Chapter 75
Chapter 75
Mad Black Mage's Tower Strategy
Chapter 75
The passage slightly away from the cavity where the remains of Yaogou Xuanchong were scattered.
Kusanagi was barely able to pull himself together thanks to Rei's first aid and high-grade potions.
"WHEW."
However, the psychological shock and sense of defeat that had been carved deeper than his physical wounds were weighing him down.
Kusanagi wasn't the only one in despair.
"UGH..."
Gu-ren was also staring blankly into space with unfocused eyes.
The first defeat he had ever experienced, always praised as a genius and Grand Mage.
Moreover, it was a defeat where he felt the gap in talent beyond strength and ability.
The shock and helplessness from this was beyond imagination.
Kusanagi looked coldly at Gu-ren before commanding the remaining members.
"Further exploration is impossible. We retreat swiftly while preparing for any possible situation."
His judgment was rational.
After suffering a crushing defeat to an unknown powerful figure, the leader was injured and the main mage couldn't function properly.
Going further from here would be suicide.
The members silently followed his orders.
Later, as the Yamato investigation team barely managed to get up and was carefully exiting the cavity, heading toward the assembly point.
They could hear noisy sounds and see the light of magical illumination approaching from ahead.
It was another country's investigation team.
They probably came rushing after sensing the earlier commotion.
"Investigation team spotted! It appears to be Yamato Guild!"
Soon after, a joint investigation team composed of investigation teams from various countries appeared before Yamato Guild.
At the front, they could see Kang Jin-tae and Zhang Wei-an acting like experts, Fernando from the South American team, and Shelly, the leader of the European team.
Kang Jin-tae also looked back and forth between the approaching Kusanagi and Yamato's exhausted investigation team with a sinister smile.
"Ah, I'm glad you're safe. We found Yaogou Xuanchong's corpse and battle traces earlier and were worried."
"Why are you here?"
To Kusanagi showing wariness, Kang Jin-tae approached with a sly smile.
"Well, to understand the abnormal phenomena in The Great Cavity and confirm Yamato Guild's safety. It seems like the leader defeated that monster, but do you have any guesses regarding the appearance of that creature?"
"..."
If there was a reason why the dormant Yaogou Xuanchong awakened, it was likely because of that unknown man.
However, Kusanagi avoided answering, intending to probe Kang Jin-tae's intentions.
"There's nothing I can know for certain."
Then Kang Jin-tae opened his mouth as if he had been waiting.
"The leader doesn't know either... Perhaps Yaogou Xuanchong's appearance is related to the recently unstable mana flow in The Great Cavity? For example, someone forcing reckless exploration from another route and breaking the mana balance."
"..."
Another route, reckless exploration. This was clearly a statement targeting Taebaek Guild.
Kusanagi, having grasped the intention, answered coldly.
"Well. It's just one of many possibilities."
It wasn't particularly to take Taebaek's side.
He simply couldn't ignore Yellow Dragon Mage Tower's growing influence.
"And to correct one thing, we weren't the ones who brought down Yaogou Xuanchong."
"What?"
Bewilderment flashed across Kang Jin-tae's face for a moment. Kusanagi continued.
"It was an unidentified person who brought it down. He appeared just before we engaged in battle and split that monster in half with a single strike. Then after a brief battle with me, he disappeared. Perhaps... this incident might be because of him."
Then Onmyoji Rei carefully added from beside him.
"That's right. He was a man in a black robe, a martial artist of tremendous skill."
Kang Jin-tae's expression subtly hardened.
"A martial artist?"
Yamato Guild's testimony made the situation more confusing.
"That's right. Also, he..."
Kusanagi was about to mention information about that unknown being having the ability to nullify magic but closed his mouth.
This could damage not only Grand Mage Gu-ren's reputation and standing, but also deal a blow to the entire magic community.
What mage would welcome an unknown being who nullifies magic?
This could spread into distrust of the entire magic world if handled poorly.
The joint investigation team began murmuring at Kusanagi's testimony. So-yul was equally confused.
'A martial artist? What's that supposed to mean?'
She had been worried thinking it was definitely related to Seo-jin, but the testimonies were conflicting.
It was true that Seo-jin was an exceptionally skilled mage and had been active with martial arts in the recent battle with the leeches.
But to the level of subduing magic swordsman leader Kusanagi?
'That's impossible.'
But the scary thing was that it seemed possible if it was that person.
Kang Jin-tae also hesitated on how to respond to this unexpected variable.
Yamato Guild throwing cold water on the plan to frame Taebaek.
The investigation teams from various countries also began buzzing at Yamato Guild's testimony.
"An unknown being?"
"Could it be something like the Tower's administrator?"
"Then The Great Cavity's abnormal phenomena too..."
Reading the joint investigation team's reaction, Kang Jin-tae secretly clicked his tongue.
"TSK."
Until now, he had somehow managed to blame The Great Cavity's abnormal situation on Taebaek through the Fragment of Time Distortion Magic Book and forced arguments, but things got twisted because of Yamato Guild's testimony.
If they stayed in The Great Cavity any longer for no reason, it might become certain that it wasn't Taebaek's doing.
Since it had come to this, there was no choice.
'The situation just got a bit complicated. The big picture hasn't changed anyway.'
He took a moment to catch his breath and slowly looked around.
"An unidentified powerful martial artist, how shocking. However, even if leader Kusanagi's testimony is true, it would be hasty to conclude that this mana phenomenon is his doing. But."
