So, Who the Hell is "Censorship Delete"?

Lee Haryeong, president of the Korean Magic Tower Alliance and wielder of the mage flower Mahwa, simply listened to the tower lords' complaints without a word.

"Half the info uploaded to the archive is censored? You think that makes any sense?"

"There's a limit to secrecy!"

"Who the hell requests security like this?"

"Hey, President!"

"……."

As no response came, the tower lords stared at Haryeong with faces full of dissatisfaction.

Haryeong clicked her tongue inwardly and checked the data window floating in the air.

Most of the data floating in the air had been hastily manipulated and strangely erased.

"15 minutes on the 4th floor? Does that even make sense?"

"It does look like it could be abused."

"No, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠why the hell is it censored in the first place!"

'Ah, shoulda censored the time too.'

Because Park Yudeok, the developer of the archive, had emphasized data transparency so much, the Abyss Observation Record System made securing or deleting data extremely difficult.

'Sigh, a 5-level mage, and all he could do was erase a name? What the fuck is this?'

"Ahem, isn't it time you spoke up?"

Byeon Seongho, lord of Arka Tower, stroked his mustache.

"Our Jieun got pushed to 2nd place, so don't we have a right to know?"

"……."

Lee Haryeong shifted her gaze to Byeon Seongho.

Seo Jieun's data was honestly just lucky—a 4th floor of relatively low difficulty for her skill level, worth about that much.

Sitting cross-legged on her massive chair, Haryeong replied indifferently.

"The kid's name is…."

"The name?"

"Last name Censorship, first name Delete."

A cold wind blew through the conference room at Haryeong's words.

"Cut it out, President."

"Yeah!"

"That's too far."

"All presidents turn out like this."

"Why hide it?"

At Hong Baekrim, lord of Haesin Tower's words, the corner of Haryeong's mouth curled up.

'Nice one, Hong Baekrim.'

Using his words as a springboard, Haryeong snapped.

"Because they requested security! You damn idiots!"

She sensed the timing was right and pushed forward.

"Arka Tower! Want me to expose every single security request from your last accounting ledger?"

"No…."

"Sky Tower! Open up all your personal zone data? Should I name every single one?"

The Sky Tower lord stroked his gray beard.

"…That's why I didn't say anything."

Haryeong scrunched her nose in annoyance.

"You slap on security requests whenever it suits you, but throw a fit when someone else does?"

"Well, the scale of the incident…."

"You worry about your ledgers! You know how hard it is for me to cover that up in politics?"

"Records are breaking left and right, and we don't even get a name…."

"What can I do? They don't want it exposed!"

With that, Haryeong waved her hand.

"Meeting's over. We're just going in circles anyway. 'Tell us.' 'Can't.' Waste of time for hours, right?"

Everyone seemed to accept it, vanishing one by one.

In the darkening conference room, one tower lord remained: Hong Baekrim of Haesin Tower.

"Already drooling in your sleep, old man."

"It wasn't me spotting the hidden dragon—the times connected us."

"Hmph, smooth talker as always~"

Haryeong snorted and waved her hand dismissively.

The massive conference room instantly transformed into the alliance president's office.

Haryeong clicked her tongue at the stack of uncensored data on her desk.

'Feels like yesterday she caused that chaos on the 1st floor, and now….'

Haryeong sighed, pressing a hand to her forehead.

Now that the censored data had surfaced, every magic tower would start hunting for her.

'Only a few can even request info security….'

Monica was obviously on their suspect list.

'Soon, very soon.'

Whether she wanted it or not, a supernova that would shake the era was about to reveal itself.

'That'll be fun.'

Haryeong smiled, thinking of that prickly little brat.

*

Gangnam Dungeon, Yu Eunha's personal zone—5th floor.

I swallowed a groan at the sight of a sunny midday beach.

"Mm…. This place."

Tongue clicking at the familiar scenery.

"Where I killed Im Gwangcheol, huh."

The mage who kidnapped minors to his lab for brutal torture.

As I marveled at it truly being that place, a dark male voice echoed.

[Finally, we meet.]

Turning around, I saw an old man in a black hood.

"Hah~ Are you a ghost, or a fragment of my memory?"

To my question, he silently drew a Chinese longsword.

I stared him down, drawing up ether.

