Haidel (4)
“Hoo.”
After ascending to the 6th floor and entering his lodging, Kim Jehyun let out a sigh. Luckily, he'd stored his Magic Tower ID in his inventory—otherwise, he'd have had to go through the hassle of proving his identity from scratch.
'Once the smartphone I ordered arrives, I should contact the Tower Master first.' That was when he decided to stay here and rest until then.
“……!”
Jehyun abruptly sat up and rushed to the window. He pulled back the curtain covering it.
He'd sensed a tremendous surge of mana gathering outside.
Bzzz.
A pentagram magic circle materialized in midair, and a figure emerged from it.
“Tower Master?”
Jehyun was stunned. Every floor of the Magic Tower had mana interference barriers. Teleportation was possible?
But he had no time to dwell on it. The Tower Master was staring directly at his position.
* * *
After a brief commotion, Jehyun was reassigned to the VIP suite on the hotel's top floor, where he finally met the Tower Master face-to-face.
“Hello, Tower Master.”
“Indeed, it's been a while.”
Their greeting was remarkably straightforward for such a long-awaited reunion. They savored the finest tea the hotel offered while chatting amiably.
“Fortunately, your complexion looks healthy. Hmm…… but it seems like more than that. Have you achieved some magical breakthrough, by chance?”
The Tower Master's eyes gleamed as he asked. As expected of the Tower Master. Jehyun had thoroughly concealed his aura, making it far from easy to detect—yet he'd discerned the extent of Jehyun's progress.
―He must have read the mana flow around you to make that judgment. Hah…… that one truly is a monster.
Alkasha's voice, marveling at the Tower Master's mana sensitivity, echoed from the side.
“Can't fool the Tower Master, can I? Yes, I've had a bit of an achievement.”
“Oh…….”
A soft exclamation escaped the Tower Master's lips at Jehyun's reply. Indeed, Jehyun was a genius beyond anyone he'd ever seen.
'Approaching 7th Circle already…… So his sudden disappearance was to consolidate his enlightenment.'
Even the Tower Master hadn't anticipated that Jehyun had already reached 7th Circle. Having crossed the second wall himself, he knew full well how impossible it was to overcome it in a mere year and a half.
If he learned Jehyun had ascended to 7th Circle, he might faint from shock. Crossing the second wall was that arduous.
“So, how have things been for you?”
At the Tower Master's question, Jehyun recounted his recent events: his connection with the elves, the ambush by Kang Sihu amid that, and the fortunate breakthrough he'd gained in the process.
“Even after I went missing, the Black Snake Clan kept tracking me.”
Jehyun glossed over the rest with suitable embellishments. The Black Snake Clan had pursued him, clashed with the elves, and kidnapped several, including Yeon-i, who had been with him.
“……Hah. So that's how it was.”
The Tower Master's expression hardened upon hearing the full story. Forming ties with the enigmatic elves was astonishing, but plausible for Jehyun. After all, the Tower Master believed he'd contracted a legendary divine beast like a unicorn. Thus, befriending elves seemed feasible.
The issue was…….
“So the rumors were true.”
[Black Snake Clan Leader attempted to eliminate Kim Jehyun—and succeeded. His disappearance is linked to the Black Snake Clan.]
He'd dismissed it as mere gossip at first. The Tower's own investigation had yielded no concrete evidence.
“I owe you an apology.”
The Tower Master bowed his head to Jehyun. It was shocking. For someone of his stature to bow was no small matter.
Yet he did, out of genuine remorse. Despite being under the Tower's wing, he felt he'd failed to protect Jehyun properly.
“It's fine. It's not your fault, Tower Master.”
Jehyun smiled brightly in response. It wasn't the Tower's failing—Kang Sihu was simply that cunning and discreet. Even Jehyun hadn't expected an attack bold enough to challenge the Tower, let alone one so traceless.
“What do you plan to do now? If you wish, the Tower will wage full-scale war against them.”
The Tower Master resolved to crush the Black Snake Clan this time. A harsh lesson for daring to touch a Tower mage.
