Magic Tower Alliance in a Panic!
Lee Haryeong, the president of the Korean Magic Tower Alliance—always striving to exude stern dignity with her perpetually expressionless face. It stemmed from a complex about her childlike appearance, but now it had become as fitted as a mask, an integral part of her personality: this composure and cold rationality.
"Haa..."
Haryeong felt that mask cracking for the first time in ages. No matter how many times she reread the document, the contents remained unchanged.
Mage Yu Eunha has not entered into any contracts or affiliation agreements with the Korean Magic Tower Alliance.
Therefore, the social activity obligations proposed by your alliance do not apply to Mage Yu Eunha, and we hereby notify you of the rejection of all advertising proposals issued by the alliance.
What the hell is this nonsense?
Mages in Korea are obviously part of the Korean Magic Tower Alliance. That was Haryeong's firm belief—until something felt off, making her furrow her brow.
"No, wait a second."
Come to think of it, the association hadn't done a damn thing for that kid. She vividly remembered pampering Isara, but when it came to Yu Eunha? Nothing came to mind. The training ground, the ether—all handled by herself. Not affiliated with any tower or academy, so what could they say?
"That little brat never even registered with our association, did she?"
Haryeong's face went pale.
"We're screwed—no, this is fucked."
She rubbed her dry face and called for her secretary.
"Summon the tower lords right now. Immediately!"
*
"And that's how it is... I called you all because Yu Eunha—er, Mage Yu Eunha—inquired about not being registered with the Korean Magic Tower Alliance."
At Yu Eunha's words, the tower lords were thrilled, starting to tease Haryeong mercilessly.
"Anyone who mentioned forty, stay behind later?"
At Haryeong's fury-laced words, everyone fell silent again. Hong Baekrim of Haesin Tower shrugged nonchalantly.
Haryeong clicked her tongue inwardly.
Yeah, 'cause you've already handed her a multibillion-won training ground, right?
No wonder Hong Baekrim seemed the most relaxed. Byun Seongho, lord of Arca Tower, tilted his head.
Most tower lords believed Monica was luring Yu Eunha to America.
Monica, huh...
Haryeong recalled the scene when that kid showed up.
This feels more like that bold brat's idea than Monica's...
The lords assuming it was Monica made sense, but Haryeong, having experienced the kid's personality firsthand, knew better.
As worries soared, the Sky Tower lord sighed.
Haryeong scowled at the complaints.
"You think I wanted not to help? Back then, she said she wanted to live quietly, so we couldn't! And after that, we had the total emergency due to Spectrum. Sure, we should've managed anyway, so it's just an excuse..."
The lords groaned at her words.
"Spectrum and Abyss activity for the next meeting. This emergency's about Yu Eunha."
Everyone shut up at Hong Baekrim's words.
"Yeah. Thinking of opening the holy artifact vault."
"No choice. To both of them, then..."
Haryeong rubbed her face at the murmuring.
"Then give up on Yu Eunha."
Silence fell. No matter what, that wouldn't fly.
Haryeong summarized quickly.
"Skip the official commendation. Send her to the vault secretly. Can't use in tournaments anyway, so same outside Abyss. No complaints, right?"
Normally paired with a Mugunghwa-level honor, but that kid wouldn't care for ceremonies anyway.
Haryeong clutched her forehead.
"Then what..."
Go beg. Grab her pant leg. Sorry! I'll do better from now on! Believe me once! We're the same blood, same nation! Kin! Anything but that.
That's why she was opening the vault.
"Grr. This has to work..."
With Haryeong's worries, the day faded.
*
Stars filled the night sky, a vivid Milky Way gleaming. Monica let out another gasp at the sight.
"See? This place is the absolute best, kiddo!"
Monica unfurled a sunbed from who-knows-where.
"Come back after work~"
"......"
I shook my head and headed to Byeolbada City with Alexandr.
Passing the dense forest along the coast and delving inward, unique-patterned buildings soon filled my view: Byeolbada City.
"Whoa, it's developed a ton while I was away."
Buildings had multiplied, and the abyssal entities looked quite different. I tilted my head at their soft-looking clothes.
"You made the clothes yourselves?"
"Yeah, with ether, we can make anything."
"Hmm, ether-based clothing. Fascinating."
Heading to the village square, a familiar face appeared.
"Oh! Mayor's here?"
It was Yupri, the one-eyed abyssal entity.
"Ah! Yupri. Long time no see, indeed."
"Yeah, Mayor. You haven't come much lately. Busy?"
I shook my head ruefully.
"Don't even ask. Training, tournament, and some weird nickname stuck—been a hassle, you see."
I pointed to Alexandr.
"This guy's got an issue, apparently. What's up?"
Yupri scratched her head.
"Well, actually..."
Yupri's explanation was straightforward. This foundation had insane ether regeneration, so they tested how far they could refine it.
Result: massive ether concentration success.
"Isn't that good? Enough to maintain Bundang Training Ground and more."
"That's the thing..."
Yupri pointed to a massive, gleaming tower.
"Refining ether means extracting it from the Abyss. That process creates that flashing light."
"Yeah, we call it the Ether Lantern."
"Lantern..."
As I gazed at the glowing tower, Alexandr spoke.
"Those lights act like beacons in the ever-shifting, twisting Abyss spaces. Signaling shelter here, village there."
"So..."
"Yeah, last experiment lit it up bright—now abyssal entities and wraiths are swarming."
Yupri sighed apologetically.
"Didn't expect personal Abyss to draw this many. Got out of hand. Sorry, Mayor."
I nodded reassuringly.
"Wraiths are just fodder to slay. But... these abyssal entities requesting relocation..."
Alexandr grumbled cautiously.
"To them, this is paradise on earth. Heaven compared to other Abysses. That's why the flies are buzzing."
I chuckled at his annoyed pout—he didn't want other abyssal entities.
"Thanks to that, you're living here too. No need to be so hostile."
"But..."
"Mayor, Alexandr's not wrong. Wandering abyssal entities are rough types."
I nodded.
"I get it. You chased off the applicants?"
"Yeah. Figured you should see and decide."
I shrugged at the heavy trust.
"Alright, let's go."
"Good. They're hiding in a nearby independent dimensional pocket. Portal's quick."
"Lead on. Better check today."
Alexandr started snickering beside me.
"? What's so funny?"
"You'll see. Those bastards are dead now."
"??"