Chapter 22: Haesin Magic Tower
Abyss bubble in the Dynamic Tournament all of a sudden?
Did it pop up right in the middle of the match?
└ Anon: Whoa, first time seeing something like this lol
└ Anon: So the match got halted?
└ Anon: Halted yeah, but looks like two players got sucked in
This is like the 35th floor frontline in Gangnam Abyss, right?
Sudden [Grade 6] Abyss bubble in Busan? We're screwed.
7-level mage Monica was nearby apparently?
Jumped right in to rescue them? But alone.
Does this even make sense? Damn, that's a 7-level mage for ya.
Monica stared at me and Hong Baekrim with a face dripping with boredom.
"So, the disciples of Hwasan charging in like moths to a flame with one heart—that truly left an impression."
"Hmm, Teacher Taeyong has a knack for crafting such scenes. Even I couldn't help rereading that part multiple times."
"Exactly, that's the essence of Hwasan...."
"Ahem!"
Hong Baekrim and I cleared our throats in unison and turned to the woman.
I'd been sitting cross-legged in the chair, chatting away, but now I shot Monica a wistful look.
"Monica, I'm just catching up with an old friend after so long, aren't I?"
"Friend? Mage Hong Baekrim is sixty-five! And you just met him today!"
"True friends who share souls transcend time and place, Monica."
Hong Baekrim clapped at my words.
"That's a line from Heavenly Demon's Return!"
"You recognized it—how embarrassing."
As I scratched my cheek, Hong Jiyeon, robbed of her grandpa, shot me a strange look.
She seemed to feel a mix of jealousy and admiration toward me.
"So, may I know why you've summoned us to the tower lord's office?"
Hong Baekrim grinned and handed me a card.
"No winner due to the sudden disaster, but our tower can at least do this much."
The card read: 2-level Mage Yu Eunha.
"It's what J3 League winners get anyway, so you're just receiving what's yours."
I tilted my head at the blue-tinged metal card. The back read Haesin Magic Tower.
I pointed it out, and Hong Baekrim smiled warmly.
"Means Haesin Magic Tower is sponsoring you. And so..." He handed me another card.
"This is the training ground Haesin owns in Bundang. It's yours."
"Eh? I-is that okay?"
"Isn't that what friends do?"
I matched his meaningful gaze.
"Giving without ulterior motives."
"Exactly!"
Quoting Teacher Taeyong's Rivers and Lakes Debut, I took the card and passed it to Monica.
She gawked at it.
"Oh my god, this is that huge training ground in Bundang. Land value alone is hundreds of billions."
Hong Baekrim stood with a chuckle.
"Too far to manage anyway. With this, Haesin's focusing more on Busan—better to give it to a friend with enormous potential."
He emphasized "enormous potential." Hong Jiyeon hadn't said anything, but he'd gauged my strength roughly.
Hong Baekrim eyed me.
"Thanks to you, this country's future just got a lot more interesting, Mage Yu Eunha."
"I'll live up to my friend's expectations, Mage Hong Baekrim."
Monica fidgeted and pressed my head down hard.
"Even if Mage Hong Baekrim accepts it, you're too cocky, kiddo!"
I pouted and bowed 90 degrees.
"Thank you! Grandpa!"
Hong Baekrim burst out laughing.
"Hahaha! Enough! No need between friends. You should head out—I've got work."
As we left the tower lord's office, Hong Jiyeon glanced at me.
"Next time, I won't lose."
"......"
I gave her a look that said, Think you can? Her cheeks flushed.
"O-of course it'll be tough! But Busan folks don't have 'give up' in our dictionary!"
I smirked as she stormed off proudly.
*
Back in Seoul with a massive training ground worth hundreds of billions.
Trash littered the front of Monica's house.
"Hehehe~"
"......"
The trash was Yuri, whom I'd forgotten about.
"Hehehe~ Miss Monica, don't you need a shark-human maid~?"
"......?"
At Yuri's pitiful state, Monica and I clapped.
"Ah, the bet!"
"No refund, huh? Poor thing...."
The finals got Abyss bubbled, tournament ended without a winner. Yuri's life savings bet went poof.
"Don't they usually refund?"
Yuri teared up at my words.
"'No winner' was an option, so no refund."
"......"
"My savings! My account!"
I patted her sobbing back.
"It's just 100 million, you'll bounce back young as you are. Think of it as pricey tuition...."
"Kiiiiddoooo! Waaah~ What do I do nooow~ Waaah~"
"At least you didn't take loans."
"Hic but~"
I stroked her black hair.
"There, there. Shake it off. Can't change the past—clinging'll just hurt you."
"Waaah~ Kiddo~"
"Come here, I can at least treat you to a warm meal."
As I hugged her tight, tears streamed down her face.
"Waaah~ My 100 million~ My savings~"
"There there, must've been tough."
"The world's out to get me! I just wanna live comfy!"
Monica shook her head pityingly at Yuri.
"Who's the kid and who's the adult? Tsk tsk...."
We dragged the bawling Yuri into Monica's house. Taehyun greeted us as always.
"Welcome, miss. And little miss. And...."
He hardened at sniffling Yuri.
"We don't welcome gamblers."
"Huu~ Taehyun~ I'm ruined~"
"Tsk, targeting the little miss."
As Yuri's shark tail flopped, Monica moved her right hand tiredly.
"Ah, right arm battery's dead. Taehyun, ether battery please?"
"Right away."
Monica slumped on the sofa, forehead in hand, eyeing floor-bound Yuri.
"How long you gonna mope, dummy."
"Hic."
She eyed me soothing Yuri.
"Kiddo."
"What is it?"
"You met Prism Board, right?"
"Indeed."
"Sigh...."
"You know something?"
Yuri perked up at our words.
"Prism Board? What's that?"
Monica explained gravely.
"Prism Board are the heads of an org called Spectrum."
"Spectrum? First time hearing it."
"Hee~ New terror group or something~? Like anti-tower forces or Mage Hunters."
I flinched at "Mage Hunters."
Monica sighed and shook her head.
"Worse than that."
"Huh?"
"Spectrum's the group that's killed the most mages worldwide."
"Eh?"
"First time for me too—famous overseas?"
Monica stroked my head and hugged me.
"Spectrum's the top of a massive network. Like the Tower Alliance."
Even knowledgeable Yuri adjusted her big glasses, tilting her head.
"Huh? So what's under them?"
"Main ones: Orbis, Astra, Prism, Korn Brotherhood, Tuning Society."
Silence fell over the living room.
"W-wait."
Yuri said seriously.
"Those are all... super infamous Mage Hunter guilds or mage terror groups."
Monica nodded.
"Yep. So the ones targeting our kiddo? Every anti-mage faction out there."
I gave a hollow laugh.
"Fate is cruel indeed...."
"Huh?"
I smiled bitterly.
One name under Spectrum was all too familiar.
Orbis—the Mage Hunter guild I'd been part of as a Mage Hunter.
"I have ties to Orbis."
"What? That's the world's biggest Mage Hunter guild."
"Yes.... My father was in it."
Silence hung heavy.