Jehyun pondered briefly before asking, “But wouldn't full war take some time to prepare?”
“True, but……”
That was the drawback of relying on the Tower's might. As a long-time member, Jehyun knew its inner workings well.
Declaring war on a faction wasn't a unilateral decision for the Tower Master. Such colossal organizations had councils, and major actions like war required their deliberation.
'Emergencies allow unilateral action, but this isn't one…….'
Gathering evidence for council submission and awaiting approval would take time. For Jehyun, who needed to rescue Haidel and the others immediately, it wasn't viable.
“Then what would you prefer?”
Understanding this, the Tower Master asked Jehyun's preference.
Jehyun stated his plan.
“Ho, a Superhuman Duel? And a captain's battle at that?”
The Tower Master looked surprised. Jehyun intended personal vengeance.
“You know exactly what that entails, right? Kang Sihu is an 8th Circle mage.”
“I know.”
“…….”
The Tower Master tried to dissuade him but swallowed his words at Jehyun's unyielding gaze, brimming with absolute confidence.
That look belonged to either the truly assured or utter fools.
'Kim Jehyun…… isn't the latter.'
A strange anticipation stirred in the Tower Master. Did the elves have someone to match Kang Sihu? Or…… did Jehyun himself?
Even if Jehyun had reached 7th Circle, it'd be woefully insufficient against an 8th Circle who'd breached the third wall—a realm the Tower Master knew intimately.
Jehyun surely knew too. Yet his confidence shone undimmed.
The Tower Master burned with curiosity over Jehyun's preparation—excitement, even.
'This thrill after so long.'
He suppressed the urge to demand answers immediately. Savory things were best savored slowly.
“Very well. I'll support your Superhuman Duel. But you mustn't lose. Win decisively.”
The Tower Master spoke with eager eyes.
* * *
To draw the Black Snake Clan into the Superhuman Duel, Jehyun acted swiftly.
'First, leak it to public opinion.'
He planned to publicize the ambush by Kang Sihu and the elves' kidnapping. He needed justification.
With the Tower's aid, he issued an official statement. Its revelations rocked the superhuman community.
Jehyun's statement dealt a massive blow to the Black Snake Clan's image. Without evidence—just his word—public outrage targeted them instantly. Their notoriously poor reputation amplified it.
Emphasizing elven aid and their kidnapping for his sake gave Jehyun ironclad justification.
The clan offered no proper rebuttal, battered by backlash.
Public sentiment raged fiercer than Jehyun expected.
“What? Black Snake's unpopularity this bad?”
Jehyun smirked at the reactions. He'd prepared evidence for legitimacy, but it was unnecessary.
Resentments from past victims poured in with reports.
“Can apply for Superhuman Duel right away.”
Jehyun shelved his evidence and, mirroring the clan's past move, formally challenged them.
Superhuman Duel Application
For the reasons stated above, I hereby challenge the Black Snake Clan to a Superhuman Duel. The format is a 4v4 captain's battle. Upon my victory, I demand massive compensation for the ambush and the immediate release of all captured elves.
The community's explosion upon Jehyun's challenge was immediate.
Jehyun chuckled at the superhumans' reactions.
'Involving the Tower Master would've guaranteed victory.'
He could've asked—the Tower Master likely would've agreed. But no.
The clan wouldn't accept a sure loss. Thus, no Tower Master.
'Besides…….'
Jehyun eyed his quest window.
Secure Victory in the Superhuman Duel!
📍 Objective: Defeat the Black Snake Clan Leader via Superhuman Duel. (*Victory must be by your own power. Subordinates' aid permitted.)
🎁 Rewards: 1,000,000 points, S-grade rare construction materials, Progress Chest x10
Difficulty: Extremely Hard
The quest demanded victory solely through his power—subordinates allowed.
He'd worried about fielding elves, but the clause confirmed his plan.
'Perfect. Time to spec up a bit more……'
Jehyun's eyes sparkled.
Dragon's Authority.
He'd strengthen it before the Superhuman Duel.