He continued while looking around.
"It seems further exploration would be difficult due to safety issues. So how about we withdraw for now and conduct an overall re-examination of each guild's mana source management practices?"
He looked at Han So-yul with a grin.
"Especially since Guild Leader Han So-yul has agreed to the joint investigation team's dispatch to facilities including Taebaek Mage Tower's underground ruins, let's start from there."
Representatives from other guilds also seemed to agree with his logic.
"Well, staying here any longer would just be dangerous."
"Let's go out and investigate, let's go out."
Kang Jin-tae inwardly cheered.
Direct agitation inside The Great Cavity had become difficult, but this provided a foothold to strangle Taebaek Mage Tower using this as an excuse.
Anyway, once the traces left in Taebaek Mage Tower's underground ruins and the empty altar were revealed, everything would be over.
He decided to drive the final nail by amplifying the scene's anxiety one more time.
Kang Jin-tae secretly gripped the Spatial Coordination Scroll fragment in his chest again.
A moment later.
KUURURUNG-.
As if responding to his will, an even larger earth tremor than before shook the entire Great Cavity.
"Everyone get down! Defensive magic!"
The joint investigation team was once again engulfed in extreme chaos and fear.
And at this moment, the Yellow Dragon Mage Tower's investigation team led by Zhang Wei-an moved in perfect coordination.
They took out talisman-type artifacts from their waists again and shouted.
"Deploy barriers!"
A subtle golden protective barrier quickly spread out, safely encasing the confused joint investigation team.
KUGUNG- KUNG-.
Falling rocks and mana fragments that collided with the barrier crumbled powerlessly.
Kang Jin-tae didn't miss this timing and shouted while protecting his head with both hands.
"Everyone, we don't have time to delay any longer! We must get out of here immediately! Let's report this situation to the mage association and request the dispatch of a fact-finding investigation team for Taebaek Mage Tower!"
***
Meanwhile, in the deepest part of The Great Cavity.
Seo-jin, who had successfully absorbed the Energy Core and become the master of The Great Cavity.
He was sitting in the crystal chair, quietly catching his breath.
This place where he felt comfort and warmth as if embraced in his mother's arms.
WUUUUNG-.
As Seo-jin breathed, The Great Cavity's mana was sucked into him like a whirlwind.
Inside this Great Cavity, Seo-jin was close to a divine being.
As one of the effects, he could receive nearly infinite mana supply through The Great Cavity.
"WHEW."
A deep breath.
Seo-jin filled his upper dantian not only with depleted mana but also with Reverse Heaven's Mana.
What was replenished wasn't just mana.
In this place with abundant mana concentration, the breathing technique through Primordial Unity Technique would also greatly increase in efficiency.
If he continued training here, it seemed he could rapidly elevate the level of Primordial Unity Technique.
In addition, Seo-jin, who became the master of The Great Cavity, gained another ability.
"..."
When he closed his eyes and became conscious of his connection with The Great Cavity, the scenery of The Great Cavity automatically drew itself in his mind.
SEUREU-.
He became able to understand in detail what was happening within The Great Cavity.
Seo-jin followed the flow of mana and directed his gaze to the area where the mage tower's investigation teams were gathered.
Soon, a well-orchestrated play that had unfolded at the Alpha route entrance came into his view.
Kang Jin-tae's cunning schemes, the foolish crowd swayed by him, and the sight of Taebaek and Han So-yul becoming isolated within it.
It was nothing short of a farce.
Hyeon-wol, who had watched the scene together while sitting on Seo-jin's shoulder, grumbled.
[HNG, that despicable old man has quite the cunning mind.]
"It seems more like good luck than cunning."
Seo-jin chuckled after seeing through the object hidden in that guy's chest through Eye of Insight.
'Spatial Coordination Scroll.'
That artifact that only looked flashy on the outside was a fake item made by the natives to protect the seal.
It was the very item that Kang Jin-tae and Yellow Dragon had stolen after breaking and looting the altar when they invaded Taebaek's underground ruins.
It had an antique design befitting an S-grade item on the outside, and was easy to be fooled by since it was displayed as S-grade even when checked through the status window.
Even if Yellow Dragon Mage Tower's researchers analyzed it earnestly, they couldn't notice.
At humanity's current level of magical development, fake items couldn't be distinguished.
So Kang Jin-tae firmly believed that object was real, kept it hidden in his chest, and blew mana into it at the right moments to induce mana chaos in The Great Cavity.
Of course, blowing mana into that paper scrap couldn't possibly shake The Great Cavity, but somehow it had been effective until now.
Hyeon-wol said.
[Probably the timing matched when you defeated that insect monster and when you took the Energy Core.]
To have The Great Cavity shake with impact at exactly the right moments when he wanted it. He was born under a lucky star.
But now that guy's luck had run out too.
Seo-jin looked at Kang Jin-tae gripping the Fragment of Time Distortion Magic Book once more and grinned.
"Something interesting occurred to me."
[...What are you planning to do again?]
When Hyeon-wol sighed as if fed up and asked, Seo-jin grinned.
"I'm going to end that unfunny farce and bury that guy. First, shall I join the game for a moment?"
Seo-jin clenched his fist tightly.
At the same time.
KURURU-.
The Great Cavity began to shake in resonance with Seo-jin's will.
Simultaneously, Seo-jin attempted to contact So-yul through his communication terminal.
"Hey, can you hear me?"