Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Past Events
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So Seori's office.
"So you're saying none of the tea leaves went missing?"
"Yes, they're all accounted for."
Seo In Ah, the lab director, had brought every single leaf from the research institute.
Given their immense value, they'd been secured with multiple layers of locks, accessible only to her and the guild master.
'Then what the hell was that leaf at the auction house?'
On the day of the auction incident, she'd clearly seen one identical to the one Moon Byul had given her.
She'd asked Moon Byul about it, but he said he'd never given any leaves to anyone else.
'Did the same leaves turn up somewhere else?'
It wasn't impossible, but the timing was too perfect. Right after Moon Byul appeared, leaves supposedly discovered elsewhere showed up at auction?
Even chalking it up to sheer luck felt like a stretch...
"Are you seriously suspecting me right now?"
"Why? Do I look like I am?"
"No..., actually, a little?"
She was right. He'd suspected her just a tiny bit, but clearly, that wasn't the case.
"Got it... Inspection's over."
"You totally suspected me!"
"I didn't..., Director Seo, aren't you taking a vacation?"
The tower was still under inspection thanks to Moon Byul's creation and hadn't regained full functionality.
Most combat guild members were on leave, enjoying some happy downtime.
"The lab? Not really... Work's just lightened up a bit."
Seo In Ah let out a sigh.
"And even if I did go on vacation, there's no guy to meet anyway. Whatever."
"Pfft."
So Seori snorted, and she shot back a look that said, What're you laughing at?
Reading her expression, So Seori had nothing to say. She didn't have anyone to meet either, after all.
"......"
Sensing the awkward air, the two exchanged glances.
"You can go."
"Yes, ma'am."
After that, neither said a word.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Uwaaaah! My little sister!"
"Ah, get off me!"
After Moon Byul used the Cosmic Grimoire to heal the people it had wrecked, the hospital contacted all the guardians.
The first to rush in was Yi Baekho, guild master of White Tiger Guild and the patient's brother.
"Do you know how much I worried?! How much?! Waaah."
"......"
In the media spotlight, he was a calm, majestic beast.
Known as the pinnacle of Korean tanks and the epitome of a tough guy, he turned into a total softie around his little sister.
There probably weren't many sisters who'd be thrilled by such overprotectiveness from their brother.
Yi Baekseon was no exception.
"You bastard! I said back off!"
Yi Baekseon kicked at him. Though it was an A-rank climber's strike, the S-rank Yi Baekho just floated back lightly.
Having awakened to martial arts relatively recently, she still struggled with power control.
'Should've kicked harder.'
As her brother charged back in tears, she prepped her next kick.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After the chaotic reunion settled down.
"You're a martial artist awakenee. Why the hell did you touch a grimoire?"
"Sorry."
"Sigh..."
The joy of having his family back was short-lived. As both brother and family head, Yi Baekho had to address her mistake.
"Seon-ah, do you have any idea how worried I was?"
"......"
She had nothing to say, even if she grew a second mouth. Despite all his warnings, she'd given in to simple curiosity and caused massive trouble.
"I... thought you'd never come back."
He was usually the cocky big brother, but hearing that low, uncharacteristic voice only deepened her guilt.
Yi Baekseon cautiously looked at her brother's face.
As guild master, he always kept an expressionless mask for authority. She'd thought he'd never make that face again.
"Sorry for worrying you... It was just... just curiosity."
To her, the Cosmic Grimoire had felt like Excalibur.
A mystical sword—if pulled, one could become king.
It was the kind of thought a newly awakened high schooler might have. I'm special, unlike others.
Seeing her brother's face, her voice trembled, words failing her.
His expression said it all. How much he'd suffered.
She knew no words of hers could ease the pain he'd endured.
She'd feel the same if their roles were reversed.
"Alright. Welcome home, Seon-ah. I'm okay now."
Her brother patted her head.
"By the way, that wizard, Moon Byul—was he someone you hired, bro?"
"Moon Byul?"
Yi Baekho furrowed his brow at the unfamiliar name. He knew most climbers.
As a major guild master, that came with the territory.
But this was new. A newbie?
"Yeah, you know, long hair, handsome wizard. Totally my type..."
"......"
"I wanted to ask for his number, but I couldn't properly thank him."
Yi Baekho's face suddenly hardened, falling silent.
"Bro?"
"...Did he come alone?"
'What's up? He looks pissed.'
Yi Baekho had a trait where his hair turned white in combat.
For some reason, his hair was starting to whiten now.
"No, he came with Wolverine Guild's Little Saintess."
Wolverine Guild's Little Saintess—that was Iru Ri.
"Got it. I'll pass it along."
"If you see him, get his number for me. I wanna thank him in person."
"......"
Yi Baekho smiled, but it looked stiff somehow.
"They said you have a few more tests left, so rest up."
