Chapter 54
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Volcanic Mage Tower (1)
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A certain region in the 3rd layer.
A site where an active volcano bubbled with energy.
It was a notoriously high-difficulty area even among the 3rd layer, but in truth, few mercenaries or adventurers ever ventured here.
Because the land had an owner.
"Welcome, Chairman Adolph. You've come a long way."
Volcanic Mage Tower.
Until just 16 years ago, they had kept their enemies on the surface, but they relocated to the "Volcano Island" field in the 3rd layer.
The ground was saturated with fire-attribute mana, making it a paradise for fire mages.
A mage guarding the tower's entrance eyed Adolph with an uncomfortable expression.
"But what brings you all the way out here?"
"I already mentioned it in my letter. That's something to discuss with the Tower Master."
The guard mage gave a reluctant nod at Adolph's equally icy tone.
It stemmed from the recent strain between the Mage Tower and the Arovati Merchant Guild—not as strong as it once was.
Of course, the guard didn't know the full details, and he'd already received orders from above to let them in.
Still, he wouldn't shirk his duty as a guard.
He pointed at the carriage Adolph had brought.
"Apologies, but the Tower Master isn't present right now."
"I know. The elders should be here, though. Fetch them for me."
"...Understood. If you don't mind me asking, what exactly is in that carriage? I was under the impression the submission period ended at the start of this month."
"Have you ever seen a merchant travel empty-handed? My time is more precious than gold, every minute and second!"
"Hmm..."
"Ha! The Arovati Guild's honor will be dragged through the mud at this rate. Fine, inspect it if you must!"
"Ahem. My apologies."
The guard mage scanned the carriage.
Nothing particularly impressive caught his eye.
There were an excessive number of camping supplies, and in one corner sat a modestly sized, luxurious box.
"What's in that box?"
"Can't a mage sense something like that?"
"Hm?"
When the guard focused his mana, he let out an exclamation of awe.
"Top-grade mana stones! Is that box full of them?!"
"Watch your mouth. You never know when a thief might overhear."
"Ahem...! My deepest apologies. Please, come in."
With that, they brushed past the guard and entered the Mage Tower.
True to its name, a massive tower loomed at the [Checkpoint] of "Volcano Island."
Dozens of mages bustled about inside, all looking utterly exhausted.
"Tsk tsk... They look worse than my subordinates, who pulled all-nighters for three days straight."
What had them so frantic?
Adolph, with his long-standing alliance with them, could guess.
'The operation failed, contrary to expectations.'
His very presence here confirmed it.
The Volcanic Mage Tower's Tower Master was likely scrambling to contain the fallout from events spiraling out of control.
'You've always been like this. Mocking us merchants as greedy scoundrels chasing coin.'
Scoundrels?
True enough. Adolph had never once considered himself free of greed.
He'd committed plenty of sins for money and lived with his eyes fixed on it.
He might not shout his deeds from the rooftops, but he felt no shame in them.
Yet the Volcanic Mage Tower had no right to sneer at them.
'The robes you wear, the materials for your magic training, the funds to maintain your status—all flowed from our guild!'
And still, they treated merchants like dirt.
He usually let it slide.
He was used to such disdain.
But.
'You shouldn't have betrayed me.'
Retribution was due.
With his life hanging by a thread, he had no choice but to go all-in and place them on the scales of judgment.
'It's my only way out alive.'
Adolph glanced at the seat beside him in the carriage.
Though invisible, a mage had ridden with him the entire way.
He too cried out for vengeance.
"...We're here. I'll draw the elders' attention from now on, so make sure you find the evidence."
No reply came.
"...?"
Puzzled, he reached toward the empty seat. Nothing.
Feeling foolish for talking to himself, he scratched the back of his head.
"Quick on your feet, aren't you."
"Not much different from the Mage Tower I knew."
Jun emerged, manipulating the small ring on his finger, now draped in a Volcanic Mage Tower robe.
"Definitely useful."
The ring Shylock left behind was an artifact that had hidden him from sight during their first meeting.
Had Shylock foreseen this?
'Who knows.'
He'd grasped sorcery to some extent, but not enough to wield it himself.
It was just knowledge lingering in his mind.
Anyway, that wasn't the point.
"Good work."
"You too."
A passing mage bowed to Jun, who accepted it confidently.
Both wore hoods concealing their faces, and the robe Jun donned was fit for a 4th-circle mage.
Thus, most mages bowed to him.
'Good call getting advice from Adolph.'
Adolph had prepared this robe personally.
Before coming here, Jun had laid out the full story to him.
Adolph started skeptical but grew suspicious of the Volcanic Mage Tower over time.
