The Tower Master's Gift
Valteon was a man who perfectly embodied his position as the Blue Magic Tower Lord.
His face was perpetually cold and expressionless. Even his closest aides claimed they had never once seen it change. He rarely spoke, spent most of his time in research, and showed almost no emotional fluctuation.
The reason such a man had bothered to come all the way to the Bellangs branch was because of what the elders had told him the moment he stepped out of his laboratory for the first time in ages.
—It might still be premature, but I believe he possesses the talent to become the next Tower Lord.
—I cannot say for certain about the Tower Lord position, but he will definitely reach the Elder rank.
It was talk of a talented mage. Valteon normally showed little interest in anything that wasn’t his own magical research, but anything concerning the next generation was different.
The Blue Magic Tower Lord, Valteon, harbored a deep sense of inadequacy regarding his own abilities. Though his exceptional talent had allowed him to ascend to the position of Tower Lord, that was as far as he had gone.
He had failed to become a Grand Mage. Blocked by an immense wall, he had no choice but to content himself with the title of Blue Magic Tower Lord. When he considered that the previous Blue Magic Tower Lord had also been a Grand Mage, it felt like a disgrace to his predecessors.
That was why he took such a keen interest in nurturing those who might surpass him. Hearing news of Lim Dojun, it was only natural that he would move immediately.
“Tower Lord. It has been a long time.”
“······.”
Valteon offered no reply, only giving the faintest nod of his head.
Delcrein knew this wasn’t a sign of displeasure. This was simply how the man was. He was quite literally living ice itself.
‘Did he come all this way because of Jun?’
Bellangs was not a particularly large city, so even Elders rarely visited. For the busy Tower Lord to make the journey meant there had to be a significant reason. And in the Bellangs branch, the only event worthy of note was the existence of Lim Dojun.
“Have you come to see Jun?”
“······.”
“I see. Unfortunately, Jun is not here at the moment. He has gone to the Canyon of Frozen Snow. He only left recently, so I honestly cannot say when he will return.”
“······.”
“You wish to wait? Um… are you not busy?”
Delcrein continued the conversation by interpreting the man’s subtle nods and slight shifts in gaze. At that moment, the wizard acting as his secretary, who had been standing nervously nearby, interjected.
“Um… Branch Leader. Jun actually returned yesterday.”
“What? He’s back?”
“Yes. I happened to pass by the lounge yesterday and saw him talking with some other mages.”
“That bastard… he came back and didn’t even say anything!”
“It seems he went straight into the training room.”
“Hmm. That makes sense, then.”
Delcrein’s expression shifted as he nodded. In truth, many mages became so absorbed in their work that they forgot about the outside world. It was entirely possible.
Valteon rose from his seat. Now that he knew the destination, there was no need to remain here.
Seeing this, Delcrein hurriedly stopped him.
“Tower Lord! Please wait here. I will bring Jun to you.”
If the Tower Lord were to walk around the branch himself, how startled would the mages under his command be? Delcrein did not want to cause such chaos in his own branch.
Valteon, who did not particularly mind, gave a slight nod and sat back down.
“Go and fetch Jun at once. The Tower Lord wishes to see him.”
“Understood!”
At Delcrein’s command, the wizard serving as secretary hurried off.
The Blue Magic Tower Lord, Valteon, was a man of few words.
“…Greetings, Tower Lord.”
“······.”
So when Lim Dojun offered a polite greeting, Valteon simply stared at him intently.
Though not a Grand Mage, a wizard who had reached the threshold of that realm possessed a much broader field of vision. As Lim Dojun’s power grew, the Crystal Dragon’s aura no longer leaked outward like before but was carefully contained within. Even so, Valteon sensed something extraordinary.
The intuition of someone nearing the Grand Mage rank was no mere sensation. It was akin to a form of foresight.
In that instant, Valteon experienced a vision of Lim Dojun transforming into an endlessly colossal giant. He immediately understood what it meant.
A seed with an extraordinary foundation from the very beginning. If nurtured well, it could become the greatest tree in the forest!
‘This child… may be able to cross the limit I could not.’
Unlike himself, whose lacking talent had confined him to the role of Tower Lord, this boy could become a Grand Mage and bring glory to the Blue Magic Tower once more.
—Rustle.
Without another word, Valteon reached into his robe and pulled out a book. It was his original creation, a fusion of the mana circulation technique passed down to Tower Lords and the insights he had gained himself.
It was a mana cultivation method that only showed true effect for those with exceptional ice-attribute talent. Naturally, every mage of the Blue Magic Tower could benefit from it, and the greater one’s talent, the greater the effect.
“······?”
Lim Dojun stood there blankly, wondering what this was about, until Delcrein stepped in to help.
“Take it. Since the Tower Lord is bestowing this upon you, do not refuse.”
“Th-thank you.”
Lim Dojun accepted the book, still slightly flustered, and looked at Valteon. He had been surprised enough when, right after investing ten points into Luck, he learned the Tower Lord wanted to see him. But the Tower Lord he met for the first time was quite the peculiar person.
There had been no introductions, no conversation whatsoever. The man had simply stared at him before handing over a single book.
Since it was given, he took it. But when he checked the title, Lim Dojun’s eyes widened in shock.
“Valteon-style Cold Circulation… is this by any chance a mana cultivation technique?”
Nod.
When Valteon gave a slight nod of confirmation, Lim Dojun had no choice but to believe the status window.
‘Instead of constantly collecting achievement points for treatment, I should have invested in Luck from the beginning!’
