Chapter 3
Chapter 3
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: The True Face of the Illusion Tower
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"Ta-da!"
"Whoa, whoa...?"
The interior of the Illusion Tower, beyond the shimmering light.
The sight that unfolded there was utterly different from what I'd imagined.
"Huh?"
No massive magic crystals floating around, no mages soaring through the air reading spellbooks.
No impossibly high ceilings, no spiral staircases climbing the walls.
No shelves crammed with tomes or countless private labs.
None of that.
Just tattered spellbooks and plain old stairs.
Wooden bookshelves and doors that looked like they'd collapse any second.
The floorboards creaked underfoot, threatening to give way at any moment.
Stunned by the contrast with the exterior, I kept going in and out several times.
"Overwhelmed, are we? I prepared this little event just for you, Rye. Glad you like it!"
"Huh?"
"Truth is, this is the real Illusion Tower. That out there? Just an 'illusion'!"
With that, the towering exterior that had pierced the heavens began to blur and fade.
"We used illusion magic to make it look like the other towers. Hehe."
"...Ah."
Haha. Hahaha. Chahahahaha.
Finally grasping the situation, I let out a hollow laugh and slumped to the floor.
Of course. No way a mere Illusion Tower could be this impressive.
Once the illusion fully vanished, what remained was a rickety tower that looked about seven or eight stories tall, ready to crumble.
Pathetically short compared to the other towers that scraped the sky.
"Sorry it's a letdown, but we don't get much support, so we couldn't expand. Don't worry though, Rye! It's a fun place in its own way."
"...Why not just make the inside look cool with illusions too?"
"Using illusion magic in actual living spaces is dangerous. They're just illusions—you can't interact with them properly, and if sizes or shapes don't match reality, you could hurt yourself."
"Right... yeah, that makes sense."
I dazedly listened to the tower's rundown and was shown to my room.
"Where is everyone else?"
One odd thing: the tower was nearly deserted.
Had they all fled in disgust from this insane place? As that thought crossed my mind...
"Oh, they'll be here soon. Most head out to work around this time."
"...Work?"
Aren't mages' jobs researching magic?
Studying spells, selling scrolls, taking big commissions, getting investments to make money? Or teaching as professors or something...
"Ah, perfect timing. Shall we head down?"
As Rain had said, illusion mages were trickling into the first floor.
"Man... today was brutal. So many customers."
"Today was really tough..."
"Hey, I made a killing with all those spectators."
"Everyone! Starting today, we have a new member of our Illusion Tower: Rye! Er, Rye here!"
Applause poured in at Rain's introduction.
Despite being cursed with the likes of illusion affinity, they seemed to have warm hearts.
"Oh, that's the Illusion S-rank kid?"
"Welcome. Take care, Riot."
"Aww, so cute~ Reminds me of my newbie days."
"H-Hello... Um, where's everyone coming back from?"
"Part-time gigs, duh! Gotta eat."
The word "part-time" made me tilt my head.
One female mage started explaining first.
"I just did the virgin ghost gig at the nearby amusement park. My affinity's Virgin Ghost Illusion (C), so the haziness actually makes it scarier—gets great reactions."
"Virgin ghost?"
"And here's our Clone (A) specialist. She can make multiple perfect clones. Uses 'em for backup dancing at the local theater."
"I handle six dancers solo, so the pay's killer!"
"Ah...?"
Someone else with the same idea as Mom.
At A-rank, she could control multiple lifelike clones, it seemed.
Whoa... that's awesome...
"And here's..."
The mages took turns introducing themselves.
They all scraped by with odd jobs using their mediocre illusion magic.
The Illusion Tower barely stayed afloat on those earnings.
It all made sense now why it was so shabby.
"That's how we get by. Welcome, newbie! Hahaha!"
Hahahahaha!
For some reason, seeing them all laugh heartily filled me with rising frustration.
"But... isn't that not being a real mage? You're basically day laborers...!"
I couldn't hold back and blurted it out.
Maybe I was just unhappy with the reality staring me in the face.
After all that hardship to get here, and their "job" was part-time work?
"Uh..."
"Hm."
But I quickly realized my mistake.
The lively mood sank like I'd dumped cold water on it.
