Where'd she go?
I looked around.
"Hello?"
A voice came from right in front of me.
"...!"
My heart nearly stopped.
Elysia was standing inches away. When had she gotten here? No footsteps. No presence at all.
"Did I startle you?"
She smiled.
Too close. Her starry lavender eyes were right there.
My heart pounded strangely.
Am I sick?
"Are you all right?"
Elysia tilted her head.
"...Yes. I'm fine."
I managed to reply.
Elysia looked me over. From head to toe. Slowly.
"Hmm..."
Her gaze was appraising.
"......"
What? Why's she looking at me like that?
"As expected..."
Elysia murmured.
"You're quite... out of place."
"...Pardon?"
Out of place? What does that mean?
"......"
Elysia gazed at me. Her lavender eyes sparkled. A pleased smile curved her lips.
She looked like she knew something.
Like she'd discovered something amusing.
"What do you mean by—"
"It's nothing."
Elysia waved it off lightly.
"Just talking to myself. Don't mind me."
"......"
Hard not to.
Really hard.
"Anyway."
Elysia smiled.
"Have you toured the Magic Tower yet?"
"...Somewhat."
"Somewhat?"
"The research wing and cafeteria..."
"Ah, that much?"
Elysia nodded.
"Then you haven't seen the fun parts yet."
"Fun parts?"
"Yes."
Elysia turned and walked off with quick steps, then paused and looked back.
"Want me to show you around?"
She smiled.
No way to refuse.
"...Sure."
"Great."
Elysia started walking again. Light footsteps.
I followed.
Spirits sparkled behind her, trailing along.
"This way."
Elysia led on.
Crossing the garden, we entered a building. At the end of the corridor stood a massive door etched with a magic circle.
"Magic Tower exclusive elevator."
Elysia placed her hand on the door.
Whirr—
The magic circle glowed, and the door slid open.
The interior was spacious.
We stepped in.
"First floor."
The doors closed at Elysia's words.
Whirr—
My body felt light.
And.
Ding—
"We're here."
"...Already?"
We'd just left.
"How long from the 77th floor to the first?"
"Hmm, about five seconds?"
Five seconds.
77 floors in five seconds.
In the North, stairs would've taken an hour. No, two hours with breaks for me.
"...Impressive."
"You think so?"
Elysia tilted her head. As if it were nothing.
The doors opened.
"..."
I froze.
At the sight before me.
"..."
Is this really the Magic Tower?
A vast space stretched out. Looking up, sunlight poured through the clouds.
And within it, shops.
Lots of them.
Tons.
To the left, a massive grocery store called "Spirit Forest Market." At the entrance, a "Spirits' Handpicked Organic Ingredients" section.
To the right, a theater with a "Illusion Theater" sign. "Latest 4D Illusion Magic Screenings!" next to a huge "50% Off for Tower Researchers."
In the center, a cafe named "Star-Bucks." Mages in robes lined up with takeout cups. No buzzing pager. Instead, tiny spirits flitted about, whispering, "Your Americano is ready."
...
Isn't this a mixed-use complex?
You go down to the first floor, and boom—groceries, entertainment, all laid out.
...
No.
Strictly speaking, this isn't the modern world.
What to call it? Magic Tower Complex?
"What do you think?"
Elysia asked.
"...Impressive."
"Right? Father made it for the researchers' welfare. They hardly ever leave the tower."
Hardly leave? Or locked in?
The thought crossed my mind, but I swallowed it.
This is the Magic Tower.
"Want to look around?"
"Yes."
We walked.
Passing the grocery store, voices drifted out.
"Hey, this mandrake root is so plump!"
I glanced over.
In the fresh produce aisle, three bearded old mages held root vegetables, locked in heated debate.
"Pickle these tonight—perfect for mana recovery!"
"Oh, it's on sale! Buy three, get one free?"
"What? Where?"
"There! Hurry!"
They rushed off, robes flapping.
"..."
These were the same guys from the research wing earlier, chasing me yelling "Gotta record those skeletal proportions!"
...
Now, I wasn't even on their radar.
Their world was buy-one-get-one-free.
Near an accessory shop, a scream-like cheer erupted.
"Isn't this the new wand case?!"
A young female mage, arms full of shopping bags, bounced around.
"Jackpot—the color! Perfect mana affinity pink!"
Her eyes sparkled like a kid's.
"..."
I'd seen her before.
Racking my brain.
Ah.
The one screaming, "0.02 error isn't small! It becomes 0.08 at 4th circle, 0.15 at 5th!"
Now, eyes gleaming over new merch like a kid at Christmas.
"..."
She looked like a different person.
We passed the Illusion Theater.
Young mages giggled with popcorn.
"Action movies are the best!"
One tossed kernels into his mouth.
"All that lab stress? Gone!"
"Hey, next time romance. We need some sweetness."
"Romance? You?"
"Why not? Can't I watch romance?"
"Weren't you fighting all day yesterday over 'flows' versus 'circulates'?"
"That's lab stuff. This is fun."
Giggle, giggle.
Their eyes weren't bloodshot anymore.
Full of pleasure and leisure. Healthy glow.
"..."
Upstairs, they'd seemed on the brink of apocalypse.
Down here? Totally different.
Vitality bordering on mania.
Faces blessed by capitalism.
"Isn't that the one we saw in the research wing?"
Elysia pointed at the merch girl.
"Different from research mode, right?"
"...Yes. Very."