The superior mana cultivation method he had longed for had rolled right into his lap!
Of course, gathering achievements to fully heal his body was still the correct path. No matter how high his Luck became, it could not provide complete recovery. He had invested in Luck out of necessity, but the result had turned out remarkably well.
Starting with this mana cultivation technique, many more good things would surely happen during the process of healing his body!
People in high positions within any organization usually possessed at least some sense of authority. However, Valteon had none whatsoever.
After giving Lim Dojun what he came to give, he simply waved his hand as if his business was finished, signaling him to leave.
Thanks to that, Lim Dojun was able to return straight to the training room and immediately begin reading the book he had received.
Valteon-style Cold Circulation.
This was a slight modification of a mana cultivation technique.
‘It’s already an incredibly efficient method that only the Tower Lord can learn, yet he has elevated it even further.’
Having learned various skills, he had naturally accumulated a great deal of knowledge as a mage. Thanks to that, he understood certain parts as he read.
The core principle was simple. Normal mana cultivation techniques drew in external mana and circulated internal mana. Valteon, however, had incorporated the ice attribute here.
When ice-attribute magic was cast, a portion of that mana was recovered to assist with circulation. As a result, cultivation occurred not only during dedicated training but even during normal spellcasting.
‘This would multiply the efficiency several times over.’
Lim Dojun already spent a lot of time moving around outside and engaged in frequent battles. If cultivation was aided every time he used ice magic, there could be no better method.
Moreover, when it came to ice magic, Lim Dojun’s talent was unmatched. This cultivation technique was perfectly suited for him.
With renewed confidence, he continued reading the technique.
“······.”
However, once he passed the early sections, it felt almost like reading an alien language. He could understand what the book was trying to say, but when it delved into the core principles, it felt completely inaccessible with his current knowledge.
It seemed it would take at least several months of study to properly begin. Which was only natural. Whether it was secret arts or high-level magic, such things required long periods of contemplation to master properly.
You have learned the skill Valteon-style Cold Circulation.
This is a higher-tier technique than the previously learned Barkmong-style Mana Control Method.
Barkmong-style Mana Control Method has been deleted and replaced with Valteon-style Cold Circulation.
Of course, the moment Lim Dojun finished reading it once, the contents became completely clear to him. The parts he had only vaguely understood became perfect, and even greater knowledge exploded like fireworks, settling firmly inside his mind.
He closed his eyes for a moment to organize the new information. When he opened them again and looked at his left hand, he felt a faint sensation returning to his previously completely frozen pinky finger.
It meant the healing speed from the mana control method was now faster than the rate at which his body was stiffening.
“…I should head to the ruins.”
To make full use of the Valteon-style Cold Circulation, he needed to be active rather than cooped up in a room. And he already had a destination in mind.
The dragon heart ruins that Jo Difel and Casian had discovered. Since it was also a matter that needed to be handled as quickly as possible, he decided to leave immediately.
The daily life of a Tower Lord was busy. Personal power improvement, individual research, and handling all the major and minor affairs of the tower. With so much to do, the fact that Valteon had taken the time to come all the way to Bellangs showed just how much attention he was paying.
While he was there, he also spent time sharing tea and light conversation with the city lord. This too was part of the political duties expected of the Blue Magic Tower Lord.
As he sipped tea at the top of the lord’s castle, which offered a panoramic view of the city, he happened to glance outside and spotted Lim Dojun leaving the city.
His vision, which had reached the halfway point of superhuman levels, immediately recognized Lim Dojun in the distance along with the other Blue Magic Tower colleagues beside him.
He also understood why they were heading out. They were likely departing on an external mission.
‘Wise decision.’
The thought arose naturally in Valteon’s mind.
Although he had given him the mana cultivation technique, it had not been with the expectation that he would master it immediately. Because it was such an advanced method, it required long periods of meditation and insight. Trying to learn it while shut away in a room was a sure path to losing one’s mind.
It was far better to continue normal activities, take on external missions, gain more experience, and cultivate naturally. Locking oneself in a training room for months on end was something only fools who thought they were geniuses would do.
Valteon himself had been such a fool in his youth. That was precisely why Lim Dojun appeared even more impressive.
To realize in less than a day what had taken him so long and so much pain, and to immediately head outside!
‘Yes. That is how it should be done, talented young mage.’
Valteon imagined Lim Dojun’s future in his mind.
To become a great mage, one could not simply walk an easy path. It was no coincidence that the great magic towers used contribution points as leverage to send mages outside.
Of course, contribution points were genuinely necessary, but it was also common for mages to gain unexpected insights through external experiences.
‘Go out and suffer. Face danger. All of it will help you grow.’
No matter how talented a mage might be, going outside meant hardship. The journey to the ruins itself would be rough. He would always be tired, mostly camping out, and barely getting any proper sleep.
And that was not all. Encountering monsters was an everyday occurrence, and there was always the possibility of mad bandits seeking an easy score.
The outside world was a place where danger always lurked. One wrong move could mean death. But without such trials, one could never become a Grand Mage.
Those who feared death could not even approach the first letter of “Grand.”
‘Advance bravely. Only by overcoming every obstacle will you have even the possibility of becoming a Grand Ma——???’
Valteon’s eyes suddenly widened.
Once outside the city, Lim Dojun whistled, and from far away, a drake came running at incredible speed. It stopped in front of him, lowered its back, and once the mages had climbed on, it began running again.
—Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
The drake quickly disappeared from sight.
“······.”
Valteon stared with eyes full of doubt, wondering if what he had just seen was real.