Everyone's smiling faces turned glum.
Only then did I realize they all thought the same as me.
That they'd forced those smiles to welcome the newbie.
Feeling guilty, I rushed to take my words back.
"N-No, I didn't mean—"
"No, you're right. We're no different from part-timers... all of us."
"But the Tower Master's amazing. And you—you could become a great illusion mage too."
Even though I'd hurt their feelings, they comforted the young me.
Worrying about me more than their own lot.
Maybe because they'd been through the same thing.
They were good people.
Talent aside.
Realizing my huge blunder, I bowed my head to apologize.
"Alright! Time for dinner? Newbie's here—let's party!"
Rain scooped me up before I could bend and shouted.
The mages burst into laughter again.
"Yeah! I'm starving! Let's eat!"
"I splurged on meat for the newbie—let's grill it up!"
"I brought booze."
"Hey, newbie's still a kid—no booze for him. I'll handle it all."
The place erupted in cheerful chaos.
Held in Rain's arms, I stared blankly at them.
"Dig in, Rye."
"I-I'm not sure..."
"You're the baby here—just eat. I was the same when I started."
It's really fine.
Rain emphasized it one last time.
I could tell her "fine" meant something else.
They were good people, and their foolish laughter was warm.
Warm enough to make my earlier complaints feel pathetic.
"Rye! Sit here!"
"Hey, newbie! Hurry or we'll eat it all!"
"...Got it!"
I flashed the same foolish grin and joined them for the meal.
Yeah, might as well make the best of it.
Even if life here paled compared to other towers.
And so my days at the Illusion Tower began.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "...Fine my ass."
Seven years after becoming an illusion mage.
I'd long since realized warm feelings don't pay the bills.
All happiness comes from money. And the Illusion Tower had none.
Today, too, I draped myself in a sack-like robe and practiced useless illusion spells.
"Tower Master... these spells are worthless. Why research them?"
"Th-They're not worthless...!"
"But no investors touch illusion magic. It doesn't make money!"
"B-But we were born with it..."
Hina shrank back with a whistle.
Thanks to my S-rank, I mastered the spells quickly.
Even felt talented.
And casting magic was fun.
But it didn't make money—that was the problem.
In a world full of flashy magic, no one sought illusions.
I was growing into an adult, facing the moment to ponder part-time gigs like my seniors.
Sure, with illusion magic, I could do their jobs.
But I didn't want to crank out clones for backup dancing.
"Haaa..."
I headed out to buy today's rations and clear my head.
The Illusion Tower sat in Trinity's boonies, so the market was a long walk.
This damn city's huge.
But there was a silver lining.
I could stroll leisurely, soaking in the beautiful cityscape.
It had been a perk six years ago. Now? Boring.
"This world... is so unfair."
A place where rank is set at birth. No different from my past life.
At least there I had escapism.
Games all day. Unless you whale, they weren't pricey like other hobbies.
But not here.
Dopamine-starved world. If I'd had a strong affinity, I'd recharge daily with powerful spells...
...What a tragic life, past or present.
"Oh please, sir mage. How are we supposed to eat...? Just help us once, I beg you."
"I told you to prepare by today. Huh? I said it clear as day. Forgot? Senile already?"
"But I said even then this date would be tough..."
"Hah, so it's my fault? This ain't working. Shut his shop down?"
"Aigoo, sir mage..."
That guy's at it again. Haster from the Fire Tower.
Infamous among Trinity's commoners for his bullying.
Not just them—our seniors hated him too.
He'd mock mages doing part-time work or pick fights.
Dare fight back? Fire magic threats.
We had no combat spells, so we swallowed our rage.
All because of luck-of-the-draw affinities.
Looking down on the unlucky, ignoring and tormenting them.
And that shopkeeper suffered just for lacking a good one.
If only everyone started on equal footing.
Like games from my past life—even virtual, a place to heal.
"...Huh?"
It hit me like a flashbang.
"Why didn't I think of that? I played so many games...!"
Make a game with illusion magic.
Like the online games I loved. Everyone starting at level 1.
A world not defined by affinities, but equal competition...!
"That's it!"
I whipped around and sprinted back to the tower.
The gamer in me, dormant since isekai, sprang back to life.