In the end, Jun secured the enemy's enemy as an ally. Count Mordenaen's minor assistance helped too.
-Prove your innocence in this mess.
What choice did he have?
Thus, Adolph was fully on board.
Now, all that remained was sneaking the evidence out of the tower safely.
No easy task.
Mage Towers boasted cutting-edge security everywhere.
'At least the Tower Master's absence is a boon.'
For this infiltration, Count Mordenaen had summoned the tower's master, Sergey, directly.
Under the pretext of seeking advice on the incident.
Even a 7th-circle Tower Master couldn't refuse a count, so he was en route to the City of Flying Birds in the 1st layer.
'Without the Tower Master... the place is ripe for the picking.'
To a Mage Tower, the master was everything—alpha and omega.
'Lower floors: cafeteria. Upper: lab? No, training arena. They spar after all.'
Mage Towers were vast for many reasons, but mages' conservative nature played a big role.
One might wonder why enlightenment-seekers clung to tradition, but mages feared straying from focus.
They dreaded losing hard-won insights.
Hence, they crammed living quarters, necessities—everything—into one space.
That shaped the towers' design.
'Workshops are higher up.'
No one had kindly mapped it out, but his sharp senses filled in the gaps.
'Keep heading up.'
In most towers, importance and rank increased with altitude.
Jun strode upward boldly, hood low.
Past memories kept the basic layout straight.
By the time he reached upper levels,
"Hey there."
A mage in the hall called him out.
'Busted?'
The thought flashed, but no.
"New face. Which division?"
His robe's embroidery marked him one rank above Jun's.
Jun replied smoothly.
"External Team 3, sir."
"Ah, that group? Heard they've had headaches lately."
"Yes. Gathering materials to take down the basilisk that's holed up in the 4th layer."
"Hmm, I see. Sorry for holding up a busy man. Thought you were from the crafting team."
"No help at all. My apologies."
"Off with you."
The middle-aged mage returned to his room, and Jun exhaled inwardly before ascending further.
As Adolph's intel noted, even insiders didn't track everyone's tasks.
Mages cared little beyond their own research.
After that close call, fewer mages appeared higher up.
But bigger names turned puzzled gazes his way.
A 4th-circle mid-tier had no business this high.
Each time, Jun spun excuses.
"Team Leader 3 got summoned by the Tower Master recently. I'm here to assist with related duties."
"A lead on that incident two months ago came in. These are the evidence documents."
"Ah! Lord Marnov outside sent me. He said the data for his research is here."
They all landed perfectly.
Intrigued by a 4th-circle's presence, sure—but a spy from outside? Unthinkable.
'Desk-bound pacifists.'
They'd never known a tower in crisis.
Blackout was insular.
Unlike the outside, entering "Volcano Island" required layers of checks; the tower even more so.
No intrusions in 15 years here meant suspecting Jun was a stretch.
But a major hurdle remained.
Adolph's forged docs wouldn't cut it here.
'Top floor.'
Reserved for the Tower Master and top brass.
A special barrier blocked the way.
A passage blazing with flames.
Not ordinary fire.
Once lit, it burned eternally without special measures.
One needed a chant or enchanted pass.
Jun lacked both.
'Just as Adolph said.'
No guards nearby.
Utter faith in the barrier.
'Who could breach such intricate work?'
Jun quietly touched the choker at his neck.
[Interpreting Word Command...]
[Interpretation complete.]
[Word Command: Reducing influence of 'Odyssey of the Lazy Pilgrim' by 1%.]
Start slow. He desperately controlled his mana to avoid spreading outward.
Once accustomed, he released the Word Command again.
[2%, 3%...]
Slow but steady, he awakened Demon God Body.
Simultaneously, he read the mana filling the passage.
Flows too chaotic for ordinary mages to parse.
Yet Jun saw patterns forming.
'Impressive barrier.'
Beyond most mages' capabilities.
At 7% release on Demon God Body's Word Command, patterns were faint; past 10%, they sharpened.
Like reading waves on a vast beach.
Seemingly random, yet cyclic.
Heights and strengths varied, but clear to his eyes.
A thrill of omnipotence surged through his mind.
'Danger, danger.'
Demon God Body's warning to him.
Push further, and punishment follows.
Balancing on a knife's edge, Jun grasped the barrier's rhythm.
'Thanks to that nameless mage, it's a bit easier.'
Adrian's magic in the Black Forest—imbued with Volcanic Mage Tower essence—had assaulted him.
A crude but high-level 5th-circle caster.
Fighting him with 15% Word Command release let Jun memorize those patterns.
This barrier echoed them in many ways.
A nagging insight tickled his thoughts.