"I'm totally fine! I could discharge right now..."
"No."
Yi Baekho was firm.
"Listen this time."
"Fine, got it."
Having messed up once, she didn't push back.
"Alright, I'm off."
"Busy? Where to?"
"To say hi at Wolverine Guild."
"Have fun! The number! Don't forget!"
"......"
Yi Baekseon watched her brother's imposing figure leave the room, feeling oddly worried.
'Is he really just going to say hi?'
His hair seemed even whiter than before.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Wolverine Guild's underground magic training room.
"Lightning Chain!"
Even with the tower under inspection and most combat personnel on leave, Choi Jin Ah trained alone.
"Haa, haa."
Martial artist awakenees could surpass limits through training, reaching higher realms.
Though ceilings existed based on awakening rank, some climbers shattered them, outgrowing their grade.
But what about mages?
"Lightning Arrow!"
Mages had superior physical abilities to normals based on rank, but training didn't push their bodies beyond limits like martial artists.
Magic was talent's domain. Proficiency allowed spell variations or new acquisitions while climbing, but ranks didn't change.
A B-rank mage matching A-rank performance still paled in output.
"Lightning..."
The magic training room was for practicing spells, not physical conditioning.
Choi Jin Ah knew she was doing something stupid.
She dropped her staff and slumped down.
'Why am I even doing this here?'
Mana depletion left her starving and weak.
"If only... I had a grimoire."
There was one case where a mage could evolve beyond martial artists.
When a grimoire chose a mage.
Called reawakening, it unlocked a mage's true power.
Whether from the grimoire or inherent, every mage dreamed of one appearing before them someday.
Choi Jin Ah downed her ion drink and shakily stood.
"Gonna... go home."
With a hollow heart, she packed and headed out.
She hadn't always obsessed over grimoires.
She was an A-rank mage, admired by all.
It hadn't been like this before. She was content with her abilities—A-rank elemental mages were a blessing to humanity.
Climbing the tower, contributing to mankind, had filled her with pride.
That's why she loved this job.
Then one day, the guild master brought in a scruffy kid.
A golden-haired girl with exotic features.
Her clothes were filthy, like she'd rolled in dirt, but she was pretty.
Whatever their bond, their affection was clear.
I was just happy for the cute junior.
Her talents weren't high, but she was obedient. Decent for D-rank, they even climbed together sometimes.
Lacking attack magic, she needed parties even for soloable floors under 5.
Pitying her, I taught the cute junior basics—sensing mana, gauging capacity.
D-rank, but her sense was sharp enough for C-rank.
The cute junior climbed diligently. Most D-ranks stalled at 20.
Floor 20 was special: Marine Pia, a city on water.
Quest from the elder: retrieve the royal crest from lost underwater city Atlantis.
No combat, just grab it from the center. Simple.
But D-rank mana couldn't breach the underwater barrier.
Most D-ranks stopped at Marine Pia for vacation.
It was a fine otherworld resort.
I assumed she'd do the same. Her team parked at 20 and quit.
Some things came with effort, others didn't.
Team disbanded, but she kept soloing 20.
It hurt seeing the attack-less girl struggle alone.
One day, I asked why she kept challenging 20.
"Huh? You can solo 20..., and I want my magic useful on higher floors. Plus, I wanna keep climbing."
Foolish, I thought. 21+ was a different beast.
Keep climbing... I didn't pry. Everyone has reasons.
Pity stirred. 20 was trivial for me.
So I joined, crossing the barrier for her.
Surprisingly, she'd nearly done it solo.
She'd used reinforcement magic to inch forward bit by bit.
Her tenacity impressed me. Maybe she'd have managed without me.
Tower floors give special rewards if a first-timer succeeds in the party.
Based on total contribution, to one member.
20's special rewards were junk—no combat, low difficulty.
Fixed basic foods.
I got the special one, since I fetched the crest.
Expecting tasty stuff—sometimes meat like beef—but it was fortune cookies.
"Aww, wanted meat. These taste bad too."
"I love fortune cookies. Can I have it?"
I gave her the cookie.
She ate happily, and we checked the note together.
Just "Found it." Nothing else.
We trashed it as garbage, celebrated clearing 20, and had dinner.
Thought that was it.
Then a grimoire came to her one day.
I realized later: 20's reward was that little book.
She became a mage. S-rank, above me.
I created the Little Saintess.
She gained fame, wealth, adoration beyond compare.
Still a supporter without attacks, but that book made her untouchable.
It was mine originally. The special reward cookie was mine. If I'd known, I'd never have given it.
Without my help, Lulu might still be stuck at 20.
The book that could've been mine—should've been mine. Grimoire.
Beep. Climber confirmed.
I dragged my weary body onto the bus, staring out the window.
"Where's my grimoire...?"
Why won't it show up?