[I'm here solely to kill you.]

"Yeah, figured."

In an instant, blue lightning struck above my head.

"So your imagery was blue lightning, eh."

No sooner had I spoken than the longsword swung like a bolt.

As I started casting hold, the blade flashed right before my eyes.

[Hmph, a Mage Hunter using magic.]

"The world changes fast."

[1-level Projection]

[Ether Shot]

Ether from the surroundings coalesced and shot forward swiftly.

A clump tuned for speed and precision over size or power.

"……."

Despite my care, he dodged lightly and charged.

"Tch, this is why lightning mages suck."

Lightning mages' spells were fast and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠erratic by attribute.

Especially Im Gwangcheol—he loved close combat with special enhancements.

I dodged the longsword's paths and leaped back.

Blue sparks danced around him.

[3-level Enhancement]

[Thunder God Body]

"Ah, the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠evolved casting hold, huh."

I hadn't known before, but now I could see it.

Pure imagery ether circulating rapidly through his body as a circuit.

I blocked his sudden dash with my Morning Star dagger.

Ka-gang! Sparks flew, my wrist twisted.

Even mid-cast, I couldn't withstand the force.

My right arm bent at a dangerous angle.

'No way to take down something this fast in one shot.'

Suddenly, a military strategy came to mind.

'Many take down one.'

As I pulled ether strongly, multiple Ether Shots spawned from the massive clump.

Eight massive Ether Shots engulfed Im Gwangcheol in a flash.

Kwa-ga-gang! Eight craters formed instantly, sand piling up like a mountain.

"Over…?"

As I muttered, he burst from the sand mound.

Ka-ga-kak! Dagger met longsword in a horrific clash.

My already damaged right arm lost control completely, twisting back.

The Morning Star dagger fell, embedding in the sand.

"……."

He retreated, letting out a scraping laugh.

[Kuhuhuhu, you're done too, Mage Hunter.]

"Looks like it, Im Gwangcheol."

I gathered ether again, forming the same clump.

[It didn't work before—think it'll now?!]

Eight spheres on a whole other level formed before him.

[Huh?]

A dark sea heavy with starlight.

The massive Ether Shots rocketed toward him, leaving craters.

Red-melted sand splattered, acrid smoke spreading unlike before.

"Sorry, I have a habit of holding back one trick."

I shrugged.

"That was just practice."

Sensing the ether-drained surroundings, I smirked.

Thanks to maxing out the bracelet's effect too, I'd pulled off peak magic.

"Guess I've already gotten my money's worth."

As I muttered, a notification appeared.

"Abyssorium? Neat name."

Thrilled at finally getting a new spell—but only for a moment.

"Ugyagyagyagyeok!"

Sudden brain-piercing pain hit.

"?!"

Clutching my head, I checked the incoming knowledge.

Info on the 2-level Control spell Abyssorium.

"Oh…. So that's how you get spells."

Recalling the required ether amount and circuit formula, I tilted my head at the oddity.

"This much ether… won't work in tournaments."

Definitely enough to shatter a 3~4-level tournament barrier.

'Ah, then test it on Monica.'

A 7-level mage should dismantle a 2-level spell easily.

"Gotta go find Monica."

As I excitedly tidied up, a familiar voice rang out.

"Brat!"

Monica's voice.

"Ah! Monica! Perfect timing!"

As ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I ran over, her face twisted.

"You! You damn brat!"

"?!"

"Without a word! Without telling your master! You climbed to the 5th floor!!!!!"

"Eh? Uh uh?"

As I tried to flee, Monica teleported in front and flicked my forehead hard.

Ttaak!

"Aak!"

Stars burst before my eyes; I squeezed them shut.

"You, you! Know how scared I was climbing from the 2nd floor?!"

"Ah! S-sorry!"

Climbing silently to the 5th was definitely my fault—no excuse.

"But I thought I could handle it, so…."

"Even the 5th has special floors."

"Ah, yeah, seemed like it."

"Sigh, how do you cause so much trouble…."

Monica paused mid-rage, then eyed me.

"…So. Did you get new spells?"

I grinned.

"Two of 'em!"

Her jaw dropped.

"Two?!"

"Yeah! Two!"

I bounced around, grabbing her hand.

"So let's test 'em quick!"

"Fine. To the training ground!"