"They're all like that."
Elysia laughed.
"Obsessed upstairs, total switch down here."
"...I see."
"What do you think? Our tower folk are pretty lively, huh?"
Elysia asked proudly.
"Yes... Their upstairs passion transmutes into downstairs vitality. Impressive balance."
Words slipped out.
Inner thoughts differed.
'Bullshit. They're just off-duty office workers.'
Memories of my past life—modern days—flooded back.
Me, bolting to the convenience store after work.
Eyes lighting up at the beer aisle.
"New one today? Gotta grab it."
Muttering as I snatched a can.
Just like them.
"..."
Eyes stung.
Ha. Damn.
We're all the same.
Mages or whatever, off-duty makes us human.
"...You okay?"
Elysia asked.
"Yes. Fine."
"Your eyes look red."
"Got some dust."
"Oh?"
Elysia tilted her head.
Didn't seem convinced.
"One more spot?"
Elysia asked.
"Where?"
"Tower landmark. Famous among nobles."
Back to the elevator.
Ding—
"13th floor."
Doors opened.
Down the hall to a large door.
'Ether Analyzer Room'
About ten people queued. Flashy clothes, attendants—nobles.
"This place that popular?"
"Yes. Tower's pride."
Elysia explained.
"Measures mana quality, not quantity. Analyzes pure density and texture, minus impurities. Assigns grades."
"Grades?"
"Yes. F lowest to S highest."
Elysia smiled faintly.
"And..."
She pointed to the top of the grade panel—a blank, transparent slot.
"The blank 'Divine' grade."
"Blank?"
"Yes. Mostly meaningless for modern humans."
Elysia added with a light laugh.
"Relic from ancient measurement systems."
"Why keep it then?"
Shouldn't they remove it?
"Hmm... Good point."
Elysia tilted her head slightly.
"Very rare, but... some modern folk have it."
"..."
"They say it's the mark of tower lord or swordmaster potential."
Elysia smiled and brushed it off.
"Anyway, Divine aside."
She indicated the grades below. F to S.
"Nobles brag about high scores here. Big social buzz."
"I see."
Quality, not quantity.
Quantity could've been risky. Northern Grand Duke blood.
But quality?
Never trained mana. No refinement. Just let it sit.
Bound to be rough, messy.
F grade.
Lowest.
No talent.
That stigma's what I need.
Brother'll hear. "Second son's mana quality is trash."
He'll relax. No threat from this brother.
Please.
F, come on.
"Do we queue?"
I asked Elysia.
"No."
She smiled.
"I don't have to."
Figures. Tower Lord's daughter.
Elysia opened the door. We entered. I followed.
A large crystal orb, human-height, glowed transparently in the center. Surrounded by number panels, grade displays, magic circles.
A young man in flashy clothes stood before it arrogantly. Earl's son vibe.
"Beginning."
The attendant said.
He placed his hand on the orb.
"B grade."
The attendant said.
"Hm."
The man nodded.
"Above average. Not bad."
His attendant clapped.
"As expected of the young master!"
"Naturally."
He shrugged and stepped back.
Next.
Fancier clothes—marquis's son.
Hand on.
"Ooh!"
Gasps around.
"A grade!"
"True noble house!"
Marquis's son grinned.
"Well, expected."
Next.
Duke's son. Aura made others step back.
Hand on.
"...!"
"S grade?!"
"Insane..."
Murmurs swelled.
"Record-breaking?"
"Dukes are different..."
"First S in years?"
Duke's son lifted his chin.
"Hoo."
Satisfied.
Applause erupted.
S grade.
Top tier.
Legendary.
Social season fodder.
"Next."
Attendant said.
Elysia looked at me.
"Your turn?"
"..."
Duke's son glanced over.
Gaze prickled.
Other nobles too.
'Who's that?'
'Silver hair? Northern?'
Whispers.
"...Yes."
Couldn't back out.
Stepped to the orb.
Hand on.
Cold.
'F, please.'
'Lowest.'
'No talent.'
'That stigma.'
Channeled mana.
Squeezed out the bare minimum. One drop.
Drip—
Just a tap.
Muddy water level.
Done.
I thought.
But.
The letters shifted.
"...?"
"...What?"
Stop.
Stop it.
Murmurs stirred.
"What's that?"
"Why's it climbing?"
"A grade?"
"Same as the marquis's son."
Wait.
Stop.
Stay there.
"...!"
"S grade?!"
"Same as the duke's son...!"
Murmurs grew.
Duke's son gaped. No more leisure.
Please.
Stop here.
S is failure enough.
Don't go higher.
The orb glowed.
Brighter than before.
Much brighter.
A sound.
Ding—
Clear bell-like ring.
The orb's color shifted.
Clearer. Transparent enough to see through to the other side.
I checked the grade panel.
S faded. New letters engraving.
Very slowly.
Very clearly.
In gold.
"..."
Silence.
No one spoke.
No one moved.
Not even breathing.
"......"
I looked at the duke's son.
Mouth agape.
Eyes bulging.
Arrogance gone.
Other nobles too.
Frozen.
Staring at me.
"......"
Shit.
"Um."
I finally spoke.
Voice cracked.
"Isn't this broken?"
"..."
Attendant looked at me.
Mouth opened, closed.
"...No."
"Not broken?"
"Not... broken."
"..."
Silence flowed.
Long.
Elysia slowly turned to me.
Her lavender eyes sparkled.